
(lass 
Book' 



ri 



^ 



/ 



'// 




c^^ 



WMmm«M 



-«^^ 









1^^^ 










M 



Lr: 



i:.^.:^.ii 






Sedgwick County, Kan,, 



CONTAINING 



Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent 
and Representative Citizens of the County, 



TOGETHER WITH 



PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF KANSAS, AND 
OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 




n 



-^^ 



1888, 



•► ■ -^*- 



•► • -4« 






'4^ 



-•»• 






-**■ 



pi^Ep/^(?E. 




■•-^?*^- 



-«^*c^ 



lie gieatest of Engli:~li historians, Macai'i.kv, and one of tlio most brilliant writers 
1 if till! past century, has said : "The history of a country is best told in a record of the 
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Poutkait and Bio(;uAi'nK'Ai. 
Ai.iuMof this county has been prepared. Instead of going to must}' records, and 
taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
cnteritrise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those 
tomi)rising this great and noble .State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
iLruggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
uent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in povert}', by 
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an 
influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
'^i''^'^^ have' risen frt>ra the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
Jp^^^^^ become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
man\', who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content 
to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
they could." It tells how that fnany in the pride and strength of j'oung manhood left the plow and the 
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and [)reserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
in.accessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers Hatter them- 
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph- 
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biograi)hical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the 
information necessary to compile a sketch, while othei-s were indifferent. Occasionally some member of 
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
at their residence or place of business. 

T , .„„ CHAPMAN BROS. 

Chicago, July, 1888. 



•^^ 



-•► 



i 















".•/'Si ' 






t 







y^ 



AND 






, tV^-'^T^iSf>fl\ . 



I 



,*j€i?^>>7*, ,,. 



-feBIOGEftBHIES 



i3y7ii;jui]53 0/ Am§m, 



AND OF THE 






■^ 




fWfT&m^ 



y^x^'^ii V. (s)*A 



w->^* 



f 



t 



%>t" 










1885. \f I /» 

,__ ^^:M 









i^ 






11-^ 



•►-■ -^ 



i 



H 








^t 



^f?>c< 






'^' 







n 




«y* 



4 



% 



%. 



5* ,*"^ 



<S5-'* 



4^ 





P^c^y"^ 



P/RST PRESIDENT. 



19 




m^ 



^m^'^fiis^^ 



EDBBE WASlinKBWM. m 



■r; '1 ;.'«;v.vv'i'V;'tg>'cS.'f; 



!3^^SrW-X>0Xi^t 






o 





HE Father of our Country was 
lioin in \Vestmorland Co., Va., 
1 eb 22, 1732. His parents 
weie Augustine and Mary 
^ (Ball) Washington. The family 
■'' to which he belonged has not 
/ beun satisfactorily traced in 
nnt,land. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
" planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John, 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 

f maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
i Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 

and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left tiie parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
mathematics. His spellinfi was rather defective. 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physical 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nol)leness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was 14 years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved vtrry 
essential to him. In 175 r, though only ig years of 
age, he was apiwinted adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Lidies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Ujxjn the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cei)ted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



4 



-4*- 






CliORGli II A S///,V(J /OX 



a full .mil literal rc|>urt ol liis cx[>cdition. A regiment 
uf 300 inei) w.i> r.iisetl ii) N'lrginia and put in coiii- 
inaiid ot' Col. Joshua Kry, and Major \Va.sliiiigtoii was 
luiuiiiissiuiicd lieiitenant-culunel. Active war was 
then liei;iin against tlie Krencli and Indians, in whii h 
Washington took a most ini|x:)rtant part. In the 
inenioralile event of July y, 1755, known as Hrad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only oniccr 
of distinctior. who escaped front the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. 'I'lie other aids of Hraddoik 
were liisahlcd c.irly in tlie action, and Washington 
alone w.is left in tliat capacity oi\ the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says: "I had four bullets through 
my co.it, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was levelin", my companions 
on every side." .\n Indian sharpshi>)ter said he was 
not iKim to l>e killed l)y a bullet, for lie had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

.\fter having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal aimy, he 
look advantage of the fall of Fori l)ui|i;esne and the 
expulsion of the l-'reiich from the valley of the Ohio, 
10 resign his commission. So<.)n after he entered the 
l.x.'gislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and im|Mjrtant part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (l)andridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John I'arke Custis. 

When the Hriti-.li Parliament had i:losed the [xjrt 
if Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to nieel at Phila- 
delphia, Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if ixissible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On Slay 10, 1775, the 
f'ongress re-assembled, wlien the hostile intentions of 
Kngland were jjl.iinly apparent. The battles of Con- 
<:ord anil Lexington h.id been fought. .Among the 
first acts of this ('ongress was the election of a com- 
inamler-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
res|>onsible office was conferred u|>on Washington, 
who was still a member of the I'ongress. He aci e|>led 
it on June 19, but u|x)n the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an exa<t account 
of ex|>cnses and eX|)ect Congress to pav them anil 
nothing more. It is not the object f)f this sketch to 
trace the military a( ts of Washington, to whom tlvj 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this counlry 
were s(j long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under every jxissible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame cver>' 
obstacle, and after seven years iif heroic devotion 
and in.iichless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of e.trth. On Dec. 2^, 17s.?, Washington, in 
a parting; .iddress of surpassing beauty, resigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the amiy to 
to the Continental Congress sitting at Anna|)olis. He 
retired immediately to Mount N'ernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public lite. 

Ill February, 1 7.S9, Washington was ununiniously 
elected President. In his jiiesidential career he w.is 
subject to the |)ei:uli.ir trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from Kick of confidence on the pan 
of other governments; trials from want ol harmony 
between the diflerent sections of our own counlry, 
trials from the ini|(overislied condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it lift him ex| osed to 
attacks from lioth siiles, which were often biller and 
very annoying. 

.\t the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this lenn many 
were anxious thai he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nominalion. On the fourth of Mari h, 
1797, at the expir.iion of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his rejose 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
.\t the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
lake (oniinand of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he su|ierintei.ded from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
il was necessary. In the midst of tiicse prepar.ilions 
his life was suddenly cut off. neceml)er 1 2, he tiKik 
a sevce cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in Irs throat, protluced inflammation, and lerminaied 
fatally on the night of llie fourteenth. On the eirh- 
teenth his iKxIy was borne wih military honors to its 
final resting jilace, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is ini|tossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest resjiect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the o|ierations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difliculty of uniting all opinions in a common intcresi, 
the more highly we must esliniale the force nf his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to ihallen(.e 
the revereiK e of all parlies, and princi|iles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The jierson of Washington was uniisally tali, erect 
and Well |>ro|X)rlloned. His muscu'ar strength was 
great. His fe.itures Were of a be.iutiful syinmetn' 
Heiommanded respect without any .■ip|)earance of 
lKiML;hliiiess, and ever serious without beini; dull. 



•►■-«- 



•t-»^ 



i 








0^1 J[/a^mj 



SECOND PRESIDENT. 



i 



n 



i 




p—* Wf> 



.^a3:&m% 









t^^-^^^^c;' ■■!• -t A .t. ■t. .tA,.t.fe.Mn*» l«.t»t, .t.t..t.fr^t^.t .-t --. 

*^pji;scrffB*- .^^^^ _^. 



OHN ADAMS, the second 
, President and the first Vice- 
f President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
"^' miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
Im?* sons, and settled at Braiutree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in AVorcester, Mass. This he found but a 
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought ' seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, of dialiolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive jxjwers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married .\l):gail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu- 





tions he offered on the subject became very lopulai 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the jxjpular cause, and 
was chosen a member of tlie General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against the 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of five 
appointed June 11, to prejjare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it tlirough 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife, 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of projlhecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable e;:och in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemoratfed as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with jjomp, shows. 



'•►-■ 



i 



■^*- 



J4 



4 



yO//X ADAMS. 



•► ■ -4»- 



^aincs, S|)orts, guos, l>clls, bonfires, and illuminations 
litim one end of tlic cuntincnt to the other, fruin this 
inne forward lor ever. \oii will think inc trans|iorted 
with enthusiasm, l>ut I am not. I uui well aware ol 
the toil, and blootl and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and su|i|iort and defend 
the>e States; yet, through all the gloom, I can >eethe 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth n>ore than all the means; and that jioslerity 
will triinn|ih, although you and I may rac, which I 
ho|ic we shall not. " 

In Novemher, 1777, Mr. Adams was apiiointed a 
<lelej;ate to Fr.itue and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, wiio were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to olitain assistance in arms and money 
from the French (jovernment. 'I'his was a severe trial 
to his iiatrioiism, as it separated him from his home, 
coin|)elled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
|)osetl him to great |H;iil of capture l>y the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking hiin. He left France June 17, 
1779. In .Septeinlier of the same year he was again 
Chosen to go to I'.iris, .md there hold liimself in readi- 
ness to negoli.ite a treaty of |ieace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as siKin as the British Cabinet 
might he found willing to listen to such projwsels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
H ill.iiul, where he negoti.ited imiorlant loans and 
fornied i ui»ortant ci>mmeri:ial trciilics 

Finally a treaty of [le.ice with England was signed 
Jan. 2 1, 1 7 83. The re-aclion from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. .\dami had passed 
tliiew him into a fcvet. .After suffering from a con- 
linued fever and l)e<:oining feeble and emaciated he 
w.is advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
M ilh. While in England, still <lrcH)pinganddes|iond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the nei essity of his goii.g to ,\insterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and fr)ot,he made the trip. 

P'ebruarv 24, 17S5 C'ongress ap|)ointed Mr. Adams 
envoy lo the t'ourt of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of F'ngland, who had so long re- 
garded him as .1 traitor. As England did not 
condescend lo ap|>oint a minister to the L'niled 
Slates, and .is Mr. .\dams fell that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought perniission lo return lo 
his own lounlry, where he arrived in |une, 17S8. 

When W.isliingion was first chosen President, John 
.■\d.uns, rendered illusliious bv his signal services at 
home and abro.a<l, was chosen Vii e President, .\gain 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
.\dams w.is chosen Vice President. In 179'i, Wash- 
inguui retired from public life, aiul Mr. Adams was 
ele< ted President, though not without mnchop|H)sili(>n. 
S,Tving in this office four years,he was succeeded by 
.Mr. Jefferson, hisop|¥inent in |>olilics. 

While Mr, .\d.iins w.is Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of EutD|>e, 
and it was u|ion this |Kiint which he was at issue with 
the majority ol his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. .\d.ims lelt no sympalhy with ihe Flench pc*ople 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
|iower of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof.itheist philo=oi)hers who he claimed laused it 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlislc-d in beh.iifof the French jteople. Hence or 
iginated Ihe alienation l>eiween these distinguished 
men, and two |X)werful parties were thus soon orgai.- 
i/ed, .Vdains at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a s|H;ctacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
oUl age of Mr Adams. The violence of paily feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look u|ion his venerable 
form, and ihink of what he h.id done and suffered, 
and how he h.id given up all the prime and strength 
of his life lo the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his jieculiar 
good fortune to witness the comi>leie success of the 
institution which he had lieen so active in creating and 
sup|)orting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration fif Inde- 
pendence, arrivetl, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left \\\<)\\ the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly pilgrimsge, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he fountl himself too weak lo rise from 
his bed. On lieing reipiested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
DF.PKNI^KNCF. FORKVFR." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he W.IS asked by one of his ; tiend.ints if he knew 
what day it was.' He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious foiinh of July — (lod bless it — dod bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered weri . 
" leflerson survives." l?ut he had, at or.e o'clock, n - 
signed his s)>iiil into the hands of his (lod. 

The personal ap|)earance and manners of Mr 
Adams were not ])articularly prc|>osses-.inj-. Hisfaie. 
as his portrait manifests.was inlelleclnal nrd ex])res- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were frecpiently abnipt and uncourtcous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the enganing elegance and ;;racefnlncss which marked 
the manners and .iddress of Jefferson. 



i 



# 








'>i-^^?72^ 




THIRD PRESIDENT. 



rS>. \ . 







•!*;:. 



THOMAS JETPEIRSDI^. J 




*^»:r* 



HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
born A|ml 2, 1743, at Shad- 
^>«ell, Albermarle county, Va. 
His parents were Peter and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion 
and splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irrejiroacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
ex[)lained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previou.ily given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldoin gone forth from college hulls; and 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately ujxin leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and acculeness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
Tlie policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. !n 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow. 
Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticcllo, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon, 
became the most distinguished resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Cclonial Congress, 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed \x\io\\ a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apijointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 



■•► 



4 



•►■-4*- 



■»-« 



r/h).\f.tS JF.FFERSi'X 



man — whai the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was ch.irgcd with the prcpar.uioii ul' that Dec- 
laration, uliich, whilo it made kiio»ii the wrongs of 
America, was also to |iiililisl) her to the world, free, 
Mjvcrign and iiideitendent. It is one of the i^ust re- 
markable pai>ers ever written ; and did nootlicr effort 
i.f the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
suflicient to stamp his name wiiji immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Je(Ter>on was elected successor to 
r.itriik Henry, ;.s Ciovernor of Virginia. At one time 
the Hritisli orticer, Tarleton, sent a secret ex|K;diiion to 
Monlicello, to capture the Ciovernor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried esca|>e of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in (wsses- 
tion of the Hritish tr(X)ps. Mis wife's health, never 
vcr) gtxxl, was mu< h injured by this excitement, and 
in the summer of 178J she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two ye us later he was apjiointed Minister Pleni|)0- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he l«:came Secretary of Slate 
III Washington's cabinet. This [wsition he resigned 
Jan. I, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected Pn.'sident over 
Mr. Adams, with ,\aron Burr as Vice President, in 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and tleorge Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. JcHTerson's second adminstra- 
lion was disturbed by an evc-ni wliich threatened the 
tr.iiiipiiliiy and jK-ace of the Union; this was the con- 
spiracy of ,\aron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
ambition, this extr.iordinary man formed the i>lan of a 
military ex|»edition into the .Spanish terriiuries on our 
southwestern frontier, for the pur|iose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supiwsed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from |>olitical life. For a jicriod of nearly 
forty years, he had l)een continually before the jnib- 
lic, and all that time had been emiiloyed in offices of 
the greatest tnist anil resixjnsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best |)art of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
flcclining years reipiired, and u|>on the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he b'd fare- 
well forever to jiublic life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was |)rofiisc in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, l)oys and girls, l)abies and 
nurses, — and remained three an<l even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable walering-plare. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



sary of the Declaration of American Inde|>endence, 
great preparations weie made in every p.ut of the 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnit) 
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the franier 
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to participate in their lesiivities. But an ill- 
aess, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, coini>elled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under whii'i 
he was lalwring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was |)erfettly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. t)n the next 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the tiiird of July, he expressed the e.irnest wish that 
he might be iiermitled to breathe tie air t>f the fiftieth 
anniversar)'. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst u|)on his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble cor.summation of a noble 
life! To die on that day, — the biithday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole n.ition, who lixjked up to him, 
as the aulhor, under (iod, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting lo fill up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if 10 Ijear 
him company, left the scene of his eailhly honors. 
Hand in hand they had sttxtd forth, the ch.unpions of 
freedom; hand in iiand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they h.ul cheered and 
animated their des|K)nding countrymen; for half a 
century they had lalnjied together for the gocxl of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In iheir lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In [Kirson Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
al)ove six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
while and silvery ; his complexion was f.iir, his fore 
head broad, and his whole countenaiu e intelligent and 
thoughtfid. He ixjssessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and his command of tem- 
[ler was such that his oldest ami most intimate frieiuls 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unl>ounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, elo<iuent and enthusiastic; and 
his language was remarkably jiiire and correct. He 
was a finished classi< al s< holar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he fomied his style 
upon the best models of antiquity. 



•►Hi-^ 



■*►■ -^ 



i 




J-a^u..^-^ ^. (^ g,^^^ ffcr^. 






U 



FOURTH FRKSIDENT. 



31 




pn]ES npDisoi]. 




AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
President of the United States, 
was born March 16, 1757, and 
s died at his home in Virginia, 
^ June 28, 1836. The name of 
ames Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the imixjrtant 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great repubHc were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. Tlie father of 
JjjyU James Madison was an oi)ulent 
Jvls planter, residing uix)n a very fine es- 

ftate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery liighly pictur- 
i esque and romantic, on the west side 
of .South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
lK)litical attachment existed iietween these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 



prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, hut three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i. with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly discii)lined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsi 
ipient career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire liim with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading liim to think that 
his life was not to be long, he diiected especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed witii a mind 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General .\ssembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Ciovernors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 



_■► ■ ^« 



-*»■ 



/.I//..V A/.iD/.SiK 



men III 
I one of 

.11 Coii- 
.cinlicr!!. 

he W.IS 

Mi. NLuliMiii ihc 

■ 'Ictai )■, Willi no 11.1- 

,. Acr lo Toriii itc.uics 

I to ciiforLC 1.1W. Tlierc 

.itnnc!it tIl.Tn Virt;i!ii.» in 

- Ill 



M.llf. to .1 






•■-n .If \nr, 




.1 1 l.c 

iwn up 

-iiil ilicir 


. in May, 


'7«7. 


to draft 


■lcI "Nt.Ul-, t 


.Mkt- 


Ihc pl.icc 


■J. 

•-> 




' met at 


Kvcry St. 




Island 


\V.i> ^. 




. clxiscn 



.1 oir r.:i.M|,li, 



. td our cinnincrcc, and 
' insult. Mr. Madison 
. Ill his taste, reining 
i ..„), M.ki liad .tucharnisfor hint. Uut the 

I.. •. can l>c roused. It ni.ikcs one's liluod 

■ ■ ' ;■ an .Xincritan ship brought 
\ b"'"" ''f •'" English I ruiscr. 

A - on lioard and orders the 

titw lo l^- p.ii.iili.d Ucloic him. With great nuinh.il- 
{ ance he selcLls any nuiiil>er whom he may please to 
designate a> I" ' ' rders lliein down ihe 

ship s side II ' "■ es tiieiii on the gun- 

deck of his in ', I'y oiiiipulsioii, thc 

battles of Knglaiid. 1 lus iiglii of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our (lovcrnnienl could induce 
the iliiiish cajpinet to relimpiish. 

<.)n the iSth of June, iSii, I'resident Madison gave 
hi-, .11 iiioval to an .ict of Co.igress declaring war 
• t 'ileal Ikilain. Notwithslanding the liilter 
V of the I'eder.il party lo the war, the country 
m ^i-neral appto\ed; and Mr. M.idiMiii, on the 4th 
of .Mart h, is'i,;> w.is re-elected |iy .1 l.irge in.ijority, 
and entered moii his second term of ofli e. This is 
liol ihe place to descrilic the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
navy then laid tlie fo.iiid.ilions of its renown in gra|)- 
pling wilh the most foriiiid.iMe |)ower which ever 
swept the se.is. The contest comnier.ccd in earnest 
liy the apiiearanccof a Uriiish fleet, early in Feliruaiy, 
1S13, in l'l>esa|ieake Hay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the I'nited St.iles under |ilo<k.idc. 

The Kiiiperor of Russia ofTcreil his seiviies as me 
dilator, .\meric.i accepted ; Kiigl.ind refused. A lirii- 
ish force of five ihous.md men l.iiuled tin the lianks 
of the I'aluxel River, iie.ir its entrance into C'hesa- 
|ieake H.iy, and in.irched rapidly, liy way of Hladens- 
liurg, ui>on W.ishington. 

The str.iggliiig lillle city of Wasliiiij^ton was thrown 
into conslern.ilion. The c. union of ihe l>rief conflict 
at lU.ideiisliurg echoed through the streets of the 
inelni|ii>lis. The whole ix-iiiul.iticn fled from theiily. 
The I'resiilent, leaving Mrs. M.ulison in the While 
House, with her cirri. ige diawn up at the door lo 
await his speedy relu:!i, hurried lo meet the officers 
in a council ol w.ir lie met our troops nllerly routed, 
and he Kiiild not go hack without danger of licing 
c.ipitired. Hut few hours elapsed ere the I'resideiili.il 
M.iiision, the C.ipilol, .iiid all the puMic luiildings in 
W.ishingtun weie in 11. lines. 

The w.ir I losed .ifler iwo ye.irs of fighting, and on 

Fell. i\, i.Sis.llie ire.ily of |>e.i«e was signed alCdienl. 

( >ii the .Jill of M.irili, 1S17, his seiond term of 

oflice expired, and he lesigned the I'resideiili.il chair 

I lo his friend. Fames Monroe. He retired to his l.cau- 

' ^" ■- ■■■ ' • • • 1 1 . Mt)iii|ielier, and lliere passed the re- 

. da\s. On June iS, i.S^6, then at the 

a^, he fell .isleep in de.ith. Mrs. Madi- 

ilie vcif;co| war. ; v,i. tlie.l Jiily 12, I. ''49. 



I.; .iml the present Gnisli- 

.V V ilicn and there fonned. 

I no |ien more ac- 

inient than the mind 

I vote Si to 79, w.is 

-t iti-s for .icceptance. 

W.IS kit. ."should i I lie reje< led 

.1 coiih'loiner.ilion of iiidc|K.Mident 

..-, I 

n- 

I .-.I 

^ ol iiic C «ii..liliilion, 

was gre.il opjosiiion 

u 'iiii|ihed over all, and 

' I ■ I lie Mouse of Reprc- 
iiiil sixin liecaine the 
:i p.irtv. While in 
• nut Mr> Tixld, a 
■ 'Wer ol l.iM in.ition, 

. ■> ..,n ,n,l . 1, ., ,. Icr 
.1 

,.iv 



in .1. 



Mrs 



4 



■•► ■ -4« 




^^^^t^^^-n^T^^^y A^i^l^^ 



-^^^ 




FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 




siifp^ priQES n]oi][tOE 





e 




4 



VMES MONROE, the fifth 
rresidcntof The United States, 
\\ IS born in Westmoreland Co., 
\ I., April 28, 1758. His early 
ife was passed at the place of 
nativity. His ancestors had for 
many years resided in the prov- 
ince i:i which he was born. When, 
at 17 )ears of age, in the process 
' of completing his education at 
William and Mary College, the Co- 
onial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate upon the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Oreat Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years t)efore it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
tending with an enemy whom they had been tauglit 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
political emancipation. 'I'lie young cadet joined the 
ranks, and esjKiused the cause of his injured country, 
wiiii a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Eirmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirittd army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy lie received a wound in llie left 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was ])ro- 
moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becomin.; an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of P.randy 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by tiiat 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age; and having 
at this early period disi)layed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unreiiiittirg energy for the public good, 

■ •►- 






' 36 



/.L\f/:s A/oxA-o/:. 



lie was in tlic succeeding year chosen a member of 
ilic Congress of the L'liitfd Stales. 

Dccplyas Mr, Momoefclt tlie ini|>erfet tionsof theold 
),"outederacy, he was opjioscd loilie new Constiiiiiion, 
'■.hiiikiiig, with many others of tlie Kepulilican |)any, 
'.liat it gave Uto much |>owi.r to tlie Central Covermnent, 
and nut enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
su|i|>orters, and who, nutwithstanding his opjiosition 
secured its adu|iiion. In 1789, he l>ecame a member 
of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
four years. Kvcry month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great patties wliich divided the nation, 
the I'eder.d and the kepublican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now se|>- 
araied them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with Fr.ince, and aUo in favor of such a 
stiicl construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central I'lovernment as little ix)wer, and the State 
(ioverninentsas much [ower, as iheConsiitution would 
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with Kngland, 
ami were in favor of a liberal construction of tiie Con- 
stitution, which woulii give as much iK»wer to the 
Central Ciovernment as that document could [wssibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James .Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all ( irecian and .Vssyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light eipiilibrium. .'\nd yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. F>ngland had es- 
[wused the cause of the IJourlxjns against tlie princi- 
])les <if the F'rench Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a i)roclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending |iowers. F'rance had hel|>ed 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of l*'uro|>e were now combined to prevent the l-'rench 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured (1o\. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we slio\ild help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently op|)osed llie Pres- 
ident's imiclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
tnagnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
develo|>eil his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by ap|>>>inting that very James Monmc, who was de- 
noun<:ing the policy of theOi)Vcrnment, as the minister 
iif that Government to the Republic of F'rance. Mr. 
Monroe was weh onied by llie National Cjnvenlion 
in Fr.iM< e witu the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 
-^» 



Shortly after his return to this counliy, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Ciovernor of Virginia, and held the 
oftiie for three \eais. He was again sent to France to 
co-o|ierate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Lxjuisiana, which F'rance had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Sp.iin. Tlieir united eflicrts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territor) of ( )rleans and 
district of Ixniisiana were added to the United States. 
This was probably the largest transterof real estate 
wliich was ever made in all the history of the world 

F'roiii France .Mr. .Monn)e went to Fjigland to ob- 
tain from that country some recogniiion of our 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. but Kng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Faig- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He relumed to his home and was again 
chosen Ciovemor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the (wsition of Secretary of Stale under 
Madison. While in this fiffice war with England was 
declared, the .Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the ilutiesof the War Department 
were also put \i\K>n him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. Uixni the return o( 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec- 
tion held the ])revious autumn Mr Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but li;tle op|K)sition, and 
ui)on March <}, iSc;, was inaugurated. F'our years 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the ini|K)rtanl measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1S23. .At that 
time the United .States had recognized the indei>end- 
ence of the .South American slates, aiul did not wisli 
to have F'uro|)ean jKjwers longer attempting to sub 
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "'['hat we shouUI lonsider any aMeiii]>t 
on the ])art of F'timivjan |M)wers to extend their sys- 
tem to any jortion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safely," and "that we could not 
view any interjxjsiiion ft>r the purjiose of ojipressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light th.m as a manifest. ilion by F",um]>ean 
towers of an unfriendly dis|X)sition toward the United 
States." This doctrine iminedialely affeclcd the<ourse 
of foreign governments, and has Inicome the approved 
sentiment of the Ifnited Stales. 

At the end of his jecond term Mr Miinn>e retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he li\ed unlil iS^o, 
when he went to New N'ork lo live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he diedjOn tiie ^ih of July, iJ'ji. 



•► ■ -4« 




J, ^. At 



UArr^ 



SIXTIf PRESIDENT. 



30 




K^//:\\Kv:^£^ 



3or?]3 QUipY JWW^ 




OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
^ixth President of the United 
Slates, was jjorn in the rural 
home of his honored fatiier, 
John Adams, in (^uincy, Mass., 
on the I I th cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
worth, watched over his cliildhood 
during tlie almost constant ab- 
sence of liis father. When but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
his motlier on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
u|X)n the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

Wlien but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with liis father for Europe, 
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguisiied men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
John ()uincy accompanied his father. At F'aris he 
ap[)lied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to study; then acconipained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in .\msterdam, then 
the ITniversity at Leyden. Ai)out a year from tliis 
time, in 178 1, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

Tn this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This king journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence, 

m 



in the spring of I7<S2, he accompanied his father to 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent; 
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings, 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. After 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, nnder such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive; 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he ])re- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Uixjh leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty, 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Great Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight in 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal ns 
minister pleniix)tentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. While waiting he was mairied to an 
American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London ; 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
elevated sphere for which she was destined. 









JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



He rcachird Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
where he reniaiocd until July, 1799, when, havingful- 
filleil all the piir|K>scs of his mission, he solicited his 
retail. 

Suon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
the Senate of Massai luisctls, fioui Ikjston, and tlien 
was elecletl Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1S04. His reputation, his 
nliility and his ex|>eriencc, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that lody. KN|>eLially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its uieos ires of resistauce to the encioach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
salting our Hag. 'riiere was no man in America more 
fiiuiliar with the arrogance of the British court u[)on 
these |»ints, and no one more resolved to [jresent 
a firm resistance. 

In 1839, M.idison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
identi.d chair, and he innnediaiely nonunated John 
(Juincy .\(lams minister to St. I'eters:)urg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at lk)ston, in .August, 1809. 

While in Ru-.^ia, Mr. .\dams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
Euro|>ean system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
the climate and astronomical observations; while he 
Kept up a familiar ac()uaintance with the (jreek and 
Latin cl.issics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
.Ml through life the Bible constituted an im|K)rtaiit 
part ol his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

(^n the 4ih of March, 1S17, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately apjKjinted Mr. 
.■\il.ims Secretary of Stale. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Euroi)e, he 
s.iiled in June, 1819, for the United Stales. On the 
18th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in (juincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr .Vdams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some lime Inifore the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of otlice, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of .Mr. .Vdains brought 
fcirward his name. It was an excitijig campaign. 
P.irly spirit was never more bitter. Two himdred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
reived ninety nine; John (,)uincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Cr.iwford, furty^one; Henry <"lay, thirty- 
seven. As there was no choii e by the (Kople, the 
'piestion Wert to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Cl.iy g.ive the vole of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
combined in a venomous and |)ersistenl assaidl U|Kin 
Mr .\ilanis. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
the p.isl iiistory of our i.ounlr) than the abuse whith 



was [wured in oae uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. 'I'here never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, jier- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. /Vdains was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and tem|)erate in liis habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. U hen at his homein 
l^uincy, he has been known to w.ilk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to liosion. In Washington, it w.is said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and ai)plying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. .Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by .Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Callioun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The shivery question now began to assume 
|X)rtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long pemiitted to re- 
in. lin in retirement. In November, 1S30, he was 
elected rejjresentaiive to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the jxjsl as repre- 
sentative, lowering al)Ove all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freeiiom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloipient." U|X)ii taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. Me was usually 
the first in his pl.ice in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escajx; his scrutiny. 'I he 
battle wliicli Mr. .Adanis fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the (jovernment, was sublime 
in Its moral daring and heroism. For (lersisling in 
presenting |>eiitions for the alvolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination; 
but no tiireats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
Ixidy was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple f.iilh of a little 
child, he was accustomed tore|>eat every night, before 
he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the zislof F"ebruary, 184S, he rose on the lltKir 
of C-ongress, with a p.iper in his hand, to address the 
s|H:aker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
sis, and was caught in the amis of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed lo 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he ojiened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is llif rmi of earth ."then after a moment's 
pause he added, "/am con/ni/" These were the 
last words of the grand " t)ld Man l^loiiucnt." y 



»► ■ ^4« 



_^rJ 



"^ ^ 



;s^ 



I 





V^ tirz^-^ 






-•«»-H|-^ 



SEVENTH PRESIDEaWT. 



43 






^^ A.j^jpj^J^\^ JA^UsJ^Qj^. 



i 'Viaa£/©^-'S-»aTS« 




<"'>»">'~'T)«-g|^i!/TJW>v. aJjfi* 







NDREW JACKSON, the 
venth President of the 
^''"United States, was born in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. (;., 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after liis father's death. His 
parents were poor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took up 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest jxjverty, 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainlv; and there was but very 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old lie joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
blow at the head of the heli)less young ])risoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes,^-one on the hand and the other u|X)n the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which (luite 
diiabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-jxix. Their 
mother was successful in obtaining their exchange, 



■r-^ 



and took lier sick boys home. .Xfter a long illness 
Andrew recovered, and tiie death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

Andrew sup[x)rted himself in various ways, such as 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, wiien he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was a[)jK)intcd 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
wiiich Tennessee was tlien a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
with the Sharp Knife. 

In 179 1, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman wlio 
supposed lierself divorced from her former husband. 
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second lime, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years lie worked hard at his profes- 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eigiity thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Kncwille to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties, .\ndrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack- 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 



!^^ 



4 "' 



t 



./ x /)/!/■: ir /.icKsox. 



. ..ions, — .1 disi.incc of aU)iit cinlit hmulrcd miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Peuiu- 
cratic pirty. JelTerson was his idol. lie admired 
Bona|taric, loved France and hated Kngland. As Mr. 
Jai kson took his scat, (icn. \Va>hington, whose 
second lenn ol oltii e was then ex|ii.ii)g, delivered his 
lasts|H;eih to t)oni;iess. .\ committee drew up a 
con»iiiin>ent.ir)' aildrcss in reply. Andrew Jaikson 
did not approve of the address, and w.is one ol the 
twelve who voted against it. lie was i>ot willing to 
s.iy th.it (icn. Washington's adminslration had l>een 
'" wise, I'irin and patriotic." 

Mr. J.ickson w.is elected to the United ."states 
Senate in 1797, hut soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his .Stale, which |iusition he held {jX six years. 

When the war of 1812 with (Ireat Hiitian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the I'residential chair. 
Aaron Hirr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in the West, .Xndrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferretl u|ion him. Just at that time (ien. J.ickson 
offered his services and those of twenty-five hurdred 
volunteers. His tjfTer was accepted, and the tr(.K)ps 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly ex|>e( led to make an at- 
tack t:|ion New Orleans, where (icu Wilkinson was 
in comm.ind, he was ordered to ilescend tiie river 
with fifteen hundred Irciops to aid Wilkiiis<jn. The 
exiK'dition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were, onlered hack to their homes. Hut the 
energy (ien. Jaikson hail displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions; and he hecaine the most |X)pular 
man in the Stale. It was in this ex|K:dition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 

SoDU after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Heiiton, for a remark that gentleman 
made aUiiit his taking .1 part as second in .n duel, in 
whi<:h a younger liroilier of Henton's was engageil, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering ii|ion a hed of suflTering news came that the 
Indians, who had lomliined under Tei:ninseh from 
l-'lorid.i to the l.^kes, lo exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were cominitting the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action liec.ime necessary, (ien. Jackson, with 
his fr.ictured lK)ne just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and uu.ihle lo mount his horse without .issis- 
lance, g ive his ama/ing energies to the r.iising of an 
army to rendezvous at I'avellesvillc, .M.diama. 

The ("reek Indians had established a strong fori on 
one of the bendsof theT.illai>(Mi..a Kivcr. near the cen- 
ter c)f .M.ibaina, aUiut fifty miles below I-'cirt Sirolher. 
With an army of two thouAand men, (ien. lackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a mar< h of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohfii>eka or 
Horse-shoe, on ^^c 17th of March. 1.S14. The bend 



ol the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres ol 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across ihc narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable bri-a.st- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate^Not an Indian would accept of ipiarter. When 
l>leeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until d.irk, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful aiul revolting. .Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed .\ few pnibably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
|>ower of the Creeks was broken forever. This 1 old 
plunge into the wilderness, with itsterrilfic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands came to the camp, begging for |>eace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia u|ion the British, who were the 
allies of the Indi.ins .No man of less resolute will 
than (Jen. Jackson could h.ive conducted this Indi.in 
campaign to so successful an issue Ininiediatelv he 
was ap|Njinted major-general. 

I.ate in .\ugust, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, (ien. Jackson came tf) 
Moliile. .\ British llect came from I'ensai ola,l.intle<l 
a force njion the beach, anchored near the little fori, 
and Irom both siiip and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. .\t length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

(iarrisoning Mobile, where he ha«.l taken his lilib; 
army, he moved his troujis to New ( )rleans, 
.'Vnd the battle of New Orleans which sof)n ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for (ien. Jackson an im|>erishable name. Here his 
tro«)ps, whi<h tiumbered alK)Ut fovir thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of al>out 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two ihousanil six liundred. 

The name of (ien. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1814, 
he was ilefeated by Mr. .Ailams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of iSj.S, and w.is re-elected 
for a second term in i.S,^j. In 1.S29, just before he 
assuineil the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
jierhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
lier death he ni'ver recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our c-ountry; applauded by one parly, 
con<lemned by the other. No man h.id more bitter 
enemies or w.irmer friends. .\t the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired lo the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1S41;. The last years of NIr. Jai k- 
son's life were tli.it of a devoted Christian man. 



•►■-•• 



i^«- 



»**«^ 



%{ ^ 



W/ 




.■^**«^, 




y 7 2^^^ ii^L^'^ U-c^'^^^.- 






EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 



*» A ^ 



47 



|^^5XsVV^^^>,s€^ii%i(^^^^^ 




mM. Wm^"^ W^ BUREI]. 



r.> 






^^v^^2Xs)^/^®)^^SV^^€^^^7^^5^^ 



<^? 




ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
eighth President of the 
L"nited States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
ce, July 24, 1862. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about halt way up on one face. 
The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of romantic interest. He fought.no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among tiie earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of I^utch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and exemplary |)iety. 

He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in his native village, 



•►•-^^ 



he went to the city of Mew York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

Ii\ 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a iwlitician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights; though at thai time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy Ijoth in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing niputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th.: 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tht 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomi)lishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In i8r 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous supi)ort to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

W'liile he was acknowledged as one of the most 
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



4,S 



■•^-41- 



1/ / A" TIN VAN li VREN. 



ilic moral i-ouragc to avow that true democracy did 
i>oi re'|iiirc tli.ii " universal sufTra^ic" which admits 
ihc vile, the dei;r.iiletl, the ignorant, to tiic ri^hl of 
j;overniiin tlie Slate. In true consistency with his 
lienMKralic |>riiici|iles, he contended that, wiiilc tlie 
path leading to the privilcj^e of voting should he o])en 
to every man without distinction, no one sliould he 
invested with th.it sacred jircrogative, iiidess he were 
in some degree <)iialiried for it l>y intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of the 
.•^tale. 

IniSii he was elected ,1 memlier of the Linite<i 
Slates SePale; and in the s.iine year, lie took a seal 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native Stale. His course in this convention secured 
the apiiroval t>f men of all parties. N'o one coidd 
douht the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous nosilion as an active and useful legislator. 

In iSi7,Jolm Quincy .-Vdams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Huren was re-elected to 
the .Senate. He hail lieen from the beginning a de- 
'.ermined opi)'.)ser of the .Vdministr.ition, adopting the 
".State Rights" view in ojJiKjsition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. .•\danis. 

.Soon after this, in 1S2S, he was chosen dovemorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. I'roliahly no one in the United 
Slates contrihuted so much towards ejecting John (). 
Ad.inis frjm the Presidential chair, and placing in il 
Andrew Jacks<jn, as did Martin Van Huren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded ihroughoul the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of |Kiliticians 
Il was sui)iiosed that no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to 
organize a |iolitical .irmy which wo\dd, secretly and 
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic residts. Hy 
these |if)Wer>. it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When .\ndrew J.ii.kson w.is elei teil President he 
a|>|»..inied .Mr. Van Huren Secrel.iry of Siaie. This 
|r>,liii)ii he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
apiKiii'ted Minister to Kngland, where he went the 
s.ime autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 



home, ap|>arently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson; and with smiles for all and 
fiowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which li.id refused to confirm his nomii.ation 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the .Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in liehalfof his repudiated favor- 
ite; and this, probably more than any olher cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the t'hief Kxecu- 
tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Huren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Cen. 
Jackson as President of the United States He was 
elected by a handsome m.ijority, to the delight of the 
retiring Presiilent. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Win 
Huren to the Presidency was as much the act of Cen. 
Jackson as though the Consritution had -.onferrcd 
iiixjii him the |)Ower lo ap|>oinl a successor. ' 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in 
volve this counir)'in war with Kngland, the agitation 
of the slavery ipiestion, ami finally the great coninier- 
cial panic which S[iread over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was .11- 
Iributed to the management of the Ueniocratic parly, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re election. 

With the exception of being ntMninated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1S4S, 
Mr. Van Huren lived ipiieily u|>on his estate uniil 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudenl man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
comi>elence for his declining years. His unblemished 
charactei, his commanding abilities, his uiupiestioncd 
patriotism, and the distinguished |>ositions which he 
had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the h image of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. N'an Huren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at I.indenwald, 
he still exerted a |X)werful influence ui>on thejioliiics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at I.indenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than he h.id before 
ex|)erienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 



V 




^•A 



^ /^M 



2it-'Z^t-^^^'-- 



-^^- 



NINTH PRESIDENT. 




WIL^MM HENRY IMil^^M. 











ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the ninth President of 
the United States, was born 
;it Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
v^ His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, was early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of t775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

fMr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
i William Henr)', of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. .Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
wiili honor soon after the death of his father. He 
then repaired to Philadelphia tostudy medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardiansliip of 
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

U|)on the ouibreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
al)andoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death lie resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of tSoo the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
eastern jwrtion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western jwrtion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ajv 
ixiinted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign ujxjn the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times api)ointed to tliis office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements 
was on tlie Ohio, nearly op]X)site Ix)uisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About 



-4^ 



^l 



nil 1 1 AM IIIXRY tlARRlSOX. 



ihc year 1806, tW' 

. I !'u ^'1 .rt .'■-.■ •;i.c. T'-i- .1111. i:.^; wicui. < 'i.L- ui 

•,«..! rLiimisch, or " Tlic Crouthinn 
I' itu ! , ; 'i -ilicr, Olliwaclicia, or "The I'rophct." 
rccuiiitch Was nut only an Indian warrior, but a man 
r>f great sagacity, far-rcai:hiim forcsiglu and indomit- 
vMc |>cr-.cvctancc in any cntcr|iri-»c in which he might 

.. ^i-. He was inN|ilrcd willitlie liighcst cnlluisiasin, 
i.'i li ul lung regarded Willi dread and with haired 
tiic cncroatlwnent of the whites u|ion the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brolher, the I'rophct, was 
anoralor, win) couUI sway the feelings of the untutored 
hulian a-, tlio gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

lint the I'rophct was not merely an orator: he was, 
in the suiH;rstiiious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the sn|>erhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an eathasiasin unsurpassed by I'eter 
tlie Hermit rousing KurojH: to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was siKJcially sent 
by the Cireat Spirit. 

Ciov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at 'ripi)e- 
canoe the Indians were ro-.ited with great slaughter. 
< Ictober ;S, 1S12, his anny began its match. When 
near the I'rophct 's town three Indians of rank made 
their api)earance and in^piired why (lov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so Iwstilc an attituile. After a 
short conferenc:e, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next d.iy, to agree u|K)n terms of |K'ace. 

HutCiov. H.irrison was too well acijuainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such jjrotes- 
taiions .Selecting a favorable sjwt for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise 
His triMjps were |X)sted in a hollow sciuare, and slept 
U|»on their anns. 

The troops threw themselves ujwn the ground for 
risl; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Ciovernor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, h.id risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a dri//.ling rain. In 
the d.trkness, the ln<lians li.id crept as near as |X)ssi- 
blc, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the di:s|)cr.ilirin which su|)erstilion and passion most 
highly infl. lined could give, u|K)n the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoo|) was .ncompained by a shower of bullets. 

The cimp-fires were insl.inlly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
»us yells, the Indi.in bands rushed on, not dniiblir.g a 
sjiccdy and an entire victory. Ifiit (ien. H.irrison's 
troo|>s sliKxl as immovable as the ro< ks around them 
until day <l.iwne<l : they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them. .Hid completely routing th<' foe. 



Gov. Harrison now h.id all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from thct'an- 
adas, were of themselves a ver) formid.ible force ; but 
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves t'rum the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, plundering, sc.dping, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The w.ir-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated witli the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers, lien Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Deiroii. 
Under these despairing circumstances, (iov. Harrison 
was apjiointed by I'resiilent Madison coinmander-iii' 
chief of the North-western army, wiih orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to pl.ice a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, s.igacity and courage; but 
(iencral Harrison w. is found cjual to the i»osilion, 
and nobly and triumphantly ilid he meet all the re- 
s|K)nsibiliiies. 

He won the love of his soUliers by always sharing 
willi Iheni their fatigue. His wliole baggage, while 
pursuing ihe foe uj) the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British oflicers, 
his prisoners of war, supi>ed with him after tlie battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, wiliiout bread or salt. 

In 18 r6, (ien. Harrison was chosen a menilier of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he |)roved an 
active member; and whenever he sjioke, it was with 
force of reason and |K)werof elociuencc, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1S19, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as oneof the presidential electors 
of that Stale, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United .States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Ccn. Harrison brouglr. him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency ag.iinsl 
Van Ibiren. but he was defeated. .\t tlie close of 
Mr. V.m Buren's term, he was re-noinii-ated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler lorlhe \'ice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Cicn Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's electJDn ; but 
his triumph w.is signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with D.iniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of Slate, was one of the most 
brilliant with whii h any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the jirospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the ho|)cs of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous |)n)s|)ecls, (ien. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisv-fever and after a few d.iys of violent sick- 
ness, died on the .(th of .April ; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United Stales. 



•►• -^■ 



•«-■ 



4 



^^r 




o-i^i/n Mj-^^ 



•► 



-^^ 



TENTH PRESIDENT. 



55 





f^ I OHN TYLER, the tenth 
fL Presidentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was tlie favored child of af- 
fluence and high social po- 
sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
but seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and partly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, ne 
commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
et of the court in which he was 
not retained. \\'hen but twenty-one years of age, he 
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably with the Democratic party, opjxjsing a national 
bank, internal improvements by the General Govern- 



ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con* 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A jwrtion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his opix>nent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, ujwn taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He op[X)sed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opjX)sed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
eral (iovernment, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the ])iinciples of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
his profession. There was a cplit in the Democratic 



t 



•► ■ -4- 



lOUX TYLER. 



V 



\ 



|).iny. His fnends sill .i true Jcf- 

fciTionian, gave him a iliiH'i. I. .i: u Mi^'ncicd coinpli- 
inciits u|iuii hill), lie li.id iiuw atlaiiicd tlic a(;c uf 
forty-six. His larccr liad Iktcm very l>rilliaiit. lucon- 
sc-<|iicncc of \wi devotion to public luisiiiess, his pri- 
vate afTaiis h.ul f.illen into some disorder; and it was 
not withui ' ■ i that he resumed the prai tice 

of law, ai •. .l^ell Id llie< ulluie of his plan- 

tation. S. he removed to W'iiliamsburn, 

for the Ijeticr cdui aiion of his children ; and he again 
took his seat in the l>cgl^lature ol N'li^inia. 

Ity the Southern Whigs, lie was sent to tlie national 
convention at Hartislmrg to nominate a President in 
iSji^. riie maiorilv of votes wer^ given to (ieii. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to tiie disap|)ointnientof 
the South, wlio wislicd for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
ronvention then nominated John Tyler lor Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was iu)t in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in theNoilh: hut the Vice 
I'resident has liiit very lillle |X)wer in the Ciovern- 
ment, his main and almost only duly lieing to pre- 
si<le ot'cr the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
|>ened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
DeiiKjrratic Vice President were chosen. 

Ill 1S41, Mr. Tyler was in.iugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United Stales. In one short month from 
that time. President Hirri.wn died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. 'This was a new test of the stahilily of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had orcured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williain-.l>urg wlieii he received Vlie 
ui;ex|K:cled tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hasteneil to Washington, and on the 6th of 
.\pnl w.is inaugurated to the high and res(X)nsilile 
ortiie. He w.is pi. iced in a )>o"iition of exceeding 
delicacy and difl)> ulty. All his long life he had heen 
op|iosed t( ll-.e m.iin primiplcs of the parly whic h had 
liroiighl him into |)<iwer. He had ever lieen a con- 
sistent, hone-it man, with an unlilemished record. 
(Jen. Harrison h.id selected a Whig cahinet. Should 
he ret.iin them, and thus suiround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own.' or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
which had elected him and select a cahinet in har- 
mony with himself, and whu h would oi>|iose all those 
views which the NVhigs deemed essential to the puli- 
lic welf.ire? This w.is his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cahinet which President Harrison h.ul 
selected to retain their seats. He reiirominjnded a 
day of fastiii;; and prayer, that (iod would guide and 
lilcss us. 

The Whigs c.irried through Congress a hill for the 
inror|ioralion of a fiscal hank of the United States 
'The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
his veto. Hf HUiigested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn up u|K)n such a plan as he 
projxjsed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
))riv.uely submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the o|>en rupture, 
it is said that Mr. 'Tyler was provoked to this incis- 
ure by a published letter fioin the Hon. John M. 
Ikitts, a di>tinguislied Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

'The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. 'The party whit h elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. \Vebsler, resigned. 'The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and tlie House, held .1 
meeting and issued an .addiess to the |>eople of the 
United .States, proclaiming that all |Hj|itical alliame 
between the Whigs and President ■T)ler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
ap|)Ointed a new cabinet ol distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong j)arty 
men. Mr. Webster six)n fouiul it necessary to resign, 
forceii out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 'Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate adinini>tra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. 'The 
land was filled with munniirs and viiu|)eration. Whigs 
and Democrais alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
okl friends, the 1 )emocrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the sup|iort of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassmenis of office, to the regret of neither ]).irty> and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letilia Cluistian, died in Washington, in 1.S42; 
and in June, 1S44, I'resitlent 'Tyler was again married, 
at New Vork, to Miss Julia Cardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 

'The remainder of his days Mr. 'T_\ ler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — .S|ierwo<Kl For- 
est, Charles city Co., \'a. \ |K)lislied gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
IxKiks and experience in the world, and |iossessing 
brilliant |»owers of conversation, his family circle w.is 
the scene of unusual attractions. With suflicient 
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have eiijoved a serene old age with the few 
friends who g.ithered .iround him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own iirinciples and 
|X)licy had heli>ed to introtliice. 

When the great Rebellion rose, whiih the St.ite- 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President 'Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United Slates, aiul joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
fori e of arms, the (iovernment over whi( h he li.ul 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 




cJ^-^^'- 



>► II ^* 



ELE VENTJI PRESIDE NT. 



59 



-i^-%^^ :^3^N^, , --j>^-^^v 







"^l:^. 




yl AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
|kPresident of the United States, 
fil was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
3 N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
of Col. Thomas Polk, wlio located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first |)ioneers, in 1735. 

Ill the year i3o6, with iiis wife 
and children, and soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
I lie Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huls, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 

f**"*' derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and ex[iressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
hiin methodical in his habits,'had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
rality. His health was frail ; and his 
that he might not be able to endure a 



L 1 principles of morj 
I father, fearing tha 

Hi <■ 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disaijpointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to j)rosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. \Vith 
aidor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 18 18, with the highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
slightly ac(iuainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was 
constantly called wixm to address the meetings of his 
l)arty friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was jxjpularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



•» ■ M* 



•►•-^*- 



■♦►^ -4« 



/ i\f/-:s K. roi.K 



:ourteous in his Itearing, and with (hat sympaihelic 
nature in the jo\ s and jjricfs of others which ever gave 
hin> troops <>( friends. In iSij, Mr. I'olk w.is elected 
ti> the l.f^isl.iiiire of Tennessee. Mete he nave his 
ttrung influence tow.irds tlic election of his friend, 
Mr. J.icksori, to the Presidency of the United States. 

Ill J.inuary, 1824, .Mr. I'olk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, — a lady of heauly and cul- 
ture. In tiie fall of 1.S25, Mr. I'olk was chosen a 
iuentl>er of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may Ik: inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1 839, he was con- 
tinued in that office. He then volimtarily withdrew, 
only that he might accejit the (luhernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a lal)orious 
mcmlKrr, a fre'|uent and a iKipular si>eaker. He was 
alw.iys in his seat, always courteous; and whenever 
he »|K)ke it was always to the (wint, and without any 
amiiitious rhetorical display. 

Puringfive sessions of Congress, Mr. I'olk was 
Sjwaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; l)Ut Mr I'olk per- 
fonned his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
|>assed l>y the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. I'olk, as a 
candidate for Ciovcrnor, canvassed the .State. He was 
electal l>y a large majority, antl on the '4th of Octo- 
Im.t, i.S39,look the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the democratic party, hut was defeated. 

On the 4tliof March, iS45,Mr. I'olk was inaugur- 
ated I'resident of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annex. ition of Texas, exerted 
its influence uixjn Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of I'resident Tyler was to aflix his sig- 
nature to a joint res4ilution of Congress, passed on the 
3<1 <jf March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
thr .American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his |>ass|xjrts and 
left the country, declaring the .act of the annexation 
to l>c an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, I'resident I'olk urged that 
Texas should immedialel;-, liy .let of Congress, he re- 
ceived into the I'nion on the same footing with tlie 
Other Slates. In the meantime, (jen. Taylor was sent 



with an anny into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans 5aid was the 
western l>oundar)' of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Kio Cirande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western hanks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and war 
was declared against Mexico by I'resident I'olk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. I'olk's administration 
with great vigor. Cien. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
then of " invasion, "w.is sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every en-^ounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the niisery which this war caused. 
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. I'olk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'TiJlhe victors belong the s|x}ils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
We now consented to [H-Mce u|»n the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of L'p|H;rand Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory ecpial to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thi)usand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid lo Mexico. 

On the 3d of M irch, 1S49, Mr. I'olk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Oen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor Mr I'olk nxle to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Cien. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. I'olk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly tem|)erate in all his habits, 
and his health was good With an ample foitune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, anil domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranipiility and happiness were before him. Hut the 
cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up 
the N'.illey of the Mississippi. This he contiai led, 
antl dietl on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 



«^ 



•►« -4* 



i 




"/jCx^-cyi<-^-^y/ Vck^y 




TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 



•►-•-4» 



(^ 



':-'m\\-\^\ ^\-^4B?^^^^^ -^ K%^^. ^?^ j:^^ 



? ACHARY TAYLOR, iwdfth 

"^ I'l 



if 



'resident of the United States, 
l^^was born on the 24th of Nov., 
'j 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
3 father, Colonel Taylor, was 
^^^ , ' a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
} tinguishcd [latriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
ier home, away from civilization and 
its refinements, young Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to l)e recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childliood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 1S12, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison.on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
led by Tecumseh, Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved uixin the fort. Tlieir 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible jireparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in tlie morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and (jtolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the blockhouses- 
Until si.x o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages tiien, baffled at every iwint, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, Majorl'aylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depthsof the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 






/..iCIl \Ry T I )f.Oh' 



I 



tcllect I hill) thu 

\c.lt^ rMiic.lMi liii.i ,111) lie rose to the i.iiiK ui 

•;.:;cl. Ill ilic lil.ickH.iwk wiif, whiuli resiilicd ill 
'iR- I qiture ol' th.il renowned chicflain, Col I'.iylor 
took a stibordinjlc luit a brave and ethcieiit (urt. 

l-or twenty-four years (.'ol. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the fronlierN, in scenes so remote, and in 
cini'loynients so oliscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond the hmils of liis own immediate ai iiuaiiilance. 
In the year 1S36, lie was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire Iwyond the Mississiiipi, as their chiels by treaty, 
had promised they should do. The services rendered 
here secured for OjI. Taylor the high ajipreciation of 
the liovernment; and as a reward, he was elevated 
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet; and soon 
after, in May, 183S, was apjx^inled ti) the chief com- 
mand ol the United States troops in Florida. 

.\fier two years of sucli wearisome employment 
amidst the evergl.ides of the [jeninsula, Cicn. Taylor 
obtained, at his own teijuest, a change of command, 
and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field enibr.iced Ix)uisi.ina, Mississippi, 
.Alabama and Cieorgia. Kstablishing his head(piarters 
at Fort Jessup, in Ixjuisi.ina, he removed his family 
to a plantation whicli he purcli.ised, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remaineil for live years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duly 
im|iosed u|>on him. 

In I S46, (Icn. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
lietween the Nueces and Rio (Irande, the latter river 
being the lioundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United .Slates. Soon the war with Mexico 
was brought on, and at Palo .\lto and Kcsaca do la 
I'.ilma, (ten. Taylor won brilli.int victories over the 
Mexicans. 'The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred ui>on (leii. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
Biiena Vista in whit h he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he coinm.nuled. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for flen. Taylor among his troops, 
\\\e snhrit/uft of "()ld Rough arid Re.idy.' 

Tiie tiilings of the brilliant victory of Kueiia Vista 
spread the wildest enlhusiasm over the country. 'The 
ii.inie of (>en. T.iylor w.is on every one's lips. 'The 
Whig i)arty decided to lake adv.intage of this wonder- 
ful (lopularity in bringing forward the unjiolislied, un- 
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
{'residency, tien. 'Taylor was astonished at the an- 
noiincenicnt, and for .1 lime would not listen toil; dc- 
cl.iring that he was not at all ipialiried for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in [xjlitics that, 
for forty years, he hail not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished sl.itesnien 
who had been long ye.irs in the public service found 
their claims set aside in behalf of one wliosc n.iiiie 



•►•-«• 



> I with Palo 

.M!.., IMS. II .1 UC 1.1 lUUll, lioiULHJ alld UuClia 

N'ist.L It is said that Uaniel \N'ebsler, in his haste re- 
marked, "It is a nomination not lit to be made. " 

tlen. Taylor was not an elo<|ucnt s|>e.iker nor a fine 
writer His friends took iiossession of him, and |ire- 
jiared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. 'Theiiopularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He w.is tri- 
umphantly elected over two opiosiiig candidates, — 
den. Ciss and Kx-I'resideiit Martin Van Uuren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial |K)sition, 
and was, at times, s<irely |)erplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufTerings were very scveie, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. 'The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , ex|>edi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
|)le.iding for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Cen. 'Taylor found 
the |iolitical conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the n'.;r%'es than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians 

In the midst of all these troubles, den. 'Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential ch.iir but little 
over a year, took cold, and afler a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the Qihof July, 1S50. 
His last woids were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
reatly. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
univcrs.illy resi>ected anil beloved. .\n honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the peoi>le; and the N.iiion bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Cen. Scott, who was thoroughly accpiaiiited with 
Cien. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character: — " With a good store ol 
common sense, Cicn. 'Taylor's mind had not l>een en- 
larged anil refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ide.is was the conse- 
quence. 'The frontiers and small military |K)Sts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. 'Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
ch.mced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or hish.it 
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling fruni an out- 
side jiocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something woise), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repealed phrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs." 

".\ny allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's s|>elling-l>ook, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, W.IS eviilence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy in.irching-i and combats. In short, 
few men h.ive ever h.id a more comfortable, labor- 
siiving contempt for le.irnii.g of every kind. ' 



i 




^. 



^ 



^^^->ci^-</j y^<i!^i^<^'7c) 



•►Hh-^^ 



4 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



(>1 



•i>s;s*s[s*s-S' 





-^s- 



'MILLftRn FILLMnRE.'^ I 

■it 



JS-^ 






<i^ 




"^"^ 




T^ 



ILLARD FILLMORE, ihir- 
tceiitli Presidentof the United 
Suites, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 7th of January, 1800. His 
'•^ father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she [XDssessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
IX)sition, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in raid- 
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate; 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read histor)-, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal a[)pearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck vvith the prepossessing a[)- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much im[)ressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
no friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion about 
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls 
tnd then enters a law office, who is by no means as 



■ -**■ 



;^ * i,n 



MH.LAKD FlI.L.MOKr.. 






•►•-^*- 



well prepared tu prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual lalxir, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In iSij, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of CoMimon Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, iKMcefui region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opiiortuiiiiy for a sudden rise in foitune or in fame. 
Here, ill the year |S»6, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capalile of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, witii an elder member of the bar in 
HufTalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in tlic House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a representative from Krie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in |«litics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the ^^'hig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature, still the testimony conies from all parlies, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degn e the resjHict of his associates. 

In the autumn of i8j2, he was elected to a seat in 
the United .States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict resi>ecting the 
national bank and the removal of the de|>osits, was 
then raging. 

His temi of two years closed ; and lie returned to 
his profession, whicii he pursued with increasing re|)- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in iS^y. His past ex|)c- 
rience as a representative gave him strength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. Ail his ener- 
gies were brought to bear u|Kjn the |)ublic good. Kvery 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his |xipularity filled the Slate, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State- 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His lalwrs at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting alwut to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Kio CIrande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
witii the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in ttumi>et-tones all over the land. Hut 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of rei)Uiation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesofZachary Taylor ar.d Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1S49, 
Cien. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United Slates. 

On the 9th of July, 1850. President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura- 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. Hy the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He apiwinled a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretar)- of State. 

Mr. Fillniore had very serious dilVKiilties to contend 
with, since the op|X)sition had a majority in Ixjth 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South; but the pro-slaver)' party in the .South fell 
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The ixjpulation of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the [wwer of the Ciovernment should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Fxpedilion 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1S53, Mr Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was bealen 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally siipiosed that 
his syin|)athics were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial wonls of cheer to the one |)arly or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by l)Olh. He lived to a ri])e 
old age, and died in Uuflalo. N. V., March 8, 1874. 



■» ■ -<• 




.,-^'W'^/^^ cS^a-i^ 



•► II 4* 



FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



Tli 




1,0. ^FHflNKLIN PIEHEE.^ ^t; 











RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
lourteenth President of the 
' liiited States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Cliristian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with [)ride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speakingkind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any i)recocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to backs, he was a good scholar; in l)ody, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most jwpular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



S»— '"«4"<i*V^ 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of tiie young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to re[)resent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 18.33, '"*■' the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with wliom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
Means .Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with which her husband was honoied. Of the 



•*¥-m^^ 



•^•-4- 



/■A'.IXAL/N PIERCE. 




tlu> ' thcin, all now sleep with 

ihcir jMrciiis m the ^r.i\c. 

Ill ihc year 183S, Mr. I'icrcc, with growing fame 
ni)d increasing business as a lawyer, tuok u|> his 
residence in Conconl, the capital of New Hami>shirc. 
President I'olk, iijion his accession to office, ap]xjinled 
Mr. I'ierce attorney-general of the United .States; but 
tlie offer was declined, in conseipicnce of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
stale of Mrs. I'ierce's health. lie also, al>out the 
s.inie time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Kemocratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
I'ierce in the army. Receiving the a|)|>ointment of 
btigadier-gencral, he embarked, with a |iortion of his 
iroojis, at New|xjrt, K I., on the ^ylh of May, iS^y. 
lie took an imjiortant ]>art in this war, [iroving him- 
self a brave anil true soldier. 

When (^en. I'ierce reached his lionie in his native 
-State, he was received entlnisi.istically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his op|X)- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very fre<piently taking an active part in |X)litical ques- 
tions, giving his cordial sup|>ort to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democraiic party. The compromise 
nie.isures met cordi.iUy with his approval; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcentent of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
Tlie strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
• (uently regarded him as a man wliom they could 
safely trust in oftice to carry out their plans. 

f)n the 12th of June, 1S5;, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Haltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballolings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vole thus far had been thrown 
for Cien. I'ierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which (len. I'ierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
receive<l two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven, (len. Wiiifield Scott was 
the Whig candidate, (len. I'ierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
s.ichusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
elector.d votes against him Cien. Franklin l'iei< e 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stomiy our 
country had ever ex|>erienccd. The controversy l>e- 
tween slavery and freedom was then ap|iroachuig \\i 
culminating jwint. It became evident that there was 
an "irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
this Nation could not long e.\ist " half slave and h.ilf 
free." President I'ierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were l)orne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' tenn 
of oftice. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they a|>- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he h.iil 
rendered himself so im|>opular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4ih of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident , and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
I'ieicc remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies lo 
that pro-slaver)' parly with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or i)en, to strengthen the hand of the National C'lov- 
crnment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the linte of his death, which occurred in Oclober, 
1869. He was one of the most genial ami social ot 
men, an honored communicant of the I-lpiscopal 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. (ien- 
erous to a fault, he contiilmted liber.illy for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- , 
people were often gladened by his material l>ounty 



-•► • -<• 



^^.■ 



.v^ 



'i 




t. 



\:<u.-/ru>J Q^^e^i 



^(^.c/^^^? C^^y^ 






I'IFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



.-^h-H 



75 







■■ '-1^^ 


m 




1 


■f^v^^-i 




.J AMES BUCHANAN, the M- 
•^jjleenth President of the United 
^"states, was born in a small 
/3 frontier town, at the foot of the 
'f eastern ridge of the AUegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on 
the 23d of April, 1791. The ;'lace 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 



ul)ject; 



with 



niantic sjKJt in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
tivandly all around. His father 
was a liative of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his ol)Scure part in the dTama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated willi the highest 
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in tlie city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest law>ers of the State. When but 
twentv-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 01 e of the 
judges of the State, who was tried u|)on articles of 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1S20, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some imix)rtant case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

den. Jackson, upon his elevation to ihe Presidency, 
apjxjinted Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, whicli 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri 



^ 



76 



u 



James bvchanan. 



sals against Ktancc, to cnfunc the payment uf our 
claims against that coiintr)' ; and dclcndcd the course 
ol the l're-.iileiit ni his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal Irniii ultx e ul those who were not the sui>- 
imriers ul hu administration. U|ion this ipiestion he 
was lirought into tlirccl collision with lleniy Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
Ituin till- )iiurn.tl of the Senate the vote of censure 
ag.iin-l (ien. J.ickson lor removing the de|>osits. 
K.irnestly he op|»osed the aUililion of slavery in the 
l>islricl of Coluinliia, and urged the prohibition of the 
I irculation of anti-slavery documents l>y the Linitcd 
States mails. 

As to ;)Ctitions on the suliject of slavery, he advo- 
cated ih.it they should l>e rcs!>ectfidly received; and 
lh.it the reply should he returned, that Congress had 
no |iower to legisl.ile n|Kjn the suliject. " Congress," 
s.iiti he, " might .is well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
."stales where it now exists." 

I'jion .Mr. I'olk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Ittichanan hecaine .Secretary of Stale, and as such, 
tiK>k his share of the resixinsihilily in the conduct of 
the Mexitan \Var. Mr. I'olk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces liy the American troo|>s into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, liut for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio (trande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of the course our (lovernment pursued in that 
movemcnl 

Mr. Itiich.inan idcntihed himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the p.'r|)etuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to liear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
iiirdial approval to the compromise measures of 1050, 
whii h included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
up(m his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to l-'ngland. 

In the year iSj't. a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Huchanan for the Presidency. The 
|K>litical conflict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. .Ml the friends of 
-.l.ivery were on one side; all the advoc.ites of its re- 
striction and final al>olition, on the other. Mr. I're- 
iiiont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
leived 1 14 elecior.il votes, Mr. liiichanan received 
17.1, and w.is elected. The |opuIar vote stotnl 
1,540,618, for I'reinont, 1,12.), 750 for ISuchanan. On 
.M.irch 4th, 1857, Mr. Huchanan w.is inaugurated. 

Mr. Huchanan was far advance<l in life. Only four 
years were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had heen 
illii-d in |io1ilii:al princi|>les and action for ye.irs, were 
seeking the destruction of the Ciovernment, that they 
might rear u|>on the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should lie human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Huchanan was ho|ielessly lie- 
wildcrcd He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently op|iosc the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United Slates, 
bound liy his o.ith f.iilhfully to administer the laws 
he could not, without |ierjury of the grossest kiiul, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthtow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did nothing. 

The opiwnents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
noininaled .Miraham Lincoln as their standard be.irer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
parly declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Covernment were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory ot 
the United States. 

Mr. Huchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery 
party w.is such, that he had been willing to offerlheni 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had [irofessed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention U|X)n the subject of slavery. Mr. Hu- 
chanan had licen ready to offer them the active co- 
oi>eration of the (iovernnient to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the stonn increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Huchanan avow- 
ing that C'ongress had no jiower to prevent it, one ol 
the most |>itialile exiiiliitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no (ower to enforce its 
laws in any -State which had withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from the L'nion. This 
was nol the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, wlien, with 
his hand mxan his sword hilt, he exclaimed. " Tlie 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Huchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston ; l-'orl Sumpter 
was be^-ieged; our forts, navy -yards and arsenals 
were sei/.ed ; our dejiols of military stoies were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and ix)sl-oflices were 
appro|)riated by the rebels. 

The energy <if the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation lookul 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close tb.e administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-lcmked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
lileasure. And siill more deplorable it is lor his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict wliii h rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole lantl, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 



•► ■-♦•- 



-•^-1l-4» 




p^ 



y^6uy- co'-d^ 






SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



-•►^l- 

79 i,l 






":f' 



'f 



< ABRAHAM > ffli>^<;^ < LINCOLN. !> ^ 







^ '^)X(^ 111 '■'^^^'f'''^^ LINCOLN, the 
'^^' , Jm\\ 'y) ''ixteentli President of the 
Si^ f^aV i^LliiUcd States, was liorn 

^ //@^V'V ^^''"■'"' ^""■' '^y-' ^'-''^- '^' 
^re-*- -*^J 1809 About the year 1780, ;i 

mill l)y the nmiie of Abraliaiii 
^^ Lincohi left Virginia with his 
fimily and moved into the tlien 
witdsof kentLicky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian andshot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of -Vbraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth fo^^ever be enrolled 
with the most |)roniinent in the annals of our world. 
Of course no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lin<oln. He was among 
the |X)orest of the [wor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and jjush out into the world, a friend- 
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
laborer in the fields of others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he buili a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was Al>raham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a nol>le 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
"All that I am, or hope to be," e.xclaims the grate- 
ful son "I owe to my angel-mother. 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. \Vhere 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to leach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
.Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his sipiatter's claim in 1830, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

.Miraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-caliin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his jxiwer He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liipior to pass his lips. And he had read in 
Ood's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Ivord thy ("rod in vain;" and a profane exi)ression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham woiked for a time as a hired laborer 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in I iiilding a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven 



■:-^ 




. So 



ABRAHAM LINCOLX 



4^ 



tare lii-i cinpl'iycis were so well plLMseil, ihal ujion 
his return tiioy placed x store and null under his care. 

In 1832, at the outlireakof the Ulack M.iwkwar, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
rclvirncd to Sangamon t!ounty, and although only 23 
year-, ul a^ie, was a candidate lor the Legislature, bul 
was ileleated. Me soon after received from Andrew 
jaikson theapi»ointmenlof I'ostmasterof New Salem, 
ills only iiost-olfice was his hat. .Ml the letters he 
received he carried there re.idy to deliver to those 
he chanced 10 meet, lie studied surveying,and soon 
ni.ide this his l.usiness. In 1S34 he again liecame a 
c.mdidate for the l^egislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Spnngticid, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New .Salem to Springfield, Injrrowed of 
Mr. Stu.irt .1 load of Inxiks, carried them hack and 
liegan hi-, legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
semliled he trudged on fool with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to V.indaliu, then the capital. In 
i.S36 he was re-ele< teil to the lx;gislature. Here it 
was he first met Stei>hen \. Dougl.is. In 1839 he re- 
MKjved ti) Springfield and lieg.in the i>ractice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engageil in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1854 the gre.it discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr. IK)uglas, on the slavery ipiestion. 
In theotganiz.ition of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an .utive part, and at once became 
one of the le.iders in th.it party. Mr. Lincoln's 
sjicechesin op|)osition ir. .Senator Dougl.is in the con- 
test in 1.S58 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable p.irt of his hislot)'. The issue was on the 
ilavery .pie^ion, .iiid'he took the broad ground of 
he Declaration of IndeiK-ndence, that all men are 
created enual. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a f.ir higher jiri/.e. 

The gre.it Republican tjjnvenlion met at Chicago 
on the i6ih ol June, 1.S60. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the ciiy amounted to twenty- 
live thousand. /Xn immense building called " 'i'he 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candid. ites for whom voles 
were lhn)wn. Willi.im II Sewanl. .1 m.in wliose fame 
.IS a statesman h.id long filled ihe land, w.is the most 
nrominent. It w.is gener.illy supjiosed he would be 
the nominee Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the thiril ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the we.iry years of toil and care, and the 
bliMxIy deilh, to winch that nomin.ition dfximedhim: 
.11x1 aslittledid liedre.im that he w.is to render services 
to his countr)', which would fix u|>on him the eyes of 
the whole < ivili/.ed world, and wliich would give him 
.1 |)1a< e in tlie afTei lions of his countiymen, second 
only, if second, to that of Wishinglon. 

Klection tlay < ame and Mr. Lincoln received iSo 
elei toral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
I unstitiitionally elected President of the Uniteil States. 
The tirade of abuse that vas jwured u|)on this good 



•►■.-♦ 



and merciful man, es|>ccially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than u|>on any other man ever elected to this 
liigh (Msition. In Kebruar)', 1S61, .Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stop|iing in all the large cities on his 
w.iy making siKreches. The whole journey was froughl 
with much danger. Many of the Southern .States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more h.id arranged, ii|»on his arrival to" get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and h.md-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and s|ieci.il train was provided to 
take him from Harrislnirg, through ISallimoie, at an 
unex|H;cted hour of the night. The train started at 
half-p.ist ten ; and to prevent any |>ossible communi- 
cation on the p.irt ol the Secessionists with theirCon- 
federate gang in IS.dtiniore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal i)eople. 

In the selection of his c.ibinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to .Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opixinents before the convention he gave 
important |iositions. 

During no other administration hav: the duties 
devolving mwii the I'resident been .so manifold, and 
the res|ionsibililies so gre.it, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Liiuuln. Kni>wiiig this, and 
feeling his own we.ikness and in.ibility to meet, and in 
his own strength to coik with, tiie ditticulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
delermining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo'h |iersoiial and national. Contrary '.o his 
own estimate of himself. Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
with no guard bul a few sailors. From the time he 
had left .Springfield, in 1S61, however, plans had been 
made f>r his assassination, and he at last fell a vi( tim 
tooneofthem. April 14, 1865, he, with (Jen. Cirani, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. Ii 
was announced th.it ihey would I.e jiresent. Cien. 
Cirant, however, left the lity. I'resident Lincoln, feel- 
ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disap|)oiniinent if he should f.iil them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the i>lay an actor by the name of John Wilkes Hih>lh 
entered the Imjx where the President and family were 
sealed, and find a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of Ihe World was a nation 
plunged intf) such deep grief by the de.ilh of its ruler 
Strong men met in the sta-els and wept in speechless 
anguish. It is not t<K) iiiiuh to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will filly lK;come a 
model. His name as the savior of his country will 
live with that of Washington's, ils father; hiscountr)'- 
men being unable to decide which is the greater. 



t 




f^J^^/t 



HI-4^ 



^l 



SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



83 





A ix o u fi^ w A rj{ ( e^f^5 rj c^r^ 






NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
,ij> Slates. The early life of 
s3j Andrew Johnson contains but 
the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
was born December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class of the 
"lx)or whites " of the South, were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education uixsn 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, .Vndrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supjKirted by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was aj)- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became tiiuch interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called ujx)!! the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 



HH^^ 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the bcK)k, 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on- 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos- 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature, 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that imjxjrtant post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in ICS55. In all these resixjnsible jwsi- 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abiU 

c^ 



v 



84 



-•*-• 



A NDRK 1 1 ' JOHNSON. 



iiy, and proved himself the warm friend 

ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson w.i. cinicil 

United States Senator. 

Years l>efore, in 1845, he h.id wannly advocated 
ilie annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he ttvought this annexation would prob- 
ably piuvc "to be the gateway out of which llie sable 
itons of .\ffica are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1S50, he also supiwrted the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white i»eople of the Territories should 
be |)enniltcd to decide for themselves whether .they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the free States of the North should return to the 
South [icrsons who attempted to escai)e from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was neverashamodof his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often look pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that .\dani 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a car|)enter." 

In the Charleston- Baltimore convention of i860, he 
was tije choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
President y. In 1861, when the puriwsc of the Soutii- 
ivn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
»tand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must l>e held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
im|)criled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tcnncsee. Tennessee having seceded from tiie 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military (lovcmor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 
1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
Slates, and w\ion ihe death of Mr. Lincoln, ,\))ril 15, 
1S65, l)ecaine President. In a six-'ech two d.iys later 
he said, "The American jKiople must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must 1)0 putiished ; that the Ciovernment will not 
always l)ear with its enemies; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * Tlie [leople 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely l>e punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of whii h is so well known, 
was in utter in<;onsistency with, and the most violent 
-4» 



opiwsition to, the principles laid down in that sjx:cch. 

In his loose {xjlicy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opjwsed by Congress; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of imi)eachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the im()cachmenl was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted u|x>n that article so 
would it vote mxin all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the nol guilty 
side would have sustained the imi)eachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though im|)olcntly, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it eX|)edient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm impar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of lien. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
lX)litics until 1875. On Jan. ^6, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States .Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that l)ody, at the s|K'cial 
session convened by President Grant, on the sth of 
March. On the 27lh of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
.Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with ])aralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
I le rallied occasion.illy, but finally passed away at 
I A. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
witli every demonstration of rcs])ccL 



•^•-4« 







.f r 



/ 




cf^t^t^ 



:€r 






EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



87 A 





LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
eighteenth President of the 
United States, was born on 
tlie 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a humble 
home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military jxjsts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the esJiibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging ujxin one 
side of the anipsal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Key, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered ujwn the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a fanner. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
" Uncle Sam has educated me for the army ; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the Stale, where their services were 
oflfered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being fonned in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of 



*► l U^ 



II 



•rita 



88 



-•►«- 



l/Li'SSES S. GRANT. 



June, 1861, Capt. (irant received a coiiiinission as 
foloncl of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers, Mis merits as a West Point (jraduate, wlio 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were suth 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Urigadier- 
(ieneraland was jilaced in command at l"airo. The 
rcl>els raised their banner at I'adiu ah, near tlie mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds a])- 
l>cared in the breeze ere lien, (irant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
striites were unfurled in its ste.id. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pus'iing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Helmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henr)- 
won another victorj*. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victor)-, and the brave le.ider of the l)oys in blue was 
immediately made a M.njor-Oeneral, and the military 
district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great ca|)tains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels li;id thus far encountered, 
ando|»ene<l up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. (irant was next ordered to co-o[ierate with 
Gen. ISanks in a movement u[X)n Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
of Gens. Rosccrans and Thomas at Chattanoog;i, .and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical nieas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridgi", in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4ih of Febru- 
ary, 186.}, (Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive liis credentials 
and enter u|)on the duties of his new office. 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army to concentrate the widely-dis|<ersed National 
troops for an attack u]ion Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the RelwUion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembletl from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the trampof these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
-Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely pa« ked thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involveil a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with renjarkablc en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, .-Xpril 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the counlr)' brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

,\l the Republican (invention held at Chicago, 
May 2 1, 186S, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the ixjpular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Repulilican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the sth of June, 1S72, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second tcnn 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the jjeojile five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term. Gen. Grant 
started uiwn his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was ever)'where received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed ujwn any citizen of the United .Stales. 

He W.1S the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National t'onvention in iSSo fur a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
« ret ked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. 'I'he General was att.icked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instateii as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
catK or s(H)n finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
i8,S5, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
the illustrious General. 



•► ■ -^•- 



t 



4 



NIMETERNTH PRESIVKNT. 



9« 





'i ■.►'t'^>H'<>^i'»>'r'..'r 



:.vr>n'S'»^>^i^^'c^';;^'^?i'^'^'^<s>i^vi'i^g4^>'a';£^'i>V)'^i'.; 



RUTHERFQKB B* HmTES, 





UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
the nineteenth President of 
the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
"^ death of his father, Rutherford 
I layes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was born in Windsor, and remained there 
daring his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
\ erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 18 13, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious, 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, 
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter- 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



9» 






RUTJIf.RFORD B. HAYES. 



cbic at liirtli that he 

Ml", nil. Lv,-^. 1.4 V. . > .■ .kI a month or two ut 

iii.j-.t. As the months went l>y he grew weaker and 
weaker, so that the nelghl>or» were in ilie liaMt of in- 
Humng from time to time " if Mrs. Haves' l>al>y died 
List night." On one occasion a neiglilxir, wlio was on 
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to tlie 
l>oy"s l)ig head, and ll»e mother's ;issiduoiis care of 
him, said in a bantering way, " That's tight ! Stick to 
him. Voii have got hin> along so far, and 1 shouldn't 
wonder if he would really come to something yet." 

" Vou need not laugh, ■ said Mrs. H.iyes. "You 
wait and see. You can't tell I'ut 1 >hall make liim 
I're^ident of the United Stales yet." The lK)y lived, 
in si>ilc of the universal predictions of iiis si)cedy 
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if jwssible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The l>oy was seven years old before he went to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as mucii from ius mother and 
sister as lie would have done at school. His sjwrts 
Were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of disiw- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his char.-icter. 

His uncle Sardis Bircliard took the deepest interest 
in his education ; and as llie Ixiy's health h.id im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he pro|iosed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; bit he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a pnifessor in tlie 
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at ilie age of sixteen, 
and was gr.iduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Immediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office I'f Thomas Sparrow, Es<]., 
in Columbus. Finding his opiwrtuniiies for study in 
Gjlumb.is somewhat limited, he detcmiincd to enter 
the I.aw School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1845, after graduating at the I.aw School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, r)hio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an atlorncy-at-law 
with Ralph I'. Iluckland, of I-'remonl. Here he re- 
mained three years, acipiiring but a limited pr.ictice, 
and apparently unambitious of distin<:tion in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1S49 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this jieriod, had a jxiwerfiil influence u|>on his subsc- 
(pient life. One of these w.is his marr.nge with Miss 
I.u<y \V .ire Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
ClhilKothe; the other was his iiitrodii< lion to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a k>dy embracing among its 
member? such men asOiicf justice Salmon P. Chase, 



Gen. John I'oik-, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in afterlife. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every resi>ect, as 
ever) lody knows. .N'ot one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than slie to reflect honor ujion .Xmerican woman- 
hood. The Literary Cluo brought .Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
tpialitics so lung hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1S56 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
the Q)urt of Common I'lcas; but he declined to ac- 
cept the nontination. Two years later, the office of 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. Hut the news of the 
atl.ick on Fort Sumptcr found him eager to take up 
arms for the defense of his tonntr)-. 

His military record was bright aid illustrious. In 
October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79ih Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsenucntly, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the b.ittle 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regimeni, after 
his recovery, to act as Hrigadier-General, and pl.iced 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and nieriiorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Hrigadicr-Cieneral. He was also brevelled 
Maj.}r-Oeneral,"forgallant .nnd distirguislud services 
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, Gen. H.iyes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was ini|>ortuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " 1 
shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1S66. 

Ii- 1S67, Gen H.iyes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. .Mien G. Thurm.m, a i"ipular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over Gcfirge H. I'eiidlelon. 
He w.is elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 

In 1S76 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican P.irty in the Presidential contest, and afler a 
h.icd long contest was chosen President, ami was in 
augur. lied Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, he wever, with satisfaction to h'.s party, 
but his admin'tlration was an average i"- 



•►■ -^ 





<^ 




TiVENTlK TH PRKSWENT. 



■I, 




^> 



.^^//^XK.^ 







AMES A. (iARi'IELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
1831, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
""' ents were Abram and Eliza 
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
les well known in the early his- 
tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. 
The household comprised the father and mother and 
their four children — Mchetabel, Tliomas, Mary and 
James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was aliout eighteen montlis old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
fell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
toil and self sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
ters live in .Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter work, choi)ped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in he- vtrnijgle? to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. Wlien in the highest seats of honor, 
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. Tiie jworest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he 
was about si.xteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtain 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city. 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on tlie Ohio iS: Pennsylvania Canal. Here- 
mained at this work but a short time when he went 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1S50, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of i«854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. .\s above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often i)reaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : 



r 



96 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



-•► ■ 



I 



** President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious coiiviclions. His whole 
hislor)', from l»oylu>i)d to the last, shows thai duty to 
man and to (iod, and devution to C'hrisi and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
my judgment there i> no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the l>ody of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and |)olitical sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many tyi)cs of fashionable 
Christianity. I'resident (J.irfield adhered to the 
church of his mother, the church in wiiich he was 
trained, and in which he served as a jjillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most iinsec- 
larian charity for all 'wliolovcour I>ord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were Ixjrn seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four Iwys and one girl. 

Mr.Ciarrieldmade his first |»oliticalsi)ceches in 1856, 
in Hiram and the neighloring villages, and three 
years later he began to sjwak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and Itecame the favorite s[x;aker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate, lie also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in 1S61 was admitted to the bar. The great 
Relnrllion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
t;Uked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission .is Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately ])ut into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in ac'ion, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight coin])anies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native .State the officer 
(Humphrey Mirsliall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and six:ed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Hrigadier-Gencral, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest m.m in the Ohio .Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest (iencral in the 
anny." He was with Gen. Huell's army at Shiloli, 
in iiso)>erations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the 
General Couit-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fit/.- John 
Porter. He was then ordered to rcjiort to Gen. Rosc- 
crans, ami was assigned to the "Chief of Staff." 
The military Wstory of Gen. Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of the Major-Gencral. 

Without an effort on his part Gen. tiarfield was 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1S61 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
mainly by two men — HIisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
R. tliddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
iKxly. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 

< )f liis labors in Congress .Senator I loar says : " .Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American j)eople, in regard to which 
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Ujion Jan. 14, 1S80, Gen. GarfieUi was elected to 
the 0. .S. Senate, and on tlie eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1881, w.is inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever oi)encd its exisleiue under brighter 
auspices than that of President (i.iilield, and every 
day it grew in favor with the jieople, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was i)repar- 
iiig to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College, While on his way and at the de|K>t, in com- 
pany with Secretary Itlaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, jiiid as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but in.'licting no farther 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
beff)re in the history of the Nation ha<l anything oc- 

< urred which so nearly froze tlie blood of the [H-ople 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the liriglitesi, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his |iower and hope. For eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
nolilesiof human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away .Sept. 
19, 188^, at Ellieron, N. J ,011 the very bank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death t)f any other man who had ever lived uiion it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed. 




OC^\. 



•► II ^> 



T WEN T V- FlliS T PRESIDENT. 



99 










^^"^^^^^ 




-t 



,9 

7 HESTER A. ARTHUR, 

r twenty-first PresiXwia of the 

I:.]" United States was born in 

'I Franklin Courty, Vermont, on 

" the flfthofOc'ober, 1830, andis 

the oldest of a family of two 

sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William I 

Arthur, a Baptisld'.rgyinan, who 

emigrated to tb'.s countr)' from 

the county Ant.-im, Ireland, in 

his i8tli year, and died in 1875, in 

Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 

long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, S( henectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
|i in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration of that time came to 
New York, with S500 in his [xjcket, 
and entered the office of ex-Judge 
E. D. Culver as student. After 
I being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry I). Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered uixin a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward marred the daughter of Lieutenant 




Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthurs 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover jxjssession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon. 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here esjwused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs. 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1S56. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of S500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



T 









CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few siK-cial cars for colored |>cr- 
hons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

(leneral Arthur was a delegate lo the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Cov- 
crnor Morgan, of thai State, apixiintcd him Enginecr- 
in-Chief of his staff. In i<S6i, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward liecame Quartcrmas- 
ler-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Cioverninent daring the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a i)artuership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District .\tlorncy 
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the genilcmcn comiiosing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national e.ttent. 

He always took .i leading part in State and city 
jiolitics. He was api«inted Collector of the Port of 
.New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1S72, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 187S, when he was succeeded by Collector Merrill. 

Mr. .\nhi;r was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James -X. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention lield at Chicago in 
June, iSSo. This was |)erhaps the greatest |)olitical 
tonvention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was coin|»sed of the leading jwliticians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
res[K:ctive candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
leived the nomination for Piesideiil and Gen. .\rthur 
fur \'ice- President. The campaign which followed 
w.is one of the most animated known in the history of 
our i:ountry. Gen. llancoik, the standard-bearer of 
ilie I)emo<:rati» p.irty, was a jjopvibir man, and his 
party made a v.diant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the lountry's choice 
w.is Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
M.irch 4, i.HSi, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, — thosi moment', nf 
anxious susiiense, whei' the hearts of all civilized ii.i- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for (he re- 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called ui»n to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
like. During all this period of dee|)est anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the sufTering Garfield might recover, lo 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored jjosition in the world was at any moment 
likely lo fall lo him. 

At List God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President lo assume the resiwnsibilitics of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New N'ork, 
Sept. 20, 18S1. The [msition was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what be would do, 
what [wlicy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many im|X)rlant measures were to be immediately 
decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail lo realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this jwint. I'nderthcse trying circumstances President 
Arthur look the reins of the Government in his own 
hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
afTairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1SS5, and was 
a |)opular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal jxipularity 
of one of the op|)osing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired lo private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to them and with credit to himself. 



-•► ■ -4« 




Y^/^^r/l^ Clc<yCUliy^^^<^ 



TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



►^1-^ 



103 ' 









T 



TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
^^^■(fci^'O^^I'lv. born in 1837, in the obscure 
^■^'"^^^^ '^'^ town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 

N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to scliool in the "good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



eniphatia desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money, besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " (lashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, wlvjre he had an opportunity of attending a 
liigh school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
M. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
bvit three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 

•►Hi 



-^« 



f 

-•-4^ 






S. GROVER ClRVELAyD. 



calling for life, and, reversing the tr.iditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
there was some charm in th.il name for him; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buflfjlo to 
isk the advice of his uncle, I^"wis F. Allan, a noted 
stock- breeder of tliat place. The l.itter did not 
S|)cak enthusiastically. " What is it you want to do, 
mylioy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
law," was the reply. "Good gracious!" remarked 
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed f What ever put 
that into your head? How much money have you 
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
any.* 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place tern [wrarily as assistant herd- keeper, at $50 a 
year, wiiHe he could "look around." One d.iy soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
IJowen & Rogers, of HufTalo, and told them wh.!! he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
he was finally i>ennitled to come as an office boy and 
have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his l)Oard and w.ishing. Tiie w.ilk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Ulackslone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clciks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
but indue time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
iwsslbilities. " Let us <piit talking and go and do 
It," was practically hii motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was that of SheriflT of Eric Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
lo his duty to inflict ca|)ital punishment iiixjn two 
criminals. In iSSi he w.is elected Mayor of the 
City of lUifT.ilo, on tlic Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecul reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
l)erformance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with jxissibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we (piote fiom one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the peo|)le and to worse 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's .-idministration as Mayor of Buffalo, and tliere- 
uixjn recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
1 1, 18S4, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas !•". 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thunnan, etc.; and he 
was elected by the peoiile, by a majority of alnjut a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order lo prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 18S5. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York; Secretary of the Interior, I,. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
.Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opjxsscd, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
inauguration. 



i 



-•►-• -^ 



i 






^h^ 



^%v <^ ±' 



^i 




m^ 




w^-. 



y^ 



iOHSMOPS- 



k M % 




^ 






-"f 



■r-^ 



•►:ll-4« 








f 



^'^^.0. ''^'''^> ytnrz.^^-.. 



^. /^2^y/^>t<^-R 



; 



4^ 



-<^r-c.^^oi-^;^^ ^haH^s ^Qbin^on" W:":'0^^'rym- 






I 



HARLKS ROllINSON, the 
first Governor of Kansas, 
was elected under the Wy- 
andotte Constitution, and 
T ?;> upon liie admission of the 
''^i suite, Jan. 29, 1861, was 
^/;;- V inangui-ated as Chief Ex- 

^0i$i:i&% ecutive. No better man eoukl have 
•^^.^^3' been selected to lay the foundations 
of the State, for his mind was crea- 
tive, original and vigorous. Rarely 
working by cojiy, he belongs to the 
class who think and originate, and 
with whom precedence and text- books 
have little authorit}-. At this time a 
great State was to be formed from most incongru- 
ous elements. It required men of genius and orig- 
inality to formulate laws and a constitution, and 
to this work the vigor and ingenuity of Rob- 
inson were peculiarly adapted. Men of all classes, 
sorts and conditions, had rushed to this section 
ui)on different objects bent — some to assist in build- 
ing up a State, some to make money, to secure no- 
toriety and political preferment, hut more, perhaps, 
.as cosmopolitans, having little interest in its repu- 
Uition or its future. 

That tlie work before Gov. Robinson was .ac- 
complished in a praiseworthy manner, a grateful 
people readily .acknowledge. lu his cour.se, which 
necessarily w.is opposed to the rough and irrespon- 
sible element, he made many enemies and was im- 
peached by the House, but on his trial by the 
Senate no evidence was adduced to connect him 
with an^- illegal transaction, and a case t){ malicious 



prosecution w.as clearly cstnhlislKMl, which left his 
good name untarnished. 

In reviewing the career of a prominent public 
man, it cannot be called complete without the story 
of his early life. Gov. Robinson w.as born at 
Hardwick, Mass., July 21, 1818, and received a 
good common-school and .academic education, be- 
sides two j'ears' drill at Amherst College. His 
father, Charles Robinson, was a pious and consci- 
entious man, who cherished an inherent hatred of 
slavery, and the latter quality of his father's char- 
acter Charles inherited in a marked degree. Upon 
religious subjects, however, he w.as always inde- 
pendent and liberal, and is considered heterodox, 
although for the great principles of Christianit3', 
which serve to improve society and make better 
men and women, he h.as the highest regard. 

There is but little which is ideal or sentimental 
in the nature of Gov. Robinson, as his life has 
been spent principally' dealing with men upon prac- 
tical principles. Before completing his studies he 
was obliged to leave college on .account of ill- 
health, and his eyes failing him from hard stud3', 
he walked forty miles to coi>sult a celebrated phj'- 
sician. Dr. Twichel, of Kecne, N. H., and there 
became so sensibly impressed with both the qu.ack- 
erics of medicine .as so often practiced, and the real 
utility of the healing art as a science, that he deter- 
mined to study medicine, and after a preparatory 
course entered for a scries of lectures at Wood- 
stock, Vt., and Pittsficld, Mass., and from the 
school of the latter he w.as gr.aduated, receiving his 
diploma with the high honors of the chiss. Subse- 
quently he became connected with the celebrated 



■•►HI- 



Ti 



112 



(^ 1 1 A ULRS ROBINSON. 



Dr. J. O. Ilollnnd in the iimiin|,'cincntof a luMpiUtl. 
In 1H49 hi" litarU'il out iu« a pliyiiiciim to a colony 
liotind ovcrlnnd to Cnliforniii. Tlu-y nrrivi-d in 
Kan.KiU City April Id, itnti on the lOtli of Miiy fol- 
lowing, left with ox and ninlc tt-anis for the I'afillc 
Slope. 

On the 11th of May, thirty-nine years ago, rid- 
ing bis horse at the he.-ul of a <-olony of gold- 
seekers, (Jov. Uoliinson ascended Ml. C)read, where 
now stands the State I'nivcrsity of Kans:is, whose 
Kegent lie has lieeii for thirteen consecutive 
years, as well jis its faithful, intelligent and gener- 
ous friend. In his note book at th;it lime he wrote 
that if the land was opened to .•settlement and entrj', 
he would go no further, as there seemed lo be gold 
enough for all human wants in the rich soil of the 
Kaw Valley, and bi'auty enough in the rolling prai- 
ries beyond to meet all the iispirations of onlinar^' 
men. He pushctl on, however, U> California, and 
there followed a variety of occuiMitions, being mi- 
ner, reslaurantcur, eilitor anil member of the Leg- 
islature. 'riu'U he returned to Massachusetts, and 
in 1H.'>2 commenced the ])ublication of the Fitch- 
burg jNVirs, which he conducted two yeai-s. 

At the time of the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise, and tlie intense excitement coincident 
with the organization of the Territories of Kan.sas 
and Ni'l)nu<ka, Cov. Kobinson w;is sent out bv 
the New Kiigland Aid Society to Kansas, charged 
with saving it to freedom. In the darkest lK)urs of 
that long struggle, as well as in its hour of victory, 
he s<-cnied to be the one Siife counselor and leader 
of the Free-SUite forces. His California exi)erience 
had rounde(l and ripened a robust nature, and the 
IK'rils that the hero of the sipiatter troubles had 
passeil through in that strange conibinalioii of craft 
and cunning, tiltecl and schooled him for his Kan- 
siLs work. In the "Wakarusa War," when the city 
of Lawrence, only COO strong, w.as besieged by un 
opposing force «)f 1,200, Dr. Koitinson. as he was 
('.•died in thoM' d:iys, wils chosen Major (iuneral of 
the I'ree-Stjilc parly, lb' eonstrueled forts and 
rille-piU which did their service, liul !is ji negotiator 
and diploujat he excelled. He wanted Kansas to 
be lawfidly free, anil felt justHied In availing him. 
self of any agency which would ii.isisl him in nc 
coiiipiiMhint,' this. Althoui;h the reeogni/ed leader 



of the Free-State forces, it was not Kobinson, but 
I.^ne, that the (juantrell rulllans sought when they 
mas.sjicreil in cold blood IHO of the inoffensive citi- 
zens of l^iwrcnce. 

In Ift.'i.l the Free-Stott' men had been driven 
from the )hiIIs. Kobinson wils among the flrst to 
repudiate the authority of the bogus laws, and wils 
unanimously eho,sen a delegate to the convention 
which met at 'ro|>oka to formulaic n Stale govern- 
ment. From May, 1 h.'h;, until September, he w.xs a 
prisoner at Li>i-onipt4in, charged with treason. Af- 
ter .serving his term as the iirst (Jovernor of the 
State, he was, in 1H72, cho.sen a member of the 
Lower House of the Legislature, and in l«7l 
elected State Senator and re-elected in l«7t'i. At 
the last election he came within forty-three vot4's 
of be.'iting his o|iponent for the State Senate, and 
where the party ninjurity of the latter was .about 
1 ..'JOO. 

(!ov. Kobinson has been twice married. Hy 
his Iirst wife, Miss Sarah Ad.-ims, <laughtcr of 
a highly respected Massaihusetts farmer, two chil 
ilren were born ami both died in infancy. The 
mother ilied in 184(!. On the .'iOih of October, 
18.">1, he was married to Miss Sarah 1). T. Law- 
rence, daughter of a distinguished MiLssiichusetls 
law^'er, and connected with the celebrated Law- 
rence family of that Stat«\ Of this union there 
are no children. Mrs. Kobinson is a l:idy of 
high literary culture, and has written one of the 
best of the many books which have been published 
on Kansas. Though highly accomplished, she is 
not much of a society woman, being content to 
dwell quietlj' at home on their farm, which lies 
five miles out from Lawrence, and is the resort 
of many friends, who meet a relined ami elegant 
lios|)itality. 

In IH.'ifi Ciov. Robinson pre-empted a jMirtion 
of the land which, upon his journey to Califor- 
nia, he had viewed with so much admiration. He 
now has one of the finest homes in his section 
of country, where he resides in atlluent circinn- 
sljinces, busying himself in looking aft«'r his farm, 
esteemed by his neighbors, and amply honored by 
the great SlJite, in laying the firm foundations of 
whi<'h he remlered such ellicient service over a 
ipiart<'r of a centur}' ago. 



•► 9 •^•' 



■*^-B-^ 




^^. 







■^ ■ '^^ 




i«^jK^»^;-$*4:%"V***^"+"+""4-"+''4-"*+"+'*^^^ 



ji&3itt£D*e- 







a^Ti©i 



?c 







""'"'^f'uia 




..o*o-^V^ V/jj)-o»0" 



IIOMAS CAUXKV, thescc- 
Miid (IdvcriKir of Kansas, 
was born in Delaware Coun- 
ty, Ohio, Aug. 20, 1824. 
His ancestry was a mixed 
one, composed of Irish and 
(iermnn. His father, James 
Carney, was of Irish descent, be- 
ing the grandson of one of the 
same name, who came to this 
country and assisted the Colonies 
in the war with Great Britain. 
His mother was remotely of Ger- 
man descent, and like his father 
was born in Pennsylvania. They 
removed to Ohio the j'ear before 
the birth of Gov. Carney. They 
were Presl>y terians, in which faith 5Ir. C. was reared. 
The portion of Ohio in which Mr. Carney was 
born was then a wilderness, and the f am ilj' engaged 
in farming, the land having to be cleared first. The 
father died when the lad was but four years old, leav- 
ing the mother with four children, the eldest being 
only six years of age, the early life of j'ouiig Carney 
therefore was spent in work of the hardest kind, 
from the moment he was old enough to be of any 
assistance. From the age of seven to eighteen he 
worked on the farm belonging to the familj', and 
then stiirted for himself as a farm hand for six 
months, at 810 a month. From the time he was 
eleven years of age initil he left home, he was the 
teamster of the family, and carried the products of 
the farm to Newark, thirtj'-six miles, his motive 
power being a yoke of oxen for most of the time. 
He attended school some during the winter 



montlis, and after he was eighteen went to school 
in Berkshire, Ohio, for six montlis. After this he 
commenced a long, persistent and weary search for 
employment in a store, and was finally successful 
iu Columbus, where he remained in the employ of 
a ret.'iil dry-goods house for two years, and then took 
service with a wholesale dry-goods establishment in 
Cincinnati. He obtained, while in the retail house, 
$50 a year and his board for the first year's serv- 
ice, and for the second year §100. At the end 
of this period he was given a quarter interest in 
the firm, with his name at the head of it. A rise 
of so great rapidity is unprecedented. He resided 
in Cincinnati twelve years. 

Mr. Carney's health became impaired by his de- 
votion to business, and in IH.'iT he visited the AVest, 
and commenced business in Leavenworth in the 
spring of 1858. In 18G1 he was elected to the 
State Legislature, and in 18112 was elected Gov- 
ernor. He entered on his duties the 1st of Janu- 
ary. 1863, at a time when Kansas affairs were in 
a most critical condition. 

In 1864 he was elected to the United States Sen- 
ate, but as there was some doubt as to whether or 
not the time at which the election was held was 
the proper one, he declined the position. He was 
soon after elected Mayor of Leavenworth, and w.as 
re-elected. Since that period, 18G6, he has occupied 
himself wholly with his private business. 

The earlier struggles of the future Governor 
were arduous and severe, but probably had their 
effect in strengthening him for the career for which 
he was destined, 
gubernatorial office, 
State of Kansas but \ 



•►Hh-^*- 



ning him for the career for which 

When he took possession of the I 

;e, in January, 1 8G.3, he found the I 

ut little bettor than a political and 1 

.^-I- 



i 



•*-»-<*■ 



■•►-IH^i 



IIG 



THOMAS ( AliM.Y 



nimncial wrock. A local writer referring to thnl 
|N-ritxl S.1VS. lli:it tlic "SUttf wiut in |>eril nt niniost 
every |x>iiit. nml Its srltU'd jNirtioiiii witc one cx- 
t4Mi<le<l r:(in|i. A reln-l force liovered <iii its eiusterii 
anil MiutluTii lior<lers, while hnliiin.s worc iniinliTinK 
antl se.'il|>iii;; in the we>l. Ndlhin^ .vliiirl of n <'on- 
-"Uint vi-iilanee eoiiM prevent the reliel enemy 
invnilini; the Stale iiml lMilelierin<; the |K"o|)le." 

An apiK-a! was made to the milil.'iry niithoritios 
for a.vii>Iaiiie aiiil to (lov. Cnniey for protection. 
It was at a time when the (Ji'iieral Government was 
ilHi linjV with the lielu'ilion to fjive c-losi- attention 
to matters in ii new and remote St,ate, and hence 
the (Jovernor was oldisjeil to <lepend on his own 
resonriu-s. lie was ecpial to the emergency. Tlie 
Stale had no money, no men, no arms, noammnni- 
tion, with which to j>roleel ilsi'lf. hut even tliis dill 
not diseonnige him. He vi>ited tlio menaced re- 
gions, and Mion satisfled him.sejf that something bad 
U» l)o done, or the Si.ale woujil i'c overwhelmed by 
llio perils which Ihrr.alenerl it. In the counties 
which were more |>articul:Mly threatened, the popu- 
lation lieeame une;i.-y. and removals were heinj; 
made to places of s:ifely hy so many of the resi- 
dents that there loomed np a probahilit}* that tho 
entire rc;,noii woidd liecome ii desert. 

After lookin;; over the fj;round. Gov. Carney de- 
termineil t«j raise a force of l.'iO men frfun citizens 
of the int'nace<l rejjion, and to employ them !is a 
patrol alon;j the bonier, so that no hostile move- 
ment could be made without detection, niid the 
|M>oplc could bo warned of danger in time to rally 
at the necev-iary points for defense, all beini; armed 
and or^rani/.i'd into military ori;nni/.ali(ms. This 
|>atrol w!is hired by the (Joveruor for the public 
defense out of his private means, lie agreed to 
pay ifl ft day each, for man ntnl horse, the United 
Stat<'S (Jovernmenl furni>hiiif^ the rations. lie put 
this force in the held, and kept it in active opera- 
tion, at a cii.-t to hiniMlf of over *I 0,000. At the 
sann- time he w.as a Captain in the Injuic guards, 
and many a night was on guard like tlie jirivate 
soldier. 

The little patrol |)ut in the held by the Ciovernor 
preserved the iMirders fiom inviLsion so long as it 
lasted, which wius some three miMiths. At a later 
|K'riod the (Jovernor was notified by the com- 
mnndcr of the Fedend forces that he was able to 
care for tin- sjifely of tlw .state, and thereupon the 

patrol wiLH abolished. Ah t immedjatel\ afu-r it 

was <lisbandeil (^uantrell made his raid into Kansas, 
and l^wrencc was altjicked, burned, and il.s resi- 
dents massacreil. Concerning this feature of the 
iran.Haction the f lovornfir says: "While this patrol 
w!us on the bordi-r the arrangements were such that 
the different members could s|>eak with each other 



every hour, and thus be in a position to almost in- 
stantly communicate with the roideiiLs in c.ase of 
inv.asion. When the Covernment notlHed me that 
it could take care of the border 1 disbaniled tlie 
patrol, an<l within three days Lawrence w.as in SLshes 
and 1M() people were foully munlercfl. The mili- 
tiiry was scattered in sipiads over a disUince of 
twenty-five miles aU)ng the border, and when t^uan- 
trell in<i\ed into Kansas hi- had no ditlieulty in 
m:irching between the Federal divisions. The man-li 
of (^uanlrell was entirely unknown and wholly nn- 
c.\|)ected. Not a living sold knew that he wjis in 
the .St.ate when he arrived before l^iwrence. A 
man living on the nmte Uiken by the gnerrilhussjiw 
them, and mounted a horse and undertook tocarrv 
the information to Lawrence. His horjie fell anil 
the rider's neck was broken, and thus the .sole wit- 
ness of the invasion was silenced." 

It will show the benevolent disposition of the 
fJovernor to sUite that from hisown [xickel hegave 
^.")00 to the widow of the man who underliHik to 
cany the warning of danger to Lawrence. 

The entire olUcial career of flov. Carney was of 
the stormiest and most perplexing cliaract4.-r, and il is 
certiiin that, with an oDIcial head less clear and 
cllleieiit, the cmbarr.-issmcnts and |H'rplexlties of 
Kansas would have proved insolnlde. Cool, self- 
])ossessed, firm, intelligent, he guided the Stale 
through the storms, breakers, whirlpools .-ind rocks, 
which were encountered, and fin.-illy reached the 
harbor, with the vessel much battered but sound in 
frame and in all e.sscntial particulars. 

The following is a cojty of a resolution pfissed by 
the Kansas Legislature after his term of olllce hail 
expired : 

"Resolved bj' the IIon.se of Repre.sentjitives of 
the State of Kansas, that the thanks of this House 
and the |K-ople of the Stale of Kansjis arc justly 
due to Hon. Thomas Carney, late (lovernor of the 
SUile of Kansas, for the honest, faithful and im- 
partial manner in which he discharged hi* executive 
duties." 

Gov. Carney is possessed of ainple wealth, which 
he uses to the best adv.-inta;,'e. Ills wife w.-is Ke- 
becca Canady, <if Kenton, Ohio, who has d. •voted 
much of her time for a number of years in caring 
for the orphaned children of the .SUite. His <-hil- 
drcn aie four in number, all boys. 

No man in Kansas is more honored and re- 
spec-ted than he, and no man has done more, either 
ill a public or private way, for the advancement of 
the SU-ite and its inslitntions. lus nillroad.s, bridges, 
chiirche.s, si-hool-hoiises. and its citizens needing 
iLsswt.-ince, all bear witness to his lii)erality and 
boiinly. 



^»-#- 



■*^^m^4» 




^ 



/(L^yiyi..^L.\^ 



// 



// 



'^^.-^r/^^^ 



^ 



-^K 



X 





AMI EL J. CKAWFORI), the 
thud Governor of the State of 
Kinsas, w;is born in Lawrence 
County, Ind., April 10, 1835. 
II 11 ancestors were Scotcli- 
Ii ibh, who emigrated to Amer- 
ica at an early period in Col- 
onial days. His [laternal grandfather 
served in the war of the Revolution 
as a soldier from the State of North 
Carolina, and his maternal grand- 
father was a planter in the same State. 
His father, William Crawford, emi- 
grated, in 181.5, to the tlien Territ(iry 
of Indiana, and located in Lawrence 
County, where he became a success- 
ful farmer. Although liorn, reared 
and pdiicali'd in a slave State, the elder Crawford 
had imhil)ed uiiconqueralile prejudice to the insti- 
tution of slavery, and as a consequence turned his 
hack upon friends and kindnnl and souglit a home 
ill the! Northwest Territory, in which slavery and 
iiiviihiutiiy .servitude liad lieen forever inhibited. 
The subject of this sketch was reared upon his 
fatiier's farm, ;uid received a conimon-sohool and 
academic edncition. At tlie age of twenty-one he 
hecame a stu<lent at law in the t)fHce of the Hon. S. 
W. Short, of ISedford, Ind., pursuing his studies 
until the fall of 18.57, when he entered the Law 
College at Cincinnati, from which institution he 
was gi;iduate<l in 1H.')8. 

Ill M;iicli. 18;')'.), he badeadieu tohome and friends, 
proci'eded to tlie Territory of Kansas, and located 
ill (Janielt, the county seat of Anderson County. 
Here he practiced his profession of the law, and was 
elected a member of the lirst Stale Legislature, 
which Convened at Topeka, March 27, 18(11. 

The attack u|Km Ft. Sumter, following swiftly 
after the Montgomery Secession Convention, the 
failure of the Peace Conference, tlie Proclain.ation 
of Jeflfer.son Davis calling for 100,001) men, and 



the seizure of (lovermiient property by Floyd 
and Twiggs, without protest from the lixeculive. 
thrilled loyal Kansas to the very core. President 
Lincoln made his first call for 7o,000 volunteers in 
April, 18G1. Responding to this call, Mr. Craw- 
ford resigned his .seat in the Legislature, returned 
home, recruited a compau}-, was chosen its Ca|)tain, 
assigned to tlie 2d K.uisas Infantry, and mustered 
into the United States service. He served with tlio 
regiment, participating under the gallant Gen. 
Lyon in the battle of Wilson's Creek and various 
other battles of the Missouri Campaign fought 
during the summer and fall of !8(il. In tiie winter 
of 18(51-02, the regiment vvas re-organized, and 
became the 2d Kan.^as Cavalry. Capt. Crawford 
was assigned to the command of Com|)an\' A, and 
soon thereafter promoted to the comm.ind of a 
battalion. He partici|)iled with his regiment in the 
battles of Newtonia, Old Ft. Wayne, Cane Hill, 
Prairie (Jrove, Van Biiren, and various other en- 
gagements fought by Gen. Blunt during the Trans- 
Mississipj)! campaign of 1 8G2. 

It was in these engagements that Capt Crawford 
developed extr.aordinai y ability as a cavalry leader. 
At the battle of Old Ft. Wayne he charged the 
enemy's lines and captured a battery under circum- 
stances which almost forbade the venture, and for 
which achievement he was complimented in General 
Orders. At the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie 
Grove he acquitted himself with great credit, and 
was again complimented liy the commanding Gen- 
eral. In March, 18G3, although holding the rank 
of Captain, he was assigned to the comm.and of the 
2d Kansas Cavalry, and led the regiment in the 
campaign of that year through the Indian Territory 
and Western Arkans.as, which resulted in the battles 
of Perryville, McAllister and the Backbone Mount- 
ain, and the capture of F't. Smith b}' the Federal 
arms. The 2d Kansas Cavalry covered itself with 
glory in these memorable campaign.s. 

In October, 1863, Capt. Crawford w.as promoted 
to be Colonel of the 83d I'nited States Infantry, 
and with iiis regiment accomiiaiiied (icn. Steele on 
the Shreveport, La., expedition, which moved 
southward, in JIarch, ISGt, from I"'t. Smith and 



3U 



f 



120 



SAMIKI. .1. CRAWFORD. 



i 



Little I{«H-k t<i rt>-n|>oratc witli (lull. R-tnks in his 
Uril Kiver caiii|Nii)jii, |)!irlii-i|i:itiii^ in llu- Imtllcs 
iif I'niirio l)e llniiil iiml Saliiu- Uivcr. At tlic Intlcr 
nfTair Col. CniwfonI clmr'.'ril nixl captiireil n Imttory, 
wliirli liis men brought olT the lieM by hand, nil tlic 
arlilleiy liur.<«'S having lieen killcil or (lisjiliieci. 
'I'liis liallic roMiiteil in a coniplele victory for the 
IJniun forces, U> whieli consnnnimtiun Col. Craw- 
fonl's regiment largely eoutril>nle<l. After llii.s 
Imtlle lie rt-turnecl with the 7lli Corps to Little 
Kuek, niul thenee, wilii the Kansas Division, nndor 
the coninmiKl of Cen. Thayer, to Ft. Sniitli, Ark. 
In .Inly. |.st;4. Col. Crawford i-oniinaii<li'il an ex|>o- 
tlition into the Choctaw N.ation in pursuit of the 
rebel (leneral, Stjinilweijihl)', whom ho routed. 

Septembers, isdl, wiiile still in the field. Col. 
Craw ford was nominated as the Uepnbliean candi- 
date for ( I ovenior of K;m>;is. Obtaining leave of 
absence, he bade ailicu to the i^uHant army with 
which he had served so lonjr, and on the 'Jth of 
October returned to Kansas. Upon arriving at Ft. 
■Votl lie learned tliut a heavy body of the enemy, 
under <ien. l'ri<-e, was moving westwanl throngli 
Central Missouri, with the design of laying Kansiis 
in waste. He li:ustened to Kaiis.is City, arriving 
October 17, re|>orted to Gen. Curtis, comniMiiding 
the Federal forces tlutrc concentrating to resist Gen. 
Price, anil was assigned to duty .'is a volunteer aid 
on his stiifT. A few days subsequently the battles 
of the IJliie, West port and Mine Creek were fought, 
and .Hi the latter engagement Col. Crawfonl ordered 
and parlicipati-d in ft charge with two brigades of 
c.HvnIry, which resulteil in the capture of the Con- 
fedcRitc (lenerals, ALirninduke and Cabell, 500 
prisoners and eight pieces of artiller}'. This battle 
c|ris<-d his iui!it;iry career in the war for the siip- 
pres>ion of the Hebcllion, ami on April 13, lHG.~>,lie 
W!LS promoted by the I'resideiit of the rnitA-il States 
to the nuik of Hrigadii'r (leneral liy brevet, foi 
meritorious services in the field. 

On the 7tli of November, IKGJ, Col. Crawford 
wa.s elected (lovernorof the .State of Kansas, and 
ill 1 mO(; w;ui re-chosen for a second term. During 
his holding of the guberii:itorial odlce. he re-organ- 
ized and consolidatt'd the Kansius Volunteer Itegi- 
nients, and secured the enactment of new laws, 
under which the SU'ito Militia was jilaced on war 
fiM»liiig for the protceiinii of the jM'ople against 
rebel iiiv;L'<ions and Indian incursions, lie devoted 
much of his time to the cslalili'^hmeut and main- 
tenance of the various .St.-ilc institutions, and on 
retiring from olllce he left the Deaf Mul*', Itlindand 
Insane ANyliims, the State University, the Agricult- 
ural Colle;;c and StJit€ N<irmal .ScIuk)!, in success- 
ful i>|ieratioii. lie also gave considerable attention 
> to the ]ireparation and disscmiiiatiun of |>amphlet 



litenitiirc rcs|K;eling the advaiita;;es tif his Male, 
with the view of encounigiiig emigration thereto. 

During the memonible years of 1SG7 and I.'sOm, 
hostile bands of Indians hovered on the bordei's of 
Kansjis, driving back the settlers. clie<-kiiig the con 
slruction of the niilroails .'iiid threaleiiiiig to cut olT 
commnnicatioii between Kansas and the Western 
State's and Territories. For two years an Indian 
war of savage barbarity was carried on. Many 
settlers were killed, scaliKMl, and their bodies inntil 
ated. Large amouiit^s of pr<p|>erty were captured 
and destroyed. Women ami even children weie 
outraged, and others carried inl<i captivity t<.i suffer 
a fate worse than a thousjind deaths. 

The Federal forces sUitioned on the border and 
the State troops furnished by <!ov. Crawford were 
inadeipiate for the protection of the [H;o]tle. The 
Indians followed their custom of making war dur- 
ing the summer months, ami then retreating to their 
homes in the Indian Territory to be fed, dotheil 
ami nurtured by the (ioverninenl in winter. Finally, 
in August, ItSCS, the settlements of Northwest 
Kaiis;is were raided by these Indians, who killed 
ami Wounded .some forty pers<iiis, carried women 
into captivity, and also committed other atrocities. 

As soon as the terrible details of this Last mas- 
sacre reached the ears of Gov. Crawford, he prt»- 
ceedcd at tnice to the si-eiie of dis-'ister, saw that the 
dead were pro|M'rly burietl and the woiindeil cared 
for, returned to Topeka, org;inized a regiinenl of 
cavalry, resigned the ollice of (Jovcrnor, and with 
his regiment accoini)aiiied Gen. .Sheridan on his his- 
toric campaign into the interior of the wild country 
bordering on Te.\as, where the hostile tribes had 
always felt secure from piinishmenl duriii;; the win- 
ter season. These Indians were attacked and cap- 
lined in the Wiushita Valley, in December, iM'iS, 
and sevenil of their chiefs held as hostJiges until the 
captive white women were delivered up. 

Gov. Crawftird returned home after the close of 
this campaign and has since been successfully en- 
gaged in the pr.ictice of his profession. Nov. •.'7, 
IHUG, lie W.1S married to Miss Isabel .M. Chase, 
an estimable and accomplisheil lady, of Tojieka, 
where they now reside, ami the union has been 
blessed by two children, daughter and son. (Jov. 
Crawford is possessed of an imposing presence, his 
height being si.x feet two inches, with the accom- 
paniment of a Herculean frame, .symnietrically 
proportioned, and a pair of shoulders Athw might 
fairly envy. His mannei-s are the very essence of 
courtesy and gentleness, and altoirether he present* a 
marked tyjie of the cner;,'elic, patriotic and sturdy 
sons f)f the great West — xiKirilrr in wxln, furlitrr 
in re — with whom the high sense of duty stands first 
and foremost in every relation of life. 



-•■- 



»►• -^ 



a 



J <^,^ •T: (■ 




. t^-/^ 



i<'S»rV.'i^iSS»('i^i' V.'i< V>'i \ .'i 



*gj«.^^i^«sgs>'<^.'-^' 



JX^QlxQ'm.iah (^'pqqtl. 



O:- 



i^'^'iiSi'^gi'., 



iiaiAi'a»ta.'i-:.'i ;■'»:.'»•:.'» ^JtCif^-'t^t-^^t^'g^^t^ 




==;;r-\v //>5 



'^. ,,.'> ('©-SXti^'^^"'"'- 



Is/^'T^^i"^ 




KIIEMIAII GREEN, fourlh 
i! (iovornor of the State of 
Kansas, possesses a his- 
tory eminently worthy of 
_ .. , record, as that of a man 
' "?-^2? who has distinguished liim- 

^'ei^*^ IP • ••• r 

^ self in many positions of 
trust and responsibility, and in all 
acquitted himself creditably, both 
ill iirivate and public life. A na- 
tive of Hardin County, Ohio, lie 
was born March 8, 1837, and after 
a course of preliminary study cn- 
li'rcd the Ohio Wesleyau Univers- 
ity-, and subsequently taught school 
for a number of years in Logan and 
Champaign Counties, that State. 
Our snliject when a youth of eighteen years came, 
in March, 1855, to Kansas, and took up a claim in 
Douglas County. The country at that time was 
inhabited mostly by Indians and coyotes, the earli- 
est white settler having arrived only a few months 
before. Young Green, studious and ambitious 
beyond his years, in 1857 was admitted to the bar, 
and practiced until 1859, but finding lawyers more 
nuiiicroiis than clients, and tiiat the Free-State men 
were no longer in danger of being overpowered by 



the border riillians, he returned to Ohio, and en 
tercd the ministiy, becoming a member of the Cin- 
cinnati Methodist Episcopal Conference. He was 
stationed at Aberdeen and Williamsburg, until the 
first call by President Lincoln for troops to quell 
the Rebellion. 

In 18G2 Mr. Green enlisted in the 8;)th Ohio 
Infantry as a private, and suliscqueutly became 
Lieutenant of Compaiij' B, and served under Gen. 
Cox in West Virginia during the celebrated cam- 
paign which brought Gen. McClellan so iiromi- 
iicntly before the nation, and in which it will be 
remembered this regiment distinguished itself. The 
«!)th was subsequently transferred to the Army of 
the Cumberland under Gen. Sherman, and Lieut. 
Green marched at the head of his company, going 
all through the Atlanta campaign, and endearing 
himself to his comrades by his kindly solicitude for 
their welfare, and the practical sympathy which in- 
duced him to literally bear their burdens, namely, 
their knapsacks, until he loo was overcome iiy the 
heat, and fell by the way bleeding at the lungs. 
From this he did not rapidly recover, indeed, was 
not expected to live for a time, and was finally 
compelled to resign his position, and seek the care 
and quiet of home. 

Lieut. Green returned to Kansas in 1865, and 



•►Hh-**- 



>► ■- 



•►-•-4^ 



i:;4 



NKHKMIAH GRKKN. 



t 



ri-Miiiiiii^' liis ministerial iltilios, wjis .-Uilioiietl nt 
MuiihatUin two years. Tlio year followiiij^ he w:»s 
eleetetl Lieiilriiiiiit (iovornor, anil u|K>n the rc^ign.i- 
linn of (Jov. Crawford, Nov. t, l.sGH, succeeileil 
l<> Ihi- csoculivi- c-liair for llie reniaintler of the 
ti-rni. In tlic nii'aiilinic he diil nol lose his inlerosl 
ill the c-liiirt-h, anil w:t« a|i|Hiinteil I'rcsiiling KJiler 
of the Manhattan District, Imt on ai-eount of the 
ill-health of his wife retirnl In his farm until IS7;t, 
when he njjaiii entered the eonferenee. I lis own 
health, however, never fnlly restored sinee his ex- 
|)erieni-e in the army, oMiged him to abandon the 
ministry, with the cxce|itit)n of preaching oecasion- 
ally at ehtireh dedications, and u|miii other occasiuns 
where lienevoleiit work was most needed. 

In November, issi), Mr. (Jreen was prevailed 
u|M>n by hij ncighlmrs to allnw them to use his 
name .xs a candidate for the Legislature, and being 
eleet«-<l served faithfully his term, and in 1S,S1-.S2 
was S|H-uker /tk lent. When relieved of his jjublic 
duties he turned to the jjursuils of agriculture, to 
which he h:i? sinee given his attention. 

Mr. (irt'cn owns one of the finest farms on Jlill 
Creek, and which comprises 810 acres of land, the 
greater part under a high state of cultivation, 
rpon it there is an abundance of timber and water, 
and .'ill the other f.-icilities for carrying on farming 
and stock-raising after the most approved methods. 
In the feeding of cattle he \\as introduced the 
methods which have given tlicin llic precedence, 
and his were the first Kilcy County .animals known 
to have been bought in the Kansas City market for 
shipment to Kugland. 

The first wife of our subject, and to whom he 
wiis married in IsiOO, was .Mi.ss Ida Li'llingwell, of 
Williamsburg, Ohio, and whodicd in l.sTO, leaving 
three children — (llenzm .S., Kllie and Alice. In 
1873 Mr. flrcen contracted a second marriage, with 



Mis-s .Mary Slurdcvant, ..f IJuslivilJ., N. V.. by 
whom he has two children — IJurtis T. and Ned M. 
He h:is two brothers in Kans^is: Lewis I". < In-eii, 
of Doughks County, who was the coalition candi- 
date for Congress in the .Second District last fall : 
and (leorge S. (Ireen, of ManhnlUm, of the firm of 
(Ireen A- Ilcssiu, attorne^'s-at-law, and who is now 
representing the .southern part of Kiley County in 
the Legislature. 

In his private clianicler ( Wiv. ( Ireen i> thoroughly 
ui)riglit, conscientious as a minister, |irt)gressive 
and patriotic as a citizen, and as an onitor h.as no 
sujicrior in this State, and but few in the country, 
lie is thoroughly jxistcd on political (piestions, and 
with his irresistible wit and humor invariably holds 
the attention of an audience, while his clear and 
earnest style seldom fails to convince. Among the 
men of his county none are more |H>pular than he 
who is familiarly called '• the ( lovernor." 

The career of (lov. (ireen as a pioneer citizen 
has been one eminently worthy and nsefid to the 
community in which he has resided, and his neigh- 
bors and old friends uiiiledl}' bear testimony to his 
sterling worth and his valuable services both to the 
church and SUitc. lie was well calculated by 
nature to aid in the building up of a new country, 
possessing the judgment and forethought neccssjiry 
to determine wh.it was to be done, .■iiid the m iiiiicr 
and time in which it should be nccomplished. In 
building up one of the finest cst;ilcs in this region 
he h:is contributed largely to its standing and repu- 
Uition, and his industry has been an incentive to 
others about him. The result thus produced is a 
highly intelligent and progressive community, 
which wius not slow to t:ike advantiigc of leader- 
ship, especially when the leader [Hissesscd noblest 
principles of character and sound judgment 



•#> 



I 



♦-• -^ 




^^^lyix^^j t/f^, ^^ 




"iT^ 




^ 







AMKS M. IIARVKY, fifth Gov- 
ernor of the State of K:ins;is, and a 



£ ^ y /'-tl ':'\ ernor of the State of Kans;is, and a 
i &/J7<|[/^*' Virginian by birth, is a native 
'1 SV/jWfc ;,,'• of Monroe County, and was l)orn 
^' IK^f'' ■ V ''^^1''- -'' 1S;33. His parents, 

T-.^'^- .%uS !i ">■ 'I'hoinas and Margaret (Wallier) 
Harvey, were also natives of the 
Old Dominion, but removed 
from th-it St4ite when their son 
Janus !\I. was quite young. 
He .•icquired his education in the 
public and select schools of In- 
diana, HIinois and Iowa, and 
following his tastes and talents, 
became a finished practical sur- 
veyor and civil engineer. Mr. 
Harvey, in the y<'ar 1.S59, just before Kansas was 
freed from Territorial cnthrallment, and when she 
was struggling to becon.e one of the sisterhood of 
States, removed hither, settling in Riley County. 
He at once became w.nrmly interested in the affairs 
of this section of country^ and distinguished him- 
self for his ability, intelligence and enthusiastic sup- 
port of the measure which was to make the Territory 
a full member of the American Union. The pur- 
suit of agriculture at that time offered a more ample 
income than his I'rofcssion, an<l in this lie at once 
engaged, Init the seclusion of the farm did not con- 
ceal his eminent ability and his talents from the 
public, and he was a prominent factor in the affairs 
of Kansas for a period of nearly thirty years. 

It was not I<jng after his arrival here until the 



Civil ^Var was precipitated ui)on the country, and 
James 51. Harvey enlisted as a soldier of the Union 
arm}-, and was soon given a Captain's commission 
in the 4lhand lOlh Regiments, which were consoli- 
dated. He served with honor in the campaign in 
which his command took part, and was mustered out 
in 1804. The following year, and also in 1806, he 
was elected to rei)rescnt his county in the Kansas 
Legislature, where he displayed such power as to 
attract the leading men of the commonweallli, and 
in which he gave unmistakable indications of the 
distinction he would aeliicve in the future. After 
serving his terms creditably as a member of the 
Hou,se, he was, in 1867-71, a member of the Senate, 
and in the latter year was elected Governor. 

The duties of these various ofhces Mr. Harvey 
discharged with that fidelity and ability which en- 
titled him to still higher distinction, and accordingly 
on the assembling of the State Leglature, in 1874, 
he was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the 
resignation of Alexander Caldwell, United States 
Senator. This vacancy had been temporarily filled 
by the appointment of Robert Crozier, but the 
Legislature promptly recognized the claims of Mr. 
Harvc}-, and g.ave him the merited compliment (jf 
his regular election to that position. He took his 
seat on the 12th of February, and iu this, as in all 
other places which he was called upon to fill, dis- 
charged his duties with great credit to himself and 
honor to his State until the 4lli of March, 1877, at 
wiiich time his term expired. 



H 



-4*- 



JAMES M. HARVEY. 



< 1 



During Mr. Ilnrvov's inciinibi'iicy I'f the (Jov- 
criKir'sulllc-L" imidi iiniHirtnnt wurk «nj> iloiii- by tlic 
l.i-^li.^latiire. including tlie issimncc of ImhiiIs for 
tiif iiiilit.try L-x|>ciisc-.s of llic Indian War, niitl pro- 
vicliii;,' n niilitiiry eunlin<{cnt fund fi>r tlie protuetion 
uf lliu frontier of tliu Stale a^iiist In<li:in dcprcda- 
tii>n.> — these two ulijccts callin;^ for *:.'75,000; and 
aL-^o tlic furtlier i^^uaiicc of bonds to aid in coin- 
pletini,' the west wing of the .SUtc Capitol, *70,00n; 
t<» defray tlie exiM-nses of raising the 1 '.>th Keginient, 
?> I 1,000; and jM,')00 was appropriated to buy seed 
wheat for destitute farmers on the frontier. Dur- 
ing th:it term also the cast wing of the new cai)itol at 
'ro|)eka W!Ls so f:ir completed that on December 2o 
they were <iceupied by the State oflicers. At that 
dale there had been expended on the wing com- 
pleted and on the west wing, on which work was 
^till progressing, the sum of |i417,588.29. At the 
annual eleetion, which occurred Nov. 8, 1870, 
(tov. Ilarvcy received over 1D,000 majority over 
his Deiiiiicralic opponent. For United States Sena- 
tor, to .serve the unexpired term of Caldwell, the 
b:illoting commenced .January 27, and was continued 
four days, no candidate receiving the required 
seventy votes neces.s;iry to a choice. On the 2d of 
Kebruary, Jlr. Harvey v,-as elected on a joint vote 
of seventy-six iis against fift3--eight thrown for all 
olhcr candidates. 

During Iho twelfth session of the Kans.ns Legis- 
lature, .Janus SI. Harvey, Governor, thirty-eight 
laws were p:is.sed. Amo.ig them were bills authoriz- 
ing or legalizing the issuance of nuniicipal bonds ; the 
Slate ISiiard of Agriculture was created ; iji.'i.OOO w:is 
»ppropriale(l for the relief of Western settlers, and 
ti2,;»00 for the Kreedraan's I'liiversit}' of (^uind.-u'o; 
the boundaries of Kingman and Harvey Counties 
were defined, the latter nan)ed in honor of James 
.M.; two new judicial districts were created, the 
Thirteenth and Kourteenth: the sjdaries of State 
iidieers and .Judges of the .Supreme Courts and 
Di>lrii'ls Courts were incre:iscd; and an act jms-setl 
providing for the sjile of Normal .School lands; 
('oiiimi.s»ioners were also appointed to provide for 
the settlement of lo».ses by Indian depredations 
between ISOO and 1K71. 

(lov. Harvey upon retiring from publii; life re- 
lumed to his farm at \'inton, Uilcy County, where 



he ri-i<idcd for n time, and then returned to the 
vicinity of his old home in A'irginia, and is now- 
living in liiehmoiid. On the 4tliof Octol)er. 18'>l,he 
w!is united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Cutler, 
of Adams County, 111., and of this union there 
were born si.\ children, four (laughters and two 
sons, namely: Clara, Emma, Lilliau, Martha, James 
N. and John A. 

The assuring smile of jwace fell uimn Kansas for 
the first time in her existence when the war of the 
Rebellion ended, and about the time Mr. Harvey, 
after serving valiantly in the ranks of the I'nion 
army, returned to Kiley County, and was called 
upon to assist in the further great work which lay 
before both legislators and jH'ople. It was a time 
demanding the best efforts of its wisest men, and 
Mr. Harvey in his sphere was ecpial to the emer- 
gency, and t<» the jK-rplexing duties devolving u|H.n 
him as Legislator, Senator an<l (Jovernor. Twelve 
years of turmoil and strife h.ad trained tlieinhabiUint.s 
to know no rest save in motion. an<l no safely ex- 
cept in incessant vigilance. I'nder this discipline 
their character lia<l become as peculiar a.s the expe- 
riences through which they lia<l passed. A rest- 
less energy was the controlling element, and the life 
of case and peace was one so foreign to their ex- 
perience as to strike them a.s almost unnatural. 
They, however, under the fortunate rule of a wise 
executive, turned to the j)ursuilof the |>eaeeful arts 
and conquered the right to the free soil they now 
tread. Mines were opened, railroads built, hus- 
bandry and manufactures brought wealth and plenty, 
and peace and jjrosperily reigned. 

Along with the hap|)y stale of affairs just above 
metitiimcd, there were also built up the indispens;i- 
ble adjuncts of churches, schools ami charitjible 
institutions, together with happy homes, villages 
and cities, and all else which marks the develop- 
ment of a civilized and free people. Every man 
who at that critical period performed his duty de- 
serves to be perpetuated in history. Among these 
James M. Harvey was likewise equal to the einer- 
geiicy, and is amply entitled to have his name en- 
rolled among the patriots of that period, who labored 
elllcienlly in bringing about the futine pros|)erily 
of the commonwe:dth which now t)ccupies a proud 
position among the States west of the Missi.Ksi]>pi. T 



■*►-■ -^ 



•^ '^fey**; / 



i 




V 



^^^. ^-^<^_^. 



•►-II-4*- 





lOMAS A. OSBORN, one 
of the most popular and 
distinguished gentlemen 
who ever served the State 
of Kansas as her Executive, 
is to-day an honored citi- 
zen of that great common- 
wealth and a resident of her capital 
city. He was chosen to this high 
iition at a critical time in the 
listory of the State. While it 
is true that no commonwealth in 
our glorious galaxy of States has 
been so sorely' tried or i)assed 
through so many and such severe 
ordeals, there have been some peri- 
ods of greater trials than others. 
One crisis after another has come upon this people, 
but there was always a firm and wise hand ready 
and able to guide the ship of State through the 
storm and over the shoals. Kansas found in the 
person of Jlr. Osborn a safe leader, a patriot and a 
statesman. From the 3'ear 1872 to 1877 was an 
important period in the history of Kansas, and during 
this time Thomas A. Osborn stood at the head of 
its affairs. Many vital questions were forced upon 
the Executive during these eventful j^ears, and the 
record he made then will ever endear him to the 
hearts of the people of the State he so efficiently 
served. When tried he was not found wanting, 
but demonstrated tiiat he possessed a sound judg- 
ment, a keen foresight, and an unfaltering devotion 
to the well-being and prosperity of the State. Thougii 
a stanch Republican as a citizen, as a Governor he 
was non partisan, and worked impartially to the bet- 
terment and welfare of the whole people. Not only 



■♦- 






h:is he been a valued citizen of the Slate because 
he so ably filled the Ciubernatorial Cliair for two 
terms, but because for over a quarter of a centuiv 
he has stood in the front rank of her most progres- 
sive and patriotic citizens, aiding in every laudable 
enterprise having for its object tlie i)ublic good. 

Thomas A. Osborn was born nearly fifty-two 
years ago, at Mead ville, Pa., Oct. 2G, I83(;. He 
attended the common schools of his neighborhood 
during his boyhood, and at the age of fifteen com- 
menced life as a printer by carrying the newspapers 
of the office. Here he served a full apprenticeslii[), 
and in the meantime pursued the course of study 
wliich had been interrupted by the necessity of 
making his own living. By his labors at the case 
he was enabled in due time to earn enough money 
to pay his w.ay through Allegheny College, and in 
1856 he commenced the study of law in tlie ollice 
of Judge Dcrrrickson, of his native town. The 
year following he came to Michigan, and was soon 
afterward admitted to the bar. In Novemlicr, 
18r)7, he migrated to Kansas, and began his career 
in the Territory at Lawrence, asacompositor in the 
oflice of the Herald nf Freedom. Such was his 
fidelity to duty, and his industry and efficiency, 
that he was soon promoted to tlie jwsition of foreman, 
and in JIarch. 1858, the editor of the paper, after 
a two-weeks absence, expressed his thanks "to his 
worthy foreman, T. A. Osborn, Esq., for the very 
satisfactory manner in which he has conducted its 
columns." 

Before ^Mr. Osborn was twenty-two years old he 
commenced the practice of law at Elwood, Doni- 
phan County, and soon acquired a fine reputation 
in his chosen profession. Politicall}', he w.\s a strong 



n 






riloMAS A. OSHOUN. 



lt(>|>u)ill(!Ul !(ll<l l-nt-MaU- liiMli. Mini ill l-^.''.' wii.s 
irliiU'*! Sciinlor friiiii I )uiii|i|i:in (ixinly to llif first 
SUilo L«•;ri^l!^tll^l•. Uikiiij: lii-< >vtil ill \>**'>\, wIkmi 
twfiily-lUe yt-nrs ol<l. Tlio y<:ir fnll.nvinjf lii- whs 
tlniM'ii l'ii'.«i.li'iil ;.r« f/'m of lliu SoiiaU- iliirillK Hit' 
•il.Miuo of llii- l.iriiloiiiilit (loViTiior, iukI (luiin;i 
lln- iiii|N-:u-liiiu-iit triiil of < iov. Koliiii^oii ami olliirs. 
Hi;) iioxl |>roiiiolion wiis hi.s cliH-tion to llic ollirc of 
l.icuU-nniit iJovenmr ovor liiscoiiiiH-litor, lion. .1. .1. 
lii;::ilU. 

Ill l"<t'. I Mr. Osliorn ri-ci-ivt-d the :i|>|Miiiitiiu'iil of 
I'liilrfl Maltr. Miir>liiil ill K.ui.vi.^, Iiy rr(>iilfiil 
l.iiiiolii, ami o«iii|iiiM| tliu ]M)>ilion iiiilil I si.T, Tv 
>iiliii}5 (liiriiij; uiul altor hi-" term of olllce at l.ravcii- 
worlli. In lliu fall of I.hT'.' In- a<t> |ilril fn>iii the 
IiiiikI? of his parly llu- iicniiiiialioii for (Jovcnior of 
Kaii.><i.s. '1 In- coiivuiiliou !uv.i-iiiliK'il at'l'o|K-ka, mill 
tliiir lamli'lau- «!i.-. iUoIimI liy h iii.ijorily of;U,()(i(i. 
Ill- w.a.s duly iiiaii;;iiratoi| in .laiuiary. If^T.'J, ninl 
mTvimI with so ^ruat uliility niid rcii'liTi'il .siicli s«l- 
isfaclioii that li«! «;i.s n^'.aiii fliu-cii at the Statu C'oii- 
Vfiitioh of liis iKirty for !i MM-oiiil tiTiii. The fol- 
lowiiijj N'ovciiiiifr lie wiu^ duly eleclfd, and .served 
aiKither two ye.ars. 

It is |iro|Mr ill this eoniieelioii to ;;ive a rcsi/mc 
of .some of the oeeiiireliees ill Kaiis.-is at the time 
<!4<v. Osliorii «H'(ii|iie(l liie |>ositioil of SUite K.\eeii- 
live. Ill May, \>*'i\, diirinj; his .second year as 
(fovenior, tiie Indians on the .soiitlinestern frontier 
eoiiiiiieiieeil de|iredatiolis U|>oii the setllers in Har- 
hour (.'oiiiity. whieli were connned for a lime to the 
>tealin;; of their cattle and horses. In nn a(tein|>t 
to reeovi-r Some of the plumler, ii (let.'irhment of 
I'liited Slates Cavalry fatally wonnded a son of 
l.iltle Uiilie, .'i chief of the Clieyeiines. This iii- 
liud Ihe Indians to open utitraj^es, and in .lime five 
murders were comiiiitleil. Tlie.se oiilr.-i^^is al.-irined 
the entire sou lli\vest«'rii border, and aelioii was at once 
Uiken to plaie the more e.\posed poinU in as f,'ood 
a coiiilition of defense lus W!us po.ssilile. Companies 
were tir;;:iiiizeil .aii'l armed in rc.adine.-s for.an eiiier- 
"jeiiey, and stoekades were coiistnicteil liy the .set- 
tlers at Medicine l^odgc, Kiowa, Sim City, and at 
|H(ints midway hetweeii the two latter places. Nol- 
wilhsLandin;; thi'.se precautions, hundreds of people 

deserl<-il their 1 les and souj^ht pioleclioii in the 

larger towns. In July other murders were com- 
mitted, and suspicion pointed strongly to the Osjij^e 
Imliaiis. Kaily in An;'ust a party of the.se, twenty- 
live ill iiun:l)er, ap|>eared near the town of Kiown, 
I'laiinin;; to lie out on a hufTalo hunt, ami ii|xiti lii'- 
iii;,' orilered to ri'tiirii to their reserv.alion tlii-y le- 
fiiM-il to do so. This was commiinieated to ('apt. 
Kii'ker, who wilh in command of a company of 
mounted militia, niid who In settin;,' out to Unci 
llieiii, overt<^ik tlirui nlioiil llfteen miles nurlhe.-ist 



of Medicine LiMlge. In the skirmish which ensued 
four Indians wi'rc killed. The sava^'cs now grew 
more hold and <leciiled in their oiislaii;;lit ii|Hin the 
while setllers, and hy the 1st of .^epleml>er they 
hud slain sixleen cili/.ens, six c>f whom were re-si- 
deiits of l.:iwrence mid |ic:ua'ably enyaged in snr- 
veyin;; piililic lands fttriy miles suiith ami twenty 
miles west of I)>Mlj;e City. Cov. DslKirn was com- 
|K'lled to keep the Voliintoer militia companies on 
the hordi'r ill active service until nearly the close 
of 1><7I, and between those who iirijcd extreme 
mc-i.Mires anil those who, niore timid, advised npol- 
iey of extreme forbeanuice, lie w:is in a |nisitioii ri'- 
ipiiriii^ f,'ieat injjenuily and tc'iniK-raiice of uclion. 
Few men in liis |>o>ition could have tloiie better, 
and more wnuld probably h:ive failed in .i.<vsisl in;; lu 
brinjj all these troubles to !i peace.-ible conclusion. 

After leaving the CiiU'riiatorial Chair in 1m77_ 
Mr. Osborn was 'ippointed b^' President Ilaye.s, 
riiiled Sl.itcs MinisUT to Chili. In this |HKiiii<.n he 
rem.-iiiied for fouryeai-s, when lie wjis t»'nilered by 
I'resident (iarlield the position t>f Minister to the 
Kinpire of ISra/.il. This he accepted, and remained 
near the cmirt of iJoii I'edro until the adminisira- 
lioii of l'ie»iiient Cleveland came into |M>wer. 

Mr. Osborn's record as a foreii,'n Minister was 
not only hi;;lily creilil.able to our own Nation, but 
doubly so to him as an otlieial and a cili/.en of the 
ijreat poace-loviiiL; Uepublic of Aincric:u While in 
Chili lie was quite active in tiyinj^to brinj; to an 
end the bloody war in which tli.-it country w.ns eii- 
{;.i;,'eil with I'lHii and Bolivia, and in 1 .'s.M) presiiled 
over a confeieiiee of representatives of the bellij^- 
ereiit power on board the American iii:iii-of-war 
"Lack.'iwaniia" in the bay of Aiiea, wliiili had in 
view that object. He also interisted himself in 
brin^in^ to si peaceful coiiclusion the |ong-|M'ndin<r 
bunndary dispute between Chili and tlie Arji^entine 
Kepiililic. For his valued and able services in this 
conneclioii he received the thanks of both nations. 

Since (!ov. Osborn's return to the rnileil .suites 
he li:is occupied him.M'lf in various ciilerpri.scs, .and 
while not entirely escliewiii}; iHilitics, has made 
known his desire to be excused fiuiii lilliii:^ further 
ollici.al positions. Ilestood at thelie-idof the Kaiisiui 
dele;,r:itioii to the National Republican Convention in 
1«SM, and in that auj^iist assembly was a prominent 
figure, lie is a man whose opinions are universally 
held ill res|H'<-t. and one who has no nniin|Mirlant 
inlliieiice in the coiiiicils of his party. His e.arly 
life and trainin;; served to build up within him that 
patience .'iinl self-reliance, and that pei>cverance in 
behalf of a wnithy principle, which has been the 
secret of his standin;^ anioii^; his fcllowmcii, and 
ilistin^iiished liiiii as a iii.'in of more than ordinary 
ability, and one eminently U) be triist«(l, 



■*¥' 





£^ry^ 





r/:f^c4>^j^j^i^ 



L- 



i 



■» ■ ^ 





I'.OROE T. A N T II O N Y, 
I lie sevcnUi Governor of 
llie St;ile of Kansas, came 
of an excellent family of the 
Empire State, who were or- 
liiodox Quakers religiously, 
and who in point of the elc- 
^Wps^'^: nuMits vvhic'h go to make up the bone 
■A.<L^^£iS' and sinew of the social fabric, pos- 
sessed all the characteristics of that pe- 
, culiar people. He was born in Maj'- 
field. Fulton Co., N. Y., June 9, 1824, 
and spent his boyhood and youth on a 
farm, acquiring his education mostly 
in the winter season, and making liim- 
at .agricultural pursuits in summer. 
About the ago. of nineteen he commenced learning 
the tin and copper smith's tr.ade at Union Springs, 
Cayuga County, which he followed as a journey- 
man five years, then repaired to Ballston Spa, .and 
clerked in a hardware store until his removal to 
Medina, in 18.50. 

In the town above mentioned Mr. Anthony found 




self uscfu 



his future wife. Miss Rose A. Lyons, to whom he 
w.is married JJec. 14, 18,')2, and thereafter for a 
period of nine years was engaged in tr.ade in hard- 
ware, tin and stoves, and also carried on the manu- 
facture of stoves and agricultural implements. Later 
he engaged in the commission business, and in due 
time was made Loan Commissioner for Orleans 
County, being thus occupied three years. 

During the late Rebellion and under the call of 
July 2, 1862, for .additional troops, Mr. Anthony 
was selected by request of Gov. Morton as one of a 
committee of seven to raise and organize troops in the 
Twenty-cightti District of Now York, embr.acing the 
counties of Orleans, Niagara and Genesee. In Au- 
gust following he w.as authorized to recruit an inde- 
pendent battery of light artillery of six guns, and 
which was subsequently known as the 17th New 
York Independent B.attcry. Such was the in- 
dustry with which he set about this commission, 
th.at in four d.ays the maximum number was secured 
and mustered into service, with Mr. Anthony .as 
Captain, and they proceeded at once to Washington. 



1 

I 



-4^ 
I .tc 



-•► 



t 



(JKOROE T. ANTHONY. 



t'npt. Aiuii.iii\ Mrvo<l with his ImtUry until the 
rli>M.' uf the war. oi)crntin>; In'twofii Wiuliingl*'!! niiil 
Itiihmoiid. nii<l in front uf tlio lntl<r city nn<l !'«- 
lir>liiir^;, lifinjj with llio 1 Hth Army C'cir|is (luring 
the butt yciir of tho war. IK' wius bri'voli-d Major 
for MTviivs in tlu- Inst ennipaign emlint; at A|>|h>- 
uinttox Court House, and afti-r tin- surrcmlrr of the 
Confi'tlomtc forces w;is inust4'n'(l out of service at 
Uichinuiid, Va., June 12, IHOS. 

In Novenilier, iKC.'i, Mr. Anthony chan-jecl his 
rcsidenco from H<Khester, N. Y., to Leavenworth, 
this Slate, anil heeanie editor of the L«'!ivenworlli 
Diiily Ilulltlin, also «if the Leavenworth Daily Otii- 
niTi-atirf, filling tho |M>sitioii two years and one-half. 
He siili'-equenlly !L«iSunie(l proprietorship of the ICaii- 
miH Furmfr, wliieh he conducted .six years. In the 
meant iino such had lieen the zeal with which he in- 
teroted himself in the afT.-urs of a SUxW struggling 
for recognition, and only needing g<Mid men for 
leailers, that he was ri'Cogni/.cd as a man eminently 
filled for promotion, and in necemhcr, 18C7, was 
npiMiinted I'niled .Stales Internal Revenue AssisUinl 
Ass»->,Hor, and the following year Collector of Inter- 
nal Uevenue. For three years he was I'residenl of 
the Kansn.s State Hoard of Agriculture, and for two 
ve;irs held the same |H>silion on the Hoard of Ccn- 
tcnni.'d Managers for the .State, and was discharging 
the duties of the three otilces at the lime of his 
election as (lovcmor. on the 7th of Novcnihcr, 
IMTC. 

Cov. Anthony, while State Kxecutive, presided 
wisely !Ls counselor over the many didlcult ques- 
liiiiis arising nl thai time, and retired from the 
olllce with the licst wishes of those who had realized 
how faithfully he had endeavored Ui iK'rform his 
dulv. He continued his residence in Leavenworth 
lifter the expiration of his term of olllce, and there- 
after w!is employed much of the time in n respon- 
>ililc position, in connection with the exlcnsion of 
the great .SanUi Ke Itiillroail through New Mexico 
and into Old .Mexico. 

'Ihiitltov. Anthony was popular during his in- 
ciiiiilicncy of the Kxecutive olllce, is itidicnled liy 
the f.acl that the eoimty M-al of Ilar|)<>r County was 
n:iiMcd in his honor. Over the OHtihlishment of 
tliis town thiTi- WHS much earnest deliate in regard 
lo it.- liM-ati mil many other iui|Mirt.-int details in 



connection therewith. It is n.-.v .» .... ..f iiii|>or- 

tnnce, and was honored with n |>ost-oince in the 
summer of 187t<. At first the service was only 
weekly, hut in due time liecamc daily, and it was 
made n money-order olllce in 1 KKO. Previous to 
this, however, n hank had been establi.-hed in a 
small fninie stnicture standing on the street, and 
its business was soon eontlucted in a store building, 
with a capital of ♦20,000. Tho (llobe Mills were put 
up in l««0-81,ataco.stof over ♦2.'>, 000, and in due 
time commaniled a large trade from |H»inls in the 
Indian Territory, as well as the surrounding towns. 

Churches and newspapers sprang up in due time 
in the town of Anthony, and various lodges of the 
different s«K'ieties were named in honor of the 
Governor. The town itself lies on the edge of a 
beautiful valley, a trille <iver two miles from the 
geographical c4-nter of IIar|K'r County, and the site 
was selccleil after much deliberation b}- the Town 
Coini>any, which had been formed at Wichita for 
the purpose, as it was found desimbic to establish a 
town not far from the center of Harper County, 
which embraced large tracts of beautiful rolling 
land. The projected town w.as considered a 
matter of serious importance, and not the least 
among the matters connected with its esUiblishment 
w!is the name by which it should be called. The 
descendants of (iov. Anthony may be pardoned if 
in preserving their family history they keep pnip- 
erly in view this fact in connection therewith. The 
town site was made to cover .'520 .acres, ami the first 
work of the company w:is to builil a barracks for 
the accommodation of emigrants, and to dig three 
pidilic wells. 

About as soon as the announcement went forth 
that the "city of Anthony" w.as ready for settle- 
ment, about a dozen box houses sprang up as if \>y 
magic, and were soon followed by astore of genend 
merchandise, a hardware and a drug-store, and closely 
u|H)n the heels of these came a physician and an 
attorney. Tho new town grew ra|>idly, and now 
o<'eupics a proud position among tho other cities 
adjacent, going in .some respects ahead of those 
which are older. As ni:iy be supposed, the patriot, 
the ex-soMier, and one of the most conscientious 
men who ever occupiecl the ( lulicriiatorial Chair of 
Kansjis, has waU'hcil its gr.iwlli with lively inlcrest. 



•► ■ -^ 



H 




fii.iLy 






••► 



i- 




John, 








OIIN P. ST. JOHN, eij-hth 
(iovcrnur of the State of 
Kansas, was liorii in Brook- 
lield, Franklin Co., Ind., 
Feb. 2.5, l,s;i3. Tiie family 
is of IIiiLfiienot descent. 
Daniel St. John, the jiaternal 
grandfather, was a native of 
Lnzcrne County-, I'a., and for 
bixty years was one of the fore- 
most ministers of the Universalist 
denomination, preaching with un- 
swerving faith the doctrines he 
liad espoused, and illustrating their 
purity by aguilelessand untarnished 
reputation. He was the friend and 
contemporary of Murray, Ballon, Streeter and 
Thomas, and was numbered with them as one of 
the American fathers of this religious faith. He 
was also a Freemason, and at the time of his 
death, which occurred in Broad Ripple, Ind., was 
the oldest member of the fraternity in the State. 

The subject of this sketch was the son of Samuel 
St. John, who was born in Orange County, N. Y., 
and was a man of more than ordinary ability. Tlie 
mother, Sophia (Snell) St. John, was of English 
extraction, a lady of rare intelligence, with a char- 
acter adorned by all the Christian virtues. The 
children of farmers in the rural districts of Indiana 
forty years ago were taught by such instructors as 
the limited means of the inhabitants could com- 
mand, and who dispensed knowledge usually only 
two short terms each year. Under tiiese circum- 



stances tiie earl3- edu(;alion of John V. St. John 
was acquired. He soon mastered the elemenUuy 
branches taught in the district school, but deter- 
mined to carry on his education as soon .ajj he could 
secure the means, and for this pur|)ose, while yet 
a youth, entered a store, but devoted his leisure 
hours to his books. 

In 1852 Mr. St. Jului niiulc his w.-iy to the Pa- 
cific Slope, and employed himself at whatever he 
could find to do — wood-chopping, steamboating, 
mining, merchandising, etc. During the period of 
eight years, which were pregnant with adventure, 
hardship, danger and toil, if not of profit, he made 
voyages to Central Amerie."., South America, 
Mexico, Oregon and the Sandwich Islands. He 
was engaged in the Indian Wars of Northern Cali- 
fornia and Southern Oregon in l.sr)2-53, in which 
he suffered all the perils and hardsiiips incident to 
the struggles of that time, and was .several times 
wounded in the service. 

During his mining life in California the long- 
clicrished pre<lilection of Mr. St. John for the legal 
profession ripened into a definite purpose. lie 
accordingly procured a few elementary law l>ooks, 
and under circumstances calculated to try the 
courage of one less determined, he commenced his 
law studies in liis mining camp, reading each even- 
ing after the close of the day's labor by the light 
of a burning pine knot or the camp fire. He thus 
pursued his studies laboriously for two years. In 
18G0 he returned eastward with but little more of 
this world's goods than wh.en he set out eight years 
liefore, but equipped with a rich experience, a 



i 



•» Ji ■^> 



t 



■•*-•- 



I ID 



.1(11 IN 1'. ST. .InllN, 



kii<>w|i-il;;f of Uu' wiirlil aiiil :i f:iir iili-a of loiuiii'Mi 

law. WiUl Ihc VU'W of IHTft'i-lill); llilll!M-lf .slill 

fiirtlKT ill lii« »tu«lif!t. lie ciiUtimI llif olllco of 
Mrwr*. SUirkwi-nllnr \- Miljiiii, nt ('linrlf.toii, III., 
:iii(l nl llie rxpirulioii of .1 y«'nr"s liim- wil« ndiiiilUil 
III pracliro nl the U-ir, niul liccniiu- n iiiciiiUt of the 
nriii niKivu iiii'iilioiu'il. 

The iiiilici|i!ilr<l |irofe.i»iotml cin-er of Mr. St. 
.loliii, however, w.'Lt rudely hrokeii in ii|>oii liy the 
liiiilUTiii^ of Civil War, niiil laying; aside his [ler- 
iMHinl iiiUTesLt, lie eiili>U*d «> a private in t'oiniiiiny 
(', O.Mlli Illinois Infniilry. The re^'iiiient wjis soon 
»«'iil U> Ale.xaiidri.a, Vo., nnd St. .lohn w.-us n.s.si}jned 
to di-t.ni-licd duty ai^ Aiwislaiil AdjiiUinl (ienenil. 
lie contiiined in this cn|Ktcity until his term of 
elili^tiiii-iit had ex|iircd, luit suliseqiiently nt ('iiin|i 
M:>tt<Miii, 111., he wat plaeed in coinniaiicl of the 
triMi|H tlitTe, (;iven the coiniiiission of C':ipl:iin, nnd 
ii|Min the or^nizntion of the 1 4:td Illinoi.s, ua.n 
eleeteil Lieutenant Colonel of this rejjiiiient. They 
o|M-mled sul«r«'qnently in the .Mississippi Vnlley.and 
t'ol. St, .lohn continued in the .-ierviee until iHi; 1, 
when he retired to private life, nnd resinned the 
pracliee of law in eolineclion with .Iildye McLaiin 
the Mirvlviii;z jurtner of the old linn. 

Ill Fehriiiiry. IxO.I, Mr. .St, .lohn with his f.aniily 
ri>iiioved U> Indi-|M'ndeuec, Mo., where he rn>t 
iM-t-niiic proininenl its n |xilitieian, nnd as .a most 
e(To<-live nnd |M>pular onilor. Diiriii;,' his four- 
years resilience at th.-it |Hjint he took nn nrlive part 
in till' iMilitienl enni|>ni^n of I MILS, inakin<^ an efTeet- 
i\enMd vi^fonnis i-anvass of Western Missouri in 
U-lialf of the nominei'S of the Kepulilienii parly. In 
Mny, \M:>, he cliaii;.'ei| liis residence to Olathe, 
Kan., nnd iL>.Hoiinled himself with M. \'. IS. Parker 
for the prachii-i! of law. This continued iinlil I ST.I, 
nnd Mr. St. .lohn then formed n partnership with 
Hon. I. 0. I'irkerin;;, of Ohitlie, nnd eontiniied the 
pnu'tice of his profession until pressin;; pulilic 
diilien foreed him to nliandon it. 

The proniiniiiee of Gov. Su .lohn in piiMie life 
"reins to hnvc |)e<-<iinc his iin.Hoii^lit, nnd as the re- 
fill of cirenmslnnees entirely oulsidu his individ- 
ual piir|N>M>ii or de«i;,iis. I'p to |h72 he lind (;iven 
only Mieli altentioii to poliiieni nfTnirs ns wilm 
VMiiehnnfed liy nil iiitelli^enl nnd patriotic voters, 
lie hid hei.l iiii'...ii|.;lit llie vailoui local olllies 



which fall to the lot uf rcjpuii.-iblc cili/.ciis in the 
ndniinistration of town iiffairs, nnd .ns nn nrdoiit He- 
piililicnn liiid done acceptable work on Uic stump 
diiriiifj the canv.-iss of 1HG«. I'\>ur years lat<'r he 
w!is elected SL'ile Senator from .lohnsoii {'oiiiity, 
nnd nt once tiHik a lc.idin<.; |Misitioii, hotli on the 
lliKir .-us n deliator, and in the cuiniuittce rooms as 
an elllcienl luisiness member. 

The ti'in|H'rance movement found a sturdy nnd 
fearless mlviK-ato of prohibition in Mr. St. .lohn. 
Consequently when the question came U> lie an 
issue in the |)olilics of Kansas, he w:ls nt once rec- 
of;nized lus the fit exponent and defender of the 
then un|Hipnlar doctrine. The Kan.s.'u .Su-ite Tein- 
|)erance Convention accordinj^ly nominated him as 
il.s candidate for Covernor, in l.sTfi. lie declined 
the nomination, although in full accord with the 
convention on the i.-isiic it presented. That same 
fall he w.as on the first ballol in the Kepulilican 
convention, the lending gubernaloiial candidate. 
On the seventh ballot he withdrew his name, which 
action result<-d in the nomination nnd siibseqiieiil 
election of lion. Gcorjje T. Anthony. 

At the Republican .State Convention held two 
years later nt To|H'ka, in August, 1.H7K, Mr. M. 
.lohn received the Re|iublican nomination for 
(iovernor. Considering the distniclinjijr element of 
a third party, lliecami>aij;n was brilliant .•iiid effect- 
ive, nnd the result one of the most ilecisivc [Kilili- 
cal vicUjries ever achieved in the .SUile. In ISKO, 
in a toUd vote of l9S,2.'}rt, Mr. St. .John was re- 
elected by a majority over the next highest candi- 
date of .51, ()l" and a majority over all of ;!2,170, a 
f.'ict which shows how siitisfactory to the people 
had been tin; ninnner in which he had dLscliarged 
the duties of bis olllce during bis first term. 

The jrreat exixlns of the colored |»"ople from the 
.Soiilhern .States to Kansas began in IsT'.'.aiid (lov. 
.SI. .lolin nt once took an active iiiU-resl in their 
beludf. Through his irilliience, personal nnd olllcial, 
the necessities of Ihoii.sjtnds of these destitute: and 
suffering people were relieved and themselves 
placed in a |>osition to become self-sustaining. In 
IHH-J hi.s frii'iids nominaled him as Governor for a 
third term, but be failed of a re-election. In I SHI 
he was the noniinee «>f the I'mhibitioii parly for 
rresideiit, mihI recciveil 1. '1(1.(100 voles. 



•»- ■ -4< 









/ f ' / 






KOKCW-: W. (ILICK, iiiiitli 
( Mivcinor of Kiiiisns, wji.s its 
liibt Democratic State Ex- 
ecutive. He was born at 
( I reeiicastle, Fairfield Co., 
« )liio, July 4, 1827, nw] on 
V ' the paternal side is of (Jer- 
ninn descent. His great-graiidfatlier. 
Henry Glick, was one of five brothers 
who left the beautiful Khiue country 
prior to the Revolutionary VV'ar. In 
this immortal struggle they all partici- 
pated and subsequently settled in Penn- 
sylvania. George Glick, grandfather 
of the Governor, served as a soldier 
in the War of 1HI2, and was severely wounded at 
the battle of Ft. Jleigs. 

Isaac Glick, the father of George W., and who 
was prominent as a farmer and stock-raiser of San- 
dusky Count}-, Ohio, held for three consecutive 
terms llie ollice of Treasurer of that county, and 
was a man accounted above reproach, both iu his 
business and private character. He married Miss 
Mary Sanders, daughter of George Sanders, who 
was a soldier patriot in the War of 1812, in which 
he ranked as a Captjiin and bore the marks of his 
bravery in bodily wounds of a serious nature. Mrs. 
Mary (Sanders) Glick is a lady of high culture and 
great piet^', active in the work of Christian charity, 
and of that retiring disposition which fully car- 
ried out the command of the great teachci-, "Let 
not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth." 
As a boy, George W. Glick was more than usually 
studious, and acquired a good English education, 
embracing the higher mathematics and the lan- 
<,'uages, which lent a polish to his practical sense and 
business qualifications, and enabled him to succeed 



•Ah 



almost uniformly in his undertakings. When he 
W!is a little lad of five years the family removed to 
Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, where, after com- 
pleting his education, he entered the law odice of 
Uuckland & Hayes, the junior member of the firm 
being afterward President of the United States. In 
due time he passed a thorough examination in con- 
nection with the Cincinnati Law School stuilents, 
and was .-wlmitted to the bar by the Su|)reni(> Court. 

Mr. Glick conmienced the practice of his profes- 
sion at Fremont, Ohio, where his carefid attention 
to the interests of bis clients secured him a large 
patronage. Later he removed to Sandusky City, 
and in 1858 was made the Congressional nominee 
of the Democratic party in his district, but declined 
the honor in the presence of the convention, but 
accepted later the nomination for State Senator. 
Although defeated, he ran nearly 2,000 votes ahead 
of liis party ticket. Later he was elected Judge 
Advocate General of the 2d Regiment of the Sev- 
enteenth Division of the Ohio Militia, with the rank 
of Colonel, receiving his commission from Gov. 
Salmon P. Chase. 

Late in 18.58 Mr. Glick came to Kansas, locating 
in Atchison, and associated himself in the practice 
of law with Hon. Alfred G. Otis. This gentleman 
w.is well versed in jurisprudence, and as Judge of 
the Second Judicial District from January-, 1877, to 
January, 1881, won golden opinions us an adminis- 
trator of justice. The firm of Otis & Glick contin- 
ued fifteen years, and was finally dissolved iu con- 
sequence of a throat affection from which Mr. Glick 
had suffered for some time. The firm settled up 
its affairs annually, never a dispute occurring, 
its last settlement having been effected within an 
hour. 

At the fii-st election held under the Wyandotte 



-♦► 



f 



144 



••►H-^ 



I ■!; K w. (;lkk. 



('■iiidlitiitioii, I)i-<-. f', I ■■'.')'.', Mr. <;iuk ».l* in.nlr llio 
I>fm<.M:nttic nomiiu'c fur .luil(;c of tliv Second Jiidi- 
i-uU I>i»triot, mill rit-civeil ii voti- largi-r tluin that 
of any candiciatr <in lii^ lickct. llo wn-t clcotod a 
UK'iulx'r of the iloii.M.' of l{«'|)rcwnlativ«>> from the 
i-ily of AtrhiMin, in ISt">i, and »-afliconxTiilivc_vi'ar 
liuTcaftor until IHC". lie was re-flcctod in IMT.'i 
and again in I nno. During llii-suvenrs lu- wn.s C'liair- 
ninn of the .ludiciarv ('oniniittff. niul wjw i-lmscn 
to nil this |>«>!.ition l>y the K«|iul>liian Speakers of 
the lloiix', «lu» ninnifi'sti'd the ulino.st conlWlencc 
in hi."< wiwloni and intf),'rity. 'riiiTeafler he served 
«m the nio^t ini|Mirtant coinniitlees cxi-tlinji:, and 
diirin;; the M'ssiou of IsTf'i wius S|H.'aker j/n/ /cm of 
the llotiM'. In May, l^T I, lie served as St:ile Sen- 
ator, having been elected to till the vacancy caused 
l>y the re.si<; nation of the lion. Joseph C. AVilson. 
From thi.« time on Mr. (Mick was constantly called 
into ri'tpiisition hy his party, being in l>>.sC a delc- 
gnte to the I'nion Convention nt I'liiladelphia, and 
in INTit n member i>t the DenaKTulic State C'ential 
Comniillee. Siil>se(iuently he was a member tif llie 
Stnle t'entnil Kelirf Committee, and wiis cimimis- 
»ione<l a Centennial Manager by Gov. Thomas A. 
OslMirn in 1K7C. Subsequently he \v:is elected 
Trestsurer of the I(oard of Managei>, and \v;is pres- 
ent at the first meeting in I'liiladelphia, when the 
nrmiiging of the display was completed. In .luly, 
l«82, he wa-s nominated by :i( rlanialionjisthe Dem- 
ocratic candidate for fJoveriior, and at the election 
received considerable siip|Nirt oiiLside of his parly. 
Mr. Click w:ls County Coinniis>ioner of Atchison 
County U|M>n his accession to the olllce of Governor, 
and mm aKo holding the jiosition of Auditor. In 
his eleclion lo this <illlee he rcciivcd about forty- 
six |»Tceiit »if the votes east, and was outdone by 
•jiily one man in this re.»|Hct, namely, .John 1'. St. 
John. who. in I««0, rei'cived about fifty eight jK-r 
cent. Although a man of tcm|RTate liabiu*, he does 
not consiiler prohibition a sovereign remedy for 
the evils nnsing from the use of, ami traffic in, iu- 
Ujxicating drinks. In l-ebriiary, IHTf., while a 
memU'r of the House and during the tendency of 
the pr<i|M>sed amendment to the Dram Shop Act, he 
• iitcn-il a prol«'sl, which was spread u|h)ii ihc House 
.lonrnal, in whi< h he niainUincd that the Prohibi- 
tory l,i<piMr Ijiw had, wherever tried, failed to a- - 



complish itj* pur|Hise, and that tlii> proposition »:■> 
i-onceded by all who were not contrulled by fanat- 
icism ; that no one Would attom|il to enforce such 
a law, and that regulation and control of the tralllc 
was an absolute necessity for the preservation of 
the |)cacc and good order of society, und that this 
control was made of no eflfcct bj' the pro|Kised 
amendment, 

Mr. (Hick furthermore contended that the reve- 
nue derived from the sale of intuxicatiug liquors 
aided in paying the burdensome ex|ienses following 
the wake of such sales, and that by tl»e projKised 
law the burdens ufion the public were incrcjused 
while its ability to prevent llieni was decrca.sed. 
lie believed that if the bill became ii law it would 
increase the number of places where liquor would be 
sold, thereby resulting in the iiicrc:ise of the evils of 
the tralllc, and also the ex|>enscs of protei-ting life and 
pro[)erly and preserving the jiublic |K'ace. 

The early Kansas railroads found in (lov. (Hick 
a stanch and elllcient assistant, and he was one 
of the first Directors of the Central Hrancli of the 
I'nioii I'acilic, running west from Ati'liisoii. lie 
was also a Director of the Atchistin, TojK'ka A- Ssint-'i 
Fe — the important transportation line of the .St:ilc 
and of the country west of the Mississippi. From 
the lime of the organi/atioii of the Atchison it Ne- 
braska, he was its President to its com|ilctioii, and 
siH'nt four years of incessant labor in order to effect 
its construction from Atchison to the capital city 
of Omaha. He organized the Atchison (las ('■mi- 
pany ami secured the building of the works. Many 
of the buildings in the city of Atchison, both busi- 
ness and dwelling-houses, were erectetl by him, and 
he has generously disbursed liiscapiud to eiiccuiragc 
those enterprises best calculated to increase the im- 
portance of the city. 

Mr. (Jlick was niarrieil nt Massillon, Ohio, Sept. 
17, 1«.17, to Miss Kli/.abeth, daughter of Dr. A. 
Uyder, of Fremont, that .State. While he was SUite 
Kxecutivc his son Frederick was his private .st'crc- 
tary. This son and a daughter .lennic arc his only 
children. Mr. Olick was the first Master of the 
Shannon Hills Orange of the Patrons of Iliisbandry. 
He has been a member of the .Masonic fniternitj' 
nearly forty years, and aiiled in organizing the 
Itoyal Arch Chapleraiicl Comiiiaiidery, of Atchison. 



•►•-•^ 



^ 



»► ■ -4» 



Ht-^^ 



••¥^m^4» 




sy-/^ 



' ,'^l| ', ,>|: ',^)|^•^^'l■',.'l■ *,,»!' *,»,'*, <|''i'|*^(*^l'^^I^V'*('". 




; ,' ; .' ; ■' .; v- ; .'.^^'ai><^«ssti'..v^'.; j 



S,2?^1TI. 



•. '. :.'.•. ■iaj»^'t!S>'t^i^»^t^'f s^ I ' 





5HE tenth Governor of Kansas 
was horn March 10, 1839, at 
Brownsville, Pa., and in his 
early days, after an ordinary 
education, learned the prin- 
ter's trade. In 18.57 he went 
to Pittsburgh, and was em- 
ployed in the otKce of the Commer- 
cial Journal, and earl^' in October 
of that 3'ear he emigrated to 
Kansas and located in Atchison. 
He purchased the office of the 
Squatter Sovereign in February, 
18.58, and changed its name to the 
Freeman's Champion, and on the 
■20th of the month commenced his 
editori.al career in this State, bj' 
the issue of the first number of the paper which he 
has since been identified with. He was always a 
stanch free-State man, and an earnest and ardent 
Republican, being among the organizers of that 
grand old party in his native SUite. He was .Sec- 
retary of the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention, 
and was elected State Senator before he was of age. 
During the summer of 18C1 Mr. Martin assisted 
in organizing the 8th Kansas Inf.antrj', of wiiich he 
was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. The regiment 
served on the Missouri border during the fall and 



winter of 1801. Early in 18C2 he was aj)pointed 
Provost Jlarshal of Leavenworth, and in March of 
the same year his regiment was ordered to Corinth, 
Miss., Lieut. Col. Martin in command. A few weeks 
after, when at Corinth, the regiment with the 
division to which it was attached, was ordered to 
join Gen. Buell in Tennessee, and thereafter during 
the whole war it served in the Army of the Cumber- 
land. Lieut. Col. Martin was promoted to be 
Colonel on the 1st of November, 1862, and w.is 
Provost Marshal of Nashville, Tenu., from Decem- 
ber, 1862, to June, 1863. The regiment, under his 
command, took part in the battles of Pcrr3-ville 
and Lancaster, Kj'., the campaign against Tul- 
lahomaand Chattiuiooga, the battle of Chickaniauga, 
the siege of Chattanooga, the storming of Mission 
Ridge, the campaign of East Tennessee, in the win- 
ter of 1863-64, the campaign from Chattanooga to 
Atlanta, and the subsequent pursuit of Hood lujrth- 
ward. Col. Martin commanded the 3d Brigade, 1st 
Division, 20th Armj- Corps, on the second daj^ of 
the battle of Chickamauga, and during the siege of 
Chattimooga, and commanded the 1st Brigade, 3d 
Division, 4tli Army Corps, from August, 1861, until 
his muster out .at Pulaski, Tenn., Nov. 17, 1864. 

In a lengthy description of the battle of Mission 
Ridge, published in the New York Times of July 



- ► ■ <• 



-^*- 



M> 



.i^ 



JOHN A. MAUriN. 



It*. |H7f, MnJ- '••■II. niotniut .1. Wotxl, who coni- 
iiiniKlitl ilii- 3<1 Divinioii, 4tii Corps, Army of the 
('iiiiilH'rIniiil, tJiy^: 

••N\ illii'ir» l>rij;n<lf, in the coiilor, h.'ul «illi il Iho 
ht-roic, »l•«t•ln|>li^hl•tl Marliii, (oloiul >>( the ''Ih 
KniiMS. What thnt rc^iiiioiit (-4>ultl iml Uikc il wiu< 
not wiirth wliile to m-ihI iiiiy ulhcr ri';,'iiin'iit tt> l«M>k 
f..r. Martin wiw nniun^' tho fon-mosl to set tlie 
rxnnipk- of tlio iiptviird movement, nnd among the 
tlr>l til rvaoh the crest." 

In n letter puljli.'hed in llic Cincinnati C'linmer- 
no/ of .Ian. IM, IBTi"., the hiU< Hrij;. (ivi\. August 
Willieh, itimmamlor of the Ist Urigatle, M Division, 
-Ith Army Cor|>!i, after slating tlial tlie orders be 
retvivetl at (.(rchard Knol), i-onecrning the advance 
to Mi^.<iun liiil^'e, were to "lake Ihc rillc pit at the 
fiNit of Mission Hidge, and t4> keep that iKK-^ilion," 
and dcsoriliitig the advance to the hasc of the ridge 
and the capture of the rifle pits there, says: 

"Herein tiie work a-ssigned liy (len. (Irani w.-is 
ac<-<impli>hed. liul now the fire of the enemy Ijc- 
canie very s«'vere; the shells rent tiio ground in 
every direction; our lines were infiladed fnjni liie 
ilifterent spars of the ridge, where the enemy wjis 
pn>lectcd again.-l our Ore by bis works and bis 
dominant [losition. There np|H'ared at first thought 
to (len. Wiilicb, boliling jxjsition alioul 100 yards 
lM.-bind the ritlc pits, to be only three chances, viz: 
To ol>ey onlers and to be shot without eflfeclive 
resistance; to f:ill back, or to charge. The second 
I'hanec Wing out of the question, I galloped with 
l.ieuL (Ireen, of my staff, up to the 8tli Kansas, 
lying ill line behind the rillc pits. Col. Martin, 
coinmanding the regiment, seeing me, jumped on 
the breiu«t Works and shouted: 'Here we arc, Gen- 
eral, what more?" 'Forward, storm! We have to 
Uike the works on the ridge," w:lm the answer. The 
Colonel: 'Altogether, boys, forward! Hip. hip, 
hurrnli!' J. ike one man, the whole line, with one 
leap, clenr»-<l the breastworks; forward thei' movetl 
and the air wa.'t immhi IIIUmI with thf sound, 'Forward 1 
Forwr.ril!" extending more ami more, rigblanci left." 

Uelurniiig home, Col. .Martin resumed control of 
the Atchison CA(im/)ii)« early in .lanuary. iMi'i, and 
on the 'J'Jd of March i.isued the first number of the 
l)<nhj Chnmiiinii. Hi- has been commander of tho 
ill pnrtment. a delegate to tin- National Kepubliran 



Conventiona of 1860, 18C8, I«72and l^Ml; was a 
l'nile<I SUtes Centennial Commissioner, and one of 
the Vice I'residenls of that bod}' ; was one of the 
incorfMinitors of the State Historical .Society, of 
which he was I'rcsident for one term; was elected 
by (he two Houses of Congress one of the Hoard of 
Man.agers of the Natiomd Soldiers' Home, in 1m7k, 
and re-elected in IKH'2, being now Second Vice 
I'resident of thai body. He w:is married, .lune 1, 
1871, to Miss Ida Challiss, eldest daughter of Dr. 
William L. Challiss, of Auhison, :uid li:us seven 
children. 

At the Republican Slate Convention, held in 
Toi>eka July 17, 1881, the rules were sus|icndcd and 
John A. Martin was nominated for (lovcrnor by 
acclamation. At the November election following 
he was elected (Jovernor by a pluntlity of 38, 11)5 
votes. At the Republican SL-ite Convention, held 
in To|K'ka .July 7, I88C, he was again unanimously 
nominated for a second term, and at the November 
election following was elected tJovernor b}' a plu- 
rality vote of .!.'}, !M «. He wiis the first and only 
Governor of Kans;:s who wjis twice unanimously 
nominated by his p.arly for that olllce, and Ikis 
servcil with distinction, filling the honored |M>sition 
occupic<l by his able predecessors with cqu:il ability, 
and giving to the |)eopIe iis the Chief Kxecutive of 
the populous and growing State, satisfaction. He 
is ft man of honest, upright character, and abhors 
trickery and deceit, and in looking over hid long 
and useful life he may well feel a just j)ridc at the 
position he has won in the esteem and confidence 
of honest men, and the respect of all good citizens. 
There are but few men of the stirring State of 
Kansius who have been more closely identified with 
all pul)lic movenient.s for the general welfare and 
pros|M-rity of the State than John A. Martin. His 
name may be founil on almost every |>!ige of the 
memorable history of K:insas, from the holding of 
the first Republican Convention, held :it ()s:iwato- 
mie in 18.'>9, until to-day, when he is the leading 
spirit among tho enterprising men of the most pro- 
gressive .Stjite of the Nation. A man of excellent 
judgment, moved by honest purpo.sc ami love for 
the general welfare of the whole State, he isalwa^-s 
founil identifiecl with the right, and. as might bo 
expected, {Mipular with the people. 



•►II-* 



«» ■ -<• 



4- 











ansas^ 







^^ 



-^i^- 



■ -*- 



-u 



Rx 



in 






»■?■ 




4 






t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



ISl ' ^ 




f IN^^RODUQ^"ORY. ^ 



"ii^i-' 




.•-^h 



>;'()ME of the fairest iind most 
|)rofliictivc counties of the 
great State of Katisas are to be 
foun<l ill its soiitiieustern por- 
tion, and tlie chiefest among 
these is Sedgwielv. No county 
in this remarkable State has 
licen developed more rapidlj' or 
niagnificentlj' than this. Here is 
situated the city which has had a 
growth that borders on the miracu- 
lous. 'J'herc liave been inanj' cities 
throughout this marvelous Nation 
of ours which have, as it were, risen 
in a night, but undoubtedl}' the most 
striking illustration of American en- 
terprise in the rapidity- with whicFi 
we build our cities, is the city of Wichita. Al- 
though a mere infant as to point of years, she is 
to-day the strongest and foremost citj' in Kansas, 
with a population of well on to 50,000, and wealth 
that is amazing. It is not only populous, wealthy 
and enterprising, but beautiful, healthy and pros- 
perous as well, and will continue to be, as it is not 
only the foremost city of tlie State, but a feeder in 
a commercial sense of the vast empire lying to the 
south and west. 

To the railroad is due more than to anything 
else, save the enterprise of her peciple, the rapid 
growth of the city and county. It w;u5 the railroad 
that did so much toward tlie encouragement of the 
sturdy tillers of the soil to come to the fair and fer- 
tile prairies. Since these great arteries were estab- 
lished, the county has enjoyed a growth that is 



marvelous, until to-day it stands as the foremost 
countj' of the great State. In the growth and de- 
velopment of her vast resources, in her agriculture 
and stock-raising, in all the <lepartnients of labor in 
which busy man is engaged ; in her chiirtthes and 
schools, in civilization and culture, Sedgwick County 
has taken the front rank. Well may her peojile be 
proud of her products; well m.ay her pioneers turn 
with pride to her achievements. Within twenty 
years a wilderness has been subdued and converted 
into beautiful farms and thriving and populous 
cities, and a community established commanding the 
admiration of the country. 

The enterprising people of the cit3' of Wichita, 
while building up a great metropolis .and establish- 
ing stupendous warerooms and business houses 
and factories, have not forgotten that to attain the 
highest development education.-d institutions must 
be founded and fostered. This has been done on 
a scale in full harmony with the other great enter- 
prises which have been inaugurated. There are 
here a large number of colleges and excellent 
schools, both religions and secular, and the public 
schools are .as good as can be found even in tlie 
more Eastern cities. 






>^<H 



..>:;>..^ 



TKANSI'Oli T VTION. 

ONE of the most impt)rtaiit factors in the busi- 
ness development and |)rosperit3' of a city or 
a conntj' is its railroad communications. A 
retrospection of the historj' of Sedgwick County 
since the advent of railroad facilities, will convince 



1 



•► •-4< 






sKI>(;\\ K K COUNTY. 



lli«' tarrful ..Iimtvit nf the imnuiiM- Itih fit roult- 
injj fnmi Hit- iiilnxliu'lion "f tlii« »'.-^"«nlii»l mljiiiiol 
of roiiiiiicn'ial ent«'r|>ri»<-. 

Tlir .MlKMttiirl l'a< illt'. 

•Ills nr*""' t"'"'' '•'"' *•'''■'' """ tlircii'l» it.t 
v^ wn> ill tliffrroiit dir»>iti<(n!» lliniii^h iIhiiiiwI 
tlikkly M'UU'<1 iMirlioii nf K!in->a.«. hits cun- 
triliiiUMl 1L1 iiiiicli UK niiv otiior nuul, if iiol inoro, lt> 
Uir r«i>i>l ilcvili>iiiiu'iil <if till- ^'rojit ro-<>iirtf!i nf lliis 
SUU-. It i» iiiUTo.nliiif; U> imU' it-sliiKUirv. lus il wiu* 
Ihc fln»t rornl biiill »f>l fmiii St. Li.iii,-. At early 
nn |H.'iO-.')l. tin- proliniinnry >l«|»» to l'iiil<i the rond 
wen- lakni, nml il liii* >iiicr phi<limlly «'xlcii(ic«l iU* 
!iin-». liVc tliP arUTio> niid vcin^ "f tlu- liunmii sys- 
U-ni. until it liiL" i'iKMmi|>!us.<«'«l in its niiip- tlu- bf»l 
|Mirliiiii.i of Miiwiiiri. Knnsa> ami Nc<lirn!*kii, and 
liitH fviji rcnrlnnl ixil and tjippcd the large couimut- 
cial i«>m<r« of r»'sa.s and Colorado. Its .splendid 
ami far-rtiicliinf; niaim;;unu-iil extends to il.» patrons, 
IhiIIi ill frcijilit and piLKviigor trallic, tlie bej-t faeili- 
tien for ri-ailiiii>; the seaboard and the ffrcal Kiistorii 
marts of trade. 

The f;ro»tli ami development of tin- Ml.ssuiiri 
I'aeifle .sy.steiii Ikli been nipid and fully abreast willi 
the times. Il« local lin.sine.ss i.s enormous and rap- 
iilly inen-asing. In re»|)ocl to its through busine.ss, 
no other r(j«<l or system in Kansa-s is iietlor 
c<tiiip|N-<l tlinn this. Its steel-rail Iraeks. well-bal- 
liist4.>d ro«d-lK>ds and su|)erior pa.ssenger coaches, 
coii.Htitute il one of the greatest railroad systems 
of the West. It is by far the most iniporlant road 
of .ScKlgwick County, not only in point of miles, 
but illt lines exU-nd in more ilireelions from Wich- 
itA tiinii any other road. It has given aeeess to 
valiiiible lerrit4iry, and a very large coal, lumber 
and I'ommeri'ial biiAine.ss is truiisucl^-d through its 
•ill. 

Two lines of the Missouri I'ai-ille I{ailway lead 
out of Wiehiln to the West, the WiehiUi ii Col. 
omdo and the Kl. Sott, Wiehitn .V Western, while 
to the Knjil il ha-i the K»llsa.<i City it .St. I,<juis 
llraneh of the Kl. .S<otl, Wieliiti .t West<-rii, with 
iln reeeiitly eoiiiplcU-d line lo I'ueblo, with running 
f.aellllirfi l4i PeiiviT. This makex it by far the most 
im|Mirlnnt rond now centering in the iiietro|Milis of 
Kni>s.-i<. On nciounl "f ils ext^'iisivc inileugi' and 



the minineali.iii of the -ysleni. it is .ieslmed to pp.. 
mot*' in a larger degrci- than any other nwnl the 
;,'ro\vth of this rich district. It is even the most 
|Kiteiitial factor in the material progress and devel- 
opment of Wicliila and .Southern Kaiis^us. 

Tlie Mt'liisoii, Topt-ka >V Saiilii I'e. 

lll> lojid gives Wichita mid .Scd^jwick touii- 
ty ilircct communication with Kan.sius City 
\^^/ and Chicago on the eiust, with Denver and 
Colorado coal-fields on the west, and on the south 
with Oalvcslon. The S."inta Fe was the first line to 
build into .Sedgwick Coiiiily, coming from its main 
line at Newton. At that lime Wichita was the cen- 
ter of the great cattle trade, and it had a monopoly 
of the business. Hecently il luis alisorbedthe Kan- 
sa-s .Siulhern Uailway into its system. 

St. Louis tV San I i amisco. 

i«5r^ II I '^ '*■"■■* ll'c second roail to tap the fertile 
ff^js fii'lds of this county, ami the commercial in- 
V^PJ' terests of Wichita. It is siibst4intialiy built, 
and llio line exteiiils througk one of the best sec- 
tions of the .State, furiiisliiiig adminible f.aeililies for 
the shipment of the cominercial and manufacturing 
pioiliict-s of Wichita, and the sliK-k ami cereals of 
the county. 

'I'hc ( liica;;o. KocK Island iV I'acilic. 

'Ills is the Inst imixirtJiul trunk line eoniph'lcil 
through Wichita. It extends through the 
southern portion c.)f the county into the 
s«,iuthweslcrn |Kirl of the State, bringing Wicliila 
into direct coinmnnicatioii with the great lumber 
anil other interests of Chicago and Kansji-s City. 
Il is destined to play no iiiiim|Hirt:kiit |Kirt in the 
development of Kansas. 



Ixaiisas >liillaiiil l{ail\«a\. 



■Ills 



•xtemls iiMith from Wichita to Ni 
/./3v> hr.isKa, IS now building, 
\i^J/J niiles completed. In N< 



br.'iska, is now building, and with almost |0i) 
miles completed. In Nebraska it will hav 
connections with the riiion Pacific, and will neeej 



ipleleii. In Nebraska it will havi 
I I 
siirily Ic'conic an important feeder to Wichita. 



i 



■•►■-♦ 



-11-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



155 ' ' 





: i' ■' i'..'*i' ???<'iSi'g ^jt..'.i'..' 






: i' ; lUj-i'^^ii'.^ij'.; i'.;.i'u.i'.v I 




J%f\ 




♦Ak 



[!>■( iN..IAi\IKS R. MEAD. The 
now miiiierous faniil3' uf 
Meads comprises the de- 
sceudants of John Mead, 
one of two broUiers who 
emigrated to this country 
from England in the year A. D. 
1G42. One of the brothers settled 
in Virginia, where his posterity now 
reside. This branch of the family 
write the name Meade, the "e" being 
adilcd to distinguish them from the 
Meads who settled in New England. 
The late Bishop Meade, of Virginia, 
and the late Gen. (Jeorge B. Meade, 
of the I'liiun army, are descendants of this branch 
of the familj'. John Mead and his two sons, after 
a residence of some j'ears in Massachusetts, subse- 
quentl}' removed to Long Island, and in 1660 to 
(ireenwich. Conn. The following is taken from the 
"History of (ireeiiwich, Conn.," ]>ublished in 1H57: 
"John Mead was one of two brothers who emigrated 
from England about the year 1G42. The family 
was then an ancient and honorable one, though it is 
not within the author's means to trace their gene- 
alogy previous to their emigration to this country. 
One of their ancestors had been the friend and the 



-<^ 



^^<£%tf^-i — » 



l>liysician of the talented, though not ver}' amiable, 
(.^ueeii Elizabeth. One of the two brothers settled 
in N'irginia, where the family still exists. The other, 
John Mead, with his two sons came to New England 
about the year 1612. The name is spelled Meade 
as well as Mead. They emigrated from Greenwich, 
Kent County, England." 

Of John Mead, the elder, but little is known. He 
was quite aged when he settled in Greenwich, and 
died not long afterward. His son, John Mead (2d), 
after a residence in Greenwich of thirty-six 3'ears, 
died in 1696, at the advanced age of eighty. He 
was a prominent citizen, respected not only for his 
even temperament, but for his energy and decision 
of character. In 1660 he piHvhased a large tract 
of land of Richard Crabb and other lands of the 
Indians, and at his death left a farm to each of his 
eleven children. The family soon became numer- 
ous in the town and exerted a controlling influence 
for many years. 

Ebenczer Mead was the fourth son of Joiin Mead 
(2d). He was born atGreenwich in 1663, married 
Sarah Knap[), of Stanford, and left nine children. 
The record of his death is lost. Ebenczer Mead, 
(2d) was born Oct. 25, 1692, and married a lady of 
R3'e, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1717; he died at Greenwich, 
May 3, 1775. Ebeuezer Mead (3d), born Oct. 8, 






4^ 

1*6 



s|.l>t;\vi( K C'DUNTV. 



I 



\1\K, lunrricil Marv .Miml. nii>l ili««l nl CnniH uli, 
Fcl>. .;.'>. li.'iS. loaviiiK "111- iliilil, iilv> KlHiu-jrcr. 

iifii. Kl>«-iu'/.«r Mi-nil (4lh) »ii> ••""ii Di-i-. 1-', 
lUx. 'Ilii!* KIk'IH'/at w:fi a inilit'iry iiimi. ni-civ- 
iii;; hi« flml <-<iiniiii»i<>ii in 1774. ami nfU-r \aao\ttji 
njjul.irly tliriMi^li tin- HilTirpiil miiks >>{ |ir<>iii<)liiin, 
r»-<-«-iv<-<l H Miijor CpiMTnl"- tMiiiiiiii.«sii)ii for the 
S-<'<>ii<l |)ivi>ii>ii iif the StaU- of ('oiiiirctiriit. in 
Mi»v. ISiil. Whilo in M-rvicf lu- was slicil thr<>n<:li 
llir l>ri-:ml li.v :i nniskcl liiill, Iml rocovrn-il. Ilo 
linil U'on niarrifil, April tl, I7<'>'J. nn<l hii'l M-ven 
cliililn-n, nil <>f ulii>ni contnirtoil niiiiiUil tii'> in 
tlifir nnlive t..«n of (Mvcnwivli, nn>l ii-ft lnr;,'c 
f:iniili<->. 

Till' III"! Mi'iiil liiinifsU-ail ill (Irt'cnwicli is sitiialiMl 
at tlic* fiHit of I'nliiain'.N Hill, .-iiiil the rariii which ha» 
U-rii in till' family fur m-vi'b ;4i'iirn»li<iii.s inclinlc? thai 
hi.tlorio |ihu'('. (it'll. Mt-nil wii.s .sUiiuliiij^ on Mr' 
|><>rch of hi* ri'>i<li-niH' aii<l wiiiic.v.c'<l riiliiiiin's rido 
nii<l cM-niN', anil aVfn> that lie iliil not riilc down 
llic Hcvfiitv-fonr .".lont- >t«'|», Inil liiriii'il ^liarjily to 
Iho U'fl ami followcil a /.i;;-/.a;,' trail to the fool of 
till' hill. A> III' pillo|H'i| \>Y till' h<iii!<(' 111' wius shak- 
ing lii^ li>t anil nhoiitiii;,' hai-k at tin- Hriti.-h, who. 
from till' to|) of till- |irt'ri|iiti>ii.s I'lvvatimi ilown 

whirh thi'V (larnl not liili'. witi' .s| tin;; miiskcl 

IkiIU lifter him: "ImhI I'liss yv; ivhi-n I i-ali-h yc I'll 
li.iii;.; ye to the next Irre." 

An oil |>aintin(; of (•en. Klii'iii'/.er Mi-nil in iini- 
foini lian;;> in tin- parlor of lii.s •^ninilson, Knorh 
Miiiil. at l)avi'n|Hirt, Iowa. Ill- was entitled to 
nii'mlK-rshii) in the ".SiK-iety of the Ciiirinnati," and 
died nt (irt'i-nwieli in l>i|^. Col. Kliene/.cr Mead 
(.Mil). f;ntnilfalher of the ^ulijeet of this sketch, wa.s 
horn nt the old homestead in (•reenwich, March ^t, 
177'*. lie w!ui twice married, and liccame the 
father of eleven children. A man of lii;;li characliT 
niid iiillneiice, he wn.i for many years Colonel of a 
re^'iment of Coiini-eticiit infantry, his It-rni of serv- 
ice incliidiiij; the War of INI'.'. 

Klioeli Mend, the father of our siilijecl, w:l>i the 
Hixlh child of Col. Khciie/.er .Mead (.'tth). lie wiut 
lH>rn Sept. -I, I NOD. In hin yoiilh he wa.s iioled for 
his xkill ill hiinlin^', Niilin^, sk.'itin;;, swimming; and 
nil inniily s|Mirtn, lM'inj{ of fine physical development 
nnd stnlnre. I'nlike most voiiiil; men of this t4-m- 
jMrTiiiient. he was al-xi fond of study, nnd wa.s;;radn- 



nted from Vale ( olle;:c in the cl.'Uvs of l>.iii. 
Choosing; the ministry :ls his profesitiiin. he stndiod 
llin'c years, and wuji ^.'nidnnted nt Andover Theo- 
|i><;ical Seminary. :ls wius !«Iso his hrothcr. Uev. 
KU'iie/er .Mend (Cith). The latter wils also a man 
of ;;ri'at talent and successful in the ministry. 

After completing,' his studies. Kiioch Mead nc. 
cepted n call to the pastorate of the I'reshytcrian 
Chnreh nt New Haven. N't,, where he Inliorod with 
;,'ri'al success. While there he made the ncqiiaint- 
nnce of and ni.'irricd .Miss Mary K.. daii;;liler of 
Samuel .lames. Ksi|., a proinineiitcitizeii of .Middle- 
liiiry. Vt.. and a soldier in the War of I M •.'. This 
lady desoended from one of the furemost families 
of New Kn;.'land, and w.-ls eminent for her cnll- 
lire, lenrnin;; and piety. .She was n ;,'radiiate of 
Ml. Ilolyoke Seininnry. To this U-deiited |iair were 
liorn two children : .lames !{., of mir sketch, and 
.Mary Kli/alicth. who still resides with her parents*. 

Not beiii;; ple.'iM'd with the extreme rigor of the 
N'ernionl winter, where the snow fell four feet on a 
level. and where he witnc.-scd the crossing of heavily 
loaded sleighs on the middle of Lake Champiain on 
the ice, on the KUh of .May Knoch .Mead deter- 
mined upon a remuval, anil sought the Territory of 
Iowa, then jusl o|H'iiing up to .-ettlenieiit. with u 
more ciiiigenial climnte, and an ample liold for mis- 
sionary work. Leaving his f.'imily with his [Kirents. 
he look lip land ncir the present site of Daveninirl, 
which was then an iinsiirveyed (iuvernment tnict, 
and located there in the winter of l.s;l7, where with 
his family he still resides, uccupying the land he 
first Im-aled upon more than llfty years :igo. There 
he liiLs s|ient the hest years of his life in the work 
of the pioneer ministry of Iowa, licing one of the 
hand of iiolile iiieii wliu devoted their lives to the 
.si'rvice of the Miusli'r in an iinseirish effort to ele- 
vate and instruct their fellowmeii. 

.lanios Kichards Mend w;t.s horn in New Haven. 
\t.. May ;i, IH.'il'i, nnd wsus consequently hut a young 
child when removing with his iiareiiUs, in Isi.'l'J, to 
the Territory of lown. The journey was accom- 
plished overlnnd,n distnnce of Kl'Oii miles, in their 
own conveyance. Their iie»v home was located at 
the fiHit of the lilnfTs overlooking the Mis.si.ssippi 
Kivrr, near the site of the present city of |)aven- 
piirt. The entire country was then in a state of 



-•►-■-♦ 



t - 



-•»■■» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



157 ' ' 






nature. The river bluffs aud the islands of the 
Mississippi were densely covered with a gi'owth of 
ancient trees, forming :i home for ni^'riads of the 
feathered tribe and four-footed game, and quite 
recentlj- had been also the home of the Indian. 
Here j'oung James and his sister Lizzie were taught 
at their mother's knee, uo schools at that time being 
accessible. Later our subject studied three years 
in Iowa College, while his sister was graduated with 
honors at Ft. Plain Seminary, in New York State. 

When a boy 3'oung IMead assisted his fatlier in 
the labors of the farm, clearing away the forest 
growth, planting orchards, cultivating the virgin 
soil, etc. One of his daily tasks was hunting 
and bringing home the cows, which then had an 
unlimited range of prairie, timber and river bot- 
tom. In this exercise he became early in life an 
expert horseman. Game abounded in the woods 
and river, and inheriting from his ancestors a love 
of nature and rural life, he was never more happj' 
than when ranging the woods with his rifle, or ex- 
ploring the islands of the Mississippi in his Indian 
canoe. From these expeditions he would return 
loaded with game, and " thus the happj' yeai's 
rolled around " until arriving at manhood. 

Mr. Mead, now longing for a new field of ad- 
venture, and becoming deeply interested in the 
P'ree State contest then raging in Kansas, in tlie 
spring t)f 1859, with other young men of his neigh- 
borhood, came overland to this section, bringing 
with him a fine riding horse, the best rifle that could 
be made, a few dollars for present use, unlimited 
pluck, natural resources and ability to cope with 
the savage in his native wilds, the wild beast in his 
lair, or the elements. On their w.ay through Missouri 
they entertained the natives with the song begin- 
ning: 

We come to rear a wall of men 
'Round freedom's Southern line. 

And plant beside the Cottonwood 
The rugged Northern pine. 

Crossing the Missouri River at Weston they 
visited Leavenworth, the base of supplies for 
Kansas; Lawrence, where they crossed the river on 
a rope ferry; Lecompton, of historic fame, then a 
United States land-oHice, with Eii Moore as Reg- 
ister; Tecumseh, a lovely town site; and Topeka, a 



straggling but .ambitious village. Mr. Mead's first 
business enterprise was flatboating several thousand 
sacks of corn from Topeka and Tecumseh down the 
Kaw River to Wyandotte, which experience sat- 
isfied him tliat the Kansas River was not intended 
for navigation ; Init the I'ottawatomies, Dela wares 
and Shawnees living along its banks were an unfail- 
ing source of interest. Several Delawares were 
met and interviewed, who had crossed the plains 
and mountains with Fremont. 

At that time the Territory of Kansas extended 
from the Missouri River to the crest of the Rocky 
Mountains, and excepting a strip of couulr3' along 
this river little more than a 100-niiles ride, was a 
wilderness, roamed and fought over by savage 
tribes, who subsisted on the innumerable buffalo, 
elk, deer, antelope and other game which then 
abounded. In the eastern part of the Territory' 
dwelt the Shawnees, the Delawares, the Wyan- 
dottes, the Kickapoos, the Sac and the Fox, the 
Kansas, or Kaw, the Osages, Ottawas, and fragments 
of other tribes, with a few settlers sandwiched be- 
tween. On the plains were the Kiowas, Comanche.s, 
Che3'ennes, Arapahoes, Pawnees, and occasionally 
the Utes and Sioux, jealous uf their hunting- 
grounds and the encroachments of the pale face. 

This fairy land of romance and m^'stery had 
inexpressible attractions for our hero, whose youth- 
ful blood constantly longed for adventure. The 
descendant of a race of hardy pioneers, he had in- 
herited a love of nature in all its phases, and, like 
his father before him, was expert in all athletic 
sports. In the fall of 1859 he organized a party 
for a buffah) hunt. Starting from 13urlingame, 
then his temporary home, they followed out the old 
Santa Fe trail through Council Grove to Turkey 
Creek, thence north to the Hig Bend of the Smok}' 
Hill, where the}- found buffaloes and other game 
in abundance. After loading their teams Mr. 
Mead was so enchanted with the country' and the 
wild life that he made arnuigements with two of 
fhe party to remain. Togetlier the^' ei-ossed north 
to the Saline River, and in the most beautiful loca- 
tion, twenty miles above its mouth, in the heart of 
the buffalo range, erected buihlings suitable for 
residence, defense and tr,ade. The whole territory 
west of Riley and Butler Counties was tlien in- 



-•-4^ 



*-Ht 



^1 l>i;WICK COl'NTY. 



rlii«h-<l III Arn|mli>K' (iiiiiity. mnl • <iiiiiirir*o(l all 
arm Urgpr thnn tlir |>r»-sM'iil SUlf of Knii.HAn. In 
till* fnll iif \XC9 llii.i innnitiioiilli ctiuiitv ca.Ht sixty 
v«i(4>«. With tliiit viLHt tt-rriton' iiroiiiKl liiiii Mr. 
Mcail MNiii Imill ii|> nil i-\t<-iisivi' liiilinti iiikI fur 
Irnilf, mitl iH-i-auii' wiiU-lv kimnii ;i.'< a MU'cf.v.ful 
traili-r aiitl liuiitfr. 

Tlif ailvoiiturfA of our .•iiilijccl while i>ii ihi.s 
riviT. if writU'ii ii|>, wi>iilil f»iriii n iiu»l iiitfn>tiiig 
vuhiliii'. l|Miii xiu' <H-c:i.tiiiii he »v!i.i cn|iliirt'il liy « 
War |wrt_V of Sinus ; on another he wiliip>scil a two- 
clavii tiattle Ltctween the CUoc tril>e ami the Cliey- 
cniic«. 'I'lie northern trilmtarie.s of tlie Saline, 
I'anittiM-, Wolf aiitl S|iil!nian Creeks, were so naiiipfl 
l>y hini from jmihic ineiih-nt i-oiuiectetl tvilii their 
ilifit'ovrrv. A consiilenilile (Mirtioii of his time, 
while living' on the S;iliiic, wn.s oceii|iie(! in huiitinj;^ 
es|MMlitioiis, Koing |(t(i miles lieyoiiil llie frontier 
»«-ltleiiient.-< in tlie wild Inilinn range, where all 
Minnner of wild aniinalii abounded in their native 
wilds. ItnfTaloe.s iniiiiinemlile, elk .sometimes seen 
in hands of .'.(id; lilaek and while tJiil deer in the 
hills and cedar ennoiiii, and aiit«lo|)<- everywhere. 

• Ill the ereiks were a succession of lieaver ihinis 
from the mouth to the source. Droves of glos.sy 
liron/e turkeys haunted the timber, scmlcliing f4ir 
seeds and acorii>; wildcats of two or three varieties 
lurked alMHit the prairie dog towns, or followed 
the turkeys in the brush to potinee u|>on any str.ig- 
gler: nioiinUin lions Iny in wait in the canons or 
timlK-r for the luekle.s> liiilTalo calf, or deir. clioos- 
ing a fri-sh vietim for each meal, while bands of the 
large gray wolf foil.. wed the biilTalo, ready at any 
time til alLick and pull down cow, calf or sL-itcly 
bull. The gay and festive- oiuiiiprescnt cayoU- 
(Ki-ole), the Ishmaelite of the plain.s, a pieker-up of 
uiieon-idered trilles, idw.ay^ seeking a stray prairie 

• log. or the l>ones of an iinliieky buffalo, and for 
diversion would .sometimes pull the booLs from un- 
der the head of a sleeping hunter .iiid chew them 
up, or serenade his lamp at night. In the hoUow 
<if the tr.-<-s slept the c<M.n; in llieir bniiiehes iiesU'il 
llie bahl eagle an<l the raven, and at their root.s 
burrowed th.- badger and the |M.r<iipine. With 
Ihew surroundings .Mr. .Meail. iice.impanied usiiallv 
by two men with teams tii move fr.mi place to 
place, eninpiiiK' ">' »l"- lilnlwr at a bend of some 



creek or canon, which afTurded plenNiiit -hade in 
summer and shelter fruiii tlie lierce bli/zjirds in 
winter, s|ient many happy days. ( In one <K-c:i«iun 
he w;ls ab.sent in winter nearly three inuiiths, not 
seeing a human being but hi.s two coni|Kiiiions, 
n.arrowly es<-aping discovery by (larties of Indians 
l»a*sing near, and killing over 400 wolves, many 
elk, buffaloes, deer and other animals, and after be- 
ing given up for dead, returning l«.> the settlement 
.safe and sound, with liis train loaded with furs uf 
value sutllcient to buy a farm. 

On one of his hunting c.x|icdilions, .Mr. .Mead 
di.scovered a cave on the Smoky Hill IJivcr, the 
walls of which were covereil with Indian carvings, 
among which wiisciitin the rock the name "TUriX*, 
17.H('i," believed to be the oldest iii.scription of civil- 
ized man yet found on the rocks of Kansas. 

Mr. Mcail was an exj^-rt and highl}' successful 
hunter, and an unerring rille shot. Unone oi-ca.sioii 
he sought the slielt«'r of a canon on Wolf Creek, a 
bninch of the .Saline, during a terrific l>li/./.ard. and 
fouml a party of thirteen would-be hunters of his 
actpiaintance in camp, who so f:ir had been unable 
to kill enough game for their own meat. They s;iid 
the buffaloes were so wild, no «ine could shoot them. 
The next d.ay, the storm having subsided, but still 
liillerly coM, Mr. .Mead saddled his p<.>ny, rode up 
the creek a couple of miles, tied his pony in a nivinc, 
aiul crawled through the deep snow into the midst 
of a herd of buffaloes, shot thirteen bulls in succes- 
sion, look out their tongues, strung them on a strip 
of green buffalo hide, which he hung on the horn of 
his Siidille, and rode back to the party of hunters, 
who were silting close about their camp lire, tliri'W 
the thirteen tongues in the midst of the group, and 
rode on without a word, lie had been gone from 
camp twii hoiii>. ( In another <K-casioii, on returning 
from a Imig trip on the plains, they not only found 
thoy had lost the day of the week and nionlh. but 
were eight ilays off in their reckcjiiing. I lid space 
permit, m.aiiy |>ersojial cneoiiiitcrs, jierils, .•idvciilures 
.and narrow escapes, could be narrated. Most true 
plainsmen are reticent, and seldom tjilk <>f their 
own achievement* of skill, valor or endiiranee. 

On the 1st of l)c-<'enibcr, IHI'.l, w.-ls celebrated 
the marriage of .binies K. Mi-ad and .Mis> Agnes 
ll<ireome, Ml Itiirlini^anie, Kan. This lady «;,, «|.|| 

■ .^i 



•►Hl-^^ 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



159 



known, beloved 113' all, and a worthj^ representative 
of tlio noble women who distinguislied tliemselves 
in tlie pioneer days by tlieir courage, patience and 
endurance. The young people commenced their 
ha|)py life at their home on the Saline River amid 
tiic haunts of the buffalo, but in the summer of 
1 862, on account of the increasing depredations of 
the Indians, they removed to the little frontier 
town of Saline, then containing about two dozen 
houses of primitive style of architecture, close by 
which the savage waiTior tented and tlie buffalo 
grazed. 

Ml'. Mend ((intiuued his fur trade and liMuting, 
and became popular among his ncigiibors, being 
elected County Surveyor, and securing, with the 
exception of two, every vote in the county. 

In the spring of 18G3 Mr. Mead, learning of an 
unoccupied fur-trading di.strict in Soutiiern Kansas, 
transferred his business to the western limit of set- 
tlement, and built a trading-post on the ^^'hite- 
water River, at a big spring called Towanda, where 
be was subsequently' joined l)y his wife and infant 
son, wh<» had sjieut the winter at the home of his 
father in Davenport, and where the child was l)orn. 
Desirous of giving tlie settlers of that county a prac- 
tical lesson in hunting, our subject, in the month (^f 
June, started off with two of the teams and two 
men for a three weeks' hunt near the present towni 
site of AVichita. At the expiration of their stated 
time they returned witli 330 buffalo hides and 3,500 
pounds of tallow, besides some elk and antelope, 
the skins being valued atti/iOO. Buffaloes were then 
innumerable, and the countiy adjacent to the Little 
Arkansas as beautiful as the "garden of Gul in its 
bloom." In the early sjiring of 18C4 the Wichita 
Indians, who had been driven from (licir home in 
the Indian Territory Iiy the wai-, and who liad 
nearl3' starved at Belmont, Kan., where they win- 
tered, came out of the Wliitewater and the Arkan.sas 
Valleys to the junction of tlie two rivers, now the 
site of Wichita, to subsist on the buffalo, and some 
months afterward the Government sent them an 
agent, who established his headquarters at Mr. 
Mead's trading-post. Soon several thousand In- 
dians were gatherer] at this point, and " Mead's 
Ranch," as it was called in border parlance, became 
the princijjal point of interest in tiie Southwest. 



•► 



t 



From here Mr. M. established branches at the mouth 
of the Little Arkansas and other jioints, and sent 
teams to the camps of wild Indians on the plains 
and in the Indian Territory, and he and other 
traders, notable among whom were William Mat- 
liewson (Buffalo Bill) and William Greiffenstein 
(Dutch Bill), l>y lionorable dealing and friendship 
with the Indians, gained such an influence with 
them that Southwestern Kansas escaped the horrors 
of border Indian warfare. 

At the time Mr. Mead was engaged in the fur 
trade on the plains business was conducted upon 
honorable principles by both whites and Indians. 
A trader would buy upon credit thousands of dol- 
lars' worth of goods, load them upon wagons, .and 
embark with them for some Indian camp, one or 
two hundred miles distant from settlements, be gone 
perhaps two or three months, and yet was as sure 
to return and pay .as any man is to meet an obliga- 
tion to-day with all the machinery of law. 

Ill the spring of 186.5 a party of eight Caddo 
Indians from the Washita River Indian Territorj- 
(strangers) came to Mr. Mead's trading-post, a dis- 
tance of over 200 miles, with pack ponies loaded 
to trade. When ready to return they asked of Mr. 
Mead a credit of ^300 each, which was gr.inted. 
At the appointed time, about November 1, they 
returned and paid their debt, (except one who died, 
but his friends .sent uji and paid the amount of his 
indebtedness. 

Money was not then nuicli used in Imsiness. 
Goods were paid for in furs or skins, which were 
taken to an Eastern market and sold. On one oc- 
casion Mr. Mead sold in the fall to the noted half- 
breed Indian, Jesse Chisholra, 13,000 worth of 
goods, to l)e paid for on his return from the Terri- 
tory. In the spring his train returned, and stop- 
ping at Mr. Mi'ad's r.anch, Mr. Chisholm remarked: 
" I have mules and horses, buffalo robes and wolf 
skins, beaver and otter skins, coyote skins and buck- 
skin, but no monej' — Uike j'our choice." i\Ir. Mend 
chose coyote skins, then legal tender at ^1 a piece, 
and Mr. Chisholm counted out 3,000 in payment 
of his debt. This noted and most excellent man 
died on the 4th day of March, 1878, on "Ilis Own 
River," the North Fork of Canadian, and was 
buried on its bank, at the foot of " Little Mountain," 



4 



-4^ 



i» ■ ^ 



>i: hi; WICK COUNTY. 



111.- In. linn cliirf Ton ]U'aj> Inking .'11 liis ini-.lnl 
»n<l Invin;: il iilx>ii the lin-n-l "f lii» «l>tt<l fricml. 

Mr. Mos'l mill nihor I ml inn Inwlcnt connpclfd 

with tli<> rnrly lii->t<>ry <'f WitliiU iMij<iyi'«l »l "t 

tiiiliniiU'd iTftlit in Hip oiniMnTfiiil ninrLs of liii- 
Hn»l. <M>iiip t«> l-onvcii\v(irlli. St, Loni?*, I'liilndcl- 
|>liii> "T N«-«v York, iinil Imyinj; innny tliniisniiils nf 
ilollnrx iif HUTclmmlisf <'n i'nilil. llipy mmlil l^ikf 
tiM-m to the iilnins nnil in ilur linn- ixclinn^f tlioni 
for furs nnil piIm-s. .■mil with tln-M- niriko payniehl. 

In iMfi.'i Stilnnt.'i, tlic noti'il Kiowii i-liii-f :inil ter- 
ror of the pliiiMf, with lli-n|>-.-i-lti>nr, tin- chii-f and 
grpnl nu'ilirinr niim of the Arrapiilioi'.s, then at war, 
vliiiu-il Mr. Mi-nir.H rani'h to i-oniniiinicatc to the 
(iovi'rnincnl llii'ir ili-.tiri- for |K'aoi'. 

.Mr. .Mi-ail witt pn-M-nl Jind rt'pri-sfnli-il the \\'ifh- 
ilii ln<lian.'« at tin- irraty of thr Littlf Arkan.>:is, 
tlifir ayt-nt, .Maj. Miio CiKikiii!-, Id-in^' .sii-k. On 
thai iMwa^ion Iw wius the truest, anil cainpeil with the 
iiot4-i| fronlientnian Kit Car.son. .-iiul learned from 
hi?) li|Ki xome incident8 of his life. 

De.M'endi-d from llie New Kn;;land I'lirit.-iii stork 
of uld-liiie Wlii|j;s, Mr. Mead was natiirally a lie- 
pulilicaii and an ardent I'nion man, and would 
linve Joined the army liiit for the faet that he found 
hiniMdf in a position where he ronlil render hi.< 
.Stale and eoiintry minli more ellieient serviee than 
by enrryin^ a miiskel. and a po.siiion where the 
dentil nite was greater from Imllel, arrow and i-x- 
|M»<<ure than nnionj; an eipial niimlier of Kan.sa^ 
lr<H)|ift in the war. 

In the fall of |Ki;t Mr. .Mead was elirlid to the 
I^-(;i.tlutiire from lliitler Connty. on the Uepidiliean 
ticket, liy a liand.oonn- majority. An admirer and 
friend of (ieii. .Inme» II. Lane, he ns.ii.sted in elert> 
in^ thnl diKtin(;iii!ilie<l man to the Tniled .Stjile.s 
.S4'nnle, nnd wvoral years later stoml liy his lni;;ii' 
denlhlM-d. While amemlier of the l.<-j;islature, .Mr. 
Mend intriHliii'i'd a liill. whirh wn.'< passed. lUiiig 
the boundaries of Itntii-r (oiinly, the ehanj;'in|; of 
wliieh in Inter years by bis mieeewior rexultnl in a 
Itcriixl of biit«-r and protraeU'd coiinly-s4'at con- 
te^lo, nnd (jn-ally retarded the growth of that sre. 
Hon. 

In I HUM Mr. Mend wiut eleetid lo the State Senalt! 
from the dUlrii't embrneinu .Morris, ( hasc, .Marion 
nii'l Itiillir ( ountii-s, find all tin- iiiiorgnni/rd l4!rri- 



tory we.st of the .Stale line, now ilivided into about 
thirty-flve eoiintien. For two years .Mr. .M. wn.s 
Chnirman of the Comniittoc of Wnys and Means of 
the Legislative body, nnd reeeived a unnniinoiis 
Vote of thanks by the .Senate for his Inborn on Ihnt 
I'ommittee. At the be^^inning of his term Stiite 
seripl was Worth sixty cent« on the dollar; at its cliwc 
il wa.s ;il par. lie w.i.s niso delepnle to one or two 
.State conventions; also one of a few men who railed 
an elcetion and loeated the county seat of Iltiller 
Cotinty on n Irncl of ( loveriinient land in whieh he 
had no inti-rest, but believed then, a.s he iIch-.s now, 
that it was the pro|)or pl:iee for a city. The lix-n- 
tion wa.s then iK-cupied with but one log cabin, and 
from that humble beginning ha.s arisen the pre.sent 
llonri.sliing town of Kl Dorado. 

In the spring of Ixf.K, the (iovernmenl having 
treated with the O.'yige Indians for their lamls. sur- 
veyed and opened them for settlement and removed 
the Wii-liitns. Mr. Mead, with <!ov. Samuel .1. 
Crawford and others, believing the junction fif the 
two yVrkansiLs Kivers tube the natural and pro|>er 
place for a future great city, met in Toin-ka and 
organized a town company. On the ipiestion aris- 
ing as to its name, Mr. M. remarked: "Il already 
has a name. WichiUi, the town of the Wichita In- 
dinns." by which n.nme the locality was then known 
all over the plains; the name wa.s adopted. Mr. I). 
S. .Miinger was employed to go lo Wichitji. pre- 
empt land and keep a hotel. The eompany then 
advertised the town extensively in the Middle and 
Western Stales, and thus turned a large tide of im- 
migration to the new selllenieiit. Thus the pres- 
ent remarkable city of WichiUi was founded. 

On the 19th of April, luf.'.i, Mr. Mead met the 
greatest sorrow of his life. His beloved wife, Ag- 
nes, the bride of his youth, the joy of his life, the 
mother of liiti children, his f.'iitliful conipaiiion in 
all the privations and harilshi|is of frontier life, died 
from fever following confinement. Her reniains 
were conveyed to l)aven|Mirt, Iowa, and repose in 
Oakilale Cemetery, beside those of her infant >ou, 
who survived her but three months. After her 
ilealh .Mr. Mead sold his trading-post and adjacent 
farm and removed l4> his claim at Wichita, tin- 
north west ipiarter of section '21 . town •.'■/, range I 
i-jL-t, now in the Ill-art of thi-eily. I' pim llie ginuiicj 



i^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



161 i ^ 



^, 



where his Ih-st limiible i)i'e-eniption dwelling stood 
he :il"terw!ird erected .1 stately mansion, siii rounded 
by sliade and fruit trees and Howers, where he still 
resides. 

During- his residence in Wichita Mr. Mead lias 
been active in all measures calculated to advance 
the interests of the city he w:is instrumental in 
founding. Upon the completion of the Atchison, 
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to a point thirty miles 
north of Wichita on its way west, he realized the 
imperative necessity' of securing railroad connection 
from some source to control the trade of the Indian 
Territory and the Texas cattle drives, or AVichita 
was doomed to be nothing more than an ordinary 
county .seat, perhaps not that, for at that time Park 
City was an active and dangerous rival. After 
several fruitless efforts in other directions he wrote 
the following letter to tiie .Superintendent and Gen- 
eral Manager of the Saute Fe Road, which, in view 
of its very important results as affecting the cities 
of the lower Arkansas Valley, is here reproduced. 

WioiiiTA, K.\N., June 2, 1871. 
T. J. Pktkr, Superintendent and General Manager: 

Drar Sir: — Upon what terms will j^ou build a 
branch of your road to Wichita.' 

Very respectfully' yours, 

J. R. Mi;. Ml. 

lie received the following rejily : 

Osage City, Kax., June ;j, 1871. 
Hon. J. R. Mk.vd, Wichita, Kan.: 

Dear Sir: — In answer to yours of 2d will sayi 
if 3-our people will organize a local company and 
vote $200,0()() of county bonds, I will buihi a rail- 
ro.ad to Wichita within six months. 

Signed, T. J. Petkk, 

Superintendent and General Manager. . 

I nuiuMliate action was taken, and a compau}' was 
organized. The bonds were voted, and within six 
months thereafter the Wichita A- Southwestern was 
running into the cit^'. J. R. Mead was honored 
with the Presidencj' of this railroad. This thor- 
oughfare, built at that critical time, secured the 
supremacy- of Wichita in the Arkansas Valley. 

Along with success in life occasionall3' comes 
misfortune. In 1871 Mr. Mead was induced to in- 
vest heavily in a National Bank then organizing, 



and loaned to this his credit, money and good 
name, but was not an active party in its manage- 
ment, having other business. The financial crisis of 
1873, together with incompetence and mismanage- 
ment, wrecked the institution, and to make good to 
the depositors so far as he was able their los.ses, Mr. 
Mead turned over the property, now worth a quar- 
ter of a million of dollars. Through this trying 
ordeal he passed without loss of honor or credit, ask- 
ing no assistance, but having an excellent oppor- 
tunity to test the sineeritj' of sunimer-da3' friends. 

Reared upon a farm, Mr. Mead has never forgot- 
ten that agriculture is the foundation of all wealth, 
and lias eliminated from the virgin soil of Kansas 
several line farms, the last and largest near Wichita, 
in the valley, comprising nearly 600 acres. This is 
highly improved with an abundance of fruit, and 
upon which he successfully raises grain and live 
stock. While in nowise neglecting his agricultural 
pursuits, he has still kept pace with the advanced 
literature of the age. For years he has made a 
study of geology, biology, ethnology- and kindred 
topics. He is a member, and at this time (1888) 
President of the Kansas Academy of Science, has 
an extensive libraty and cabinet, a Large collection 
of the fresh water mollusca of the State collected by 
him.self, and is entitled by birthright to member- 
ship in the "Societ}- of the Cincinnati." He is 
Vice President of the Savings Bank at Wichita, and 
a member and Director of the Wichit;i Board of 
Trade. 

Mr. Mead has never been a politician or a seeker 
after otlice. The various positions he has occupied 
came to him unsolicited and unsought. The three 
most desirable of earthly attainments he believes to 
be honor, honesty and intelligence. A consider- 
able portion of his income is devoted to further in- 
vestigation and research in his favorite lines of 
study, lie has given liberally to all worthy public 
enterprises, and several of the church and school 
buildings of Wichita are erected on lots donated by 
him. He is domestic in his habits, preferring the 
quiet of his beautiful home, the society of wife, 
children, friends and books, and is a lover of the 
wilds of nature more than the bus^' marts of trade. 

Mr. Me.ad contracted a second marriage, in Jan- 
uaiy, 1873, with Miss Lucy A. Inmau, of Wichita, 



-•►-■--4« 



•#-•-4*- 



t 



sKlxiWlCK ttUM V. 



4 



nil •<tinial>l<> Imiy. niid nsisUT of Mrx Willinm Mal- 
licn^oii, iltiTiuM-tl. Ill- luiH llirvi- i-liililrcn living;: 
.lniiii-9 1... Uirii near ]>avvii|Kirt, Iimn, .Inn. I. 'I. 
|Kt;.l; |,i/7ir Aj:ii«'.«, now Mrs. (;«i>rm' W. ll»rtliiiK>- 
incw, iMini nt Towamla, tlii.i StnU-, Aii^. '.». I'Til, 
ami .M:ir)' K., iiImi Ixirn at 'rownmlii, ( >('l. ''II, I ^)!i°<. 
I'lii- .li-fTjuntMl Mill, Willie, wa» Imrii al Tuwaiuhi. 
.Man-li L'V. I Ht'i'.t, and iliol near l)»veii|M>rt, liiwn, 
An^'iiHt III fiilluwiiiK. 

Mr. .Mca<l i.s wi'll |ire.'<<'rvf<l, .scan-fly lu'tjinninR 
lu .ihow a;;»-. Iia-s yt'l llic vijjur ami aclivily of 
yoiilli. aii<l Uii- prfsonl .siiniiiii.T ••n}^a;.'oi| in o|H'ral- 
iii^ |ilacor niiiu"<, liH-nlol near lloU-iiii, .Mont, lie 
i» \'iix' I'n-sitli'iil of liic Savin;,'!< lijink of Wirli- 
itii. lie i.s al.vi a |iruniiiiciil ami valiicil nifinlior of 
tin- .Ma>oiiic fraU-rnily. 'I lie |Hirlr:iil of ijii.-, liiglily 
e!<U'i-ui«-<l citi/.vn, the |iiibli»li<T> honor liy j^iving it 
lb«- Unit place in this %'oliniie. 

I UN. \\II,I,I.\M CKKII IKNSTKIN is ., 
IjV |4i-iill<'iiiaii known tiiroiif^'lioiil.Sonlliern K:iii- 
JV>^' Mi.H.aml is one of the nio.st ]iroiiiiii<'iit anil in- 
f^jl) llllelitialeili/.ell.-of ,S'<l}i\virk Coiinty. Ilei.s 
liHikol ii|Miii iin tin- "Father of W'ichitji," lieinj; an 
ini|MirlAnt fa»-tor in e^lalili.xliinj^ the city on a seenre 
foiimlalion.aiiil hy his lilieralily anil enterprise i.s still 
conlrihuliiig to its noiiili-rful ;.'rowih anil |iro.-|ierity. 
lie «B,s horn in the siiliiirlis of that famous olil city 
nc^l»^•< the M-n in (Jerinany. Frankfort-on-thc-Main, 
on Ihe •.'Hih of .Inly, 1K'.".i, ami is a son of Charh-s 
ami Ititite (Kohjerinan) I •reilTenslein, who were 
the ilfM-enilantA of n long line of hononilile ancestry. 
The father of our siiliji-ct wa* a <-olleetor of rev- 
chue.s ill hiii native lan<l, a man of sti|K-riiir eilucn- 
tion, anil a |troiiiiiieiil nieiiilier of the Lutheran 
Church ami I'oiilrilnitiMl liir;.'el) to its sii|i|M>rt. lie 
nii|iiire<l a Inrjje |iro|K-rty, pivi- e.acli of hischijilren 
a line eiliicntion, ami in their honie of cnltnie ami 

relllie tthey enjoyeij excellent siM-iaJ ailv.-inl.ip-!*. 

\\ illiani reniaiiieil an inmnti' of that |ileiL-<ant home 
until ho w;i,» foiirli-eiiyeari olil, when he wiwenteieil 
n- a stuilent in the college al Darnmlnilt, where he 
reiiiaiiied for alMMil thre«- year*. After leaving col- 
lege he wiu einployeil in a comniinAion house in 
Mint/ until 1«|H, i|„.„. iHii.liii;; the lic\..liilj.,ii i,f 



that |HTio<l. ho !• f ' riKWol the 

iK-eaii to try his fortune in this Western World. 
Young llreifTenstein wiu< then only a youth of nine- 
teen yean, iiiul on reaching Anicrie4iii soil he made 
his way Ut llerm:inn. Mo., and for a .short lime was 
there employed iLs a elerk. From there he went Ui 
.St. I.ouis and wiis engaged in the same ca|ineity for 
awhile, and from th:it place he went to We.st|>ort, in 
the sjinie .Suite, ami Tilled a like jiositioii in a st'irc 
for a year. 

Desirous of starting in Imsine.ss for him.self .Mi. 
(Ireifrenstein, in IH.jO, went to the Simwiice Keser- 
vation, in the Indian 'rerrit<iry, six miles liuluw the 
present liM.-:itiun of Lawrence, and there formed a 
partnership with a half-hreed in the mercantile 
liusincss, liuilding up quite a trade with the Indians. 
Here he continued until IK.')!. After inaugiiiiiting 
this business for himself he made his first trading 
expedition in I K,'i2 int^i the country of the wild 
Indi.'ins, starling from near Weslport, Kan. lie 
was accompanied liy some of the lrap|H'rs ol the 
.Shawnee trilie. lie extended his ex|HMlition down 
to the Canadian River in the Indian Territory near 
the liorclei> of Texa.s, and there tnuled in all kinds 
of furs and skins with the Comanche tribe. The 
trip wasprolitable, tliungh attended with .-igrvat deal 
of lianl labor. There being no wagon road llirongh 
th.at country ihey used pack animals in conveying 
their furs and goods from one |Kiiiit to another. After 
■ putting the tniding business he visited New Mexico, 
and on his return look up a claim nearTo|>eka, Kan., 
and made his residence there for awhile. From there, 
in |f*.iM, he returned t<i (iermnny to see his friends. 

In IH.'i'j he came back to America, revisited 
To|H'ka, and from there went out on the WesU-rn 
plains of Kansas and again estaiilished hims^-lf xsan 
Indian trader, ilealiiig with the Cheyennes, Arni|>:i- 
lioes. KiowjLs, Comanches and A|Niclies. lie rc- 
maiiird there for some years with headquarters on 
Walnut Creek, in the western part of Kansius. Here 
he esL'ili|i-.hed a Irading-posI, and for some yrtiis 
Wiut piotilalily engaged in tnide with the Indians 
and until the Indian War iiiterfereil with the suc- 
cessful prowcnlion of his busine.v.. lie then left 
that place and eslidilislied a trading-post on the 
Cowskin, situated ten miles northwest of the present 

sllc ,,f W I. Iill... Ilcic he |.|-..«.'.llti'.| .1 successful 



•►• -^ 




&-'l.'\.y\^ 






.^l-i. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



165 



business, and after the treaty at Medicine Lodge, in 
lH(!7,attiie special request of Col. Leavenworth, U. 
S. Indian Agent, he moved his post to the Kiowa and 
Comanche Agency, situated near the Washita Kiver 
below l'"t. Col)lj, and recovered from the Indians sev- 
eral children who were held in captivity, restoring 
them to their [)arents. 

During the latter part of IHOS Mr. (;. learned 
that there was a woman, Mrs. Winn, and her child 
from Ottawa, Kan., who were held in captivity by 
the Cheyenncs. At the request of his friend, (Jen. 
AV. 15. Ilazcn, be took a small outfit, accompanied by 
two Caddo Indians and a Mexican, and proceeded 
to the Kiowa camp to [)ut himself in communication 
with the Cheyenncs. He there learned that during 
the battle with Gen. Custer on the Washita, the 
woman and child had been killed by Indian women 
in retaliation for one of their family killed in that 
battle. His mission consequently was ended and he 
returned home. 

.Subsequently, however, Mr. Oreiffenstein took a. 
contract from the military Su[ierintendent, Oeu. 
Hazen, to lireak 2,500 acres of prairie for the In- 
dians at the Keservatiou in the Kiowa Agency. He 
proceeded to Texas, purchased twenty breaking 
plows. On his way home he happened to camp at 
the White Beat Hill where Gen. Sheridan and staff 
were in camp vn their way to Texas. He got into 
an altercation with Sheridan, and ow'ing to misrep- 
rcsentiitions which had been made to the General, 
Mr. Greiffenstein was ordered out of the country, 
which circumstance entailed on him a large loss. 
From there he went direct to Washington and asked 
for an investigation, but failing to get it returned 
to Kansas, and at the request of Superintendent 
Hoag took charge of the (Quaker commission with 
his own teams and Government ambuhuices from To- 
peka by the wa^' of Wichita, where it is now located, 
to the present location of the Cheyenne Agency, and 
from there to Camp Sui)ply and Kiowa Agency. He 
acted fis guide and interpreter. This commission was 
sent out by the Interior Department and its members 
left Topeka August 1 , and returned August 30, mak- 
ing a trip of nearly 1,500 miles, which was attended 
with many incidents of pleasure and some of terror. 

A few years after the interview above mentioned 
, (ien. Sheridan learned that he had been wiongly 



informed and was mistaken in making his order. 
Since then he and Mr. Greiffenstein have been on 
the most friendl3^ terms. Years after, when the 
General with ins staff was in Wichita Mr. (J. was 
Mayor of the city, and at the request of the gallant 
warrior he w.<is sent for and their acquaintance 
renewed. Our subject frequently visits Washing- 
ton and is always ccjrdially received by Sheridan 
when he calls on him. In :ui article imblishcd by 
the Board of Trade it very unjustly states that .Mr. 
(!. "had Ijartered the product of civilization, 
whisky, with the untutored savages of the plains 
in exchange for their wild merchandise." A more 
careful investigation among the contemporaries of 
Mr. (ireift'enstein brings out the fact that he did 
not barter whisky with the Indians, whicii would 
have been both unlawful and imprudent, but he did 
barter the various kinds of merchan<lise which the 
Indian fanc^- required. 

Mr. Greiffenstein, in 1809, gave up his business 
in W^estern Kansas and returned to Topeka, there 
tc> marry Miss Catherine Burnett, daughter of 
Abram and Mary (KnoHlock) Burnett. Mrs. tireif- 
fenstein is a lady of fine culture and hsw faithfully 
assisted and encouraged her husband in his careei-. 
To them have been born three children, namely : 
Charles J., Mary O. and WMlliam T. The fatliei' of 
Mrs. G. was one of the chiefs of the Pottawatomie 
Indians and her mother was a native of (Germany, 
who came to America when a small child, and upon 
the death of her mother, shortly afterward, in In- 
diana, was ado[)ted and reared by a half-breed 
Indian family. 

After marriage .Mr. ( ireiffenstein made his iiomc 
in Wichita and has ever since remained a resident 
here, and it is partly due to him that this city is one 
of the most enterprising business communities in 
Kansas. In 1870 he platted eighty acres of land in 
Wichitii which was thi! lirst |)latted land on record 
in this city. He then gave away lots to those who 
would improve them. He also commenced to build, 
erecting the liiigle Block and the Commercial Block 
on Douglas avenue, besides the Douglas Avenue 
House, and has erectcti many other buildings dur- 
ing the last seventeen \'ears. He still continues to 
conduct the real-estate business and has several 
hundred lots in the city for sale at the present time. 



•►HH<» 



- ► ■ M» 



•¥^m^^ 



SKI)<;\VI( K COUNTY. 



I,, 



I; ■ I. - !ii- fxu-ii.-it ■■ li(i?>iin-v> iiii»Ttv.t« ill till' 
■ u Ml I .(■ iltrii-tfiii lm> n Inrfff niiii-li in llii" l'"l- 
InH.itoiiiic |{)-.'M'rv>itii>ii ill (Ik- Imlinii 'I'lTrilorv, 
mill •m-\<thI liiiiiilrcil liriul .if liiii»-.s. <n«'r .'l.diMl 
' iltli- .-iinl » htr^'i- iiiiiiiIk-i' of ittiiir. \lv •i»ii> llWt 
!■ rr- i.f l-iii'l tiirtr rii|i<'kii :in>l ii iiiiiiilifr of iltti-ll- 
•\. Ill Wliliiln hf Im-st"..s0 suri's 
": •'■ :.'r<iiiii<l!< nr<>iiii<l U\f> Imiiif. lie 

i< I l<tn.-<'-l ii^oiK •>( till' \\i-:iltliii'>t liH'ii ill tlu-c-iiiiiily. 
He liiiilt lii« |iri'-<'iil liaii<lMiiiir loiijfiici' in iHwCi-H". 
Il i^ lHiiiitifiill\ liH-iil<'i| nil .li'iTciMiii itvfiiiii-, ci>ni(.T 
of Tfiiili >tr<-i-t. .-mil witji it.s iovi'ly siifroiiiiilinf;> is 
llii' liiK-.st in tlic t'ity, ('o>liii;; willi ini|in>v<'iiicn(> 
fiillv ♦T.'i.iUM). 

Mr. iJnifTiiisl.in i- :i slockJioi.iiT in lla- slni-l 
i:iilwiiy Mil"! in (III- HtiU'li fjii-loiy. Ho liii> liooii 
iiiKlrniiii-ntnl in (In- ori.'iini/iitioii of M-vi-ntl luniks 
in tlif I'ily :iiii| Im.s iii.-ilcriiilly iiiilril niaiiy otlicr 
i'nt€T|iriM-s «liicli li!i\o liuil for ilii'lr olijri-i ilio 
;,Towth liiul iU'v<-|oi>ni«'iil of this M't-iion of Kimsii.-. 
Ill- has :il>o taken a |iroininrnt |iart in lln- iiiana<;c- 
iiii'iil of tlic lily jjovcriimi'iit. Kor i'i;;lit yi-nrs In- 
Hji- Mayor of Wicliita, aiiil in |.s77-7s rf|iri'M'ntcil 
llii- •li.'.lriil in llic Stalf Lc;,'islaliiri'. As one of tlic 

li-ailin;; tiiciiilii-i> of llir l)i- cratii- (larly of SimI^- 

»irk Coiinly lie lias \>vvu no iiiiiiii|iorUiiit liiclor in 
it.s coiiin-iN ami ron\i-iition>, wlii-ro lii.s tciii|H'ral(.> 
jii>l;;iii<-iil ami ri|K' i'X|H'rifm-L' liavu lifi-n of iiies- 
tiiiinlilr valiif. 

Tin- jHirtniit of Williani ( iri'ilTni.sli'in — we arcsiiiv 
111. |.. ..|.|f of S.-.ly«ick Coiinly will aoknowlccl},'! — 

1 '- -'i lilliii;,' |.la.-.- aiiLin;: 11i..m- of llic otlii-r 

t;i.iil ^ii.'ii of S.iiillicrn K:ins,'i>, ami to wli.ini tlic 
i-oiiiiiioii«i-allli IS !..! Iai;;fly iii<li'lit»-.l for liis laliors 
ill lliis |M.rlioii of h. r fair iiirita;;!'. A viiw of his 
<lf;;atit rfsidiiici- is also ;,'ivfii in tlii> v..|iiiin'. Il 
i« not only an ar.liit..lmal ornanii-nt l.> llif lily, 
' ■ - ■ ■ ' , , ,, ,i|,|,|„y,.,| |„,i|, j,, jLs fnrni.sli- 

,•>. ."iii.l it »<>iilil gracf the liiifsl 
III til.- laml. 



W II. MAM MATIII-:USt»N. Tin- liiMory of 
s«-<l«»ii k (oiinly. iukI i-s|Mrially the «ily 
• if Wi.-liitJi. w.nilil III- iiiriiiii|i|i-l(- witlioiil 
a -kill h of till- lifi- of lii-r faviirili- lili/vii. W illinin 
.Mallii-n<o|i, I'ri-siili-nt of lilt- Wii-Iiit;i Sitvitif;!! liuiik, 
ami oiH- of lln- foiiml«-r« of the i-ity. 

A -liiiiij;.T uiia.ijiiaiiitc.l »itli the- lifu of Mr. 



.Matlii-nson. on M-.-in^ tiiiii for tin- lirsl tiiin- noiilil 
litllt- .Iri-ain that tin- ^ciitlcniaii of i|iiii-t ami iiiiii^- 
ntiiniii;; inaiiiii-rs with whom he »a.-< Inlkiii^, wa.s thf 
vcritaliU-. worhl ri-miwiie<l "liiifTalo Kill," faniiMiH 
for his hravi- ami ilariii); (>x|(liiiUs »> u liiilil«*r, 
sroiit ami IraiK-roii the W'csIitii jilniii.s. This tith- 
was not confL-rreil iijioii .Mr. .Mathowson .sini|ily on 
arcoiiiil of his skill as :i liiinU-r, Ixit wils a.loptoil liy 

n ",'rali-fiil I |ili- wlioowi-i|tlii-ir live.s u> this luilili-. 

fioni'roiis-ln-arli-il mail. Ilw'a.siii IHIill.ihirin^ whii-li 
year thi-n- wa.-" a ;,'ri-!il ilroii;;hl in Kansas, that he 
oliraini'il that f.-iinoiis soliriqiit-t. The ciops hail 
faileil entirely, ami many of the settler> wero lit- 
erally starving;, when the l>i;j-heartetl huiiU-r i-nine 
.-iiiioii;; tlieiii. Tlioii;;h liig herds of ImfTalo were 
roainin;; the pl.-iiiis. the |»re.seiiec of numerous hos- 
tile Imliaiis prevenleil the .settlers, iinii>eil to In- 
dian warfare, fniiii olilailiiii|.; the Mi|i|ily of meat 
of which lliey stood in so nnieli need. .Mr. .Malli- 
ewMiii, fei-liii}; it to lie his duly lo siieeor the lielp- 
les.» settlers, ;:athered toj;ether a wajj;oii Iriiiii, ami 
nolwilli>taiidiiii; the imuiinent dniiger of eiieoiinters 
willi the i-riiel s-iv.-i;:es, h-d the way to the sUiinping 
;,'roiiml of the liiilTalo, ami from .Sepleiiiber In Keb- 
rii.-iiy he remained at his post, killing .soiiietinics as 
m.'iny a>ei;,rhty Iniflfalosa day, and .sending lniiiiaft4.'r 
train laden with me.-it into the famine stricken region 
of Kaiisji.s. 'I'o the queries of the grateful .setllers 
a- to who killed the liulTaloes, would eoiiie the reply, 
••liiilV.-ilo Killer hiiiLself." A few who km-w the 
mighty Ininter ealle.l him "Kill."' The le.-iiiislers 
eaiighl the name, ami in reply to iiuestions would 
s;iy: "Il wa.- Hill— Hiiffah. Hill," heiiee the origin 
of the name, whii-h ha.s since iieeii unjustly appro- 
priated by lion. William F. Cody. 

.Mr. .Mathewsoii is one of the liusl of the Imliaii 
seoiit.s employed by our I iuveriiineul. lie .seldom 
^|H'ak.>of hispatttlife, "but," in the words of a lei-ciitly 
written article eoticerniiig the real KiifTalo Hill, 
"when he dia-s, his thrilling talcs seem like the chap- 
t«'rs of a romani-e." Twenty-four years of hi.s life 
Were pa.s.-x-il amid .scenes of the moslstirring adveiil- 
iir. . He wa>olTered* 1 11,01111 by Har|K'r Hros., of New 
York, for a full history of his life, but so uvci>e is 
he to public notoriety that he refii.seil the ofl'cr. 

NVilliani .Matht-ws.iii come.s of goixl New l-Ingland 
stock, and wa.-. born in Hroome County, N. Y., .Ian. 



iV^^ 




dKi^c^ 



lu^c^^ 




S^^i^^=May^X[^<^iy^^^->^ 






4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



171 






1, 1830. He is the son of Joseph and Eliza (Stick- 
nej') Mathewson, natives respectively of Connecti- 
cut and Massachusetts'. His father was a farmer 
and stock-dealer, and continued in that business un- 
til liis death. To him and his wife were born four 
sons .'uid four daughters, of whom two sous and two 
daughters are now living. The subject of this 
biograph}' was the 3'oungest of tlie family, and re- 
ceived a common-school education, and remained 
in the home of his parents until he was thirteen 
yeai's old. He was a vigorous, manly lad, and had 
earl3' developed a taste for the adventurous life of 
a iiunter. At the early age before mentioned he 
became his own master, and entered upon the rov- 
ing life of a trapper and a lumberman. He went 
to .Steuben County, N. Y., and there and in West- 
ern Pennsylvania was employed in the lumber and 
mill business a part of each year, until he was eight- 
een years old. In the fall of the year he would set 
out with other hunters on a long hunting expedi- 
tion, and would go to Pennsylvania, Michigan and 
Canada, returning home from these excursions 
toward spring. He w:is a i)art of the time engaged 
in looking up pine lands in Wisconsin and Minne- 
sota, and at one time acted .as a guide to a party of 
land buyers through the unknown West. In 184!) 
he started from Minnesota to join the Northwest- 
ern Fur Comp.any, and entered into their employ at 
Omaha. Prom there he went with a party of hunt- 
ers and trappers up the Missouri River, through the 
Yellowstone Valley, Red River region, and the Up- 
[)er Missouri of the North, to the British po.ssessions 
and along the foothills of the Rockies. It was in 
that expedition that young Mathewson acquired his 
first knowledge of Indian warfare in various encoun- 
ters with the hostile Indians of the Blackfeet tribe. 
After remaining two years in the employ of the fur 
company, Mr. Mathewson joined that now famous 
party under the leadership of tlie world-renowned 
Kit Carson, consisting of the two Maxwells, James 
and John Baker, Charles and John Atterby. They 
came south to the head of the Arkansas River in 
Colorado, traversing the foothills of the Rocky 
Mountains, crossing the Big Horn, the north and 
south forks of the Pl.atte, and down through the 
country where Denver now stands, but which was 
then given over to elk and deer. He went with 



Kit Carson to get the Indians togethei', and prevent 
them from raiding into Mexico. In liS.'')2 he en- 
tered the employ of the two Indian traders. Col. 
Bent and Col. St. Vrain, and remained with them 
at the foot of the Rockies on the Arkiinsas River 
for a few months. 

In 18,53 Mr. Mathewson estalilishcd himself in 
the business of a trader, building a trading-post on 
the great bend of the Arkans.")s River, where he re- 
mained until 1863. He also established other posts 
during that time for the accommodation of the 
overland mail route from Independence, Mo., to 
Santa Fe, N. M. He built a post on the Little 
Arkansas, on tlu; Santa Fe trail, and started 
another on Big Cow Creek. It was at his Cow 
Creek post that Mr. Mattiewsou had a personal en- 
counter with Satanta, the renowned chief of the 
Kiow;is, who entered the post with several warriors, 
and announced that he had come to kill him. Mr. 
Mathewson very promptly knocked Satanta down 
with his revolver and severely whipped the fallen 
chieftain, and pointing a revolver to the remaining 
warriors advised their departure, which .advice they 
were not slow to act upon. Since th.at he has l)een 
called by the Indians " Sinpah Zillpah," the " l.ong- 
bearded. Dangerous Man." Satanta swore deadly 
revenge, but when Mr. M.ithewson, hearing of his 
vow, started out to find his enemy, the noble red 
man deemed discretion the Irctter part of valor, .and 
journeyed westward a long distance, and did not 
return for :i j'ear. when a treaty had been entered 
into by wliich Mathewson became the possessor of 
several of Satauta's best horses. 

In the summer of 18G4, on the 20t,h, 21 si and 22d 
of July, at Cow Creek Ranch, Mr. Mathewson 
and five of his men had one of the hardest and most 
unequal fights, for three days, that the annals of 
Indian warfare recount. The desperate fight was 
with 700 Indian warriors, well armed and well 
mounted, and were determined upon either the cap- 
ture of the little b.and or their massacre. After 
three days of perilous hardship and fighting the In- 
dians were repulsed and forced to retire. Three 
d.ays prior to the attack Mr. Mathewson had been 
warned Ijy the war chief of the Kiowas, Satanta, the 
most valorous in battle and the most gencrou 
peace of that warlike tribe. Being thus warned, it 



•4^ 



LL. 



f 



u 



17'.' 



Sl.r)i:\V|(K COl'NTY. 



•^ ■ -^^ 



«n.i tliiiiiclit liy tlip i-liirf timt III- «Miulil Icnvc tlic 
rniii'li, with itK An|>|>lir-t, iiikI r('|i.iir to !i pliin- ■•ffuifcy. 
Not Ml. hiiwt'Vcr, with tlii<i vnliiiiit fr<iiiiifr.-<iii.'iii. 
Ill' itt <iiu-r M'l niMMit to iniikc tlioroii;^!) niiil cnrcfill 
|in'|inniti<iii lo rc.iidl tin- altjick, «liirli, a.t nitovc 
liii'iitioiii-)l, wiut siK'cc.isfiilly <loiii'. AfliT rcci-iviiif; 
tin- iiolici- Mr. MntlirnvHi wnriuMl tin- M-tllcr* iiixl 
otlior tmiliTx. mill nil tin- triiilrr> »■«•»! of tin- Mis- 
witiri Kivi-r iil>ni|iloii4'<| tlu-ir |h>«1.- mihI Koii;;|it |iliu-(><i 
of «ifily. 

Aft«-r till' liiiliuiin «<Ti' rr|iiilM'i| ilu-y !il oiii-c 
tiirii)-il tlifir :itt<-lilioli to :i l!ir;;i' Iniiii. i'oiii|iri>lli;; 
I .'I'l «t»;;oi|.H mill l.'i.') nidi iiikI lioys. vvlio |i:iil 
foriiK-il n i-orrni nml <i>tnv into i'.'iiii|i nlnnit t«vo :iiiil 
.'I Imlf mill'!' from Mr. .M:itlu-\vsoii's niiicli. Tlii' 
wn^oiis wore lo»<l)-<l with (io\crtiiiii-iit Mi|i|ilic'!< for 
llii- wililiopi ill Ni'w Mi'xii-u mill Arizoiiii. 'I'licir 
coiitoiit-t, liowj'viT, wore ili.tjiui.M'il. In the ir.iiii 
wen- •K'Vrnil \va>;oii.|o:iiN of llir most iiiiiirovcd 
arnm, incliiiliii;; Slmr|i''< rilli-.-i ami CoitV navy rc- 
viijvop". lull tlif t«-!iiii>t<'t> ami wa^'on-inastcrs were 
ils'iioniiit of this. Ill tlir ll^'lit at tlic niiii-li, ami 
after tlir liicliaii> liail Iwi-ii r<'|iiil^-<l with a jircat 
lo»j<. iiii'lmlin;; the killing of their two war fhii'fs, 
they foriiiol ill Imliaii fnsliioii am) iiiaile for the 
Wilson Iniiii, which they Mirroiiti<le<l, ami liei,'!iii 
Hriii); ti|>oii the iiiiarineil tealll^ter-, •;rai|iiallv <lr:iw. 
illff their liiie> eloM-r. 

From the top of tho stiM'ka'le l.iiijiliiii;, ami with 
the aid of hi« exeelleiil liel(l-;,'ln,s.i, .Mr. Malhewsoii 
^tmlieil the ^itllatioil, ami il only roi|nireil a few 
niihiit.-j< for hi^ prartiee.l eye to ileteniiiiio that mi- 
le.* iiiiiiiediale relief w;i.s {riven the whole train 
iniiKt he niav^iered. 'riirnin;; to his most trusty 
eonipnnion. he in<|iiire<l if he eoiild hold the stiick- 
mle ill hix ali-eme. Ileini; answered lh.it he could, 
Mr. .Mnlhewum decif|e<l to at once ai, to the rehcue 
of the iiii|H'rille<l teani.ter«. Takini.' his .Sharp's 
rille and six revolvers in his I.elt, and inonnted on 
hi« olel.rnled mare. lU-ss. he picked liiK way throiijrh 
tlie tAll ;>'rn)w nml ilown a nivine until within "JOd 
ynrds of ihi- corrnl. The Indians were circlinff 
ar..uml and lltjhtiin; lui In.nxd.nck. ami as all their 
nltention wnx directed to the train they failed to 
oliMTVe him until he Iwnl pns«ed with alim»t the 
• |"-ed ,.f li;;|ilnin}; Ihrouvh llieir line., and in a 
iiioniriit ren. hed the lorral. I In- lh..n.ii-lil.red 



nmre, kuowiii;;liy instinct what to do. with one Iler- 
ciilenn leap spran;.' within the corml. lie threw 
himself from the hack of his nolile stool and (idled 
for an ax, and in les.s time than it re(|uires to rend 
these Words he had iiiountt'd one of the wa;:ons. Iie- 
;.Miu splitting: o|M'n the hoxos and liaiidin<; out rifles 
and .'iinmunition to tho nioii. Many of tho nien wore 
ac<piainted with him, and all hnd lionrd of hisdarin<; 
prowess and Imive achioveinonts. Choor after cheer 
went np when they reco;fni/od who their re.soner 
w'n.s. It was lull a nioiiiont until ti well-directed 
firo was turned on tho now nstonishoil and hewil- 
ilereil Indians. After conliniiin;;: tho fi<,'ht for a 
short time, having many of their iiiimhor killeil nml 
woundeil, tho Indians hn-stily honl a retreat. .Mr. 
Malhcwson wa.s not yet snlisliod with the vic- 
tory, lint (>r<rani/od aiwl tnoiintod tho U-iiiiisti-rs nt 
once, an<l {;avc clin.so, and drove the Indians miles 
away. After lakin<; needed rest, luiryini: their 
dead, and repairing the ravages of the light, the 
train moved on to its de.stin.-ition. 

Tin- owners of the liiiin hail previously informed 
Mr. Malhcwson of it.s content.-, :ind tho pos.ses.sion 
of this knowledge onahled him to siivc the tniin 
from complete ili.s.a,ster, JUS .Mlpove indicated: .ind it 
W.MS for this deed of hcroisni that the owners, tliroiigli 
.Mr. K. II. Durfy, presented a hnice of oleganl 
pistxils to Mr. .M.alhewson. This was done at a lian- 
(pict given in his honor, and in the presence of a 
large niiinher of distinguishod and proniinont (H-r- 
.sons. 

In I Ht; I our sulijoct joined Kliiiit's expedition :i.s 
a scout, and it was through his oxortioiis thai com- 
parative ipiiet was restored. In ISf>,''i he was sent 
liy the I'nited Stat4's ( lovcrninoiit to gather tliodif- 
forciit Irihesof the Kiowa,( 'oinancho. Ap.aclie, Airap- 
alioe and Choycnne Indians together for a council. 
lie W!i.s siicce.s.-.fiil in this ililliciilt undertaking, and 
the treaty of peacewhich wa-s ooncluded in Orlolier, 
IMlI.'i. was entirely due to him. lie .afterward con- 
ilucted the Indians hack to their resi-rvations. lie 
enlereil into a private' Irenly with the chiefs of the 
ilifTcrent Irilios, in which they agreed lo allow him to 
come aiiil go, and trade ainoii;4>l ihein lu- ho willcil, 
wilhoiit inoleslation, nml he, on his |i.nrt, agreed never 
to take np anus against thoni. or act as {;uidi- or 
scout for the soMi.rs. This tr.at\ li:i> I..-, n faith- 
full} ohMlXe.l. 

♦- 



I 



HI-4*- 



SEDGAVICK COUNTY. 



173 



i 



In the spring of 1866, Peck, Durfee & Co., of 
Leavenworth, Kan., presented "Buffalo Bill" with 
a very handsome pair of revolvei-s, mounted in sil- 
ver, inlaid with gold, as a token of their apprecia- 
tion of his I)raver3- during the trying times of 1804. 
In the spring of 1867 Mr. Mathewson was author- 
ized by the General Government to arrange with 
the Indians for a general council. He collected a 
few tried and reliable frontiersmen, and on the 9th 
of May, 1867, came down to the site of Wichita, 
where he left his men in camp. This was east of 
the regular line of soldiers. From that point he 
rode the entire summer among the Indians, and ar- 
ranged for them to meet in October of that year 
(1867) at Mc<licine Lodge (where the county of Bar- 
bour now stands), for a general council with the 
(Quaker commission and United States authorities, 
to arrange for peace, and for the Indians to give up 
their lands in Western Kansjis .and Eastern Colorado, 
all of whicli was .accom|)lishcd at that treaty, l;irg(ily 
through the powerful intluencc which Mr. Mathew- 
.son had with the Indians. They were induced to 
Code to the Government their lands, and to peace- 
ably go to the reservations set apart for them in the 
Indian Territory. The tribes wove the Kiow.as, 
Comanches, Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Ap.aches, and 
also the Wichitas, who were living right where the 
city of that name now stands. 

In the latter part of 1808, some of the l)ands of 
Indians became restless and left their reservations. 
Gens. Sheridan .and Custer came here and organized 
an expedition and went into the Territorj', and scat- 
tered the Indians all over the country. In the 
spring of 1809 Sheridan and Custer withdrew their 
exjiedition, having failed in a measure to accom- 
plish what they went for. It was thou that the In- 
terior Dei)artment arranged with Mr. Mathewson 
to bring the Indians back on their reservations. He 
assembled the Cheyennes and Arapahoes at Camp 
Supply, and the Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches 
on the reservation where Ft. Sill now is, and re- 
mained with them until the President's peace commis- 
sion and the Quaker commission came out and held 
a council at Camp Supply, thence to Vt. Sill, where 
treaties were concluded, and the Indians returned 
to their reservations. 

In 1867 and 1868 the Indians .again took to the 



war path, and both times Mr. Mathewson acted as 
mediator, and kept the savages within bounds. He 
traveled among the different tribes with the Quaker 
commission, and afterward settled near where Ft. 
Sill now stands, and remained there until 1870. 
He was the only man who could travel among the 
Indians unmolested, as they both feared and re- 
spected him. He has a thorough knowledge of 
their customs and manners, undei-stands their 
speech, and also the sign langn.age common to the 
different tribes. By a knowledge of the sign lan- 
guage he was once enabled to rescue a young girl 
who had made her escape from the Indians, but 
was in imminent danger of being recaptured. 
When her story was told by signs in his presence 
by a party of Kiowas to a body of Arajjahoes, to 
whom they offered a reward of horses if they would 
assist in her recapture. Mr. Mathewson immcdiatclj^ 
determined to .save the girl from being taken again 
by the Indians. He saddled his favorite mare 
"Bess," who could outrun anything in the conn- 
try, and had figured prominently in other rescues, 
mounted on her, and with a led hoi-se started out 
to find the poor girl, telling the Indians that he wiis 
going in pursuit of str.ay cattle. He gave the same 
excuse to a party of Indians scouring the plains for 
the trail of the girl. He rode for hour after hour 
and could see no trace of her, and it w:is not till 
the evening of the second day that he overtook her. 
He transferred her from the animal tluat she rode to 
his led horse, and he finally had the satisfaction of 
placing his charge in safety in Council Grove, where 
she afterward married and still lives. He .also res- 
cued the two babies, Helen and Louisa Lincoln, 
whose proper names are Kirkpatrick. The Indians 
got them away once, but he rescued them .again, 
and with the :issistance of the friendly Dclawares, 
took them to a place of safetj-. From 1805 to 
1873 Mr. Mathewson was instrumental in rescuing 
fifty-four women and children (the two girls above 
mentioned, included), from the various wild tribes 
on the plains of Kansas and the Indi.an Territory. 
The following is an .account of probably- the most 
thrilling adventure experienced liy Mr. M. during 
his long and thrilling experience on the frontier: 
With a small party of hunters, he was in the mount- 
ains of Colorado durinjj the fall .and winter of 1 Sai- 



174 



1 I "WICK COUNTY. 



■ .'.'I III .March iif till' lalliT _M-ar, wliilu on tlio 
( ' . .:<di> UivtT ill tlic »>iiilu-rii part of Ihe then 
i rrriliirv, th<-y iiii.liTt4H>k l<« cruiw over the .Siuilii 
Cliri^tii Knii;;o l<i tho SI. I.oiiir* Vnlli-y. Thirtt-ni 
iiii'ii l>f.iiilc.'> hiiii.-olf fnriiifil the jHirty, i-i>iii|irisiii}; 
whitl ■!> kiiKtvii ill rroiilicr |>:irhiiii-c iis two oiitlils. 
'V\iv\ wiTi- ill thikt I'oiiiitrv for the |mr|>o.st' of hiiiit- 
iiij;. tni|i|iiii^', niul |iro>|K'i'tiiij; for ;;ol(l. 

■| lu' |«rt_v h:ul •,'oiH' thitlior in tht- full, aii<l for 
iiititiiiil |>ri>l«'t'tioii ki>|il l<>;;c(ht'i'. Tin- ;,':inic mI thai 
tinii'of vi'.'ir on thi- iii^'h iiioiiiitniii.'i was very scuivc, 
.■mil heavy .snuw.itorni^i having' |iivvailc(l for a lonj; 
liiiio, tlii-y nt-rc caught in Ihc wild f«.stiii'».>>cs of the 
inoiiiit.->in.i, ami nkhi ran .short of food. They were 
on Very short ratioii.s alioiil two weeks, an<l after llnil 
|iroloiige<l fast tliert- were four days that they had 
iKithiii}; to eat, and no water Inil snow. Kleveii of 
the iiirii lii'canic nearly wild from hunger and thirst, 
and Were in danger of killing one unotlier for food, 
'i'wo of Mr. .MathewM Ill's a.><.sociates he cniild rely 
ii|Miii, and with these he disarmed the el(>ven, and 
ke|it them under guard. It w:i» at this time that 
|irolial>ly the highe.>>l test of his courage, hravery, 
and forlitinle wa^ e.xhiliited. lie wa.s also, like the 
others, in a weak anil fami.shing eondilion, yet de- 
termined that he wiiiild force the men ti> aliidc liy 
his decihioii. and not do each nlher injury, declar- 
ing tu llii-in that even at that critical mumeiil, if 
they Would uliey him, and lie guided liy liiscoiin.sel, 
he wiinld yet liriiig them out in .safety. After get- 
ting tlivin in cani|), on the evening of the fourth 
day, though liiinxdf hardly .•tide to walk, lie in- 
formed them that he Would go out .'ind search for 
game. Ihning |)riK-eedeil a short ilistiinec from (he 
cam|i, and nearly exhau.sted fmni the elTort, lu' sat 
down on the lirow of a canyon, luid after wjitcliing 
for noiiie lime, siiw no game, .'ind rose to reliirn to 
c!ini|«. lie war, however, seized with an iricsistilile 
iin|>iilse to remain a little longer, Seating himself 
again, and mhiii aft4-r ga/ing acro.so< to an .■idjacent 
canyon, a little over IIMI yards away, liis heart wils 
gladdened l>y M-eiiig a large. Mack. tailed deer walk 
out from liehind the jutting crags. \\ itii |iroiii|il- 
new he shot it, and Ihe sharp crack of his rille was 
heard liy his distres.>ei| coni|iaiiions in caiii|i. .So 
wild with delight was .Mr. Matliewson, that, mount- 
ing the highest adjaiiiit iniiniiiic, .'ind sl.indiiii; 



|iroiidly to his full height, swinging his .soinlirero 
around hishend, with loud hu7./jih.H, liis clarion voice 
sounded the glad tidings to his companions. It 
wiLs only a few .Hecoiids until he wxs joined liy tlieiii, 
and from that monient the quejition of their hcing 
s.aved was solved, lie once rcMMied a wagon truin 
on ihcSanUi l''e tniil, near his ranch, liut the lirief 
limil.s of this liiograpliy forbid further inention of 
the many daring and wonderful deeds of this re- 
in.arkable man. 

We must now turn our attention to .Mr. Mathew- 
son's more |K>aeefiil career lus a l)iisine.s,s man: In 
the spring of IKG.s he pre-eiii|ited the (piarler-.sec- 
lioiiof land which is now .■ibsmlied within the limits 
of the thriving city of Wichita, and there built a 
log cabin, one of the first houses in Ihc city, into 
which his wife moved in.lanuary, lMG:i. The hoii.se 
i^ still slanding on the banks of C'hisholm Creek, 
and is one of the |Miiiits of interest to visitors, most 
uf whom h:ive heard of the fanmns ■-IIiifTalo Hill." 
He lia.s been a |H-riiianeiit resident of \\ icliit;i since 
I sTi'i, and from that time till I .H.S-J carried on agricult- 
ure on n large .scale on his farms of several hundred 
acres. Since then lie h.-us rented his farin.s, and lisus 
been engjiged in various other enterprises, all of 
which have resulted succcs-sfiilly, and broiight liiiii 
much wealth, lie engaged in buying and .selling cat- 
tle, :tnil in the real-e.stnte business, and in .lanuary, 
1.SM7, organized the b.-iiik of which he i.s President, 
and opened it to the public the folUiwiiig March, 
lie h.'i.s Iheconlrolling interest in the Winlield Street 
Railway in Cowley Coiinly, and li.as an interest in 
Ihe Motor Line of the Central Avenue .-ind Kastern 
Street Itjiilway line of Wichita. Ilclwus bank slock 
in the Fourth N.-ilinnal Hank, of WicliiUa, and in the 
l'"ii>t National Hank, of Anlhony, county seat of 
Harper County. In I .s.sj he established a, brick 
plant, south of the city, for Ihe manufacture of 
dry pres,sed brick. 

In politics our subject is pruinineiilly nleiililicd 
with the Deinocntlii' parly. .Soci.'illy he is .'i .Mason, 
Odd IVIlow, a Knight of I'ytliiius, and Improved 
Order of Red Men. As an Odd l-VIUiw his reputa- 
tion is co-extiinsive with the Stjile, and for three 
years he has been O rand Inslruclor of Odd Kellows 
of the Stale. 

Mr. .M.'illiewsiui is a liberal and pnblii'-s|,M i|(.i| 



.*- II -*•- 



-•^-•-^ 



1 y. 



i 



^^ 



■^ 



,^ 












SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



*1: 



177 '^ 



citizen. The wonderful and rapid growth of 
Wichita since the firet settlement was made here at 
a comparatively recent date is due in gi-eat measure 
to him, and men of like energy and ability. He 
ii:is contributed thousands of dollars to various en- 
terprises for the advancement of the city. His 
generosity and many deeds of kindness have given 
him a warm place in the hearts of the many people 
to whom he has proved a friend in need. 

Mr. M:ithewson lias been twice married. His 
first wife, to wiiom he was married Aug. 28, 18G4, 
was Miss Elizabeth Inman, of Yorksliire, England. 
She came to America when she was nine ^-ears of 
age. Slie was the first white woman who ever 
crossed the Arlvansas River and went through the 
Indian Territory. Slie was his companion among 
the Indians and p:issed tlirough many scenes of 
border life. Her death occurred Oct. 1, 1885. Two 
children were born to lier and her Iiusband, Lucy 
E. and Willi.am A. We copy a few extracts from 
Wichita papers written by Mr. Mead concerning 
the life and deatii of Mrs. M.atliewsou. '-She came 
to Kansas in 1 SGO and took up a claim within half 
a mile of the original town site, upon which still 
stands the humble cabin in wiiich she first made her 
home, near the present home of her husl)and. She 
was the sister of Mrs. James R. Mead, of Wieliita. 
She married, in 1804, William Matliewson, who 
owned the Cow Creek and Walnut Creek ranches 
on the old Santa Fe trail, and was the chief of the 
scouts for tlie United States troops engaged in 
fighting the wild Indians, who at the time swarmed 
over tlie plains. With him she shared the dangers 
of the plains; she became an expert in the use of 
the ride and revolver, and on more than one occa- 
sion stood by her luisband's side and Iielped beat 
back tiie savage foe wiio attacked their liome and 
camp. 

"While living at Walnut Creek ranch many of 
the noted men of tiie nation were her guests and 
ate at her tai)le, among wiiom we may mention 
Gen. Sherman, Gen. Hancock, Gen. Canby, and 
many others, including Henry M. Stanley, the 
African explorer. He spent several weeks at her 
house, and from her obtained much of the infor- 
mation that he furnisiied Eastern papers concerning 
savage life on the i>lains. Col. .1. H. Leavenworth, 



the noted Indian agent, made his tiome at tlieir 
house, and by the influence and assistance of .Mr. 
Mathewson was enabled to reach and negotiate 
treaties with hostile tribes. 

"At Walnut ranch siie became a successful and 
favorite trader .with the Indians, who called her 
'Man- Wissi,' or 'Golden Hair,' while her iius- 
band was called 'Sillpah Sini)ah,' tiie 'Long Beard 
Dangerous Man,' whom tliey both admired and 
dreaded, and who seemed to have a charmed life, 
as many a predatory band learned to their sorrow. 
Slie was one of the most active and energetic mem- 
bers of the Old Settlers' Society. In this life she 
proved herself a mother to the orphan and friend- 
less, and lier whole life was full of kindness and good 
deeds. She died calmly and bravely, .as she had 
lived, and at her death left two children. Upon 
her coffin lid was inscribed 'At rest.' " 

Mr. Mathewson's second marriage, wiiieii oc- 
curred in May, 1880, was to Mrs. T.arlton, a most 
estimal)le lady of Louisville, Ky. Fine portr.aits 
of Mr. Matliewson and his first wife are shown in 
this work. She was the first white woman to cross 
the Arkansas River to live in this part of Kansas, 
and was one of the best representatives of the pio- 
neer women of Kans:is. It is therefore eminentl}'. 
proper that her portrait should aflorn the pages of 
this volume, side by side with that of her brave, 
patriotic and noble-he.arted husband. 



■j^^ATIIANIEL A. ENGLISH. The wealth 
I jlj and prosperitj' of the city of AVichila are 
/1\,^ wholly due to the men whose judgment 
singk^d it out as an eligible point for business in 
the midst of a country po.ssessiug v.ast resources 
ready for development by master hands and minds. 
Prominent among these was the subject of this his- 
tory, now one of its leading business men, an ex- 
tensive land-owner and large real-estate dealer of 
Wichita. He has been closely identified with the 
interests of Sedgwick County for a period of nearly 
twenty years, and among the remarkable men de- 
veloped here none has evinced greater ability or 



•►HI-^»- 



■•► 



•^ ■ -♦•- 



SKIK'.WKK COUNTY. 



f 



jNi-M-vM-'l }ir<:(t<T fiiitli ill till- fnliirc |ir<i«iM'rit\ of 
tlir ttiuiily. 

Mr. Kn^llHii i-t «if \'irgiiiiii niui'slry. nltlii>ii){li his 
Mrtb|>lni>«< «».•. at Nownrk. Oliio, Hit- iliiU- llurciif 
Mnrih li>, IS.'lo. ||i:t |mn-ntH, .Iihu-|>Ii niul .Mnry 
(llii|>|i) Kiigll.sli, wtTo imtivi-.H iif till- Old |)iiiiiitiii>ii, 
liiit wi-n- liviii-; in Liikiiif; Coiiiity, Oliin, nt llir 
tiluo iif tlii'ir iiinrrin;,'!-. wliich iH-ciirroil in Ni'wark, 
in \n-Jl. ,liKU>|>li Kiifflixh i>|HTit4>i| Imtli .■l'< n fMrnicr 
nml ruiilrarUir, Iml nfUr n U-w yf!ii> li'fl Oliio iiiul 
tiMik ii|i IiIsmIiimIo in ,l;i»k»onvilli-. M..r;,'!iii Ci... III., 
whiTi- In- wius fni;;»gi'il in fiirniiii^' tin<l .-UK-k-niisiii;,' 
until hi;* .l.-alh, in l.silM. Tin- wife :in>l molhor 
snrvivi-<l him U'li yi':ir>, ilyini; iiImi at .Ini-ksunville, 
in 1>*TK. 

Thi' fatlit-r nf our stuhji'd w.-f a man i|iiit<' prom- 
ini'iit in |)nlili<' affairs, ami Hliiii- in Oiiio scrvi-il :i<i 
I'.Hir Coiiimis'^iiiiKT. WhiTfVcr sUitimioil In- xvjus 
nnifonnly active in eihu-ntinnal niatlvrs. I'olili- 
niHy. lie wju* a warm -tiipiHirter nf Hie DeiniKRilic 
|«rty. Ilr ami hi> wife iliirinj^ Hie l.m;; period of 
their married lives were linn ami eonseientious 
meiiiU-rs of the Hapli>t Clnireh. Iheir union was 
liloM-d l.y the hirth of el.ven ehildren. eight of 
whom lived to maturity. nii<l .six are still surviving. 
■nie.He are, K!i/jil.eth. .lol. W., .loseph .M.. Nathaniel 
A.. (;eor;:e 11.. and .Sanili V.. now Mrs. Daniel.s. 

Nathaniel A. Knglish was a liright, .aelive lad. 
ami ill the (••nimon seiiools neqiiired the foundation 
of a siil.stiintial eiliicalion. When not attending 
Mh<M)l he dill ^'immI service on the farm at home 
until he was twenty years of age. lie then engaged 
!LH ft <-ontrnelor in st4ine work, i-mitinuing two ye.ai^. 
Afterwanl, resuming his studies, he, in his atleiid- 
nnci- for the next two years .at the Newark Acad- 
emy, completi-d the ediicution which amply fitted 
him for his future caner. N..I long after leaving 
-hiMtl he wiLs npiMiinted Kepiily Sheriff of Licking 

<■ Iv, mid though M. young l.> occupy tliat posi- 

tion. he diwlmnred its duties f,,r two y.ars with 
credit unci sjitisfncticni. 

Mr. Kngli-h. in JM.'.i;. Joi I hi- parents in .l.ack- 

sonville, 111., and there was engngcMl as a fanner 
and milroad contractor until I mUl. During that 
year he ninde his way to Clintc.n {'oiinty. Mo., and 
wiiJ. Iherc' ciit;nged in railroading for a year. In 
IHC.I III- I, -ft .Mi-sj,nri anci cniiic- I.. Kansas, tiikiiig 



up his nlioclc- in l.eavenwcirth for a short time, then 
w^nl out on the plain.s lo .larvis Creek, and pur- 
cli!Lscd n much oii the ovcrlnnd rout4', for the piir- 
|Misc ,,f engaging in tracle with the Imlinns. lie 
only remained there si.\ months, however, when. 
dis|>osing of his pro|>erly, he roturned I41 Kt. Ia-hv- 
enw'cirth. ami made a contmct with the (Mivcrnment 
to deliver horses at l>envi-r for cavalry piir|H>.ses. 
I'lHui his return to Kt. Leavenworth lie engnge<l to 
dcdivcr t^iiartermaster's siipplic-s from U'est|Kirt t<» 
Ft. Lenvenwortli. 

In mCut «iir sniijcet went to I't. I'.irker to tsike 
charge of the (Mivernment stone cpiarries, and five 
months later, still in the .sjinie c-mploy, he w:ls sent 
to superintend the luiilding of the lilock-hoiise at 
Ft. Zarnih. Afterward he tuniccl his attention to 
his private l>iisinci<.s. Coinginto Mcl'herson C'oiinlv 
he eng!igi-d as a stock dealer, in whic-li Imsine^s he 
o|M'nited with much success until iHCiii. ||e then 
estnlilisheil himself in his present liusiness at Wich- 
ita, where he, with his family, has since resided and 
lieen greatly pros |>e red. 

The location of Mr. Knglish in the young c-ity of 
WichiUa resulted in giving great impetus to it-s 
growth, as he laid out twelve aclditions to the city 
and put up several hnildings, l>c>sides being uni- 
formly the sup|)cn-ler of the various enlcrprises 
which servc-d to clevelop it.s liusiness interesUs and 
attract within ils liorders an intelligent and ener- 
getic clas.s of men. lie is I'resiclent of the Street 
Kailw.ay t'oinpany. in which he owns a generous 
anionnl of stock, and .also has stcH-k in the ice 
works, the Hrunswick Stone Works, the stcM-k- 
yai'ds and hotel, and the Fourth National Itank of 
Wichita, of which he is a Din-clor. lie is also 
President of the Arkansas N'alley Kire Insurance 
C'omiuiiiy, n stockholder in the soap factory, and 
a Director of the Kl. Scott A- WichiUi Itailroad, now 
operat4'd liy the Missouri Pacific Railroad ('0111- 
pany. lie Ims n-al csliitc in lliitler. Chase, .Mc-Pher- 
soii, Sumner ami Kingmnn Counties. Mr. Knglish 
i.s prominently identified with the DemcM'rntic parly 
in .Sedgwick County, lakes a lividy interest in polit- 
ical .affairs, and has clone good servic-e xs an olllc-c- 
holder, lieing Coiinly Commissioner two ye.ars and 
is now a Councilman from the First Ward. 

Ill \si;i .Mr. Knglish was united in marria^'c 



•*-a^ 



-•»-»-4» 




^^Srs 



h'-£,)h74. 



yyi Ci< 



it^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



181 ' *■ 



with Mrs. Osie A. McEweii, daughter of Judge 
Foye, of Leavenworth. To Mr. and Mrs. English 
there were horn eight children, namely: William 
A., George A., Mary E., Maude, Emma K., Mar- 
gie, James M. and Gladys. They occupy a beauti- 
ful home and a high social position among the 
cultivated people of the city. We place among the 
introductory portraits of .Sedgwick County that of 
Nathaniel A. English, whose name will be handed 
down generations hence as one of its pioneers in 
enterprise, and :is a man pos.sessing that broad and 
liberal spirit which ever delighted in the welfare 
and prosperity of the community at large, and to 
this end was willing to labor and make sacrifices, 
invest his ca|)it;d, and wait patiently fur returns. 



c 



mz 



•^h 



OMMGDOKE WILLIAM C. WOODMAN 
ic pioneer banker of the Arkansas Val- 
ley, and was President of the First Arkansas 
Valley Bank, of Wichita. He was lirst and foremost 
among the men of enterprise and ability who con- 
tributed so much to raise this town from a small 
trading vill:ige to its present condition as the me- 
tropolis of a rich agricultural region, with varied 
manufacturing and other business interests common 
to our large American cities, and with splendid 
educational and religious institutions. 

The subject of this biography was born in Ches- 
ter Count}-, Pa., Oct. 27, 181G. He was descended 
from an ancestry who in the early history of the 
colonization of Penn.sylvania made their home in 
that Suite. His parents were Abishai and Hannah 
(Jenkins) Wijodman, both natives of Pennsylvania. 
His father was born in 1792 in X'alley Forge, on the 
very spot where Washington and his army had 
made their camp during one winter of the Revolu- 
tionary War. Ills parents were Edward and Sarah 
(Stephens) Woodman, natives respectively of En- 
gland and \'alley Forge. Edward Woodman came 
from England to this country in 1750, and settling 
in Charleston, .S. C, at the time of the American 
Revolution, gallantly- cast his fortunes with his fel- 
low colonists. He did good service thnjughout the 
war under Washington, and at the battle of Brandy- 
wine he was wounded. He afterward settled down 
in ^'alley Forge, and married Miss Sarah Stephens, 

•4* 



whose family were early settlers of that town. He 
engaged in farming there until his death, in liS2.'). 
His wife lived to an advanced age, dying in 1852. 
They had a family of six children. Their son Abi- 
shai grew to manhood in the historical town of his 
birth. He commenced business as a contractc^r 
and builder, and later became a merchant in Vallc}' 
Forge. From there he removed to Pottsville, Pa., 
thence to Philadelphia, and linally to Jacksonville, 
III., where he died in 1872. His wife died in Penn- 
sylvania in 1835. They were the parents of live 
children, namely: William C, Sarah A., Jane C, 
Edward and Rebecca. Their record is :is follows: 
Sarah A. is Mrs. B. Hahn, of Philadelphia, Pa. ; Jane 
died in 1870, in Jacksonville, 111.; Edward lives in 
Jacksonville, 111.; Rebecca is Mrs. Clendenen, of 
Los Angeles, Cal. 

William C. Woodman commenced attendance at 
school when he was but little over four years old, 
and in subsequent years attained a good practical 
education. At the age of sixteen he learned of his 
father the carpenter's trade, and followed the same 
until of age. Then he became a clerk in a dry- 
goods house in Norristown, Pa., and so eflicient was 
his service and so rapid his promotion that at the 
end of a month he was placed in charge of a large 
department in the store, and at the end of four 
months he had the i-ntire charge of the whole estab- 
lishment. His salary for the fn-st thirty d:iys was at 
the rate of $200 a 3'ear ; at the end of the second 
month it was increased to $300, and after four 
months it was raised to $500 per annum. He con- 
tinued in the management of that establishment the 
most of the time for five years. Subsequently' he 
went to Philadelphia and cug.agcd in business, 
though he had but limited means, and after three 
years closed out his business to accept a position 
ill the wholesale establishment of James R. Smith 
& Co., remaining with them until 1850. In that 
year he became one of the founders of the commer- 
cial house of Smith, Williams & Co. At the end 
of two years he sold out his interest in that concern, 
having resolved to try his fortunes in the West, 
and removed with his family to Jacksonville, III., 
in 1858. 

Several j-ears prior to his removal to Illinois, in 
1841, Mr. Woodman had married Miss Amanda M. 






■*¥^m-^ 



sKlxlW ICK COUNTY. 



■I"wiiiiii(j, i.f Ni>rri!<l<ini), !'«. ; .•.In- ilit-il nl Iht Imiiu' 
ill .InckiMinvillf, III., in IKf.l. .She was a <U-v<>UmI 
wifo niid niollirr, iiii'l wtui licM in the liixlic'l rf«|»ccl 
liy nil who kncMv her. Sju- wits ihr iiiutlicr <>t six 
I'liildnMi, iiniiiciv : Williiiiii, Wnlliio-, Aiiiiif, 'riimiiaM, 
lliirry iiiul Kdunnl. WnllmT ihkI ll:irr\ iiro ilfjul. 
.Mr. U'u<hIiiiiiii wiut n;n>ii> innrricil during; lii.-< ri-Ai- 
diMiif ill Illinois, ill |H);.-|, to Mi>« Kli/.iilioth Will- 
iniii.i. ilaiifjiitvr of |>4uu- niid Miir^^nrcl ( li<>cd ) 
Williiiiii.H, imtivv« i>f I'Ik-sUt CiniiiU-, I'li. 'riieri' 
Mr. Williiiiai was c-iipi^cd in f!iriiiinL,Mind there his 
entire life wim |hui.s<mI, hi.s denth iK-fiirriiiy in I H.'»;t. 
Mp<. Williaiiis is still livin;; in reiiiisylvnni:i. They 
litul n family uf twelve iliildreii. ei^jlit i»f wlinni are 
now living, iiniiiely : Annie, Kli/.]ilieth, Ilaiiiiah, 
KefM-y, .lane, (Jeorffc, Kiniiia and Charles. Hannah 
is now Mrs. liny: .lane is now Mn.. Hall. 

.Mr. Woodin:iii en>;a;,'ed in niereanlile luisinoss 
with sntisfactory sin-ee.ss in hi.s Illinois homo iintil 
I Nf.H, when he sold out, and, liaviii;; disposed of 
his |>ro|HTty and wtlled up all his affairs, he eaiiie 
to KanvLs in |H7n, and loealcd in Wichitji, and 
from that time steadily worked for the developiiienl 
of the eily, his keen iiisi;;lit fore.seein;,' the jjreat 
fntiire that lay liefoie the ina^Miilhenl trailing' vil- 
lage, lie l<Mik a elaim of IfiO acres on Cowakin 
Creek, and in April, IHTl, pureha.scd a sloek of 
K'xhIs in what wil- then ialle<l Wiehitii. A some- 
wh.il aniiisin;,' ineidenl i* toM in re','ard to this 
transiulion, wliieli somewhat illustrates the social 
' 'lition of a new settlement where the male ele- 
ment predomiiiaUs. It is this: On takiiij,'aii inven- 
U»ry of the ;,'.mm|s a pair of ladie.s" .shoe.s wius found 
anioii(,' them. .Mr. Wooilnmii refused to Uike the 
goo<ls unless thi- shoes were thrown in, a.s he sjiid 
they would never sell a,s the town was so far out 
West. As If to refute hit! ar;,'umeiit. the d«H>r 
.•IMMud, and a rustic looking woman enlere.l and 
iiKpiiied if they had women's .shoes for sale. .She 
wn., .hown the very j.air of shoes under di.seu.ssioii, 
and remarked that Ihey were very coarse, ami iii- 
• piiied the si/.e. Ihc rhrk res|Hiinled. "No. 7." 
••O law!" she said, "I wear No. .1. Can't I "el 
any oUiers.'" "Ve»," »!L. the reply, "100 miles 
from here." -Wall, I sup|H.,r I shall have U. Uke 
them." She pai<l *2..'.<l for them and went awr 
ttle hippy |i.>vM-<or of Ihc f.|ioe.«. 



vay 



r 



Mr. Wooilman wa.s the second merchant who 
estalilislicil hiiiisi-lf in liiisiiicss in Wichita. In the 
same year he eslnhlislicd in connection with his 
mercantile trade a liankiiig exchange. In .Inly of 
that year a lirokcr st^-piH-d into his ollice, and 
wi-hcd 111 horrow ♦.'•(m for a friend (Ciirley .Mar- 
shall) for one year, offering him live |K'r cent |ier 

mouth intvresl, and g 1 security on a farm. Mr. 

WcMMJnian loaned the money, and al the eiul of 
Ihiec il.ays .Mr. Mai.sliall wished to |iay the iiiorl- 
gage. .Mr. Woodman ri'inarked that it wits to run 
for one year. -Widl," ■.;iid .Mr. .Marshall, "riii going 
t^ipay it and the interest for one year." That wa.s the 
first morlgnge in the country and thecommencemcnl 
of live per cent per iiionlh interest. Mr. Wood- 
man was the first man who ever did a Imnkiiig liusi- 
ness in the .\rkaii.sas \'allev, and he continued il 
until his <leath. In IKS.S he liuilt the liaiik Iniild- 
iiig, the liiiesl in the city, in which Ihc liiisiiicsji is 
now coiidiicled. For years he made a careful study 
of all (picstions of flnaiice, and wjls the .■iiithor of a 
work on National finances, which displ.ayed marked 
aliility in handling the (picstion, and oliUiined a 
wiilecircul.alioii among the lin.-incicrs of the country, 
and liroiight him into considei-iitioii :us an eminent 
aulliorily on all niattors perlJiining to lianking and 
the i.ssiic of money, lie had liul lately printed a 
second work on the s;imc siilijecl ils his first one, 
but iU issue liius Itei-ii delayc<l oil :iccount of his ill- 
ness. In this volume he advocates the esUililish- 
meiil uf a United .Stales Hank to issue mid keep in 
circiilalion Ji.'J.'iO.iH 10,000, neither more nor less, 
which shall he legal tender with all National hanks 
made ll.scal agents for the (leiieral (iovernnieiit,aiid 
to lie good for all clelits except duties or im|>orLs. 

Our siihjccl built the lirst brick store in the city, 
al No. .'{."l .Main streel, and afterward erected three 
other large .Hlore buildings. The house which wils 
his home was the llrst dwelling erected in Wichita, 
mill llie logs .•ind casings were cul iiimui the prem- 
ises. Il stands in the center of the city, and the 
grounds around il, conlaining about fifteen acres, 
are bcaiilifully laid oul in parks and orchards. In 
this beautiful home, siirrounib'il by wif<' and iliil- 
dreii, his lamented death occurr«'il Dec. "itl, 1MM7, 
al the age of seventy -one years and two months. lie 
»;ls a man of unu.'^ually liiii' physiipic, but his iron ' ' 




/^. n- ■ &v< }^<^ 



SEDttWICK COUNTY. 



185 ' ^ 



constitution gave way before the years of unceas- 
ing labor into which he had crowded so much. His 
deatii was not unexpected, as his hcaltli had pre- 
viously given way under the long continued i>res- 
sure of the demands of his business, and he had in 
vain sought relief b}- a trip through the Yellowstone 
country, and later to California. Early in the 
spring he was preparing for a trip to Eurofx', but 
his physicians advised against it, and suggested that 
he go to some watering |)Iace on the Atl'intic Coast. 
Accordingly he spent the summer at different |)oints 
in New England, and returning carlj- in the fall, 
spent a few weeks at the Hot Sjjrings in Arkansas, 
but his trip failed to restore his failing energies, 
and he returned home only to die. His name is in- 
dissolubly linked with that of Wichita, and his death 
cast a gloom over the entire community'. During 
the j'cars that have passed" since he came to this 
beautiful valley to m.ake his home here he li.ad 
endeared himself to the hearts of many who 
found in liim a warm and trusted friend. He left 
an honorable record of a well-s|)ent life. 

His life is bright — bright without ii spot it was 

And cannot ce.-ise to be. No ominous hour 

Knocks at his door with tidings of mishap. 

Far off is he, above desire and fear. 

No more submitted to the chance and change 

Of the unsteady' planets. O! 'tis well 

With him I But who knows what the coming 

hour, 
\'ciled in thick darkness, brings for us.' 

Mr. Woodman left a wi<low and eight children. 
William, his eldest son by his first marriage, is 
President of the Woodman Bank. He was his 
father's partner, and for some years has attended 
to the details of the l)anking business. By his last 
marriage our subject had four children, namely : 
Clarence, bookkeeper in the bank; Grant, cashier 
in the liank; H. Ray and L. C. 

In politics Mr. Woodman was a stanch Repub- 
lican. Tn early life he had been .a Whig. He w.as 
a strong Union man, and was a personal friend of 
Abraham Lincoln, an<l was especially invited to 
Washington to attend his funeral. 

Among the numerous portraits given in this 
volume, none will be more acceptable than that of 
' ' Mr. Woodman. 



\y-^ 



tl^ W. EVEREST. Ll>. I)., Chancellor of Gar- 

l|f'^|\ field University. This gentleman was born 
[l^J^ at North Huilson, Essex Co., N. Y., May 10, 
(^j) 1831. His panmts were of New England 
slock, and of families whose history runs back to the 
earlier colonial days. He was brought up on a 
farm, enjoyed the usual school advantages of the 
State of New York, attended an academy- at Crown 
I'oint one term, and taught school when si.xteen 
years of age, and the winter following. 

In 184!l our subject went to Northern Ohio to at- 
tend school. In prosecuting his studies he depended 
mainly on his own energies for the means where- 
with to keep himself in school. He was a student 
at Geauga Seminary, at Hiram College, where he 
was for several years a teacher of Natural Science, 
and at Oberlin College, where he graduated in 
1861, in the classical course. Nov. 4, 18.57, he 
w.Ts married to Miss .Sarah A. Harrison, of Paines- 
ville, Ohio. Previous to this event, however, he 
was ordained to the ministry of the Disciple, or 
Christian Church. His career as a public man 
may be briefly sketched as folli>ws : I'resident of 
Hiram College, succeeding President James A. Gar- 
field, 18G1-G4; President of Eureka College, Illi- 
nois, -180 1-72 ; Pastor of the Christian Church, at 
Springfield, 111., 1872-74; Professor in Kentucky 
University, Lexington, Ky., 1874-7(;; Pastor for 
one year at Normal, 111.; President, a second time, 
at Eureka College, 1877-81; President of Butler 
Universitj', Irvington. Ind, 1881-86; Chancellor 
of Ciarfield University, 1886 to the present time, 
May, 1888. 

As a public lecturer and as a Christian min- 
ister, the subject of this sketch has been vcrj' 
successful, always making a good imi)rcssion b}' his 
earnest, persuasive manner, and delighting and 
convincing his hearers by his clear, cogent reason- 
ing. His style is his own, his manner of si)eaking 
and his thoughts are more a part of him.self, and 
give the listener more nearly a correct idea of. the 
man than is usually the case with public speakers. 
Always clear in his thoughts ; inclined to be ana- 
lytical in his treatment of a subject, though com- 
prehensive in his grasp of it; never impetuous or 
boisterous, though often grand in style, he resembles 
more the quiet, clear river, th;in the rushing torrent. 



•► m^^^ 



■*► ■ -4» 



SKI)<;\VI(K I'OINIY. 



A- :i -•< HOI <i . ( 11 III' • ii"i 1. . ■ .< -> iii|iri.-lii-ii>ivi' 

niul tlinroiigli. Al lliniiii ('<>llr(j»' hi- lilli'<l for 
li.'lit vrnrs lln' ( Imir ><t (lirininlrv iiml N.ttiirnl 
•». 1. ii.f. ill Koiitiioky I'liivi-ntily, lliHl >>( NuTt-il 
lliil.il v; ill Kiinkn ColIrK'-. Miill<r nml tiarlulil 
tiiivcp>itit>j>. Uml "f I'liilowipliy nml I'olitiril K.on- 
iiniv. Mill he liii- iK'fii iiininly ;.'i\iii l" tlii- iiivc^ii- 
;;nliiMi iiinl iloffiiM- «>f tin- Sjurcil Sri|ililM?>. 

A" tin iiislriu-Uir, In- Ims silwny- I'cfii |Mi|iiil!ir ; lii> 
nlTiiliU- inniiiior, |iiini'lii!tlil,v, hiluiniiiiiiif.*- ami I'li- 
tliiit>ia.'<iii, nrv luiioii;; tlio cliiof flniioiil-s of lii^ mio- 
»•<•». Hi" l"ii>; fX|n'riciici' iLt a privHiiliiij; oIllciT in 
colliKf lif'' !Hiiniii<iilK imliciiU-s his more llinn 
aviTii;,'!' aliililv in lliis rf.s|H'fl. 

(.'Imncellor Kvcrol |H>!»sesHi-s n jjimkI iiliysiqiii- 
nml linit nijoyi'il aliiio.it iinintcrrii|itf<l ;ro«)(l lii-nllli. 
^lli^ liifi ciml>l«'il liiiii lo |HTform doiiliU- work — llio 
Work of n |irofc».Hiir ami that of a prcnclK-r and 
l«i-liir«'r — with j;rcnt (•(llfieiii-_v iliiriii^ nearly tlie 
whole of his pilltlie life, lie {-« well known to the 
reniler> of the eiirrent lilenitiiie of llie Christian 
ehiireh, is the niilhor of many inagii/ine arlieivs, 
mill of a vnliialile work on Christian eviilonee, en- 
titled, •• The Divine Demonstration." lie is also 
the reeipieiil of lileniry honors, havin;^ reeeived the 
di';;n'e of A. M. in I Si; I, and siil>.stH]iieiilly lliat of 
LL. D. 

Since eomin^' to WiehitJi Dr. Kvcrest iiius lieen 
iM-<'ii|iieil with the orgniii/.atioii and inaii;;iir:ition 
of I tarlii-ld I'niversily. How wi'jl he and his a.v<o- 
eint«-s linve siiei'eetled in this work may lie .seen in 
the fai.-t that iliiriii^ the tirst se.ssion, which is now 
drnniii); l«i n eli«se, the enrollnicnt hn* reached 
thirty -.n'Veii profe.vsors and inslrnclors and 7;lO 
.liidii t-s. 

As one of the foremost scliolari of the Sljili', anil 
nl the hend of one of tin- niosl |iriiniinent ednca- 
tioiinl instltntioti- of tin- West, and one of the 
leading mid enter|irisin;.' cili/t'ii!, <if Wichita, the 
|>nl>li«iien> take |ileii.siire in presciitiii(,'. the porlmil 
of Chmicellor Kverest. 



EDWAUD A. UKt (»KI). of I'ayne rnwn-hip, 
«ri.« Iforn in \\ incliesler, Si-otl Cn., III., ,lan. 
\'i, l-s.'iT, mid wa.H reared lo fnriiiin;^' pnrstiiUt 
III lii« unlive .SUU-. His |inrent.s, ,lohn mid Lucy 
Wi-:\Vir ( Mc.Maniis) Kccord, were nativis of \ir- 



^'iiiia. and the father, wliik' fonil ol ; _ | ii- 

siiit.i, wiis also a leadin;; minister of llie llapli.st 
('lunch for a piriod of Iweiily-liveyears, well known 
and hi;;lily res|M'cU-d throii(;hoiil Cenliiil Illinois. 
He and hi- eslini.-ilile wife arc lioth dece:i.s<il. Their 
family included ei^dil children, iimnely : .lames .S., 
I'enney \N .. .Martha, Cnllie ; Kdward A.,oiir »iilije<-t ; 
Mary, Lucy K. and Sn.sjin. 

Mr. Kccord cniiu- to .Monlj;omer3' Coiiiily, this 
.'^tal<', in I KHi'i, :iiid lo this county in the sprin;,' of 
I.s,s7. He wiLs united in marria;;e wilh Mrs. .Sus,'iii 
(UolierUs) Lickes, April 1 1, l.sHK, the ceremony L-ik- 
iiij; place al Ihe Holy Catholic Church. .St. Aloysins, 
at Wichita, Father .1. 15. Disselkainp olliciatin;;. 
Mr. Kccord and Mrs. Lickes had known each other 
for several years. 

Mrs. Kc<'ord is the dniijrhler of .lames and Ninih 
Calherine Koherts, who were natives of Keiilncky, 
mid who died when Mi's. K. was litil u little child. 
She was reared liy a family named IJachehlers mid 
came with Iheiii Ui Ivaii.-^a.s in 1872, they seltlinjr in 
Hnller County. She wjis one of a family of four 
children liorii lo her iKireiit.s, three daii;^litcrs and 
one son, all of whom are living,', .she hecaine the 
wile of .lolin Lickes, .liiiic 17, I.H77, the wcddiii-,' 
taking; place in the city of Wichita. 

Mr. Lickes wa.s lioni on the other side of the 
Atlantic, in I .S (;i, and was reared lieneath the roof 
of his father, .Michael Lickes, in the old country, 
where liolli his parents died. In early m.-inhood 
he deterniiiicd lo cmij;rati' Ui the New Worlil, and 
soon after landiii<;; upon American .soil prococ.led 
lo Cliicaj^o, where he enj;aj;ed at his trade of stone- 
culler for a lime, and then, helievin;,' the farther 
West would nIToid a I.eller field for his ciTorts. he 
eaine lo this St-ile. He was variously occupied 
nnlil IH7h, then secured a trad of land on section 
II, ill I'ayiic Towiislii|>. this county, where he made 
a comfortiilile home for his family, and where his 
decease took place March 2K, I>>.s7. He wa.s a 
pxid man in every sense of the tt-rm, a faithful 
adherent of the Catholic Church, and n strict at- 
tendant of the iliities therein. He carried his re- 
ligion into llie everyday Iran.siiclions of his hiisiiiess 
life, and his death was mourned liy a lar;;e circle of 
friends. 

To .Mr. .'11111 .Mis. Liikes there were liorii four 



■•► ■ -♦ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



m 



t 



children, three of wlioiii died in infancy, one l)ein^ 
a. babe uniuinied. Tlie other two were George and 
Kdward. Sarah Catiierine is tiie t)nly one living. 
After tlie death of her liusl>and the widow carried 
on tlie farnj with excellent good judgment, and it 
being a tract of very fertile land, it is the source 
of a handsome income. The farm is 160 acres in 
extent, and finely adapted to the raising of grain 
and stock, while the residence and its surroundings 
in<licale comfort and prosperit}'. Of these a hand- 
some lithographic view will be found on another 
page, in which it will be seen that this ])roperty 
l)ea»» fair comparison with the homes of the other 
enterprising peojjle of Payne Township. 

-^J> ■•o^-^^</^-o*o <.r— 

H. WILLIAM M. I'RESTON, physician 
and surgeon, [jracticing his profession in 
Wichita, is a graduate of the Chicago 
Homeopathic College, and in his subse- 
quent practice, by his devotion to his work and the 
careful study and diagnosis of the various diseases 
that have come under his observation, he has been 
unusually successful, and has gained quite a rej)u- 
talion as a skilled practitioner. lie is a native of 
Camden, N. J., and was born in 1850. He is the 
sou of John H. and Annie (Moore) Preston, natives 
of New Jersey. 

The senior Preston was in early jears ,a carpen- 
ter, and followed that occupation until 18(j0. In the 
year 1851 he went to Illinois, and settled in Peoria, 
where he engaged in business as a carpenter and 
builder. In 1859 he turned his attention to farmin"- 
in Tazewell County, 111. In 1800 he moved with 
his family to Aurora, and later to Dayton, III., 
where he had charge of the Fox River Feeder 
until the year 1868. He then determined to try 
farming on the fertile prairies of Kansas, and with 
that object in view came here and piu-chased a farm 
in LeRoy, Coffey County. While living there he 
heard many wonderful accounts of the great fer- 
tility of the soil of the valley of the Arkansas 
River, and he decided that he could do still belter 
here than in Coffey County. Accordingly became 
here in 1869, and pre-empted 100 acres of Govern- 
nicnt land in Gypsum Township, this county, and 



his son Thomas also took up a. I (iO-aere tract in 
the same township, adjoining his. With the assist- 
ance of his sons he improved a good farm, and 
resided on it until 1882. He is now living in 
Geiida Springs, where he is engaged in farming. 
He has met with good success since he came to this 
State, and as a man of unimpeachable re|)Mtati(iii 
and undoubted ability, occupies a high standing in 
the community where he lives. In 1 801 , while a 
resident of Illinois, he was called upon to nionni 
the loss of bis amiable wife. Four children had 
been born of their union, three of whom are now 
living, namely : Thomas K., William M. and Julia T. 

Our subject was very young when his parents 
took him from the home of his birth to Illinois, 
and in that State he grew to manhood. He gained 
the rudiments of his education in the public 
schools of Dayton, and then was empU)yed in a 
woolen-mill in that town for awhile. In 1868 he 
came with his father to Kansas, and remained with 
him in LeRoy, assisting him in the development of 
his farm. In the following year he accompanied 
him to this county, performing the journey of 175 
miles in a wagon. He was at that time twenty 
years of age, and he rendered his father valuable 
assistance in preparing his land for tillage. As 
soon as he attained his majority he took up a tract 
of 100 acres on Dry Creek, three miles from his 
father's farm in G3-psum Township, lie built a 
box house, 14x14 feet, plowed his land, sit out 
fruit trees, and otherwise improved it. He still 
continued to help his father, and at night would 
repair to his claim with his Winchester rifle, and 
stay in his cabin until morning. His ears were 
often assailed in the lonely hours of the night by 
the bowlings of the coyotes. In 1874 occurred the 
great grasshopper raid, which dcvest-ited his smil- 
ing fields of grain and left him no return for his 
labors, an<l the following winter he was obliged to 
earn his bread by chopi)ing wood on his father's 
farm, the wood being afterward drawn to the city 
and sold. 

In the spring of 1875 our subject was appointed 
keeper in the prison at Joliet, 111. There during 
his leisure hours-he commenced the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. JI. B. Campbell, of that cit3', and 
remained under his tuition until 1878. In that 



- » . ■ <• 



•►•-4- 



t 



SKI)(;\VK"K COUNTY 



\rai 111- i-lilerrti llu- (.'liica;:^ l|iiiiii'<>|>titlii<' ('«>lli'j,'r, 
niitl «tii<> !iul>!»<H|iifiill\ ;i •'tiiilciit llirrc for tlirec 
»»iiiUT>. Hiill ri-diiiiiii;; liix |M«iti<>ii an kr«'|KT tlii<>ii;,>li 
llii- kiiKliicM uf IIk- wnnlfii. U. W. >t(('hiij;liri y, 
liii'illy ri'!>i;;tiili^ ill IXKH. ||.- wiut ;.'nKlii!iUil fniiii 

. ..Ili-;;c in |HH|,nii<l lln-ii < mu-iirfil IiIk imifi-jt- 

^Hiiiitl liff at Clmrk-viiiv. CliarU-viiix ( <>.. Mich., 
wlnTf In- »vn.s !i|i|M>iiiU'<l l>_v tlio I'rrsiili'iil i«f the 
I'iiii- l-'ik<- Irnii ('••iii|iiiiiy :io iL-< |ihy!>i(-iiiii hikI Mir- 
;;c<>ii. Ill' r<-l:iiiu-)| tlinl |Mi.sitii>li r<ir .mmio iiiii|llh>, 
nii'l lh«-ii rilirrd U> ihc <il\ '>f ( liitrlcvoix. where 
he i-iiiil<Mi:i\e a liroailer liehl fur Ihe exerei.M- of 
lii.t laleiit>. Mini iliirin;; hi> re>iileii)'e llierc. rrmn 
IMH'J till |Mh7, he hiiill ii|> an extensive praeliee. 
In the hitter \enr hi- (leeiih><l to ri'tnrn to Kansjift 
that he rni;.'lil lie neiirer his frieiiiK«. .-iihI titiiliii;^' n 
yiMMl o|H-iiiii^' in the eiiter|irisiii^', thriving; city of 
U'iehita. he e»tJil)li.«he<l hiniM-If here. :ls liefore 
liieiitiiiiieil. 

Dr. I're.-ton i> an huiinred ineiiilier of llie fulhiw- 
in>{ WK-ieties: The ( harh'Vujx .Meilical Society of 
.Mielii;;aii. ttie ()<hl l''ello»>' Koyal .'Vrcaiiiiin, am) the 
.Mncealiliee; he i-. an ainiiiiiiis of the ehis.s of I .s,s| 
of the I'hicnpi .Mciliea! College. In |ioiilic.s he is 
a |{e|iiililiean, iinil in reli<j;ioii> views, a lta|itist. am! 
a consistent im-inlier of thai cliiireh. lie has won 
his way to the reganls of the |ieo|ile with whom he 
eoiiu-s in eontael in his <l:iily rouncls liy his reaily 
tact ami kimlly syiii|ialhy. 

-^ t>|,. s. K. .l»»(i;i.V.\. .\iiioii- the lili/.ens 
■ f mark in this coiniiiiinity no one is more 
ftortliy of eoiisideiiilion than the ;,'eiitle- 
maii »ho«e name stjiiids at the he.'nl of this sketch. 
Me is a iiinii of wide .'iml v:iried experience, and 
since takin;; ii|i his residence in Wicjiitn. in IN7.I, 
iinn exerted .-i iHiielicia! Iiillnence in promoting its 
pro.|H'rity ami ilevelopnunl. His inaii.igcnicnt <if 
the nfTairs of the i-oiinly as Commis.sioncr, reliev- 
ing the county of a vast lioinleil indel.tcilness. 
fornm n very importnnl chapti^r in its history, and 
>viu« a prime factor in it.s sniiseipieiit prosperity. 
iMiring the trying days of the great Civil War he 
«t.H»| liriiily ill defense of the I'hiun. aiiil took a 



proiiiiiicnl .'iii'l di'-l iiiL'iii^Jii'd part in lh< llcpart- 
nieiit of the I'acilie, U-ing three times promoted. 

( ..I. .IcKclyn was Imrn Dee. H. 1M.12, in llerki- 
mer County, N. V., and is the luiii of .lames and 
(Jcrtnide (KranI/.) .l<M-elyn, iitilivesof New Hamp- 
shire and Herkimer Connly, N. Y. Hi- father 
w!us a farmer, and moved to Oswego County, the 
laltei- State, in IH;!7, where he was engaged in iig- 
ricnltnral pursuits until his death. From liiiii his 
son, of whom we write, inheiited those traiLs of 
lirmness and vigorous judgment which have liecn 
such prominent factors in his career. Iiolh as a sol- 
dier and citi/.cn. 

Onr snlijccl lived on his father's farm until he 
was sixti-en years of .-ige. The three following 
years he spent in completing hi-, education ami in 
teaching. In |S."i.'i he threw aside his duties .-is iin 
instructor, and stiirted for the wide West, ninlii- 
tioii.s to achieve a name and a place for himself 
iiinoiig the wide-awake citizens of the Pacific Coiusl. 
IJe engaged in mining in California for several 
years, passing through all the varied experiences 
and scenes of that life. He afterward emliarked 
in the inercaiilile liusiiiess for a time. He was in 
Ari/.onn on a prospecting tour when the war liroke 
out, ami as soon as he rcceiveil the news he re- 
Ir.-iccil his steps to Calif<irniii, with the earnest and 
patriotic resolve to offer his services to the (!ov- 
ernment. He there helped to raise a company of 
infantry, and was appointeil Captain of Com|Miny 
A, :td California Infantry and Veteniiis' Itnttery. 
His aliiiily and faithful discharge <if his duties won 
for him a deserved promotion to Cien. Connor's 
stJiflf as AdjiiUinl iJeneral. He did edieient service 
as .-in olllcer in the Department of the Pacific for 
five yeai-s. 

Ill I «(')(■> Col. .locclyn returned to the Kast. and 
afU'r s|H-iiding several months in Washington, he 
went to New York, and in Kiiltoii, the centr.-il part 
of the .StJite, in ISCS, he married Miss .Ma<leleine 
K. Taylor, daughter of Maj. All.ert Taylor. Of 
this union five children have lieeii horn, of whom 
four are living, namely: (Jeiievra M., .Stephen 
Haymond Uay, Shirley T. and Theodore. 

Our siiliject reniaiiiol a resident of New Yrtrk 
for some years aft»'r marriage, and was prosjier- 
oiisly engaged as a merchant, Imt his ilose applica- 



»» >^^ 



4 



-4»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



189 ' ' 



i^ 



tioii to his business caused Iiis health to decline, 
and in 1873 he settled up his affairs, disposed of 
his propert}', and came to Wichita, that he might 
derive benefit from its fine climate. But his act- 
ive temperament would not pcrun't him to live in 
retirement, and he soon cml>arked in the stock and 
<>Tain business, and also established a grocery. In 
these enterprises he was successful, and accumu- 
lated considerable wealth. lie finally turned his 
attention to his present business as a loan and real- 
estate agent, with an oflice at 125 North Main 
street, and in this also he is prospered. He owns 
valuable property, and has laid out four additions 
to Wichita, which are pleasantly located in a desir- 
able part of the city. 

Col. and Mrs. Joeelyn have a pleasant resi- 
dence at No. 34 G North Topeka avenue, where they 
always cordially welcome their numerous friends. 
In politics our subject is, and always has been, a 
hearty .supporter of the Republican party. lie is 
prominent among the men of the Masonic frater- 
nity; both as a man of business and as a true citi- 
zen, he is hehl in high esteem by his fellow-citizens. 

W EMUEL BARNES. Among the leading and 
I (© infiucntial farmers and stock-raisers of .Sher- 
jlL^ man Township who thoroughly understand 
their business, and pursue the avocation of their 
chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike 
manner, is the subject of this biograph}'. He re- 
sides on section 22, his farm embracing the north- 
east quarter, and contains 160 acres of land. 

Mr. Barnes is a native of Broome C'onnt3% N. Y., 
born Aug. 10, 1813, and is the younger of two 
chihlren, the sole family of his parents, .Simeon V. 
and Elizabeth (Horton) Barnes, natives of the Em- 
pire .State. His paternal grandparents, Lemuel and 
Polly (Barnes) Barnes, were natives of Stockbridgc, 
Conn., but which is now the State of Massachusetts, 
and (irandfather Barnes had three brothers in the 
Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. 
The father of our subject was a mason by trade, 
and removed to Bradford County, Pa., about 1848, 
where he made his home until his death, which oc- 



cinrcd June 8, 1881. The mother of our subject 
died in the .State of New York many yenrs previ- 
ously. 

The sul)ject of whom we write drew his ciluoa- 
tion from the district schools of the commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, and in early manhood took up 
and learned the pl.astercr's trade, which vocation 
he followed until the breaking out of the war. In 
May, 18G1, spurred on b^' a spirit of jjatriotism 
that reigned in so many of the bos(»insof the youth 
of our land, our subject enlisted in the Troy (Brail- 
ford County) Guards, mustered into the service 
of the General Government at Ilarrisburg, Pa., 
as Company C, 12th Penn.sylvania Reserves, an in- 
fantry regiment that rellected much credit upon the 
noble .State of their birth. He was a participant in 
the battle of Draiiisviile, White Oak Swamp, and 
all the sanguinary confiicts that took place during 
the rtank movement under McClellan, through the 
Chickahominy .Swamps to Harrison's Landing, in 
the spring of 1802. Our subject received a slight 
buckshot wound, and, while wandering around in 
the night, marched into the midst of a rebel camp 
and was taken prisoner. He proceeded with his 
captors al)0ut two miles, when, favored by the dark- 
ness, he slipped into the thicket, and thus escaped 
and rejoined the Federal ranks. He was also act- 
ively engaged in what is known as the second 
battle of Bull Run, shortly after which he was taken 
sick, and sent to Eckington Hospital at Washington 
and about six weeks later w.as transferred to the 
convalescent camp near Alexandria, Va., where he 
received his honorable discharge, on account of dis- 
abilitj', Feb. 4, 1863. His brother James A., wiio 
was a member of the same company a.s our subject, 
was not so fortunate, being killed at the battle of 
Antietam. 

After his discharge our subject returned to his 
home in Pennsylvania, and resuming his tr.ade re- 
mained there about a year, when he removed to 
Rolla, Mo., and there entered into employment 
with Quarterm.aster Grimes, with whom he re- 
mained until the f.all of 186.T. From his services 
in the field Mr. Barnes has always suffered much 
from lung trouble, rheumatism, and the other ail- 
ments so common to the "l)oys in blue." While a 
resident of Rolla, Mr. Barnes was united in mar- 



"•►-■-^ 



■^^ 



SKI «; WICK COUNTY. 



ria^i'. Auii. :t|, Ihti.'t, Hjili Mip^. Kli£iilK>tli llvvl. a 
lintivf ..f Wnviic Cuuiily. In.l.. Ihihi Oil. .Jl. \XU\, 
mill clnii;;|it(T of OiiirKi- mill Nniicv Ann (rirn-c) 
|{f«-il. IKt jhii-imiU wriTo unlives of l'«>iiiiM'lvitiiin 
niiil Ohio iT*|i«flivel\, aiiil hnil ii faiiiilv of ricvfii 
rliililmi, of wliiiiii Mix llnriif.> is llic m'coiiiI in 
|Niiiit of liirlh. AfUT lii,-< iiinrriii;;)'. llii- •;ciilli'iimii 
tif whom wv wfiw M-Ulcil lit I,<-iivi'ii«orlli, Kaii.. 
wlitTi- lie wiLH <'iii|il<iyci| !u< foi'finnii on llir Mi.woiiri 
I'lu-ilii' Itiiiiroiiii for !i niiiiilH'r of vcars. In lliv 
sprint; "' '"^^ 'i<' <ain«' l<> S4«l;;Hi<k County, 
an<l look np If.il aires of lainl on sitlion 22, in 
Slicrinan Townsliiii. nniliT the lioin«>st4>ai| act, anil 
I'oinuii'iicfil ihi- ini|irovciiicnt of it. Ili; liius llif 
plaov liroii;;lit umliT an rxci'llonl slnlr of CMillivn- j 
lion. Iia.s criM'U'il liaiiilsoiiK- ami MilisLaiitial l>iiilil. 
in;,'>, and liius thf farm wrll sliH'ki-<l. His placo !:< 
siliialfil vtry iMaiilifnIly, anil only alioul a iiiilc 
from llif vijlat^c of Aiiilalc. 

.Mr. llariK-s is. |iolili<-ally, cntiri-jy inilc'|H-tiik'nl 
of parly liiii's. Uiii^ a lielit-vi-r in tlif principle lliat i 
lli«- lifst man for iIil- plart- is llic true ami prii|H'r 
oiie, f»|M'iially in liK-ai nuittcrs. Ilu lins held sov- 
rnil olliics ill till- lowiisliip, the principal of whic-li 
«v:ts .liislice of llu- I'l-ini-. lli; li.us .ilways lakon a 
proniinenl p:irl in jiliKalional matl<'is. ami lias lus- | 
"istiil in llu- or;;aniz,ilioii of w-vc-ral of tin- school | 
ilistricl.- of llii- toniiship, ami lia.s st-rvtil as .Sc-liool 
lJiri-«'tor. 

■|'o .Mr. aihl .Mrs. |{:irnos tln-rc Imvc liavi- liorn a 
fninily of li-ii cliililri-n, jis follows: l-'iili-lia. ,\lii-c, 
Allii-rl I-"., Ma, Cora Ann, Kv.-i .May, ( ;cor;;e IVrrv, i 
U>r*.H anil .SU-lla, .-iiiil oni- iinnainc-d who died in in- 
famy. Till- cliildri-n an- all al home with their ! 
jnueiiL-.aiid in atU'iidaiii-e at the dislrirl school. 



^I 



the til 
ciial. 

Ili-SM-X 
llllllll|l 

protid 
-pint 



II.I.IA.M II. STKU.M{KK<;, win. i> one of 

the proiiiini-iit I iti/.cn- of \\ ichiu. arrived 

lure in lime lo its-sist in the liiiildin;; up of 

wii. the urowlh of which ha.s lieen plienom- 

lle hiLi lieeii one of the most iiil^-ronU-d wil- 

of iLs profjn-iw and developmeiil, and no 

iirliinl fiiclor in hriiij^in^' it to il« pre.Henl 

|M>sitiiiii. As a man of inllnem.-e, piililic 

ami hlii-ral, this hricf record of liis history 



will lie more than ordinarily inlerei>ting lo those 
who are itlenlilied in any way with the Itiisiiicvi or 
industrial illl(.■re^L!t of one of the leading cilie> of 
the West. 

(Mir snlijiM't, who, the ^rreaUr |>art of his life, 
hiL-> lieoii eii^iged .-us a hiiilder and eonlnu-tor. Is n 
de.M'eiidant of .Hiilist.-iiilial Oernian anci-slry, the lir*l 
repix-seiiLiitive)! of whom cnii<;ratcd to the riiited 
StJites and scltled aloii;; the Mohawk \'alley duriiifj 
llie |H-rioil of Ihe early history of the Knipire .SUite. 
'I'lic .Sieriilierys were an i-xceedin^xly thrifty and 
pros|ii-rons race of |>eople, of stroiij; eonslitiitioius 
ami simple lialiiLs. and from whom have ispruii^ 
hnndreds of ile.scenilaiit.s, who are now sseatUjred 
from New York to California. Amon^ the most 
iiidiistritms and well-lu-do of tlie.sc w:us Ni(-liolH.<«, 
(he father of our sillijecl, who was horn in Oneida 
Coimly, N. Y., on land now owned liy Ihe cele- 
brated Oneida t-oiiimiinity. 

The father of our .suliji-ct early in life learned the 
trades of carjienler and luiilder, and married .Miss 
Catherine, d.-iii^'htcr of .lolin and Catherine .May- 
ley, who were natives of New York, Ihouyli of (ier- 
iiiaii desccut. The father lived to lie ciyhly-live 
years of aye, .-mil llii- inolhor, who survived her hiis- 
haiid, was iiiiiely-si.\ yeai-s old at the lime of her 
decease. They were the p.-irenls of nine children, 
namely: Catherine, Margaret, Ann, Maria, Lavina, 
\Villiaiii II., .lolin, .loseph ami Aaron. Mr. .Siernherg 
aliout I SKI removed from Oii<-ida lo Monlyomery 
County, .-mil from there, in IS3f'>, to Clien:iiiyo 
Coiinly, where he piireha.sed a Irael of land in llie 
lieavy limlier, ;ind cleared a good farm of 120 
acres. Among ihc hc.-ivy trees were many sugar 
maples, and these Ihe father iilili/.ed, maiinfacluring 
from them gennine maple syrup without adiiltera- 
lioii. 

The .scenes of Ihe '-siigar-lxisli" were among the 
earliest recollections of the siilijccl of this sketch. 
lie still liius a clear rememhram-c of the appear- 
ance of the camp al night, with its hrighl lires in 
till- dense woods, and the gathering of Ihe young 
people at Ihe "siigaring-of," which was always at- 
tended with more or less hilarity. Nicholas .Siorn- 
lierg wius a man of great force of clianicter, an old- 
line Whig, |Hi|itically, and al one time liorc the 
rank of l.ieuU-natil in the .Stale .Militia. Kolh he 



—^-m -^ 



t - 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



191 



and his excellent wife were devout inembere of the 
Christian Church. The father lived to the age of 
seventy-four years, dying about 1874; the mother 
in IcSTT), at the age of seventy-two years. 

William II. Sternberg was born in Montgom- 
ery County, N. Y., Feb. 17, 18.31, amid the pioneer 
scenes of a thickly' wooded country, learning to 
drive an ox-team and becoming familiar with all 
the shifts .and turn.s to which the early settlers were 
(■omi)elled to resort in building up their homes and 
maintaining tlieir families. The felling of the giants 
of the forest and -the log rollings consequent thereon 
were among tlie incidents of everyday life, and the 
boy at an early period learned from his fatlier tlie 
use of tools, at which he became quite an expert. 
His education was carried on in the stereotyped log 
school-house, to reach which involved a journey of 
oue and f>ne-half miles through the almost pathless 
forest. 

Our subject develope<l into m.'inhood, strong of 
limb and stout of heart, and when twenty-two years 
of age took for himself a wife, July 25, 1853, the 
maiden of his choice being Miss Catherine, the 
daughter of Thom.as and Olive Haven. Her par- 
ents were natives of Rhode Island, and pas.sed to 
their rest in New York State many years ago. Of 
this union there were born four children, of whom 
but two are living, namely: Oscar K. :ind William 
O., who are now residents of Wichita. 

Mr. Sternberg developed as a builder and v<>\\- 
tractor in the village of Norwich, Chenango Co., 
N. Y., where he remained until 1877. In themean- 
tinu' he had distinguished himself as an enterprising 
citizen and business man, and became prominent 
in local affairs, serving .at one time ;is Mayor, and 
discharging the duties of other positions of trust 
and responsibility. He put up many of the largest 
and best buildings of that section, erecting the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at a cost of |;47,000, 
the beautiful residence of Charles Merritt at a cost 
of ^35,000, the store of John O. Hill k Co., put up at 
an outlay of ^23,000, besides the line residence of 
Warren Newton and an elegant mansion for him- 
self. This latter boasted the first mansard roof in 
the town. 

Mr. Sternberg also built the Chenango County 
Poor-house, for the lumber of which he only paid 



t>6 per thousand, that being then the m.arket price. 
He also built the church edilice within wiiicli pre- 
side<l Rev. Mr. Scofield, the son-in-law of Henry 
Ward Heecher, for a period of eighteen years. 

In 1877 the subject of this sketch resolved upon 
a change of location, and although not actually a 
young man, decided to take Horace Greeley's 
advice and "go West." Not possessing a very 
heavy amount of capital, he employed him.'jelf the 
first seven montlis as a journeyman carpenter, and 
then resumed his old business of contractor. Ninety 
brick stores in Wichita stand as monnnients of his 
skill and industry, besides luimberless other build- 
ings, pr(»bal)ly twice as many as have been put bj- 
any other contractor in the city. The fine resi- 
dences of C. R. Miller, A. W. Oliver, M. W. Levy, 
Charles Smyth, R. E. Oulhrie, Dr. McAdanis, A. 
W. Bitting, James L. Dyer, George Pratt, C. E. 
Jones, and many others, were erected under his per- 
sonal supervision, and while |)erhai)S able to do 
comparatively little of tlie niantud labor, he has 
taken care that his workmen should be persons of 
the highest skill and reliability. 

The residence of Mr. Sternberg, a handsome and 
costly structure, is beautifully located on a rise of 
ground commandinga fine view of its surroundings. 
Witliin and without it bears the evidence of re- 
fined tastes antl ample means, and is universally 
admired by all who have occasion to pass it. 



EDWIN ARTHUR DORSEY, a representa- 
tive and leading farmer and stock-raiser of 
Waco Township, is a fair specimen of the 
sturdy agriculturists who have so largely assisted 
in the development of Sedgwick Comity, and who 
are drawing from the soil the important elements 
of their future fortune. His homestead, which em- 
braces a trifle over 196 acres, lies on sections 5 
and 32. He is a native of Vermont, born Jan. 21, 
1853. and is the son of Henry and Julia (Vaughn) 
Dorsey. 

The father of our subject was born in Canada, 

Dec. 31, 1826, and was a blacksmith by trade. He 

was a man of superior education, and died in Iowa, 

Feb. 18, 1880. His wife, who was a native of the 

-«► 



f 



•► m-^^ 



t 



•*•-»- 



r>-. 



skim; WICK COUNTY. 



state oM i-riiiDiil, ilifd wlifii till- sulijti-t of our 
dki-lcli «».■< qiiito n cliiM. 'I'lioy won- lla- |uireiiL» 
iif two I'liililmi — K<l;^r A. iuul Kdwiii A. After 
llu- death iif lii.i flp<t wife, Henry Dorsey wn.* n>;iiin 
nmrrioil, ttii.t tune to Miw Msiry Wnll, who lu-c-:inie 
the mother of ei^hl chiUlrcn, ii.H folluwii: .Inlia K., 
who ilieil in iMi.'i, at the a-^e of thirt«>en years; 
Henry, a rr.siiK-nt of Wichita; Charle.s, who ilieil in 
infnney ; llarl ami Hattie, Iwinn, the hilUT of whom 
ilii-<l in infancy, whih' the former i;* a lNH«k-kee|>er 
of Wieliita; Samuel, now in I'lariinla, Iowa, al- 
teinlin^ «4-hool ; Minnie, who dii-il in 1 s,s | ; aud Sa- 
die, living; in Clarinda, Iowa. A.i;ain Mr. Henry 
l)oney wa-t railed n|Min to mourn the death of his 
wif«-, and some lime .-iflerward weihled Mi.ss I.. K. 
I'nnly, who ^urvlv<•> him, jind is a resident of C'l:i- 
rinda. 

The Mdijei'l of our ski'leh receiveil hiri e<lucalion 
in the eommon .x-hooU of hi.i native etmnly, eon- 
linnin^' on hir. father'.s farm, where he.-uvsisted with 
the Work in the summer, until he had altnined the 
B^e of fifteen years. At that lime he renU-il the 
|il:iec of his father, iiml raisin;.; good croiis and fjcl- 
ling fair priee.s, he soon areiimulaled sonu- money, 
ami was lliiis enabled to liny a team. In April, 
1 ■•*"(;, he eaiiio to Kansn.s, and traded for a farm in 
Tnion Townshi|i, and carried on farming opera- 
tions u|Min that and upon his lirothcr's farm, atone 
and the same time. He wils enaMed t4> do tluK l>y 
hiring a man and his family to assist him in his la- 
l>or>, with whom he l>oiirdo<l for alionl a yi-ar. 
Having pn.Mil Irj ihi> experienie the rcmtuiera- 
livi- nature of farming in this fertile country, he 
fell conslraineil to csL-ihlish a home of hi.s own, 
and acrorilingly, .lune ■>], IXT'.I, he wiuh united in j and is piea-sjintly h)cated at the corner of Harry 
marriage with Miiw Klhn liowman, a native of j and Kiflh avenue. A gentleman of integrity and 
WiMHiford County, III., iM.rn Dec. -21, l«C.l. .She [ sU-rling worth, he ha> pursued the even tenor of 
is the flaughler of .lolm ami .lani' (.Mouse) How- t his way as an honest man and a good citizen, and 
man, natives of IVnn.sylvania and Ohio res|M-et- comm.inds the respi'ct of all who know him. 



nearly 200 acres of ground, all of which is finely 
improved and highly cultivated. Twenty-five acrt-s 

of his farm he di»|Hi.sod of t4) a (junker instituti 

receiving for it the sum of ^200 per acre, ami has 
refused more than that price for the whole farm. 
His resi<lence, which stands ujiun section !>, is one 
of the handsumest and finest in the town>hip, and 
Wits erected at a cost of over ♦.■},0(»0. His liariis 
and oul-huililings are of a neat and sulistantialch:ir- 
acter, and the entire pro|>erly, which is picasiuitly 
located in the siiluirlis of Wichita, th.at woixlerfiil 
city in the Arkan.sas \'alley, who.se ilevelopnienl 
has been so stnrtlingly rapid, is one uf the must val- 
uable pieces of agricultiinii pro|>erty in this vicin- 
ity. In his |>olitical views .Mr. Dorsey strongly 
adheres to the principles of the Ke|iublican |Kirty, 
and is tieeidedly opposed to the orgnni/ation known 
:ls Prohibitionists. He is one of the active and 
progressive men of the count}', and Lakes great in- 
terest in all matlei°s that are calculated to enhance 
its value, or to benefit his fellowmaii. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey there have been lioni a 
family of four ehildrcn, a." follows: Ivlgar A., whose 
birth look place Ajiril 1, l.SHO; .lulia K., who was 
born Ai)ril 1, I KM.'}; iMlwin Arthur, born Oct. 5, 
I HUG; Carrie L.ninine, whose birthday wius .Inly 27, 
ISK.'-,; ami Willi.iiii, born .Ian. 10, l.S.s.s. 



«, >11.I.IA.M IIKIIIKL. a retired farmer in 
WlJl/ ''"■"^'"■'^'''1^' eirciimstaiice.s, look up his 
V'^ residence in the city of Wichita in 1 ««4, 



ivily. who were the |KirentH of the following five 
ehilrlren: Kllen, .Mrs. Dorsey; Daniel, who is en- 
gaged in farming in this <'ounty ; Sarah, who wils 
choked to ileath at the Ubie, Dee. 2.'i, |m71 ; .lacob, 
a farmer of this county, and Kiniiia, at home. Her 



Nelson County, Va., was the early Inimping 
ground of our subject, and where his liirth look 
plaie .S«'pl. 12, IM22. His |iarents. Nelson and 
Uetsy (I'erkins) Bethel, were also natives of the 
Old Dominion, where the mother pa.sscd away 



parents are r.-sidiiit.s of Illinois Township, in .Seilg- i when our subjeil wils but a lad. The father was 



wick ( oiinly. having come U) this State in I MTU. 
•Mr. |i..r»e3 Iia> a ^cr^ fiiii' farm that rovers 



siibseituriilly marrird again, and removed from hi 
native Stale to l-'airlirlil Couiitv. Ohio, where hi 



-•¥■ 






lt>3 1 '1 



SEDGWICK C'orN'rv. 



spent the remainder of his cl.aj> engaged in farming 
pursuits. Ilis death tool< place there some j-ears 
ago. 

Young liethel became familiar with farm pur- 
suits (hiring in's boyhood and youth, and continued 
witii his father until reaching manhood. The latter 
left a good property at his death. William, when 
twent_v-five j'ears of age, was married, June lo, 
1817, to Miss Rebecca McCuc, who was also a 
native of Virginia and born in Albamarle County, 
Jan. 21, 1830. Mrs. Bethel, a maiden of seven- 
teen at the time of her marriage, was the daughter 
of William B. and Frances (Wincsbargar) MeCue, 
the father of Scotch-Irish, and the mother of Ger- 
man ancestry. Their eight children, all of whom 
are living, were named respectively: Charles F., 
William C, James S., John W., Moses M., Mary 
F., Henry I), and Rebecca. Mr. McCue commenced 
farming in his native Stiite, which occupation he 
later pursued in West X'irginia until resting from 
his earthly labors. lie died in West Virginia at 
the advanced age of eighty-five years. For over 
forty years he was .an Elder in the Presbyterian 
Church. In his younger years he was a bugler in 
the Light Horse Cavalry, of Virginia, in which 
capacity he served manj' years. The mother, who 
possess'id many excellent traits of chai-acter, was 
greatly beloved by licr f.aniilj' and friends, and 
passed away at her home in West ^'il•ginia on tiie 
4th of November, 187.S. 

To Mr. ami Mrs. Bethel there were born eight 
children, of whom onl3' four are living. They were 
named resi)ectively : Joseph T., William II., Mary 
F., Amanda D., James A., Elliott E., Susan E. and 
Margaret A. All of their children are married, 
and our subject and his wife are happy in the re- 
flection that they have six grandchildren. Mr. 
Bethel during the late Rebellion served with the 
100-days men in the IGOth Ohio Infantry. After 
returning home he was in very poor health for two 
years. The experience of that time only served to 
confirm his Republican tendencies, and he has since 
as before been a stanch sujjporter of this partj'. lie 
and his estimable wife are members in good stand- 
ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Joseph T. Bethel, the eldest son of our siil>ject, 
was married to Miss Lucy M. Evans on the '2d of 



July, 1871. This lady, a native of Franklin County, 
Ohio, was born Seiit. 8, 1849, and is the daughter 
of Samuel and Sophia (W^right) Evans, natives re- 
si)ectivcly t>f Pennsylvania and Maryland. The 
fatlier, a farmer by occupation, and a prominent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a 
period of forty years, departed this life at his home 
in Franklin County, Ohio, in 18G4. The mother, 
equally a devoted Christian with her husband, was 
born in 1812, and passed awa}' on tiie 21st of Au- 
gust, 1S7G, having survived her husband twelve 
years. She also had identi(li«l herself with the 
Methodist Ciiurch early in life;, her membership 
exteiuling over a period of lifty years. She left 
eight children, namely: Amanda, Cynthia A., 
William K., Rowland W., Cyrena, Alviii B., Lucy 
M. and Sauniei. Mr. and .Mrs. Joseph T. Bethel 
are the parents of one child. Jessie N., who w.'is 
born Oct. 11, 1873. Josei)!i T., a capable business 
man like his father, is a dealer in real estate in 
the city of Wichita. 

Miss Susie E. Bethel, the daughter of our sub- 
ject, became the wife of Charles E. Thacker on 
the 3d of February, 1887. Mr. Th.acker was Imrn 
in Madison, Ind., Feb. 28, 18C1, and is the son of 
John W. and Louisa J. (Scott) Th.acker, who were 
natives respectively of Illinois and Kentucky'. The 
fatlier is a carpenter liy trade; both parents are liv- 
ing and residents of Madison, Ind. Their family 
consisted of eight children, namely': Charles E., 
Cieorge. John II.; Harry and Annie E., both de- 
ceased; Richard II., Robert II. and Bessie, living 
with their parents. Charles E., the son-in-law of 
Mr. Bethel, is also a carpenter b}' tr.ade, which he 
learned when quite young. He came to Wichita in 
1 880, and is a gentleman of enterprise .and energy, 
having already accumulated considerable real es- 
tate. He is a Republican, political!}', and with his 
wife, a member of the Methodist Episcop.al Church. 
Their only child, Walter A., was born Nov. C, 
1887. 

Miss Mary F. Bethel w:is married, in .September, 
1880, to Mr. LaFayette Ilersey, a well-to-do far- 
mer of Delaware Count}', Ohio. They have one 
child, W.alter R., born Oct. 11, 188C. They also 
arc members of the Methodist Church. 

\\ illiaiii II. Bethel married Miss Ella Fleming, 



llr-*^ 



i 



■^ 



•► ■ -♦^ 



\'.H 



4- 



SKDCWK K (OINTY. 



<if ('nii«l Wiiu-lir'.t«r, Ohio. Ill- is n piiililor li_V 
lin«li\ mill n rc.tiilcnl of WirliiU. 'i'Uvy luivc IiikI 
four c-liililri-ii. tliriT now livinij, imnifly: Mnrv A., 
( iIiiiiT .!. mill ('li!irli-> It. Miiiiiif ilinl hIumi cIi'Vi'ii 

llliilltll- olll. 



;|;(iKi;K a. I.YO.N. « fnnii.T, sliKk-rai^T 
, .•mil !tlii|i|ii-r, of Wiii-o 'rowii><lii|i, i.s ilic 
iiwiior of n fliu' iiropcrly coiitniiiiii^' .'li'O 
.un-. |oi-ntf(l on HiH'tioii>« I/i ami ICi, all of wliii-li 
Ik- Iiiui liroii^lit to n lii;;li .«lat<> of cnltiviition. The 
n-^iili-iKM' ir i\ Imnilsonic, m-al :iiiil roinforlAlilr oin-, 
ainl the liarnx anil otliiT oiit-liiiil(liii<;s all that i-oiilil 
Ih- wi<i|ic<l for. 

Till- MiliJiH-t of llii.s skcti'h J!) a nativi'of Kr.itikilii 
Coiiiitv. I'n.. horn Dec. :l|, IH.■i.^. anil i.s the son 
of ^^'lllialll S. anil Kli7jil>ctli (Askiii) Lyon. Ilis 
f.'illiiT was iMirn in IVnn.Hylvanin in M'JH, anil ilii>i| 
in IMCiO. Ili> mother, al.no a native of llic Key- 
-loiie Stat*', ilieil in IKT.'!. They were the |uirent.s 
of ihe following' ehiiilreii : Oliver ami Mari,'aret 
Ann, «leeea.H4'il ; Catherine, wife of .1. C. (!rav; 
'Jeorjff A., the siilijecl III this sketeh; Thonia.s A., 
I'orii in IM:t|, i> a ilenti.tt anil I'ostiiia.oler al ('aiii|) 
I'oiiil, III.; Aniliella, wife of ( ;eor>:;e C'ol-^'ato; Ma- 
ill.ln »Il^ niarrieil to Willi.-ini t'ariin; Klixahelh was 
married to Samuel Orillitli, anil live.s in Ailams 
County, III. The family removeil from I'eiinsyl- 
vania to Illinoi.H in 1 H.'iH, where the |iareiit.s ilieil. 

( leor^je A. I.yon iias-seil his eaily life on his faliier's 
farm in tin? Keysi. me Slate, receiving,' his eiluealion 
ill the moilel whools proviileil for the youth of that 
vrniiil ohl eommonwealth. lie there hiiil llie foiinila- 
lion of nil exeelleiit I'lliie.'ition, anil ainoii;; his im- 
tive hills lireatheil in thai spirit of inile|«iiileine 
ami freeiloin that is so eharaeterislie of him. At 
the n^e of twenty-oiii- years he eomnieiieeil the linl- 
tle of life on hi.H own aeeoiinl, ami eiipijjeil in iner- 
• hnnilisiii;; in Shade (lap, I'n., for three years, and 
then went to AdnnisCoiinly, III., where he reniaiiieil 
aJMiiil live yi-ars. After his inarriap-, in the suniiner 
of \Hi\r,, with a view to till- hellermenl of his forl- 
iiiies, he mnoved to Colorado, and wa.s en^^ced liy 
lie- proprietor of Ihe I'lanler's IIomm-, at Meiiver.as 
I I liTk in the hoiij fi,r one year. Hefon- this lime 



wa.s up the ;;ciitlemnii dis|Mised of liiit interest in 
the estAhlishment, liiil lionornlily fiilfllled his eoii. 
trnrt hy retninint; <;eor;;e in his service for the un- 
expired lial.-iiiee of the time, lie employed him In 
freifjhliii;; liiinlier from Denver to Cheyenne. Our 
sulijeel made this trip the m-<-oiiiI time that the trail 
wa.s ever |>a.ssoi| over lietween the two |)oints. I'pon 
one (H-easion, while eros-sing the plaiiLs with a load, 
he pereeivod aero.ss the o|K'n eonntry n lar^'e li.'iiid 
of Indians approaehiii<j! him, wilh appan-iitly hos- 
tile intent. Stopping his team, he put his Wiiieheii- 
ter ritle and revolvers in shape that he might lie in 
readiness to defend himself manfully, if they at- 
tacked him. On came the riders, lint when they 
had .-ipproached ipiite closely, he w:Lsagreealily sur- 
prised to fnid that they were of a trihe wiiich wa.s 
friendly to the settlers, and commiuided liy white 
men. .loyfully thanking his stars, after a short 
conference he proceeded on his way. 

On the expinilion of the year our siiliject re- 
moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., where he was en- 
gaged in dairying. Near his residence was located 
the village of some Indians who were known hy the 
name of "Friday," who .at the lime of his residence 
there were wrought up to a s|>ecies of des|>er;itioii, 
and stiirted out upon the warpath. They killed 
and ,scal|M'd a .settler within hut a quarter of n mile 
of the residence of Mr. Lyon. At that lime large 
game was very plenty in that locality, herds of deer 
and aiiteli>])e being plainly in sight at almost any 
lime of the d,ny. N'enisoii, of course, was a drug 
in the market, and exceedingly cheap. From Wy- 
oming oiirsuliject removed t<j Illinois, where he re- 
mained until Im7I, when he eniigr.ated to this .St.atc. 
and .settled in .Sedgwick County. 

The marriage of Mr. Lyon to Miss Fannie K. 
Ward look place .liiiie '2i'i, I «•;<".. The liridc w.as a 
native of Kngland, horn Aug. 2;i, I sis, and is the 
daughter of Hoherl and Kli/.al>etli (llihiierl) Ward, 
who were n.atives of Ihe same kingdom. .She wsls 
one of the two children horn t.o her parent.s. Her 
lirothcr, liolierl Ward, was liorn in I'jigland in 
IK.'iO, liiit is now a resident of Adams County, III., 
where he carries on the liiisine.ss of :i tohaccoiiisl. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Oeorge A. Lymi have liccn liorii 
five children, as follows: Ivlward, who was Imrn in 
Colorado, , lime 2S, ISt^T, now at home; William, 



•► ■ -4^ 




Residence of Hon. William GpEiFFENSTEih 




Foot ofiov" St.and Greiffenstein Park, Wichita .Kan. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



-I- 



195 '^ 



born in Wyoming Tcrritiji-y, Feb. 24, 18G9; Thomas, 
born in Illinois, June i:5, 1871; Elizabeth, born 
July 13, 1874; and Jessie Blanche, Oct. 13, 1882. 
Edward was educated in the common school and 
finished with a course at Garfield College, in 
Wichita. 

In politics Mr. Lyon is a strong adherent to the 
doctrines of the Republican i)arty, although but 
little of a politician. He has, however, filled the 
ofllcc of Township Trustee for two years, and is 
now the incumbent of tlie office of .School Tre.'isurer, 
this being his second term. Both he and his wife 
arc active members of the Methotlist Episcopal 
Church, .and are true and sincere Christian people. 
They give a large portion of their time and liber- 
ally from their purse to aid in the religious and 
moral elevation of the community. A generous 
hospitality is shown at his comfortable home, and 
few men .are more genial in the social circle, or 
have a more happy faculty of making every one 
feel at their ease. As a friend, Mr. Lyon is an 
ardent and constant one, and a friendship once 
formed by him can only be broken by the basest 
ingratitude or treachery on the part of one in whom 
he has reposed confidence. 

EDWARD J. HOWE. In the busy commu- 
nity' located in the thriving little village 
of \'iola, we find several energetic and 
thorough-going business men, who have attained 
success through their own tact, good judgment and 
perseverance. Among this number is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this biographical notice and 
who, at the present time, is the representative of 
the hardware trade of this place. lie established 
this business stand Julj' 23, 1887, and is the first 
and only merchant in that line in the place. lie 
was born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 7, 18/)0, 
and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Graves) Howe, 
the former a native of l'enns3-lvania and the Latter 
of New York. 

When the subject of our sketch w.as about two 
years of age, the family n^moved to Grundy County, 
111., where the}' settled on a farm, .and where the 



father continued that vocation until killed by a 
locomotive as he was crossing the raili'oad track, in 
1880. Edward was reared a farmer, receiving his 
education in the common schools of Grundj' County, 
and liis training at lionie upon his father's home- 
stead was such as fitted him for the active life of 
an agriculturist. He is the fourth child in a family 
of nine, of whom seven besides himself are living, 
as follows : Louisa, wife of W. II. Adams ; Delia, 
Mrs. Nathan Mclnt3're ; Libbie, wiio married Will- 
iam Mclntyre; Luella, the wife of William Clin- 
gelpeel ; and Frank, Philip, Elmer and Charles. 
Henr}- died when an infant two years of age. 

Mr. Howe resi<led in Grundy County, III., until 
1873, when he removed to Dwiglit, Livingston 
County, in the same State, where he was engaged 
in the livery business for about two years. At 
the expiration of th.at period he located at Ransom, 
LaSalle County, where he opened a meat-market, 
which occupied his attention until 1882, at which 
date he came to the great and growing .State of 
Kans.as, and settled in Butler County. After re- 
maining in the latter place for twelve months, he 
came to Sedgwick County, and purch.asing IGO acres 
of land in Viola Township, entered upon the pur- 
suit of agriculture, which seemed to offer great 
inducements to him. In 1887 he traded his farm 
for his present property, and initiated the business 
in which he is .at present engaged. 

When our subject had grown to manhood, he be- 
gan to think of a wife, and wooed and won the affec- 
tions of Miss Louisa Waite, to whom he was united 
in m.arriage on the 9tti of March, 1809. This lady is 
a daughter of Benjamin and Lj'dia (Goodspeed) 
Waite, and was born in Grundy Count}', III., Dec. 
18, 1854. Their family fireside has been crowned 
by the advent of three children, who bear the 
names of Adella, Ethel and Milasaut. 

Mr. Howe's sterling integrity and general urbanity 
of manner have won him a large number of friends 
in this community, and his business energy and 
earnestness a numerous and increasing patronage. 
In his new venture in the mercantile line he is fast 
achieving a merited success, and can hopefully look 
forward to an e:isy competence to cheer his declin- 
ing days. In politics he is a stanch and true 
Republican, believing that in the principles of that 



•►Hh-^- 



••►-II 



-4»- 



1 '.(i; 



M-.IMiWICK COUNTY. 



|Mirl_\ ill- ill! ;;.■ 

•oiinirv. IK' h.Ls lu'lil ^tcvc^ll l<xal ullUeii Iml liivs 
lillli- .■LS|>initi(iii!i fur |>4>lilical prt'ffriiii'iil, .seeking 
nillur the i|iiitl of his own llrcniile uinl lln- inaiumi-- 
iiKMit of lii.s jirivnU- liiiiiine.ss. 



I iiM- iiiiuir L'u'Hiiif.v. <if our I liarzilln, tin- cMoi, wn.s tin- nulurui nir «iil)ji-(i ; 
; Cilliiiiiii <lio<l of tlic i-lKilorn in IH.'li', du hh farm in 
the American iKiltuui nrar IIil- ciu- «>f M. Louis; 
.Iii!*|KT wiL- !t soa c-nplain, aixl tiiod at Au;;iii)ta, (la.. 
I in middle life; l.uuis, a farmer by uc('U|ialion ; 
I Sumner, Luren/.u, Sliouni and l.:iura, all died in 
Ubio. Harriet was llie wife of .liimc." .M<-.MiL'<len», 
I fornu'rly a wealthy resident of IMtL-burgh, I'a., now 
II.LIA.M T. .IKWKTl'. one of the oKIejil <h>oeiLseil, and a native of Pennsylvania, lie was 
lattlcmcn of K»n.-%!U*«, eanie to this section a ;rreat Aholiiionist during the days of slavery and 



-55^-^ ■ 



W^ "( '•ounlry when there was m»t a tree to he 
seen for miles from tiie |iresenl sit« of WichiUi ex- 
cept alon^r the streams. After a season of working 
and wailing he is now nnnd>ered among the eapi- 
UilistA of Stiilhern Kansas, and the owner of a 
large amount of real estate, including a flue home 
which (X'cupies No. -11.'! North Km|Hiria avenue. 



one of the promoters of the "underground niilroad." 
lie o|)craled a livery st;d>lc in the city of I'itt-luirgh 
for a period of fifty ycai-s, and it is said that he 
siK-iit Ilii'tOI) in securing tlie e>ca|>e of one slave 
alone. 

About IKH; Mark .lewelt niigralcd to .IcITerson 
County, Ohio, :in<l located near Steuben ville, where 



The .lewett family was of pure Knglisii ancestry, he had sons and where he continued to live Ihe re- 

aml was first represented on this side of the wal«r mainder of his days. He wjis a great Biblical 

by two brothers, who came with the I'liriUiiis at a ."cholar, although not a churchman, and could (piote 

very iiirly dale, somewhere along the middle of the Scripture fiuenlly. Like his progenitors he wa.s 

seventeenth century. 'I'hc falher ami gnindfalher vigorous of conslitulion, active and robust, ne\er 

M-ltlcd at what was suiise(iucntly known jis Hosca- , alllicled with diseiuse, and died a natural ilealh from 

wen, N. II., on the .Merriniac Kiver, where they car- , old age, sitting in his rocking-chair by himself, 

ried on farming and became known far and wide after he hiid piissetl his ninety-fifth birthday. 



for their perwvering industry, and Ihc llnifl which 
naturally followed their practice of econonu' and 
correct living. 'I'hcy were |M-ople of sterling good 
sense and iron constitulinns, imlmcd with strong 
religious convictions and unimpeachable nionds. 
They, like their |Mi>terily, were rcmark.-ililc for 
longevity. 

The paU'rnal great-grandfather of our subject 
was a New llampshile f;irnier, who lived to the 
|<atri:irclial age of over ninety years. Like his 
ancestors, he was a man of fearless courage, and en- 
dured great hardships in his conflict with the ele- 
ment* of the new country, lie ttssisted in sididning 
the forests, con<piering the Indians anil riilding the 
<-onntry of wild beasU. lie wxs the father of a 
fine family of s4insand daughters, among whom was 
.Mnrk, the grandfather of our subject. Me al.so 
s|M'nl llie great<'r |>arl of his earlier life on the Mer- 
riniac River near Ihiscawen, and like bin falher 
before him, followed agricultural pursuits succ-e.ss- 
fully us till- result of a clear bruin and stout muM-les. 
Hi- marriage rc.>ullcd in the birth of nine children. 



Itar/.illa .lewett, the fatin-r of our sulijecl, wa.s 
born in New Hamjishire in I T'.t.'i, and received a 
conunon-school education. He emigrated to Ohio 
in ISlii and began leaching, having for one of his 
pupils the famous Kdwin M. StJinlon, SecreUiry of 
^^'ar under Abr:di:ini Lini'oln during the Uel>ellion. 
The father of Stanton was the family physician of 
Mr. .lewett. The niolher of our subjecl was in her 
girlluHjd Miss Helie<'<'a Todd, to whom he was mar- 
ried about l«--»0. She was of tiie celebrated Totld 
family of Ohio, the ilaughU-r of Col. William Todd^ 
of .Sleubenville, who pai'tici|)jite<l in the faniou> 
whisky insurrection of IViuisylvania. 

To Itar/illa ami Kebecea .lewett there were born 
eight children. Their eldest son, Louis, is a machin- 
ist and slcandioat engineei,and now a resident of 
Kansius City; (iillman ilied in Ohio; \N'illian) T., of 
our sketch, was the secon<l son and third child; 
Decatur .S., who served as a I'nitm soldier during 
the Civil War, wns on Ihe steamer "Maria Dean" 
when she was captured by Morgan, an<l wils coui- 
|M-lled to ferry hi>< troops across llic ( ijiio Uivcr; 



•►•-♦»- 



-•^-•-^ 



Hl-*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



197 



*! 



he is the only Democrat in the Jewett family. 
Arthur is farming near Kansas City, Mo.; Jasper 
condufts agriculture in Valley Center Township, 
this county; two eiiiltlren died in infancy. 

For many years Barzilla Jewett operated a 
foundry on tlie Ohio River in company with a 
partner, the firm name being riiilii) & Jewett. Mr. 
Jewett linally retired and changed liis residence to 
Ottawa, 111., where he died in 1870, at the age of 
eighty-five years. In religious views he was a 
strict Presbyterian, and noted for his morality and 
liis strong temperance principles. He was even- 
tempered iind of a quiet disposition, and in his 
frame preserved the reputation of the family' for 
strength of muscle and endurance. 

William T. Jewett, of our sketch, was born in 
Steubenviile, Ohio, Feb. 1, 182.5. Like most 
of his ancestors his education was acquired in the 
common school. At the age of fifteen he com- 
menced an apprenticeshi]) at the trade of book- 
binder, which ho followed until the year 1854, in 
tlie meantime being employed in the establishment 
of his uncle, James TurnbuU, one of the first men 
to introduce this industry into Ohio. The estab- 
lishment was subsequently purchiised by our sub- 
ject. Mr. Turnbull also conducted a publishing 
house in St. Louis in connection with his bindery, 
over which be ap]X)inted our subject foreman, and 
where tlie latter remained two j'ears. 

While a resident of Steubenviile, Ohio, William 
T. Jewett, in 1842, wa-s married to Miss Ettie 
Brown, of Steubenviile, who was born in 1828, in 
New Lisbon, Ohio. Mrs. Jewett is the daughter 
of Robert Brown, of New Lisbon, Ohio, and by her 
union with our subject became the mother of ten 
children. Their eldest son, Kdward, is a practic- 
ing attorney of Wichita: Albert A. is farming in 
this county ; Josephine became the wife of Frank 
Armint, a farmer of W.ishington Territory, and 
died there in 1883; Rebecca is the wife of Andy 
Hargett, a farmer of Valley Center Township, this 
county; Lilly is the wife of William P'eighner, 
County Clerk of Grant Count}-, Ind. ; Martha, Mrs. 
James McCabe, lives in Topeka; Jlinnie married 
Ilarrj' Allen, a druggist of Goddard, this State; 
(irace is unmarried and living at home. 

After his marriage Mr. Jewett purchased a farm 



at the mouth of the Fox River near Ottawa, III., 
where he continued from 1854 until the spring of 
1865. He then removed to Macon Count}-, where 
he purchased a farm which he occupied seven 
years. A cyclone finally destroyed his buildings, 
and he then sold his land and came to Kansas, tak- 
ing up his residence in Park Township in the fall 
of 1870. The year following he purchased a farm 
between the tw-o Arkansas Rivers, to which he has 
since added until he is now the owner of 500 acres, 
and with his son Albert engaged extensively in the 
feeding of stock. They handle annually about 200 
head of cattle, and 600 head of swine. When Mr. 
Jewett came to the vicinity of the present site of 
Wichita buffalo were feeding upon the plains and 
other wild game roamed over the country. He 
acknowledges that Wichita has done great things, 
but expects to see still greater. He assisted in 
planting the trees which now so plentifull}' dot the 
prairie, and form a wide contrast to its appearance 
when he first looked upon it. 

The first Presidential vote cast b}- our subject 
was for (ien. Jolin C. Fremont at the organization 
of the Republican party. He h.as taken a lively 
interest in everything pertaining to the general 
welfare of the people of both State and Nation, and 
while distinguishing himself as an industrious and 
hard-working man has sandwiched in between his 
labors a fine fund of general information. A work 
of this kind would be wholly incomplete without 
the biography of a gentleman of his standing and 
influence. 

:-^ TKPIIKN M. JOHNS, the present Mayor 
of Mt. Hope, and managing partner of the 
Kansas Lumber Companj- at this point, 
is classed among the most enterprising and 
wide-awake business men of Sedgwick County. He 
is over read}- to assist in any movement which tends 
to advance the interests of the communit}' in which 
he resides, and is highly respected by his fellow- 
citizens. 

Mr. Johns was liorii in I'iiln:iMi County, Inil.^ 
July .'51, 1854, being a son of Stephen and Sarah 
(Parks) Johns. The father of our subject was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1804, of Scotch parentage, and 



'i 



t 



■ -4— 



I DP. WICK coi;nty. 



wliiMi n yiniiii; iimii fiiii'jiHtril l<> iimh'. ivIuto he 
iimilf Uio n<N|uniiilnii<-c nf Sarnh I'lirk-i, «vli"> in <Iiir 
time Im-o.'iiiic lii>i M'ifo. Ilr roriiovcti tn Iiidiniiu 
vmn' tiiiH- nflvr rnarrln;;o, nixl ffiivt- lii-i nttt-iitloii 
|>riii('i|inllv to nuriiMilUiri- in the II<Hi.-.ifr SlaU-. until 
IHtiT. In tliiil _Vfnr Iip rt-nioVfil ti> C'liri?*tiiin t'i'nnly. 
III., nnil |M.'^<U'(I the rcin:iin<l)-r ut lii.H life nl I'lina, 
whiTi' hi- i1if<l ill till- spriiifj of isTii. He \\a» nii 
lioiu-Kt, u|iri;;lit iimii. iMLVto-viiii;,' in :i iiiarkoil ijogrtt' 
ttioM' «|iialitii-.s nliii'h <;o t<i ninkc ii|> a ;,'<hm1 cili/cii. 
'rill- rfSiH-i'W-il iiiolhiT of <iiir siilijoil cnnic to Kiiii- 
»n.* iii*lHS.|, ami now livc>!< in Hiirlon. To ln-r ami 
hi-r hii!tliaii<l worr liorn nine son- ami Ihri-t- ilnii;;li- 
Ut». one of whom ilii-il in infuin-y, aixl tlit-ir sun 
John in fnrly inanlKHMl ; he <Mili>ti'>l in the sorvifi- 
of the lTnil<'i| StatfH in I Ml". I :u>i a iiu'inlior of tho 
|hth Imliana li-itti-ry, Lilly's l,ii.'li( Artilli'ry. and 
■M'rvffI initil the riosc of the conllii-t, att:iinin<; the 
nink of S<T;Xi'nnl. lli- ilicil in In7M, of a ilisra.sc 
I'onlrnftril wliili- in the army. 'I'lic record of the 
ti-n ehildren now liviiiir is xs follows: Samuel 1'. 
is a IiiiiiImt meroliant at Sedalia, Mo.; Kniannel is a 
Inmlier morclinnt at Kurton; l.piiiuel is a Ininlier 
iiK-rehant at I'awnee U<K-k; Tlioinas .M. is a |>lij'- 
sieiaii at Taylorville, III.; Koliert is .-i liiinlter 
inenhaiit at I'ana. III.: .Maltie is III.' wife of I). V. 
'riinixiti, a f:iriiier of I'an.a, III.; Owen is a inerehant 
at l-':iriiiin^ton, Inwa; .Ste|i|ien, onr sMlije<-l ; Alice 
I- the wife of C. C. WalLire. a lele;,'ia|>h u|.er.ilor 
for the I'liion I'acilic li:iilwity, at Kansiis City, Mo.; 
.loM>|>li is a Innilicr nierclinnt .-it (iinarron, K:in. 

(»nr siilijerl w;l« ediicalol in the coninioii scliouls 
of his iia'ive .^l.-ili-, which, followed liy :i |iraclic:d 
tminiii;: in the duties i,{ life liy his |i:ii'enl.<. Ii:is 
Well lilled him for his present |ii>silion as an active 
liif>incs- ni:in. He moved from his native .Stale 
with hi- |>arenLs to I'ana, III., where he cii;,'!ij,'ed in 
the liimlicr Inide with his lirnlher until |xh:|, with 
the e\ce|ilion of three years, when he was en;;a«,'cd 
with an nnile in the same Imsines.-, at Terre llante, 
Ind. In iMH.Hii- eaiiie to Kansit- to Uike eliai;re of 
the extensive Imsines- of the Kansas Knmlier Coin- 
|>niiy. at .M t IIo|m'. and in I hh | wiu- ndniiltcd into 
the ciim|>any a.s a |>nrtner. fmler his alili- nian.a^'c. 
ment the linsiiiesH has yreatly increa.-<eil and is in a 
lloiiri-hin^; condition. Diirin;; his re-ideiicc in 
Kan-as hi- attention h:i> not lieeii iiinlined .'mIm- 



sively to the luinlier Mi-ine-«. Inil lor two vi':ir> lie 
en;;a^'ed in n Joiirnalislic veiillire, ils editor and 
|iro|>rietor of the Ml. Hope Mrnbir. 

In IH7.S, at Teri-e llnuU>, Iinl., our -nlijecl was 
unitcil in marriage t4i Mi.s.s Katie \'., daughter of 
David and Callierine ( Hiipley) Smith. .She was liorii 
in Ti-rn- Haute. Ind.. Fel>. i7, IKI'.l. She is 
devoted to her liusltaml's int4Te.s|«, niid prpsideii 
with genuine Uict and hospit.-dity over their charm- 
ing home. 

.Mr. .lohns L-ikes :in active p.arl in jxilitical and 
piiMic niatt4>rs; he is a tried iind true UepiiMican. 
Ilis administration of the duties of his high ollk-ial 
|Nisilioii is chanieterized liy :in enlighteneil piilicy, 
which is Well calculated to advance the intercsUi of 
the town. He ha.s lieen a delegate to county con- 
ventions of his party for four years, and to the 
.State- Convention in I .SMK, nl 'ro|H-kn. He is a 
mendier of Ml. Hope Lodge No. iMn. I. ( ». ( i. K., 
ami Tasmania l.iHlge No. t :.'ll. K. <if V. 



V.W |s\\. l:.Ml;i). There i- n.. i.ior.' allract- 
% ive section in which t<i farm than the Ark:ui- 



•► ■ -4^ 



:aix. sas Kiver A'allev. Here are many splemlid 
f.'irms and enter|>rising f.armcrs. One of them, our 
siiliject, is a leading farmer and stoek-rai.-er of (Jree- 
ley Township. He liasa tiiieestaU- on section °l'i,nnd 
h:u- liceii a resident of K.-insas since 1871. His e.aily 
home w:(s in Itrown County, Ohio, where his hirtli 
took plaic Oct. :.'!, IS 1(1. He spent his chihlhood 
:ind youth attending the district schools, and lie- 
coming familiar uilhlhe various einpl<iyinent.s of 
rural life, and upon leaching tnanlio<Ml w.as coii.se- 
quently .amply titled for the career of a farmer, which 
he has since followed. 

The sniiject of this liiogr:ipliy is tlie son of .lames 
and .Martha (Itower) Itjiird, al.so natives of the 
ISuckeye SUite, where the father followi'd agri- 
cultural pursuit.- his entire life. He was iHirn .liine 
:»n, I MID, and died on the I tth of May, I ,h.s,%, when 
ni-arly sevcnty-M'Vi'ii years of .age. .l:imes l(:iird 
was a good man in the liroailesl sense of the term, 
prominent in township alTaii-s, and a devoted meiii- 
lier of the I'rc-liyterian Chiiieh for m;iny yeai-s. 
I III rill).' theagit.-ttion of the -lave ipie-l Inn he arraved 



I 



•^^ 



I 



.•^^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



I'.M, ^> 



himself on tliu side of tliu Aljolitionists, :uk1 by aid of 
tiie ••uiidcigromid railroad " assisted many a fugi- 
ti\ (• ti) I'lccMidin. I le was most of tlio time an ofiiee- 
liiilder in liis native eonnty.and a man vvlioenjoyed 
in a marked degree liie conlidenee and esteem of 
his fellow-citizens. 

Mrs. Martha (Bower) Baird, the mother of our 
snl)ject, was born in Brown County, Uhio, Nov. 28, 
LSI 3, and is still living, remaining npon the old 
homestead in Brown County'. Ilcr father was a 
native of Ireland, and her mother was born in 
Ameriea. Mrs. Baird, like her husband, united 
with the Presbyterian Church many years ago, to 
the doctrines of which she still loyally adheres. Of 
her union with James Baird there were borti nine 
children, namely: William S., Jane, Robert B., 
Lewis W., George N., James A., Albert M., Sarah 
E. and Jesse L. Jane, Robert and James are 
decea.sed. Robert served as a soldier in the Union 
army, and yielded up his life in behalf of his coun- 
try, dying in the hospital at Willet's Point, N. Y., 
Sarah is the wife of James (). Smith, a hardware 
merchant of Winchester, Ohio; Jesse is a leading 
physician of Fincastle, Ohio. 

Mr. Baird, of our sketch, si.x days before reaching 
his majority celebrated the coming event by enlist- 
ing, Oct. 18, 18UI, in Company A, 70th Ohio 
Infantry, for a term of throe years, or during the 
war. He was mustered into service at Winchester, 
Ohio, serving until the expiration of his term of 
eidistment, and veteranized on the 5th of June, 
1803, in his old company in time to participate in 
the battle, and to assist in the siege and capture of 
Atlanta, also to march with the troops of Gen- 
Sherman to the sea, and was cngjiged in the storm- 
ing of Ft. McCallister, Ga. At the battle of Shiloh 
he was wounded by the bursting of a shell, and in 
consequence was off duly from April until Novem- 
ber, and now enjoys a pension fiom the Govern- 
ment, lie received his final discharge from the 
army Aug. 27, 1805, at Little Rock, Ark. 

Mr. Baird, upon leaving the arm\', returned to 
his old home in Riple3-, Ohio, and for two years 
afterward attended the High School at Russellville. 
Having thus fortified himself for the ordinary busi- 
ness of life, Mr. Baird was married, on the 2(Uh of 
January, 18G8, to Miss Margaret J., daughter of 



Finney and Nancy Kirkpatrick, who were natives 
respectively of Kentucky' and Tennessee, but at 
that time were residents of Ohio. After marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Baird located on a farm in Brown 
County, whence three years later they eaine to 
Soulhei'u Kansas, leaving their native State on the 
20th of March, 1871, and locating on their present 
homestead in April following. Mr. Baird made his 
first trip alone and lived in a dugout while he was 
building a house for the shelter of his family, who 
soon joined him. This accoin[)lished he l)egan at 
once the cultivation of his land, which is now in 
this respect complete, much of it enclosed with 
beautiful hedge fencing, and the homestead is also 
consiiicuous for a neat and substantial set of frame 
buildings. His famil}' includes live children, 
namely: Arthur L., born Feb. 12, 186'J; Robert 
K., Nov. 1. 1872; Frederick C, Dec. II, 1871; 
Martha 1\., Feb. I, l.s77, and James N., March 2.3, 
1881. 

Finney Kirkpatrick, the father of Mrs. B.-iird, was 
born June 5, 1800, and was married four times. 
Mrs. B. was the eldest child of the second wife, who 
was the mother of four children, namely: Margaret 
Jane, Mrs. B., born Aug. (J, 1812; Robert S., Aug. 
28, 1844; Melissa L., Sept. 17, 1846, and Nancy P. 
Melissa; the wife of William C. Brown, lives in 
Greeley Township; Nancy P., Mrs. Thompson Ed- 
wai'ds, lives in Ohio. The mother was fairly edu- 
cated, and a devout member of the Baptist Chuich. 
Finney Kirkpatrick, in early life a Baptist, subse- 
quently identified himsi'lf with the Christian Church. 
Mrs. Margaret was born on the Gth of September, 
1822, and departed this life at her home in Brown 
County, Ohio, May 28, 1864. The entire house- 
hold of the father of Mrs. Baird included eleven 
children. 

Of the first marriage of Finney Kirk|iatrick there 
W'cre born si.\ children, namely: Thomas W., June 
3, 1831; Newton, Jan. 4, 1833; Mary E., Dec. 27, 
1834; Sarah A., Jan. 15, 1 83(; ; Elizabeth A., 
Feb. 28, 1838, and William II., May 24, 1841. 
The third wife was the mother of John A., born 
Feb. 3, 1850. The patermd grandfather of Mrs. 
Baird, Samuel Kirkpatrick by name, was a native 
of Ireland, a shepherd b^- occupation, and while 
attending his docks put in his spare time knitting 



h 



-4^ 



-I l".\\|( K (OITNTY. 



ll» ..nn xNhv .\|.>. liail ll.|M.'i..l h. I ..I.I.:.. 

lion ill (lip nctiilriny nl |)f<-nliir, Oliiu, nii<l tnii;;lit 
M-litMil lIuTvnfU-r M'Vfii 3'i'i»p>. Sill- is n In.ly of Hiif 
nttniiiiiirlilA, rrfliiiMl .■mil iiiU>lli|;ciit. iiml cilitA tlif 
i-oliiiiiiis of iIh- .yfrnliir ill llir inU«n'>U of tin- 
W. C. T. r.. of wliirli slie in rrcstidoiil in Uiis lown- 
Hliip. 

Mr. iiikI Mnt. ItninI Mn- inoiiiiiicMl iii.'iiil>i-i> of 
llic CliriKlinii Cliiiri'li nl .Mt. II. .jh, nii.l Mr. U., 
|iolilii-!illy, i.-t n sUiicli K«>|iulilii'iiii. He iLVii<«t«i| in 
the orKHiii/jilion of Shoo! Distiicl N... 7H. in IH73, 
nil. I MK-iiilly, i» C'oniiimiiilor of S. A. CIIImtI Post, 
<;. A. I{.. Ill Ml. llo|H. 

-- ^-j t^-H^ «=^^- 



\ »II.I.IA.M II. FIJ-.SIl.MAN, II ro|(ri-scntiilivo 
\ / t ii'iiiornnil uliK-k-niisor of Siijciii Town.ship, 
y<i iiiHki-> liis rc.«i<lcnfi' on ii fariii Piiiliriiciiig 
••ifjlily m're.H on M-i-lion 10. Ilr raiiii' to Kiulsjus in 
I HC.'J. iiml in ihi- foil of is7:i .sftlli-il in Stlgwiik 
Coiiiily. «liiTi' Ik- liii.-* iivi'd rvor sinro. lie i.s one 
of llic |iiililic-!«|iirit<-*l inid lil»<-rnl men of tiii' lowii- 
i»lii|i, and i.s never linrkwnrd in supiMirtiiij;; ciiUt- 
pri.'H'A wliieh will neeriie lo the bcnellt of the 
eoiniiiiinily, or elevnte llic lone of siK-iely. 

Tlie (iiilijcfl of our skeleli wii;* liorn lieiieatli llie 
riMif of his |inrcnt.->, .l.-inie.s and Kii/.nlielh (Wood) 
KhMliiiuiii, in LoiiiMi C'otinly, Vn., Oel. iM, 1827. 
The fiilluT .lied Mjje.l about si.xly-llveyears, and the 
mother seventy -einht years His |iarcnt.s were uLso 
luitive.t of the (iM Doininion, and had one other 
eliild hifi.le.s our suliject. whosi- nainc is .laine.s F., 
who in nlill n resident of the plnec of hi.s nativity, 
and livi-ft oil the old home plaee. William II. re- 
ceived siieh u ru.linieiilary education as was af- 
foriled liy the coliuiioii sehcMfls of his luilivc land 
til the time of hid lioyhood, and ;.^rew to man's 
i-stnte employeil nl .'i;;rii-ultural liilMtr in L.iiii.sn 
Coiinly. On ()<t. 24. jx.'it;, he wils unite. I in niar- 
ria;,'e «ilh .Mivt Mary I,. (Jish, who wa.s als4i a na- 
tive of Virttiiiia, horn .lime 22, I M.'JK. .Mrs. I"|e»h- 
iiiuii is the daiifjhter of William and Snmh A. ( Hush) 
< iish, natives of N'ir^'iiiin, an.l h.ith now deceiLseil. 
The father ilie.l n;;ed i«evcnly-lwo years, and the 
mother itixty-lhree yenrn. Mi-r ^'rniid|>nreiiU) on her 
fallii-r's side were also Vir;,'iiiians, named (Jeorg.' 



..i.d Kiilh (llowrll) r.ish. On i... ...mImi » si.le 

Ihey were .if the .same nativity, and nniiied IVti-r 
ami Alice (Kevcre) Hush. 

Uy the marriage of Mr. and .Mrs. Fleshinaii 
there have Ik-cii horn seven children: 'rhoimts W. ; 
(!cor{je F., of wh.im a sketch n|i|)ears e!s«-wlieie in 
this Aim m; .lames K. wa.s .Irowneii in the Arkan- 
sas Uiver while nttoinplin;,' to cross while it was at 
a hi^h sla;,'e; .Sallie H., Mrs. .lames W. 'I'yree, re- 
siding in Wiiifield, this Sljite; and Alice K., Ilnrry 
L. and .Mary .S. 

With a desire to impnive his f.>rtunes and to 
avail himself of thi' sjilendid rc.sour»-cs of the ;.jrow- 
ing Stale of KaiisiLs, in 1H(";;i Mr. Fh'slimnn left the 
Old Dominion for the West. On arrival in this 
StjiU>, he made his reshlencc for almiil eiLrhtcen 
munlhs in WimkIsoii County, and for ahoiil the 
same lcn>;lh of time in Sumner County, but in the 
fall of IM7.'l he came to Sed^rwick County, and set- 
tled in Salem Township. Three ycai-s later he re- 
moved to the farm where he now resides. Mr. Flesh- 
man ha:^ made all the iinprovcmenls upon his farm 
himself, it being tulally imciillivati'd at the time 
of settling upon it. It is .said that the soil of 
Kansas is so rich that all it is ncce.s.'iry to do 
is to .scratch the land, and it will produce enor- 
mously, still, in spile t>f this, it requires consider- 
able effort and a large ainouiil of industry and 
energy to develop a farm from a state of primitive 
wililness lo anything like a rcs|icctjiblc • stat'C of 
tillage. 

Hcing endowed with a reinarkable am.iuiit of 
cnergclii- spirit and with go.nl business Uict, Mr. 
Fleshmnn has, since coming here, succce.le.l in 
achieving a very fair am. unit of success. Misplace 
evinces, both in its ciillnre ami in the goiHl and 
siibslnnlial buildings erected upon it, the dili- 
gence and thrift of the owner, and prosperity 
seems to wait upon his slejxs. He is highly cs- 
Icemc.l in the community lus an honorable, upright 
and trustworthy man, and i'oiild, if ho chose, take 
a very prominent part in the {xilitical life of the 
township. Me is at present serving as Director of 
till' school district, and gives a large amoiiiil of his 
ntU-ntioii to educational miillers. lie and his wife 
and family are all members of the HaptisI Church, 
at Derby, of whi.h coiigregali.in he i^ at the pies- 



■ O' 



i 



-^*- 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



\ 
201 - k 



ent time Trustee. Tliey aie extremely active in 
ail relijfious matters, and give largely from their 
means and time to the furtheranee of the spread 
of the (lospel. In politics Mr. Fleshman is a 
Democrat, but in local matters is not entirely hound 
hy party lines. In the estimation of his fellow- 
citizens he is one of the representative men of 
Salem Township. 



If? KNRV S. KASTMAN, a lending fjirmer and 
r^] stock-raiser of Rockford Towiishi]), h;is his 
/IL^ home on section 14. lie evidences by the 
(^) manner in which he carries on his business 
that he thoroughly understands the vocation in 
which he is engaged, and th.at success is attending 
his efforts toward acquiring a competenc3'. Neat- 
ness and order prevail ujoth his place, whicii is man- 
aged, with regard to its cultivation, in a maimer 
which reflects great credit upon the owner. 

Mr. Kastman is a native of Ohio, having been 
born near the town of Salem, Jan. 22, 1849, and 
is the son of Timothy' R. .and Elizabeth Gilbert 
(Gould) Eiistra.an, natives of Vermont and Ohio 
respei'tivcly. The family removed to Iowa about 
1 8.")3 and settled in Linn Countj', where they re- 
mained until their death. His father died in 1876, 
and his mother in 1878. Our subject w.os educated 
in the excellent schools provided by the State of 
Iowa for the rising generation, and upon attaining 
mature 3'ears commenced farming on his own ac- 
count in the Ilawkoj^e St^ite. In 1870 he came to 
the State of Kans.as and settled in Sedgwick County, 
where, Dec. 4, 1873, he was united in marriage with 
.Miss Martha E. Oldham, the daughter of J. D. and 
Caroline (VanSant) Oldham, natives of Maryland. 
The bride was born Dec. 1, 184.'3, in Lawrence 
County, Ind., and w.as educated in tlie common 
schools of Iowa, where she lived in her childhooil. 
I ler mother died Dec. 24, 1870, but her father is 
still surviving and resides in El Dorado, this State, 
having retired from the furniture business in wiiich 
he was engaged. In 1871 Mrs. Eastman, then Miss 
Oldham, came to Kansas, and on the 31st of August 
of that j'ear, pre-empted a quarter-section of land 
on section 14, Rockford Township, where she and 



her hnsl)ai)d now reside. She w.as among the pio- 
neers of the township and county, and a true rep- 
resentative of the class of active, energetic and 
intelligent women reared in the great Ilawkeye 
State. 

The sultject of our sketch has brought the entire 
tract of land on which he lives under a state of 
most excellent culture, and has set out a fine orchard 
of young and thrifty trees, and a consideraldc quan- 
tity of the smaller fruits. He is devoting a large 
share of his .attention, like many others of the more 
prosperous farmers of this part of the countrj', to 
fine graded stock, and is meeting with most excel- 
lent success in a pecuniary way. Of course, this 
being a corn country, a large portion of the farm 
is devoted to that cereal, which necessitates con- 
siderable industry and labor upon his part. He is 
a meml)er of the Christian Church and a consistent 
and sincere follower of our Lord. He isever read}' 
to testify for the faith, and speak a word of warn- 
ing to the unrepentant sinner. In his politics he 
affiliates with the Republican party, deeming that 
organization the most progressive and suited to the 
genius of the American people. 

The fireside of ISIr. and Mrs. Eastman has been 
enlivened by the advent of six children, as follows: 
J. R.anciville, who was born Aug. 27, 1876; Harlan 
K., who was born April 11, 1878, but died October 
14 of the same year; Carrie G., whose birth took 
place Dec. II, 1879; Thomas H., Feb. 2,5, 1881; 
Laura E., Jan. 18. 1884; and Baby, whose birth 
took place Aug. 24, 1885, and died Aug. 26, 1886. 




4h^ 



1; NDKEW LAUCHLAND, who departed this 
life on the 19th of June, 1887, was one of 

ll the early pioneers of the northwestern 
^1 part of Sedgwick County, locating in Eagle 

Township when there were but a few settlers south 
of the Arkansas River, among them Messrs. Man- 
amee. Brown, Rutlcdge and a few others. In com- 
mon with the men about him he labored through 
hardships and dilliculties in suljduing the .soil, and 
built the comfortable homestead on section 30 
which is now the abiding-place of his family. 



-^*- 



^1 Im;u k k t'tUNrY, 



Mr. lAiK-hluiiil WHS n imi . 
iMini nliuiil IH40. IK- !!i|H-iit lu<> v.niUittil V('ai.<< 
near \\i» rliililluMMlS Ikhiii', wliiTf lir lc:ini«Ml llif 
Ini'lc «if >ht*<-iiiiikt>r, ttml follnwi'il tlii^ fur mhih- 
liiiu- afUT i-<iiniti;; U> llii* I'liiU-il SUiU"^. Ili^tlriil 
nrrivul in (lii!« Suto wiut in |X70. Hi- |iu<| rullowcil 
lii.s IrruU' ill Kiiiisjus C'ily for oiii" yvur, iiml liml iiUo 
|iiirrliii«fc| |)ro|it'rl_v IhiTf, litit nut lu-iiij,' (|iiiU' sjil- 
i>ru-c| MJtli the oiitliKjk {-.■line t<i this (■niiiity, iv- 
iiiniiicil for II liiiii- ill (JriH'li'v 'l'ii\vii.s|ii|i, iiml then 
t<M.k ii|) hi.s iiIkkIi- in hjijrio, wht-ru In- ,s|H'iiI the 
ri-iiiiiiinlfr (if his life. 

Thv inarriagi- nf Amlicw Liiiichliiiitl iiml MIsh 
.)i'».-«ir Mft'iiiuK'liif W!Ls celulirntvil in Ayrshiiv on 
the -.JTlh of April, lUi;/). Mrs. L. wjls born in 
Ayr^liirf. .Vothiml. .M.-inli 1(», l.sa'J, anil is the 
ilaiijlhter of John ami .land (Miller) MtCViiiofhic, 
who were also of .Voleli liirtli and |i:iiciitjige. llcr 
falhi-r was a ship iiiaslvr and folloWf<l tiic soa iiiilil 
his ili-alh, wliifli ik'uiiitimI on llio Atlanlii- when he 
wa.s lull Ihirly-iiine years of age. The inollier 
survived her hiisliaiid many years, her death taking 
pinee at her home in Si'otlaiid in IkTI. when she 
wics f5fly-two years old. .She w:is a lady greatly 
re.s|M'eled liy her friends, .-iiid a clevoled memlier of 
the l'r»-sliyterian C'hiireh sinee her girlhoiHl. 

The |mrcntj< of Mrs. Laiiehlaiid reared three 
children, one son and two d.-iiighlers, of whom the 
son and one daughter, John and Maggie, ilied when 
between fourteen and lifleen yeni-s of age, so that 
Mrs. L. is now the only surviving iiieiiiber of the 
family. Of her marriage with oiir subject there 
were born seven eliildren, .-ill liiil one now liviii", 
namely: William, Maggie, Andrew, .lessie Jane, 
Mary Kiiiina aii<l .lames Archibald. Due is de- 
cea-sed, Hugh M. William is attending the .Soiilh- 
wesU-rii IJilsiiiess College, at Wichita, where he pur- 
|M)ses lilting himself probably for mercantile life. 
'I'lie other children are at home with their mother. 

Mrs. L:iuchlaiid wiw reared by her pareiiLs, and 
wjw llrst married to Uobert Syiniii about IKCI. 
Mr. S. was an engineer by otx-iipalion, and they 
became the parcnlii of three .sons: .lolin, and two 
who were iianied William, and who both died in 
early infancy. John married Miss Cilia Overall, 
hiid is engaged a.s u bul«her in liiicliinson, this 
State. The other sons an' a.-sisting llieir mother 



ill currying on the farm, which is largely dovot«d 

to callle-niisiiig. 

.Mr. l^uichland. both on account of his natiind 
business cafKieities and iiil«'grily of chanicter. be- 
came one of the leading ineii of his township. Illl- 
iiig the various l<M-al oriices, wiut 'I'ownship Clerk, 
Trensiirer and .School Director, and a Dencon of the 
('ongiegational C'huirh in Oreeley Township from 
the time the siK-iety wius organi/.ed until his di-alh. 
lie was also a Trustt-e and .Siipcrint^Mident of the 
.Siinday. school, ami took a deep interest in relig- 
ious iii:itters .-ls well >us local affairs, lie voted the 
straight Ucpublic.-iii ticket, and w.-is at all times will- 
ing to labor and make .sjicrinces both for the g<MHl 
of his church and the cominunily at large. 



G1-.()K<. 



i;()U<;i; I'AUKK. Among the pioneer .sct- 
f Lincoln Township, this gentleman is 
iaily worthy of notice in a work of 
this kind, lie wiu> one of the first men to locate 
within it.s borders, and being po.sscssed of a nirc 
ninoiint of energy, proved a most valued mcnibcr 
of the young and rapidly growing cominunily. 
When he first came to Seilgwick t'ounty there were 
only seven hon.ses where the nourishing city of 
Wichita now stJimls. Now two miles from him is 
the young town of Furley, and seven miles in an- 
ollii'r direction the town of Annelly, in Harvey 
County, anil he is only about nine miles from two 
or three other towns, making his farm convenient 
U> market, and for general business. 

The early home of our subject W!is on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in County Westmeath, Ireland, 
where his birth took place in 1.S27. lie was the 
•■iceond child of Uobert and Catherine (Simpson) 
I'arkc, whose family included seven sons and two 
daughters. All his graiidp.irent.s were of Irish 
birth and parentage, and his mother's parents, 
(leorge and .Mary Simpson, were natives of County 
Westmeath. All the old people continue upon their 
native soil. 

Uobert I'arke, the father of our siibjeel, in the 
spring of IHl.'i, when <iet)rgc of our sketch w:is :» 
youth of eiglit<'en years, embarked with his faiiiil}- 
on the American .•uiiling-vc.ssel "'Nichohis Itiddel," 



^ 



■•►►■-♦ 



-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



20:? 



and after a very pleasant voyage of five weeks and 
two (la3's landed in Castle OanU'n, New York City. 
Knjm there they made their way to N'anderbiirjj; 
County. lud., and settled on a farm, which contin- 
ued the home of the father until his death in 18G0. 
The mother had passed to her rest several years 
previously. Six of their children are living, and 
are residents mostly of Indiana and California. 

Our subject received a good education in his na- 
tive county before coming to America, and :issisted 
his father in farming until starting out for himself. 
He w.os married in Gibson County, Ind., in I80G, to 
Miss Mary Tremble, a native of his own country, 
born in County Westnieath, in 183.'5. Mrs. Parke 
was the eldest of the nine children born to Thomas 
and Jane (Cox) Tremble, also natives of Ireland, 
together with all the grandparents, George and 
Jane Treml)le and Robert and Jane Cox. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Parke settled 
on a farm in Gibson County, Ind., where the}' re- 
mained until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. 
Our subject, soon after the first call for troops, en- 
listed for the three-years service, or during the 
war, in Company V, 42d Indiana Infantr}', and wsis 
mustered in .at Indianapolis. He fought in many of 
the important battles of the war, being at Buzzard's 
Roost, Resaca, Atlanta and Bentonville, and at the 
latter place was struck in the foot by a spent bullet 
which buried itself in the ground. This wound, 
however, did not disable him, and he remained with 
his comrades until being mustered out at Indian- 
apolis, on tlie 21st of July, 18G5. 

Our subject now returned to his farm, and his 
family in Indiana, but since that time has sufifered 
much from a trouble with his feet, which was the 
result of long and continued marches while in the 
service. He left Indiana in the fall of 1870, and 
coming to this count}', homesteaded ICO acres of 
raw prairie on section 8, Lincoln Township. He at 
once commenced the improvements which are notice- 
able on account of their tasteful and substantial 
char.acter, putting up his residence in 1871. His 
barn and other out-buildings are amply adapted to 
the storing of grain and the shelter of stock, the 
latter consisting of good grades of work horses, 
with cattle and Poland-China swine. 

Mr. Parke cast his first Presidential vote for 



Henry Clay, and continues an earnest supporter of 
Republican princii)U's. He is now the .School Treas- 
urer of his district, and hjis served as Road Over- 
seer. He came here in time t(» hunt IjufFaloes on 
the range, an<l to assist in the organization of llic 
school districts. His family includes seven chil- 
dren, of whom the record is ;is follows: Kate, the 
eldest, is the wife of Horace Kly, a well-to-do far- 
mer of Lincoln Township; Annie married Joseph L. 
Turner, who is farming in Reno County ; Jennie K., 
Mrs. Alfred Lane, lives with her husband on a farm 
in Payne Township; Sarah, Mrs. Shiljlom, resides 
at Greenwich, in Payne Township. The bo^'s, 
Thomas H., William A. and George, are at home 
with their parents. Mrs. Parke is a member of the 
Protestant Methodist Church. 



\|jr^ FENNKLL is i)leasnnlly situated on sec- 
[[ jjj tion 21), Kcchi Township, where he owns 
jii //^ one of the many fine farms for which this 
locality is so justly celebrated. He was born in 
Ireland, in September, 1827, and was the youngest of 
the eight children born to Nathaniel and Mary Ann 
(Rothmill) Kennell, natives of Dublin, Irel.iud. 
where they lived their entire lives. He emigrated 
to Canada when young, and there passed his early 
manhood. He attended the i)ublic .schools when 
they were in session. After attaining his ni.-ijority 
our subject continued in the occupation to which 
he had been bred in Ireland for several years. 
While a resident of the Dominion he was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Ann Morris, in the year 
1848. She was the eldest in the family of eight 
children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Kidd) Mor- 
ris, natives of Canada. Her brothers still reside in 
Canada; four of them are niereliaiits, and one is 
a banker. 

In 1861 Mr. Fennell came to the "States" wiili 
his family, and located in McLean County. 111., 
near the town of Lexington, and for the next 
eighteen years was busily eng.aged in agricultural 
pursuits in that pl.ace. In 1880 he came to Keelii 
Township, Sedgwick Co., Kan., and in the fol- 
lowing year bought 370 .acres of i)artly improved 
land on section 2i), the same on which he and his 



■ <■ 






SKDOWK K COUNTY. 



I 



fniiiil\ :. . 11 I I ilu- impruvi'- 

iiii-iit i>f hi"" l»iiil. mitl imw liiiR ICO ncrcM of fine, 
nrnlilf laml in n giMMl ulnU- of t-iiltiirt". lit" i"< imw 
(■ii;:i^;i"<l in plnntini; a Inr^'o vinrynnl, nnil hnn 
tMoiily-ont" vnrieticx «if rhoiro grn|H".s. His fnrni 
in v«ry w<"ll ^t4M■k•"<l with entile of ii coninioii lin-i-il; 
in liontoA he linn one <lriving U":ini only, preferrin;; 
to nno ninle."t for liifi nrtirk. lie h«!i liuilt ii neat 
anil Kulwlantiiil dwelling nn<l n giMxl ham. 

To Mr. niitl Mrs. Kenm-il liiive l>i"en horn six 
ehililren — .lohn, K<lwHr<l, .loe, .lames, ThoniHs nn<] 
Kli7.nlK-th. .lohniiml Kihvard are ninrried, and live 
near the home of their pnn'nUs; .I(h', who is iiL-o 
nmrrie<l, lives in Wiehitn: .lames, Thotiins and 
Kli/JiU-th are at home. 'I'hey all reeeived g<M)d 
eommon-sehtHil ciliicalions. 

Uiir snhject in a elear-headed, intelligent man, 
with sound, common-sense views of life and il!S 
duties; he is active in well doing, »oher, indiistri- 
ou!*, and of g«MKl hiisine-HS haliil.s; in f.'U't, possessing 
in an eminent degree all the qualifications that go 
to make up a gcHMl cilir.en and an honornlile man. 
In |Mililies he sides with the Kepublicuns; socially, 
he is a memhcr of the A. F. iV A. M. Lo<lge, .-it 
\'alley (.'enter. The rcs|K>cled wife of our subject 
is a devote<l Miemher of the Church of Kngland. 

G|;oI{<;K K. IIAUKIS.a real-esljile dealer, and 
oni' of the leading citizens of WichiU-i, and 
eonspicuouii in the management of public 
affairs, having held the ofllce of M.-iyor. also Alder- 
man for four terms, is the present I'resiilent of the 
City Couiuil. He came here in Ih7I, when the city 
wit" in its infancy, and can now take pride when 
reviewing the pa.si to think of the prominent |).irt 
he linn taken in ih'Veloping iU< resources and bring- 
ing it t4i its preM-nt high rank among the nourish- 
ing cities of Kan-vas. ,Mr. Harris' solid atlainmenlN 
and his wide ex|K"ricnce a« a man of the world, 
well lit him for the |>art he is Inking ils a citi/.en 
and a bn-<ines.s man. 

Our subject is a native of Kngland, and wils born 
in IM.'li. His parents were (leorgc and Kmmn 
(IJoyer) Harris; the former wiw extensively en- 
gngeil in farming on his native isle, and there lu-cu- 



mulalcd consiilerable property. Our Aiibjoct Aficnt 

his boyhiKMl mostly in a private boarding-iu-li<M>l. 
After gnidnating from that institution of learning, 
he wa.s apprenticed to a l;irge merchant tailor's 
e>tjibli.<hinent, ami x-rved there for five years. 
After thai he estalilished himself in Alton, Hamp- 
shire, Kngland, ami wa^ engaged in business there 
the succeeding three yeai>. In .Inly, 11^2, he was 
uniteil ill marriage to Miss Kmma K. Lee, of WaU'r- 
ingbury. Kent, Kngland. 

Immediately after marriage Mr. Harris closed out 
his business in Knglanil and started with his young 
wife for this Western Worhl, and lauded on Kn- 
glisli soil in the Dominion of Canada, lie reiiiained 
a short time in llamilUm, and then went to WihhI. 
st<K,-k, where his services were secured by the firm 
of Parker, H<iod >V Co., as cutler and manager f<ir 
their extensive house. He remain<«l with them for 
two years, aiitl then c«mc to the I'liited .State's. 
Aft*'r st.'iyiiig a short lime in Chicago. III., he went 
to Aurora. Thi.s was the Ia.st year of the great 
Civil War, and with characti-ristic anior he deter- 
mined to enlist in the service of his newly ,idopt<"d 
country, and became n member of the 7:jd Illi- 
nois Infantry, and serveil in the Army of the Cum- 
berland until the end of the war. 

Our subje«'t then returned to Illinois, and at I'aiia 
t<K>k the position of cutter and maiiageroftliehou.se 
«.if William P^igin, afterward Klgiii, Ilobnrt A- Co., 
he being the junior member. At the end of three 
yi'.'ii-s lie sold out his interest in liial firm and went 
to Vandalia, III. He there esUiblished himself as a 
merchant tailor, also cirrying a stock of dry-goods 
and cloth, and conducted that bnsine.so until 1869. 
At that time he dis|>osed of his st<x-k in triulc and 
closed his establishment, having determined to try 
his fortunes in "sunny Kan.sas." In this .SUite, at 
Clieto|Hi, he esUiblished himself in his old business, 
and continued there until 1871. He then saw in 
Wichita a land of promise, where he thought he 
eouhl better ex|H<iid his money and energies. After 
coming here he conducted the maniif.-icttirc of .soda 
water, the first venture of the kind in the city. He 
finally sold out, having been very siicce.-vsful in thai 
enterprise. He was also the first manufacturer of 
ice, and is now known and oft«"n called the "Ice 
King of WichiUi." In l«7:i he staiU-il the first 



»► if ^ » 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



205 



mcrehnut tailor's establishment in the citj', employ- 
ing from three to five men. Since 1880 he has 
confined iiis attention mostly to the rcnl-estate busi- 
ness, having an office at No. 1 1 1 West Douglas 
avenue. lie has clone much toward building u|) 
the city, and has expended several thousand dollars 
in liie erection of model English tenement houses. 
He has accumulated much wealth since coming to 
Kansas; he is one of the stockiiolders in the Wichita 
Valley Motor Line. 

Mr. Harris is a Republican in every sense of the 
word, and heartily endorses the measures of that 
partj'. He is connected with the Masons, Knights 
of Pythias, the G. A. 11.. .and the Old Settlers' Asso- 
ciation. He and his famil}' have a beautiful resi- 
dence at No. 333 Riverview avenue, which he erected 
at a cost of |!8,000; it is the center of much cult- 
ure, and is rendered bright and attractive to their 
numerous friends. The home circle of Mr. and 
Mrs. Harris is completed by two sons — Ernest E. 
and Cecil II. Our subject has also an adopted 
daughter by the name of Nettie Hilton. 



■»w^,»^^i^J^J2.«(^^^^-^ 



@j,gl/OT7»~'v/\.->- 



LKXANDER J. MORELANl). The sub- 
ject of this notice is certainly entitled to be 
considered not only one of the enterprising 
farmers of Sedgwick County, but one of 
its respected and honored citizens, and a man of 
more than ordinary ability. His residence is sit- 
uated on section 19, in Eagle Townsiiip, where he 
has been since 1884, he purchasing at that time 
eighty acres of land on which he has made most of 
the improvements. He is extensively engaged in 
raising cattle and hogs, the stock business affording 
more scope for his energy and ability than any 
other branch of farming. 

Mr. Moreland was born in the town of West 
Alexander, Washington Co., Pa., Oct. 22, 1831, and 
is the sou of Moses and Mar}' M. (Jordon) More- 
land, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respect- 
ively. His father learned the blacksmith's trade 
when a young man, at Wheeling, W. Va., and fol- 
lowed that business for his natural life. He died in 
1«40, at Brownstown, J.ackson Co., Ind., where he 
was then living. He w:is a Covenanter in his relig- 



■^r= 



ious belief, and a stern and strict Christian gentle- 
man. The motiier of our subject is still living, and 
makes her. home at New Albany, Ind., with her 
son-in-law, W. II. Keach, who is engaged in the liv- 
ely business in that city, and is also agent for a 
fertilizer coni()any. In spite of her eighty years 
she is still a hearty and active old lad}', and is a 
sincere and Christian memljcr of the Presl)3'tcrian 
Church. The subject of our sketch, whose father 
died when he was alioiit nine years of age, remained 
with his mother, taking care of her, until he was 
thirty years of age, aud in early maidiood learned 
the carpentering tnade, which business he has fol- 
lowed, off and on, for a peiiod of twenty years, 
both in Indiana and Kans.as. He had received the 
elements of a good education in his boyhood days, 
and, having been studiously inclined, has added 
considerable to his store of knowledge in later 
years. 

ChristniJis Day, 1862, was soletnnizi'd tiic mar- 
riage ceremony which united the subject of oiu' 
sketch with Miss Missouri Ross. The lady of his 
choice was a native of Clark County, Ind., bcn-n 
Oct. 8, 183t>, and is the daugiiter of John and 
Mrutha (Kidd) Ross. Her father, who was a native 
of Virginia, was a farmer by occupation, and died 
when Mrs. Moreland was a 3'oung child, and her 
mother's deceiise took place Jul}' 31, 1850. Both 
of her parents were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, sincere and earnest Cluistians, 
and most estimable people. They were the parents 
of thi-ee children — Lewis, Daniel and Missouri. 
The subject of this memoir remained in Indiana, fol- 
lowing his trade until 18G9; he then moved to 
this State and settled in Baldwin Cit\', Douglas 
County. The tide of emigration about 1870 
(lowing Kansasward, in the year 1871 he came 
west to the Sunflower State and settled on section 
22, Greeley Township, in this count}', where he 
arrived on the 5th of June. He made that locality 
his home until 1884, when he made the removal to 
his present place of abode. 

Mr. Moreland is a stanch and reliable member of the 

Republican l)arty, and while a resident of Greeley 

' Township was elected to the Clerkship of the Town 

Board, succeeding Frank Dale, the present Register 

I of the laud-olUce, at Wichita. He held the oHice for y 



^ 



-^ 



>► ■ -4* 



SKI)<;WI(K C«»IIM Y. 



li,. C. ,,N ■.( ^.... ,....-. Ml.. I :i|... ini. ..1 I K-rk t.f III.' 

^■IkhiI |li<iiric'l in wliifh lit- ri-.«iilc"l. Sim-c liisn-si- 
ili'iKi- ill Uiis U>wll^lli|>, ho liitH nilfil tlif |H><iitiiiii of 
I iiriH-tor of SchiKil Di.itricl N">. 77, for mif vr.'ir. 
Ill- i» llu- (Kiifiil iif live ('liil<lri-ii. vi/.: M. Wnvnc. 
Oni.'ili, lliiwnril l{., Iva l>. .-iikI A<Iii lt..nll nf ivlimii 
nri- living' iit lioinr. I'Uvy liml uImi mif iitlur cliilil, 
Kliifl ('., wlio :il till- niiv <<< llfli-tii iiii>iitli> Wiis 
('.'iIIimI to lilt- (itliir »<>ilil. 

'^ (tl.. IIIUA.M W. I.KW IS. «li.. I> an rniiiu'iil 
lin.'iiii'ifr i>f Soiilliri'ii K.'iiiK'i.'', ninl :t |ii'<inii- 

iii-nl i-iti/.i-n of Sri|>,'Hick (ounlv. i> l'ri-!*i- 

■ Iftil of ilio K:in>jt.'< Niitioiiiil Itiiiik. iiiiil of llu> 
Niitioiinl Lonii ('oiii|>iiny. of \Vi<'lijta. :iii(l is al.so 
I'nsiilriil of ihc First Niitlon!il Kaiik al I'nilt, I'inll 
County, mill \ ire I'ri-.'iilciit of llic Kin^jnian Nii- 
(iotiiil Itank. Kin;;niiin Coniil}', Kan. lie i.- a natlvt- 
of Warnn, rrntnliiill Co.. ( )|ii.>, ami tli<' date of Iii> 
l.ii-th wn- .Marrli I I. I SI.;. ||r is the son of Kilcli 
It. ami Kaiiiiv (CoiiUs) I.t-wj.-, nutivi-.s of 'I'luinlinl! 
Coiinlv. wlurf liis fallii-r »%;l-< i'iij;a;.'i'il in farming 
ami .-tiH'k-ili-iiliii;.'. ami Iiitc lii.s ilcatii iki'imti'iI in 
|h7h. Hi- was a man of iiiiii'li soiiml wisiloni .-iml 
pra<'tiral aliility, ami, nilli liis .■iinialilL' wife, lii'ld an 
liom>ri-<l |Nisiiion in tin- I'oiiiiniinity wlirri' tlu-v 
livi-il. His uifc <lii'il inanv yt'.-ir.s prior to lij> dc. 
r«'itM', lii-r ilr.alli Uikin;: piacf in IM.'i'J. 'I'licv wrri- 
llif jKiii'iiLs of Ino cliililrcn. a >laii;{litrr, now Mrs. 
.1. I.. Hill, of WirhiUi. ami the siihjcct of this liio;;- 
raphy. 

Col. l.i'WJH ri'innini'il an ininatc of the home nf 
his father until he wils Iwenty years o|i|. He re- 
eeiveil tl line eilnention al the (oirlielil Keiertic 
In-litiite, nt llirain, Ohio, ainl siihseipieiitly al \\ il- 
iinl«iii .Seininary. iui.-tlininpton, .Mass. In tlie ilark- 
i-sl hours of the ;;real Keliellion he laid itside his 
scholarly piiisiiil.s ami went l4> the hattle-lield in the 
defi'iiM- of his counlry, .s4Tviiij» in the Army of the 
( iinilierland from May, |Hi;;l, to .lime, I mC.'i. ||(. 
r<iii^'|il with valor in ninny liallles and skirniishes, 
and ul the liatlle of C'liiekaiiiniipi was wounded. 
Afl<T the war wim over he resumed his studies, ami 
< iileriiig the Williston .'M-miimry al luLsthmnpton, 
.M:i.vs., wiL« a sliideiit there fur iii'arh three vears, 



utLaiiiin^' lii^h rank in iteholaislnp. In Im>J In- 
went to .Mississippi, aii<l en^n^^ed in the hiisinesss of 
I'.-iisin;; colloii. I>iiriiig his resideiiev in that Slat*' 
he lieeanie very iiilliiential in piildie nfTairs. He 
was a niemlier of the .Statv I.ejjisiatnre for IM7l» and 
I.s7l, and for foyr years, from Im7I lo |m7.'(, he 
was SherilT and Ta.x Collector. He alsti eiiyii;;i'd 
in a jonrnalislie eiilerpriM-, and wils editor ntid pro- 
prietor of (he Coliimhiis I'rfn.s. n |>«|K'r published 
in Coliimliiis, .Miss., in the inl«-resUs of the Kepuh- 
lie.-in party. 

Ill the year |.h7); Col. Lewis hfl his home in the 
.South and eame to WiehiU'i, where he has ever 
«inee lieeii proiiiinently idenlilieil with the hiisi- 
iiess inlerest.s of the rity. He imiuedialA'ly enti-red 
on his career jis a hanker hy o|H-iiiii;.; the Kariiier's 
and .Meivhaiil'!* liaiik, which was conducted under 
that iiaiiie iiiilil INS'i, when il was nnlionali/.ed 
with a capital uf ^;')(l,iM)tl. He hiui .since increiLM'd 
il.s capital to ^2.'>(),(M)(), and the loan coinpany hiu< 
al present a capiUil of *.')(i(l,(i(IO. liesides these he 
li.'is liankin^ interests in other counties, as iiliove 
mciilioned, and owns stock in various other hanks 
wilii which he has no ollicial coniiection. Ho iij ii 
lai;,'c real-estate holder. He ha.s had a hand in the 
various enterprises for tlie heiielil of the city ; he 
was one of the three men who liiiilt the city waler- 
w'oi'ks, :(ml he founded the hydraulic roller iiiilLs 
with others. Aside from his work in .•lidiny the 
m.-ilcrial prosperity of the city, the Colonel h:is 
shown himself a puhlic lienefactor in advuiicinj:; 
the lii^dier educalioii:il iiiteresUi, not only of this 
city lull of the whole SUite, liy a.ssisliiijL' in the 
fonmlalioii of the Lewis Academy, to the support 
of wliich he hits contrihiileil generousl}', and the 
yoiitli of to-diiy, and of .all time lo coiiie, will have 
cause lo liiess him and his fellow-founders for 
placing witliin their reach the iiie:iiis of a helU-r 
education than they could otherwise oliUiin. 

'I'lie marriajje of Col. Lewis to Mi.Ks Lucy \'. 
Slron;; look place in IHCS. .She wsus the daughter 
of Alfred L. Stroll},', of K!i.slh:implon, MiUss.. and 
was a native of that town. She died in WichiUi in 
IXhO. She W!i» a woman of (liie clianicler, and 
during her few years' re.sideiice here her plea.saiil 
siM'ial ipialilie.s won her many true friends, .she was 
the mother of four chililreii, ii:iiiu'ly : (Jeoige S., 






h 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



207 



Fanny C, Frederick \V. and Mar\'. Our subject 
was a second time married. His present wife is a 
sister of his former wife, aixl her maiden name was 
Kitty Strong. Three children have been born of 
this union — Alfred F., Lucy and Philip K. 

Col. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Presby- 
terian Church, and take a conspicuous i>art in all 
its works for the moral advancement of tlic town. 
The Colonel is an earnest advocate of temperance. 
In politics he is prominently identified with the 
Republican party, of Kansas, lie and his wife have 
a beautiful home on the corner (if Topeka avenue 
and .Second street, and the many who have crossed 
its threshold have gone away with pleasant memo- 
ries of the gracious hostess and genial host,. 

Our subject is a man of broad culture .-ind liter- 
arj' ability, and during these years of his liusy 
career he has still found time to devote to intellect- 
ual p.astimes, and many an able article and gr.-ice- 
fid poem from his ready pen finds its way to an 
appreciative pnlilic thniugli Ihc coiiinnis ofanews- 
|>aper. 



f- 



<jf/ AMES S. JENN INOS, of Wicliita, first opened 
his eyes to the light in the great Miami Val- 
ley, in Greene Conntj', Ohio, about 1K39. 
'^S' When five months t)ld his parents conveyed 
liim (iverland in a big wagon to the woods of Hunt- 
ington County, Ind. From Marion north the dense 
forest had to be penetrated by cutting out the 
underbrush with axes, thus making a track wide 
enough for wagons to pass. This road pa.s.sed along 
the old Indian trail over which the noble red man 
of the Pottawatomie tribe visited his neighbors 
the Miamis, of whom M.ashingomashe was the chief. 
Logan, chief of the Mingoes, was located with his 
tribe forty miles down the Wab.ash, where the city 
of Logans[)ort now stands. Hero in the woods, 
among the savages and their dogs, young Jennings 
received his first ideas of real life. 

The first cap worn by little James S., a nice vel- 
vet tasselod affair, w.as bought of the Indians by 
lii.s mother, who tradt^d them ^2 worth of maple 
sugar at eight cents per pound. The "yaller" hound 
dogs of the Indians were the terror of young Jen- 



nings' life. Ever^' few days from one to ;')()() Indi.ans 
would pass over the trail, sometimes camping t)ut 
just acro.ss the road from his father's house. When 
the tents were visited bj- the older children the 
young Indian boys amused themselves trying to 
see how near to their bare feet they could shoot 
their arrows without hitting them. Thus, sur- 
rounded by Indians, the mosquitoes and the ague 
shakes of the Wabash Valley, our subject was per- 
mitted to grow to manhood. 

When Mr. Jennings was about six years of age 
the Pottavvatoniies and Miamis were removed to 
Kansas. The boy grew up hearty, robust and 
fieet-footed, and prided himself on his al)ility to 
outrun, outjump and outlift anyone of his age in 
the entire neighborhood. At a single bound he 
would jumj) over anything Ihat was not above his 
eyes. He received his primary schooling in the 
stereotyped log ca1)in, wlii-re the pupils sat on hard 
slab benches, in which augur holes were bored and 
wooden pins inserted for legs. 'I'he desks were 
made of similar slabs jjinned up against the wall 
with wooden fastenings. The windows were cut 
from between the logs with axes, and S.xIO glass 
inserted in long rows. Thus, with backs to the 
teacher, it gave the latter everj- adv.ant'ige over the 
pupil. One of the.se pedagogues, known among 
the children as "old t^," used to cut a "sprig" from 
the forest about twelve to fifteen feet long, and whip 
the scholars in tiers. A single stroke of this rod 
would cause a wail to go up from one end to the 
other of a long bench, and in consequence thereof 
many tears were shed. One daj' satisfied j'oung 
Jennings for that term, and probably he is about 
the onl}' one living to tell the tale. 

Our hero, however, pursued his studies at home, 
and acquired equal learning with his elder brothers 
and sisters, four of whom became te.aciiers. In 
after life he attended school at the Union Chris- 
tian College of Merom, Ind., where he, with twenty 
others, w.as graduated after the space of six weeks, 
and then went into the army as 100-days men. 
This was near the close of the war, the rebels 
surrendering soon lifter the 100-days boys got in 
their work. In this service Jennings w.as Corporal 
of the (iuard most of the time, sometimes acting 
as Sergeant and once Orrlerlj- for the company, 



•► ■ -4^ 



t 



■I I 



wlii-ii In- ilt>in:kii<li'tl viiirniir :iiiil nu)l;i.«M'5 lu iiiMi- 
lion lo the cufTec, lit-aiis ami luuilUck, wliicli tlu-y 
hull Ik'i'H rccfivin); fur wi-rkst \>aM. Tlii' rt'fjiinciil 
WHS ncnl Imiiio, nii<l musUrtMl out uf m'i\ ici- at liiili- 
:iiin|Mili!< jii»l licfiTi- IIimmI's mill on Niuslivilji'. 

After >|i<>nilin^' anollii-r year on the furni, failing' 
lii>altli I'uiiM'il Mr. .li-nninK> to nvvk a ilifTrn-nt ih-- 
i-njuttion. (ioin^ to Marion, Iml., in tin- fall of 
iHrit'i, lie MMin afterwanl pnreliaseil a half intcre.sl 
in the only |in|>4-r |>iil)li!<hcil there at that lime. A> 
editor of that |>ai)er, boy lliouj;;li he was. he look a 
flrni !«tnnil .-i^'aii.Mt granting lii-en>e to saloun.s, and 
in three nuinlli!! thereafter w.-l-^ irralifleil to learn 
that not n sin-ile additional license was jrranted 
from that time until after he had l<»l his prinling- 
ollliv l»y fire, in .lanuarv, ISTfi. 

In .Inly, IHtlT. oecMirred the marrijii^e of ,Inmes 
S. .Ienninp> to .Miss Li/.7.ie, dniijuditer of Nathan 
and Kli/.:ilieth ( lianrk ) .S-iyler. .-ind cousin of lion. 
II. .Sayler, of lliintin^^ton, present District .Indj^c, and 
lion. Milton Sjiyier, formerly memlu-r of Congress 
from Cineiniiali. Mi>. .leiniin^s was liorn in IKJH, 
in I'reMe t'onnly, Ohio, :iiid liy her marriage with 
our sniijecl liecamc llie mother of tiircc ciiiidrcn, 
two only of whom are living, a son .•ind daughter — 
KosciM- l':iul and Klva Linda, lu I)s77 oursuliject 
came with his family to this State, stopping at Km- 
|x>ria the lirsleight months. Soon after theirarrival 
tlierc their youngest daught<'r, Sylvia Miasy, died of 
Ihatdreuil di»e:use diplillieri;i, then prevailing in |ior- 
tion^ of the Slate. In August, 1«7H, they renmved 
lo llelle I'laine, Slimmer County, where Mr. .leiuiings 
pulilislied the Sadnnal .V«.;i(7//r eight uionlhs. '1 his 
imper wa« removed U> WichilJi in .March, IKTll, 
since which time .Mr. .leiiniiigs has edited the Arknii- 
xnx Vnllry Suii»hiiiP mv\ the present Wichit-a Xeir 
Hrjiulillr. Ill IHHd ihr former paper w;us siis- 
|M'iidid on account of the illncs.s of Mrs. .lennings, 
who, after lingering live mouth.',, died on the 1st 
of .Inly, IHHl, the day preceding Ihe assassination 
of Prcideiit Carllcld. 

The health of .Mr. .leiiniiigs also at llii- time was 
Mich that he ilid not think it wise to resiinie the 
uewspn|H-r liiisincss until he and hi- lirother liegan 
the pulilicalioii of the /iV/.k/,//.-. in Keliruary, 1 H.h.'I. 
In .Iiiiic of the Mime year hi-" only reniaiiiiug lirother, 
.Milton, was tjiken ill. letiir I to Inrjiuiia. and died 



III!' iiioiitli fi>ll<iwiiig. Since that time .lames S. 
.lennings lias Lieen princi|mlly alone in the niaii- 
agenienl ami editorial control of the Hfpuhlic. 
Aside from iiews|mper work ho has also pre|Mireil 
the maiiti.scripl fur two liiMiks, one of poems and 
one of prose. Some of his |>oi>iiis have ap|M-ari'd 
in the MVjccr/i/ .Vii//(Ui'/i/> and other Kastern (leriodi- 
cals. lie is at present Inking steps to have his 
writings published in full in book form. 

flj-^KNUV K. CDKN, alli.rney.al-law, residing 
1^ at Wichila, is niiinlK-rcd nmuiig the early 
settlers of .Sedgwick County. lie was born 
in Jessamine County, Ky., .Ian. II, ISi'.), 
and his |NirenLs, KIlis and Kinily (Tlioin|ison) Corn, 
were likcwisi' natives of that .Stale, born of old 
Kentucky and N'irginia families. His father w.asaii 
honorable and well-to-do merchant, and a lifelong 
resident of Kentucky, dying in I8."»C>. His mother 
died there in 1 Kil.'l, leaving seven children, of wliom 
our subject was the liftli in order of birth. He was 
fourteen years of age when he went to live in 
.Macoupin County, 111., at which time the surviving 
members of the family inignited to that .Slate lo 
reside. lie wiis educated al Itlackbnrn rniversily. 
In ls7'2 he came lu Kans:is ami took up :i claim in 
.Sherman Townshiii, ciiiitiniiiiig :i resident of that 
place until 1.S77. He then returned to Illinois, 
where he marrieil Miss .Mary Fishb.ack, daughter of 
Henry and Uhoda ( Kd wards) Fishb.ack, natives of 
Keiilneky. .She wsus born in Macoupin County, III. 
.Siibsei|iient to his marriage .Mr. Corn commenced to 
re.ad law with his brother-in-lMW,,Iudge \V. U. Welch, 
and was admilled to llie bjir in I .s7'.>, serving six years 
as Master of Chancery. 

In 1X8.') our subject returned to Kan.-uus, bringing 
with him his family, and established hiiuself in his 
profession in Wichit.-i. He has a .sound knowledge 
of law, is honorable in his melhiHls, and stniids 
well with his brother lawyers .and his clients. He 
liius a decided Udenl for business, and by his pro- 
fessional Work and his extensive real-eslale tran- 
.sai-tioiis, having been engsigcd in that liusiiics* since 
IMH.'i, has already acipiircd ipiite a fortune: he owns 
coiisidiiabli' realtv in the city, and is lar!.relv inler- 



•^ ■ -4»- 



•^•^4« 







SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



209 ' ' 



ested in 800 iicres of farm land, lying within a 
radius of nine miles of Wichita. He is a stock- 
holder in the Texas Lumber Manufacturing Com- 
pany, is one of the Directors of the Wichita 
Subiirlian Street Railway Motor Line, and is always 
willing to contribute to the extent of his means to 
the various enterprises that in any way advance the 
business interests of the city. Mr. Corn is an hon- 
ored member of the Masonic fratornity, and in 
political affairs is a Democrat. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Corn has been 
blessed by the birth of one son, Ellis. They have 
a beautiful iiomc in one of the linest residence quar- 
ters of Wichita. 

AMUEL R. IIEPBl RN, ALayor of the city 
of Valley Center, and a leading merchant 
of that place, is a Fennsylvanian by birth, 
and first drew the breath of life Jan. 21, 
1847, in Lycoming County, where his parents, 
Charles and Maigaret (McMeens) Hepburn, were 
prominent people. Charles Hepburn w.as reared to 
the occupation of a farmer, and followed that voca- 
tion until a few j'ears before his death, when he 
retired from active business. He was a strong 
Republican in politics, and quite an influential 
factor in the councils of that party in the central 
part of the Keystone State. He was honored by 
having had bestowed upon him sever.al local ollices, 
the principal one of which was that of County Com- 
missioner, which he held for some three years. He 
was a representative man of the State, and took an 
active interest in all public affairs. His father, 
Hon. AVilliam Hepburn, was the first County Judge 
of Lj'coming County, and held the position for two 
or three terms. The latter's son, Huston Hepburn, 
the brother of Charles, succeeded his father in the 
Jtnlgeship, and lield the office until the law was 
changed in regard to that position, when he 
resigned. 

The subject of our narrative, Samuel R. Hej)- 
burn, w!u> the youngest child in a family of seven 
born to his parents, one of whom died in infancy. 
He remained at home assisting in the arduous duties 
attendant uj)on farm life until 18C1. Although but 



fourteen years of age at that time, he went to Ft. 
Scott, Kan., where he was employed for about three 
years as clerk in a large dry-goods store, after 
which he spent a year .as salesman in the grocery- 
store of J. R. Morley it Co., of the .same city, and 
then worked for William Schooler it Co., with whom 
he remained about six months. At the expiration 
of this time he became interested in the hotel busi- 
ness at Ft. Scott, and continued for .about eighteen 
months in that capacity. The next three years were 
passed by him as a member of the police force, 
after which he removed to Linn County, Kan., 
where he was engaged in the mercantile trade for 
about a year. Grand Rapids, Mich., having .at- 
tracted him at this time, he made a visit there, and 
finding employment as bookkeeper for George 
Voorhis & Co., made a stay of some two years. The 
city seeming to offer superior in<lucements, and 
having become considerably acquainted with the 
l)eople, he engaged in the grocery business on his 
own account, and successfully operated the store 
for about a year and a half. He then sold out, and 
returned to the place of his birth, where he was 
employed for about four years in a large grocery 
establishment at Willlamsport. 

Having seen the West, however, and lived among 
its people, Mr. Hepburn felt a strong desire to 
return to that section, so at the expiration of his 
engagement he returned to Michigan, and was 
employed as foreman in the lumber and shingle 
yards of Montgomery, llaire A: Giddiugs, with 
whom he remained some three 3'ears. March 1, 
1880, he made his first appearance at N'alley Center, 
Sedgwick County, and for the first sixteen months 
acted as salesman in the store of Cox A' Massey. 
At the end of that period he purchased the estab- 
lishment, since which time he has been operating 
the business, and has the largest and finest store in 
the village, carrying fidl lines of iby-goods, gro- 
ceries, etc. 

Mr. Hepburn was united In marriage, Jan. 27, 
1869, with Miss Sarah A. T.aylor, a native of 
W.ashington, Guernsej' Co., Ohio. At the time of 
their marrl.age the bride w.as a resident of P.aola, 
this State, where her father, who was a clergy- 
man of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held a 
charge. She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas 



•►-■ -♦►- 



■^ ■ ^ 



lilt 



^1:|m;\v|( K cnlMV 



.1. nii<l .Iftiu' ( UiwoiiiiiimI) 'I'nylor. IhiUi <if wlioiii nrc 
ni.w <1,-oi-h.mmI. On Ihe IHlli of hVl.nmrj-. 1mh-.>, 
Mr. Ili'|>l)iirii luiil till- iiiisfortiinp to lost- hh wife. 
.She wiis n iiuwl Mtilimblc woiiiaii, n iiu'inlier of tlio 
.Mctli<Mli!<( Kpi!M'u|ial C'liiirfli. iiml n niiicerc, coii- 
sisti-nl ChriMtinn. Fofliiif; tli:it it «n» not well l<^i 
livf nioiif, Mr. Ilcphiirn n^niii ciili-rol into n 
nitiLriuioninl nlliiini-u, tlii» tinif willi .Mis.<^ Nellie K. 
Wnnl, n nnlivp of Lyeominj: Connly, I'u., l>orn 
Mitreli "iO, l«.'i.'>, mill ti iliin;;htir of .InKlin A. and 
IJelM-rca K. (Kjiline.xlook) Wnnl. 'I'lie <lnlp of Iho 
itTiMuony wliii'h nniu-il their lives wjlh Sept. 4, 
IMH4. I Icr father wiis engiigeil in the oecii|i:ilion 
of lionst* nml sign iKiintor in his e.nrU° life, Iml iivcil 
a relire<l life in his ileelining years. He w:u< qnit* 
a liteniry man. having writU-n for a nnniher of 
piililii-alions; tJie latter l>ii.siiies.s he followed for 
a greal many years. Mr. Ward was totally Mind 
for aUml three _yeai-s previons to hi.s death, whieh 
alllii'lion he hore with exemplary t'hri.stian forti- 
tude. 

.Mr. Ilepluirn adheres closely lo the principles of 
the Hepnblican party, and at the election which 
took place in Ai)ril, 1 m«7. was chosen Mayor of 
Valley tenter. t»n Monday. April 2, 1««S, he was 
re-elected t<i the olllce. Since coming to this 
connly he hius always held a prominent and intlnen- 
tial pitsilion, and stands renmrkalily high in the 
estimation of the community sus an hononiMc, up- 
right and trustworthy man. lie is the father of si.\ 
I'Jillilren, five of whom are living, .-ls follows: Will- 
iam S., (;cii|Mre v., Mary l{.. Kdwaril M. and .1. 
MiLssey. Clara M. <licd in inf.ancy. 

GKI>|{(;K CIIAKI.ION.a retired nnrcliant of 
Wichita. Ilrst liM-ated here in .lune. IH77. 
where ho cngngi'd in the crockery Imsi- 
iios with l'°. A. Ilus<>, under the linn name of 
lliisr A- Charlton. This line of trade they followed 
with great |M'cuniary suci-ess until .lune, |hm7. 
«lien they sohl <ml, since which time .Mr. Charlton 
has retired from the cares of active linsine.vs life, ' 
simply attendinu to his inveslnienlA in real est:ite 
Mud ill eolleclin;.; his reiiU. 

I he siilpject of our sketch is a native of Kngland, 



•► ■ ^ 



having liti'ii horn in Mani-liester. May 24. IH.M. 
His parents. Ci-orge and llannnh (Crowlher) Charl- 
ton, were .also of Knglish hirllr and ancestry; the 
father was a haker l>y trade and a manufacturer of 
fine confectionery, 'fhe paternal graiidparenls of 
our subject were Thoniiks and Mary (WimmI) Charl- 
ton. Nine children comprised the lion.sehold of 
(Jeorgc and Hannah Chnrlton, seven of whom are 
living, namely: Mary A.. .lames, Klizahelh A.; 
(ieorge, the sulijc<-t of this sketch: Sjirah .1., John 
and KIcanor. The father died in Kngland, April 
K;, IH71,al the .age of fifty. eight years. In IHMl 
the mother came to America, and is now living in 
HunsUin, Tex., with one of her sons. 

The siiliject of this sketch, at the age of .seven 
years, commenced work in a silk factory in his 
native city, where, however, he only remained a 
short time. He engaged in some light employment 
in a ro|)e walk, Init :i short time aflerwanl enlt^rcd 
a <-ollon-mill at .Manchester, the great cotton manu- 
facturing city of Kngland. Determined, however, 
to become master of ;i tra<le, he .served three years in 
a machine-shop, hut w.as not suited with the busi- 
ness. Like nniiiy other of his countrymen, he fell the 
dilllcull3- of rising in the world or bettering his 
fortune among the over-crowded |M>piilation of his 
seagirt home, and before he w.os seventeen years 
old he determined to emignite. t)n the llHIi of 
April. 1808, he embarked at Liverpool, and cross- 
ing the ocean, arrived in New York City May 4, 
with only ♦.1 in money, .anil a railroad ticket for 
Chicago, III., in his pocket. After journeying 
westward to Ihe metropolis of the lakes, he sLarled 
for Waukegan, III., where he anticipated meetini: 
his brother, who had previously come to this coun- 
try. Fate, however, was advi-rse lo him, for on 
reaching the latter place he found that his relative 
had gone to Nebnuska, so being out of means, he 
hired his services to a farmer for ^H |H'r month 
for the sca.son. In the fall he went to Nebraska and 
found the mi.ssing brother near ()m:dia. Afler put- 
ling in a few mtinths in a machine-shop at Omaha, 
the brothers returned lo Chicago, from which place 
our subject moved to Waukegan, where he worked 
at :i car|K'nler's bench for about two years. (Joing 
to (^iiincy. 111., in IH7<i, he .again look up his trade, 
and followed it in that city, in St. Louis, Mo.. .I:ll•k- 
— ^— ^— — ^— ^-^^— •►- 



h 










Some oftve Educational Institutions of Wichita. 



CffAAMAff Bros .iirUd'. ChlfiCV.' 



a 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



•211 



son, Miss., New Orleans and Baton Rouge. While 
at work in fSt. Louis lie iiacl the misfortune to fall 
from a three-story buildinij; to the basement, l)y 
which ho was serionsly hurt, his limbs bein<? i)ar- 
.alyzed for some time thereafter. L.ate in the win- 
ter of 1872 he returned to Wauke<,'an, and in the 
spring of 187."5 engaged at liis trade in Evanston, 
where lie remained some eighteen months. Going 
from there to Toledo, Ohio, he worked first at his 
trade, but during the hxst year of his residence there 
engaged in the crockery business, which he prose- 
cuted until coming to Wichita, in 1.S77. 

Appreciating the Divine injunction that "it is not 
well for man to dwell alone," Mr. Ciiarltoii, while a 
resident of Evanston, III., led to tiie marriage altar, 
April 14, 187;"), Jliss Abbie E. llusc, who was born 
in Farniington. Me. They became the parents of 
three children — Vester A., Lotla A. and a son Guy, 
tiie latter of whom died in infancy. 

The present wife of our suliject, to whom he was 
married at Wicliita, March 23, 1883, was Miss Mary 
E. Eggleston, who is a ii.ative of Chillicothe, Ohio, 
and related to Gen. B. B. Eggleston, of that .State. 
Of this union there were born twt) sons — Arthur 
James and George Beroath, who are both deceased. 
Mr. Charlton, politically, is a United Eabor man, 
being a stanch advocate of tlie theories advanced 
by Henry George. Socially, he belongs to the 
Masonic frattirnity, in which he takes a deep inter- 
est, and rules his life in accordance wilii its excel- 
lent admonitions. 

\f|OSEPII MOSBACIIER is one of the success- 
ful capitalists of the West, and is residing in 
; Wichita. He is a man of great eaiiacity for 
(^^J// business, pos.sesses keen judgment, and is en- 
terprising. He is a Bavarian by birth, and w.-is 
born on the 1 1 111 of March, 1S21). His jiarents were 
William and Catiierine (Uinehart) Mosbaehcr, na- 
tives of (Icrniany. His father was engaged in the 
culture of the grape and the manufacture of wine. 
He and liis wife were life-long resiileiit.s of Bavaria, 
and to them were born eight children, foiirof whom 
are now living, namely : Elizabeth, Jacob, Joseph and 



August. Elizabeth is Mrs. Schubert, and resides 
in Germany ; Jacob, in Monroe County, III.; August 
isstill a resident of (iermaiiy. 

Joseph, tiie subject of this sketch, grew tf)a strong 
an<l self-reliant manhood in his liavarian home, 
anil received a good <'dueation in its public schools. 
At the age of si.\teen he left tlie parental roof to 
le.arn the trade of a blacksmith, and continued in 
that calling for eleven years in liis native land. He 
finally determined to try life in the New World. 
Prior to leaving the old country, however, lie was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Heichemer, daughter of 
Henry and Catherine Heichemer, natives of (Jer- 
many. Jii I8.'')l he and hisyoung wife left old friends 
and associations in the Fatherland and crossed 
the ocean to this country, where tliey hoped to es- 
tablish a home and .acquire an iudependeuee among 
these busy jieople. They disembarked in New York, 
and from there went to Bradford County, I'a., 
where he worked for eight months at his trade in 
Towand.a. He then purchased half an acre of land 
eighteen miles from that place, paying therefor $10, 
and erected a smithy and established himself in busi- 
ness on his own account, which he earned on very 
[irosperously the succeeding tliirteen years. In the 
meantime others came and purchased land near his, 
which liecame the nucleus of what is now a thriving 
little town called Overton. After a while he aban- 
doned the trade of l)lacksmilh, and, piireliasing a 
general stock, embarked in the mercantile businesss. 
At the expiration of ten years he clo.sed out his 
stock of goods and turned his attention to farming, 
and w.as actively engaged in that occupation until 
he came to Kan.s.as. 

In 188?) Mr. Mosl)aciicr made a trip In this State 
in order to invest in some land, and eoniing to this 
cit3', he was so pleased with its situation that lie 
decided to imrchasc ;i valiialiie tr:ict of seventy-live 
acres in the cast part of Wichita. He then returned 
to Penn.sylvania and settled his liusiness .alTairs in 
that State, ami in Novenilicr, 1885, came back with 
his family to make his permanent residence here. 
In the wonderful and rapid deveU)i>nient of the city 
since his visit to it in 188;!, his property, owing to 
its fine location, has greatly increttsed in value, and 
he has platted fifteen acres as an addition to Wich- 
ita, known as the Mosbaeher Addition. His other 



-f 



^ V 



-»-4- 



O^ 



SKI)(;\\I(K CnlNTY 



iiiveMnionU in real cstAU> Imve |>rovi'<l e<|unlly foK 
iiiinlf, niiil ho liiLH iiiatle n i;imkI dcnl of inoiioy liv 
liis !>|M-<-iilnti<iii.<. ( )ii lii.s rcinovnl licrc lie |iiir('linM><i a 
lot. No. |().s Kiisi |)oii;,'ln.s nvi'iiiic, on wliicli lie li:u« 
iTifU'il oiu- of the fim-st J>ii.siiipv< Iniililin;^ in tin- 
i-ily; il »n» roinpli-U-d in IMK". IIo hit- n lioiisc iiml 
four hit.* on M<i!tU>v nvoniu*, nnil li!» (>i'C)'U>il (in liis 
oMii |ihit iin fh-^iit r<-!iiihMK-f, rfph-to with niotlrrn 
I'onvcnitMiiM's, anil o«i!*tiii;; dona- ?T,iHl(l, |iM-nU>i| at 
Nil. 2(m; Norlli llyilraulic nvcniio. 

To .Mr. and .\|i>. .Mosliar'ht-r havr Ihth limn ten 
rhihircn, einht of whom arc now living, namely: 
Cliarh'!!, Mary, llniry, l'liilli|i, M:ij!;;i<', .loscph, An- 
nie ami William. C'hiirles i.s a jeweler in Wichita; 
he married .Maud I'ai'ker, and they have one .son, 
(art. Mary is now Mrs. rhelps, of Leadville. Col. 

.Mrs. .Mo>li:n-lier".s jiareiit-s, .Mr. anil Mrs. Henry 
lleit'hemer, came to Anierieii in I «(>(), and settled in 
U«-rks Coiiiity, I'a. 'I'hey were the jiarentsof ei<;lil 
ehildren, five of whom are now living, namely: 
Klizalieth, C'lmrles, Martin, l-Vd,and Magfjie, Mi-s. 
.Melch.r. .if iUrks County, I'a. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Moshaeher" liavi- won llif respeit 
and confidcnec of those in the eoinmnnity witii 
whom they have lieen associated since their residence 
in thi.H city. In iMilitics he is identified w ith the 
l)iinoenitic party, t;ivint; his infiucnec and vote to 
Mfure the pas-sjij^e of it.s nieasnres and the elccti<tn 
of iu candidates. He and his family are devoted 
iiiemliers of the ('alholie Chnrch. 



M. ItKoWNSON. Mr. Brownson's husiness 
niilil recently was that of a carpenter, con- 
tiai-tor and Imihler; he has retired, however, 
from active l:ilior for the present, lie came 
to Wichita in I h7°2, coninienccd lini|r|in<; operations 
III iHTfi.and followed it three years, l.iil in .Inly. 1 HSO, 
he had a fall from a sc:ifTold that laid him up for :i 
iiionlh. He was illsaliled liy that fall for so active 
a ImsinesH, and went int<i a pioccry store, where he 
remained for three years. Since that time he has 
lieen keeping ipiiet. 

In IHSfi .Mr. l(rowi|,,on put up tuo liiir limises on 
his city loUt; he resides at No. -JJH TolH-ka avenue. 
This pro|K>rly he Imili on in IhTI. Thi- loL of 



^100 In 1873, bill he was ofrcred 

¥1". I'll It in 1880. This is an indication of 

the Wonderful growth of values in Wichita. ,Mr. 
l(rowns4in is a native of St. Ijiwrence County, 
N. v., where he first saw the light of day, accord- 
ing to riK-ord, on the •.'Gth of .May, |h;18. He is the 
.son of Leonard I. and Harriet (Hrcwst«r) Krown- 
son, natives respt-clively of Kichinond and Cain- 
liridge, \"t. ; he w:ls a inill»riv.'ht, and worked at 
that trade until his death, in I h.'i.'t. To them were 
liorn seven children, five i>f whom an- now living — 
.1. M., Leonard I., Kct.sy M., Hattic ami Cynthia. 
A.sn died in Is.'iLiit the age of fifteen: IJeUsy M. 
married a Mr. Itiillanl: llaltie si-lected Mr. Dewey 
for her life |iartiier, while Cynthia and Mr. Fletcher 
agreed to go through the world the s.ame road to- 
gether. 

Leonard I. is mentioned a> the father of .1. M.. and 
his father's anil iiiothcr's n:inies were Asa and lU-tsy 
(I'ic'Kins) Itrownson; they were from New York 
State. The father of Harriet Urewster was named 
Alvah, of New York; her mother's name was 
Cynthia (I'age) ISrewster, of the same State. Alvah's 
father wius .lonali, a native of Ma.s.s;icliiisett.s. Ke- 
vertiiig ag:iiii to the name that heads this hiographi- 
cal notice, we find he was reared on :t farm till he 
was twenty-two years old. He then enlisted in 
Company K, .'ilh Vermont, lus a private, and was in 
the Federal service from .lune, I Mil, U> Seploinlier, 
18(1.5; w.as iu the memorahle liattle of the Wilder- 
ness three limes, receiving two slight wounds. 
While participating in the liattle of Spott.sylvania 
he received a wound in the left shoulder which 
threw him off duty for si.v months, at the end of 
which time he was detailed iu the vetei°an troops, 
lie was promoted to First Sergeant in IMti'i.and was 
in three hattles at Frederickslnirg, then at South 
Mountain, Antietam, ( Jeltyslmrg, Funkstown, .•ind 
many others, hcside-s the siege of the Wildernes.s_ 
and with <!eii. McClcllan in the I'eiiiiisular cam- 
paign. 

After the war wa.s over Mr. Itrownson went to 
Italls County, .Mo., where lie got Idii acres of land, 
improveil it, and remained there five yeai-s. Then 
he removed to the city where he now lives. For a 
wife he .selected .Mrs. Amanda Laylin. of Missmiri; 
she was a d:iil;'liter of Stew;irt Self, of \'ii ;:iiiia. 



•►• -*« 



-•^-■-^ 



Hl-^*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



213 



i 



By his marriage with Atnandn La^liii three children 
were born : Slicrman S., a stiidcnl in tiic High 
Scliool ; Josie L. and Lettie E. 

Mr. Hrownson had tlie great misfortune to lose 
his dear wife on tlic 9tii of Ni)vcml)er, 18SG. Slic 
w.as born March 10. 181.'). For ten years siic w.is 
a consistent member of the Baptist ('luireh. Mr. 
Brownson is a member of the Mnsonic- fralfinity, 
and votes the Republican ticket. 

— --S o*o-.@^<A^-.<>*o. -V-— 

WILLIAM KASSEL. Ji;., one of the self- 
made men and capitalists of Wichita, com- 
menced to "iiaddlc his own canoe" when 
a lad nine 3-ears of .ige. lie now ro|)resents very 
valuable property, all of which he has acctimulsited 
by his own perseverance and industry. Since com- 
ing to tills citj' he has been largely interested in 
real estate, and h.is distinguished himself as a lib- 
eral and public-spirited citizen, interested in the 
growth of Southern Kansas, and always willing 
to contribute to its prosperity and welfare. He 
])roposcs building this current year, on one of the 
prominent streets of the city, a brick block occupy- 
ing 100 feet front and some four stories in height. 
His substantial residence is located at No. 226 
South Main street. Our subject came to this cit}' 
in I S7G. His birth took jilace in Farmington, Iowa, 
on the 10th of June, lSi>5. His parentis, William 
and Caroline (Staats) Kassel, were natives of Ger- 
many, where they were reared and mariied, their 
union taking place in 1844. William Kassel, Sr., 
w.as born Oct. 21, 1812, and his wife, Caroline, 
Oct. 26, 1813. They crossed the Atlantic in 1848, 
four years after their marriage and after the birth 
of one child. Upon I'caching America they pro- 
ceeded soiithweslward and settled in St. Louis, Mo., 
where the father engaged at his trade of watch- 
UKikcr, but remained there, however, only a short 
time. Then coming North, he took up his residence 
in Farmington, where he canied on a jewelry store 
for many years. 

Five more children were added to the household 
after the parents of our subject came to America. 
Of their family of six but three are now living, 
namely: Hannah IL, Mrs. Ilassmann, of Farming- 
» 



ton, Iowa; Caroline, Mrs. Fuhrmann, of Fairmont, 
Kan., and William, of our sketch. The latter, 
wiien nine years of .age, left home and commenced 
doing for himself, and at the age of thirteen began 
learning the jewelry trade under the instruction of 
his father, at Farmington. Two years later he 
made his way to Warsaw, III., where he completed 
his apprenticeship and worked eighteen months or 
so with his brother-in-law, Mr. Fuhrmann. 

The .advent of our subject in this city was made 
sotm after reaching his majority. He worked at his 
trade for one and one-half years, then eng.aged in 
the jeweby business on Douglas avenue, where he 
built up a good patron.age, and in due time gave 
employment to three men. This he followed until 
in February, 1887, when he sold out and practi- 
cally retired from the cares of business life. In 
1876 he put up, on South Main street, the well- 
known Museum Block, and has l)esides this other 
buildings in the city occupiecl b}' tenants. 

Mr. K.assel's family Includes his wife and two sons, 
the latter named Henry W. and Frank T., promising 
young boys, .aged nine and six years respectively. 
The mother of llie.se in her girlhood was Miss 
Lj'dia E., daughter of Rev. Ilenrj* F. anil Catherine 
(Mantz) Koeneke, natives of Ciermany. She l>e- 
came the wife of our subject on the 31st of July, 
1877, when seventeen years of age, having been 
born Nov. 17, 1S60, in I'ekin, III. Her parents 
emigrated to America when children, and were 
married at I'ittslield, III. The household circle in- 
cluded nine children, of whom but six are ik)w liv- 
ing, namely: Ella, Mrs. G. R. Coates; her husband 
is a traveling .agent. Lydia E., Mrs. Kassel; Annie, 
Mrs. Dr. RinkIe,of Bunker Hill, III.; Loviua, Mary 
and Henr^', at home with their parents, who are now 
residents of Baldwin, Mo. 

The father of Mis. Kassel, a minister of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, is highly educated, and a 
college graduate. He w:is a Professor of German 
in the Warsaw (III.) High School, and also in the 
college at Canton, Mo. The father of Mr. Kassel 
removed to Wichita in 187'.), and died three years 
later, in the spring of 1882. The mother is still 
living, and makes her home with her son William. 
She h.os now reached the advanced age of seventj'- 
five j'ears. Both parents identllied themselves with 



f 



-^*- 



•-M I 






^KlxiW ICK ('(UN lY. 



llic (MTiiiitii M II enrly 

lift', of whirli till 111. .111. I -nil II III nil- :i ilovolnl 
iiii'iiilii'r. Mr. KiivscI, our Mil>j)-«'t. ikltliiiii^jli liiiviii'; 
littlf to ilo with |Htlitii-.x, voll•^ tlit- .stnii!.'lit |{r|iiil>- 
lirnii lickfl. mill Micinlly. lu-loii;,'!* to the Mn>oiii(' 
rnitoriiity mill tlio I. (>.(>. T. Ilf ninl lii> i^itiiiiaMc 
«ifi' lire al.Mi moinlK'is of tin- (Iitiiimii Mctlioili>l 
K|ii!>4-o|uil Cliurcli, :iiiil Mr--. K. i^ ni-livr in it> Mis- 
•.ioiiiiry .S«K-iftv. Mr. K.'i.-v.fj i^. :i iiiciiiIk'!' of lln- 
ll..:ir.l of TlM.lr. 



'V 



U.(. .lU.NKS. ( oinily Allormy of Scd;;. 
H'iik (oimiy. is roiiMilcn-il one of llio .tIiIcsI . 
\iJI^ I'lw.V'"''*' i'l 'li'' •^l!'t<" <'f Kiiiiwu*; he is .1 ! 
Voiiii;; tiiiiii of iiiorc (li:iii or<liii:iry (.■ilciil, nml Una 
;ilr»'nily nruli" .•in liomii.-ililc n-coril in llio \v<i:i\ |iro- 
fo-ion. Ill' i.- .'i ii.'ilivc of Nelson I'roviiii'i', Ni-w I 
/,ial!in<l. Lorn .Inly I. 1 .s:,:,. Ilo i.s tin- son of 
Willirini Mini M:iry (I'oick) .loiies. iiiilives of Wor- j 
ifsli'i-sliiif, Kii;;l."inil. h. Ii^ll Ml'. .lont'S ciiiiyratfd 
from hi.s ojil Kni;li~li lionii- to tlic Islnml of Ni-w 
/.(■.■liiinil, \vli(>iv lir w.'is cxtoiisivciv i'nf;:igfil in farin- 
ini; .•iinl stock-raisiiii,' for in.any yi'.irs. In IHCi'.l he 
ili>|MiHi'i| of liis |)os.«('ssions in tli:tl eotiiitry, :inil I 
I'oiiiin;,' to till- I'liitoil SLiitrs, foiuliictfil lUv siinic j 
lni<iiK"0! in .Mi-.-oiiii tii.'il lii- liaii followpil witli mm-- ' 
ciss on lii-4 Nr« /i':il:in<l fill in. in 1^70 he |-,.. 
niovcil to Crawforil Coiinly. Kan., ri'inainin'; liii'rc 
foi a yi'ar. wlicn lie iiiaili- anotlicr iniivi-, anil I'.aint' | 
lo .Sc'il^jwirk ('oiiiity. Ilf lii-raniu a pimici-r of | 
rnjoii 'rownsliip, anil ri>ntiniii->l his rcsiili'iire llicrc, [ 
cn^'a^^i-il in lii-< ohl iH-('n|i:ition of farniin;; ami | 
stiM'k-rnisiii^', isnlil |.*<M. In Ili.at year In- lici-anu' 
.'I rili/.i-n of Wii'liita, ami has sinir mailr liis liomc 
lirri- in ri-tiirinriil from Ihi- .■iclivi' dnlifs of lift'. 
Ill- ami lii.-> wife ar«- |m-o|iIi- of sli-rjin;; inli-;;rily. 
:iml art- jililly In-I'l in lii;;li n-;,'aril liy IIiom- alioiil 
llii-in : oni- M>n li:is lii-i-n liorn to llu-iii, <'<. \V. ('. 

Till- !inliji-ct of this »k»-ti-li pas-M-d his i-.-irly yi-ais 
oil a farm, .-iml in alti-ndaiiri- .-it m-IiooI. until hi- tva.s 
(oiirtvcn yi-nrn of n;,'i-, layini; a ^;oi>d foinidation 
for lii» Mili)<r<pu-nt i-dm-ntioii. ||i- was Imi a lad 
whi'ii he ai'i'oiiipnnii'd his pari-nts to tin- Initi'd 
Slntt's, anil licri- In- grew to ninnliood. Ili- was an 



aciivf, intelligent, coiimgeoiis youth, fond of excit- 
ing; adveiitlireii, of wliii-li one, nltliou;;li it he^^nit 
.-iiispii-iiiiisly, liocnnip n tra;ji-ily lu-lon- its close, and 
ni-arly reMdtrd in piiltin;; n (piietiis to his own 
career. The I si of I Ici-eiiilier, IsT'i, he, in com- 
pany «vilh a friend, (ieorire Howard hy name, tiHik 
three horses, a wa){on, some lilniikeLs, .-ind a plenti- 
ful supply of provisions, and started for a ImlTaio 
liiiiit at till- lie.-id of .Medicine LihIi;i- Kivi-r, in 
Kiowa County, Kan. After their arrival at the 
hniiliii<;-;r|-onnds they iin-t witli good sneces^i, and 
niled their w:t;;oii with meat and liideii. One day 
while they Were out after ^ame a lire in their camp 
destroyed their lilaiikels. Finally they liroke np 
camp and ^tjirted for home, Init when tliey h.-id 
journeyed alioiit li.-ilf the dislam-c, still having sixty 
miles to Iniverse, there arose a lerrihle storm of 
sleet and snow, and, tliere liciiig no seltlemciiLs on 
the way where tlii-y could olilain shelter, they were 
oliliired to aliandon their wagon and its conleiiLs 
and proceed on horseliack. 'ilie storm increxsed 
in fury, and the cold liecame more liilter: this wa;* 
on the 2.'!d of i )ecciiilier, .-ind ( o-orge llowiird, 
ne.-irly frozen and overcome liy his iiiteiise siiflfer- 
ings, fell from his horse, and died in spile of his 
conipaiiion's efforls to n-vive him. 

After I liis sad and tr.agie ending of his friend Mr. 
.lones coiitinncd his journey over the snowy plains 
.-done, with freezing face, hands and feet, and |M-rlia|is, 
with the hourly expeelation of meeting the .same 
horrililc fate that had hefallen his companion, lint 
with iindying courage and detcrmiiialioii he kept 
on the way. and at almnt .'t o'clock the following 
morning, the '.'Ith of Decemlier, .-iftcr traveling 
continuously for Iweuly-two lioni-s with nothing 
to eat, he reached the longed-for shelter, and at 
.Mr. .McDonald's residence on C'owskin Cn-ek. re- 
ceived kindly and inncli needed care. On the noon 
of the following day he st.arted on fool for the 
city of Uicliil4i, and there his severe siiflerings 
from his long i-xposnre to the elements resulted in 
the ainpllL-llioii of his feet on the '.l||i of the fol- 
lowini.' l-'eliriiary. 

In I. SKI Mr. .lones coinmenced l«i prepare himself 
for his profession liy entering his ii.-ime on (he roll 
of students at Chaildock's College, at liuincy. III., 
and W!is siilisi>r|iienlly irl'-'idnaled from tli:il iiistitu- 



•►• -4^ 



■*¥^m-^ 



-it-M»- 



1 



«KDG\V1CK COUNTY. 



'A,-, ^- 



tioii, liaviiij,' coiiiplcUMl lliG required course with 
hoiiur, iiiul was cliusin valedictorian of his class, 
and on the iHlh of May, 1882, was admitted to 
the bar \>y tiic Supreme Court of the State of 
Illinois, lie returned to his home in Kansas, and 
in the following June was admitted to practice by 
the District Court of Sedgwick County. He im- 
mediately entered upon the duties of his profes- 
sion, .and so rapid and honoralile was his advance 
that he soon became wid("ly known asayoung law- 
yer of great promise, and wlicii he was brought 
before the people on the 7tli of November, 1880, 
as a candidate for the oflice he now holds, his elec- 
tion was an assured thing, and his majority of 88!) 
votes over his Democratic competitor was the 
largest of any man on his ticket, lie, b}' the faith- 
ful and impartial discharge of the duties of his 
important ollice, luis shown himself vvorthy of the 
faith put in him by his constituents. 

Mr. Jones was married, in 1877, to Miss Minnie 
A. York, the daughter of Charles and Eliza ((Jil- 
bertson) York, natives of England. Three chil- 
dren have been born of this union — Charles W., 
Frederick H.and Mary L. ]Mr. and Mrs. Jones are 
prominent members of Wichita society-, and their 
geniality and culture make their home a pleasant 
resort for their numerous friends. Mr. Jones is 
one of the leaders of the Republican party, of Sedg- 
wick Ci>untv. and is a member of the 1. <). O. F. 



;? liJLLIAM M. K A ELSE R, attorney and cai.i- 
talist, li.as retired from active business and is 
enjoying life in his bciuliful home in the 
city of AN'ichita. He i)urchased f(jrly acres of land 
here, on the west side of the Arkansas River, in 
January, 1><84, which is now incori)orated in the 
city limits. Seventeen acres of this he has reserved 
for his own home and grounds, and has laid out 
two additions to the city on the West Side, from 
the remainder. Ilis paternal grandparents were 
George and Magdalena (Klunkin) Kaeiser, natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of Dutch ancestry. He was 
a manufacturer of cotton gins and had extensive 



w 



ijoth 



wife 



•►Hh-^^ 



works in Alal>ama, where 
spent their last ^ears. 

The parents of our subject were l>r. Andrew 
and Margaret U. (Grant) Kaeiser, natives respect- 
ively of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He 
was educated for the medical profession, bnl de- 
voted only twelve years to the practice of his 
profession, S])ending that time in Morgan and 
Lawrence Counties, Ala., where he had liveil since 
1810. He was a slave-owner and the proin'i- 
etor of a plantation of 500 acres, on which he 
raised wheat, corn and cotton. In I8.")8 he removed 
to Winston Count}', in the same State, and pur- 
chased 1,080 acres of land, where he raised the 
crops native to that climate, the work being per- 
formed by slaves. On that plantation he spent the 
remainder of his life, dying in September, 1864. 

The matei'ual grandparents of onr subject were 
James and Eli/abeth (Whit,aker) Grant, natives of 
North Carolina, of which State Mr. Grant became 
Comptroller. He was of Scotch descent, his father^ 
James (irant, Sr., being a native of Scotland; 
his mother, whose maiden name was Bustin, was 
born in North Carolina. All of the family were 
wealthy planters and influential nicnibcrs of the 
State. 

Three of the children born to Dr. Andrew Kaei- 
ser and his wife are now living, namely' : William 
M.; Martha C, now living in Alabama; and Maria, 
wife of J. H. Andrews, of Dubuque, Iowa. Spier 
Whitaker, maternal uncle of our subject, was for 
many years Attorney General of North Carolina. 
Sometime during the fifties he moved to Iowa, and 
resided there until his death in 1870. He was a 
prominent Democrat, and well known lliroughout 
the State as a leader in that party. 

William Kaeiser, the subject of this brief l)io- 
graphical notice, was born in Morgan Count}', Ala., 
in 1849. His early years were si)ent in acquiring 
an eiUication. Having attained the age of fifteen 
years, he left school, and the ensuing year worked 
on his father's pl.antation. The following year he 
spent in Southern Alabama, but after the war 
returned to the northern part of the Slate and 
resumed plantation work until 1871. Desirous of 
engaging in a professional life, he went to Daven- 
port, Iowa, that year, and .studied law with 1 



-i 



-4*- 



2lfi 



m;ih;\vi( K (((IMY 



iliirl)-, .Innii-n <irniit. In I^V'.' hf wax ;;rAilil:iti'(l 
fruiii III*' Inw ili-|>artiiifiil ••r tin- Ihwh Stnic rni- 
voi>ity, niul, n-tiiriiinj; III his iiiirlc'-t oilier, iimiaicnl 
Inw with liiiii until |h77. TIicm iiiuvin^' to Imw- 
mice, Kan., \\k o|M'nr(l a liiw olllcv tliiTf, :inii 
rontiiiiii'il in |>rm'lic«' in lliat cily for two y<'iii>. 
Dnrih^ Ills rc.tidi-ni'o in l.uwrrncc Mr. KiiciM'r 
wa-i uinrrifil, in \x'X, to .Mi>s Saiiii' A. .^Iianklin, 
<lnu)(lit4T of lli-nry ami l.yilia ( Aixli-rson) .slianklin, 
imtivi-!« of IVnnsylvania anci < (liio ri'siK-i-lively. 
'I'hfy wiTC tin- |Kiri'ntA of four rliijilron, three of 
whom are m>n liviii;; — S:illie, Annie F. ami Calvin. 
.Sillie in Mr>. Kneiru-r; Annie i> Mrj^. Kuller, of 
Kiii|Miria, Kan.; Calvin Nhanklin livi-s in Wichita. 
Our Huliji-et ami his «ife have one eliild, Harry S., 
horn .tan. I, |S7'.*. 

In 1h7'.» .Mr. Kaeiser moveil lo De'^.Moine.s, Iowa, 
ami was actively en;;a;.;ei| in liuniness there until 
hi.t removal to this eity, sinee which time he ha.s 
lived relireil from husiness. He is one of the solid 
ami snIisUintial men of Sei|;;\vick County. lie is 
an extensive iaml-owner. |>osse.ssin^ 100 acres in 
Seil;;wick County. Iloo acres in Ncliraska, ami 1,000 
acres in Alaliama. lie also owns a line residence 
in DesMoines, low.a. 

Our sidiject is .-) Democrat in |H>litics. lie Uikcs 
a (jreal interest in the welf.are of Wichita, and is a 
liliemi sn|i|Hjrter of ius v.-irions institutions, 'i'o 
such men of |irojjressive and lil)cral ideas, f^cncrous 
and huuevoient in sjiirit, is this populous city in- 
ilclited for its <,'re!it pros|MMily. 



m 



\MI> ( . UINIi:iiS. A ;,' the promi- 
nent and pro;;rcs.«i\c- yonn;; men of Scd;:;- 
»*ii'k County, who are turning their attention 
' to l\\r lireedin;,' an<l raising; of stock, is Mr. 
W inters, who hai his home on section '20, in .Sher- 
man 'I'onnship. Althou^^h youn;{ in years, still, 
liavin;; execllcnl Imsiness aliililies, he has aircaily 
placed himself in a |>o-.ition with the prosperous and 
well-t4i.do farmers of lliis portion of the county, 
Hiid in ranked ain<in;4 the liesl citizens of the tonii. 
ship, lie is a native of Sljuk County, Ohio, horn 
in .Iiily, lH.-,2. and is the -on nf W iljnini and I.etitia 



(.Mcl)owell) N\' inters, lioth of whom «ere also na- 
tives of the Huckeye .Siiite. 

The father of the suhjecl of this sket4-h, who was 
the son of .lolin and .Mary Winti-rs, was euKa;>ed in 
farming in Ohio, liut came to Illinois in Ih:(|'i, set- 
llin;: in Ui.Siille County, lie remained a resident 
of that jHirtion of the I'rairie State, iM'cu|)ied in the 
vocation of his calling, until |.hs2, when he came 
Ui Kansas, and settled in Sedgwick County, in what 
i.s now km)wu as Kagle Township, where he made 
his home fur Ixit a short lime, ns he died in April 
of that year. Ilis estimalile wife, the nmther of 
our sultjccl, still survives him, :tud is .-i resilient of 
Colwich, this county. 

The sulijecl of this nienniir in his lio^ hood 
alt«'ndci| the district schools in l.aSalle County, 
III., fiom which source he drew the elements of his 
eilucation, while at home he received the training 
that has liecn so valuahlc to him in carrying on 
agricultiual pursuits, lie made liis liome upon the 
family homcsti>ad, assisting his father in his daily 
laliors, until he wius aliout nineteen years of age, 
and in the spriufj of 1^71 came to Kansjvs, ami re- 
mained with his lirothcr in this county for some 
three yeai>. In |.h7I he liouglit the homestead 
claim of a party who had paitially improved the 
Hit) acres on secti«»n L'O where Mr. Winters now 
lives, ami at once commenced its eullivatiun by 
breaking up the lough prairie 8ud. lie set out ii 
good orchard an<l grove, and in IH78, with an eye 
to his future needs, erected the handsome residence 
which adorns his place and enhances ils value. 
The (|uarter-section of Land which he owns is of a 
most excellent ipialily, extremely fertile and pro- 
ductive, ami well cultivated. Most of the farm ou- 
subjecl rents to a tenant, and is <K'cupicd prin- 
ciiMilly in the breeding and raising of high-grade 
Durham c:illlc. The farm is pleasantly situated, 
and is only about three ami one-half miles from 
Andale, .and alioul twice that disU-ince from Ml. 
Hope. When Mr. Winters .settled on this place 
Sedgwick County wiis not what it is to-day. 
Wolves, coyotes, antelopes and bnlTalocs ranged over 
much of the land that is iiow well eultivateil farms. 
The last-named animal has been seen by our sub- 
ject upon his own claim, and he has killed quite a 
number of the huge bcast.s not many miles distant, 



^ 



■•►•-^ 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■217 ' k. 



He lias seen the wiUlonicss grow from its primitive 
state to its present condition with consideriible 
iimn/.enient, for the development of this portion of 
Southern Kansas has l)een almost miraculous in its 
rapidity. 

Mr. Winters is a KepuMicaii in politics, and is 
quite a<'livi' during the local campaigns of that 
organization. lie has always taken an active part 
in the educational matters of the township, and was 
largely instrumental in tiie organization of many of 
the school districts. A public-spirited and ener- 
getic citizen, he merits and receives the respect 
and esteem of a legion of friends. March 19, 1880, 
our subject was united in marriage with Miss Julia 
May .Sidles, a native of Appanoose County, Iowa, 
born Aug. 2.0, 1862, and eldest child of George 
and Nancy (Shield) Sidles, natives of Ohio and 
Virginia respectively. Of this union there were 
four children born: Roy Ross; Eflie pjtta, who died 
July 21, 188.5, at the age of seventeen months; 
Oscar Kent, and (Jlen B., an infant. 



WILLIAM A. MADDEN, one of the reprc- 
sentiitivc farmers and ])rominent citizens 
of Sherman Township, is the subject of 
this pcisonal narrative. Added to his farming he 
unites stock-breeding, and his home is situated on 
section 8. Believing that "from labor, health, 
from health, contentment springs," he has bent 
every energy toward |)erfecting his .-igricultural 
projects, and has proved himself eminently one of 
tlie best citizens of Sedgwick County. 

Our subject was born in Rowan County, N. C, 
Oct. 11, 1833, and is the son of Davidson and 
Martha (Smith) Madden, who were natives of the 
same State. His patern.-il grandparents were Will- 
iam and Sarah Madden, and u|)(»n his mother's side, 
James and Sarah (Gay) Smith, all of whom were 
born in the Old North State. Davidson Madden, 
the father of our subject, was reared a farmer, and 
followed that vocation in his native State until 
1872. when he emigrated to Texas and settled on a 
farm in Montague County. After a residence in 
that State which covered a period of about four 
years, in 187G he removed to Arkansas, where he 



remained until his death, which occurred in 1877. 
Mrs. Martha Madden, the noble mother of our sub- 
ject, died in North Carolina in 1843. 

The subject of tliis sketch received his education 
in the district sciiools of North Carolina in his 
boyhood days, and was early trained to the busi- 
ness of carrying on a farm. He remained at home 
assisting his father until early manhood, and in 
1857 came westward and settled in Jersey County, 
111., where he purchased an improved farm and 
commenced agricultural pursuits for himself. While 
a resident of that place, and peacefully following 
the avocation of his chosen calling, like many 
others of the citizens of this great Republic he 
was rudely awakened from his dreams of the 
future by the tocsin of war. Although of South- 
ern birth, he was intensely loyal, and in response to 
the call of the General Government for men to 
suppress the Rebellion, he enlisted in June, ISCl, 
in Company D, 2d Illinois Cavalry, and was mus- 
tered into the United States service at Camp But- 
ler, Sangamon County, August 24 of that year. 
The regiment was under tlie command of Col. Silas 
Noble, and was considered one of the most efficient 
in the service. Our suljject was an active partici- 
pant in the battle of Belmont, and in the assaults 
on Fts. Henry and Donelson, after which he was 
kept on detached duty. He was honorably dis- 
charged at St. Louis, Mo., in April, 1862, on ac- 
count of disaliility which grew out of a severe 
attack of camp measles, from the effects of which 
lie has suffered ever since. He then returned to 
Illiin)is, to Jersey County', and resumed his duties 
upon the farm. 

Our subject was united in marriage. Aug. 15, 
1865, with Miss Sarah A. Madden, a native of Jer- 
sey County, III., born Sept. 21, 1836, and daughter 
of Klisha and Nancy (Gaiter) Madden, natives of 
North Carolina and Maryland respectively. After 
their marriage our subject and his wife settled 
down upon his farm, where they made their home 
for seven years. Early in 1873, however, with a 
natural desiin^ to better his condition in the world, 
Mr. Madden concluded that he would seek a more 
congenial field for his labors, and accordingly in 
March of that j'ear, came to Kansas, and pre-empt- 
ing 160 acres of land on section 8, in Sherman 



•►Hl-^- 



■-^^ 



MABC^'iS— 4— --H>f3c*> 



•JIK ><i;|ii;\\ icK COIINTV. 

'riiwii«lii|i, fiiiniiK-iii-ol il.s iiii|>r<)Vfiiic>iil. Ilavint^ with iii(«-rt-.'>l ami |>li-ii.Miri- llic- .-U-nily uiid rn|>icl 
rrtfUtl H «l«»'lliiij;-li(>UM; in whii-li l<i iii-Uill his ■ yrowih of llii- city, l<i \vliii-|i In- has liiri)s«>lf i-on- 
fniiiily, mill oilivrwlM- linviii^' |in>viil<-cl fur tlioir triliiiU-<l in iiu !^iiiiill iiR-ii-iMn-. lit- wixa Ixtrii in 

•'••iiifort, ill llio .-|>riiij: «>f 1S71 ho vtil l<< this .IifTirsoii Coiiiity. \ii., March i2, lM".i, aii<lis IIk- 

|>ln(-<- mill iiinilf a |HTiiiaiifnt m'KU'iiu-iiI. He wjis xni of Cnir^^c and Mary ( ranlhcr) Shivscr. Tlii' 
one ii( Ihf |>iiiiii-fi> of Slifrtiian 'ri*u'n!^hi|>, kvhich falhor wa.s Ixini in Marylainl in 177'i. nml ilic-i| in 

at thai in-riiMl wa> a |Nirliiiii nf lln'i'li-y.anil inaU-ri- (Ihio in IHI.'t; ho was a Wfl|.Ui-<lo farim-r, anil It-ft 

ally »>sisU-il ill tin- i)r;;aiiixatiiin of llii' prcsenl a ;,'iiiMlly |K>rlioii of |irii|i' rly loi-ai-h of his i-hil<lrfii. 
siiliilivixion of till- I'oiinly. lit- ha> also ln'i-n His wife wils Imrn in Ccrinany in I 7hi), anil died in 

inlliientini in the si-llln^ off and oi-'.'anizin;,' of many Ohio in IS-IO. They were esteemed menilier< of 

of tin- mI I ilislriil> in this serti and was llie the Cerinaii Kiforin t'hiireh. These wurlhy |n-<i|iIu 

tirst Hireilor of SihiMil Dislriit No. '.•.'>. ' had a family of live m«iis and four daughters, namely : 

Mr. Madden is the owner of n;n aeres of line. I'eter, Kli/alieth. .lohii. Sii>iin, Henry. Mary A., 

arable land, wliieh is under a slate of exeellcnl tJeorye, Callierine and Daniel, all now livin-,' liut 

lilla;;e. and whii-li he has greatly improved l>y the IW". 

en-etion of a neat and eomfortJiMe residence. Uisty <>nr suIiJimI was the youngest memher of the 

ami eominodioiis hnrns. and the setting out of quite j family. He w:us I. red on a farm. His early life 

an extensive onliard of small fruit. All hi.s ener- "as surrounded hy eoinforl, and his |.ros|.eet> on 

gie.s have l.cen ix|>ondod upon his pl.ue. until now sUirting out in the world were unusually favorable, 

it is one of the finest of its si/e in this portion of !>s l>c <lid iiol have to struggle with poverty, like 

the eounty. He has it well stocked with excellent mmiy of the self-made men of this country, lus he 

grades of Durham cattle, ami linely bred mules, inherited property from his father. He .•iceompa- 

and devotes considenible attention to general "'*^''' ''•" parenl.s to Ohio in the ye:ir I N.iO, being 

stiK-k interest-. He isipiite active in the political l'""" "bout a year old, and in their home in that 

ll.ld. voting with and siipiM.rting the primi|.les of ■'^l-'>l«" ''»•• fifi'"' l«> manhood. On the 2(»ih „f Oc- 

the Uepubliian party, altl gl I desirous of l"'''e"'. "*52. he w.-is united in marriage to Miss 

surrendering the ipiiet of his home life for the p.r- '-'""y •'- Byrne, who was born .March 21, l«.14, in 
plexitii-s and turmoil of political olllce. .Socially. Tillin, Ohio. She was the daughter of Koberl and 
he IS a mcmUr of i;arnelil \'„>t No. -j:), «:. A. H.. ■'^'"'.v (Mooncy) Hyrne. who were born near Dublin, 
of Wichita, and Uikes gie.il interest in the welfare Iidand. .Mr. liyrnc w».s a farmer, and accumulated 
of the "boys in blue" quite a l.-irge pro|ierty. To him and his wife were 
To .Mr. and .Mrs. .Ma.hhn lia\c l.icn born a l-orii ten children, namely : .lane K., i.iicy K., Fred- 
family of three chiMren. who have conic to imrea.se ^"^ •''•• llariiel, .losepli .M. and Ann ( who died 
their joys and enliven their domestic fireside. .V<»ii'f,'). Hol'dt, Kdwaid 1'.. Arthur and Thomas. 
Their names are as follows: Ida. CliarKs A. and *'"'' ••*"''j«-'ta and his wife six'nt many years of 
«;niiie A. The last-named died Aug. IC, IHHI. <-•'*'"'■ """"lifl I'fi; "'• Ohio, coming from thereto 
when she had attained the interesting age of eighteen ' ^VichiUi in l«7 I, where they .soon identified them- 
y,..,,„_ selves with its interests, and have had a h.and in the 

many giKid works for which the generous, f>pen. 

hearted citizens of this city are noted, and it is with 

plea.siiie that we present the |Hirtniits of both in this 

A MM. M.< ISSKK is a leliied farmer, and volunn . 

|| jj) one of the capilali-l.- of WichiUii, where .September (1, 1«H7, the family of Mr. Slosscr, and 

he resides in an elegnnt .-iiid coiniiiodions the social eiri'les of Wichita, met with .•in irreparable 

house at No. I 13K Waco striel. He is the loss in the death of Mrs. Slosser, the kinil wifi-, l.iv- 

>»ner of other valieible city pro|H-rly. He has been ing mother and faithful friend. She was n lady of 



a rcMilent of WichiL-i since I 'S7 |, :ind li.'i> »ati'lied line c liiii.'utii , and in Inr were seemingly blended 



•►• 





^ 







41-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



219 ' ' 



all the Christian graces, and licr very presence con- 
ferred hni)i)iiiess upon those al)out her. She was 
endowed with good physical powers, and was sel- 
dom sick until her last illness, which was prolonged 
a year, doidjtless on account of her strong consti- 
tution. Her appearance is thus described by a per- 
sonal friend : " She had expressive eyes, a good 
form, was live feet four inches in height, and 
weighed about HO pounds." She was a faithful 
member of the First Ba|)tist Church, of Wichita, 
and was i)rominentIy identified with tin; Ladies' Mis- 
sion Circle, connected with that church. The hulics 
of that society expressed their sorrow for the loss of 
a valuable member, and extended their sympath}' 
to the bereaved family in the following words : "We, 
the mendiers of the Mission Circle of the First Uap- 
list Church of the city of Wichita, feeling deeply the 
death of our l)cloved sister, I>ucy >Slosser, missing her 
cheerlul presence in our midst and her wise counsels, 
extend to her loved ones our heartfelt sympathy in 
their great bereavement. We feel that a loving- 
Father hath called her to the i est that rcmaineth to 
the children of God. 'Blessed are the dead who 
die in tlie Lord, they rest from their lalwrs, and 
their works do follow them.' The AVord of tlie 
l>ord promises his rest in Heaven, and we feel as- 
sured that she is enjoying rest. 

"Those who heard her say, 'God's will be done,' 
and beheld her fortitude in those last hours so full 
of bodily anguish, and heard her dying recpiest that 
her family meet her in heaven, where the family 
circle will be completed, and the Holy Comforter 
will abide forever and ever, will never forget that 
solemn scene. The God who hears and answers 
prayer will, out of His mercy and in His own good 
time, answer the prayer of this Mission Circle that 
this present sorrow may be turned to everlasting 
joy. Miss E. J. Fostkk, President, 

"Mrs. D. D. Hkkskv, Secretary." 

Wc make the following extract from an obitiiarv 
notice published on the death of this estimable 
lady : 

"Mrs. l>ucy E. Slosser, daughter of l{ol)ert .'ind 
Mary Byrne, was born in Tiflin, Ohio, March 21, 
1834. She was the next oldest of ten children, ail 
of wjiuni are dead except the three younger broth- 



ers. w1h» are still residing in Ohio. Oct. 20, 
18,52, she was unitcil in marriage with Daniel 
Slosser, In wJKini were given two sons and three 
daughters; tiie youngest, Vallie, died two 3'ears 
•ago. Mr. and Mi-s. Slosser moved to Kansas in 
1X72, making their home in Wichita in 1874. He- 
fore she left Ohio she became a member of the 
Protestant Metliodist Church, but as there was iu> 
church of that faith here she did not identify her- 
self with an}- until the spring of 188G, when she 
joined tlie First Baptist Church, of which her son 
B^'rney was a membei'. On the following Sabbath 
she witnessed the baptism of her husband and cliicr 
son Arthur. Her physical strength, never very 
firm, slowly grew less, and her family with anxiety 
watched the inroads of disease through the winter 
niontiis, and when the spring opened they took her 
to Gueda Springs, where she remained five weeks, 
reaping sonic bcnelit therefrom, but as the heated 
days came on her weakness increased, and luider 
the care of her daughter Ella she was taken to 
Manitou Springs, Col., June 29. When told she 
could not live she im|)lored them to take her 
home. A new house had been in the process of 
erection, but before it was completed they brought 
her home, from which she soon passed to her man- 
sion of glor^'. As llic- last hour was waning she 
exclaimed through iier sutTerings: 'How glad I will 
be when the Ivord takes me home!' She often called 
for her beloved p.astor, who was absent from the 
cit3', but returned in time to speak the Last words 
at her funeral from the words of Uevelation, four- 
teenth chapter and thirteenth verse. September 1 1 
she was buried from the Baptist Church, where her 
friends had gathered to i)ay their last respect to her 
mortal remains." 

The happy married life of our subject was blessed 
l)y the birth of five children, viz: Arthur P., RIary 
E., Llewellyn E., 1{. Byrne and Vallie .1. Arthur 
is now in the West foi- his health; he married Miss 
Jane Morgan. Mary married George B. Kessler; 
they have two children, and are now residing in 
Wichita. Lliwell^n E. married George T. Hager; 
they live in Salt Lake City. H.Byrne is single, and 
resides in Wichita; Valeria died .aged twenty years 
and two months. The loss of this loved daughter 
and sister was a severe blow to her friends, who 



■*► ■ ^» 



li 



-^^ 



'.'20 



SKI »i; WICK ((MMV 



liolil lirr ill foiiil r<'iiicn)liniiii-c. She uns n yiuiii;.' 
Iiiiiv of sii|HTi<ir nc'<'iiiii|ili>liii)('iilH niiil iMliu-ntioii, 
nii<i Willi n-imnii lui U'ltcliiT ill tin' |iiililic m-Ii<hiI.«. 
She i'S|K'»'iiiIly fxcflU'il in |•vlllllllll^hi|>. tiiul n-ceivcii 
the hi;jhi'>l ili|il<iiiiii ill tlir i ••iiiity fiiir for liii Ihmii- 
tifiil «hiio;,'ii»|>hy. 

She wiwH till- yiiiiii){i'Kt iliiii^^htei, ami <lieil iiftei' 
only «ino wi-ek's* illnejvs. She was Ikipii in Seiieeu 
Ciiiinty, Ohiu, S<'|it. I'.'I, |H(;'i. unil wiis twenty yenr> 
mill two iiionlli.s old nt the time of her ilentli. In 
|H7'.' !ilie neooin|iiiiiie<l her |inreiit> lo Kiiiimi.h, iiinl 
two yenrit Inter they seltleii in Wiehitn, where Niillie 
.1. (tut she was i-alled ) entered the |iriiiiary (,'rade of 
the iMihlie srhiHil.'', and eontiniied in re;;iilar nltend- 
aiiee until >he rearheil the aye of sixteen years. 
She wiLs a liri;;lit, :iiiil>itioiis pupil, and made rapid 
progress in nil her studies, es|ieeially in penniaii- 
ship, for which, nt the a<;e of lift<-en, she was 
awarded the preniiiini liy the Sedgwick t'oiint}' 
Agrii'ultiiml, Meehaniral and SUK-k Assiu'lalion. 
At the age of sixt4-en she accepted a position as 
Itfnchcr, which she filled with credit to herself, and 
to the satisfaction of nil her jintrons. She would have 
liecn grailualed in the class of 1 HKi-K.'l, hut for a spell 
of sickness just before the close of the term. She was 
a great favorite aiiiong lioth old and young, but she 
seemed to have a preuionilion of approaching 
denlh, and for three nionlhs previous lo that event 
she ap|>eared to exjiect it, and even went so far a> 
to nnnie the minister she wished to preach her 
funeral sermon, and the iindcrt^ikei' she desired to 
lake charge of her Imrial. 

.Mr. .Slosser is a proniinenl ineinlier of the First 
llaplist Church. In |)olilics he is iiidepeiidenl, 
[oj 

The following Itenutifiil poem was wiilliii liy 
Mr. Slovser, at Ft. Strong, I). ('., in .Inly, \Hi\\, 
anil siiiled to the niiisic of the "Dyin;; ('.'ilHoriiian :" 
A N(»l.liIi:U's TIIOI (;iir. 

nearest one, I still leiiieiiilier. 

With a hiisliand's iichiiig he:iil. 
How it filled with ;;rief and sorrow 

When we two were called to pari; 
Oft I feel within my hosoin 

As the shade of night ap|H-ars 
I'liresl loVe and fond alTiTtiiin 

For iii\ II" n, iii\ .mIp^i'IiI ilr:n>.. 



'.Nialli the proud Mag a true .soldier 

lias gone to fill my country's call; 
^ • I my trust i> in my Savior, 

I. it me slaiid. or let me fall. 
W hen I gel your welcmne letters 

.\s in Dixie's Land I roam, 
W lien yon >|K'ak of liy-gone ple.asuii^, 

.My heart whis|>ers. ••Home, sweel hi 

I low I i!iis,s the sacred altar 

Where we used t4< join in prayer, 
\\ hat a comfort, what a lilessing, 

( (ft I wi>h that I were there. 
I. it ii> then, my dear companion.-, 

IIiiniMy at His footstool live, 
Miiviiig lo olitnin that tren.-.iire 

Which tin' Lord will surely give. 

heare.^l wife, I once more .ask you. 

With a fathers fondest love, 
'I'll learh our dear little children, 

Which the Lord lo us did give; 
I each them as the Savior laiight us. 

When on earth He lonely trod, 
'rcich them how to love the Savior, 

How to re;id His holy Word. 

Hut I hope the day is coming 

When I 'II reach my home again; 
'I'heii we will help one another 

Those dear little ones lo train. 
Thus, if we are only faithful 

To the Lord, our truest friend, 
.Safely wc will rise to glory. 

Where mil- Joy> will never end. 



WILSON <;. HLACK, who is exlen.sively en- 
gaged ill the niising of grjiin and stm^k 
at his farm on >eclion :(. Valley Center 
Township, is a native of Ohio, and was horn Dec. 
•J7, 1 »;»".•, heiiealh the roof of his parents, Ceorge 
Wjishiiigton and Sandi .Ann (Cherry) HIack, in 
Highland County. 

Washington lllack and his wife were .-iImi natives 
of the lliickeye Slate, and made their home there 
their entire lives, the death of the father occurring 
Nov. II, |k7C, and the iiiolhcr passing away April 
;>, I Hm:1. The former had learned the tanner's 
trade in his early youth, and followed the .same for 
a period of alioiit forty years, although he at the 
same tiiiic laiiied mi fanning. Having aiipiiied 



•#-1l-#. 



■"•►-Hi-4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



221 * ' 



4 



a competency by liis industiy aiul economy, he 
finally reliicil from business, :uk1 passed the last 
seven years of his life in ease and quietness, in 
Mercer County. Although early in life a member 
of the Whig party, he in later years voted witii the 
Democracy. Always Uiking a deep interest in po- 
litical matters, lie was considered one of the repre- 
sentative men of the district in which he lived. 
lie was the parent of twelve children, namely: 
Tht)m.as Lewis, Reliecca, .letl'erson, Benjamin, Wil- 
son G., Mary Elizabeth, Francis Marion, John W., 
Caroline, Sarah, David and Martha Ellen, of whom 
the fourth, the sixtli, tlie eighth, llic ninth and the 
twelfth, are deceased. 

The subject of tiiis memoir remained at home, 
assisting his father in the labors attendant upon ag- 
ricultural pursuits, until he had reached the age of 
twenty-one years. From that time he was en- 
gaged in farming on his own account in his n.ative 
State until December, 1S7(>, when he came to this 
county. He at first located on a tract of land on 
section 15, A'alley Center Township, where he fol- 
lowed the peaceful vocation of a farmer for about 
two seasons, and then removed to section 3, where 
he has since made his home. lie is doing a very 
extensive business in grain and stock raising, and 
by perseverance and economy has placed himself 
in very comfortable circumstances. When he was 
but sixteen 3'ears of age he otticialed as auctioneer 
at tlu! first public sale in Green Townshij), Clinton 
Co., Ohio, and has followed this considerably since. 
His reputation ;is a salesman staiuls high, and he 
is considered the peer of any one thus engaged 
in the county. 

The subject of our sketch and Miss Mary Eliza- 
beth Summers plighte<l their faith at the marriage 
altar Oct. G, 1803. Mrs. Black is the daughter of 
John and Hannah (Hoskins) Sununers, who are 
residents of Clinton (,'ounty, Ohio, where her father 
carries on farming and stock-raising. She was the 
second of a family of fourteen ciiildren born to her 
parents, and of her union with our subject there 
were born the children whose record is as follows: 
Ida May was born Nov. 15, 1864, is the wife of 
Luther Allen and tlic mother of three children; 
they reside in Stafford County, Kan. Minnie F. 
was born May 29, 18(17, was married to George 



Wilson, is a resilient of this countj', and the mother 
of one child; John . I. was born Nov. 15, 1H70; 
Lewis E.. J:in. 1,1874. and Selby S., June 18, 
1877. The three younger are at home with their 
parents. Mr. Black is an aclivc member of the 
United Brethren Churi'li, ami has since 1874 
been a licensed preacher therein. His estimable 
wife and their four eldest children are connected 
with the same, rolitically, Mr. B. affiliates with 
the Republican party, and is ranked as a man of 
ability and enterprise, on account of which he holds 
a good position among the people of this township. 
His property includes 100 acres of good land in 
Valley Center Township, and forty acres in Staf- 
ford County, this SUite. 

^1 ACOB D. MOCK. The subject of this per- 
sonal nairalioii is one of the successful and 
progressive farmers resident within the bor- 
ders of Sedgwick County, and may be termed 
one of the pioneer citizens and representative men 
of this section. He has made his special field of 
industry a success, and is highly esteemed and re- 
spected by those who know him best. He is en- 
gaged in general farming, and its usual concomitant, 
stock-raising, on his homestead, which lies on section 
32, in the township of (iyi)sum. 

Mr. Mock is a nativi; of the " dark and bloody 
ground," born in Bourbon Countj-, K3'., Dec. 19, 
1826. His parents, John and Mary (David) Mock, 
were natives of the same Slate, the father of Scotch 
ancestry, and the mother of what is familiarly 
called Pennsylvania Dutch. In an early day Ihe 
father of our subject removed from his old Ken- 
lucky home to the State of Indian;!. I'ur about 
sixteen yeai's he made that place his home, ;ind was 
engaged in tilling the soil, but at the expiration of 
that time removed further west, and settled in 
Monroe County, Iowa, where he resided until taken 
from this world by death, on the 5th of June, 1875. 
He was a consistent member of the Christian 
Church, as was his estimable wife, and a pious and 
God-fearing Christian, who received the love and 
esteem of every community in which he lived. 
His politics in his early years were those of the 



n 



t 



m:i>(;\\ K K ( iiiN I V 



yrcnl Wlii^ |««rty, hut lalor in lift-, on tin- iIi.s.h<>Iu- 
tiiin of lliiit or<;nni/:ilion, la- Kccanio it l{r|inlilicnn. 

The siibjfii of llii» |>crMonnl narnilivi* wns ii-jiroil 
n|Miii his fiitlitT.o fiirnis in Kenlncky iiiol Iniliiinii, 
Hnil rrccivetl hiit cilncnlion in llu- ilihiiict m'IumiIk of 
llioM- StiilrH. uliirh wcir nt llml |«iioiI of llu ii 

lli^tu^y lint ron;;li lo;; ciiliiio nilli |>iinrli< ll<Hir>, 

oiled |in|M-r winiluw-|uin('!<, o|H'n liii'iilMct '^ iiii<l .shil* 
M-aU. Nutwil||^Ulnllin;; Ihrx? <li>!i<lv!Uil;i^M'<, In-, 
like so ninny of our ciiiiiirtit iiii'ii, liy ilili;,'<.-ii('i- :!> ii 
M-lioliir, lni<l the- fonniliitioii for ('oii>i(U>i'n)i!i' scliol- 
nr!ilii|i. At lioini-, ii|Hin lii.s f:itlirr'> faini, lie ro- 
i-i-ivol llio ti'iiininj; nliicli has >o well (lualilii'tl hilii 
for hi.-' Inhors in the il('|iartiiipiil of a<;ri<'ultiiri- in 
the <lny» of hi.* ninnhooil. Ik' i-inij,'r:il«'(| with the 
family to Iowa. Iinl aflrra rcsldfnci- liieif of si-veral 
years ri'tnnicil lo Indiana. .Soinctiine later lie re- 
tnrnetl lo the lliiwkeye SU\U\ lint after the >|)aee of 
a few yenr>ero.>v-ed the line, and .••ellled in Mis.soini, 
linl .Mion removed Imek to hi!> former location, 
t'ircnmslaiiees and the cliniate of Iowa not lieing 
exn«'tly ."iiiteil lo lii>i iiiind, he again ivluriied to the 
Slate whire he was reared, where he made his home 
until \x'*>. llaNiii;; deeided thai ii|i(in the sun- 
(lower-eovere<l plains of Kan>.MS there was ii ;;reater 
Held for his lalioi>, and a surer rewaid for his Uiil, 
he, in the latter year, made n|i his mind to nuive 
thither, and earryin;; out his inlentions eame lo 
.Sedjjwiek (oiinty.and made a seltlenient iijhhi see- 
lion H. K<Kkford Townshiii. He made this his home 
until Iw"-*, when he removed from here to INIeriiei- 
son County, thi- Male; hut in ISS' reliiriied to ihis 
1 oiinty, anil settled on tiie |ilace where he luiw 
makes his home. 

During th.' unia Civil War .Mr. .Mo. k, lill..| with 
|mlrioli>in, enlislid in Com|iaiiy I). 'J'.'il Iowa In. 
faiilry, which was or(;aiii/ed in the -pliii^ of I hat 
year. Ifi- |.arliii|.aled with the •gallant ie;:inicnl of 
which III' was n niemlier in the eam|i.'ii;:ii which 
eniled in the sie;.'e and ca|itiire of the citv of Nicks- 
liiirg, and in one of the iis<aiill» u|ion that place 
wa« •everely wounded. After his eouvalescencc the 
re;;imciil was Iransfeiicd to the Ainiy of the .Shen- 
andoah, and our sniiject took an active part in the 
linllleH nt Wiiiihcsier. Strasliiiij;, iiiid at Cedar 
(reek, where .Sheridan staid the tide of rdiel in- 
viudoii, nnd .senttvied the force!) of fSeii. .lulinl A. 



Kiirly. after haviii<; made tlinl ever memondile ride 
from •• Winchester twenty milejs away." After 
having seen eoiisidenilili- M'rvice, nnd having gained 
the lepuliilion uf Imviiig lieen n limve nnd gallant 
>oldier, oiirsuhjeet wa.s iniistered out of the service, 
and received an honoralile dischnrge at I)aven|Mirt, 
Iowa, in the fall of Irsc.'i. Like a large pro|Mirlioii 
of the "hoys in lilne," .Mr. MiK'k is a Kepuhlican 
ill politics, and is (|uit<- active iii itiip|iorling nnd 
advocating the principles of that parly. 

'I'he .siihjecl of whom we write w:us niiiled in 
marriage, .luiie IM , IMIC, with Miss Ann Kli/.alietli 
llitehcock. a native of Kentucky, where she was 
horn in .luly, IK:^!!, and (laughter of Ahcl and .Siirnli 
(l)nvid) Ilitehcoek, nntivcs of Kentucky. Her 
father and mother were hoth meml>ei-s of the 
.Methodist Kpiucopal Church: and died, the former 
Oct. II, IH.tO, and the latter Oct. -JS, 1 K7t;. Of 
their family of four hoys nnd three girls .Mrs. MiM'k 
is the only one tlint is not niimhered with the dead. 
Hy the union of our siilijectaud his wife there have 
heen liorii the following children : William, who^c 
hirth look place .Inly 7, I«I7. married .Miss Fannie 
Whetstone; .lames A., who was horn .Mareli l,lHt;», 
married .Miss .Martha . I. Milliard; Mary 1*'., whose 
liirlh took place I'eli. Jl', l.s.d. and died the sjime 
day of the same month two ^ears Inter; Ahcl II.. 
who was horn Oct. 2, IH.'i;!. married .Miss Annie 
Miller: .Sarah .lane, whose liirlh took place Oct. L'.'i, 
Is.'i.'i, w:is married, April l.'l, |.s7(>,lo James Oood- 
acre : Mah:(la A., whose mil.al day wius .June 21, 
|.'s.'i7, ni:iiried H. !•". Haker; and Kaii/.ada. who was 
horn April 1h, l.sc.l, died .Sept. 2, IMM. 

->.- -^^-^^ "^^ 



I (»N. I'dl'.KIM K. LAW i;i.N( K. the present 
|rj\, Kcpie>ciil4ilivc of ihc .stale Legislature of 
' -W^ Kansas, and the rresideiit of the West Side 
(^) National Hank, is one of the most [iiomi- 
iieiil and iullueiitinl citizens of .Sedgwick County. 
He i« .'i native of the good old comiuonweallli of 
Coniieclicut. and came of good sliK-k which has 
heen represented in that Stjiie since early Colonial 
times, lie was horn in the town of Canium, Dec. 
17, 1MJ7. nnd is the >on of Henry W. and Ahigail 
(I)uolitlle) Lawrence, also natives of Cnmuin. .Mr. 



-•^-a ^« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



223 



f 



Lawrence, the father of the subject of tliis sketch, was 
engaged in farming and dairying in iiis native town 
for several years after marriage. He removed to San- 
disfiehl, M.ass., in 1»50, and tiiore followed the same 
occu|)ation until 1872. In that year he sold out his 
interest in the business, and eame with his family to 
Wichita, and now resides here retired from the .ict- 
ive duties of life. 'I'o him and his wife were born 
seven children, live of whom are now living, 
namely : James IJ., Robert E., Charles, Reuben S. 
and Mary U. James B. is a physician practicing his 
profession in Wichita, Kan.; Charles is a druggist 
in Wichita; Reuben S. is Professor of (ireek and 
Mathematics in Kmporia College, Kansas; Mary R. 
resides in AVicliita. 

The paternal grand|)arents of our subject were 
Putnam and Ruth ( Williams) Lawrence, both na- 
tives and life-lung residents of Canaan, when; the 
grandfather carried on the trade of cabinet-maker. 
He w.as a Revolutionary soldier. The niaternal 
grandparents of our subject were Henry and Mary 
(Richards) Doolittle; they were of Kngiish ances- 
try, and were lifelong residents of Canaan, wiiere 
they were occupied in farming and dairying. 

Mr. Lawrence, of this sketch, received the rudi- 
ments of his education in the excellent public 
schools of his native town. When he was fourteen 
years of age his p.arents renK)ved to ftlassachu- 
setts, and there his education was finished in the 
Si)Uth Hei'kshirc Institute at New Marlboro, ALass., 
where lie imrsued a thorough course of instruction 
for three years, and was gr.adnated from there in 
1809. In the meantime he taught school in the 
long winter vacations. After graduation he started 
for the West, making a pedestrian tour through 
Massachusetts, Vermont and New York, and spend- 
ing the winter of l.s(;;)-70 in Illinois. Here he 
resumed the vocation of te:icher, at Neponset, 
Bureau Countj'. Subsequently he came with a 
friend to Kansas, and located in Wicliita in May, 
1870, and has since m.ade his home here. He took 
up a claim of 100 acres on the West Side, wliere he 
now lives, and at once commenced the improvement 
of the same. He built a log house with a dirt roof, 
and a floor of the same material, and set out fruit 
and ornamentiil trees, and now has one of the (inest 
orchards in the countv. He afterward bought a 



tract containing 420 acres, known as the Maple- 
wood Farm, adjoining his first purcha,se, and turned 
his attention to breeding Pollcd-Angus cattle, going 
into the business on a large scale, and also import- 
ing cattle from Scotland. In 188;') he commenced 
to Lay out his land in plats, and now has seven ad- 
(liti(ms in the city, all platted and sold, with the 
exception of fifteen acres of land that he reserved 
for his own use, on which he is building a fine resi- 
dence, located on the corner of Maple and Seneca 
■streets. He sold his first lot, 25x140 feet, for $75, 
and since then h.as sold seventy' acres at ti3,000 
per acre, the laufl- originally costing him §1.25 per 
acre. In 1880 he built a bi'ick block on Douglas 
avenue, and in 1887 the I'alace Block on the same 
avenue. In the same year he and his brother 
Charles put nj) the Sunflower Block at a cost of 
1^4,500; it is on Dougl.as avenue. Mr. Lawrence 
is now building a brick block, 75x80 feet, on Maple 
street, which is to cost about $15,000. and besides 
these he has built quite a number of tenement and 
boarding-houses on Dodge avenue. He has put 
$75,000 into buildings on the AV'est Side. 

Our subject is prominently- connected with the 
banking interests of Southern Kansas. He is a Di- 
restor of the Kansas National Bank, and is a stock- 
holder in the First National Bank of Pratt, in Pratt 
County-. He is a stockholder and DiriM-lor in llu' 
Wichita Watch Factory. 

Mr. Lawrence is veiy liberal and public-spirited, 
and, besides doing so much for the growth of the 
city and the development of its business interests, 
he has contributed largely to different institutions 
ill the cily for educational and charitable i)urposes, 
and ill his position as President of the Y. M. C. A. 
is doing much to maintain the moral status of the 
city. He is one of the founders of Lewis Academy, 
an excellent institution of learning, situated in 
AVichita, in which the people of Sedgwick County 
take just pride. 

The marriage of Mr. Lawrence to Miss Laura L. 
Smith, of Sandisfield, Mass., took place Sei>t. 2, 
187;!. .She is the daughter of Frederic and Aure- 
lia (Smith) Smith, natives of Sandisfield, Mass. Of 
this union three children have been liorn, namely: 
Charles .S., Harry and Hattie, who are twins. Mr. 
and Mrs. Lawrence are members of the First Pres- 







■» ■ ■» 



SKDCWU K COIM V 



liytcrinii C'linivli, of which Mr. I^wrciict- hns Iicimi 
nil KIiUt niiicc Ik70. Tlioy Jin- |)cci|>lf tif iiiiicli s»- 
rial cli>iliii(-ti<in in thJ8 I'liiiiiU', nml their ;:<-iii:il itn<l 
kiixlly iiminii-nt liiivc .sf<'iiri-<l thi-in in.'tiiy wuriii 
frionils. 

Ill |Militi<-!) Mr. l„-t\vi-i-iu'0 is .t Iti'imlilicati, nn>l 
nhly n'|>rcs«'iit> llinl |>jirl_v in tho St:it«- I,cni>liitiirf, 
ti. whiih hf waw oUrti-.l in iss|. 



I A.MKS .S. fA.MIMJKI.L is n li-n<lin;r fiirmcr 
I :inil !il<M'k-};rii»er of St'df^wick Coiiiily. lie 
I ciiiiic to Wichiln, Kan., in IKM^.und at once 
^y inv»fite<l ill n IfiO-nere trnct of laml, jwyinfj 
ifV* |>or aero, .ami Milisci|iiontl_v lioiijrht on llic K.n.>tt 
Si«le nnotlier tmet of 1 fid acres :i<ljoiiiin<; his first 
purrhoso, nnil lias liectnnc the |M)s,ses.sor of other 
vnhinlih- iiinil. lie Iiils soM forty acre-* of his land 
on the West ."Ni'le, elearing a larjre profit liy the tnins- 
nction. His seconil pnrciinse on the Kast Side is 
now known as the Lo^an. Ohio and Kans-i-s Addi- 
tions, and is phitted for sale, lie reUiineil 107 acres 
of the first piirchaM- for his own nse. Besides owiiiii<r 
all this city property, he has two tracts of land, 
eoiitniiiin^ res|>eetively l('>0 acres and eiifhty acres, 
lyinjf three miles from the city, lie has ncide fann- 
ing, Kt<M-k-l)reeding, and huyiiir; and sellin<; slock 
his priii<'i|>nl hiisiness .since he started out in life, 
and l>y his enterprise anri liiisiness aliility has lie- 
eome cpiile pros|HTons. 

.Mr. Cainpliell comes of g(M>d N'ii'i^inia liiood.and 
is himself a \ir;;iniaii liy hirtli. He w.as luirn in 
Kappahaniiock ( oiiiity, that Slate, .lime 7, I M.'I7. 
His pareiiLs wi-re .I:iiiies A. and Kli/.-ilieth (IiMlike) 
('iiinpliell, natives of I.ondonn Cuiintv. N'.'i. His 
fallier was l.orii Keli, l>. 1 Kd'.t, anil his mother in 
Mar'h of the S4ime year. She was a line ChrisliMii 
Woman, mid a meiiilier of the .M('thodi>i KpLscopnl 
( hiireh. She (■I..s4il her eyes to the scenes of earth 
Anj;. I I, IHML'. 

Mr. Campliell moved to ( )hio ilm in^^r huiih' period 
of his wedded life, and is eii:.'ii;,'ed in farming in 
Hawkins Coiinty, where he has acciiiiiiilat4-i| u con- 
• ideralile ainoiiiit of this world's goods, and lia^ 
gaiiieil for hiiiis<-|f a warm place in the esti'eni of 
his fellow-.iti/ens. He is prominently identified 
with the M.th.-list Kpiscopal Cliiiiih, and has heeii 



for ninny yciirs Deacon atu) Class* I>c«cler In Hint 
dciiomiiintion. In politics he is n Kepuldican. ami 
wa.s n strong I'nion man; he lins never taken an 
.■ii'tive part in political nffairs, Imt has clung teii.a- 
<-ionsly to his political l>olief8 as einliodied In the 
platform of the party of which he is a ineniU-r. 
The union of himself and wife wn» bl«>sjM>d liy the 
liirtli of nine children, namely: .lohii ('., .lames .S., 
.Middlcton .Siinimerfield, Samantha K., William II.. 
.losepli 1'., (Jeorgc K., Henry M. and Mary. The 
latter is the youngest of the family, mid lives in 
the old home in ( )hio: Henry .M. is deceased. Middle- 
ton is l'rinci|ial of the Cleveland (Ohio) High School, 
and is regarde<l as one of the ablest nnd most 
scholarly instnictors in thai .Slate; in |Rilitic8 he 
is iileiilified with the KepiiMican party. William 
II. has been a farmer in this county since lM71,aiid 
resides in Wichita at No. .'t2fi North Market street ; 
•Joseph died aged eight ^vears; (ieorge was Ixtrn 
in Ohio, Aug. '21, ISIfi; he is now in the loan and 
real-estate biisine!<.s, buying ami selling city prop- 
erty and farms, with his olllce at No. 2.'>0 Norlh 
Main street. He receive<l his education in the Ohio 
I'liivei-sity at Delaware, Ohio; he s|)ent twelve 
years in leaching in Ohio, and luis a life certificate 
from the Slate Hoard of Kdiicalion. He is now 
prominently ideiilifieil with the educational institu- 
tions of Sedgwick County. He came to Wichil.a in 
18.SI, whither his renown as an eilucator li:id pre- 
ceded him, and he was at once placed in charge of 
the public .schools of the city, and is still :\ member 
of the IJoard of Kdiicalion. Wichit.'i will ever 
have c.'itisc to be grateful to him for his untir- 
ing cffiu't-s to secure the e.vcelleiil system of eiliica- 
lion which she now enjoys. Mr. O. K. Campbell 
was married, in .luly, lx7fi, to .Miss llallie U. Pat- 
terson, who w.-Ls born in Adelplii, Ohio, in 1 M.'>(). 
They li.ave two children — Koberl .1., born Dec. ."i, 
1.H7.S, and Alice H., Oct. 1 .1, IUHC. 

Our .subject was reared on his father's farm. He 
was a bright, intelligenl l:id, and his parents gave 
him the advantJiges of a good coiumon-scliotil edu- 
cation. On the 'J'lli of .March, 1K7-', he was mar- 
ried to Miss Katie A. Uiiiker. of Itrownsville. Iiul. 
.She wiLs born in lli.al town, April '21, IH.'iO. Her 
f.'ilher was a well-to-do f:iiinir, and gave lier a 
su|K'rior education. 



.^•-4. 



/■ 



■^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



225 ' ' 



t 



The wedilod life of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell has 
been clouded by the death of their two children — 
Kdward II. and Alice B., l)otli dying in childhood. 

Our subject did good service for two years or 
more ns an army carpenter during the Civil War. 
lie was a member of the l.");')th Ohio Kogiment. In 
187-2 he joined the I. O. O. V. Like all who bear 
Ibe name of Campbell, be is a Republican, and 
stands firmly Ijy tiiat party, endorsing its measures 
by Ills iiilbienco and vote. 



C^^HOMA.S JEWELL, capitalist, has been iden- 
//^^ tified with the business interests of Wichita 
^^^' since the early years of its settlement, and 
h.as taken an active part in promoting its growth. 
His home, at No. 223 South Main street, is one of 
the most .attractive in that part of the citj'. He 
was born in Canada, June 4, 1836, being a son of 
Richard and Jane (Luke) Jewell, natives of En- 
gland. The}' left their English home in 1832, and 
crossed the ocean to Canada; the mother's i)ar- 
ents and family also migrated to Can.ada, where 
they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Jew- 
ell became engaged in the brewery business, which 
lie conducted through life. He was a man of good 
financial ability, and acquired wealth in his calling. 
He died in his Caii.adian home in the year 1848; 
his good wife survived him until the year 1884. 
To the.se worthy people were born seven children, 
five of whom are now living; the following is their 
record: Mary J. is now Mrs. Galle}', of Toronto, 
Canada; Thomas; Henry, a merchant of Victoria, 
Vancouver's Island ; Maria is Mrs. Wilkinson, of 
Toronto, Canada; Rachel is Mrs. Gallej^ of To- 
ronto, Canada. The father volunteered as a sol- 
dier in 1836-37, to help put down the Rebellion in 
Canada; he belonged to the Tory party. He and 
his wife were iiiHuential and active members of the 
Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal Churches. 

The subject of this sketch acquired an excellent 
education in his native country, being in attend- 
ance at school until he w.as seventeen years old. 
After his education was completed he learned the 
trades of bricklayer and plasterer, in which he after- 
ward acquired great proficiency as a skillful work- 

II, ami as a contractor he has been noted for the 



durability of his work, and has erected many im- 
portant buildings in different parts of the West. 
He remained at home until he was twenty-four, 
working at his trade, but in 1859 he went to New 
York, and followed it there for one year. In 1 860 
he went .South, where he w.as employed at his call- 
ing until 1864, and then returned to Canada, where 
he obtained the position of foreman to superintend 
the work on the Parliament buildings at Ottawa. 
After that be turned his attention to hotel-keeping 
at Pembroke, Kan., where be w.as thus engaged 
until 1867. In that year he returned to the south- 
ern part of the United States, and in Texas re- 
sumed his old trade. In 1868 our subject went to 
Missouri to work at St. Louis. Subsequently he 
became a contractor, an.1 carried on business at 
Kirkwood and Boonville, and in 1860 was so en- 
gaged ill Kans:is City for a .short time. He then 
establlslied himself in Lawrence, this .State, and 
was employed to construct the gjis- works and quite 
a number of other buildings. From there he went 
to St. M.ary's Mission in the I'ottawatomie Reserva- 
tion, and helped to build the colleges. Afterward 
he returned to Lawrence, and was .actively engaged 
at his trade until 1872, when he removed to the 
embryo city of Wichita, which he shrewdly- fore- 
saw was destined to become a great and important 
metropolis, and he wisely decided to cast his fort- 
unes in with it, and since that time his prosperity 
h.as kei)t pace with the growth of tlie cit}-. lie en- 
gaged first in the wholesale and retsiil liquor tr.ade, 
continuing in it until 1882. He tlien engaged in 
the boot and shoe business for a year, and since 
then has been extensively occupied in the business 
of su|)erintending the erection of buildings, and in 
the last two years h.as superintended the erection of 
some of the finest buildings in the city. He has 
also de.alt largely in buying and selling real estate, 
and h.as erected two business houses and a fine pri- 
vate dwelling. 

Mr. Jewell w.as married to Miss Cordelia \'. 
Thayer, of Leamington, Canada, in 1879. .She is 
the daughter of John and Margaret (Beaiibier) 
Thayer, natives of Canada, where her father was 
engaged in farming until his death in 1867. Her 
mother died in 1884. They had a family of five 
children, three of whom are now living: Louisa, 




-^^ 



22»-. 



■» 9- 



»'l.ln;\\ |( K (((IN TV 



Mi"«. IiniT^iiii. of (iiii-iiln ; I'.'liiiirit. .Mr>. |)fl.iiii', i>f 
C'liiii.inclu- Ciiiinly. Kiiii. ; iiikI Mm. .Ii'well. 

Mr. .Ifwcll i.H n DfiixM'nil in |Militir!>: •uK-i.illv, he in 
n Mn.'oii mill n Ktii;;lit of llunor. Mr is rt iiinii aif 
n'c«i;»ni/.«'il aliility.ntid, «illi lii> iiiiii.-ilili- h ifc, -.IiiikIs 
\uf;U ill llii.s ■■•iiiiiiiiiiiilv. 



^]E^ 



o^l.l'll I'. AI.I.KN. .MM\..r ..f Wi.liitn, i.s 
nUii tMiiKliiclin;; the ii|<i<'-si iliii;; llllll.■^• in tlic 
I'itv, wliich lie i-.«t.Ml>li>lii-il ill ixTi). Ilo was 

llr>l liK'iiloil on .M.'iiii !<tifct. luit l.-ilci' re- 

iiiiivril (o more c-oinni<Mlioii> .niiil rlfjimit (|uni'tors 
al No. 1<IH IvLsl l>oui;la.<^ avcniif. where lie Ii.im .since 
e<iiiti!iiieil. lie lia.s li:iil a tlioi-oii;r|i cxixrience 
.-i.H :i |ili:iriiiaei>l. and tlie position wliieli he liohls is 
a laeil :\('kiio»leili.'eiiienl of lii.s relialiilily .as a 
llllsille^s man anil .as a iiieiiilier of the eoiniiiiiiiit.y. 

Mayor Allen w.xs Imrii in l-Ilkharl t'oiinly. linl., 
Oel. 9. IM.lS. ami is llie son of William M. and 
Sa|>lironia (Meeker) Allen, natives of New York 
.SLati'. .and the father .'i farmer liy oeen|mtion. 'I'hcv 
iniKnili-d to Indiana diiriii!; the early settlement of 
ljif;ianf;e County, wiiere the father opened up a 
goiKl farm, upon which they lived until I K.'»2. 
Then, crossing the .Mississippi, they took up their res. 
ideiiee in ,las|>er t'onnty, Iowa, where William M. 
Allen carried on fariniinj ns liefore, and from whici: 
he removed in 18«.', to Neliniska, where he is now 
livin;;. The niollier died in .lasper County, Iowa, 
.March -Ji;, I «.',!. 

Our Milijecl w:ls the fourth child of his parents, 
whosi- f.iiiiily included seven sons and four daui,di- 
ters. Ill- liecaine familiar with a;,Mieiillnral piir- 
siiiLs, ai'ipmid a cominoii-school education, and 
I'onliniii'd under the parinl.il roof until sixteen 
years <,f a;;i'. lie tlien sijiiied out for himself, and 
for till- following' sevi'ii years wis employed ;il vari- 
ous pursuits in I isa Counly. Iowa. |!poii the 

oillhreak of the Kiliellion he enlisted, on the 2()tli 
of Sfplemliir. I«<;i. ill Company K, Mlh Iowa In- 
fantry, and for lliree years following; was mostly 
on deUiclied duly around l"l. I.eaveiiwortli niid 
Wns|iiii;»loii, I). C, His Ijf,. „H a siijdier was simi- 
lar to thoii<aiii|s of others i.f the l.oys in hhic, .•iiid 
»< Ihc do f his I, ■11,1 ,,f I'ulisliiiinl lie «as niiis- 



•►«-«- 



tend out at W lushiiimon. I), ('..on S-pt. 20, 1 SC. I. 
Villi ii|.5 Allen upon his retireiiieiit from the arinv 
made his way to Leavenworth, this State, where he 
en;;a};e(l ns clerk in a ilriifi-store three years, then 
emliarked in hiisiiies-s for himself at ICIIswnrtli. 
Some ei;jjliteen months laU-r he sold out. and re- 
tiirninjij to Li'avenworlli lived there another year, 
and thence, in 1x70, came into Wichitji and esUili- 
lished the liusiness which lie Iiils since condneted 
with admiralile success, lie enjoys a lar<;e patron- 
ajje from the lust |K-ople of the city and siiluirlis, 
and has lieen no uiiiiii|N)rtaiit factor ainon<,' the 
liiisiiiess interest.s of this remarkalile town. 

Mr. Allen w.ls a memlier of the City C nil live 

^•eai-s. and the last two years olliciated as I'residenl. 
From this Latter |M>sition he resi;;neil in the spriiij; 
of 1HS7, at the time of his election as Mayor, lie 
is the owner of considerahle real estate in the c'ity. 
and has a handsome and siilisUnitial residence at 
the intersection of Lawrence avenue and Third 
street. lie ciLst bis first rresideiitial vote for 
Aliraliam Lincoln, and is a standi siip|>orler of lie- 
piililican principles. Soci.-illy, he is a worthy inem- 
lier of the Masonic fraternity, and has advanced to 
the .Sid degree. 

Mr. Allen, while a resident of Leavenworth, wax 
united in marriage with Miss Mary K., danghler 
of .lohii W. and Ainund.a (Hiirk) T:ilinan. the wed- 
ding t-akiiig place al the home of the liride in 
Leavenworth, May TJ. 1 «(>!•. Mrs. Allen w.as liorn 
April II, isiil.in rntnain Comity, hid. Her par- 
ents were nutives respectively of Kentucky and 
Indian:!, and cnme to the West prior to the war. 
Of her union with our siiliject there are two i-hil- 
dreii living: Uoy K.. horn .March -JS, IM77, and . 
Bessie L.. .I;in. fi, IKKl. (hie dece.ased was Frank 
II., who was the lirsl child liorii in Wirhita, and 
Hon. William <ireitTeii.st<-in. the original proprietor 
of the town, presented the child with .-i lot, which 
is now one of the lots iM-eiipied liy the resiih-nce of 
Mr. Allen. Ills liirlh took place .Inly :(. I s70, 
and his death Aug. 'i'.t, 1S70. .losepli M. was liorn 
March 1;"., 1N7.I. and died Oct. :io, |S71. The 
manner in which the various piililic interests of the 
city of Wichita are lieing managed and adjusted 
gives ample evidence of the edlrieucy and good 
jiidgmeul of its pieseiil head. 



n- 




^. J: ^^--^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



229 



1 



/^ IIARLES F. HYDE, President of the Bank 
[|l ^ of Colwich, and a prominent stock-raiser of 
^^^ Sedgwick County, residing on section 4 of 
Union Township, is widely known and honored as 
one of the eigiit men who founded the enterprising 
and flourij-hing town of Colwich. He occupies sev- 
eral important official positions. He is one of the 
organizers of the above-mentioned bank and has 
been at its head since its establishment, in January, 
1886. He is the President of the Wichita and 
Colwich Calorific Pressed Brick Company, which 
manufactures 30,000 bricks per day. 

Our subject comes of good New England blood, 
and we are pleased to incorporate a brief sketch of 
his parents in this biography of the son. His fatiier, 
Charles Hyde, Sr., is a native of Vermont, having 
been born at Grand Isle, on an island of the same 
name in Lake Champlain, Nov. 1.3, 1799, and was 
a son of Elijah and Rebecca (Stark) Hyde. His 
native isle is a beautiful spot, four miles wide and 
fourteen miles long, in one of the loveliest lakes of 
the East. From his home, when a lad of fourteen he 
witnessed the naval ])attle fought Sept. 11, 1814, be- 
tween the American fleet commanded by Commo- 
dore McDonough and the British squadron under 
Commodore Downie. This brilliant naval contest, 
fought in sight of the armies stationed on the shore 
near Plattsburg, was a thrilling scene, never to be 
effaced from the memory of an eye witness. Mr. 
Hyde saw the British fleet go up the lake, and heard 
the first shot fired. He went as near the shore as 
possible, and during the two hours or more that the 
battle lasted stood spellbound by the grand and 
terrible spectacle. When the contest closed there 
was scarcely a spar left standing in either fleet, and 
the ships were ready to sink. The British Commo- 
dore was killed, his guns silenced, and his vessels 
were mostly captured or sunk, this signal victory 
of Commodore McDonough giving the Americans 
full and undisputed possession of Lake Champlain. 

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Hyde left the 
scenes of his j^outh and repaired to Franklin County, 
N. Y., where he engaged as a farm hand, or at any 
other employment he could find. He was there 
married, in 1825, to Miss Fannj' Fletcher, a native 
of that count}'. After marriage Mr. Hj'de kept a 
hotel for a few years. Subsequently betook a con- 



tract to furnish 1,000 logs to mill, and afterward 
worked in a lumber-yard in Peru for one season. 
He continued his residence in New York State 
until 1835, and then emigrated to Richmond, Ohio. 
During the succeeding sixteen years he followed 
the life of a sailor on the lakes, being Captain of a 
vessel. In 1852 he removed to Toledo, where he 
made his home until 1855. In that year he took 
up his residence in Aurora, 111., and engaged in the 
lumber and wood trade for eighteen months. He 
then rented land and turned his attention to farm- 
ing for the next ten years. After that he remained 
in Kane County, 111., and purchased eighty acres of 
improved land, and resided on the same until after 
the Civil War. He then purchased a fine farm in 
Morgan Countj-, Mo., and was there successfully 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until he came to 
Kansas in 1887 to make his home with his son, the 
subject of this sketch, his extreme age obliging 
him to retire from the cares of an active life. His 
first wife, the mother of Charles F., died in July, 
1868, in Missouri. Their union had been blessed 
by the birth of seven children, six of whom grew 
to maturity, namely : Henry, Maria, Fanny, Charles 
F., Samuel and Sarah, who were twins. Henry died 
in AVashington Territory ; Maria is the wife of John 
P. Sherer, of Colwich ; Fanny is the wife of Augus- 
tus Brown, of Michigan; Samuel lives in Butler 
County, Kan.; Sar.ah is the wife of A. B. Childs, of 
Colwich Mr. Hyde was a second time married, in 
December, 1869, the maiden name of his present 
companion having been Gabilla Ware. He is an 
honored member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Charles Hj'de, Jr., of this sketch, was born in 
Lake County, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1837, and received 
his education in the common schools of his native 
place. When a lad of but ten or twelve years he 
accompanied his father in his voyages on the lakes. 
A few years later he removed with his parents to 
Illinois, and in August, 1862, enlisted to take part 
in the Civil War. He was mustered into service 
with Compan}' I, 127th Illinois Volunteer Infantr3% 
and served with honor until the close of the war, 
taking an active part in many of the principal bat- 
tles and sieges. He was present at the siege of 
Vicksburg, and at the battles of Champion Hills, 



■^Hl^^ 



230 







SKDOWICK COUNTT. 



ChatlHiicxipi luid Arknnsa.s To-sl; In- nc«-<iiii|'iiiiii'il 
Shcrniiiii on liis fiiuu>ii» iiinrcli U> Uic wn, jiiid iifu-r- 
w«r<i pr< icerdc-cl Ui \Viuihiii};toii, U. ('., iMirti<i|Mitiiit; 
ill nmny luitlle.H niul nkiriiii.Hlif.s i>ii tlif wny ihitlii-r. 
Ho w«s ofU-ii in till' thick nf Imttle wli«ri' his loni- 
rndes were fulling; nroiind liini Uy ilio hiinilre<l>. yet 
he was never winiiiilud, iii>r wa* ]w ever taken 
prisoner. 

After the war he returned to Kane County. III., 
and in 1^00 removed witli his parents to Mi!>sonri, 
making hi.H home there until |h7I. In that year 
he came to Kaiiiias, and under the liome^itead law 
took up a claim of land in the northeast quarter of 
wction l of I'nion Township, where he has since 
resided, and a.>* one of the leadin;; men of Sedj^wick 
County has tnken an active imrt in developing the 
Wonderful and varied resources of the .Slat<>. He 
brought with liim two teams and ISOO worth of 
merchandise. He soon after returned to Missouri 
to harvest his crops, leaving a young man, N. E. 
.Stems, now of Colwich, in cliargc of his pro|>crty. 
In August he returned to his Kansas ranch and 
commenced the improvement of his land, a\>o man- 
aging a store. He soon began Uj take an active 
Ijcirt in public atTairs, and it was througli his efforts 
that on May 2, 1872, a post-otlice was opened in 
his vicinity, denominated the Kldridge I'ost-tillice, 
and he was ap|><jinto<l the Poslma*ier thereof. In 
the fall after the gra.sshoppcrs had ruidc<i Kan- 
sas Mr. Hyde found his mercantile business un- 
profiUible, and disposed of his stock in tmde for 
100 acres of land. The following year he again 
purchased a stock of goods and re-established him- 
self a-s a merchant, conducting his business in I'nion 
'I'ownship until .September, IHHi;, when he moved 
building and goods to Colwich. He subsequently 
sold out his stock, which invoiced ♦•"sOOO, slmwing 
that the business had greatly incrensol in his hands. 
He <lid not confine his attention to the mercantde 
business by any means, but with great enterprise 
branched out in other directicms, payiiig much at- 
tention to agricidtural pursuiLs, (Mirticularly lo the 
rearing of st4>ck, and still clues a largt' business in 
that line, buying, selling and feeding cattle, and 
also raising some very line stock. He is the owner 
of a very tine ranch, containing Ok.') acres of land, 
all in one bo<ly lying in the form of a letter L, and 
■^a 



on this he has erected ample and commodious 
liuildings. The soil is exceedingly rich, there being 
no better land in the county, luid in 1 kh7 he rais<-d 
sixty bushels of corn to the acre. 

.Mr. Hyde was married, in February, 1»72, to 
Mi.«s C. Althera Stevens, daughter of Charles and 
Cynthia Stevens, of Shabbona, III. Her mother is 
still living and makes her home in Kockford, III. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Hyde have been born three chil- 
dren — Cora, Arthur and Harry. In |K>litic8 our 
subject is u sUinch liepublican, but although he 
has taken such an active |iart in promoting the 
growth of the county, his private interests are so 
largo that he Inis never had time to devote to tin- 
duties of a public olllce. Hesides attending to his 
own business he is administrator of the estate of the 
late L. M. T. I'ope. 

Mr. Hyde is prominently connected with the (J. 
A. U., aiul in his religious belief he is a .Methodist. 
He is well known throughout the county, an<l his 
unostentatious charity and his courteous manner to 
everybody with whom he comes in contact have 
made him very popular and given him a warm 
place in the hearts of his fellow-citizens. During 
the accumulation of his large property he Iuls al- 
ways conducted his business by the most strictly 
honorable methods, never resorting to chicanery to 
increase his we.-dth. His estimable wife seconds him 
in all his good woiks, and makes their home pleas- 
ant, iK>t only to her family, but to hosLs of friends. 
We Uikc pleasure in presenting a portrait of .Mr. 
H^'dc in this connection. 



DWAKH IIORNKR. a farmer and sUick- 
raiser, on section 22, in Waco Township, is 
one of the intelligent and enterprising Jigri- 
cidturists of the county, who thoroughly under- 
stands his business. He is a native of Adams 
County, I'a., born .May lH, 18 11, and is the son of 
(Jeorge W. and Fninces Maria ( .McCullough) Horner, 
who were natives of I'eniKsylvania and Maryland 
res|)ectively. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was both 
a miller and a farmer, having .a mill on his farm, ^ 



T 



Hl-*- 



SEDGWTCK COUNTY. 



231 



which lie operated in connection with the latter. 
He had a family of ten children, as follows: James 
E., who died while mowing in West Virginia, at the 
age of fifteen years ; Daniel F., who married Martha 
Bender, was a lumber manufacturer in West Vir- 
ginia, and had three children; Alexander, who died 
in August, 1 884 ; Edward, the subject of this sketch ; 
Calvin, who married Eliza Lincoln, but lost both 
her and their child, is a resident of Kansas; Robert 
G., a resident of West Virginia, who married Sarah 
Miller, and is the father of five children ; William, 
who died in West Virginia in his seventh year; Eli 
Q., who married Jenny Kensel, by whom he had 
three children ; Frances M., who died in infancy; 
and George W., who was born the day his father 
died, married Alice Nagley, and is a resident of 
Kansas and a farmer. 

When Edward Horner was about eight years of 
age, the family removed from the Kej'stone State 
to West Virginia, and among the hills and beauti- 
ful valle3'S of that State he grew to manhood. He 
attended the common schools of that mountainous 
region, where he received the elements of an excel- 
lent education. He made his home with his parents 
until he was some fifteen years of age, when he 
started out in life for himself to hew out his own 
fortune. He w.as employed for nearly five years in 
working among the farmers of the vicinity, and 
earl3' earned the reputation of being an honest, 
industrious youth, who never shirked any matter of 
duty. 

But war, with red and lurid front, soon appeared 
in the valleys of West Virginia, and with the intense 
loyalty that distinguished the men of that mount- 
ain region, he and three of his brothers made up 
their minds to join the forces of the Federal army. 
Calvin enlisted in the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry, 
and Robert, Alexander and Edward, in Company 
C, 3d West Virginia Cavalry. Edward served 
with gallant and distinguished conduct with this 
noble regiment until the close of the war. partici- 
pating in many of the campaigns and battles which 
took ])lace in the far-famed Shenandoah \'alley, 
prominent among which were those at Winchester, 
Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Port Republic and Five 
Forks. He was also engaged in the last campaign 
of the army of Virginia, which terminated with the 



•►Hh-<»- 



surrender of Gen. R. E. Lee, and the Confederate 
forces at Appomattox. He was fortunate enough 
to escape without any wound, although he had 
several close calls. In the first battle in which he 
was engaged his horse was shot dead from under 
him, and at another time the top of his canteen was 
cut off bj' a ball. During Lee's march into Penn- 
sylvania, in the summer of 1863, the regiment to 
which he was attached arrived at the town of 
Chambersburg, Pa., just as the retiring rebels had 
fired it. He was mustered out of the service at 
Wheeling, W. Va., July 7, 186.5, and returned to 
his home in West Virginia. 

Edward Horner and Miss Margaret Lowry were 
united in marriage, in West Virginia, Nov. 9, 1869. 
The bride was a daughter of Samuel S. and Sarah 
C. (Warner) Lowry, who were natives of West 
Virginia, where her father was carrying on a farm. 
She was born in Berkeley County, W. Va., Aug. 28, 
1846. The balance of the children of her parents 
were as follows: James W., who married Ella Pine, 
by whom he had seven children, four of whom are 
living, and is a Kansas farmer; H. Ellen, Mrs. 
Joseph B. (Jrowl, is the mother of six children, two 
of whom are dead, and is a resident of Mulvane, 
Kan.; Mary H., Mrs. John Sherrard, a resident of 
West Virginia, is the mother of four children; John 
A., who married Alice Stanley, who is the mother 
of four children, of whom two are dead, and is now 
a resident of Ohio; Betty J., the wife of Joseph L. 
Stuckey, asketch of whom appears in this Album; 
Alexander, who died at the age of three 3'ears; 
Joseph Edwin, who is a dentist in Ohio; Ellsworth 
U. S. Grant, a citizen of Ohio; Mattie Belle, and 
an infant son, deceased. 

The subject of our sketch, in 1876, concluded to 
follow the star of Empire and move West, and 
accordingly came to Kansas, and located in this 
county, and is now the owner of 235 acres of well- 
improved land of fine quality. He has three good 
orchards upon his place, containing altogether 1,420 
trees, all of which are thrift^', and bearing pro- 
fusely. He is the father of nine children, as follows: 
Alice G., born Feb. 9, 1871 ; twins, both of whom 
died in infancy; George Walter, born June 30, 
1873; an infant son deceased; Francis M., born 
Sept. 26, 1877; Minnie Bell, born June 14, 1880, 



' 232 



^L. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



and (lied Feb. 14. 1 nki> ; Kli7.iil>oth Vir;;iiiia, born 
Aug. 28. 1883: mul Helen HesUr. In.rn .Inly 7. 
188C. 

In i>olitic» .Mr. Ilonier is n sUncli Hi-piililiciui. 
and has licen elwliMl to serve as a nxinU-r of ilic 
S<'hool Itiuird of the (listrict, which ofllcf ho liiu* 
retained for six _vrnn<. He is a sturdy, honest 
anil intolli^nt citi/cn. and enjoys tlie esteem and 
rcifard of all classes of |>eo|ile. Ills industrious 
habits and his p^nini warni-hcartediicss endear him 
to all with whom he comes in ci)ntact. He is one 
of the representative men of .Sc<lgr«ick County. 



^(MI.N W. FOLLKTT, of Grand River Town- 
I' ship, came to tliis part of the count}' in 
^..^ll 1h7h, bringing with him a stotk of genenil 
'^&fl merchandise, and for the first few j-ears was 
engage«l as a country merchant. He at once, 
however, wisely secured eighty acres of land, to 
which he has since added 1«!0 more, and is now 
a full-fledged farmer, giving his attention princi- 
p.nlly to .agricultural pursuit*. 

Mr. Kollett has been particular!}' fortunate in 
the selection of a wise, prudent and industrious 
wife, to whom he was nmrrictl early one morning 
in Geauga (now Lake) County, Ohio, and assooii as 
they had eaten their breakfast the bride and groom 
started for Northern Indiana. They made their 
way by the lakes to Toledo, nnd thence by the i)io- 
neer niilnmd to Hillstlalc, Mich. The}' had. how- 
ever, in the meniitime, spent about six months in 
Indiana, where Mr. Follett purchased a farm. He 
had learned the Iraile of a t.-iilor during his ejirly 
nianh<H>d. and his wife hu<l become mistress of the 
same trade in the same shop with her husband. 
While they were in .laiiic.-town she prevailed uiM)n 
him to move to Kremonl anri set up a tailor shop, 
and with her assistance he built up a good imtron- 
age, doing <ustom work, and keeping cloths and 
ready-made garment." for sale. l,at4T they kept 
gnx'eries and driig>, and still Inter general nier- 
chandise. They thii- o|K'niled until 187.'?, by 
which time, having made considerable money, our 
subject became too generctiis to hi« friends, and by 
signing notes for other i>eople lost hi.- whole |)ro|v 



erty. The five years following, and before coming 
to this county, were employed at whatever he 
could find for his hanils to do. 

•Mr. Follett and his wife after locating in this town- 
ship established and have had charge of the (Kist-ofllce 
for about .>eveii years, and our siibje<'t is now serv- 
ing his third term as .lustice of the reace. In re- 
lation to his family history we give the following 
interesting det.'iils : He was born in Geauga (now 
Lake) County, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1821. and is the son 
of Kliphalet and Matilda (Hiscix-k) Follett. natives 
of Dalton, M.ass. The father eniignited to Ohio, 
where he was married, and died when John W. was 
about four years old. He was a pa|)er-maker by 
trade, Imt after his removal to Ohio purchased land 
and carried on farming. He was .'in old-line Whig 
jKilitically. and a man of excellent jtriuciples. 

The subject of this sketch commenced his .-ip- 
prcnticeship at the tailor's trade when a lad of 
thirteen, and served seven years, receiving in the 
meantime three years' schooling. When twent}'- 
one years of age he was marrie<l, on the Cth of 
October, 1845, to Miss Angeline Tnisk. daughter of 
Retire and Ascnath (Uartlett) Trask, natives of 
.Southam|>ton, .Mass. Mr. and M rs. Trask became 
residents of Ohio at the ages of fifteen and seven 
years respectively, emigrating with their |)arent>« in 
the s:mie company, who were making the journey 
overland, and the boy led his future wife frequently 
by the hand during the journey. .Mr. Trask was 
born on the 11th of .luiie, 1794, and his wife, 
Ascnath. .July 22, 1802. They were married in 
(Jcauga County. Ohio, Nov. 14, 1814. 

The father of Mrs. Tnisk was a car|>enter bj' 
trade but owned a farm, and while the country w:ts 
new also occupied himself in the winter sciuson 
making shoes. The [wrental household inclinled 
nine children, of whom seven are still living, and 
Mrs. Follett is the sixth child. The eldest. Almina. 
was born Feb. 27, 1818; Reuben H., born .Ian. 8. 
1 820, died l"eb. 1 4, 1 88(5 ; Henjaiiiin F. was born Feb. 
20, 1822; Alfreil B., April 22, 1824; Atlaline, 
March 22, 1821;; Angeline, Nov. 2:j, 182K; Almeda, 
who was born Feb. 24. 1«31, died of consumption 
Dec. 27, 1884; .lohn was born .Ian 20, 18:5.'!. nnd 
Itetirc, .March 22, 183.">. Mr. Trask deiJiirtcd this 
life on the 30lh of .lunc, 1834, while slill a young 



•► ■ ^ 



fr**^ 



-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



238 



man. His wife survived over fifty years, and 
passed aw.ay on the 31st of December, 1885, at a 
ripe old age. Siie was a second time married, her 
second husband being Elliahu Emmons. 

To Mr. .and Mrs. FoUett there were given four 
children, all natives of Indiana: The eldest, a 
daughter Ethel, was born Aug. 12, 1848, in Steu- 
ben County, and became the wife of Samuel 
Bricker, a groceryraau of Fremont, Ind.; they have 
one child. Alma was born Aug. 17, 1850, and is 
the wife of Emory O. Melend^', an attorney-at-law 
at Fremont, Ind.; they have one child. Cornelia 
was born Sept. 4, 1852, is tlie wife of .John Greena- 
nij-er, of Reno Count}-, Kan., and the mother of 
two children ; Ralph \\ . was born Jan. 14, 1856, 
and is clerk in a hardware store in Wichita. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. Tlie faniil}' was 
first represented in this countrj' by three brothers, 
natives of France, who crossed the Atlantic during 
the Colonial daj'S, and the grandfather was the son of 
one of these. James I. FoUett, a brother of our 
subject, is married, has one son, and lives in North- 
ern Michigan. Of the two sisters, one died in 
infancy, and the other died after her marriage with 
Zenas Bliss, of Ohio, b}' whom she became the 
mother of two daughters, who survived her. Mr. 
Follett is a member of the Masonic Lodge, also of 
the I. O. O. F., and his worthy lady is a member of 
Rebecca Degree Lodge, and order of the Eastern 



Star. 



•-^»S;>*^5»!^i^^vJ5tf-.^^«f- 



DAM GLASER. Prominent among the 
early settlers of Sedgwick County, as well 
as ranking high with the prosperous and 
1^^ thorough-going .agriculturists of later years, 

is the subject of this personal narrative. There 
have been some very energetic and active men of 
large cap.aeity and enterprise who came to this 
locality in an early day, and made this the most 
prominent field of their life work. Scarcely any of 
them, however, rank liigher than does Jlr. Glaser. 
Born in Kur-Hessen Star-Fritz, Germany, May 5, 
1830, Adam Glaser is a son of Casper and Catherine 
(Refer) Glaser, both of whom were natives of the 
same Empire. He was one of a family of eight 



•►Hl-^*- 



children bom to his parents, five of whom survived, 
as follows: Anne, the wife of J.acob Zimmerman, a 
resident of Jefferson County. Pa. ; John, living in 
Dougl.as County, this State ; Catherine, Mrs. Gott- 
fried Zimmerman, living in Jefferson County, Pa.; 
Adam, the subject of this sketch, and Margaret, the 
wife of John Foos, residing in Indiana County, Pa. 
Adam remained in his native l.aud until he attained 
his majority, and received the elements of an ex- 
cellent education in that land of schools. In the 
spring of 1851, like so many other of the young 
men of his country, lie had a longing to seek his 
fortunes in the New World. Taking passage on a 
sailing-vessel at the port of Bremen, after a storm^^ 
voyage which lasted fortj'-seven days, he landed at 
Baltimore, Md. He at once made his way to Frank- 
lin Count}', Pa., and for one year resided among 
the hills and vallej-s of that picturesque part of the 
Keystone State. Removing, howevei-, to Jefferson 
County, he remained a citizen of that common- 
wealth until 1864, when he removed to Kansas, and 
settled in Douglas County. There he made his 
home until 1871, when he came to Sedgwick 
County, and the year following to Salem Town- 
ship, and located on section 14. He pre-empted 
eighty acres of land which he at once commenced 
improving, and where he lived for several years, 
until he removed to section 15, where he now re- 
sides. When he moved upon the first-mentioned 
place in Salem Township, there was not a furrow- 
turned upon it, and the land was in a state of primi- 
tive wildness, and, like all pioneers, he endured 
the usual hardships and privations which arc the lot 
of all who settle on the frontier. 

While a resident of Pennsylvania, June 21, 1856, 
Mr. Glaser w.as united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Cemer, also a native of Germany, who was born 
March 4, 1834. She h.os been the mother of ten 
children, as follows: Conrad, born April 13, 1857; 
Mary, born Oct. 25, 1858, the wife of AAHlliam Tho- 
man, of Salem Township; John, born April 25, 
1860; Margaret, born March 10, 1862, died Dec. 
24,1885; William, born Oct. 11, 1865; Emma, born 
in 1866, died in Nfjvember, 1868; Eiiz.abeth, born 
Nov. 1, 1869; Catherine, April 9, 1872; Edward, 
April 5, 1875, and Albert, Nov. .3, 1878. 

Mr. Glaser is an adherent to the Greenback party 

■» 



i 



-^ 






_ f 



234 



sKDGWlCK COUNTY. 



ill his (Kilitict. hut coiiflne^ lii.s i-fTorts in l>clialf of 
tbnt ur<;aiii7Jttii>ii .<<in)|>ly to the ili»chnr);c uf lii.s 
elective- frnnchisc, ii.s he- Ua» iioa.<<|>iruti(iii>> fur jxiliti- 
cal preferment, lie is one of the nu-n who have so 
largely cunlrilxited to the rapiil and almost mimcii- 
lous growth niui development of Sedgwick County 
in the (uLot, and nu enterprise for the benefit of the 
community i.t initiated without his help, lie is 
one of the largo land-owners and prominent Agri- 
culturists of tliis section, having n most excellent 
farm of 'MO acres, all of which is good arable land, 
luid haiidsonu'ly improved. Coming to the I'nited 
States with no capiliil, except a strong constitution, 
a will to work, and an energy tliatboreup under all 
kind of trials, he may fully be called a self-made 
man. Ilis pres«'nt state of allluencc is the result 
:ilonc of his own efforts and those of his devoted 
wife. Both of them are members of the Evaiigeli- 
cal Church, and seek to square their conduct by the 
rules of the Holy Scriptures. They are (Missing 
their declining years in the enjoj'ment of the fruits 
of a life s|)ciit in industry and economy, and sur- 
rounded liy friends and relatives who honor, res|)oct, 
and love them for their own good qualities. Ever 
taking an interest in all matters of an educational 
nature, .Mr. Gliiser was quite influential in the early 
school historj' of the township, and helped build one 
of the lirsl school-houses in Salem Township, that 
which is now known us No. ■'(■'i. His public-spirited- 
nes.* and liberality as a cilizfii are almost proverbial 
in his neighborhood. 



i' -r »^><« — 






JdllN W. OOSNEY. This solid old pioneer 
, ami his excellent wife are numbered among 
' the most substantial residents of Carden 
I'lain Town.«liip, to which they came during 
the early settlement of Southern Kansas. They 
have a gfKxl farm with comfortable buildings, a 
••lioice a.^sortlncnt of live-stock, moilern machinery, 
and all the appliances of the desiralile country 
homestead. To the |>cople ol this section they are 
widely and favorably known, and number among 
their fricii<ls the solid element of .Sedgwick County. 



The subject of our sketcii was born in Campbell 
County, Ky., Dec. S, 18-14, aixl is the son of IJen- 
jamin C. and Nancy M. (Bryan) Gosney, who wcic 
also natives of Kentucky, and descended from an 
old Virginia family. The first representatives of 
the name in this country i-r<««se<l the Atlantic from 
Ilollnnd in the early Colonial doys, but so long ago 
that their distinct origin has l>cen lost track of. 
Benjamin C. (losiiey, the father of our subject, was 
born ill Campbell County, Ky., Aug. l.'), 1821, and 
is still living on the old homestead where he com- 
menced farming during his early nianhocid. The 
imrents were married Oct. 21, 18-11, and their family 
included ten children. 

Charles M. tlosney, the eldest brothcrof our sub- 
ject, was born Nov. 2f>, 1842, and died at C.-uiip 
Morton, Ind., .m the 7th of May, I MCI; .lohn W. 
of our sketch was the second child ; Benjamin F. 
was born Oct. 14, 1847, and died Nov. 28, 1853; 
Lsabella M., now Mrs. William A. Harrison, was 
j born Oct. C, 1849, and is a resident of (.larden 
Plain Township, this county: Mary C, who wa.s 
born March 24, 18.52, became the wife of Thomas 
H. Harrison, and resides in Augusta, this Stale: 
Mi!«souri K., born .I.nn. IG, lx.j4, is the wife of Philip 
Kelley, and they live in Campbell County, Ky. , 
Amelia T. was born Feb. 18, 185t;, became the wife 
of AN'illiam H. Wright, and died while a young 
woman, leaving two children; Columbus H., born 
Jan. 13, 18a'.(, continues in Kentucky; George E. 
was born April 15, 1861, and died in iiif;iiicy ; .Sam- 
uel W., born Nov. 14, ISGli, is engageil in farming 
in Campbell County, Ky. 

The boyhood and youth of John W. Gosney were 
spent on his father's farm in Campbell Cixinty, Ky., 
where he became familiar with agriculture as it is 
carried on in the Blue liross region?. He received 
a gootl common-school education, and commenced 
for himself upon reaching his majority. On the 
22(1 of November, 1870, he was united in marriage 
with a maiden of his own State, Miss.S.-irah L. (irif- 
flng, daughter of Aaron K. and Maria L. (Velton) 
Grilling, who were also natives of Kentucky. Her 
father was btirn in Kenton County, Feb. 7, 18111, 
and continued in his native Stale until quite late in 
life. Thence he removed to .lohnson County, Tex., 
where his death occurred soon after, on the lltli of 



-•►-■ -4» 



u 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



235 



December, 1885. Mrs. Grifflng was born in Pen- 
dleton County, Ky., Jan. 12, 18-23, and is still liv- 
ing in Texas. 

The wife of our subject was born in Kenton 
County, Ky., Nov. 28, 1848. Soon after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gosney removed to John- 
son County, Tex., where our subject purchased a 
tract of land, upon which he operated until the 
spring of 1875. Then coming to this county, he 
pre-empted 160 acres of land, and subsequently 
purchased another eighty .acres, all of which is in- 
cluded in the present homestead. The household 
circle was completed by the birth of nine children, 
all of whom, with the exception of the three eldest, 
were born in this State: Noah w.as born Oct. 14, 
1871, within the limits of Choctaw Nation ; Charles 
M. was bom Nov. 5, 1873, in Johnson County, 
Tex.; Carrie B. was born Oct. 10, 1875, also in 
Texas; Maggie M., the first of the children born in 
Kansas, came into the household on the 27th of 
December, 1877; Zue E. was born Aug. 9, 1879; 
Wade ILirapton, April 1, 1881; Maria L., March 6, 
1883; Florence, April 23, 1885; Benjamin Ross, 
July 23, 1887. 

Our subject, having been rocked in a. Democratic 
cradle, still clings to the principles of the old party 
in which he was born and bred. He is a member 
of the Baptist Church at Garden Plain, and his 
estimable wife, who was reared in the doctrines of 
the Christian Church, on account of there being no 
organization of this kind in their township, also con- 
sented to unite with the church of her husband's 
choice. They have labored with the common pur- 
pose in view of building up a comfortable home for 
themselves and their children, giving to the latter 
especially the advantages which will constitute 
them useful and worthy members of society. They 
know all about the trials and hardships of pioneer 
life, and although at times the sky looked dark, 
financially, thej' managed to pull through without 
ever having a mortgage placed upon their home. 
This was only effected by the exercise of tlie 
strictest economy and the most incessant industry. 

'I'he paternal gi-andparcnts of our subject were 
John and Isabelle Gosney, who united their lives 
and fortunes on the 14th of December, 1815. 
Grandfather Gosney was born in Kentucky, Jidy 



2, 1794, and carried a gun in the War of 1812. 
His wife, Isabelle, was the daughter of Charles and 
Amelia Yelton, of Kertucky, and was born July 
23, 1784. The great-grandparents were Benjamin 
and Sarah Gosney. The mother of our subject was 
the daughter of Hampton and Margaret Bryan, 
the former of whom was l)oru May 13, 1795, and 
was the son of Samuel Bryan, who was born May 
6, 1756. The latter was the son of William and 
Mary (Boone) Bryan. Mary Boone was the daugh- 
ter of Squire and Sarah Boone, who were near of 
kin to the old Kentucky pioneer, Daniel Boone, 
whose exploits of braverj' and daring are closely 
identified with the early history of the Blue Grass 
State. She was born Nov. 3, 1730, and died on the 
6th of July. 1819. The great-great-grandfather, 
William Bryan, her husband, was born March 10, 
1734, and died in May, 1780. He was the son of 
]\Iorgan and ^Martha Bryan, the maternal great- 
great-great-grandparents of our subject. It thus 
appears that John W. Gosney is a lineal descendant 
of the Boones, Bryans and Gosnej-s, and that his 
wife is of the Griffing and Yelton blood. All these 
families were prominent among the pioneer settlers 
of Kentucky, well-to-do and substantial people, 
who carried on agriculture extensively, and had 
gi-e.it influence in the Blue Grass State. Mr. Gos- 
ney belongs to Caddo Grove Lodge No. 320, A. 
F. & A. M. 



JOSEPH B. CHAMBERLAIN, a native of far 
New England and now a resident of Rock- 
ford Township, wiis born in the town of Exe- 
ter, Me., on the 25th of October, 1825. He 
was the eldest of the five children comprising the 
family of Stephen B. and Deliverance (Jenkens) 
Chamberlain, who were natives of New Hampshire 
and of English ancestry. The paternal grandfather 
of our subject crossed the Atlantic during the Co- 
lonial days, settling in New Hampshire, where he 
spent the remainder of his life. 

Stephen B. Chamberlain, who had been bred to 
patriotic principles, upon the coming on of the War of 
1812, engaged in that confiict with credit to himself, 
and after its close was made a Captain of militia, 



•^•-4- 



236 



f 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



irliioh title he hcM for »cvcrnl yenrs. lie carried 
on fHrniiii^ nil his life, niid (l(>|inrtc<l from the 9<>eiu>ii 
of his rnrly Inliors on the 1 7th of JnntmrA', 1877. 
lie w!u« n ninn ;;rcatly re.speeted in his conimiinity, 
and a niemlier in good -itanding of tht- Itaptist 
Church, in which he ofllcintod iis Deacon for many 
ycnrs. The mother died in middle life on the 2r)lli 
of March, IS-ltl. In \H(i~ the famil}' rcniovcil from 
the Kajit to ClinUm t'ounty, .Mo., Jiftcr the death of 
the mother. Here Stephen H. Chainl>erlnin was a 
second lime married, to .Mrs. Dorothy I'urse. who 
died May 21, lH7;i. 

Mr. Chamberlain commenced farming in his na- 
tive .State of Maine, and accompanied his father in 
the removal to Missouri in 1UC7, continuing in the 
latt<>r State for a |)eriod of ten years. He then 
came to this ctiunty and purchased the 270 acres of 
bind which constitute lii.s present homestead. Little 
had been done at that time t4>ward its cultivation 
or improvement, and it has taken years of indus- 
trious labor and the outlay of considerable money 
to bring the fann to its present condition. There 
i.« now a gixjd set of frame buildings, a fine young 
orchard, and the smaller fruit trees in abiuidance, 
with a giMidly .assortment of graded stock, mostly 
horses and cattle, and a consideralile number of 
swine. 

The marriage of our subject with Mi>s .Sarah E., 
daughter of William and Abigail (Xu<ld) Trickey, 
took place at the home of the bride in Penobscot 
County, Me., Aug. 3, IK.'il. Mrs. Chamberlain was 
born Aug. 2, 1«.'50, in New Hampshire, and ct)ntinued 
with her [larcnts until her marriage. The latter were 
natives of New Hampshire, but afterward nujved 
t«^i .Maine, and were the parents <if eight children. 
Mm. C. became the niolhor of four children, namely: 
Charles F.. who wn.s born Jan. 2K, 18,54, and died 
.lime 4, 1»m:J; .lasper N., born Feb. IG, 18.'»<; ; Ivory 
W., who was born April 12, 18.'i'j, and died .I.-m. 
2.1, I8K.J. and Arthur .S.. born March 11, 1KC9, and 
died April 20, I H7(i. .Mrs. ('Iiaml)erlain departed 
Ihi,-! life S<pt. 1.'), 1878, at her home in this town- 
ship; she was a lady of many excellent rpi.ilities 
«n<l a devot<Ml mendier of the Baptist Church. 

Mr. Chamberlain, April II, 1 8H.'i, contracted a 
itecond marriage, with .Miss \'i<jla F. French, who 
was lx>rn in Exel«;r, Mc, April ID, 181',», and is the 



daughter of Kben 1'. and Hannah (C<M>k) Fn-nch, 
natives of New Hampshire and now dix-cast-d. This 
latter marriage wils eclebrate<l at Winter I'ark, 
Orange Co., Fla, Mrs. Chamberlain, upon h-aving 
her native Stale, was for four years a resident of 
Boston, Masj*., and subs«-<|uently went South. 

Our subject alliliates with the liepublican |uirtyi 
and is one of its most active adherents. He offlc. 
iated as Trustee of Rockford Township three years, 
and religiously is a communicant of the liaptist 
Church, in which he has olUciated as Deacon for a 
jierioil »if seventeen years. 



m 



\f?AMKS THOMAS (.AHNKTT, one of the 
youngest farmers of (irand River Township, 
is eminently worthy of representation in this 
' work, having develoijcd in his character the 
principles essential to those who would arrive at a 
good iKtsition, socially and tinancially, among their 
fellowmen. He came to this county with his father 
about I 880, when the parental household included 
eight children. His father purchased three-tjuarters 
of a section of land in (Irand River Township, but 
was called from earth before he had succeeded in 
paying for the property. 

Our subject, the eldest child of the |>arent:d fam- 
ily, w!is but twenty-one years old when the father 
died, but he encouniged the younger ones to assist 
in paying off the mortgage, and they all put their 
shoulders to the wheel with most excellent residls, 
keeping together and making good headway toward 
releasing the land from incumbrance. T<X) much 
credit cannot be given to our subject, nor to his 
brothers and sist«rs, who have so essentially aided 
him in his labors. The}' now carry on general 
farming and stock-raising, and have effected the 
improvements which enable them to labor advan- 
tageously. .Stock-raising, as well as grain, enters 
largely into their o|K>rations. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Oravcs 
County, Ky., April 7, 18t>2, and is the son of West- 
ern anil Caledonia ((Jolloda) Oarnetf. also natives 
of the Blue Orass Stale, and both born in Trigg 
County, the father .lune 2.'i, 18:M, and the mother 
Dec. 1 2, 1 843. The death of Western (iarnelt took 



■•►•-4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



239 



place at his home in Garden Plain Township, this 
oountj', Sept. 2, 1883, and that of the mother twenty 
da3-s later, on the 23d of that month. Their lives 
and fortunes were united on the 4th of June, 18G1, 
in their native State of Kentucky, where they lived 
until their removal to Kansas. 

Seven children of the parental household are still 
living, and form an affectionate family, making 
their home together on the farm. The six besides 
our subject were born as follows : Robert 1'., May 
1, 18(;6, and w.as married, Jan. 18, 1888, to Miss Eva 
Brown, of Garden Plain Township; John B. was 
born Jan. 10, 1870; Pearl, Sept. 7, 1872; Tulula, 
July 10, 187G; Phylander, Nov. 28, 1878; Ernest 
Western, Oct. 2, 1881, in this county. The third 
son, William S., who was born in Kentucky, March 
28, 1867, died there on the 5th of Janu.iry, 187.5. 

Mr. Garnett was married, Sept. 23, 1886, to Miss 
Nola, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Jones) 
Robinson, a sketch of whom is given on another 
page in this Albim. Mrs. G. was born Aug. 18, 
1869, in Illinois, and by her union with our subject 
has become the mother of one child, a daughter, 
Daisy, born June 22, 1887. Mr. G., politically, 
votes the straight Democratic ticket, but has too 
much business on his hands to allow him to become 
an oflice-seeker. He and his j'oung wife are very 
popular in their neighborhood, where they number 
many warm friends. 



V-: 



.^h 



^ jfelLLIAM CAUGHEY. Among the relia- 
ble. substantial and prosperous farmers of 
'alley Center Township, tiiore is probably 
none who stands higher in the public estimation than 
the gentleman whose name heads tliis sketch. He 
is a native of Ohio, born in Muskingum County, 
March 18, 1831. His parents, Willi:uii and Jane 
(Stewart) Caughej', were natives of the North of 
Ireland and Pennsylvania respective! j'. 

The father of our subject came to the United 
States in early life, and was engaged in farming in 
Ohio until his death, which occurred in 1867. 
Ilis most excellent wife survived him until 1878. 
The former had been a millwright when a young 
man, for a number of years, but gave it up to pur- 



sue agriculture. He was a Republican in politics, 
and always manifested considerable interest in the 
political campaigns of the country. He was the 
father of eight children. as follows: Jane, who died 
unmarried at the age of twenty-two years; her death 
occurred Dec. 22, 1839; she was a good Christian 
woman. Rebecca became the wife of Ebenezer 
Martin, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in De- 
cember, 1 849, leaving his widow with three chil- 
dren, one boy and two girls, all of whom are resi- 
dents of the State of Ohio; Mary Ann, who died 
Dec. 23, 1839, whilo in her childhood; Nanc}' and 
Nathaniel, the next in order of birth, were twins; 
Nathaniel died Dec. 25, 1839, and Nancj', Mrs. 
Eli Osier, is living on a farm in Ohio. Sarah wed- 
ded James Osier, a native of Maryland. The other 
two children were P^liza and William, the former of 
whom died of scarlet fever in 1839, and the latter 
is the gentleman who is the subject of this {)ersonal 
biography. 

When he was about fourteen years of age, Mr. 
Caughey commenced to depend upon the results of 
his own labors, working at agricultural pursuits in 
his native State. He, however, did not leave the 
parental roof until the death of both his father and 
mother, and upon him in his last years at home de- 
volved the greater part of the management and 
work of the family homestead. In 1 882, seeking a 
field in which to extend his efforts toward obtain- 
ing a competency, he came to Kansas, and settled 
in Valley Center Township, in this count}% on sec- 
tion 36. He at first purchased a tract of IGO acres 
of land, but has since added largely to the farm, 
making in all 320. In December, 1885, he entered 
into the mercantile business in the village, opening 
a grocei-y and bakerj^ which he is operating and 
at the same time manages his extensive grain .and 
stock raising occupation. 

While a resident of the place of his nativity, on 
the 7th of February, 1855, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary E. Dixon, a native of Cecil 
Count}', JNld., who was born Nov. 12, 1832. The 
bi-ide is the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ann 
(Norington) Dixon, both of whom were also na- 
tives of Maryland. Her father followed the peace- 
ful avocation of a farmer most of his days, but in 
his declining years was enabled to retire from au 



■*» ■ ^« 



1^ 



140 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



active partici|Nitii>ii iu buAJni-SK. lie died in the 
Slate of Ohio, in 1H7;J. IIi» wife wa-s a mrmsI fxcel- 
li-nl Chri.stian wimian, and tind in her carl^' yeant 
beon a member of the rrcst)yterian Church, but 
died Feb. H, 18(;4,a eumniunicant uf the Methudisl 
K|>i.Hco|Kd Church. They were the piircnLs of seven 
children, six girU and one boy, iis folion.-,: (nllie- 
rinc Jane, the widow of Kli .Melcalf, her hiii^bnnd 
having died in 1 HT'.t. leaving lier witli iseVen chil- 
«lrcn ; she is a resident at the present of Ohio. Mary 
K., the wife of -Mr. t'aiigliey, uixl Nirah Ann were 
twins; tlic latter married Samuel .kiiinstun, a re- 
tired blacksmitii, and is living in Newton, Kan. 
Hannah .M. married Hugh Dyer, a farmer, but died 
in lMi;-l. leaving twd cliildren to mourn their loss; 
Margaret K., Mrs. Alexander Atchison, is a resi- 
dent of Kansas, where her husband is engaged at 
tlie blacksmith trade; Thomas ,J»'tTcrson, who mar- 
ried .Miss Mnry Ann Young, is a farmer in Mus- 
kingum County, Ohio: and Nancy Rebecca, wife of 
.John Walt<'rs, dieii in 1870, leaving four children. 
Mrs. Caughey received a most excellent c<lucation 
in the su|)erior district schools of her native State, 
and is an intelligent and well-read lady. 

A family of four children blesses the union of 
.Mr. and .Mrs. C.-iughey. They are as follows: Anna 
Eliza, who is the wife of Kllwood L. Dague, a clerk 
in a wholesjde mercantile house in Wichita, an<l the 
mother of two children, Kdna May and Wilnier: 
Nannie Margaret, living at home; Kinraa ,Iane, who 
wed<led Krnest Hoyle. who is engaged in the agri- 
cultural im|)lement business at Valle}' Center; and 
.Minnie M., who is living at home and attending 
s<-liool. .Mr. and Mrs. Caughey are both sincere 
and Christian n)cmbers of the Tnited Presbyterian 
Church, having been connected with that commun- 
ion since iH.'i.'). For the past four years Mr. 
Caughey has held the ollicc of KIder in the church 
at N'allev Center. 



*:s\, llyMU.Ks CI{Al(i owns and occupies a well- 
regulated farm of 12(t ai'res on section II, 



y 



in (JyiBum Township, where he makes a 
s|)eeialty of Clyde anil Norman horses and thor- 
oughbred entile. As an honest man and a good 



citizen, pursuing the even lenor of bis way and 
giving his strict attention to his own conc«'rns, he 
is contributing in an unobtrusive manner to the 
development of his township, and augmenting its 
attractions as a desirable place of residence for an 
enterprising and intelligent class of |>coplc. He has 
occupieil this projxrly since the spring of 1883, 
and cflTected nearly all of the improvements which 
we sec lo-day. and which in their character s|K>ak 
in a forcible maimer of his industry an<l |>crsevcr- 
ance. 

The Craig fjiniily have been quite largely repre- 
sented in Kentucky for two or three gencraticms. 
From that .Stjite the [laternal grandparents of our 
subject removed to Hendricks County, Ind., during 
the early settlement of tlie latter, and were num- 
bered among its worthiest pioneers and most useful 
citizens. There they rcaretl their family, and their 
son Robert, the father ol our subject, first learned 
the trade of tanner, which he later abandoned to 
engage as a stock-dealer, in wiiicli he was successful 
during the period of his brief life. He died, how- 
ever, when Charles was a little lad six years of age. 
The latter was i(orn in Hendricks County, Ind., on 
the 24th of .Inly, 1817, and after the death of his 
father made his home with his paternal grandpar- 
ents, near the city of Indianai>olis, until reaching 
his majority. The mother, after the death of her 
husliand, removed to the vicinity of Danville, where 
she now resides. Mr. Cniig was reared to farming 
pursuits, which he followed in his native county 
until about 187C, and on the .'30th of .January of 
that year, being then nearly twenty-nine years of 
age, was united in marriage with Miss Mary .S. Carl- 
ton, who was born in Johnson Count\', Mo., Jan. .31, 
I8.'»'.). Mrs. Craig is the daughter of F. S. and Lu- 
cinda (Blcvins) Carlton, who were nativesof North 
Carolina, and are now residents of (iyi)sum Town- 
ship. .She w!is educated mostly in her native Slate, 
and removed with her parents to Kansas about 
1871, and completed her studies in the school near 
her father's residence in this county. Of her union 
with our subject there have been born two children, 
namely: Lilly Dell, April 'JO, 1877. and Maud I'., 
Aug. 2'.», 1881. 

The farm of our subject comprises 120 acrejt of 
line bollom land, all under fence and remarkably 



-•►-•-♦ 



^ 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



241 



fertile. He has a good orchard with various of 
the smaller fruits, and is held in high regard junong 
his fellow-citizens, among whom he has served as 
Constable and Road Overseer. He spends most of 
his time in strict attention to his own concerns, but 
upon occasions of general elections votes the 
straight Democratic ticket. 



UAKJNh-K F. L 
eye State, is 
a^ >a prosperous ii 



S>ARNP:R F. COPNER, a native of the Buck- 
is one of the most worthy and 
men of the farming community 
of Salem Township, having built up a good home 
on section 19, where he has surrounded himself and 
his family with all the comforts of life. He first 
opened his eyes to the light in Warren County, 
Ohio, Feb. 27, 1850, and is the son of John and 
Nancy J. (Newland) Copner, of whom a sketch 
appears elsewhere in this Album. 

The parents of our subject removed from Ohio 
to Illinois in 1858, when Warner F. was a lad eight 
years of age. They located in Menard County, 
and one year later removed to Sangamon County, 
where our subject continued until reaching his 
majority, receiving a fair education in the commcin 
schools. When twenty-one years of age he crossed 
the Father of Waters and entered a quarter-section 
of land in Salem Township, this countj', where he 
made some improvements, and which property he 
sold in 1874. Soon afterward he removed to Derby, 
where he remained until 1880, and in the spring of 
that year secured possession of his present property. 
Considering the fact that he was thrown upon his 
own resources early in life, and has received no 
financial assistance, he certainly deserves the plaudit 
of " well done." Upon leaving Illinois he had but 
$24.70 in money, with a horse, saddle and bridle. 
The first three 3'ears after coming to this State lie 
operated as a clerk in a general store in Derby, and 
after four years thus employed he took up farm- 
ing, which he has since followed. It is hardly 
necessary to say that he prefers the free and inde- 
pendent life of the country, and he has been amply 
rewarded for his industry and perseverance in his 
struggle with the soil of Southern Kansas. He m.ay 
be properly ranked among the self-made men, who 



in the school of experience have made the most of 
their opportunities and comprise the solid and sub- 
stantial element of this community, and upon which 
its standing and reputation depend. 

Mr. Copner came to this State a single man, but 
his affections in due time were captured by a most 
excellent young lady, Miss Huldah Parker, a native 
of Butler County, Ohio, and thej' were united in 
marriage Feb. 18, 1880. Mrs. Copner was born 
March 26, 1858, and is the daughter of William and 
Eliza (Myers) Parker, natives respectivel3' of New 
York State and Ohio, and the parents of a large 
fan)ily of children, of whom the following survive, 
namely: Huldah, Mrs. Copner; Stephen; Emma, 
the wife of Samuel Butts, of Sumner County; 
Laura, Mrs. Winfield Booth, of this county ; Ste- 
phen, Henry, William, Annie and Louis. Stephen 
married Miss Alice Watson, and Henry married 
Miss Blanche Shade. 

Mr. Copner has little to do with politics, and is 
mainly an independent voter, aiming to support 
the man whom he considers best qualified for ollice. 
He has served as Constable in his township, and 
given a cordial and generous support to the various 
measures inaugurated for the good of his com- 
munity. 



ylLLIAM CARLTON is operating success- 
fully as a general fanner and stock-raiser 
on section 23, in Gypsum Township, 
where he has 160 acres of land with good improve- 
ments. The farm buildings are neat and substan- 
tial, and adjacent to these is a flourishing orchard 
containing apple, pear and peach trees, while he 
cultivates the grape considerably, together with 
some of the smaller fruits. His stock operations 
are confined mostly' to general purpose horses and 
Short-horn cattle, while he has a fair number of 
Poland-China hogs. Although still a young man, 
he h.as a good start, and being naturally energetic 
and industrious, there is cver3- prospect that success 
will attend him. 

The subject of this brief notice is the son of 
Franklin and Luoinda (Blevins) Carlton, and was 
born in Henry County, Mo., April 9, 1856. His 
parents were natives of Indiana, and now reside in 



••> m ^> 



•^•-4. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



(iynsiiiii. Williniii ntoivi-d hi- e<liHHtion priiici- 
|>ally in this county, ami early in life became riiniilinr 
with farm pursuits. He remainetl with liis |)«roiit(» 
until twonly-thrii; years of ajjc, ami was united in 
murria^'v with Miss Annie Smiley, Nov. 'i'.*, IHTS, 
the we<l(ling tsiking place at the home of the bride 
in Gypsum. Mrs. Carlton was born March 22. 
1«58, in Kentucky, and is the daughter of John M. 
and Nancy (Gamraon) Smiley, who were natives 
of Greenup County. Ky.. an<l now ri>side in Cowley 
County, Kan. Their children were named res|)cct- 
ively : John C. William, Joseph, Thomas, Ker- 
senia. Frank and Luther. Mr. Smiley was a st^inch 
Republican ixililiciilly, and w:is a magistrate in 
Kfutui-ky. 

.Mr. Cnrlton, althouiih Ukini: little part in iH)litics, 
keeps himself well |>ostod upon matters of general 
interest. He and his estimable lady are the parents 
of one child only, a daught*'r, Myrtle, who was 
b..rn May nO. I SSI. 

NDUKW .1. (IlLLKSriK, a prominent agri- 
' iiltiirist, n-siding u|>on secti<m 12, Illinois 
Itiwuship. was born in .Macoupin Comity, 
111., Feb. •2rt, 184G, and is a son of Pendle- 
ton U. and Heliecca (Hand) Gillespie. His father, 
who was a farmer by (K'cu|iation, was born in 
(Jeorgia in 1801. and died in 1H«;1. His mother 
died in 1»4'.», when our subject was about three 
years old, after which his father married Mrs. 
Maliala Go(T, m-e Harnett, a native of Kentucky. 

Our subject was one of a fjunily of six chihlren, 
born to his jjarents as follows: Daniel, John, 
William and Harriet, all of whom are deceased; 
Klizabeth. the wife of Rev. U. I'. Deadrick, a 
Haptist clergyman, at Carlinville, III., and the 
mother of four children; and Andrew J., the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The latter received his educa- 
tion in the common district .schools of his native 
Stat*', and <lerived from that pure source an 
atiundanl iiniount of knowledge. While pursuing 
the llowery |)aths of learning, he ii.s.Hi.slcd his father 
in the daily labors u|>on the farm to the extent of 
his iMiwers, and wiu thus initialeil early in life into 
llie vocation of farming. As he grew to nmlurcr 



3'ear8, and as he gained in experience, he became 
anxious to .start out in life for himself, and to reap 
the fidl beneflt of his own laltors. Having, by 
industry and economy, .ict-nmulntod a small stock 
of this world's goods, it became his dut}' to csUib- 
lish a home, and brighten his future life with 
dome.sti<' joys. Accordingly, Dec. .'». 187;'), he was 
duly united in marriage with Miss Mary Kli7jilieth 
Jones, a native of Macoupin County, III., born 
June .'J, 18.")(). and daughter of John and Caroline 
(Rich) Jones. The father of the bride was a native 
of Kngland, who had left his native shire, and came 
to America a number of years ago, and settled in 
Madison County, 111. He was the father of six 
children, of whom we have the following re<-ord : 
Helen Jane, the deceased wife of Henry Cline; 
Kmma, who died at the age of eleven years: Henry 
and George, who both died in infancy ; Mar}' E., 
Mrs. Gillespie; and Willi:ini, who resides with his 
mother in Macoupin County, III. 

Mr. (Jillespie came to Kansas in 1875, in search 
of a home, where his efforts toward a competency 
would be less confined than in his native SUite, and 
on the 22d of .September of that year made a 
settlement upon the farm where he now resides. 
The homestead embraces ItiO acres of land, which 
is well brought under cultivation, and which he 
has substantially and handsomely improved, and 
upon which he carries on what is called mixed 
farming, raising both grain and st<x!k. Since com- 
ing Ui this place, his natural abilit}' attracting the 
attention of his neighbors, he wjis elected to hold 
the ollice of Township Clerk. During the years 
187fiand 1877, having |>erformed the duties that 
fell u|>on him in that capacity, he was honored with 
the olllcc of Township Treasurer. In 1884-8,') he 
served as Township Trustee, and is now occupying 
the ollice of Treasurer of the .School District. In 
his politics ho thinks and votes with the DemiK-ratic 
|>arly, and hohls strictly to the tenets of that Jeflfer- 
sonian organization. Both he and his wife are most 
estimable people, and jMKSsess the affection and 
res|M!ct of all with whom they are brought in cfm- 
Uu't. As an ofHce-holder Mr. (iillespie has always 
fuinilcd, in the handsomest manner, the duties 
devolving u|M>n him. and |K>sse?ses the entire con- 
fidence and respect of the community. 



u 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



>» IK 

243 ' ' 



Gathered around the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. 
Gillespie are their little family of three children, 
who have come to gladden their home. Joseph C. 
was born Oct. 10, 1876; George William was born 
Dec. 3, 1878, and Charles F. was born Nov. 15, 
188G. The two elder boys are bright and intelli- 
gent youths, and give great promise of attaining 
more than a conimou position in their manhood. 



JACKSON BURNAUGII, anian well educated 
and intelligent, and one of the most thrifty 
farmers of Grant Township, came to this 
section of country when the site of Valley 
Center was marked simply b}' a railroad section 
house. For some years he was employed as a 
teacher in the districts of Grant Township during 
the winter season, driving frequently to and from 
a distance of five juiles. He was also Township 
Assessor at the same time, and from the fact that he 
was well informed and had a good understand- 
ing of business methods, was frequently called upon 
in the adjustment of both personal and business 
matters, with which, as a rule, the ordinary pioneer is 
not entirely familiar. 

With Mr. Burnaugh, as with most of the men 
coming to this section of country at that time, the 
main object was to secure possession of a tr.ict of 
land which in the future he hoped to transform from 
a wilderness into a fertile farm, lie devoted him- 
self to his lands during the seasons of sowing and 
reaping, each year being marked by stead3' progress, 
and we now find him in possession of one of the 
most desirable homesteads in the county. Ii is 
pleasantly situated, about two miles from Valley 
Center, in the southwestern part of Grant Township, 
and admirably adapted to general farming and 
stock-raising. In the latter industry' Mr. Burnaugh 
has been particularly interested, and has a choice 
assortment of high-grade horses and cattle, together 
with Poland-China hogs. The farm is laid off with 
beautiful hedge fencing, the buildings are tastefid 
and substantial, and a nourishing orchard, together 
with trees of the smaller fruits, serves to provide the 
household with the luxuries of the season and also 
add to the embellishment of the premises. 



The birthplace of our subject was in Clermont 
County, Ohio, and the date thereof July 16, 1835. 
He was the first-born child of William and Hannah 
(Osborn) Burnaugh, also natives of the Buckeye 
State, where they spent their entire lives. The 
mother died while a j'oung woman, in 1840, at the 
age of twenty-three years. William Burnaugh sur- 
vived his wife a period of thirty-seven years, his 
death taking place in the fall of 1877. when he was 
sixty-eight years old, in Brown County, Ohio, where 
he mostly lived. Thej' were the parents of three 
children, the two younger being girls, named Sarah 
and Mary; thej' are now in Ohio. The maternal 
grandfather, Josiah Osborn, a native of Ohio, served 
in the War of 1812, receiving a land warrant 
for his services which entitled him to locate in 
Illinois. 

Our subject was crippled in boyhood by white 
swelling, and thus being unable to engage in active 
farm labor was given a good education, completing 
his studies in the college at Lebanon, Ohio. He 
was engaged as a teacher in his native State during 
the summer season for a number of years, being em- 
plo\'ed in both district and town schools. To this 
profession happily he was well adapted, and made 
of it a gratifying success. When about thirty-two 
years of age he was united in marriage with Miss 
Phebe Ann Slayton, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride in Brown Countj', in 1867. 
Mrs. Burnaugh was born in 1848, and was the daugh- 
ter of .John and Jane Slayton, natives of Ohio and 
among the earlj' pioneers of Brown Count}'. She 
also had been well educated, and was expecting to 
assist her husband in the profession which he had 
adopted, but their plans were broken in upon by 
the sudden death of the young wife, which occurred 
two weeks after her marriage. Mr. B., after this 
sore bereavement, continued as a teacher in his na- 
tive State, and in the fall of 1870 was married to 
Mrs. Eleanor (Cachard) Burr, who was born in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., in the year 1843. 

Mrs. Eleanor Burnaugh was the third child of 
Charles and Caroline Cachard, the father a native 
of England, and the mother born on the water be- 
tween England and Scotland. She also was finelj' 
educated, having been a pupil in the .icadera}' at 
St. Martins, in Brown County, Ohio, and made the 



•?^^ 






t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1 



A(-r|iiniiiUii('e of niir siilijcct iltirin); tho so^ainn of n 
U-nrluTs' iii.Htitiito hclH in timt viriiiily. Tlicy rc- 
niaiiietl in tlie Huckovo State llirw years after llioir 
iiinrriage. nii<l in the sprinp of 1«"3 Mr. Iturnnii^'h, 
wiio had alreiuly vi!<iletl tliis Mate and t^-lwted his 
liK-Htion. put ii|> his present residence, and was 
j«iine<l l>y his family tlie following; siimnu'r. 

The lin*t ptireluLHC of our subject in tliis State 
Consisted of a quarter-section of railroad land, which 
he transfonned from the wilderness into the l>eaii- 
tiful honiesleail which the passin;; traveler views 
with an admiring eye. Although a prominent man 
in his township he ha.s ha<l but very little to dn with 
|>olitics, liut voles with the Republican party, lie 
has served as Township Trustee two ye.'irs. and 
assisted in organizing the school di.strict in which 
his children pursued their early studies. He con- 
(luctefl the first school taught in Valley Center. 

The seven children born to Mr. and .Mrs. Brown 
were named respectively: Willie. .lulia Arabelle, 
t'lmrles T., Leslie, I'earl Uella, Hazel Annett*' and 
Kthel. Willie and Arabelle are employed at the 
Enijle oflice in the city of Wichita. The others 
make their home with their ]>arents and attend 
school. 

SOLOMONS. HOW. MAN. The sulfjecl of 
this jK'rsonal history is a resilient of Waco 
T<Mvnship, living on section !.'», and is well 
esteemed as a man of industry and enter- 
prise, besides being a worthy citizen and having to 
his credit an unblemished war reconL He is a na- 
tive of Lebanon County, I'a., born April 14, 1h;}0, 
and is the son of .lohn and Klizabeth (.Seachrist) 
Itowman, natives of the Keystone Slate. His father 
died March 8, 1852, and his mother about six 
months previous to that date. Our subject was the 
yonngcsl of five children, the names of the others 
being .lohn, Magdalen, Klizabeth and Catharine. 

Solomon Howinan drew his education from the 
ilislricl scliiMiIs of his native county in his boyhood, 
and in his youth attended the cxcellcDt academy at 
Annville, I'a. For a [Mirtion <if his time, after 
leaving the latter institution, he wjis engaged in 
leai'hing .school during the winl<-r months, following 
that profession for about three years. He then took 



up the tKTupatif)n of butcher, which vo<'ation he 
carried on for about five years, but since tliat time 
has devoted his attention to ngrictdtural pursuits. 
His iHitriotism having Iteen awakened by the immi- 
nent tianger to our country from the hands of ram- 
pant tniit4)rs. he enlisted Aug. G, 1HC2, in Comimny 
A, llOth Hlinois Infantry, and was mustered into 
the I'nited States service at Uecatur, III. He served 
gallantly for three years, ami participated in the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, and the battles at 
Arkansas I'osl, Champion Hills and Haines HlufT. 
Some time after the latter engagement he was taken 
sick and sent to the hospital, and on convalescence 
was pl;iced in the Reserve Corps, where he remained 
until honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Ind., 
in .lanmiry, IKO.*). While in the service he ma<le a 
fine record, and wii.-< "in his duty prompt at every 
call." 

On returning from the army he felt it incumbent 
upon him to establish a home of his own, and there- 
fore, .Ian. 28, ISGti, he was united in marri.nge with 
Miss Maggie L. Moss, a native of Scott County, III., 
born .March 19, 1827. She is the daughU-r of 
Matthew an<l .lane (Lyon) Moss, natives of \'irginia 
and Kentucky respectively'. Her father was born 
in 1787, and had served in the American army 
during the contest with (ireat Britain in 1812-1.'), 
and tlifd in Missouri in 1818. His wife died in 
18;}2, having been the mother of seven children, 
who bore the names of Elizabeth. Maggie, Nancy 
.1., Helen, and two who died in infancy unnamed. 

The subject of this biography cime to Kansas in 
February. 1872. from Macon County, III., where 
he had been living some fifteen years He pre- 
empted eighty acres of land on section 1.5, where 
he now resides, and still holds the original tiovern- 
nienl jjatcnt. Since coming to this State hiselTorts 
upon his farm have been eminently successful, and 
he ha.s rapidly progressed toward an ample com|>e- 
tency. He has always t.-iken an active part in the 
ollicial life of the township, an<l has filled mar)y of 
the local r>llices. During the year 1«78 he was 
Township Trustee an<l Asses-sor, since which time 
he has filled for three years the ixisition of Town- 
ship Treasurer, the otlice of Town Clerk for one 
year, and S<-hool Hirector for an extended |H'riod 
of time. In 1887 he was re-elected Township 



•► ■ -4^ 






-•»• 



; 



•4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



245 1 ' I 



Trustee, and holds that position at the present writ- 
ing. His industry in the pursuit of his own busi- 
ness, his spotless private life, and the character of 
the services he has rendered in his several official 
capacities, have elevated him to the highest estima- 
tion in the community in which he has lived. In 
his political alliliations he entirely coincides with 
the doctrines and platforms of the Republican party, 
and in the exercise of his elective franchise sup- 
ports the candidates of that organization. 



^ILLIAM R. FERRIS, who owns eighty acres 
of the most valuable land in Minneha Town- 
ship, and has distinguished himself as one 
of its most active and enterprising citizens, came 
from New York to Nebraska, and thence to Kansas, 
settling by pre-emption in 1871. Since that time 
he has given his close attention to the improve- 
ment of his land, upon which he has erected good 
buildings, and the soil of which he has brought to 
a high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Ferris is a native of the Knipire State, and 
wiis born in Otsego County on the 19th of June, 
1 840. He is consequently in the prime of life, and 
if his future career compares favorably with his 
past, he will be named among the leading men of 
the State. His father, Uenjamin Ferris, also a na- 
tive of New York, was an ordained minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Chnrch, and spent his hist 
years in Pennsylvania, where his death took place 
in the spring of 1 849. The mother, a native of 
New York, was born Jan. 30, 1810, and is now de- 
ceased. The parents were married Oct. 29, 1 837. 

Our subject spent his boyhood and youth in his 
native county, and before reaching his majority 
enlisted, under the first call for troops to put down 
the Rebellion, in Company E, 11th Pennsylvania 
Infantry, serving the full term; in the fall of 1861 
he re-enlisted, in the 56th Pennsylvania, for three 
years, or during the war. At the call for veterans, 
in the fall of 1864, he again re-enlisted and partic- 
ipated in the battles of Rappahannock Station, the 
second battle cf Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettys- 
burg, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court 
House, being slightly wounded at the latter place. 



He met the enenij' in various other minor engage- 
ments, and signalized himself by his bravery and 
fidelity to duti', receiving the approval of In's offi- 
cers and the warm friendship of his comrades. The 
regiment at the last was marched from Richmond 
to AVashington, I). C'., and mustered out in June, 
1865. 

Upon being transformed from a soldier to a civil- 
ian, Mr. Ferris took up his abode in Pennsylvania, 
and on the 14th of March, 1869, was married at Fall 
City, Neb., to Miss Sarah Jane Steel, a native of 
LaF.ayette Countj', Mo. Her parents, Chester and 
Elizabeth (Edwards) Steel, were natives of Penn- 
sj'lvania, and the father spent his last years in La- 
Fayette County, Mo., where his death took place in 
1859. The mother is still living, making her home 
on the homestead in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. F. 
remained in Nebraska for a time after their marriage, 
and settled upon the new farm in Minneha Town- 
ship in the spring of 1871. Five children blessed 
the household, nanielj': Elizabeth, who died Oct. 
12, 1874; William R., John W., Stella M. and Sarah 
J. The latter four live with their parents and are 
pursuing their studies in the district school. 



UILLIS B. POWELL, editor of the Colwich 
Courier, is conducting this paper with sig- 
^^^ nal ability and success, and holds a prom- 
inent position among the 3'oung journalists of the 
West, none of whom have better prospects for a 
brilliant future in their chosen career. 

Otho J. and Sophia (Smith) Powell, the parents 
of our subject, are natives respectively of IMary- 
land and Ohio. In early life the father learned the 
trade of a cooper, and followed it for a few years 
in his native SUite. While yet a .young man he 
moved to Ohio, and located in Upper Sandusky. 
Subsequently he embarked in a newspaper enter- 
prise, and in 1866 became editor and proprietor of 
the Pioneer, a paper i)ul)lished in that place. Later 
he removed to Wapakoneta, and there edited and 
publislied the Auglaize County Republican. After 
spending ten years there he moved to Chicago Junc- 
tion, in Huron County, and became manager of the 
Chicago Junction Herald. Eighteen months later 



•>-H-4- 



:-^^ 




SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



tlip town \»iu. vi.'<iu>il \>y n iliMt^lruiis c<iiiflnj;mti(in. 
wliicli !M> cTi|i|)lt'i1 llll^ilK■^M Uinl lie moved U> (Jiir- 
rolt, Iml., wliorc lie i.s now suecessfiilly odilinjj iinii 
pnliiishing the (Jsirrcll Herald, mikI is iilfo |iro|irie- 
tor of an extensive l>c>uk-store. 

W. H. Towell, the siilijeet of llii.s brief liio^^rnpli- 
ionl sketch, wns Itorn in Wnpiikonet.-i, Ohio, Aj)ril 
12, IH6H. We nii^ht s«y he wii!< nonri?he<l on "pi," 
us at the very youthful aye of eight years he to<ik 
a .-t<K)l at the (•oni|K»>itor'.s ease, and thus in early 
life became an eX|K'rt in type->ettinf|, and also well 
verged in the duties of a news|)a|KT olllee. His ed- 
ucation wili mainly received in the printin<^'-olll«o, 
where he ha.* ai-rpiired a viust fund of general infor- 
mation, lie has been engaged on various j>n|>crs 
a.H compositor, reporter, etc. Being jx^ssessed of 
an eiiep^'etic spirit, good executive ability, and an 
excellent judgment, he determined to establish him- 
.self |H>rnianently in some literary' capacity, and 
accordingly in IHHfl came to Kansas as offering a 
fair fielil for journalists. After a few months' news- 
pa|H'r Work in Hutchinson and Haven, he foundeil the 
C'olwich C"i(rier,a Bve-cohimn quarto sheet, devoted 
to the curi'ent news of the day, both foreign and 
local; in |)olitics it is inilependent. Though newly 
established, the first number having been issued in 
April, I H.s7. it has already attained .1 good circu- 
lation. It is a bright, spicy paper, and the editor 
being a versatile writer, it is eagerly sought by the 
intelligent reading public, and its articles are clipped 
by exchanges throughout the State. 

fKr:^ AMI'KL IIAM.Mi:i{.S. a representative 
'^^-^ farmer and stock-iaiser of Ohio Township, 
i\/_3 i- liuely located on section .'i'J, u|)on a body 
of fertile land, to which he has given his 
dose attention since the spring of IHKl. His 0|>er- 
atioiw have been marked with uniform success, and 
in addition to being a thorough and skillful agri- 
culturist, he is a business n)an of more than 
orilinary ra|*acities, wise and judicious in his invest- 
ment", and taking advantage of the facilities 
alTorded at tlii- day and age by improved ma- 
chinery and all the other a[)pliances retpiired by 
the modern tiller of the soil. 



•►•.-^ 



The township of (ireen, in (iix'ene County, I'a., 
held the earlie^t home of our subject, where he first 
o|H'ned his eyes to the light Nov. II, IMIC. His 
juirents, Jt)seph and Kli/jibeth (llanna) Hammers, 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and are more fully 
written of in the sketch of Joseph T. Hammers, 
which will be found elsewhere in this volume. 
Samuel wiu- reared to manhood in his native St^ite, 
receiving his education in the primitive schools of 
(Ireen Township, and was married when about 
thirty-four years of age, March 7, 1H50, to Miss 
Melissa Skinner, who was born in Guernsey County, 
Ohio, Aug. I.'l, IK."!2, and was consequently a num- 
ber of years younger than her husband. 

Mi-s. Hammers is the daughter of Courtland and 
.Mary (Lynn) Skinner, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and now deceased. Our subject and his wife com- 
menced life together on a fanu in WtKxlford 
County, III., and the household circle was coni- 
pletctl by the birth of thirteen children, ten of whtjm 
are living and are named resiK'ctively : Joseph 
C. : Mary A., now the wife of '/.. H. Stevens, of 
Ohio Township; Klizjibeth, Mrs. Cyrus Rcqua, of 
Hates County, Mo.; John; Samuel; Jessie, the wife 
of Ucubcn Mitchell, t>f Colorad<j; James, Jennie, 
Alice and Rrower. Those unmarried are at home 
with their parents. 

In 18.")0our subject, with his family, rcm()Ved 
from his native State to Woodford County, III., 
where he resided until the fall of 18C6,then crossed 
the Mississippi and took up his residence in Bates 
County, Mo. From there, in the spring of 1884, 
he came to this count}' and Itought a tract of un- 
cultivated land in Ohio Township, of which he hius 
since retained possession. To this, however, he 
has added by subsequent purchases, and is now the 
owner of 320 acres in this township. The quarter 
section which comprises the homestead is consid- 
ered about the best land in the State of Kansas, 
owing largely to the care and good judgment which 
have been exercised in its cultivation. 

Starting in life with very little capital, in fact 
nothing but his strong hanils and resolute will, th»' 
present condition of Mr. Hammers, socially and 
flnanciallv, rellects great <Tedit u|Hin him, br)th as 
an agriculturist and n business man. His early 
education was quite limited, but his natural intclli- ^ 
i#-l 




p^. 



C0'^>'x^-^}^ "^^^ 



7 



Hl-^^ 



^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



249 



i 



genee and habits of observation have served to ki iji 
him well informed upon matters of general interest. 
He is politically a true-blue Republican, and relig- 
iously, with his estimable wife, a member in good 
standing of the Baptist Church, with which he has 
been prominently connected for many years. To 
this, as to the other institutions of his township 
whose object has been the general good of the com- 
munity, he has been a cheerful and liberal contrib- 
utor. His declining years should be amply com- 
forted by the reflection that he hiis done wiiat he 
could, both to those immediately connected with 
him by the ties of nature, and to aid in the pros- 
perity of the people around him. There are few 
I>eople held in higher esteem than Samuel Hammers 
and his excellent wife, who has been his faithful 
and sympathizing companion for a period of over 
thirty-eight years. 



^■/NDREW J. COOK, one of the honored 
iLlll pioneers of Sedgwick County, came to this 
State in 1870, and pre-empted 160 acres 
of land on section 14 in Wichita Town- 
ship. He has been jiarticularly fortunate in his 
investments, and sold all his land but thirty-seven 
acres at a verj' liigh price, investing the proceeds in 
dwelling-houses in tlic center of the city. He carried 
on agriculture for a few years, but is now retired 
from active labor, and confines his attention to the 
investment of hiscapit;il and the collection of rents. 
Our subject, a genuine New Englander, was born 
among the hills of Berkshire County, M.ass., on the 
17th of October, 1819. His parents, James and 
Lucy (Tolman) Cook, were also natives of the 
Bay State, the father a marble-cutter, and one of 
the finest workmen in the State at that time. He 
accumulated a fine propert}', and then took a part- 
ner into his business, whose rascality involved the 
entire loss of the property of Mr. Cook. His last 
years were spent in Massachusetts. His death, how- 
ever, took place in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1827. The 
mother survived her husband a few years, when 
she too passed away, dying in Erie County, N. Y. 
She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian 
Church. The parental household included nine 



cliildren, namely: Franklin, George, Aretia Kme- 
line, Lewis, Eliza A., Henry, Andrew J., our sub- 
ject, and Perry (twins), and Charles. Andrew, in 
common with his brotliers, lived on the farm and 
attended the common school, completing his studies 
in an institution near the city of Buffalo, N. Y. 
When eighteen j'ears of age he emigi'ated to Ohio, 
in company with an elder brother, locating in Clarke 
County, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and 
followed this for some years. Later he invented 
the first giain harvester ever brought to the notice 
of the public, and which was known as the Atlantic 
Grain Raker. This patent was issued Nov. 20, 
1846. He was, however, swindled out of his let- 
ters patent through the rascality of one Morgan, of 
New York State, who is probabl}' now enjoying the 
fruits of his ingenuity. Some time after he in- 
vented the first harvester to carrj' the binders. 
Mr. Cook also invented the Ledger Plates or Mower 
Guards. This he also parted with for the insignifi- 
cant sum of $1,000. He also invented the patent 
Dredge and Freight Boat, and the Electric Telegraph 
to run on railroad trains, with results similar to 
those before mentioned, and which is a story too 
often repeated in the annals of invention — other 
men having, in the majority of cases, reaped the 
profits of the brain which brought to the world its 
most useful machinery. 

Mr. Cook, while a resident of Ohio and when 
about twenty-seven years of age, was united in 
marriage, Nov. 24, 1846, with Mrs. Ann E. Ste- 
phens, who was born in (Jreene Count}', Ohio, and 
is the daughter of Dr. Robert E. Stephens, of 
Hariisburg, Pa., a man of fine education and a 
gi'aduate of one of the Philadelphia colleges. He 
was born in Pennsylvania, in 1796, and after com- 
pleting his medical studies emigrated to Greene 
Countj', Ohio, where he practiced for a number of 
years, and where he died when thirt^'-nine years of 
age. His mother was a descendant of the f.amous 
Elder family, well known throughout Pennsylvania 
as among its earliest settlers. The mother of Mrs. 
Cook was in her girlhood Miss Rhoda W. Corj', 
who was born April 11,1 806, in Clarke Count}', Ohio, 
and was the daughter of Elnathan and Hannah (Jen- 
nings) Cory, who were of English and German 
ancestry respectively. She was married to Dr. Ste- 



'•► 



i^ 



A mo 



<i:iii,\\ 



I OUNTY. 



phcii:* (>«l. i:.. iM't. mill tlii'V Imtjiiiu' IIk' |>:ir.iit- 
of three chiMren— KlimUmn M., Ann K. and Han- , 
nnh M. ' 

Mrs. Stephens, after the dcnth <>f her hu>lmnil. 
was married, in 1X33, to Mr. David Cross, a mill- 
wright h\ trade, who was born in Kiu-tern Dhii- in 
1807, and died in February. 1«h3. Of this union 
tliere were eight childrrn born, three of whom 
died in infancy. Harry f. is a resident of Kro|)o- 
ria, this SUite; Samuel K. and .lames R (twins) 
served .as soldiert- in the Iniun nnny during the 
Uto war; the latter was killed at the battle of Re- 
saca, and Samuel is now in Topok.i. The other two 
brothers, Stephen and Thomas, also served in the 
Civil War. the latter having been a member of the 
44th Ohio Infantry; they are now in Topeka. 
Mary I', died at the age of twelve years. Mrs. 
Cross is still living, and has i)ow arrived at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-two years. She makes her 
home with her daughter in To|>eka. The maternal 
grandfather of Mrs. Cook, David .1. Cory by narac, 
wa.-. the son of the founder of the town of Finley, 
Ohio, where David .1. si)ent his last years, and died 
there at the age of eighty-six. 

To our subject and his wife there have been born 
the following children: Helen K.. Robert S., Emma, 
William, KInathan C. and Samuel E. 

As one of the highly res|)Oct*>d and useful citi- 
zens of this county, we take pleasure in presenting 
the portrait of Mr. Cook in this volume. As a fit- 
ting comiMinion picture we give by its side that of 
his estimable wife. 

[jjII.LIAM S. NOKL. one of the pioneers of 
Oilif) Township, residing on section .13, 
came to Sedgwick County, and prc-cniiitcd 
the northeast quarter of that .'*ection, settling on 
tti<- place before there were any improvements on 
il worth speaking of. Hy dint ot great energy, 
[M-rteverance and economy, he ha.s brought it from 
it" original state of pristine wildness to a conditifin 
of excellent culture, and it stands tf»-day a monu- 
ment to liis g«»<Hl management an<l busim-ss ipiali- 
ties. iJeoiiles this farm, he is :i1-m the owner of 



••iglity acres of l.'iini in >iiniii<-r County, which he 
has acquired by the investment of his surplus 
capital. 

The subject of this personal memoir first drew 
the breath of life beneath the skies of his native 
Kentucky, in Garrard County, .Jan. 16, 1h32. He 
is a son of Robert C. and Nancy (I'ruott) Noel, 
who were the parents of six children, as follows: 
William S., the subject of our sketch: Thomas, 
who is deceased: Lewis L.. a resident of Ohio 
Township; Robert A., who is living in Kentucky; 
Mary A., the wife of Richard Hiikle. of Sumner 
County, this Sljite. and Nancy .T., the widow of 
Marion Murphy, who is living in Ohio Township. 
The father of the family de|)arted this life in 1HG4, 
but the mother makes her home with her youngest 
daughter, Mrs. Murphy. The ancestors of our sub- 
ject drew their source from bonnic Scotland. 

In his boyhood Mr. Noel received his education 
in the district schools of his native State, and was 
early in life initiated into agricullunil pursuits. 
After having attained mature ycjirs. for a time he 
was employed in teaching school with considerable 
success, but later gave up that profession to follow 
farming, which luis been his business ever since. 
He continued a resident isl the " dark and bloody 
ground," until ISG'.t, when he removed to Davis 
County. Mo., with his family, and there made his 
residence until 1W7-), the date of his settlement in 
this county. He was united in marriage in Ken- 
tucky, March 2;'), IH.i.}. with Paulina Anderson, 
who is also a native of the same SU-ite, and whose 
birth took place Dec. 27, 1x30. The bride was a 
daughter of .lohn I), and Matilda Anderson, both 
of whom were also natives of Kentucky, and were 
the parents of five children, of whom but the two 
following survive: Nancy, the widow of .John 
Warmoth, who is living in Knox County, Mo., and 
Mrs. Noel, the wife fif the subject of this sketch. 
The latter was reared in her native State until 
attaining the years of womaidiood, and was there 
married. .Several of her ancestors were among the 
heroic men who made up the Continental army 
during the Revolutionary War. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Noel have been born a family 

of eight children, of whom the four following are 

I still living: .lohn T., a resident of Siiiniier ( oiinty. 



•►■-♦»- 



•►Hh-4» 



SEDGTrrCK COUNTY. 



251 



■i 



Kan. ; Robert C, Alice P. and Lunceford A. The 
four who have gone before their parents to the 
home beyond the skies, were known on earth as 
Nancy A., Matilda B., William B. and Mary E. 
Our subject and ills wife are both sincere and con- 
sistent members of the Church of Christ, in which 
organization Mr. Noel is now officiating for the 
twelfth year as IClder. In his political views, he 
affiliates with the Republican party, but has strong 
tendencies toward prohibition. His moral sense 
teaches him that the traffic in all intoxicating bev- 
erages is hurtful, not only to the dealer and drinker, 
but to the entire community. He has served for 
several yeare as the Clerk of Ohio Township, and is 
one of the leading representative citizens of that 
portion of the county. 



AVID PARKIN.SON. There is no class of 
biographies which is more interesting to 
read than that of the industrious and en- 
terprising farmer's boy who has risen un- 
aided from a state of comparative poverty to a 
position of affluence and comfort. Prominent 
among the men of Sedgwick County who have thus 
laboriously toiled onward and upward, is the indi- 
vidual of whom this sketch is written. He is now 
a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser of Attica Town- 
ship, residing upon section 1, and is a native of 
Jefferson County, Ohio. Sept. 28, 1848, is the 
date of his birth, and he is the son of Thomas 
and Margaret (AVheeler) Parkinson. 

Thomas Parkinson, the father of our subject, is a 
resident of Park Township, this county, and was 
born in Lancastershire, England, March 29, 1806. 
His parents, John and Susie (Merrill) Parkinson, 
were natives of the same county, and the father was 
a weaver by trade. The latter came to the United 
States in 1862, but after a year's residence returned 
to his native land and there ended his days. 
Thomas Parkinson was bred up a weaver, and came 
to the United States in 1828 and followed his trade 
in Philadelphia until 1832, when, after a residence 
in the interior of the State of Pennsylvania, he re- 
turned to Jeflferson County, Pa. In 1 853 he removed 



to Fulton County, 111., where he engaged in farm- 
ing, and made his home there until 1880, when he 
removed to Kansas. He was married in Colum- 
biana County, Ohio, to Marg.aret, the daughter of 
Joseph and Isabella McKee, who was born in Janu- 
ary, 1819, in Pennsylvania. They have lived in 
harmonj' together for many years, having celebrated 
their golden wedding in 1884. 

David Parkinson, of whom this biography is 
written, is the sixth of a family of thirteen children 
born to his parents, of whom ten are still living. 
He passed his boyhood days on the farm in Illinois, 
and received a fair education in the district schools 
of that State. As he grew toward man's estate, he 
gave his time to his father, rendering assistance in 
carrying on the homestead, and for two years after 
he had attained his majority worked for his parents 
for monthly wages. For the following three years 
he was engaged in agricultural pursuits upon rented 
land, and by economy and industry had accumu- 
lated enough of this world's goods to warrant him, 
as he thought, in getting married. Accordingly, 
March 16, 1874, he united his fortunes with Miss 
Melinda Morgan, a native of Fulton Count}', 111., 
born Dec. 21, 1848, and daughter of James and 
Marj' (Orwig) Morton. Her parents were natives 
of Ohio, and are now residents of Fulton Count}', 
HI., being upward of eighty 3'ears of age. In Oc- 
tober, 1 875, Mr. Parkinson and his bride came to 
Kansas and settled upon a tract of land in Sedgwick 
County, belonging to his father-in-law, eighty acres 
of which Mr. Morgan had given Mrs. Parkinson a 
deed for. 

Since coming to this county, although he has seen 
pretty hard times, still the efforts of the subject of 
this sketch toward making a home have borne 
fruition. He purchased 160 acres of land, but has 
since sold eighty acres of it, and invested the pro- 
ceeds in town lots in the city of WMchita, th.at mar- 
velous wonder of the Arkansjis \'alley. His industry, 
energy and good management have raised him to a 
high position among the well-to-do agi-iculturists of 
this section of the count}'. He has 160 acres of 
land worth over §50 an acre, all of which is under 
a high state of tillage and is well stocked with fine 
horses, high-grade cattle and hogs. The buildings 
upon the place are handsome and substantial, his 



•►Hh-^ 



-♦i- 



2. '.2 



f 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



);raimrii>3 iiml iTili.s iiro wvll fllU-d, iukI a g<Hi(1 nr- 
cliiird of younff «nd thrifty trees iuMm mnterinlly to 
the value of the property. 

ArountI the fniiiily fireside of .Mr. unci .Mr>. Piir- 
kiiisoii tbert' is gnthcrccl tlieir litth' family of four 
cbililren, who.se ii:iiii<-s and natal dnys are ii.s foilons: 
Snowdon, who wa* born .Inly IG, ln7o; Travis, < >et. 
:U, 1878; Tressji, March 18. 1881, an<l Hedding. 
Jan. 17, 188.'*. In his jwlitical alllliations, the sub- 
ject of this history is n strict adherent to the prin- 
ciples of the Democratic |)arty, and cast his llrst 
Presidential ballot for Horace Greeley. Both he 
and his wife are members of the .Methodist Kpisco- 
pjil Church, of which society Mr. I'arkin.son is 
Trustee. This orgunization built a new church in 
188", to which our subject d<^n:ited #100 in money 
and >2J in labor. Knjoyinjj the esteem, confidence 
and resiHJct of the whole community, Mr. I'arkin.son 
may \ie well classed among the prominent citizens 
of Attica Township. 




OUNKLUS ULDI'ATIIKK, Treasurer of 
Township, and quite an extensive 
dealer in grain ai Maize, came to this 
County in the spring of 1 870, and pre-empted a 
quarter-section of land in Erie Township, in the 
southwestern corner of the county, and then, in com- 
pany with .1. .1. Jones, purchased 1,000 acres, com- 
prising iHjrtions of sections 8, 9 and 10, township 
2C, range 1 west, all in Park Township. Here iic 
lommenced extensive operation.s, raising large 
quuntitie.i of grain anil slock, |>rinciiJiilly swine. In 
M84 the imrtnership was dissolved, the land .sold, 
and with a |M<rtion of the proceeds our subject pur- 
chiused land on section I'.t, of which he still retains 
possession, an<l whicii is o|)orated mostly by em- 
ploy i«. 

A native of rnl.ir County, Ohio, our subject 
wiis born April m, 1MJ7, and is the son of I'eter and 
.luliu Ann ( Pence) Oldfiithcr, native." of Pennsyl- 
vania. Thence they removeil, aft«r their marriage, 
to Preble County. Ohio, where the fnllier npeniti'd 
a llouring-mili, and later tunicrj his all<Miti<>n to 



agricultund pursuits, lie wa.s successful in his 

! labors, building up a goo<l homestead and securing 

j a com|)ctency, and during the hist fifteen years of 

his life made his home in I.«wisburg, Uhio. rctireil 

from active labor, lie de|)arted this life in the 

spring of 1 h7h, at the riiK- age of seventy-five years. 

I The mother, who was born in 1808, is still living, 

! and nwikes her home in Preble County, Ohio. 

To Peter and .Julia Ann Oldfather. the jHircnts 

i of our subject, there were l>orn nine children, of 

I wluim the record is a.s follows: The eldest son, 

I John, during the late war enlisted in the 12th 

Ohio Infantry. an<l yielded up his life in the 

I service of his country at (Jettysburg; Hiram i.s 

farming near Colwicli, this county: .Sarah became 

tlie wife of Curtis Whalon. and died about 1870, 

[ leaving a family of children: Amiinda is the wife 

' of Henry Want/,, of .Miamisburg, Ohio; .Samuel is a 

resident of Preble County, that .State, where he has 

been Auditor two terms; Jeremiah is engaged in 

missionary work in Persia, where he has been for 

the hist tlfteen years, having visited his native land 

but once during this time; Matilda is the wife of 

Dr. Peter Drayer, a practicing physician in In- 

diaiiji; Cornelius, subject of our sketch, was the 

eighth in order of birth; Fnink is farming in Pratt 

County, this .Stjiie. 

Mr. Oldfather pjissed his boyhood and youth 
after the innnncr of most farraere' sous, attending 
the district school in the winter, and assisting in 
the labors on the homestead in the summer. In 
18G'.» he left the Buckeye .State, and making his way 
to Douglas County, HI., purchiLsed 200 acres of land, 
whicli is now the site of the nourishing town of 
Murdock. This he sold to good advantage five 
yeai-s later, and crossing the Mississippi, made his 
way to the Pacific Co.ist, where he spent six months, 
engaged mostly in traveling about and trying to 
decide whether he would become a resident of that 
section or not. He llnally resolved that the 
location was not exactly what he wished, ami upon 
visiting .Siuithern Kansas, soon made up his mind 
to locale here. His subsequent operations we 
have already indicated. 

Our subject, in no haste to marry, was Ihii-ty-flve 
yi'!irs of age liefore he took to himself a wife and 
helpiiK'ct, this event linally being celeliiated in 



1^ 



•► II ^* 



•t 



SEDfaVICK COUNTY. 



4- 



253 " 



August, 1882. The lady of his choke. Mi-- M.ny 
A. Bo3-d, a native of Iowa, was born in ISi'J, and is 
the daughter of Dr. B. A. Boyd, now a resident of 
LaF.iyette, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. 0. are the i)arents 
of two bi-ight little hoj's: Glenn, born in 1884, and 
Harry, born in 1885. 

Mr. Oldfalher commenced operations fur himself 
on a capital of §1,200, and like the wise man in the 
Scriptures, has continuously increased his talent. 
He has ver^^ little to do with public .affairs, but at 
the general elections votes the Republican ticket, 
and is uniformly the encourager of the enterprises 
calculated to advance the interests of his township. 
Socially, he belongs to the Ma,sonic fraternity, 
being a member of the A. F. <fe A. M. at Newman, 
lU. 



UMLLIAM NIGHSW0NGP:R, senior mem- 
/ ber of the firm of Nighswonger & Rob- 
inson, dealers in agricultural implements at 
Viola, is also a prominent farmer of the township, 
where he has distinguished himself as a useful citizen 
since the spring of 1881. His homestead occupies 
the southeast quarter of section 23, the land being 
thoroughl}' cultivated and supplied with good 
buildings, and he also has an interest in another 
quarter-section in company with his brother Sol- 
omon. 

Our subject, a native of the Prairie State, was 
born in Marshall Countj', June 2. 185G. He re- 
ceived a practical education in the public schools, 
and during his boyhood and youth made himself 
useful on the farm of his father. His parents, 
Abraham and Jane (Sellers) Nighswonger, were 
natives of Illinois, and settled in Marshall County, 
111. Thence, in 1881, they removed with their 
family to this county, the father purchasing a tract 
of land in Viola Township, where for a number of 
years he followed agriculture extensively. He died 
at his home in this township, July 10, 1885. Our 
subject found his bride in this county, having been 
married, on the 14th of September, 1881, to Miss 
Anna, the daughter of Moses and Marj' (Shucks) 
Parker, of Clear Water. Mrs. Nighswonger, a 
native of Des Moines County, Iowa, was born 



.M:uili 1, 1861. Her parents were natives of Ire- 
laud and Iowa respectively, and are now living in 
Clear Water, Kan. Of her union with our subject 
there were four children : Perry P., born Sept. 16, 
1882; Mary E., July 6, 1884, and Jay W., Nov. 9, 
1887. Jessie, who was born Sept. 23, 1885, died 
Aug. 24, 1887. 

Our subject engaged in the agricultural imple- 
ment trade early in the spring of 1887, and in the 
autumn following associated himself with Mr. Rob- 
inson as partner. This is the onl^' establishment of 
the kind at Viola. Mr. Nighswonger has given 
much attention to improved farm machinery, and 
is the inventor of the roller cutter grain drill, a 
machine which will plant gi\ain in stubble ground 
or even prairie without plowing. He has not begun 
the manufacture of this drill as yet, but there is a 
prospect that it will become a favorite labor-saver 
among the farmers of Southern Kansas. Mr. Nighs- 
wonger, in connection with James Grimsley, is 
also engaged considerably in the gi-ain trade. His 
farm produces in abundance corn and wheat, to 
which it is admirably adapted, lying as it does on 
the liottom lands of the Ninnescah. He not infre- 
quently gathers a corn crop aversiging fift}' bushels 
to the acre, and for the years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 
1887, harvested over twenty-seven bushelsof wheat 
per acre. 

Our subject, whose time is mostly occupied with 
his farming interests, takes little part in politics, 
otherwise than to vote the straight Democratic 
ticket at the general elections. He and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church. The former has 
been connected with it for fifteen years, and Mrs. 
Nighswonger for eleven years. 



-vie2/&iSy"—^i 



•-^^S^^2^<f»^» 



ARY W. PRESCOTT, one of the successful 
and representative citizens of Sedgwick 



m 

^^^' Countj\ lives upon section 21, in Rockford 
Township. He is both prosperous in his chosen 
calling and respected and esteemed as a man and a 
citizen. He w.'is born in Erie County, Pa., April 
20, 1 845, and is the son of Alva and Sarah Ann 
(Rogers) Prescott, natives of New York. His 



_■► ■ M» 



-•*■ 



■i^1i-4» 



S.'>4 



SED(;WICK COUNTY, 



'm 
H^,. 
i 



f 



fathiT wnfl II onr|>onl*r by trmlo, Iml !\\*i> !•> "n wiitoh- 
iiiiiii u|H)ii Iho wftlls of Zion," Imvin^; lici-ii for wv- 
enil yt>ni-!« a iiiiiii»U>r of tlu> l'iiiu*<l Krcthroti C'liiirch, 
but nl llic ))re»<?nl liiiio lin-. no chnrKt'. but isii l<K-al 
niiniBtvr of th<- .MetlitMlist C'liurcti nt Mulvnni*, Siiin- 
iicr County, thi.t Stiit*. 

The Kubject of tliis inciiioirroccivcd liiscdiicntion 
in Ohio, rnnu- to KniiMLs with hii^ |>!ironls in \><'ti<, 
iind M>ttli-<l with tlirni in Minmi County. During 
tlie hitf Civil Wnr, hku s<i many of ouryounj; men, 
thr anhir of ii [mtriot sprang up witliin his l)rea.-it. 
And he longed to join "The proud furnis by battle 
gushed, our country's ting to save," and on the 1st 
of Ki-brunry, 1HC4, although but nineteen years of 
age, enlisted in Com|iAny L, lOlh Kansas Cavalry, 
and served until the close of the war. ilo partici- 
|mt«d in part of the battles and skirmishes of the 
notorious Price's raid and of O'Connor's cxjjcdi- 
tion. He was discharged from the service in I. ''OS, 
and returned to his home on the Kansas plains. 

Having attiiined his majority and having a nat- 
ural de.nire to establish a home of his own, and sur- 
round himself with the sweet inllucnces of domestic 
joys, he wiM>ed and won the a(Te<aions tif AHss Par- 
rnelia K. Keith, to whom he was wetlded March 
IM, IHCiC. His wife was born in \'irginia, .Inly II, 
I H-JH. and is the daughter of \V. U. and Rebecca 
(Duvall) Keith, natives of Lewis County, W. Va. 
Ik-r mother died Slarch .'>, IH."i4, and she removed 
with her father to Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kan., in 
\x'>6, where they remained but a short time, remov- 
ing from thence to Mianu County, in this SUile, 
where they lived eighteen years. While a resident 
of the latter place hor father married Miss Mary 
Hutler, in May. 1 StJO. In 1870 he came to .Sedg- 
wick County, but a year later removed to Butler 
County, in Ihic Stale, where he is still living. 

In IH".') the subject of our sketch came to .Sedg- 
wick County, and pre-empted 120 acres of land on 
M'ction 17, but later purchiLseil a property on section 
21,R<«-kford Town."lii|(, where he now lives. By 
diligence and industry he haa the land in a condition of 
excellent tilth, and has it *vell improved. With good 
(fire«ight he lia.H set out a tine •irchanl and an idiiin- 
<lance of the smaller fruits, whi<!h add maU-rially to 
the value of the pro|MTly. Thi- f/irm is well stocked 
withgiMxl hurscti and flno cuttle, and he linds in that 



line of business a large pecuniary reward, lioth he 
and his estimable wife are members of the Mctluxl- 
ist Kpisco|inl Church, in which ."ociety he holds 
the |M>sitions of Class-Leader and Stt-ward. In his 
|>olitical faith our subject is a stJinch Prohibition- 
ist, but h.as formerly voted with the Republican 
party. 

To Mr. aii<l Mr>. I'rescott there has been born 
a fan)ily of six children, as follows: William A., 
whose birth took place .Ian. 20, IKC'.), and whodifcl 
April If. of the sjinie year; Charles E., whose birth 
occurred Feb. It), 1H70; Martha A., who was born 
.lune ti. I 874 ; Minnie L., whose natal day w-as March 
29, 1877; Frances, whose birthday was Aug. f>, 
1880, and Carrie A., born .Sept. 3, 1883. 

AUo.N T. (iUKKNK. who. it is believed, is 
the third oldest settler of .Salem Township. 
CAme to Southern Kansas when a large 
pro|iortion of its sf)il was still in an uncul- 
tivated condition, and by his thrift and energj' be- 
came an important factor in developing the 
resources of one of the richest tracts of country of 
the .Southwest. A native of Belmont C*>unty. 
Ohio, he was born April .5. 1847, and is the son of 
.lohn and Isabella (Fuller) (.Jreene, the former 
deceased and the latter still living in Belmont 
County. 

The parents of our subject were also natives of 
the Buckeye State, and reared a family of seven 
children, of whom six survive: Mary J. is the wife 
of .lohn Fulton, of Belmont County; Aaron T. ; 
■lames T. is farming in Poweshiek County. Iowa; 
(Jeorgc II. is in Mcmroe Count}'. Ohio; Hannah K. 
is in Belmont County; Louisa A., the wife of .lohn 
(Jillespie, and Lydia. the wife of .lohn .Smallwiwd, 
are both residents of Harrison County, Ohio; .lohn 
W. died in Belmont County when eighteen years of 
age. The jiarents were early settlers of the Buck- 
eye Slate, and endured in common with the Ohio 
pioneers the diflicullies aixl dangers of life in the 
wiblerncss. and eventually rea|>ed their reward in 
the p<is.session of a good homestead and the com- 
forts of modern life. 



■•►■ -^ 



4 



The subject of this history was reared to man's 
estate in his native county, where he received a fair 
education in tlie common sciiool, and having made 
the most of his opportunities was qualilied for a 
teacher, which profession he followed first in this 
county in the Independent School District No. 40, 
of Salem Township, which school he also had the 
honor of organizing. He arrived here in the fall 
of 1870, and homesteaded the east half of the 
northwest quarter, and the west half of the north- 
east quarter of section 21, which at that time had 
not come into market. A year later he filed his 
application and was among the first men of the 
township to prove his claim. He has since made 
several removals, and finally, in the winter of 1881, 
settled on his present farm. 

Mr. Greene now owns eighty acres of good land 
and his wife is proprietor of another eighty acres, 
the latter com|)rising the home farm. This lady in 
her girlhood was Miss Nettie T. Culver, and was 
born in Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 16, 1848. She was 
first married in this county to Lewis Winslow, now 
deceased, and on the 5th of January, 1880, be- 
came the wife of Aaron T. Greene. Her parents, 
Charles and Belhiah (Van Loon) Culver, are 
natives of Pennsylvania, and at present are resi- 
dents of Woodson County, this State. Their 
family consisted of ten children, namel}': Amanda 
E., now the wife of George A. Wass, of Chicago, 
111.; Elijah, of Boone County, Iowa; Nettie T., 
Mrs. Greene; George Y., of Allen County, this 
State; Grant E., of Atchison; Sarah A., Mrs. Jaraes 
Stradley, of Des Moines, Iowa; Jennie, wife of 
Nathan G. Holt, of Woodson County; John C, a 
teacher in that county; Mary C, Mrs. Frederick 
Berry, of St. Paul, Minn., and Willard A., of 
AVoodson County, this State, and also a teacher bj- 
profession. 

The parents of Mrs. Greene, when the latter was 
a child but a year old, left Pennsylvania and took 
up their residence in Lake County, Ind., whence 
they removed three years later to Porter County', 
that State. From there, in 1870, they came to 
Kansas. Mrs. Greene was first married in Indiana, 
Sept. IG, 1865, and by her union with Lewis Wins- 
low became the mother of five children, namely: 
Charles A., Ella B., Leon L., Albert- J. and Grace 



A. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow came to Kansas in 
1X70, settling first in Allen County, whence they 
removed a year later to Salem Township, this 
county, where Mr. Winslow pre-empted 100 acres 
of land, in the improvement and cultivation of 
which he was engaged at the time of his death, 
on the 13th of March, 1876. Mr. Winslow had 
contracted a severe cold in the army, which finally 
terminated in consumption. 

Mr. Greene, politically, is one of the most reliable 
members of the Republican party, and has served 
as.Township Clerk, and been otherwise identified 
with its local interests. He is now Clerk of his 
school district, and takes a lively interest in the 
matters pertaining to the progress and develop- 
ment of his adopted county. 



-^Jv- 



#^ 



■^/OIIN W. OGDEN. Sedgwick County has 
many well-to-do and successful farmers, 
men who have accumulated what they have 
of this world's goods through individual 
effort. Among this class the name of the subject 
of this notice is entitled to a place. He is residing 
on section 31, Attica Township, where he is indus- 
triouslj' engaged in the prosecution of his noble 
calling, and is meeting with far more tlian ordinary 
success. 

Mr. Ogden, of whom we write, was born near the 
town of Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa., Sept. 29, 
1843, and is a son of John and Margaret (Vail) 
Ogden, both of whom were also natives of the Key- 
stone State. His father, who was of French de- 
scent, was born Jan. 16, 1812, and died March 2, 
1884. His mother traced back her ancestr}' to 
German}'. Our subject was the third child in a 
family ol seven, of whom the following still sur- 
vive: Francis C, who is a builder and cfmtractor 
at Las Vegas, N. M. ; Harriet, Mrs. Jacob V. Bream, 
a resident of Adams County, Pa.; John W., of 
whom this sketch is written; Catharine M., the wife 
of John M. Musselman, living at Fairfield. Pa., and 
Robert Z., living in Sedgwick County. 

The subject of this biograph}' was reared upon a 
farm, and in his youth received a good common- 
school education. In the latter pait of August, 



it*-.. 



i 



2.M 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;^^ 

'* 



i 



I ">•' J. »hou l)ut iij;litoon years of a^'c, he enlisted 
11 (onipniiy K, l8t renn:*.vlvftnift Reserve Corps, 
«hich was iiMijipu'il for iliit.v to the Army of the 
rotoinac. Ih- [wrliiiiwU-d in most of the liloociy 
(tattles that w.rc fought in Northern Virginia and 
Soulhorn IViinsylvania, including the decisive con- 
test at Gettysburg, lie continued in the service 
and was presfiit *ith his regiment, than whont a 
hraversct of men was never gathereil together, at 
the surrender of (ien. Lee at A|)|H)niattox. He 
received his honorable dischiirge from the service 
June H. I8f;.'(. and returned to his father's homo, 
wlicre he BAsisted in carrying on fanning operations 
on the old homestead until IH7.'>, when he removed 
to Tazewell t'ounty. III. After two years' labor 
on a farm in that linality, he came to Kansas, and 
hindcd in VVichiUi Feb. 15, 1877. .Shortly after 
this he purcha-sed his present home. He had at 
first 1 f>0 acres of land, but sold it to the railroad com- 
|>any, and some time afterward bought back forty- 
two acres of it, on which he has a line and 
eommo<lious dwelling; here he has made his home 
ever since. He is also the owner of the northwest 
quarter of se<.-lion 2."), and here, May 19, 1880, he 
brought his young bride and inst'illed her mistress 
of the home. The lady, Miss Klizabelh .Mandane 
\\'illianison, was born at Ash Kitlge, Brown Co., Ohio, 
.Nov. 18. 18.')2, and is the daughter of Addison and 
Angeline (M(xjre) Williamson, natives of the Buck- 
eye State. Her father was born Aug. 4, 1823, in 
Warren County, Ohio, and died July 'J, 1«hO. He 
had married, Feb. 22, 1848, Miss Angeline MiMjre, 
who was born in Brown County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1828. 
They were the parents of si.x children, of whom 
.Mrs. Ogden w!is the third. The ftillowing is the 
record: Lamartine, born Nov. 24. 184K, lives in 
Goddard, this county; Kmily S., born .Sept. 27, 
IH.OO. ntarried .John W. (arskaddon, of Stuth 
Bend, Ind.; KlizalMtli .M.. .Mrs. Ogden; Dwightl)., 
iHjrn (Jet. 2.'), 1M.')4, lives in Atlici Townshi|), as 
<loes Byron .McMjre, who wan born Nov. 11, 18,10; 
Flora Kveline, who w.-is born Sept. ;t. 1M.")9, and 
dietl April 21, 1K72. Mrs. Ogden, who is of Welsh 
descent, was reared n\»m a farm, her father being 
both a eari)cnt«"r and a farmer, and received an 
excellent education in the conuiioii schools of her 
district. 



Three children wen- born to Mrs. Og<lcn, as 
follows: Warren, whose birth Uwjk plac«- Aug. 7, 
1884, and died the same day; I>awrencc Earl, who 
was born .May 10, 188C, and died August 24 fol- 
lowing, and John W., who was born Dec. .'11, 18M7. 

The subject of our sketch has been a life-long 
Democrat, as his father was before him, but has 
never been a seeker after |)olitical preferment. He 
is a believer in the doctrines of the Ileform Church, 
as his wife is of the .Methodist, but the^- have not 
identifled themselves with any religious society 
since coming to Kansas. He is a strong believer in 
tlie system of public schools in the State, and is 
a cheerful worker in all educjitional matters. 



JOHN T. (JILES settled on section 3G, Park 
Township, in July, 1878, and is locatetl five 
and one-half miles from the corner of Doug- 
I.1S avenue and Main street, WichiUi, the 
lanil a<ljoining him having been laid out in city 
lots. This, it will at once be seen, renders his 
pro|)erty exceedingly valuable, that |Mirtion of the 
farm being estimated as worth ^200 |)er acre. As 
an agriculturist and a citizen, Mr. Giles p«)ssesses 
all the qualities requisite for good standing in a 
conununity comprised of more than the average of 
intelligent and enterprising men. 

Our subject, a native of Sjwncer County, Ind., 
was born on the ICth of February, 1850, and is the 
son of Gentry and Elizabeth (llackleman) Giles, 
natives respectively of Kentucky and Spencer 
County, Ind. (Jentry Giles left the Blue (irass 
regions when a young man, and m.'iking his way to 
Spencer County, Ind., was there married to Miss 
llackleman, who died when her sftn John T. was a 
liul thirteen years of age, at the home in Spencer 
County, in 186.'1. The father is still living, and 
has marrieil his third wife. 

The mother of our subject at her dejilli left 
eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, ten 
of whom survive. These are named respectively: 
Willi.iiii T., Uebecca, .Mary, John T., .Maggie, 



■•►■-^ 






'^ 










"-' -iT 



^^■C*-p#** 



Stock TarmSecS . Park Township. 




M£ff/D/AN Av. 



-!;J&' vji^^- /vi^^^- ''^^■^^■^^^ /^^j^i%- 



FEED .LOTS .(^^ ON, ARHAA/SASH/^VfH . HOM E-FfkfiM^.^^. A.^ 




Residence OF J T. Gi les, Sec36,Park and Sec. 30. Kcchi Township. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



259 - i 



Franklin, Francis, Andrew, Alva and McClelland. 
The}' are mostly residents of Kansas and Indiana. 
John T., in common with liis brothers and sisters, 
was reared upon the farm, and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools. On the 20th of 
March, 1873, a few weeks after passing his twenty- 
third birthday, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Maggie McCombs, at that time a resident of 
Spencer County, but a native of Allegheny, Pa., 
where she was born Aug. G, 1850. Mrs. Giles re- 
moved with her parents to Ohio when a child, and 
subsequently to Indiana, where her mother died in 
1863. The father died in Sedgwick County, Kan., 
in 1886. 

Mr. Giles, after his marriage, continued a resident 
of Spencer County ; here he became the owner of 
fort^' acres of land, which he sold in ISTH, prepara- 
tory to his removal west of the Mississippi. In the 
summer of that year he made his wa^- to this county, 
and soon afterward purchased 152 acres of unim- 
proved land in Park Township, upon which he has 
since continued. From the primitive soil he soon, 
by a process of skillful cultivation, began to 
reap some of the finest crops of Southern Kan- 
sas, which brought him a good market price, 
and he soon found himself on the highway- to 
prosperity. He invested his surplus capital in 
additional real estate, and now is the owner of 
308 broad acres, finel3' improved, enclosed with 
good fences, and with a handsome and sub- 
stantial set of farm buildings. Of late j'cars he 
has given much time and attention to the raising of 
high grades of stock, and in all his labors has met 
with more than ordinary success. His property 
upon coming to this State amounted in value to 
probably $600, and from that modest beginning, 
he has made his waj' unaided to his present finan- 
cial position. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Giles there have been born six 
children — James, Ida, Mamie, Willie, Bertha and 
Nellie. Our subject, politically, votes the straight 
Democratic ticket, and has served as Justice of the 
Peace in Park Township. He and his excellent 
wife are members in good standing of the Baptist 
Churcli at Wichita. In addition to the ordinary 
operations as a farmer and stock-raiser, he keeps a 
dairy of about thirty cows, and finds a ready 

•» li O 



r 



market for the milk and cream at Wichita. As 
representing the excellent class of farm homesteads 
in this county, we give a full page view of the 
property of Mr. Giles. 

^^EORGE PRICE, an old soldier of the Union, 
[l| ra :ind a native of Clinton County, lud., came 
^^S! to Southern Kansas with his family in the 
fall of 1880, and located in Salem Township on 
section 28, where he still resides. He has, liy a life 
of industry and economy, provided himself and 
those dear to him with a comfortable homestead, 
being now the owner of 160 acres of good land, 
where he carries on farming and stock-raising, and 
realizes annually a good income. We give the main 
points in a history of more than ordinary interest 
as follows: 

Our subject was born on the 19th of August, 
1838, and is the son of Lewis and Melinda (Baker) 
Price, who are supposed to have been natives of 
Virginia. His paternal ancestors were of German 
birth and "parentage, and his grandfather, George 
Price, Sr., a soldier of tiie War of 1812, raised at 
that period a company of volunteers in the ^oung 
State of Ohio, over which he was appointed Captain. 

The father of our subject ivas reared to manhood 
in Ohio, and the parents, after their marriage, set- 
tled in Clinton County, Ind. Of their nine children 
four are now living, namely: Evan, of Wichita, 
this State; Jacob, of Clinton County, Ind.; Mary 
J., the wife of George Eubank, of Clinton County, 
and George, of our sketch. Tliose deceased are Eliz- 
abeth, Sarah J., John, Eliza and William. 

Lewis Price was one of the pioneers of Clinton 
County, Ind., where, with his estimable wife, he 
spent the remainder of his days, and died on the 
14th of June, 1867. The mother preceded her 
husband to the silent land, her death taking pl.ice 
May 9, 1862. George, of our sketch, was roared 
to man's estate in his native county, and re(;eived 
a liiiiited education in the pioneer schools. He was 
twenty -three years of age at the outbieak of the 
Rebellion, and a few months later, in August, 1861, 
enlisted in Company G, 26th Indiana Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Army of tlie frontier, 



T 



-^ 



I 

1^ 



260 



1. 1 )G WICK COUNTY. 



aixl o|i<<rnU'(l in MiMoiiri nmi Arkniisiu. lie |mr- 
ti<-i|>atc<l in llir liattio of 1'mirir (Injvi- MK)n nfU-r- 
wiinl, lifsiili'jt nicelinf; Uio rcU-ls imkUt the C'oiifi'*!- 
cnito (ifiuTnl. Price, in variutis minor cMiinijfeinents 
and siiiruiislicn in tliikt region. SnliHcqucnlly tliu 
regiment wiw trnn!<ferre<l to llie cmilwnn), where 
younff rricc, with liis comnnle.s, lussistcd in the sie};o 
of Vicksbnrji. nn<l nfter its cnpituhition was lriinr<- 
ferrcd with his eonjinanil to the vicinity' of New 
(-)rlenn». where a |>iirt wn> ortlereii np the Missis- 
>ip|)i to n jMiinl enlleil Morgan's lientl, where they 
again met the rchcis, nixl where a |>ortion of tlic 
I'nion S4ililiery wius eaptnred, inehiiling Mr. I'ricc 
among the numlier. 'I'iiis wiui in the fall of \Xt','3. 
Our snliject Inngui.shed in the Sjiilhern stockade 
at Tyler, Tex., eight week.s or more, and wif< then 
transferred to the rebel .strnn^'hold at Shreve|K;>rt, 
1-a. Thence he was taken liaek to the Tyler prison, 
from there went into Marshall, Te.\., and again 
back to Tyler, where he wilx exchanged in Angn.-t. 
IHG't, having suffered an imprisonment of ten 
months, lacking seven days. 

Our .-nliject, after his release from tiie Confed- 
erates, rejoined his regiment in l^ouisianu and re- 
mained with it until the expiration of his term of 
enlistment, lie then receiveil his honorable dis- 
charge in August, 1HG4, having served his country 
faithfully for three years, and like thousands of 
others. exi>crienecd the lmrdship> and privations, a 
large |Mirt of which are among the unwritten records 
of the war. During his imprisonment he suffered 
greatly in health, from the effects of wiiieii he ha* 
never recovered to this day. 

.Mr. Trice, upon leaving the army relumed to 
hi.'- old home in Indiana, and the year following was 
married, rm the 1 llh of December, to Miss .Mar}' .). 
Koss, the weddini; taking place at the home of the 
bride in t'linton County. .Mrs. .Mary Trice was 
born April I, IHI.'I, in Clinton County, and is ihe 
daughliT c>f .lames and Hannah (.Milburu) Ross, 
natives of Indiana and pioneer settlers of Clinton 
Ciiunty. The father wil- killeil in 1H(;.( in a collis- 
ion on the I,. (V I. K. |{. The mother now lives 
in Krnnkfort, Ind. .Mr. and Mrs. Trice commenced 
life together in a modest manner on a farm in In- 
ili:ina,and their union in due time was lilcsoed by the 
birlli of ten chil<lren. Their eldest s«>n, .James (J., 



wait lK>rii Feb. 11, 1MC7; U-wis li., OeU 14, lht>«; 
.Jacob K., March 'J, 1871 ; Oliver W., .Jan. 2X, I XT.J: 
Charles .S., .Sept. 30, IK" 1; Minnie H., who wils liorn 
.Ian. •.»•.». IH77. died .July I'l, 1K7M; William K. wa« 
born .Jan. 20. IHHU; .I.~«sie O.. .lune 16, ISW.', Han- 
nah A., .Jan. .s, 1HS4, and .Melinda Olive, Feb. -'.'>, 

IKHN. 

.Mr. Trice, upon coming to this county, si'ltled 
ut once on his present homestead, and acknowl- 
edges that the in.provements which the jKUwing 
traveler now views with admiring eye arc largely 
due to the assistance and encouragement of his de- 
voted wife. They have "pidled together" in their 
laboi's and sacrifices, and now, in the enjoj-ment of 
a com|)etcnce, are only in possession of wh.-il they 
so well deserve. Both are members in g<K»d sUind- 
ing of the Inited IJrethren Church, in which our 
subject hiLs served jus Class- Leader sevcnd years, 
liesides being Steward and .Su|KTint«nilent of the 
Sabbath-.school. Tolitically, he votes the straight 
Republican ticket, and has served as .School Di- 
rector in his district. The various enterprises inau- 
gurated for the gcnend welfare of the )>eoi)le have 
invarialily cnli.-ted his symimthii's and attention, 
and he contributes of his means accordingly. No 
man is more widely or favorably known within the 
limits of Salem Township than George Trice. 



■^f^ FLOS CROSBY. Sedgwick County can 
I )ij boast of quite a number of enterprising 
r^Jf^ and thorough-going farmers who are giv- 
^*^^ ing the greater share of their attention to 

the rearing of fine stock, and thus enhancing materi- 
ally the value of the cattle in .Southern Kansas. 
Among this da-ss of citizens there is probably none 
who takes a higher nink than the subject of this 
narnitive. Ilisspecialty is (lalloway cattle of high 
grades, and at the head of his herd is a bovine 
im|Hirted from the Lowlands of .Scotland, where 
the breed originated. He hiLs met with eminent 
success in his operations, and is numbered among 
the wealthy and pros|M<roiis afrriculturists of Illinois 
Township, and has his homestead on section 31. 

Mr. Crosby is a nali\e of New York, and was 

born .March 17, 1 M^.'i. His p;irents, Tiinotliy and 

— »► 



t 

•► i r ■» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



261'^ 



Mary (Kinney) Crosby, were also natives of New 
York, and resided there many years. His father 
was a cabinet-maker by trade in his younger days, 
but adopted farming as a vocation later in life. 
He was a local preacher of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and did considerable work in the 
vineyard of our Lord. He was a Democrat, 
politically, and a strong anti-Mason, and num- 
bered among his acquaintances the celebrated 
Morgan, whose name has come down in connection 
with the secrets of Free Masoin-y. He was 
married tln-ee times, his first wife being Miss 
Mary Kinney, the mother of our subject, who bore 
six children, as follows: Delos, the subject of this 
sketch, and his twin brother Carlos, the latter of 
whom married Miss EniHy Hill, and died March 8, 
1864, leaving three children; Helen, Mrs. Buker, 
who died in 1863, leaving three children; Sarah, 
who married James Cargill, died in Ohio in the 
summer of 1857, leaving one child; George, who 
married Miss Caroline Hallowell, and died in Wiush- 
ington, Iowa, in March, 1867; and Timothy, who 
died in infancy, in the spring of 1836. The mother 
of our subject died in Illinois in the fall of 1836. 
She was a sincere and consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and possessed the 
wannest esteem of all who knew her. 

The second wife of Mr. Crosby, Sr., was Miss 
Rebecca Davis, who became the mother of five chil- 
dren, as follows: Martha Ann, who married Frank 
Williams, is the mother of three c-hildren and is liv- 
ing on a farm in Illinois; John, who died at the age 
of thirteen years; William, a resident of Ulysses, 
where he is engaged in the mercantile trade, mar- 
ried Esther Moore, and is the father of one son ; 
Emily, vvho w;is living in Minnesota when last heard 
from, and Susan, who died in childhood. After 
the death of his second wife, our subject's father 
was :igain married, but his third wife died in Wash- 
ington, Tazewell Co., 111. 

The subject of our sketch removed with liis par- 
ents to Illinois in 1836, and received his education 
in the district schools of New York and the Prairie 
State. He remained at home with his fatlier, assist- 
ing in the duties of carrying on the homestead until 
marriage. This happ}- event, the most important of 
his life, took place ou the 27th of February, 1814, 



at which time he wjis wedded to Miss Cynthia Ann 
Brady, a natfve of Virginia, born June 24, 1828. 
She is the daughter of William and Marj* (Mc- 
Clintock) Brady, both of whom were natives of the 
Old Dominion. Her fathiM- died at the age of forty 
years, in Illinois, to which State he had removed, 
and her mother, who was born in 1802, died Feb. 
27, 1844, in Illinois, having borne a family of five 
children, as follows: Lucy, who died at the age of 
two years; a daughter who died in infancy unnamed ; 
Cynthia Ann, Mrs. Crosby; Robert, a resident of 
Pekin, HI.; and Susan, who married Benjamin 
Ilyers, who is operating a machine-shop in Illinois, 
and is quite an inventor of machinery. 

The father of Mrs. Crosby d3'ing as mentioned 
above, his widow married David Corwin, and after- 
ward died, leaving her husband a widower the fourth 
time. Mr. Crosby was engaged in various busi- 
nesses in Illinois until 1874, during which year, 
with his family, he came to Kansas and settled in 
Sedgwick County, where he has since resided. On 
starting in life he received a present of seventy 
acres of land from his father, which he disposed of 
for $210, and his wife falling heir to eighty acres of 
land from her parents, which she sold for $240. Mr. 
Crosby with this little capital engaged in the mer- 
cantile business in Illinois. When the great Rebel- 
lion broke out he was financially ruined by the 
rapid depreciation in the money of State banks and 
b}' many of his customers enlisting, leaving him to 
hold their promises to pa3-,agreat many of which he 
holds at the present day. After considerable 
discouragement in the Prairie State he finally 
came to this localitj' and is now the owner of 160 
acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land, 
upon which he has a good orchard and small fruits 
in abundance. 

Mr. Crosby is a Republican in politics and has 
been since the birth of that party, casting a ballot 
for John C. Fremont in 1856. He is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity and a Class-Leader in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Crosb}^ has also 
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
for forty years. He is the .Superintendent of the 
Sunday-school and gives a large share of his time 
to promoting the interests of religion. He is an ^ 
able learner and a strong advocate of the principles T 



n 



t 



it'2 



< OUNTY. 



«>f pruhiltitiiu), niitl womi iiicuiIht of llie Kei-l»»liiU-!>, 
thi> oldfiil tciii|KTnii('o orgnnizatiui) kiuiwii, an<l of 
Iho SiDit of 'reiniKTniifc. Ilo i« a inim worthy of 
the highest rc»|>oi-t, and i-iijovs the eslfctii of the 
entire coniniunity,in which lie labors l<> brin;ralioiit 
every ciilcr|»ri»e Ihnt !.■< calcuhited to elevate man- 
kind. 

The family of Mr. and .Mns. I rosby (nnsisls of 
the following: children: Mary Siinan, who was born 
Sept. "i, l«t7, anil died Dec. 7, IHIK, in Tazewell 
County, 111.; Caroline M., who was born Dec. 7, 
IS49. and died April 13. IK.'d : Alice Ann. who was 
born Nov 27. 1H.'>2, and died Dec. 7, iHoU; Friuik, 
whose birth «KCUrrcd Jan. 7, IK.').'), married Miss 
Mary .Manning, who die<l in Angust, 1881. and was 
the imrenl of four children, thre*- of whom arc dead ; 
he was agjiin married, to Kllie Thompson, who 
Itecaniethe mother of three chihlren, and makes his 
residence in WichitJi; Charles, born March 0, 1858, 
died Oct. ■-'7, 1H71, in Mercer County, III.: Will- 
iam, lK>rn Feb. 1.1. I HOI, is now residing in Com- 
anche County, Kan.; Don C.. born .lunc !). 18G4, 
at home; Theixlorc D., whose natal day was March 
IG, 1807, is now at home, and Robert ICllis Crosby, 
born .July 2'.i. 187(t, died Feb. ;», ls72. 



^l 



I ((N.WILLIAM 1). IIKNDI-:H.soN, an ex- 
r'^l number of the Illinois Legislature, and later 
/IVj^ quite an extensive grain-dealer, is now re- 
((^ tired from the active labors of life and 
o<-eupies a coniforlable home in the town of Derby. 
■ lis has been :i long and busy career, with little time 
for idlenc!v< along the thoroughfare of life, where 
he has left hi^ mark and may truly feel that he has 
not lived in vain. The object of rcs|)ect by young 
and old. his faindinr tlgure is greeted with alTection 
and est4'em. and in his declining years he is enjoying 
the reward of a well-ordered life and one in which 
he has excrteil himself to ilo good to those arounil 
him. 

Our subject, a native of South Carolina, w:lh born 
on the 2lht of .lanuary, 1 81 2. and is the son of 
Tlioma.> and Ann (Dickey) llenderHon, the former 
of .s<-otch ancestry and born in the city of l'hila<lel- 
phio, I'a., in 178.'). Thomas Henderson was a 



farmer by occu|«atiiin and removed from his native 
State to Illinois in May. 18;).'>. He Kx-atcd in that 
section of country during it< pioneer days, entering 
a tract of land near Oquawka. He wa.s a soldier in 
the War of 1812, aixl in payment for his services 
received a land warrant from which he took up 
eight}' acres. He spent his last years in Illinois, 
d^'ing at the homestead which he had built up, in 
1854. 

In the meantime our subject liad l<x-ated in War- 
ren County, III., a part of which was subsequently 
divided and namcil Henderson County in honor of 
our subject, and in which he olliciated as Sheriff for 
a |)eriod of six years. He was also Tostmaster at 
Oquawka. o town lying directly on the banksof the 
Mississippi, four years, and^dnring the administra- 
tion of I'residcnt Taylor. Subsequently .Mr. Hen- 
derson became Assessor of Internal Keveniie for 
the Fourth District of Illinois, and from 184-1 to 
1848 represented the j)eople of Hentlerson and 
Warren Counties in the SUite Legislature. 

Mr. Heudei-son sej-ved twelve years as a nnigis- 
tratc, four years each in the counties of Henderson, 
Mercer and Warn-n. and was appointed Assessor by 
President Lincoln and removed by .lohnson. He 
is an ardent supporter of Hcpublican principles, 
and in 1872 was Presidential Elector for the Tenth 
District of Illinois. In addition to his public duties 
he engaged in the milling business in Warren 
County for a jicriod of eight years, ond ojienitcd 
in the State of Iowa three years, buying and selling 
flaxseed. He came to Kansas in 1883, and pur- 
chiised a (|uart«r-section of land in Hutler County. 
In 1883 he came to this vounty, and since being a 
resilient of Derby has been largely engaged as a 
grain dealer. 

The marriageof Hon. W. I). Henderson and Miss 
Martha Watt was celebrated at the home of the 
bride, .Ian. 5, 18.32. This lady was a native of 
South Carolina and became the mother of six chil- 
dren. Their ehlcsl. Klizabeth, was born in Octo- 
ber, 1833, and is now with her father; Sarah was 
born in 1838, and married Samuel W. Thomi»on, 
who is now deceased; she lives in Dubuque, Iowa. 
William 1'., who wa.s born in February, 1811, is 
connected with a journal in Cidifornia; .Margaret, 
who with her husband is a resident of WichitJi, was 



-♦-«-^ 



I 



•^- 



■•►HI-* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



263 



born in September, 1843, and married John C. Ford, 
who was clerk for our subject while the latter was 
Assessor of Internal Revenue ; Elvira, who was born 
in November, 1846, is the wife of Joseph K. Gowdy, 
an attornej'-at-Iaw in Pawnee Cit}', Neb.; Char- 
lotte was born in March, 1849, and is the wife of 
Rev. Charles H. Mitchell, of Keota, Iowa. Mrs. 
Martha Henderson departed this life at her home in 
September, 1 849. 

Mr. Henderson, in 18;)!, contracted a second 
marriage, with Miss Ellen, daughter of Archibald 
McNiel, of New York State. Their eldest son, 
.John, was born in 1853, and married Jliss Lora 
Stewart, of Sumner County, Kan.; he was gradu- 
ated from Monmouth College and subsequently 
became a teacher of recognized ability. He is now 
serving as local editor of the Sumner County Press. 
Ruf us was born in 1 8.55, and is in the insurance 
business at Derby ; Frances, born in 1 857, is the 
wife of A. P. Carter, a paj-master on the Chicago, 
Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. 



lI/_ ERJIAN A. REED. The 160 .icres on sec- 
tion 22, in Salem Township, belonging to 
Reed, is conspicuous for the manner in 
(^) which it has been improved and cultivated, 
and as evidently the homestead of one of the most 
enterprising men of Sedgwick County. Mr. Reed, 
an Ohio man in the best sense of the word, was 
born in the central part of the Buckeye State, in 
Franklin County, Nov. 11, 1847. His honored 
father, Isaac L. Reed, a native of Fairfax County, 
Va., upon reaching manhood was united in marriage 
with Miss Marj' A. Norton, who w.as born in New 
York State. The former departed this life at his 
home in Ohio on the 2d of July, 1880. The mother 
is still living, and resides on the old homestead. 

The maternal steji-grand father of our subject 
served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and sjxsnt 
his last years with his aged wife in the Soldiers' 
Home at Dayton, Ohio. Of the children born to 
Isaac L. and Mary A. Reed, the parents of our sub- 
ject, the following survive: Emily, the wife of 
Samuel Gl.assford, of Franklin County, Ohio; 



Lewis, of Salem Township, this county; Henry, of 
Indianapolis, Ind.; Hattie, the wife of George 
Taylor, of Franklin County, Ohio, where her 
brother Courtland also lives; Jerome, who occupies 
the old homestead, and our subject. The dece.'ised 
are Robert, Sylvester and Ella. 

The parents of our subject were natives of Vir- 
ginia and New York, and early pioneers of Frank- 
lin County, Ohio, settling there when the now 
flourishing city of Columbus was a small town. 
They endured the hardships and privations com- 
mon to the people of a new country, locating there 
at a time when the country was a wilderness, and 
when the father was obliged to chop down the 
forest trees in order to build a cabin. With the 
assistance of his boys he cleared up a good farm, 
and established a comfortable homestead, where he 
spent his last years in ease and plenty. Wild game 
was plentiful, and a species of wild hog, which was 
indigenous to that section of the country, fre- 
quently became quite dangerous, the settlers often 
being obliged to take to the trees in order to save 
themselves from attack by the savage animals, and 
it was not an infrequent occurrence for a man to 
thus remain perched during the night. 

Isa.ic Reed and his excellent wife became 
leaders in that region among the enterprises which 
slowly struggled into existence, and assisted in the 
establishment of religious and educational institu- 
tions. They were devout members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and at their death the town- 
ship mourned as having lost those who were among 
the most useful citizens. 

The subject of our sketch developed into man- 
hood amid the pioneer scenes of his native county, 
receiving a limited education in the district schools, 
and assisting in the building up of the homestead. 
Just before reaching the twenty -sixth j'ear of his 
age he was married, on the 3d of September, 1873, 
to a maiden of his own neighborhood. Miss Martha 
Love, who was born in Franklin County, on the 3d 
of June, 18.50. Mrs. Reed is the daughter of James 
and Joanna (Morgan) Love, the former a native of 
Hocking County, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsj-l- 
vania, although reared mostly in Coshocton County, 
Ohio. After marriage the parents settled in Frank- 
lin Countv. where their three children were born. 



•^•^ 



i- 






4 



SEDGWICK CODNTT. 



Of thcw Mnrtim, ihf wife <>f <mr itiiliject. was tlu- 
clili'sl; Cimrlc.t i;* n ri'!«i(l(Mil <if Allen {'oiiiily, IikI.. 
niid Willinni of Wioliiln. thin State. Mr. Iaivc «le- 
fHirted tliiK lift- iit lii^ hoiiic in Coliimlnix, Ohio. 
Tlio inotlicr .xiiliM-qiKiitiy cn>vsi'(l tlie Missis-slppi, 
nnil is iu>w .•» rf>i<lont of WicliiUi. 

The four chil«ln'ii of Mr. iind Mrs. Heeil were 
burn na follows: Herbert. .Inn. •-'."», 1h7.'>; CInrentc 
1.. Fel.. 2'J, Jm7i;; Wnlt.r W.. Fcli. 17. 1«7«. and 
({jivniond T.. .May •-'•«, l««i;. Mr. H. in the spring 
of IMHl left his nnlive .Stale for .Southern KansiLi, 
uud was joined a few nionllis lat<'r hy iii.'* family. 
lie stKjn afterwnnl setlKd upon the land which he 
now jM-cupies. niid whicli liy a ctmrse of persevering 
industry he lias tninsfornied into one of the most 
di-siriilile lionxsteads in Salem Township. A Re- 
pnlilieiin in |M>litius. he is recogni/.od a.s an honest 
mail and n goo<l citizen, the encoiiragcr of religious 
and educational institutions, and at present the 
Treasurer of School Dictrict No. -lO. Socially he 
belongs to the I. O. O. F., being a nicnilur of Lodge 
No. ;•. at ('oiiimbus, Oiiio. 

ANIKL l'KTKK.SON i.s one of the most 
I ,i genial and wliole-soiiled men of .Sedgwick 
11>^ County. On section 17, in Delano Town- 
>hip, he lia.s built up a line homestead. He 
represents now about ♦23,00(1 worth of proi)erty, 
the larger part of which he has accumulated by his 
own tlirift and industry. His Ui-stes have always 
inclined him to agricultural pursuits, and the stock- 
raising industry ha^ found in him one of its most 
able rejircHentatives. 'The essential points in his 
hist4jry we give as follows: 

Our subject is the son of Kric and Carrie (An- 
diTsoii) I'clerson. and was born Oct. lit, 18JK, in 
the iiorthi'rn part of Sweden, where he was reared 
on a farm, and received a good education in the 
.St'andinavinn tongue, lie left his native .soil wlu-n 
II youth of eighteen years, in • ompaiiy with his 
fiillier's family, which incluiled three children, anil 
after reaching the I'niti-d .States lliey made their 
wiiy directly we.^tward to Ijiwreiice, Kan., where 
the father eng.'iged in farming;, and where our snb- 
Ji it wi irked by the limiith until his nmrriiiu'e. 'The 
parents are still living in Lawrence. 



Two years after his arrival in this country our 
subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Carrie 
(Lindgrcn) I'eterson, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride in Lawrence, on the Mth of 
March, 1HG8. Mrs. I'eterson was born in February, 
1H41, in .Sweden, and is the daughter of Kric and 
Annie Lindgrcn, who were alst* natives of Sweden, 
and are now deceased. Our subject, .soon after his 
marriage, purchased forty acres of land lying about 
eight miles from Lawrence, where he carried on 
fanning four years, and then selling out, secured 
posscsiiion of his present property. His land at 
that time was raw prairie, for which he paid ♦l.2."» 
jMjr acre, purchasing directly from the (lovcrniuent. 
.Subsequently he added another quarter-section for 
the Consideration of the sum of ^500. 

Mr. Peterson battled bravely for a number of 
years with the elcmcnt.s of a new soil, and looking 
upon his po.ssessions to.ilay it is hardly necessary 
to state that he has made g(M>d use of his time and 
been remarkably fortunate in his investments. Tho 
farmhouse and other buildings are substantial and 
commodious, and with the aid of modern machin- 
ery and the most approved methods, the land has 
I been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and 
yields in abundance the richest crops of .Southern 
Kansas. Mr. retcrson takes pride in his live-stock, 
I of which he hits a very choice assortment, including 
full-blooded Cotswold sheep, graiied Short-horn and 
I Hereford cattle, and Morgan and Canadian horses. 
I He has raised as high as thirty-eight bushels of 
I wheat to the acre, sixty of corn, and between ninety 
I to 100 bushels of oats. 

1 'To our subject and his wife there have liceii born 
I six children, namely: Mary. March I, 1 871; Dan- 
iel. Feb. 2'2. 1H73; Lilly, Dec. 27, 187J: Charles, 
I .Ian. l.'i. 1877; .Maggie May. May 8. 18H2.anil .lohn 
I Buell. April 13. 18M4. Kric Petei-son. theCu-sthus- 
I band of the wife of our subject, was born in Swe- 
I den, Feb. 22. 1810, and by this marriage Mrs. P. 
became the mother of five children, .'ill natives of 
■Sweden : Carrie, who was born in .Sweden. Nov. 
22. 18(52. is a resident of Lawrence. Kan.; Kric, 
born .Ian. 31. 18r>4. is a resident of Delano 'Town- 
ship; Andrew was born Oct. 2Ci. 18(;,5; Anna, born 
.Iiily 28, lHf.;>. is the wife of Frederick Oreinfield, 
anil lives in this county; Oscar, born Dec. 2(), 18fiH, 



•► ■ -<• 



-•► 



I 






^l:l)(;\VICK COUNTY. 



265 



and who is a niute, is attending the scliciul at Ola- 
the, Kan. 

The parents of Mr. Peterson were both born in 
the j-ear IHl 1. Daniel was tiie youngest of their 
three children; Peter was born Oct. 31, 1845, and 
is a resident of Colorado ; the other one is deceased ; 
Mr. Peterson was a Greenbackcr at one time, but 
of late h.as ca.st his influence with the Union Labor 
party. He has no desire for ollice, preferring to 
give his undivided attention to his personal inter- 
ests. 



-T^EV. ROBERT E. GUTHRIE, capitalist, 
|l^ made his first advent into ^Vichita in 
/£\\\ 187(), and purchased twelve lots facing on 
'^P Central avenue, east on River street and 
west on Sherman, besides 320 acres two and one- 
half miles north of Douglas avenue, in the town- 
ship. Of this latter he platted 1 36 acres in 1 886-87, 
and it being a very desirable property, will sell 
readily at a good price. He then returned to Mc- 
Lean County, 111., where he remained until 1882. in 
the meantime disposing of his property there, and 
prepared to make himself a permanent resident of 
Kansas. Since that time his interests have been 
centered here, and he is numbered among the most 
enterprising and useful men in the city which has 
grown so rapidly to such importance. 

Our subject was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
July 4, 1819, and is the son of Robert and Cather- 
ine (Spawr) Guthrie, of Pennsjivania. His pater- 
nal grandparents, Adam and Mary (Elton) Guthrie, 
were also natives of the Keystone State and de- 
scended from excellent Scotch and "Welsh ancestry. 
The mother of our subject was the daughter of 
Valentine and ISIargaret (Richey) Spawr, who were 
of German descent. Grandfather Spawr was a 
cooper b}' trade and also engaged in farming pur- 
suits. 

Robert E. Guthrie left the Buckeye State with his 
family in 182G, and locating in McLean Countj-, 
HI., ni.ade the first improvements in the north end 
of Funk's Grove, being one of the earl}' settlers of 
that region. He had corae into the country com- 
paratively without means, and .at first occupied him- 



self in splitting rails .at twenty-five cents per 100 
and boarding himself. He continued a resident of 
McLean County for twent}' j'ears, and died in 
Bloomington in 1846. The mother survived lier 
hus))and ten years, passing away in 18.56. Of their 
nine children but five are living, namely : Margaret, 
Mrs. Steele, formerly of Bloomington, but now 
making her home with our subject ; Robert E. ; Adam 
and Peter, of Bloomington, and Lee. 

The subject of our sketch attended school in his 
native county, commencing when seven years of age. 
He came to Illinois in time to witness the deep snow 
of 1830, and remembers many incidents connected 
with that perilous time. He continued under the 
home roof until after reaching his majorit}', in the 
meantime working .as farmer, mason and carpenter. 
From his youth 'Sir. Guthrie had been of a ver}' seri- 
ous turn of mind, w.as active in church and Sund.ay- 
school work, and now became convinced that it was 
his duty to assist in the spread of the Gospel. In 
1841 he joined the Illinois Aiuuial Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first year 
was assigned to LaSalle and Livingston Counties. 
He traveled his circuit in three weeks' time, preach- 
ing at twenty-one places, riding frequently night 
and day through both stormy and sunny weather. 
Services were frequentlj- held in |)rivate houses. He 
started out from South Ottawa to Armstrong neigh- 
borhood. The first Sabbath he rode from there to 
the Wheatland farm, thence to Vermilion Milage, 
holding services at each place in a school-house and 
then in a private house in the Rice neighborhood. 
This by no means ended his route, which encom- 
p.assed 135 miles. He thus devoted himself as an 
itinerant to the service of the Master twenty-six 
years, with the exception of one year spent in the 
army .as Chaplain of the 94th Illinois Infantry. The 
exposure and hardship which he had undergone be- 
fore this had their effects upon his constitution and 
resulted in his being obliged to leave the army. He 
received his discharge two days before the Union 
troops entered Vicksburg. 

Mr. Guthrie, in 1867, was superannuated by the 
Methodist Conference, and subsequently turned his 
attention to the improvement of his farm in Belle- 
flower Township, McLean Co., 111. The 3-ear fol- 
lowing he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, 



■t^ 






<• 



■ -4^ 
if •.>rf, 



•*-»-4» 



SKI )G WICK COUN 1 ^ 



»hicli iHwilioii III' lii'UI ftiiir }t'i»r», then retiinirH to 
liiit fnrni aixl i-oiitiniieil llierc until ct.in)ing to tins 
Mate. 

Mr. (iiitliric wn.t iiiarrit'<l in Ilnn<liil|ili County, 
111.. Aug. 2C. IHi;.. to Mi.HS I.uoy, .lnu;;lit«r of 
(M'orgf Krl.<uill, formerly of Wlieoliiig. W. X'.i. This 
union ri«ull«d in llic l>irtli of nine iliiMren. Their 
i-l<l(«t (laii'.'liter, .Mr<. Kute Atchi.son, of Sny- 
lirook. III., is till- inotlior of live ihililren — Willinm 
K., Williur. Miirion, Hoy ami Cnrrie. Uohert E., 
Jr., innrried Miss M. ,). Lenton, diiiigliter of the 
Kcv. .Innies l.euton, of the Illinois Annual Confer- 
ence; they have four children — HInnche, Lucy, Flor- 
ence and May; they live opixisite the re.-iidcnce of 
their |mrenl« in Wichita. Kdwin R. married Miss 
Ilattie I'ickett, daufrhter of Col. I'ickett, formcrlj' 
a rnend»er of the Mouse of Kcpresentiilivcs from 
I'eoria County, 111.: they have two children, Kd- 
win and Robert, and live in Lincoln, Neb. .Sarah 
F. issin;,de; Lucy hi.. Mrs. A. II. Reed, and Mary 
II., wife of Rev. J. I). WiKjds, are residents of 
Wichita; the latter has one chil<l, a son, Karl. Fred 
I.., with his sister Ada, is pui'suing his studies in 
the college atWinfield; Maggie attends the High 
.Vhool in Wichita. 

.Mr. fluthrie was Presiding KIder of the (^uincy 
District in Illinois three years, ancl in the liloom- 
iniilon District four years. lie votes the Republican 
ticket. 'I'he family residence is located at the inter- 
section of Thii'l ;ind Waco streets. 



•► m^^ 



•^ llAKl.Ks II, (lOODRlCII. The well-ap- 
II pointed farm of this gentleman is finely lo- 

^^>;' cated on section IK, in Waco Township, 
within whose liniil* he arrived on the 11th of Feb- 
ruary, 1H7C. Not long afterward he settled ujion 
the lan<l which he now occupies, and to which he 
linK given his close attention with results which 
can hardly fail to be satisfactory U> himself and 
where his labors have met with success. In a<ldi- 
tion t<i his finely ctdtivateil farm he own.s four 
valuable loUt in the city of Wichita, and in his un- 
dertaking.-« Iui.h Im-oh unifonnly successful, and is 
numbered among the energetic and stirring men 
who have operated to such good purjHise along the 



southern line of .Sedgwick County. He makes a 
s|>eciaUy of sttM'k-rnising, dealing mostly in flnc 
cattle, horses aiid hogs. 

Shelby Count}', Ind., wiis the early tnimping 
ground of our subject, and there his birth took 
place Oct. I A, lB't'2. His |Hirents were William and 
Hannah II. ((lleiui) Gootlrich, nalives of Wi-st Vir- 
ginia and now residents of Clear Water, this State. 
William Goodrich learned the hatter's trade when a 
young man, but later in life t<M.>k up farming pur- 
suits, which he has followed now for many years. 
The parental household included seven children: 
Alonzo, the eldest, wa.s born May lo, I8.">0, and 
married Miss Kliza Brady, of Missouri, who became 
the mother of one child; they are now residents of 
S<-otl Count}', this State. Charles H., of our sketchi 
was the second Son and child; Little G. was born 
April 14, ISSS, and is employed as a car|>enter in 
Scott County; F^lnia is the wife of W. L. White, a 
farmer by occupation, and is the mother of three 
children: they are now residing in Wyandotte, this 
State. Melvin, a farmer of Waco Townshij), mar- 
ried Miss .Julia Carroll, and is the father of one 
child; Willia N'ictoria, born April K, 1MG5. upon 
the day in which Grant took possession of the city 
of Vicksburg. is a dressmaker b}' occupation and a 
resident of Kansjis City; Katie died when four 
years old. 

Mr. Goodrich remained a member of his father's 
household until coming to Kansas, and when start- 
ing out for himself began o|K>rations as a farmer 
in this StJitc. At the age of thirty-one years he 
was united in marriiige with Miss Carrie I'ulliam, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
in Waco Township, Nov. 4.1888. Mrs. Goinlrich 
was born in St. Clair County, III., Oct. 14, IHC7, 
and is the (laughter of .John T. and Kliza .Jane 
(IJcnnctt) Pidliam, who also w-ere natives of Illi- 
nois. .John T. I'idliam w.os born in 1847, and dur- 
ing his earlier years followed farming. He is now 
engaged in the real-estate business in Wichita. He 
is a man of much force of character and sound 
business principles, and uniformly votes the straight 
Democratic ticket. The mother was born in Illi- 
nois, .May 1, 1840. The parental household iuclu<lcd 
five chililrcn, namely : Charles U,. who is occupied 
!us a stalionar}' engineer at W ichitji; .Julia, deceased ; 







^ 




SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



269 ' ^1 



Carrie, the wife of our subject; Dona Raphael B., 
who died young, and an infant daughter who died 
unnamed. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children: Clarence M., burn Nov. 5, 1884, and 
Claude, "the baby," born IMay 22, 1887. Mr. 
Goodrich politically is Kopublican, and takes a 
genuine interest in the enterprises set on foot for 
the progress and welfare of his adopted county. 

JAMES V. SMITH, a stalwart and sturdy rep- 
resentative of the noble yeomanry who make 
up the agricultural population of Sedgwick 
County, is a resident on section .'^o, Eagle 
Township. He came to this county in 1870 and 
pre-empted 160 acres of land on section 2, Union 
Township, where he commenced his improvement 
and made his home for about two years. About 
that time he removed to the quarter-section west of 
his previous place, and remained upon that tract 
initil 1883, when he purchased fifty-six acres of land 
of the railroad company, on section 35, Eagle Town- 
ship, to which he removed and where he is now 
living. He has a fine farm of 2 1 6 .acres of most excel- 
lent arable land, lying on the Arkansas River, which 
supplies the necessary water for stock purposes. He 
is giving a large proportion of his attention to the 
raising of sheep, and during the period from 1879 
to 188.5, was the most extensive breeder and raiser 
of those animals in Eagle Township, often having 
on hand as high as 1,500 head. 

James V. Smith was born in the town of Hallo- 
well, Kennebec Co., Me., Sept. 3, 1838, and is 
the son of Bowen and Lucinda (Wing) Smith, na- 
tives also of the old Pine Tree State. His father 
was reared upon a farm and in his j-oung manhood 
had taken up the butcher's trade, but departed this 
life when the subject of this sketch was about three 
years of age. The mother died in 1882. Mr. Smith 
received the elements of an excellent education in 
his bojdiood d.a3-s, as is so commonly the case with 
the youth of New England, and remained at home 
with his mother until he had attained his seven- i 
teenth birthday. About that time, having been 
seized with the disease familiarly known as the gold i 



fever, he made the journey to the far-oflf State of 
California, and there was engaged for five years 
with the pick, pan and cradle in delving in the rich 
placers and river bars of that State for the aurif- 
erous dust, the idol of nearly everj-body. Not 
having made his fortune at this venture, we find 
him, at the expiration of that time, upon a sheep 
ranch in that land of the sunset, where he remained 
for a period covering some five years, and then re- 
turned to his home in the State of Maine. In 1864 
our sulijcct removed to Ulinctis and recommenced 
the pursuit of his former agricultural calling in Milan 
Township, Macon County, where for six years he 
was engaged in tilling the soil. He then sold out 
and came to this county, as noted above. 

The subject of our sketch was united in marriage, 
in Macon County, 111., June 20, 1867, with Miss 
Hannah Swift, a n.ative of of Grant County, Ind., 
born Sept. 20, 1847, and the daughter of Stephen 
and Sar.ah (Scott) Swift. Her father, who was a 
native of Massachusetts, had followed the sea for 
some seven years in his younger days, after which 
he removed to Indiana and carried on farming and 
carpentering together, for a great number of years. 
He was living in Decatur, Macon Co., 111., where 
he owned a machine-shop, and where he was also 
engaged in carpentering at the time of his death, 
which occurred in the fall of 1860, when he was 
about fifty-four years of age. The mother of Mrs. 
Smith, who is a native of Kentucky, is still living. 
Mr. Swift was a member of the Christian Church 
and a most estimable gentleman in every respect. 
His wife .and three daughters belong to the Baptist 
communion. The mother, who has attained an age 
of sixty-two years, is living in Decatur, 111., having 
married in 1868 a Dr. May of that city, who died 
in September, 1887, leaving five children, of whom 
two are in Illinois, two in Sumner Count}-, Kan., 
and one in California. 

Mrs. Smith is one of a family of four girls born 
to her parents, and of the others the following rec- 
ord is given : Mary, the wife of Harvey Mahan- 
nah, is living in Decatur, 111., where her husband i» 
one of the cit}- oHicials and is a carpenter by trade ; 
Sarah E. married James Barnett, who is the Post- 
m.aster at Colwich, this county; Jessie, who is the 
wife of Alvinza Craig, makes her home in Streator, 



•^r*- 



•►■ -4^ 



4 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



III.. wliiTi' her hiiMliaiul i» fn;;ii;;<'<l m cnrryiiin on 
llu- i-ariH'ntcrinj; tni<]i-. To Mr. ainl Mm. ."<milli 
imve liBfii ^tiiU'i) tlirof cliililn'ii : WiiIUt .Scotl. 
Alviiiui Oliver nn<i I.oiiiM- Irene, nil of wlioni .-ire 
livini; ut Inline. 

.Mr. Siiiitli i-i B I'rohilijtioniiit in |xilili<-s iiml .ui 
(•iinie>t !i}\(\ .'.tronp ndvocnle of every leyislntion or 
Mietliixl tlint will su|i|>reSH the nun triillic. While 
a resident of I'nion Town-Hliip he was inihicerl to 
aeeept the olllee of Distrh-t TreiLsurer. Imt lie only 
lielil it a shnrl time. In his reIi;;ions convictions 
lie is a fiijlower >>{ what is known as IVisitivism, or 
a follower of the |ihiloso|)hy of Aufoisle Comic, a 
l-'rench writer, who lived from I79H to ls.'>7, and 
who wa-s the founder of a philosophical school of 
reli;;ioii. A portr.'iit of Mr. Smith accompanies this 

sketch. 

^-wv-*ii_---. iS-~v^^-— S*-J>?OT»>--./vv. 

y^ Al.\ IN 1'. I'KAK.SON, whow:is called from 
(ll n ^■•"'''' '" '^"^ mi<lst of hi-s usefulness, came to 
^^y Keclii IViwnshi]) during its pioneer days, 
and diirin;; the coniparntively brief period in which 
lie wiLs iK-rmitled to labor made good use of his 
time and opportunities, and is remembered by the 
IK'ople of this »<'ction as one of its most worthy and i 
Useful citizens, lie took a warm interest in the 1 
enterprises calculated to build up his township, as- 
sisted in the or^tni/ation of school districts, and 
from his private means put up the school building 
adjacent to his property. His work remains as the 
most fitting monument of his worth as a man and a 
memlier of society. 

The subject of this history was a native of the 
Old f;ninite .Stale, and born Oct. 5, 1830. He was ' 
the second child of Daniel A. .•ind Mary G. (Uur- j 
^;an) I'earson, whose family included Uiree sons 
and Ave daughters. I • rand father Durgan was one ' 
of the pioneer settlers of New Hampshire, and re- ! 
niained in New Knglaml with his family until his ' 
earthly labors were endeil. His son, Daniel A., I 
after his marriage and the birlii of .-everal children, j 
came t<i Illinois about 1 H.').'), and located first in ' 
( <Kjk County. After n short resilience there he ! 
purehn-sed land in Will County, upon which he o|»er- 
aU'd until 1h7I. His la-st removal was to this 
county, an<l lie sjieut his declining years near the , 
■^a 



home of his .«on. our subject, his death taking place 
in I HK2. al the age of seventy -one years. His ex- 
cellent wife is still living, and makes her home witii 
her datighlt'r al Watseka. 111. 

Calvin 1'. Pearson completed his edui-alion in 
the subscription schools of his native county in New 
IIam|ishire, and when a youth of sixU-en years be- 
gan his apprenticeship a.s a machinist, ami continued 
in New Kngland three years thereafter. He then 
eniignilcd to Illinois, and for five months was em- 
plo^-eil as a farm laborer in the vicinity of Chicjigo. 
Subsequently he worked al the car(Knter's trade, 
and whilejn Cook County met his fate in the per- 
son of Miss .Sanih A. Holmes, to whom he w.-is mar- 
ried in the town of liloom on the I'd of February, 
IKCO. 

Mrs. I'earson was born in (Jnomlaga County, N. 
Y., April '2'J. 1«:58, and is the third chihl of .John 
and Mary (Fur/e) Holmes, whose family includeij 
si.\ children. The [wirents were natives of Kngland 
and cros.sed the Atlantic at an early |K'rio<l in their 
lives. The malernid grandparents were also of 
Knglish birth and ancestry. After their marriage 
Mr. and Mi's. Pearson continued residents of lUoom 
until IS70, .Mr. P. having in the meantime pur- 
chased two and one-half acres of land upon which 
were a dwelling and the other appurtenances of a 
comfortnlile home. Not being satisfied with his 
prospects in that locality, however, Mr. Pearson 
crossed the Mississippi and pre-empted 14.5 acres of 
prairie land in Kcchi Township, u|)on which a 
claim had alre.'id}- been filed and for which Mr. 
Pearson, who was anxious to secure p<issession of it, 
paid ^400 for his right of pre-emption. 

In addition to the money alrc.'idy exjicnded Mr. 
Pearson was required to pay ^l.2."> per acre in order 
to obtain his clear title, and afterw.-ird purcluiscd 
\,)0 acres prairie land of the A., T. A: S. F. K. K. 
Co. This latter property lay on section 19, 
and here he commenced breaking ami building, and 
had laid many plans in relation to his future home- 
stead. After his dcatii .Mrs. Pearson continued to 
improve the farm, and kept up the ])ayments on 
the lan<l, clearing it from all incumbrance during the 
latter part of May, I8M7. In this she has sliown ad- 
mirable judgment and resolution, and has now as fine 
a piece of property as is to be found in this vicinity. 



i-i. 



-•►- 



«^t 



REDOWICK COUNTY. 



271 



Mr. Pearson was a well-read and intelligent man, 
taking a lively interest in politics, and uniformly 
voted with the Republican party. He served six 
years as School Director in his township, and no 
one rejoiced more at its progress and prosperity, 
and over the est-ihlishment of schools. Their chil- 
dren at first were obliged to go four miles in pur- 
suing their early education. iNow tliey are but 
five miles from the city limits of Wichita, and there 
is quite a change in the face of the country from 
the time they settled here, when the nearest railroad 
stiition was at Emporia, a distance of 100 miles. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Pearson there were born seven 
children, of whom but five are living, namely: 
Warren C, Luella C, WMllis G., John E. and 
Charles Herbert. Warren is married and lives on 
a farm near- the old homestead. Luella, Mrs. Tur- 
ner, is the wife of a prosperous farmer of Park 
Township. Mary died at the age of sixteen months 
and twenty-four daj's, and Walter died when four 
years old. The other children are at home with 
their mother, and have not yet completed their 
studies. 

A portrait of Mr. Pearson is given in connection 
with this sketch. 



^s^ 



AVID H. MILLER ha.s accomplished a 
satisfactory work as a farmer and acquired 
a competency to live on in his declining 
years, and has retired from the business to 
make room for j'ounger blood, required in the 
active life of the farmer. He now resides at No. 
1000 North Lawrence avenue, W'ichita. 

Mr. Miller was born Aug. 30, 1825, in Washing- 
ton County. Md. His father's given name was 
Henry C; his mother's name before marriage was 
Elizabeth Leekrone. She, too, first saw the light in 
the same county as her husband. Henry C. Miller 
died Nov. 2, 1866, aged a little over eight}' -five 
years. He was a farmer by occupation. His par- 
ents were from Lancaster Count}', Pa., and were of 
German extraction. They were said to have been 
successful in gathering together much of this 
world's goods. The father was a member of the 
German Reform Church, and a soldier in the W^ar 



of 1812. His good wife was born April 17, 1789, 
and died Feb. i), 1830, aged nearly forty-two years; 
she was a member of the same church as her husband. 
Their children answer to the names of Jacob, 
Christian, Henry, Jolm, Samuel, David and Daniel. 
Two daughters died in infancy. Being left alone 
comparatively young, Henry again married. This 
time Mary Leekrone found favor in his eyes, and 
his affection being reciprocated, they were accord- 
ingly joined in wedlock. This union was blessed 
with three children. They were named Susan, 
Elizabeth and Rebecca. Four boys and three girls 
of Henry's children are still living. 

David 11. Miller, the subject of this outline 
sketch, married Miss Susan Winder, who was born 
in Washington County, Md., Dec. 29, 1837. She 
was a daughter of Samuel and Susan Newcomer. 
They, too, were of the manor born. The father, 
born Nov. 12, 1797, died Nov. 14, 1872. The Re- 
formed Church voiced his feelings religiously. He 
was strongly attached to his home, a sincere Chris- 
tian, and a very kind father. The mother was 
born Jan. I, 1805, and fell asleep May 28, 1864, 
aged a little over fifty-nine years. Their children 
numbered fifteen, twelve girls and three boys — 
Elizabeth, Camilla, Mary, Sally, Lydia, Susan, 
Emma, Caroline, Melvina; four died in infancy, 
three of them in one week of scarlet fever. Of the 
boys John Samuel is deceased. Daniel died a pris- 
oner of war on Johnson's Island, Ohio. 

Our subject was reared torurallife, receiving the 
usual education of such, but during the war he was 
struck with a regular succession of drafts, amount- 
ing to eight in number (strange to say he was a 
blank seven out of the eight times), the one time it 
caught him, but ^300 paid him out. This was 
about the time of the Gettysburg fight. While the 
army was returning from that fight the wife found 
shelter and concealment in the cellar. Shots were 
fired into the building, which was used as a bar- 
rack. The two armies preyed on the goods and 
chattels of the principal of this sketch to the value 
of some §4,000, no part of which has he ever re- 
covered. He was a renter at that time. Finally, 
on the day of Lee's surrender, he stai'ted by rail to 
Ogle County, 111., landing there with a few hundred 
dollars. He began anew to work by the day. Fin- 



• -<► 



472 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



i»lly he «'aine in |x>!*sf»!ti<>ii of n oi>rii-!<lifllor with 
which he mmic several thous:inti dollars. Ho lived 
in Illinois flvt- years, then M'I out for Kansas, 
stopping in To|>eka eipliteen months; from there to 
Wichita hy wajjon. Here he pre-einpteil 1(^0 acre« 
of laml four miles eiLst of the I.illle Arkansiui River. 
This wn.t in IHTl. lie proved up on the cliiim and 
bought anothi-r farm, lie owns many valuable 
city lot-t n» well m farm land.*, the total value of 
whii-h would make muny thousand d<.>llar». 

A man of foresight a-s .Mr. Miller is could sec 
into the future enough to know that a fortune lay 
in those city lot> and farm lands. He is the father 
of five childn-n. One died in infancy; Minnie mar- 
ried James 1'. Royal; Harry married Belle Turner; 
they have one boy, named LU>yd. Molly and John 
Forry were married and have a son named Earl; 
Charlie is still ^ingle; he has become an cxinrt in 
music on the trondione. 

I'ioneere like the one we have been writing up 
had u i)retly hard time of it in an early day. Pri- 
vation.*. Iiardi-hilis, lack of old friends and conven- 
iences could only be tolerated by faith in the 
" gotKl time coming, boys, good time coming ; wait 
a little longer." The Democratic part\' is the 
mouthpiece of his sentiment. He and his wife are 
members of the Dunkard Church, anil have been for 
many years. 

T=^ ICIIARI) H. KKI{R, who is engaged in agri- 
iLji^' cultural piirsuils on .section 3.5, Waco 
J(,\V Town-hip, is a native of Jefferson County, 
^Ohio, and was born Feb. 16, 184«. He is 
the son of James and .Mary A. (Klliott) Kerr, 
sketches of whom ap|>oar elsewhere in this volume. 

'I'hc subject of our sketch was reared beneath his 
father's roof, attended the common scIkioIs of his 
native State and of West \'irginia, at intervals 
throughout his boylxHHl and youth, and laid the 
foundation of an exctdlcnt education. In company 
with his parents, in IS.ir., he rcmovofl to West Vir- 
ginia, where the family loeat<-d in Brooke County, 
where he lived Mime llfteeii years. Most of his time 
after he had attained the age of ■<event<'en years 



was s|>ont iu the employ of his father, on u salary, 
and in partnership with him. The business which 
they gave their greatest attention to was the con- 
struction of railroads and other public works, tak- 
ing manj' very extensive contracts. The next 
move which they made was t<} Kanawha Countj', 
W. \'a., where they remained about two years and 
a half. The following year, |m72, our subject was 
employed in building a dam across the W;ibajih 
River forthe (lovernment, at New Harnu>ny. Ind., 
an<l after its completion went to Louisville, Ky., 
anil was eng.'iged in the construction of the water- 
works at Anchorage A.sylum, near Louisville, and 
at the water-works of Louisville proper. On the 
comi)letion of these two contracts, for a change, he 
accepted a position as shipping clerk at the Cham- 
pion Sawmill, of the same city, in which ca|>acity he 
remained about six months. Jan. 1, 18f*l.he took 
a large contnict on the Mexican Central liailway, 
lying within the boundaries of our sister American 
Republic, where he was employed in working gangs 
of peons and natives until Nov. i'.'!, 1883, when he 
returned to the I'nited States. The next year he 
spent in Louisville, but wishing to settle down in a 
new country, where he could grow up with it, he 
started for Kans:u<, and K>calingat WichiUi, engaged 
in the grocery business. This not meeting his 
views, he soon disposed of it and removed to the 
farm on section 3;j, where he is residing at present. 
The marriage ceremony which united the desti- 
nies of Richard B. Kerr and Mary Ann Hays, took 
place on Christmas D.-iy, 1878. The lady was 
born in Jefferson County, Ky., Jan. 7, 18C3, and 
was the daughter of Patrick and Ann (Constantine) 
Hays. Her parents were natives of Ireland, her 
father born in 1827, and her mother in 1820. They 
had come to the United Stntes while children, in 
1 830, and had been married in this coimtry. They 
were Catholics in religion, and most excellent 
Christian people. The demise of the father took 
place in 1«72. To them were born a family of six 
children, us follows: Bridget, born Jan. 11, 18.')5, 
and died Jan. 11, 1880; Joseph Patrick, who was 
born March 17, 18,'>7, living in Louisville, Ky., a 
stone-cutter by traile ; John, born Oct. II, 1800, 
now working in the glass f.'ictory in Louisville, 
Ky. ; Michael diecl in Nashville, Tenu., at the age 



•► • -4^ 



I 

T 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 



273 



of eighteen months; Mary Ann, the wife of Mr. 
Kerr, .ind James, born Aug. 15, 1865, who is living 
in Louisville. 

Mr. Kerr has a very fine farm of 160 acres 
of land, all but five of which are brought under the 
plow, and are in a most excellent state of tillage. 
His improvements are of a high character, and his 
residence is pleasant and roomy. He is devoting a 
large sliare of his attention to the rearing of graded 
Short-horn cattle, and owns some very fine head of 
that strain. He is the parent of but one child, 
James Custer, who was born July 16, 1880, and is 
now attending the district school. A bright, in- 
telligent bo3', he gives great promise of future use- 
fulness in this world. In politics. Mr. Kerr is a 
stanch Republican, although no politician nor seek- 
ing ollicial position. He is a member of the A. 0. 
U. W., and takes great interest in the work of that 
order. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Catholic 
Church, and enjoys the love and esteem of the 
entire neighborhood. 

-^»!^»*-:'!* -^^^ «'*?-<'«- 

W'^ILLIAM KLOFKORN, a prosperous Ger- 
man farmer of Salem Township, and a rep- 
resentative citizen, respected alike for his 
industry and integrity, may be properly placed in 
the list of self-made men who have done so much 
toward developing the res >urces of Southern Kansas. 
He was born in Carlsdorf, in the Grand Duchy of 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on the 30th of March, 
1847, and crossed the Atlantic in 1873, after a 
prosperous voj'age of twelve to fifteen days on an 
ocean steamer. He spent about ten weeks in the 
State of Michigan, then went eastward to Indiana, 
and was a resident of Elkhart three years, being 
emplo3'ed as a section hand on the railroad. From 
there, in 1877, he came to this count}", where he has 
since remained. 

Mr. Klofkorn was entirely dependent upon his 
own resources, having very little money when he 
landed upon American soil, and was prepared to 
engage in any honest labor which his hands could 
find to do. For three years after landing in this 
country he was engaged .is a farm laborer at $20 
per month during the summer season and $18 in 



the winter. With true German thrift and prudence 
he not only lived within his income, but managed 
to save each year sometiiing from his earnings, and 
at the expiration of the time mentioned settled on 
a tract of rented land which he operated two years 
and was then enabled to secure possession of his pres- 
ent farm. 

The homestead of our subject includes 1494 acres 
of land, which he has brought to agX'od state of cul- 
tivation and where, in addition to general farming, 
he is raising good grades of live stock, including 
horses, cattle and swine. While a resident of Mich- 
igan Mr. K. was married, on the 6th of February, 
1879, to Miss Sophia Froli, who is a native of Michi- 
gan, and was born in the little city of Sturgis, July 
27, 1860. The}' are now the parents of six chil- 
dren, of whom the record is as follows: Louis was 
born Dec. 17, 1879; Otto, Jan. 21, 1881; Henry, 
Sept. 9, 1882; Martin, April 29, 1884; Adaline, 
July 13, 1885, and Minnie. April 19, 1887. 

The parents of our subject, Vulrod and Mary 
(Adam) Klofkorn, were also of German birth and 
parentage. Their family included five children, 
namely: Frederick, William, Lizzie, Charles and 
Lena. Mrs. Klofkorn is the daughter of Christian 
and Minnie (Schulz) Froh, natives of Germany and 
residents of Burr Oak, Mich. They were the par- 
ents of nine children, of whom but six are living, 
namely: Sophia, Charles, William, Lizzie, Albert 
and Christian, niostl}' residents of Michigan. Fred, 
Caroline and Herman are dece;ised. Mr. and Mrs. 
K. are members in good standing of the Lutheran 
Church in Salem Township, and our subject, politi- 
cally, votes independently, aiming to support the 
man whom he considers best qualified for the office. 



\ALrH ROLL, a reliable and intelligent 
young agriculturist of Ohio Township, re- 
siding on section 23, first drew the breath 
^^'of life April 4, 1859, in Sheboygan County, 
"Wis. He is a son of Ilenr}' and Frederika (Plaetz) 
Roll, both of whom were natives of the German 
Empire, who came to America in the year 1856, 
and made settlement in the Badger State. 



#Ah 



_ ■» ■ ^» 



f 



t 



274 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



Jt 



In 1K"2 Uie snhji'cl of this skftcli cnnic to Sc«1r- 
wit'k County witli his |inri-ul!i, where his fiither pre. 
eni|>t«<l « qtinrler-seclHHi of laiul on M-etion '2i, 
in Ohio Town.ship, where he liveil until his death, 
which occurred Dec. iO, 1k7'J. Ilenrv Holl wns 
one of the ipioneer* of Ihnt jHirtion of the county, 
and when he .st-tth-d u|>on iiis fnrni it wius a wihl 
wiwt* of gms« and weeds with not a furrow turned 
u|>on it, or a |>article of iniprovenient.s haviii-; liecn 
made. Like all who are among the lir-t to lireak 
the way for civilization into a iit'« country, he and 
his family were c-oni|K'll('d to endure all tiie liard- 
Bbi|*s and privations incident t4i pioneer life, which 
they did with a couraffe and endurance that were 
commendable. In his death tlie county lost one 
of the orifjinal pioneers, and one «»f it< most es- 
teemed citizens, lie w.-i.s a uieinlier of the Luth- 
eran Church, an<l a j^ood :in<l sincere Christian 
gentleman. In his political faith he was attached 
to the Republican party, and warmly in favor of 
any measure that wa.-; calculated to Ix-nefit the com- 
munity. He w:us the father of six children — llenr}', 
(iu.st.'ive, Charles, liiilph, \\'illiani and Annie. 

The subject of our sketch has been a resident of 
Ohio Township since \H12, and has always been 
engaged in farming, lie received the rudiments 
of his education in the district schools of his native 
State and of Kansius, which he has supplemented by 
considerable reading;, and is well posted on the 
current topics of the day. lie was united in mar- 
riage, Oct. !», I8«2, with Cedeli:i .McOalia. a native 
of l)ou;;las County, III., born .Ian. 22, lK(i;(, and 
a dau^fhler of .losepii :uid Sjirali (Thornton) Mc- 
(laha. who are at present residin;,' in Salem Town- 
ship, this county. 

Mr. Roll is the owner of a line farm of I ('.II acres 
of hijjhly productive and fertile land, on s<'Ction H, 
Ohio Township, which he luis by industry and j;ood 
niana;;ement, with it* attendant Iwird labor. liron;;ht 
to a hi|{h slate of cultivation. The liuil<lin;,rs which 
lie has ere<'ted are of a nc'it and subslaiitlal char- 
act4-r, an<l all the injprovemenUt are nnidc with a 
vitrw to convenience in his busines.'^. In his poli- 
tics he is entirely free from party lines, cjistinj^ 
his ballot for tlu> man who seems to him the most 
fit for the ..nice, and paying little iilt.iilion to plat. 
f.>rtn'< or purli.san mcnsiirus. As a member of the 



Lutheran Church he gives much attention to re- 
ligious work, and is a true and sincere Christian. 
His uprightness, integrity and public-spiritcdness, 
have won him the confidence and esteem of his 
neighbors, and he is classed among the most rc- 
s|K>clcd representalivi- lili/cii- of S»'di.'wick County. 

•^^Vg^;;;;.;.:.:=.:.:|.^»J^^ 

j^ ATRICK KLN.NKHV. Ihe pr..|H'rty of 
this gentleman includes 400 acres of choice 
land, 240 acres on sections 2It and .10, in 
Grant Township, aixl 100 situated in llar- 
vej' County, Kan. He is numbered among the 
self-made men of Southern Kansas, his accumula- 
tions being the result of his own industry, obtained 
by self-denial 'and economy, and the exercise of a 
naturally good judgment, both in regard to agri- 
cultural pursuits and business matters. He came 
to Sedsrwick County in the spring of 1H7I, and 
since that time this h:is been the field of his ojaTa- 
tions, and the center of his int.-resls and hope,-. 

The Kennedy farm is now largely devote.l to the 
raising of grain and stock, the latter in.-liiding high- 
graile Norman horses, thoroughbred .Short-horn 
and llolstein cattle, and pure-bred Toland-China 
swine. The.se ranging through the beautiful fields, 
many of them enclosed with hc.lge fencing, form a 
delightful picture in a landsca|)c naturally pleo-sing 
to the eye, and rendered still more attractive b}" 
the evidences of industry and civilizjition. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic in County Tip|)erary, Ireland, 
where he was born Dec. 2(), 1H43. He waa the 
youngest in a family of three children, of whom 
only one beside>* himself is living, namely, his sister 
Anna, who is a resident of Union County, Ohio. 
His br.jther Mathew died in that lounty in the 
spring of 1K87. 

The parents of our subject were also of Irish 
birth and parenUige, and the father emigrated to 
the lnit«Ml St^it^-s with their little family when their 
son Patrick was a chil.l three years of age. The 
mother, whose maiden name was .Madden, had died 
in County Tip|«'rary when Patrick was but an in- 
fant. Patrii-k Kennedy, Sr., the father, was em- 
j.loyed on publii' works in the Uuckeyc .Slate, ami 



■•► ■ -4» 



<»• 



u 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



275 



died there in Union County, in 1874, when quite 
an aged man. He wiis grcfitly atllicted in the loss 
of his sight a few years before iiis decease. 

Patrick Kennedy, Jr., was reared in Canandaigua, 
Ontario Co., N. Y., in the home of a family by the 
name of Sanborn, wiio carried on farming, and had 
settled there during the pioneer days. Young Ken- 
nedy was given a good education, completing his 
studies in the academy at Canandaigua. There he 
developed into manhood, and after the outbreak of 
the late war enlisted, onthe25th of February, 1863, 
in Company F, 1st New York Light Artillery, for 
three years, or during the war. He met the enem^' 
in many important battles, including the siege and 
capture of Richmond, the battle of the Wilderness 
and Cold Hai'bor, and was in various minor engage- 
ments. He served under the immediate command 
of Gen. Grant in Virginia, and was at Petersburg 
at the time of the mine explosion, which will 
readil}' be recalled bj' those conversant .with the 
history of the Rebellion. He received a serious 
injury when at Cold Harbor b3' being thrown from 
a caisson, by which his arm was dislocated, and 
never regained its original shape. After the sur- 
render of the Confederate army he received his 
honorable discharge at Elmira, on the 17th of June, 
1865. 

Mr. Kennedy now returned to his old haunts in 
New York State, and carried on farming there until 
the fall of 1868. He then joined his father in 
Union County, Ohio, where he resided until in 
March, 1871; then set his face once more westward, 
and coming to this State located first in Harvey 
County. There he homesteaded a quarter-section 
of prairie land, upon which he effected considerable 
improvement, breaking a part of the sod, and subse- 
quently adding to his possessions 240 acres across the 
line in Grant Township. Of this he took possession 
in 1873, and decided to here build his permanent 
home. He still considers it was a wise movement 
to invest his surplus capital in land, and now has 
his 400 acres in a fine state of cultivation. He has 
also erected a set of farm buildings which will bear 
comparison with anything of the kind along the 
northern line of Sedgwick County. 

Mr. Kennedy has never taken a very active part 
in politics, although keeping himself well informed 



upon matters of general interest, and uniformly 
votes the straight Republican ticket. He has never 
sought olfice, and his views in this respect have been 
kindly respected by his fellow-townsmen. The 
Kennedy homestead is pleasantly situated about 
one and three-fourth miles from Valley Center, and 
to the enterprises calculated for the general welfare 
of the people around him our subject has ever been 
a cheerful and liberal contributor. He realizes the 
advantages of education, and his children in this 
respect will be well provided for. He was reared 
an Episcopalian. 

The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss 
Eliza L. Allen, who was born in Illinois, in 1854. 
She came with her parents to .Sedgwick County in 
1880, and her marriage with Patrick Kennedy was 
celelirated at her home in Grant Township, in April, 
1883. Her parents were David R. and Emeline 
(Blgelow) Allen, the mother a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and the father of Vermont, but now living 
in Wichita. Mrs. K. was the j^oungest of their 
three children. They settled in Illinois after their 
marriage, and thence came to Kansas in 1870, and 
are now residents of the city of Wichita. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy became the parents of six 
children, of whom five are living, namely: Charles, 
Rosa, Edward, David and Grace. They are all at 
home with their parents, the two eldest attending 
school near their home. 



-vw\taje£r®~5@ 



»*^sS!/ZfJy^»^ "N/v~- 



JOHN W. PRAY is proprietor of one of the 
most noticeable homesteads in Park Town- 
shii). It is on section 18, where he settled 
on the 1st of May, 1879. His residence is 
a handsome and substantial frame building, flanked 
by a good barn and the various other out-buildings 
required by the progressive agriculturist. As a 
tiller of the soil he is thorough and skillful, and has 
been uniformly fortunate in his investments. 

5Ir. Pray spent his boyhood years among the 
hills of Clermont County, Ohio, where his birth 
took place at the modest homestead of his parents, 
Feb. 16, 1847. His father, John W. Pray, Sr., was 
also a native of the Buckeye State, and married 
Miss Susan McDonald, one of the playmates of his 



■^^ 



-•►-•-^ 



• -4 



ii^^-f 



•i76 



SKD(iWICK COUNTY. 



earlier years. Mn*. " . , ■ •! her entire 

life ill lier unlive Stat<','aii<l died alxiiit IS76. Tlie 
fatlier, who vrH» n fnrintT hy tx-cii|>nli<iii, is still 
living, jiiul II n'.tiilenl of Clermont C<>unty, Ohio. 

Our suhji-ot continiieil n nioiiiber of his fnther's 
household iinlil rcnchiiig miinhiKxl, and iicqiiired 
his education in the coinnion schools. In connec- 
tion with fiirniin}; he 0|>erateil n sawmill in his 
native county, where he resided until coming to 
this StJite. His llrst |iurcliase comprised ICO acres, 
a jMirt of which he subsequently d is jKised of. lie 
erected his present rej>idencc in the summer of 
IKS", lie was first marrieil in Clermont County, 
Ohio, to .Miss Lnvina Gaskill, who became the 
mother of n son and daughter, Charles and Mattie. 
and died about 187-'. One of these children is 
in Ohio And one in Kansas. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he wa-s 
marrieil in .September. 1(S74, was formerly' Miss 
Nancy Jane McConnell, who was born in Scott 
County, 111.. Sept. 1, IiS-19. Mrs. Nancy J. Pray 
is the daiight<.'r of Thomas and Sarah (Truesdel) 
McConuell, and of her marriage with our subject 
there have been born si.\ children, of whom but 
four are living, namely: Lewis, Elsie, Harry and 
Ij»ura. Mr. Pray sup))<>rLs the Kcpublican party, 
and is numbered among the rising men of his town- 
ship. 



(.'. CHAWFOHO. Among the pioneers of 
Sedgwick County who are noted for their 
eminent success in their chosen calling is the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. lie is 
resifling on section H, \alley Center Township, 
where he first hxntcd .Ian. :i, 1 K7 1 . He at first filed 
a claim to this piece of land under the pre-emption 
act, but subscfiuenlly look it in accordance with the 
conditions of the Irce-ciilliire law. He has since 
m«d«' it his home, exiejit during the winter of 
187 1-7.'), which he spent in the Slate of lown. 

The subject of this biography is n native of Lee 
County, III., and was born .Iiily 10, IN lU, the son of 
.Snmuel S. and .Seicpla (Camp) Crawford, natives 
of Ireland and Pennsylvania, 'i'lie pareiiL- are still 
living and rc^ideiit-« of lliis loiinty. The father has 
now rcru-hed tlic full age of thrre-inre V'Jirs ami 



r 



ten, and the mother is. <ixty-oii< \ ... .1. >,iiiiiicl 
S. Crawford learned the car|H.'ntcr's trade in his 
early manho<Hl, and followed that vocation for 
many yenrx before his marriage, in New York Cily. 
Wedrling Miss Screpta Camp in 18|fi. he removed 
to Lee County, III., where for twenty-two years he 
wns engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He be- 
came prominent in public affairs while living in the 
Prairie Stale, and wns looked up to as one of the 
leading men of his community. In the spring of 
1872 he came to this county, and has since been 
identified with the farming interests of .Southern 
Kansas. He was the |iarent of nine children, five 
boys and four girls, as follows: L. C, the subject 
of this narrative; Mcda U., who married O. M. Mil- 
lard, and wjis a resident of Harvey County, this 
.State, where she died in 187.'{. leaving one child, 
Ida; .Tames C, Letilia A.. Mary, Asa, .lohn. Clara 
and Jane. 

L. C. Crawford was reared u|)on a farm, and 
received his education in the district schools of his 
native county. lie remained beneath the parental 
roof-tree, assisting his father in the labors incident 
to life on a farm until he had reached his twenty- 
first year. .Soon afterward he came to this county 
with C. Camp, Sr., and 15. A. Merrill, an<l the three 
were among the very first settlers who located in 
wliat is now Valley Center Townshiji. Our subject 
erected the first frame house in this locality weal of 
the Arkansas River, which was built entirely of Cot- 
tonwood sills and boards, jind in which he is now 
living. He settled down uptm this place and com- 
menced its improvement, and has made it his home 
with the exception of the time mentioned above, 
when he wns engaged in selling windt)w-.«tops, sills 
and doors for a Chicago house. The place, when 
he located here, was totally unimproved, but by the 
exerci.se of energy and intelligence he has caused 
the wilderness to blo.ssom as a rose, and brought 
his farm to a remarkable state of culture. 

After hnving kept bachelor's hall for a time, he 
became anxious to surround himself b}- the influ- 
ences of a more cheerful home, and hence .sought 
out ji helpmeet among the fairer sex. March •J.'i, 
IH7'.t, he was united in marriage with Miss Krmina 
Myers, u native of Tip|>ecanoe County, Ind., and 
who was born .Mine 'J-l. 1 K.V.I. Mi-s. Crawford is 



■•►-■ -4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



a daughter of Michael and Nancy (Fry) Myers, 
who came to Kansas in 1878. The father died in 
1876, in Tippecanoe County. Ind., leaving his 
widow and the following ten children : Catherine, 
Joseph, John, Weslej', Samuel, pjlizabeth A., Mary, 
Erminn, Kmma and Julia. Samuel and Elizabeth 
are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jlyers were very 
estimable people, and were both members of the 
United Brethren Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Craw- 
ford there have been born four children, whose 
names are — Ocorge, Burchard, Eunice and Earl. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Crawford is a 
Democrat, and has always taken a warm interest in 
the success of his party. In 1872 he was instru- 
mental in getting up and circulating a petition for 
the organization of the township, and carried the 
matter before the County Commissioners, lobbying 
the ordinance through that body. At the first 
election he was chosen to fill the office of Town- 
ship Clerk, and held that position for about ten 
years. In 1 883 he served as Township Trustee, 
and is at present the School Director of District No. 
131, in which capacity he has acted since 1885. 
Since he came to this locality', our subject has oper- 
ated a threshing-machine for eight seasons, and dur- 
ing that time has done work with it in the counties 
of McPherson, Harvey, Dickinson, Marion, Butler, 
Reno and .Sedgwick. The farm residence, with its 
adjacent buildings, is given elsewhere, and repre- 
sents the modest home of plenty and comfort. 

eW. .SIMMONS, a skillful fanner and stock- 
raiser, lives on the north half of the north- 
west quarter of section 20, Kechi Township, 
where he carries on the various departments of his 
calling with marked success. He is a native of Wis- 
consin, born in Green County, Dec. 8, 1847. He was 
the third in a family of fourteen children, the oflf- 
spring of C. J. and Mary (Allison) Simmons, who 
were natives respectively of North Carolina and Illi- 
nois. His father removed from his native State to 
Wisconsin when a young man, and there engaged in 
.agi-icultural pursuits. 

Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and 



educated in the public schools of his native State. 
Having so man\- brothers and sisters, his assistance 
at home was not especially needed, and he resolved 
to stiirt out in life for himself, and desiring to see 
something of Kans.as, came to this county in the 
fall of 1870. He pre-empted 160 acres of land in 
Minneha Township, but after a short stay there 
disposed of it and removed to Colwell, vvherehe re- 
mained a few months. In 1872 he purchased a 
claim of 100 acres in Kechi Township, but soon 
afterward sold at a profit and bought eighty acres 
parti}' improved elsewhere. An opportunity for 
disposing of that advantageously also occurred, and 
our subject exchanged it for eighty acres lying 
south of the land he now occupies. Then buying 
eighty acres, now included in the homestead, he 
disposed of his property previously purchased, and 
commenced the improvement of his present farm, 
where he has put up a good dwelling andothersub- 
stantial farm buildings. From time to time he has 
added to his original purcliase, until now he has a 
farm of 240 acres of highly cultivated land, eight}' 
acres of which are in Valley Center Township. He 
has devoted much of his time and attention to stock- 
raising, having many cattle of common breed, but 
in good condition. His horses are roadsters of a 
high grade. 

The subject of our sketch was united in marri.age 
with Miss Parilee D.adisnian, in Wichita, Kan., Sept. 
21, 1873. Mrs. Simmons was born in Kentucky, 
Nov. 7, 1850, being the eldest of a family of eleven 
children born to her parents, George and Sarah 
(Summers) Dadisraan. The latter were both natives 
of Kentuck}', but soon after their marriage removed 
to Morgan County, 111., where they remained fifteen 
years, then moved to Kansas, and located first on a 
farm north of AVichita, then moved on afarmsoutii 
of Wichita, where they have since resided. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Sinnnons have been born four 
children, namely: Daisy Estella, Lillie Pearl, l)ur- 
ward Calvin and Georgian.a. This pleasant home 
circle has been broken by the hand of death, and 
Georgiana, the 3'oungest, after a brief life of one 
year, eleven months and ten days, was taken from 
earth, and thus earl}' escaped its trials and tribula- 
tions, exchanging them for a brighter and better 
existence. 



r~ 



-•►HK-^ 



•►•-4« 



1| 



280 



SEDGWICK COUNTV. 



Mun- liuiiK'-like m'«mii5 tin- va.it iiiikiiuwn 

Siiu'c itlie liiw ciitprcil tliiTc; 
To fi'lliiw luT wfiv not 'o Imrfl, 

Wlirrevcr nUe m:iy fmi' ; 
She (■:innot bi- wlion- (ioil is not. 

On nny >«•» or .-liorc ; 
WImtc'tT I>fti(lc3) Thy love iibides, 

Our (mmI, fort- vennorc. 

Mn*. Simmon.- is an esleenicil nienilier of the 
rre!.bvt«Tinn Church, of WiihiLi. Mr. Simmons 
(Iocs not Inke nn iictive part in iMjIitics, l(Ut uni- 
formly casts lii.-* vole with the Ue|)nblicJin party, lie 
has l>e«Mi for sttme years Townsiiip Clerk, and is 
still faithfully ami sntisf.-iftorily lillinj; that p<isition. 
lie is a memlM-r of the I'nilcd Workmen, of Wich- 
il». and i.-* universally res|>eeled as as honest man 
and ;;i><mI citizen. 

The home surroundinfjs of Mr. Simmons and his 
family arc ;;iven in miniature on another paye, and 
form a picture plea-nin;.' to contcmphitc. 



OLO.MO.N NK;1Is\V(JN(;KU. .Sidgwick 
County has many well-to-do and successful 
farmers who are the architects of their own 
fortunes and are connected largely with 
the ollicial life of this section. Among these is the 
subject of this |ier»onal history, who is the present 
Trusti-e of Viok Township, on section "JO, where 
he settled in the fall »f IS'O. He was born in 
Marshall County, III., April 1.'), 1H54, and is the 
ofl.spring of Abraham and .lane (Sellers) Nighs- 
wonger. 

The grandparent- of our subject were natives of 
Virginia, who -ettled in I'ike County, III., where his 
father was born. The latter wjis reared to farm 
life, but in early maidiood was employed for a time 
U|Miri the various -teandtoal- that plied upon the 
Illinois and .Missj>t.>«ippi Ki vers, and wiu- married in 
I'ike County. Some time afUT his marriage lie 
removed to .Marshall County, III., where our sub- 
ject wait born, and there made his home until I SHI, 
when he came t<i Kansas and settled on section i'd, 
in N'iola Tow-n.-hip, where he owned a tract of 800 
acres of land, which he had bought in l)^7(i. This 
immense and valuable farm he improved and there 
iiKid4' III.- home until hi.- dcalh. whjcji occurred .lulv 



to, 1885. The mother of our subject is living and 
resides u|)on the old homest«>ad in this county. 
She wiis the parent of nine children, of whom the 
following six still .-urvive: Annie, wife of Theo- 
dore Kerr; Solomon, the subject of this sketch; 
William, Fnmk, Isiuic and Oscar. 

Solonion Nighstvonger was reared u|K)n the 
IKitcrnal farm and there received the Iniining that 
he has made answer so successfully in his agricult- 
und pursuits through life, lie received bis educji- 
liou in the district schools of his native county, and 
on attaining his manhood in 1870, came to Kan-as, 
and made a claim on his present place. In 1878 
he returned to his native county in Illinois, where, 
on February it;, he was uiiite<l in marriage with 
Miss Ada Tampiary. who was born in MarsludI 
County, III., April IK, IS.i?, and is the daughU-r of 
Cornelius and Sarah (Huff) Tanquary, natives i>{ 
Ohio. By this union our subject and his wife have 
been blessed with a family of four children, who 
bear the following names: Bertha Viola, Kollie 
Albert, Marry Alaynard and Walter C. 

.Mr. N'ighswonger has a fine property of 210 
acres of land, anil gives the greater proportion of 
his time to the rearing of stock, in which he is 
meeting with a merited and richly deserved suc- 
ccis. lie is numbered among the wealthy and 
prosperous farmers of the county, and occupies a 
high place in the consideration and resixict of his 
fellow-eilizens. In his political views he coin- 
cides, to some extent, with the National Greenback 
jMirty, but is entirely independent 4)f party lines, 
being one of those rugged natures that have minds 
of their own, and having such, dare maint.ain them. 
He is now serving the people of the township as 
Trustee for the third term, and is a conscientious 
and faithful olliccr. In his religion he is a Baptist, 
and a (lod-fearing and sincere Chri-tian gentleman. 



KNHV ( . .M. KI:i;11;K, the subject of the 
1^ following sketch, is now keeping a grocery- 
store at the -lockyards, and is residing in 
a plea.-ant home on North Water street, near 
Twenty-llr-t, Wichita. He was l)orn in Northum- 
berland Counlv, I'u.. Aug. 22, IH.lo. 111.- fulher. 



t 



-•►• -*• 



AhM^ 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



281 



*^H 



Jacob Keefer, was a native of Pennsylvania, of 
German descent, horn Oct. 9, 1800. He was a 
farmer by occupation, who, by industry, economy 
and shrewd judgment, accumulated a competency. 
The maiden name of his wife was Barbara Beschler, 
who was born in Pennsylvania in ^lay, 1799, and 
died in Illinois, May 5, 1848. She left three chil- 
dren — Ilenr}' C. M.. Francis U. and William F., all 
of whom are now living. She and her husband 
were both members of the Lutheran Church. Af- 
ter her death Mr. Keefer married Miss Mary Keefer, 
by whom he had three children — Barbara A., Isaac 
N. and Lewis. Mr. Keefer's death occurred in Illi- 
nois, Feb. 17, 1871. 

Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and 
thus in early life became familiar with the work 
devolving on a genera! farmer. He attended the 
conunon schools of his native town, receiving a fair 
education. June 10, ISo.i, he married Miss Su- 
san Hawes, a native of Shelby Count\', Ky., born 
Maj- 22, 1820. Her father, John Hawes, was born 
in December, 1791 ; he was the son of Peter Hawes, 
and a grandson of Leonard Hawes, who was a na- 
tive of Wurtemberg, Germanj', but emigrated to 
America many years ago. Her mother was Sarah 
(Piiillips) Hawes. She mairied the father of Mrs. 
Keefer in 1810, and in 1835 they moved to Illinois, 
locating in Logan County, then a part of Tazewell 
County. Mr. Hawes was a prominent farmer and 
took an active interest in the affairs of the town- 
ship. He was Justice of the Peace for twelve years, 
and for twenty-five years served as Postmaster un- 
der a Democratic administration, although in poli- 
tics he was a Republican. To him and his wife 
were born twelve chihlren, namely : Elizabeth, Bai - 
bara, Nancy-, John W., Peter J., James M., Jacob 
P., Mary and Catherine (twins), Sarah A., Susan 
and Louisa. 

The subject of our sketch came to Kansas in 
1880 and purchased IGO acres of land in Keclii 
Township, on which he remained, improving and 
cultivating the hind, for some years. Then having 
amassed consiilerable wealth he built the fine resi- 
dence he now occupies in the cit3' of Wichita; the 
lot on whicii it is situated has a frontage of 100 
feet on North Water street. Here he and his good 
wife are quietly spending the declining years of 



their lives, enjoying the fruits of their labors. To 
them have been born three children — Alice C, 
Mary and Mattie (twins). Alice married Garrison 
Scott, and now lives in Kcchi Township; they 
have two children — Marcia P. and Harry P. Mary 
is the wife of James B. Springgate, of Highland, 
Doniphan Co., Kan; they have one child — Ver- 
nie M. Mattie is the wife of J\ A. Caldwell, and 
lives in Kansas; they have one child — Roy V. 

While living in Illinois Mr. Keefer held the va- 
rious offices of the town wherein he resided. He 
was initiated into the secrets of the Masonic frater- 
nity in 1856, in the town of Atlanta, Logan Co., 
111., becoming at that time a member of Atlanta 
Lodge No. 165. He afterward united with the 
lodge at Mackinaw, where he filled the various of- 
fices of the order. Both he and his excellent wife 
are valued members of the Christian Church, where 
Ml-. Keefer has been an Elder for man\' 3cars. In 
politics Mr. Keefer is a stanch Republican. 

Our subject is a man of good financial ability 
and of excellent judgment, and since becoming a 
resident of this city has won the respect and confi- 
dence of the community, and occupies a leading 
position among its influential citizens. 



.rijf^^ 



^j^-i^ 



^Ir^OBERT T. LEACH, a representative farmer 
ILj^ of Minneha Townshij), owns and occupies a 
tii \\\ well-improved farm on section 17. He is 
^^a native of Wayne County, Mich., and was 
born March 24, 1834. His parents, C. C. and Mariah 
(Peck) Leach, were natives of the State of New 
York, and removed to Michigan in a very early 
day. At that time Wayne County was almost a 
boundless wilderness, but few white people living 
within its Ijorders, and Mr. Leach, the father of the 
subject of this sketch, after putting up a rough log 
cabin, commenced to clear up the tract of land that 
he had purchsised from the Government. For many 
years hardships, privations, and the want of all the 
comforts of civilized life, were the lot of this pio- 
neer family. They commenced life on the frontier 
with but little means, but Mr. Leach being possessed 
of energy and strong arms, in time worked out 
an easy competence for himself. On the home- 



r 






-4^ 
i&i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



4 



st«nil nliic'h III- iti:i(.li' ill lli:it tiiiK- lie dieil in Mny, 
IMC>. Iii!> tvifc itt.ilill living on tlic olilhoniostoikd. 
'iUi'y were tliv iMtrcnU of stix childrvn: Louisa; 
Kobcrt T., llii- tmlijict of this skoU-h ; Kilwin C, 
Kli/Ji, Miilvimt A. iiml llnnnnh. Kliza is dead. 
All llu- olliiTs are rt-sidcnls of the StaU- of Miclii- 

i{ol)ort T. Ia'iioIi was liroti<r|)t up on liis fiillu-r's 
farm. Koarrd in tlif wildsi of Mic-liigan at n time 
when il wius lliinly settled, the advanUiges for im- 
|iroven)cnt in educational iuattci°s were Iml liniile<l. 
A.-< .•MHjii as lie wiL» iiliysicnlly alile lie wils inude ae- 
i|u:iinted with hard work, and tlint faiiiilinrity has 
i-lung to liiin tliroiigli life. A few sliort \'ears of 
M.-liiMil in the old log ealiin sehoul-lioiise, with its 
puneheoii floor, grenseil |m|>er window lights and 
old-fa.-<hioiied oiK'ii flrephiee, comprised llieinostof 
hi.-> education, lie remnined :il home with his par- 
I'liUt, iuisisling in the hiliors of the farm, until ls,'i7, 
when ho went to C'liliforiiia. 

In 1H71 he came to Kansas und pre-empted a 
tnicl of 160 acres of laud, the northwest quarter of 
.»eclioii "21 in Miniichii Towiisliip, but shortly after 
he <Usposed of il and purclia.-^ed the place on section 
17, for $1,100, wherf he now lives. In the spring 
of 1h72 he returned to Detroit, Mich., for a wife, 
anci on the 14th of .Mjirch of that year led to the 
altar Miss .'^iisan 11. Van lloutcn. She is a native 
of .Salem, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and w.as horn 
S'pt. 1.0, IH-I.'j. Her father and mother, lt.'dph and 
Mariah 11. Vnu lloutcn, were natives of the .State 
of New York, and moved to Michigan in an early 
diiy, settling among the pioneers who hroke the 
way for progrcs.s anil civili/.atioii into that then w-ild 
country. They were the parents of twelve children, 
as follows: Kliza, Henry. iJiiviil, Sarah Jane, .lohn, 
Siisjin, Alsina, Kell, .lames, Nellie, one who die<l in 
infancy, and the .Mrs. l.cai-h of thi.'« sketch. All 
are living in .Michigan, e.\i'c|it Mrs. Leach, and Nel- 
lie, who is a resident of California. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Koherl Leach have lieen Idesscd 
with an inleresting family of live children, viz: 
Frank, .Sidney, Cassie .M., Nellie A. and Harry. 
Frank wa« horn .March '2'J, lK7.'t; Sidney, Oct. 10, 
1h7.'»; Ciia-iic, .Sept. '22. 1M77; Nellie A., March '27, 
|m73; Harry, .Inn «, 1«M1. In |«.lilics, .Mr. Learli 
tlilig- strolij^ly to his feall3 '" ''"' Kepublicali 




|>arty. He hits been honored by his fellow-citi/.ens 
by having had bestowed ii|)on him the olllce of 
Township Treasurer, and held that |M>sitioii for Un 
con.scculive yeans. He is a member of both Uie 
.Masonic and < )d<l Fellow fml«riiilie«, and takes great 
interest in their work. 

.Mr. Leach's farm contains .'120 a«'res uf some of 
the linest land in the township, ItO acres of which 
are well improved, and brought to a high st^itc of 
cullivalion. lie liiu< a handsome and comfortable 
residence, and a neat and spacious barn and all the 
necessary oul-buildiiigs. A tine bearing orchard of 
.'i'20 trees, including several varieties of pear, cherry, 
peach and apple, is one of the features of the place. 
He gives great attention to stock-growing, espec- 
ially graded stock and Pnland-China and Berk- 
shire hogs. 



IIAHLKS C. riULLir.s, a general farmer ..f 
Ninnescah Township, living on section !•, is 
u leading man among the agriculturists of 
.Sedgwick County. He is a native of N'ermont, 
having been born near We*t Farley. July .'10, 
1829. His iMirenls were Joseph M. and Lj-dia M. 
(Uavis) Phillips, his father having been a brave 
soldier in the War of 1812. 

When our subject was :ibont eight years of age 
he removed with his p:irents to Lawrence C«»uiity, 
I':i., where he wjis reared to man's estate. His eilii- 
catioii wa:s received in the common schcKils of Penn- 
sylvania, and with the lessons in honesty, thrift and 
industry that he received from his |>arciils became 
the foundation of his future success. In 1850 .Mr. 
I'hillips joined the throng of gold seekers bound for 
California, cro.ssing the .States and Territories, and 
being frimi March 1 to .September l.j en route. 
During his two years' stay in the (njlden .State he 
operated a mine on his own account, but being 
only fairly succi-ssful returned to I'cnnsylvaiiia, 
going back by way of Nicanigua. After settling 
himself in busine.ss he established a luune of his 
own, taking for a life companion a most estimable 
lady. Miss Kli/.abeth Lutton, who wius born in Law- 
rence County, I'a., Feb. 20, 18;U. their union being 
celi-bratcd .May 1(1, 1851. Her parents, Jacob and 

• ■» 



■^•- 



■•►Hh 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



283 



I 



Ruth (Hennon) Lutton, were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and among the original settlers of Lawrence 
Count}'. 

Mr. Phillips made a second trip to the Pacific 
Coast in 1803, going by the way of the Isthmus of 
Panama tliis time. He remained in California 
prospecting and working claims about two years 
before returning to his Pcnnsj'lvania home. In 
1867 our subject came to Kansas with his family, 
and settled in Riley County, where he remained 
only a few months, and thence moved to Illinois> 
where he remained four years, moving from there 
to Sedgwick County, that he might take advantage 
of the fine natural resources of Ninnescah Town- 
ship. In the fall of the year 1874, he pre-empted 
the land he now owns and occupies. The land was 
then in its primitive condition, not a furrow had 
been turned, but by courageous industry, persever- 
ance and wisdom in management, he has developed 
the wild prairie land into a well-improved farm, 
from which he obtains rich harvests. He is a man 
of good financial ability, as his success in procur- 
ing a goodly portion of this world's goods amply 
testifies. Besides his farm in Ninnescah Township he 
also 0W11S valuable property in the city of AVichita, 
and mining property in Colorado, having spent the 
years 1880 and 1881 in that State in tiie interests of 
the Wichita Mining Company, and at that time dis- 
covered the large mine known as " Prospect," in 
which he is a prominent stockholder. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born nine 
children, of whom the following is the record : Re- 
lief, Joseph, Audley, William, Bessie, Mary, Charles 
A.. Oeorgeand Evera. Relief married Anthony E. 
Chambers, of Ninnescah Township; they have one 
child, Charles. Joseph is married, and lives in Colo- 
rado; he has one daughter, Erma. Audley is dead; 
William resides in Wichita; Bessie is tlie wife of 
William Huff; they have two children, Guy and 
Elmer. 

Mr. Phillips is an energetic, wide-awake citizen, 
keenly alive to the demands of a growing town, 
and ready to meet and aid any utilitarian scheme 
for its benefit. His public-spiritedness and un- 
questioned integrity render him a desirable town- 
ship oHicial, but though frequently solicited to 
become a candidate he has ahv.ays declined, not car- 



ing to hold public ofHce, yet he was nominated by 
the Democrats as the first candidate to represent 
this district in the State Legislature, being defeated 
by his opponent, William Ross. In religion Mr. 
and Mrs. Phillips are worthy members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, where they are active 
workers for the good of the denomination and the 
world at large, he having served in sever.al official 
capacities in the church. 



ARK, JACOB AND MARY RIF;sBECK 

are children of the late Adam and Mary 
Riesbeck, and reside at No. 844 East Oak 
street, Wichita. They are of pure German 
blood, although they were born in America. Their 
father was born in Germany, in the ancient city of 
Bremen, Dec. 24, 1827. He received a good edu- 
cation in the city of his birth, but before he had 
attained manhood he left the fatherland, in the 
year 1843, and came to America, where the chances 
were better for him to make a place and a home 
for himself. He landed in New York and went 
from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured 
work as a d.ay laborer. In the following year (1844) 
he went to Ripley County, Ind., and rented a farm 
and became actively engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. During his residence in that State he mar- 
ried Miss Mary Emmrich, a most estimable lady, 
their wedding occurring Sept. 24, 1853. She was 
born May 24, 1 830, in one of the French Provinces 
which were ceded to Germany after the late Franco- 
Prussian War. She came to America alone in 1 853, 
and her first j^ear in this country was spent in 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Riesbeck removed to this 
State with their family, and Jlr. Riesbeck pur- 
chased 160 acres of land in Garden Plain Township, 
Sedgwick County. He immediately commenced 
the cultivatit>n of the soil, and in a few years had 
a well developed farm, capable of producing rich 
harvests. There his years of usefulness were closed 
by death Oct. 30, 1883. Though he had been a 
resident of that township but a few yeai-s his genu- 
ine worth and abilitj' had been recognized by his 
fellow-townsmen, and his removal from their midst 



-4^ 



dst fj 



•►■ -<•- 



-•». 



op, 



^Rlw.WH K COUNTY. 



»:i.« (lf|)liirf<l a? a |ii«« to llio ('uininiinity. Hi- »iu» 
I'ViT n (IcviiU'il liii-iliaiiil nml fiitlior. In religion lie 
un^ n fnitlifiil Cntholic, nixl ('untribiiti'd lihornlly 
to tilt- !*ii|>|M>rl of that cliiirch. During liis loiij; 
rf-sidi'iH-e in America lie IiikI ufciiniulaloii ciiii!<i<lor- 
al>l<' pr<>|>orl_v. and left Wis family very well off in 
llii-i World's gutHlo. 

After the donlli of the father llie family dispo.scd 
of the farm and removed to this rity to take up 
their rcsideiiee here permanently. They Imilt their 
present neat and tiunty dwelliiij; at a cost of ♦ 1,500. 
At one time, since the father's death, they went 
further west and t«Mik up some land, but they did 
not retain it long, for they aft«'rward hud a giMxl 
(*p|>ortunity to sell it at an advance, and did so. 
making quite a sum iif money liy that transaclittn. 
They are intelli^'ent, well educated, [md seem to 
have inherited considerable business talent from 
their father. They are all Cath<ilics, and are com- 
mnnicants of Father Casey's Church at Wichita. 
The family have always been stanch supporters of 
the Democrntic party. 

The record of the children born to the imrcnts 
of our subjects is as follows: Mark, Rose, 'I'hresea, 
.Mary, Lizzie, Katie, Frank and Jacob. Mark was 
lM>rn Aujf. 4, l>t5l; he is unmarried. Kosc is de- 
cea-seil; Thresea man-ied Mr. Henry Trickier; Mary 
aii<l Lizzie are sinjile; Katie married Matliew 
Huhr, and lives in IJenvcr. 



I A. MILS II. KIT IKK h:i> fur the last yejir been 
.-uccessfully operatinj; < m a (juarter of section 
24, Kechi Township, with most excellent re- 
sult"-, haviu).' now a fine body of l:ind well 
ht<K-ked with j;rade(l Norman horses, Short-horn 
ratth' and I'oland-Chiria swine. The farm, with its 
tasteful and subsliititini liuildings, its neat fences 
and iu general air of thrift and comfort, forms one 
of the most attractive s|ioUi in the landsca|H' of the 
towiLship. As a citizen antl business man Mr. liit- 
ter sU'inds high in the estt^'cm of his neighbors. He 
came here in time to organize the scIkmiI districts 
of his township, and is serving his second term as 
director. In the various eiit«'rpris«'s inaugurated 
for the advancement of the comniunilv he has been 



a cheerful and ready a-ssistant. and takes a lively 
interest in the progri-ss of the |>eoplc arounil him. 

< )ur subjwt was l>«jrn on the other side of the 
Mississippi in McLean County, III., Jan. 3, 1»<5I, 
and is the eldest of seven children, the offspring of 
Henry and Isabella (I'oland) Uitter, natives respect- 
ively of \'irginia and Ohio. His Internal gmnd|iar- 
ents, Stephen and Lucy Hitter, weit? natives of the 
State of Pennsylvania. The maternal grand|iarents, 
James ami .Mary Toland, natives probably of Penn- 
sylvania, spent their l.-uit yejirs in Illinois and Ohio. 
Henry Ritter removed from the Old Dominion to 
Ohio at an early day, and thence in lH4is to Mc- 
Lean Count3-, 111., during the early settlement of 
that region. He Iricnted in (iriilley Township, 
where he carried <m farming successfully and built 
up a good homestead, and where with his excellent 
[mrtiier, he still R'sides. 

The subject of our sketch received his c<lucatioD 
ill the district .schools of .McLean County, 111., and 
there began his career as a fanner. There also he 
was married, in (iridley Township, on the tlth of 
October, 1871, to Miss Matilda A. Powell, who was 
born in Tazewell County. III., l)ec. '26, 18.')2, and 
W!»s the youngest child of James and Matilda 
(Fookes) Powell, who were natives of .Maryland and 
the luirents of nine children. The paternal granil- 
parents of Mrs. Ritter were also born in .Marylami, 
and the iMirents of her mother were natives of Penn- 
sylvania. James Powell settled near the city of 
Baltimore, where he became a prominent citizen and 
where his house was often a stopping-place for the 
Bishops of that dicK-ese. He removed from .Mary- 
land, locating first in Franklin County, Ohio, and 
from there to Tazewell County, 111., where he and 
his wife spent their entire lives; the mother died in 
Jauiiary, 18.'')3, and the father in March, 1854. 

James H. Ritter, when commencing business for 
himself, purcha.'^cd a quarter-section of partly im- 
pntved land in Kechi Township, which he iK-cupied 
a few seasons, then sold out, and in February, 1877, 
purcli:i.sed another quarlA.'r-seclion which is now 
included in his present farm. Upon this there was 
a small frame lioii.se into which he moved with his 
family, and by dggrecs commenced the improve- 
ment,s which are now viewed with admiration by 
the pas.Ning traveler. The first dwelling liius bee 



■ -4- 



;4U 



-4•- 



••► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



285 



-\ 



abandoned and a new one has grown into a very 
fine residence, comparing favorably with anj^thing 
of the kind in the township. The barn, outhouses 
and fencing are neat and substantial, and the ma- 
chinery all that is required by the agriculturist of 
to-day. 

To our subject and his wife there have been born 
seven children, namelj' : Eflie A., Charles L., Clar- 
ence A., Ernest C, Mary E., Laura I. and Harvey 
V. The seven are all at home with their i)arents 
with the exception of Eflie, who is completing her 
studies in the Lewis Academy at Wichita. They 
constitute a family group of which the parents may 
well be proud, and will be given the advantages 
which will fit them to become useful and honored 
members of society. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter enjoy the 
friendship of a large circle of acquaintances and arc 
members in good standing of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, attending regularly at Wesley Chapel 
in Kechi Township. 



nr ENRY II. LOUDEXSLAGER, one of the 
B^^y] earl}' pioneers and self-made men of Park 
^^Jy Township, located on section 1 8, where he 
fi^ now resides, in the spring of 1871. He 
caine to Southern Kansas almost literally without 
means, and by the exercise of bis resolute will and 
persevering industr}-, has built up one of its most 
creditable homesteads. He took up eighty acres of 
Oovernraent land over which a plowshare had never 
passed, and in due time effected the improvements 
necessary to the complete country home, and which 
now forms one of the pleasing features in the 
landscape of that section. His straightforward 
methods of doing business and his value as a mem- 
ber of the community, have gained for him a wide 
circle of friends and acquaintances, who have 
watched his career with interest and are not slow- 
to acknowledge that he is deserving of all the good 
that h.'us fallen to him. 

Our subject first opened his e3'es to the light in 
Juniata County, Pa., on the 7th of November, 
1841. His parents. Samuel and Hetta (Row) 
Loudenslager, were also natives of the Keystone 
State, and still continue residents of Juniata County, 



having arrived at the ages of seventy-three and 
sixty -seven orsixt3'-eight years, respectivel}'. Their 
family consisted of eleven children, of whom 
eight are living, namel}' : Louisa, the wife of John 
E. Rogers, of Pennsylvania; Henry II., of our 
sketch; Joseph, of this county ; Ephraim, of Huron 
County, Ohio; Samuel, of Park Township, tliis 
county; David; .Susan, the wife of Joseph Wert, 
and James, the three latter of Pennsylvania. 

The early life of our subject was spent after the 
manner of most farmers' sons, his education l)eing 
carried on in the district school. After the out- 
break of the Rebellion he identified himself with 
the State ]Militia, with which he remained connected 
a year and then entered active service, enlisting in 
Company K, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry, for a 
term of three months, but not being required to 
participate in active service. Upon his discharge 
he resumed farming in his native county, and on 
the 7th of January, 18(54, was united in marriage 
with Miss Susan B. Smith, who at that time was a 
resident of Juniata County, Pa. 

Mrs. Loudenslager was born in Mifflin County, 
Pa., Jan. 7, 1 847, and is the daughter of Jacob and 
Catherine (Carstatter) Smith, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania. The father Is deceased ; the mother is 
now in Penns3'lvania. Soon after their marriage, 
our subject and his wife settled in Huron County, 
Ohio, where they remained, however, only one sea- 
son and then, homesick, returned to Penn.sylvania. 
Mr. Loudenslager carried on farming there until 
1871, and finally decided upon a removal beyond 
the Mississippi. Upon reaching this county he 
located at once upon his present land, where from 
the primitive soil he has effected the improvements 
which have m.ade it one of the most desirable farms 
in the townshij). It is unencumbered and he has 
invested a part of his surplus capital in property at 
the town of Maize and in the city of Wichita. He 
commenced in earnest his stock operations in 1875, 
and feeds and ships annually' a large number of 
cattle. 

The seven children of our subject and his wife 
were named respectively: Emma B., now the wife 
of Lewis B. Dotson; Ada, Cora H., Hetta, Cline, 
Lewis and Murray. Mr. Loudenslager, politicallj\ 
afflliates with the Republican party, and has held 



f 



286 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



v«ri4»u« liK-nl offlc*-*. Rotli lie niul his cxcolloiit 
wife are nicrabcrs in gixxl sititiiditig of the Conjfri'- 
j,'ali>iiml Church i»t Mnixc, of which Mr. Loudens- 
lager was one of the foumiers, ;iiul where he 
odleintMns Deacon. 



RS. MAKY A. KAY. the widow of Will- 
inui Khv. is livin;; nt No. 83« .South To- 
IJt [lekn avenue, WichiU. She was born in 
Yorkshire, Knglniid, in 1«20, and is the 
dnughU-r of John and Mnry (Ward) Gibb, and a 
gnmddaughter t>f Cliristopher and Mary (Bolton) 
<;ibb. Her maternal grand|>arents were John and 
Ann (Coo|)er) Ward, natives of Kngland. Her 
father and internal grandfather were extensive 
farniei-s in Kngland, where the latter sjKjnt his en- 
tire life. Her father, however, emigrated to Can- 
ada about 183;}, remaining there three years. In 
\H'M't lie removed with his family to .Scott County, 
111.. *vhere he tlied in September of the sjirae year. 
Her mother continued to live there until her death 
in 1872. They were the jmrents of four children, 
three of whom are now living, namely: Mrs. 
Krbecca Lambert, Mrs. Kay and John. 

(Mir subject wiis thirteen years old when she left 
Kngland with her [larents. and was a j'oung lady 
whi-n she went with them to .Scott County, 111. She 
was afterward married to Barne}' G roves, and ere 
many years left a widow with one child, a daugh- 
l4r. who married W. II. Ranson, of Wichita. Mr. 
and Mpi. lUnson have five chihlren, namely : Delia, 
Lena, Kllsworth, Bertha and Jessie. 

May C. IM.'tO, our subject was married to 
William Kay, a native of Kngland. His father, 
Joseph Kay, was a cabinet manufacturer in his 
native country, Kngland, where his entire life was 
passed. William Kay learned the cabinet-maker's 
lra<le of his father, and after pursuing it awhile in 
the old country, caiiK' to the I'nited States and 
settled in Scott County, HI., where he engaged in 
the Nime occupation. After his marriage with our 
subject he pu!cha.sed a farm of l.'JO acres, and en- 
gaged in farming in addition to cabinet-making, 
continuing tliesi' iK'i'ii|>atioiis until his death in lHi;,'i. 
He was wj<lclv known and honnrcil tlirou;,'li('Ut the 



community as a man of inlle.xible honor and stnbil- 
ity of diameter. He w:is an influential and worthy 
member of the ChristianX'hurch. To him and his 
wife were born five children, three of whom are 
now living — Harriet, Kllen an<l Horace. Harriet is 
living with her mother; Kllen is the wife of Cor- 
nelius Jones, of California; Horace is living in 
WichiUi. 

Mrs. Kay is a woman of goo<l business ability, 
and by sound judgment and excellent management, 
has increased the pro|»erty left by her husband. In 
March, 1884, she moved to Wichita with her fam- 
ily, and the succeeding six months lived on a rented 
farm five miles north of the city. She then bought 
a farm of 130 acres one and one-half miles south of 
Douglas avenue; twentj^ acres of this were under 
cultivation, and on the farm was a small hou.se con- 
taining two rooms only. They remained on the 
farm, with the exception of one year, until the fall 
of 1887, in the meantime building a fine house and 
greatly improx ing the farm. .Since her purchase 
three additions have been laid out on the farm and 
the |)ropert3" luis greatly increased in value. In 18S7 
our subject built her present fine residence in the 
city at a cost of nearly 15,000. It is tjistily fur- 
nished, fitted up with the modern conveniences, 
and very conveniently arranged. Mrs. Kay is a 
con.scientious member of the Christian Church. 



\f;()ll.\ t. UOBB, a leading and influential 
farmer and stock-raiser, who makes his home 
on section 3.1, Kechi Township, wils born 
{l^ll July 3, 1837, in Seneca County, Ohio. He 
is the sixth in a family of nine children born to his 
parents. Andrew and Kllen (Kishel) Robb. 

The father of our subject was a farmer in the 
Buckeye State, but removed to Wisconsin in 1848, 
and settled in Green County. He remained a resi- 
dent of that locality, engaged in tilling the soil, 
until the day of his death, which occurred in 1864. 
His excellent wife survived him until 188.'), when 
she too was called home, having reached the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-three years. Our subject 
rei'eivi'd his education in the district schools, and 
was early trained in the \oi-alioii <if ;i fanner in 



•► ■--* 



-•►:•- 





/^W A^> 



'^nAU 



HI-4»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



289 ' > 



Wisconsin, making his residence beneath the home 
roof until attaining manhood. He commenced the 
battle of life in the Badger State, working at farm 
labor wherever he could find it to do until he was 
twenty-four years of age. 

On the breaking out of the great Rebellion, and 
on the call for troops from the loyal States of the 
North by the General Government, Mr. Robb en- 
listed, Sept. 7, 1861, in the 5th Wisconsin Battery, 
light artillerj-, and was mustered into the service of 
the United States at liacine, in that State. He 
participated, with the gallant company to which 
he was attached, in the battles of Perryville and 
Stone River, in the skirmishes which took place 
around New Madrid, and in the fierce .and sangui- 
nary' conflict at Shiloh, where so m.any of the youth 
of our beloved land were called to a martyr's 
grave. After having been actively eng.aged 
thi'oughout most of the battles in the Southwest, he 
participated, with the battery, in the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and was with Sherman when that matchless 
Captain, cutting loose from his base of supplies, 
marched through Georgia and the Carolinas to the 
sea. In 1 8C3 he veteranized in the same company, 
receiving his first discharge at Madison, Wis., in 
January, 1863, and was in active service until the 
close of the war. At the battle of Stone River he 
was in imminent danger of capture, but was saved 
by the mule upon which he was riding running 
away. From exposure and hardship in the field he 
contracted rheumatism and many other of the 
diseases incident to a soldier's life, and sustained 
such injury to his eyes as rendered him nearly 
blind for a period of eleven years. At the close of 
the hostilities he w.as mustered out of the service, 
and received an honorable discharge at Madison, 
Wis., June 14, 1865. 

Returning to his home, our subject commenced 
farming in Green Count}', Wis., where he was mar- 
ried, on Christmas Day, 1865, to Miss Sarah K. Hast- 
ings, a native of Mercer County, Pa., born Dec. 
16, 1845. She is the sixth child of Hugh and 
Salome (Barnhart) Hastings, natives of the Key- 
stone State, who had a family of ten children. The 
young couple remaineil in the Badger State until 
the fall of 1877, when they came to Kansas and 
settled in Sedgwick County, on the place where 



they now live. Mr. Robb purchased 160 acres of 
land, eighty acres in Kechi and eighty in Wichita 
Township. He at once commenced improving this 
property, but soon sold forty acres of it, and has 
now 1 20 acres of fine arable land in a high state of 
cultivation and excellentlj' improved. It is suf- 
ficiently stocked with good, high-grade Norman 
horses, Durham cattle, and half-blood Jerse3's and 
riolsteins. 

Our subject is a' strong Republican, and quite 
active in politics, but is a strong Prohibitionist in 
principle. He is an influential member of Wichita 
Post, G. A. R. To him and his wife has been 
born a family of six children, as follows: Omi, 
deceased ; Luella married I. D. Long, and resides 
in Kechi Township; Janette, Clair A., Letha and 
Gracie. Omi died at the age of seven years, and 
the rest are at home and attending school. 



Sfj OIIN KENNEDY, whose portrait appears on 
tlie opposite page, is prominently identified 
with the real estate interests of Wichita, be- 
ing actively engaged in the sale and transfer 
of city property. He has substantially aided the 
growth of this metropolis, hjis built eight or nine 
houses, and probably owns $60,000 worth of realty 
here. Mr. Kennedj' has achieved wealth by his 
own unaided exertions, and is, in fact, a self-made 
man, starting out in life with nothing but youth in 
his favor, and his endowments of fine health, a vig- 
orous muscle, and a clear, cool brain. After all, a 
man possessing these need fe.ar nothing; with a 
determination to succeed, success is his almost from 
the start, although it may be that years of patient 
waiting and hard toil are necessary before his 
endeavors are crowned with the full measure of 
success. Our subject, with the endowments before- 
mentioned, gaining experience and business ability 
as the years have passed, has become very prosper- 
ous while yet in the prime of life. 

Mr. Kennedy was born in County Sligo, Ireland, 
May 11, 1842. His p.arents were Martin and 
Ilonora (Meehan) Kenned}', both natives of Sligo 
Count}', Ireland. They both lived and died in 
»» 






-4*- 



20' 



SI I x; WICK COUNTY. 



4 



their native coimly. I ln> 'viii- iiuiiil»r!i <.f llic 
Cathulic Church. Mr. Kennedy wiuh n furiner. 

Our »iil>jeet came to this eoiintrv wlu-n l>iit n l'<>y 
of »ix years, with his oliler hrother. MichncI, imw 
of Piedmont, N. Y. The lM>ys went to liotindoiit, 
I'Uter ("<>.. N. Y.. wliOre .John >;rew lo manhood. 
When l.inoohi ma<lo hi." llrsl rail for troops, tli. 
youth, who hail ^Town up under the in.stitution- 
of this country, and scarcely knew any other home, 
wa.s prompt to enlist in defense of hin adopted 
country and itji institutions, lie licrnnie a memlier 
of t'ouiiMiiy F, 20th New York Infantry, entering 
a> a private for a Unii of three years, lie was in the 
battles of Fredericksburg. Antictam, seconil battle 
of Bull Hun, and Cedar MounUiin. His courage 
in action gaineil him merited promotion, and he 
wjis made a Sergeant. He scrve<l his full term of 
enlistment and w:l« iionorably discharged at Wash- 
ington. 

After tiie war Mr. Kenned}- again entered the 
service of the (lovernnicnt, being employed as a 
wagonmaster, and was transferred to Leavenworth, 
Kan. Ill lHt;(; he left there and went to Indiana, 
and in Jackson County, that StJite, was married lo 
Mi.ss .lane Rich, a lady of American parentage, but 
descended from Cerman ancestry. To them has 
been born one son, John. They also have an 
adopted daughter, Mary. After remaining in In- 
diana a few ycArs, .Mr. Kennedy went to New 
Mexico, and was there employed by the Santa Fe 
Ilailway Company as section foreman. 

At the end of a residence of seven yeare in New 
.Mexico, Mr. Kennedy came to Kansas, in 1883, and 
established himself in the hotel business in Wichita, 
being the proprietor of the Kennedy House, on 
Fourth avenue. His uriianity, cheerfulness and 
i-arefnl consideration for the needs of his guests, 
marie him very popular as a host. He subsequently 
«<»ld the Kennedy House for itl2,0(t(), having bought 
it for <<l,<'>00, which is a good illustration of the 
marvelous increase in values in this city within the 
last few years. After abandoning the hotel busi- 
\ivs», .Mr. Kennedy turned his attention altogether 
to real e«tate tmnsactions, which he ha,H conducted 
with great llnancial ability and success. 

In [Kilities Mr. Kennedy is identilicil with the 
Uepiiblican party and is a strong believer in iiti 




principles, liittji himself and his amiable wife are 
members of the Catholic Church. They are hon- 
ored and resi>ect<'d in this community for their 
sterling worth. gcTierous lifxpilality. and unbounded 
libcralilv. 



la lllllAl.l) M. AIM), a jovial b.ichelor 
in the prime of life, is prominent among 
the farmers and stock-raisers of Attica 
Township, and one of the most worthy of 
the enterprising citizens represented in this work. 
He came to Kansas in its Territorial days, his first 
arrival here being in 18GG. He first located in 
Leavenworth County, where he occupied himself 
a.s a teacher in the district schools, and from there 
went into Atchison County, where he continued 
teaching for a time, and then became interested in ft 
hotel in Doniphan County. Thence he went int<i 
IJrown County and resumed teaching, which he con- 
tin'ued until 1871. .Sedgwick County was his next 
tramping ground, anil here he resolved to l(M'ate, 
and accordingly took u]) a claim. He then re- 
turnetl lo Brown County, where he followed his 
profession through the winter. 

In the meantime, while Mr. Auld was absent 
from his claim, another party step]x-d in. and ma- 
neuvred in such a manner that our subject was 
obliged to abandon it. Ho then made another, of 
which he has succeeded in retaining possession, an<l 
which he now iK-cupies. Cjion this it is hardly 
necessary to .say he has effected a wonderful change, 
having now one of the best farms in Attica Town- 
ship, with a good set of buildings an<l the live-stwk 
and machinery necessary to form the complete 
homestead. His domestic affairs are presided over 
by himself. 

Harrison County, Ohio, was the birthplace of our 
suiiject, antl his |M»rent8 were John G. and Hannah 
M. (Ankrum) Auld, who wore natives of I'enn.syl- 
vania, and are now deceased. Archibald M. was 
born on the 1 Itli of .Iiily. 18;!G, and pitssed his boy- 
hood and youth after the manner of most farmers' 
sons, acr|uiring his education in the district school, 
and at an early age being trained to those habits of 
industry and I'conomy which have proved the 
secret of his success in life. He continued under 



•►•-4^ 



t-«-4« 



•► p ■< " ' 



^l 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



291 



the imrental roof until reaching manhood, and 
then jonnieyed westward across the Mississii)pi into 
Muscatine County, Iowa, where he engaged to 
woric in a niarblc-shop, and continued one year. 
lie then returned to his childhood home and per- 
suaded his father's family to leave Ohio with him, 
and they accordingly, the following year, changed 
their location to Davis County, Ind. 

Mr. Auld there settled down with his parents and 
was occupied in teaching school until the outbreak 
of the Civil War. He then enlisted as a Union 
soldier in Company C, 6th Indiana Infantry, the 
company being under the command of Capt. C. 
Childs, and the regiment was commanded by Col. 
T. T.Crittenden. Our subject participated in sev- 
eral skirmishes with the enemy at various places, 
and at the expiration of the three months for 
which he enlisted, returned to Indiana. Previous 
to this a T)rother, who had entered the army a few 
months before, had died in Missouri from disease 
contracted therein. After the return home of his 
son Archibald, the father considered that he also 
owed something to his country, and accordingly 
enlisted as a musician in the r)Sth Indiana Infantry, 
and marched with his regiment into Tennessee, 
where he died at Nashville ten months later of dis- 
ease contracted in the army. 

The mother of our subject had departed this life 
June 11, 1861. so that there were only two left of 
the famil}'; a sister, Elizabeth, is now a resi- 
dent of Washington, Ind. Our subject, after the 
excitement and trouble of the war were over, being 
anxious to secure a better education, entered the 
school at Blooniington, Ind., and upon the comple- 
tion of his course of study there, engaged in teach- 
ing .and farming alternately until 1865. He then 
made his way to Clark County, 111., where he re- 
mained a year, and in I 866 came to this State, as 
we have stated. 

Mr. Auld taught school one term after taking 
possession of his present property, but .aside from 
th.at has given to the latter his entire attention. He 
is one of those large-hearted and generous men 
who find friends wherever they go, and has ahva3's 
been ready to lend a helping hand to those who 
would endeavor to assist themselves. Providence 
has blessed his labors so that of his abundance he 

m 



has been enabled to relieve the sufferings of the 
unfortunate. During the Ohio Valley 'flood he as- 
sisted in making up the carloads of grain which 
were sent the unfortunate people from this section, 
and has made it a rule of his life to remember those 
in need. 

The temperance movement has no warmer friend 
th.an Mr. Auld, and upon this as upon all other 
matters of general interest, he keeps himself thor- 
oughly informed by a steady course of reading, 
which is, after all, about the best school in the 
world. He has abundant faith in the future great- 
ness of Kansas, and is warmly interested in every- 
thing that tends to promote her welfare and 
prosperit}'. Few men are more widely or favor.ably 
known, and have a larger list of warm friends than 
Archibald M. Auld. 



-€-*-B- 



EV. FATHER F. X. KRAUS. St. Mark's 
j^ Church, at St. Mark, was organized in 
1876 by Father John C. Schurtz, who w.as 
^located at Wichita. He was followed by 
Father P. Maurer, who was the first regular pastor, 
and he in turn was followed by Father B. .Schmie- 
hauseu, who in turn was succeeded by Father 
Kraus, the subject of this sketch. 

Fiither Kraus is a native of the Kingdom of 
Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born Sept. 17, 
1851. His parents, F. X. and Ann (Selzle) Kr.aus, 
were also of German birth and ancestry. The 
mother died in her native land, and the father in 
1885 emigrated to the United States, and now 
makes his home with his son, our subject. The 
latter is the only living child of the family. He 
commenced to study for the priesthood in his 
yoiitli, and in July, 1875, emigrated to America, 
landing in New York City, whence he proceeded 
directly to Minnesota and entered St. John's Col- 
leo-e, where he remained until the 21th of June, 1 878. 

Four days later Father Kraus made his advent 
into this State, and was ordained to the priesthood 
by the Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink, O. S. B., of Leaven- 
worth. His first charge was the Church of the 
Holy Name, at Winfield. In September, 1879, he 
was an assistant of the church at Newton, and iu 
a^ 



t 



•► ■ -4^ 



-*»-l 



29-. 



^l l",\\ li K ( oINTY. 



18W) wii* reinovoil to tin.' parisli I'f Ncwinaii. 
wht-nco, in 1«8T. became Ui St. Mark'.-i. The i^ir- 
ish coiitiiins 13,'* fHiiiiliv.s, niid n six-inuiilhs fchuol 
is tMiixliiotcd <liiriii^ tlu> wiirin M-nsim. I'lutor the 
iiiaiiikjjeiiK'iit (if Fnth«'r Krau> the socifty lin.>i greatly 
|iro!>|KTeil, nmi the ehiircli etliflee, in eoiiMtiiicnoe, 
hn.s l>ecii rcnuxleletl, enlnrgeil nnd improved. 'l"hc 
Kfvcrend Father -seems entirely devnted to hi» 
work, ami has n large circle of friend!" n!>iile from 
his church |>co|ilo. 

- : .. ,/^=-^-* 

^^ ONSTANTINI-: MKKKLi:, proprietor of the 
I 100 acres of land comprising the greater 

\^ |>nrt of jicctiun 7 in Turk Township, is num- 
bered among the successful stock-gi'owers of Sedg- 
wick County, and gives his attention mostly to fine 
cattle. His land, which compri.-cs one of the most 
fertile tracts in that region. Im.s heen brought to a 
good state of cultivation, and the homestead is |)ar- 
licularly noticeable on account of the fme set of 
frame buildings and the air of comfort :ind plenty 
which .Hurrounds tlieni. 

Mr. Merkle took up his residence in this county 
in the fall of 1h72. Ilii< boyhood home wjis in the 
kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, where his birth 
took place on the 9th <.>f May, 1S37. His parents, 
JoM-ph and 'J'heresa (Bobb) Merkle, were also of 
German birth and parentage, anti left their native 
land for America when their son C'onstantine was n 
child one year old. They first settled in what 
was then Allen, but is now Auglaize County, Ohio, 
where the father engaged in farming and car|)en- 
Icriiig, having served an apprenticeship at the lat- 
ter in his own country. He lived to a good old 
age, and passed away in Auglaize County, (.)hio, 
when seventy-four years old. The mother is still 
living and has now leached the advanced age of 
eighty-one. 

The parental household of our subject included 
eight children, two of whoni died in Wurtemberg 
before the removal of the family to the Unitcil 
Mates. Of the six remaining the record is as fol- 
lows: Anthony has <-harge of the old homestead in 
(»hio; Francis died in 1 M8G, nl the age of llfty-lhree 
years; Lucy <iied in li^GO, when about l«riily-livc 



•►•-* 



y<;ir- old ; Coiislantine of our sketch is tin- next 
eldest; Catherine became the wife of William Mc- 
Uougle, of Anghiize County, Ohio; John is carrying 
on carpentering at SjHikan Falls. W. T. 

Our subject being but nn infant at the time of 
criKSsing the Atlantic has no recollection of the land 
of his nativity and knows no other home than 
Aracriciu In bis boyhood he s|H:nt a few m<inths 
at school each year and his services were utilized 
upon the farm as soon as be wiis old enough t«^> be 
of any nssistjince, and he also learned the Cflrpentcr 
tnulc of his father, which he followed for about ten 
years. I'pon reaching manhood he purchased eighty 
acres of land near the old homestead, in Aughiize 
County, Ohio, upon which he resi<led until 1H7'J, 
when he sold out preparatory to bis removal West. 

Mr. Merkle was married, in Auglaize County. 
Ohio, to Miss Sarah C. DeLong, who was born 
there JJec. 22, 1813, and is the daughter of F:ii 
and .Susan (Dodson) DeLting. The young peo- 
ple conwncnced life together on the farm already 
spoken of, and became the jmrents of si.\ children, 
namely: Louisa, now the wife of Henry .Scott, of 
Kingman; Charles; Lizzie, Mrs. .James Clare; Vin- 
nclla. Alice antl Cora May. Mr. Merkle, in 188.'i, 
valued his i)osscssions at ^20.000, but has since met 
with consider.'ible loss. He has very little to do 
with politics, but upon occasions of gencnd elections 
C!ists his Vote in sup|>ort of the Hcpublicar. party. 
He has stciidily declined becoming an ollico-holdcr, 
preferring to devote his tinie and attention to his 
farm and his family. 



■►>-^o 



'ti>^~ 



^^T? 



WILSON F. LKWIS, one of the solid men of 
Grant Townslii|), came to this county dur- 
ing its pioneer days before its school dis- 
tricts had been organized, and assisted in this work 
as well as many others connecte«l with its develop- 
ment and progress. He is now one of the most 
(irtispcrous farmei-s and stock-raisers of this section, 
his fine farm being pleasjinlly situated about four 
miles from the village of Nidley Center. He h!L'> 
wiilclied the growth of Southern Kansiis with the 
interest wliicli every intelligent man feels in the 



I 

I 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



•*» ■ ^ 



293 



i 



section of country where his possessions lie and 
where his labors liave been rewarded with success. 

Mr. Lewis, like many of his compeers, is a na- 
tive of New York State and was born in Delaware 
County, June 26, 1851. He was the youngest 
child of William and Nancy (Burns) Lewis, whose 
family included ten sons and one daughter. The 
father was a native of Scotland and the mother of 
New York State. William Lewis emigrated to 
America when a 3'ouug man twenty years of age, 
and settling in Delaware County, N. Y., carried on 
farming a few years and thence, in 1858, made his 
w.ay into Grant County, Wis., where he was an 
early settler and where he spent the remainder of 
his days. His death occurred in the spring of 18G6, 
when he was about eightj^-four years of ag'e. The 
mother survived her husband ten 3'ears, also dying 
in Grant Count^^ Wis., in 1876. The paternal 
grandparents of our subject were aatives of Scot- 
land, the grandfather also being named William, 
which name has already descended down through 
three generations and will probably continue 
through as many more. On the mother's side, the 
grandparents were Moses and Catherine Burns, the 
former a native of Ireland and the latter of New 
York State. 

The subject of this history completed his educa- 
tion in the graded schools of Patch Grove, Wis., 
and since a boy has been familiar with farming 
pursuits. The year after reaching his majority he 
was married, in Grant County, to Miss Jlary J. 
Woffenden. Mrs. Lewis was born in Ulster County, 
York State, in 1849, and was the eldest child of 
John and Mary (Nowel) Woffenden, who were na- 
tives of England and whose family consisted of 
five children. They left their native soil soon after 
their marriage, locating in Connecticut, and spent 
their last d.ays in Wisconsin. Richard Woffenden, 
the grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, also of English 
birth and parentage, came to the United States in 
middle life and died in Wisconsin in 1863. The 
mother's parents remained in England. 

Before permanently settling in this county Mr. 
Lewis had already visited Kans:w upon the lookout 
for a homestead. He found notliing that suited 
him better than the land in Grant Township, and 
accordingly purchased a quarter of section 17, 



which was railroad property. Of this he and his 
young wife took possession soon after their mar- 
riage, and have labored together in building up the 
homestead and preparing a comfortable abiding- 
place for themselves and their children. The land 
has been brought to a good st.'ite of cultivation, 
and the live-stock now includes high-grade Clydes- 
dale and Hambletonian horses with full-blooded 
Short-horn cattle and pure-bred Poland-China 
hogs. Mr. Lewis had for his produce a market at 
Sedgwick City at the start, and of late years espec- 
ially has been in the enjoyment of a handsome 
inc(mie. Ilis industry and enterprise are proverbial. 

The Republican party in this section numbers 
Mr. Lewis among its most reliable members, 
although he has steadily declined becoming an 
office-seeker, but has officiated as Township Clerk 
for two years and consented to assume responsi- 
bility whenever it seemed for the good of his 
township to do so. Wliile in Wisconsin he identi- 
fied himself with tiie I. O. O. P., in which he still 
holds membership. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis there were born six chil- 
dren, namely: Frank A., Mary A., John, Mabel, 
Sarah and Daisy. They all continue under the 
home roof, and are pursuing their studies in the 
district school not far away. 

-»>>. .o♦o.•f5^v"vi^••»♦<'• ^<^'- 

^REDERICK B. WIIITTKMOKK, an influ- 
ential farmer and stock-raiser of Rockford 
Township, is a representative of one of the 
old New England families, whose history is tiiat of 
the colonies and States for the last 240 years. He 
came to this county in 1883, and settled on section 
24, where he is now making his home. 

Mr. Wliittemore was born in Pembroke, N. IL, 
Sept. 12, 1857, and is the ninth child in a family of 
eleven born to his parents, Aaron and Ariana 
(Barstow) Whittemore, natives of the Old Granite 
.State. Our subject and his father, .as were many 
of his ancestors, were born and reared upon a farm 
whicii was granted by (.Jueen Mary of England, 
about the middle of the sixteenth centur}', to 
Aaron Whittemore, the great-great-gr.andfather of 
the subject of this sketch. For more than 200 



n 



-^ 



-«»■ 



■^li-4. 



21*4 



-II h; WICK ("ofNTY. 



4 



yenn» this propcrtv ;.... ,., l;,. .....; 

(lr«ocii<laiiU of till* ffrnnU-o, ntiil some of tlic huilil- 
iiup- wliifli i»rc sUiuliiif; upon il (iro still in excojlcnt 
rr|Miir, tiltlioiigli ort-clol nior*- limn ICO ymrs ajjo. 
Tlic olit Congrtgntional Church wliicli slimils u|)<iii 
the place, and is now u.»o(l lut a Itarn. was huilt in 
17'.'«. The family of Mr. Wliill*'nior»' wcro of 
Kngli»li (Ictccnt, and tlu'ir iinrcstor.-* were fair s|>cci- 
nieiis of the sturdy yeomanry of Albion, who have 
made the little isLuid so fumou.s in the annals of 
the world. 

Aaron Whitteinore, the father of the subject of 
this memoir, was an ntlornoy by profession, and a 
very |>rominent uutn in his native State. For 
several yeans he <Hcnpieil the bench ils .Indgeof the 
District Court, and served several terms in the 
Lowir House of the .Suite Lcffislature, and two 
terms in the .State .Senate of New Hampshire. He 
was also Colonel of the 1 1th New Hampshire .State 
Militia for a number of years, and was .-ilways 
prominently i<lentified with all public matters in 
the Slate. He is still living in Pembroke, retired 
from imrticipation in the active business of life, 
having survived his wife, who died July II. 1885. 
He has been engjiged throughout the course of a 
busy life in several enterprises besides that of his 
profession, princi|>ally dealing in lumber. He is a 
most estimable man, and is regarded with the 
highest res|H-ct by the citizens of his native St^ite, 
.iniong whom he has [Missed a lifetime. 

The subje<t of this history received in his boy- 
hcMjd days the advantages of an excellent educa- 
tion, and. an he grew to maturer years, assisted his 
f.ither in carrying on the lumber business until 
iHH.j. February 1 of tlmt year he bade adieu to 
his home among the hills of New llam|>shire, and 
came West to ihc (jreat and growing Slate of 
Kansas, and purchiifting 1 .If) acres of fine arable land 
on section 21. in U.wkford Township. enU'ied u|K.n 
\\j> <ultivation. With the thrifty habits and in- 
dustry BO natural ton man of New Kngland birth, 
he has with unwonU-d energy devoted himself to 
bringing it U. a high sUiU- of tillage, and his efforts 
in this direction have borne ample fruition. He 
hiLs set out a fine orchard and iiii abundance of the 
smaller fruits, erecU-d a ne.il and hnndsomc resi- 
<leiic«- and substantial barns, and made all the 



.i..|.i..vemcnts nec(.~~... i i-. >iM ...M.i.ii .tii.i . mi- 
venience of himself and his family. Like nearly all 
the agriculturists of this section of the country, he 
is eiipigt'd in raising fine grade Short-horn cattle, 
horses and mules, and Iiils usually a good stock of 
these on hand. His industry. |)ersevenince and 
sterling integrity, have already won him the resiiect 
and esteem of the people of the township, and, 
although yet young in j'ears, he occupies a promi- 
nent place in society. 

Mr. Whillemore was united in marriage, March 
17, 1886, with Mrs. Candace M. Chamberlain, the 
daughter of C. A. and KImira (Holmes) Norton, 
and widow of Charles F. Chamberlain, who died 
.June J, 18«3. Mrs. Whillemore is a native of 
Clinton Count}', Mo., and was born Ma}- .'(1, IS^}'>. 
She was at the time of her ser'ond marriage the 
mother of two children: Arthur Claude, whose birth 
occurred Dec. 1, 1879. and Archie Warren, born 
March II, 1882. Of her union with our subject 
there have been two children, twins, Aaron and 
Charlie, whose births occurred June 4. 1887. Aaron 
was called home by death Oct. I h, 1 887. 

Both Mr. an<l Mrs. Whillemore arc consistent 
members of the Haptist Church, God-fearing and 
sincere Christian j)eople. In his jX)litics our sub- 
ject is an active advocate of the principles formu- 
lated by the Democratic party, in which he believes 
are the true and best interests of the people of our 
country involved. 

A lithographic view is shown of Mr. Whitte. 
inore's residence. 

•--^- -Us^i- '^'"^ 

"iW/OHN LOO AN. Among the pros|K"rous far- 
I I niers of Sedgwick County, the record of 

dl wlio.se lives fills an important place in this 
' volume, it gives us pleasure to commemo- 
rate the name of the gentleman whose sketch yon 
are now reading. He was born in Clinton County. 
IikI., .Iiine ('>. 18.18, being the son of Henry and 
Kcbeeca (Chiltock) Logan, natives of Ohio. His 
father, whose death occurred in 1871, was a .soldier 
in the .Mexican War. where he served a.s Second 
Lieutenant under (Jen. Miilroy, ami in the late 
Civil War he served .xs I'rovost Marshal. He wiu- a 



-•► ■ -^ 



r 



■» II -4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



.'95 



Demofrat in politics, and alwaj's took an active 
part in the pulilic and local affairs of Carroll and 
Clinton Counties of Indiana, where he had resided. 
He was nominated for the Legislature from the 
former county, but died l)efore the election, where 
he was Assessor for a number of years, and he also 
served as Sheriff of both counties. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native 
county, where he remained until he engaged in 
business on his own account. He was an ambitious, 
energetic young man, well trained to habits of 
thrift, and anxious to secure a footing in this great 
working world on a firm basis. In order to accom- 
plish his desires, Illinois seemed to him a more de- 
sirable location than his native State, therefore, 
crossing the boundary line between the two States, 
he commenced his career in the Prairie State as a 
farmer. A short time after becoming well estab- 
lished in his occupation, the late Rebellion occurred. 
His patriotic enthusia-sm was at once kindled, and 
throwing aside all personal amljitions, he enlisted 
in his countrj''s defense, willing to endure all the 
hardships and privations incident to the life of a 
soldier, that his countr^-'s honor miglit remain un- 
tarnished, and her name unsullied. In June, 1S61, 
his name was enrolled among the members of the 
25th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment 
he served throughout the war, jjcing honorablj' dis- 
charged Sept. 5, 1865. He was a brave partici- 
pator in many of the fiercest waged struggles of the 
war, among which may be mentioned those of Pea 
Ridge, Ark., Shiloh, Corinth, luka, Chaplin Hills, 
K}'., Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
Knoxville and Murfreesboro. He was with Sher- 
man until after the liattle of Atlanta, when he 
returned with Thomas to Nashville, Tenn. 

During all these years of danger, Mr. Logan's 
course was anxiouslj' watched by the young girl 
who afterward became his wife, being united to 
him in marriage Aug. 25, 1865. Her maiden name 
was JIargaret A. I'mlianhowar, a daughter of Sam- 
uel and Julia Ann Umbanhowar, natives respect- 
ively of Virginia and Ohio. After their marriage 
they moved to Champaign County, III., in the early- 
days of its settlement, and in that place their daugh- 
ter Margaret was horn and reared to woraanliood. 

Mr. and Mrs. Logan remained in Illinois several 



3'ears after their marriage, being engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Hoopston, Vermilion County, 
coming from there to Kansas, arriving here Feb. 2, 
1878. Our subject at once bought the eighty 
acres where he now resides, on section 30, range 2 
east, which he has improved and to which he has 
added by purchasing forty acres more of land. He 
has built a substantial house and convenient farm 
buildings, and has all the modern appurtenances for 
successfully ciu'rying on his business. His fine or- 
chard is unsurpassed in the county, and the abun- 
dance and variety of fruits it annually yields is not 
excelled. Our subject is also largely engaged in 
stock-raising, and besides his fine herd of cattle, 
mostly Short-horns, may be seen many good mules. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Logan have been born three 
children, namely: Charles E., Frederick W. and 
James S. The latter died in infancy. The second 
son was born during the Franco-German War, and 
the parents agreed between themselves to name him 
for the conquering General, and thus on him was 
bestowed the name of the illustrious German 
Emperor. 

Mr. Logan is one of the energetic, progressive 
citizens of Rockford Township, and is actively 
identified with all its interests. In polities, he is a 
standi Republican, and a warm supporter of the 
principles and beliefs of that party. Socially he is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity and G. A. R_ 
Post No. 203. Mrs. Logan is an esteemed mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal C'luirch. 



«-^»^- 



■ ^5<--> 



^r^EOKGE H. KESSLER, a leading farmer of 
III (— -, Delano Township, located on section 5 in 
^^ 1883, where he has 160 acres of land, and 
besides the growing of grain is considerably inter- 
ested in stock-raising. He is comparatively young 
in years, having been born July 20, 1861. His 
birthplace was in Botetourt County, Va., and his 
parents were Abram and Mary (Painter) Kessler, 
the former a native of the same county as her son. 
The familj^ is of German descent, tlie first represent- 
ative crossing the Atlantic at an early day, settling 
first in Pennsylvania and thence removing to the 
Old Dominion. 



-«^ 



■♦- 



' ' «nr. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



( 



A i. ...,., t4i-.-.kT. the father of oar subjoct, left his 
imtive Statp in 1S74, nnil corning t«> tlii-* county 
purchiucil tlio nortlifa$t qtinrtcr of iscction 8 in 
Delano Township, iiiul which i!« now tlio |>ropcrly 
of the mother, the father hnvinf; «lie<l Sept. 7, 
188'». The bitter sulMUHjuently pn-oni|>te(l U'>0 
acres in the western purl of lliis county, jinil which 
wa.4 subsequently sold u|)on the .>>cttlenicut of the 
esUite. 

Mr. Kessler wn» the fourth in a family of seven 
children, all of whom are livinj; in this county, the 
boj's being farmers by o<vu|>ation. fJcorge H. 
when reaching his majority purcliiu-etl land included 
in his present fann, where he commenced o|K?rations 
for himself, and wlu-re he has since met with such 
success. To this home he brought a bride in the 
early part of \Mi, having been married on the 2.'ld 
of .lanunrA-, that year, to Miss Lilla, daughter of 
JutM-ph and Jane (Sully) (iranfield, who are na- 
tives of Kngland an<l are now residents of Attica 
Township. The wedding wnii celebrated at the 
home of the bride, Rev. Charles Woodsen, of the 
Methodist Kiiiscopal Church, otilciating. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ke«sler there has been born one 
child, a daughter. Grace Leona, Jan. 24, 1887. 
Mrs. Kessler is a native of England, and was born 
Sept. i-0, 1HC5. Their home is a ple.i.sant resort for 
their many friends, is beautifully located antl forms 
a pleasant picture of country life. In the spring of 
18«7 Mr. Keshler sold eighty acres of land for the 
snug sum of $1,800. He cast his first I'residenlial 
vote for Grover Cleveland, and is a warm advocate 
of Democratic principles. 

©X/SWo «*— 

NDKKU J. COITMAN, a representative 
fanner of Valley Center Township, is finely 
lix;at4'd on section /i, where he is maintain- 
ing his place among the progressive and in- 
telligent men around him, ciiguging in farming and 
keeping a choice a.v>orlnieMt of graiied st<K'k. lie 
landed in this county on the 7th of March, 1873, 
an<l Oral l<K-ated on section I, where he remained 
nine years. 

.Mr. Coffman removed from his first location in 
tills State to Harvey County, but two years later 



returne<l to St.i_ .... .. ..,..1 purchased the forty acres 

of land to which he Itas since given hn* careful 
attention, bringing the soil to a fine state of cultiva- 
tion, and erecting the buildings which forma pleas- 
ant feature of the landsca|>e at that |Niint. He 
owns in all .'120 acres. A grove of from 2,.')00 to 
3,<H10 trees provides a grateful shade in summer and 
assists in breaking the winter winds, and nature in 
other respecli" h.as contributed to make the CofTman 
farm one of the most desirable in the township. 
None of the land has been allowed to go to waste, 
and on tliis account has yielded to its owner pro- 
portionate returns. 

Our subject is a native of Owen County, Ind., 
where his birth took i)l!ice .Sept. 'H>, 1837. His 
parents, .Samuel and Sylvia (Hatcher) Coflfnian, 
were natives of Tennessee, and the mother is still liv- 
ing, having arrived at the advance<l age of seventy- 
three years, and making her home with her danghti-r, 
Mrs. Thoinits Owens, of Eagle Townshij). The 
father departed this life at the old homestead in 
Owen County, Inil., in the spring of 1800, when 
about llfly-five years old. lie was a pronoimced 
Democrat, |)olitically, and with his estimable wife 
had identified himself with the Baptist Church, of 
which he remained a member until his death, and 
with which the mother continues. Mr. C. olllciated 
as Deacon a good many years, and was prominent 
in his township as a farmer and cattle-raiser, being 
numbered among its most enterprising men. 

Of the nine children born to Samuel and Sylvia 
CofTman, two died in infancy and seven lived to 
become men and women. They were named re- 
spectively: Andrew J., AVilliam D.. Eliza .lane, 
Sarah Ann, Lewis, John and Marj'. John and 
William are now deceased. The latter during the 
late Rebellion enlisted in August, 18G2, in the '.t7th 
Indiana Infantry, and w.is ])romoled to Corporal. 
After fifteen months' service he was seized with 
infiammatory rheumatism, which resulted in his 
death in the S|)ring of 1HG4. 

.Mr. CofTman, when twenty-two j'ears of age w.-us 
married, in I8.'i'.», to Miss Josephine, daughter of 
William aiul .Sarah Wiley, who were natives of 
North Carolina, but are now dccease<l. They s|H'ut 
their last days in Iowa and Illinois. Our subject 
and his wife became the parents of eleven chiUlren, 



■•►■-4« 



{ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



209 ' ' 



one of whom died in infancy iinnaraed. Their eld- 
est son, Cliarles II., was married in 1885 to Miss 
Jennie, daughter of Jesse Biirson, a well-to-do 
farmer of Valley Center Township. The other 
children, who are unmarried and at home, are Rosa 
D., Marietta, George, Dora, William, Minnie, Daw- 
son, Bertha Ellon, John and Grover. 

In August, 18()2, there appearing no iinm<'(liate 
prospect of settlement of the difHculties between 
the North and the South, Mr. Coffman enlisted as a 
Union soldier in the 97th Indiana Infantr}', in which 
he was promoted to First Sergeant, and served until 
in June, 186.5, when he was no longer needed, lie 
participated in many of the principal battles of the 
war, includingthe fightat Jackson, Miss., Missionary 
Ridge, the siege and capture of Atlanta, and 
marched with the troops of Gen. Sherman to the 
sea. 

After the final grand review of troops in Wash- 
ington, Mr. Coffman received his honorable dis- 
charge at Indianapolis, Ind., and returned to his old 
home in Owen County. From thei'e, in June, 18(17, 
he removed to Champaign County, 111., where he 
resided five j'ears, and then crossed the ISIississippi 
into Southern Kansas which, it is his private opin- 
ion, is about as fine a tract of country as there is 
on the face of the globe. He is an uncompromising 
Democrat, politically, and socially, a member in 
good standing of the G. A. R. He was elected 
Treasurer of School District No. 131, in 1884, and 
has served since that time by re-election. 

The Coffman farm residence and its surroundings 
will be noticed on another page of this work as 
bearing fair comparison with the homes of the other 
well-to-do citizens of Valley Center Township, who 
are leaving their " footprints on the sands of time." 

'7<^^ 



VILLIAM H. NEWTON, a Kansas pioneer 
of 1868, located first in Manhattan, Riley 
Countjs where he staid about one month; 
he then went to Wabaunsee County, where he was 
emploj'ed b^^ the month one season as a farm laborer. 
In the winter of 1868-69 he occupied himself as a 
school teacher, returning to agriculture in the spring. 



•►Hh-^- 



About that time also he purchased a quarter-section 
of land in Wabaunsee County, and twenty town 
lots in the village of Wabaunsee. This property 
he held three years, then abandoned it and came into 
Wichita Township, this county, where, on the Uth 
of June, 1870, he pre-empted the northeast quarter 
of section 6, where he now resides. 

In the career of Mr. Newton has been admirably 
illustrated the exercise of good judgment and wise 
investments, he having been enabled to sell forty- 
four acres across the river for the snug sum of ^200 
per acre, and still has 120 acres remaining. This is 
largely devoted to the raising of grain and stock, in 
which Mr. Newton with his ripe experience has been 
very successful. The Motor Line now runs along 
the western boundaries of the farm, and the latter is 
already platted into town lots. 

Our subject was born in Washtenaw Count}', 
Mich., March 24, 1837, and is the son of S. B. and 
Lucy (Moore) Newton, natives respectively of 
Connecticut and New York State. The father, born 
Feb. 23, 1805, departed this life at his home in 
Washtenaw County, Mich., in I S7 1. He wasa farmer 
by occupation, and a man of sound judgment and 
good business capacity. The mother was born Jan. 
30, 1811, is still living, a widow, and continues at 
the homestead. The ten children of the parental 
household were named respectively : Nathan J. W., 
Susan E., Amos S., AVilliam II., Susannah A., Char- 
lotte M., Mary, George W., Harold G. and Origen. 
The second child, Susan, came to her death by 
being scalded when about two 3'ears of age. 

Mr. Newton passed his boyhood daj-s in attend- 
ance at the district school and in making himself 
useful around tlie homestead. He continued a 
member of his fathers household until thirt3'-one 
years of age, then left the parental roof and took 
up his abode in the new State of Kansas. Four 
years later he was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Mary K. Maxson, a native of Rhode Island, who 
was born in Washington County, April 22, 1836. 
The wedding took place at the home of the groom 
in Michigan, in 1 872. Mr. and .Mrs. Newton have no 
children. Mr. N., politically, votes with the Demo- 
cratic party, and has held the office of Township 
Treasurer for the last six years. In 1885 he was 
elected Justice of the Peace and served two years. 



1 ' 

t 



<• 



•^-•-4*- 



4 



300 



.(111 : \\ K l< ( I UN TV 



f 



A view of the Newton Ih 
nttractM till- adinirii);; eye of tlio tniveler ttiroiigli 
the .tiibiirl)!) of WicliiU'i, will lif fi>uinl I'lsowlierc. 

(•UKItl M. W II. 1. 1 A.MS. .\in..ii(,' Ih.-.sliir.iy. 
eniTjjelic and suci'f.swfiii fiinners mid .stock- 
rni.scrs of .Sfdnr»ick C<niiit_v, who Ihorougldy 
XQiindiTJitanil tlie vomlion which they follow, 
mill arc <-(iiisc'fjiU'iitly I'liahled to carry on their call- 
in;.' with |irotit to themselves, is the .sulijoct of 
thi.- sketch, lie is actively engaged in agricidtnral 
pursuits on section 3, Hockford Township, where 
he has a line farm of 200 acres of land. 

Mr. McWilliains is a native of Westmoreland 
County, I'n., and first drew the hreath of life Sept. 
21, 1«3G. lie is the son of Andrew and Mary 
( .McWilliams) .McWillianis, both of whom wore na- 
tives of the Keystone State. His father, who was 
born Dec. 0, 1800, is still living, and engaged in 
farming o|>eralions in the same county in which he 
W!is born. Our subject was reared among the hills 
and mountains of his native State, and there 
breatheil in the spirit of freedom and inde[)cndcnce 
which is so largely characteristic of him. lie drew 
his education from the excellent common schools 
of his native county, and earlj- in life received a 
home training u|)on the farm, which has so well 
fillcil him for the calling which he has followed 
ever since. He remained beneath the roof of his 
imrents' house until his marriage, which occurred 
Oct. 21. 18;')7. On that ilay Mr. McWilliams and 
Miss Rebecca J. Koss plighted their mutual faith 
at the nuptial altar. The bride was born in West- 
moreland County, also, Feb. 12, 1831), and is the 
daughter of .Samuel II. and Kliuibeth (Leslie) Ross, 
who were natives of the Keystone State. Her 
father, who was a farmer by oecup.alion, died in 
December, 1 ««.'», at the age of seventy-three yeai-s. 

Afttr his marriage our subject commenced farm- 
ing in his native State, ujxfn .-i piece of land which 
he ha<l rentt'il, but in I8.'i8 rcinoveil to I'nion 
County, Ohio, where he followed fanning for 
about .seven 3'ears. While a resident of the latter 
.Stat«', he l)ecamea member of the State .Militia, and 
WU.1 sworn inUj the service nf the United States 



about lour months. In lt<06 our subject rennived 
with his family to Ford County. III., where he ma<le 
a purchase of 170 acres of land, on which he re- 
mained tilling the soil for about thirteen years. At 
the expiration of that period he vame to Kansas 
and purcha*ed 200 acres of hind on these "wondrous 
beautifid pniiries where billowy bays of grass ever 
roll in shadow and sunshine," and where he settled 
down to bring the prairie 8o<l under subji-ction to 
the wjints of man. Hy his energy and industry he 
has succeedcil in bringing his acres to a high state 
of cultivation, has erected comfortable buildings of 
a very substantial character, and has set out a fine 
orchard of over 1,000 trees and an abumlanee 
of small fruits. A greater |X)rtion of his attention 
is given to the raising of stock, making a sj>ecialty 
of Norman and Clydesdale horses, graded Short- 
horn cattle and I'oland-China hogs. 

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, although 
he is not strictly bound by party lines nor is he a 
seeker after political olHce. Both he and his estim- 
able wife .'ire members of the Methodist I'rol«stant 
Church, and arc sincere and consistent Christian 
people. Mr. and Mrs. McWilliums are the icirents 
of seven children, as follows: Samuel R., who was 
born March 19, 18.')9; George F., whose birth took 
place Aug. 1, 1861 ; Ada M.iy, who was born Feb. 
12, 18(54, married William M. .Sutton, Sept. 21, 
1880, and is living in Scott County, this Stalo; 
Ettn B., whose birth took place Aug. 18, 1807; 
Alice J., whose natJil day w.is Feb. 23, 1870; Mary 
K., who w.as burn July 8, 1872, and .losic L., whose 
birthday- was Dec. 27, 187.'). 



«P=-^, AMTKL W. LKK, an experienced farmer 
^•^ .and stock-raiser, and of late years engaged 
in the real esU-ile busine.ss, has line resi- 
dence pro|K'rty near the city limits of 
Wichita, embracing an acre of land, upon which he 
has constructed a handsome anil convenient dwell- 
ing, which with its surroundings forms a complete 
and desirable suburban home, lie came to Kansas 
in 1«82. and for the first two years rented a farm in 
Kechi Township, lie then purchiLscd twelve and 



-¥- 



4-. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



301 



one-fifth acres in Lee's Addition to Wichita, which lie 
subsequently sold at a good profit, and which was 
afterward platted into city lots. After parting with 
this property Mr. Lee bought land within the cor- 
poration, which, also platted in cit\' lots will in tlie 
near future be very vahialile. 

The branch of the Lee faniilj- to which our sul)- 
ject belongs has flourished principall}' in Pennsyl- 
vania for the last two generations, and in that 
State he was born in Washington County, on the 
14th of January', 1850. He was the sixth in a 
family of nine children, the oflfspring of John and 
Jane Ami (Scott) Lee, who were also natives of 
the Keystone State, together with the paternal 
grandfather, Hugh Lee, and the maternal grand- 
parents, William and Mary (Wylie) Scott. Grand- 
mother Lee was a native of the State of Virginia 
The grandparents all spent their last days in 
Pennsylvania. 

The father of our subject upon reaciiing man- 
hood embarked in farming in his native count}', 
where he spent his entire life, and passed awa}- in 
April, 1850. The mother is still living, and occu- 
pies the oUl homestead in Washington County. 
Samuel W. acquired his early education in the dis 
trict schools and later entered the college at Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., but being dissatisfied with his experience 
there, started for the West when but nineteen j'ears 
of age, and coming to this State spent at that time 
about two months in this region, being one month 
at the stockade, which is now the city of Wichita. 
He returned to his native State in the fall of that' 
same year, and a few months later purchased sev- 
enty acres of land adjoining the old homestead in 
Washington County, upon which he operated in 
connection with the homestead of 200 acres until 
1874. On the 21st of October of that year he 
was united in marriage with Miss Emma Jerome, a 
native of his own county, and who was liorn April 
9, 1855. 

Mrs. Lee was the second-born of Charles and 
Mary (Bebout) Jerome, whose family included 
three children. They also were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, together with the maternal grandparents, 
Elisha and Mary (McClurg) Bebout. The parents 
of her father, John and Harriet (Miller) Jerome, 
were born in Virginia. After their marriage Mr. 



and Mrs. Lee continued on the farm of our subject 
in Pennsylvania until the spring of 1882, and then 
Mr. L. made another visit to the West, with the 
intention of settling in Missouri. A brief experi- 
ence, however, in that State convinced him that lie 
would not be satisfied there, and he accordingly 
visited this county again and rented a farm in 
Kechi Township, upon which he remained until the 
purchase of which we have already spoken. 

Mr. and Mr.s. Lee have but two children living, 
Bessie L. and William A., who are eleven and five 
years of age respectively, and are pursuing their 
studies in the district school. Their eldest child 
died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Lee takes an 
active interest in politics and is a stanch adherent 
of the Republican party. He has served as School 
Treasurer and Director, and socially, is identified 
with the A. F. & A. M., at Wichita. Mr.s. Lee, a 
lady greatly respected, is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church. 



OBERT KEKH,a most genial and cuiiipaiMon- 
able gentleman, is, in company with his 
brother, the owner of 400 acres of land on 
'^sections 11 and 12, in Grand River Town- 
ship, to which he came in the spring of 1882. He 
at once made his way into the esteem and confi- 
dence of the people of this locality', and is num- 
bered among their most valuable citizens. He was 
accompanied to this county b}- his brother John 
and his sister Mary, and they were joined soon 
afterward bj' the father and two other brothers. 
The latter purchased 1,360 acres of land in Grand 
River Township, a part of which our suliject and 
his brother John A. soon afterward relieved them 
of. Upon his share Robert has labored industri- 
ously, cultivating the land, repairing the old build- 
ings and putting up new, and has now in all 
respects a model homestead. 

Mr. Kerr first opened his e^-es to the light in the 
"smoky city" of Pittsburgh, Pa., on the (ilh of 
October, 1854, and is the son of Peter and Saraii J. 
(Kerr) Kerr, who were natives of County Antrim, 
Ireland. Peter Kerr crossed the Atlantic in com- 
pany with an aunt when about seven years of age, 



-•►-•-^ 



I* 



302 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



hi* father hnviii>;dir<1 sotiio time previously. Tlie 
niotluT followed Intor and liKiiUd in rcnnsjlviinia, 
when- lie wna rcare<l to mnnli<K>d. His marriage 
t4K>k place in the city of ritL-.liiirj;h. whore lie con- 
tinued until about 1K.').'>, when ho ronioved to 
Hniwn County, 111., and in duo time became the 
owner of .'I.IO acres of land. From there, in .Sep- 
tember, I8HC, he came to this county, and is now 
living in Rutler County, about t<-n miles east of 
the city of Wichita. 

The nine cliildren of the parental household of 
our subject are recorded as follow.s: Robert, of 
our sketch, is the eldest; John A. was born March 
;U, IHiG, and oi>crates ui)on the land ownetl by 
himself and our subject; Isabellc is the wife of 
llonry Spear, a farmer of Hrown County, 111., and 
the_\ are the parentji of eight children; William .1. 
is married and a resident of (irand River Town- 
ship : Mary .1. is unmarried anil makes her home with 
her father, sis also do the younger children — 
Thomas M., .Samuel 1'., Henry and Sarah A. 

Mr. Kerr has been familiar with farm life since 
his earliest boyhood, and funis in this his greatest 
satisfaction. He is a general favorite among the 
people of his community, and has been Treasurer 
of the Schoitl Board in his district for two years. 
He is a Democrat politically, and in 1887 was the 
candidate of that party for Township Trustee, 
running a very close race with his Republican op- 
|K>nent, and wn« defeated I)}' only .-i few votes. 



1 KNin \V. ADAMS sotllod on the soufhorn 
ir"^ line of \'iola Township in Iho fall of 1870, 
il^^ having homestcaded tme-quartcr of section 

(^) S.l. The land was in an uncultivated state, 
furnished with neither fences nor buildings, and he 
at once entered u|M>n the regular routine of the 
pioneer, conliilent that he coulrl hold his own with 
the enterprising men about him who had ventured 
on the w<-»tern banks of the Mississippi, and into a 
section of country which ha<l not l<»ng proviously 
been the tramping ground of the bufTaloand Indian. 
In fact he had the advantage of some of his neigh- 
l)ors, having served a thorough apprenticeship at 
the oariM'iil.T's trade, which enalilod him to put up 



his buildings with a comparatively moderate outlay 
of money, and in the best manner. Here he has 
since pursued tlie even tenor of his way, being a 
continuous resident since his first arrival. 

Mr. Adams is of Irish ancestry, but was born in 
Oneida County, N. Y., .luly 1H, l».3It. His i»arenU. 
.John and Mary (Lin<l.say) Adams, were born and 
reared in the North of Ireland, where they were 
alsrj married, and whence in IKJi.'} they emigrated 
to the Inited States. .Settling in Oneida County, 
N. Y., the father followeil his trade of a weaver 
there until I8,')0, then emigrated to Orunily County. 
III., an<l materially changeil his vocation, engaging 
now in agriculture. There he spent the remainder 
of his life, dying about IS-OC. The mother subse- 
quently removed to the town of Slreator, where 
her death took place several j'ears later, in 1878. 

The parental household of our subject included 
six chihiren: Thomas is married, and a resident of 
Pawtucket, R. I.; .John is farming in Oreeloy Town- 
ship, this county; Henry W.. of our sketch, was 
the thinl child and son; Mary A. lives with her 
brother .John; .Samuel, during the late Roliollion, 
enlisted in Companj' D, 127th Illinois Infantry, and 
yieldetl up his life in the service; Andrew died at 
Streator, III., when a promising young man over 
twenty-one years of age. 

Mr. Adams received a common-school education, 
attending mostly during the winter sojisons, and 
after the removal of the f.amily to Illinois, resided 
in Grundy, Kendall anil La.Sallc Counties, where, 
with the exception of three years, during which 
time he was engaged in the hardware trade at 
Seneca, he occupied hiin.self in farming. In .March, 
1862, occurred the important event of his marriage 
with Miss Louisii S., daughter of .lacob ami M:ir- 
garet (Graves) Howe, the former of whom ilied in 
September, 1877, in La.Salle County, III., and the 
latter, still living, is a resident of \"uAti, this 
county. A few months later Mr. Adams, leaving 
his young wife with her parents, responded to the 
call for atlditional volunteers, and enlisted in Com- 
pany (!, 127lli Illinois Infantry, with which he 
served until the close of the war. He enU'red the 
ranks as Third .Sergeant, and in December, ISG.'i, 
received the commission of First Lieutenant. Ho 
was in the midst of some of the hardest fought 



r 



•^ 



-h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



303 



battles of the war, namely, Chickasaw Bayou, Ar- 
kansas Post, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, 
and went all through the Atlanta campaign With 
his comrades he met the enemy likewise in battle 
at Resaca, Dallas, Kcnncsaw Mountain, Ga., and 
marched under Gen. Sherman to the sea. Finally 
he was present at the grand review at Washington, 
and on account of injuries received at Savannah, 
b}' being thrown from a horse while acting as Adju- 
tant of the regiment, now draws a pension from 
the Government. 

Upon his return from the army Mr. Adams 
resumed farming in the Prairie State, and continued 
until 1877, March of which year found him in this 
county. He gradually cultivated and improved 
his land with the aid of his sons, while he worked 
at his trade a greater part of the time. Many of 
the buildings of Viola Township were put up under 
his supervision, and stand as monuments of his 
skill and ingenuity'. He has been prominent among 
the people of his township almost from the time of 
coming here, and served as Justice of the Peace 
for a period of ten years, and is the present incum- 
bent. Religiouslj' he is a Presbyterian, and socially 
a member of Seneca Lodge No. 532, A. F. & A. M., 
and G. A. R. 

Mrs. Adams was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 
Nov. 10, 1844. She was eight years of age when 
she accompanied her parents to Illinois, and by her 
union with our subject became the mother of eight 
children, three of whom died in childhood. The 
five surviving are Frank C, Fred S., Harry, Clyde 
and Horace. Mr. Adams is a straight out-and-out 
Republican, and gives his support to that party. 



<ji^ OBERT LITTLE. Among the finest speci- 
IIL^^^ mens of the hardy yeomanry of our coun- 
IK\ tr^', there arc few that are the peers of the 
W(^ representatives of the Scotch-Irish race, 
who are so materially helping in the development 
of our country. These people are essentially 
Scotch, and Ireland to them has been but a tempo- 
rary abiding-place, as they seldom assimilate with 
the natives of that island. They are the outgrowth 
of an emigration from Scotia to the North of Ire- 



land in 166.5 for the purpose of escaping from 
religious intolerance, and to their descendants this 
country is much indebted for one of its most 
inflexible and unswerving elements of probity 
and uprightness. Their sturdy phj^sioal strength 
and inborn frugality, thrift and industr}', are still 
characteristically developed in their representatives 
in America. The subject of this sketch, who is one 
of the most extensive land-owners and stock-raisers 
of Viola Township, is a magnificent specimen of 
this hardy race. His residence, which is the finest 
one in the townshij), is situated on section 15, and 
is surrounded liy his immense farm of 1,000 acres 
of land, upon which he is engjiged in stock-raising. 

Mr. Little was born in County Fermanagh, in 
the North of Ireland, April 10, 1829, and is the 
son of Francis and Margaret (Clark) Little, na- 
tives of the same locality. His parents died in 
the land of their nativity-, leaving nine children, 
all of whom came to the United States. David, 
the eldest, was the first to leave his home, and 
came to the United States in 1834; he has grown 
quite wealthy, and is a resident of Pre-emption, 
Mercer Co., 111., where he settled before the land in 
that locality was placed upon the market. William 
came to the United States in 1844, and is a large 
farmer in Rock Island County, 111. ; Francis emi- 
grated in 1841, and owns a large farm in Iowa 
County, Wis.; Lucinda is the wife of William 
Blakely, and came to America in 18G3; she resides 
in Linn County, Iowa. Mary Jane married James 
Strahan, and came to America in 1844, and makes 
her home in Clinton County, Iowa; Sarah E., Mrs. 
Charles Thomas, crossed the ocean in 1850, and is 
living in Clinton County, in the Hawkeye SUate; 
Margaret, the wife of M. T. Sweeney, and Ann, 
both died at Comanche, Iowa. 

The subject of this biography was the next to 
the youngest child in the family, and was reared 
upon a farm in his native land. As is common 
among the people of that portion of the Emerald 
Isle, he received the elements of an excellent edu- 
cation in his boyhood, and in Later years assisted 
his father upon the farm. He w^as united in mar- 
riage, Dec. 13, 1855, with Miss Martha Little, who 
was born in County' Tyrone, Ireland, M.ay 4, 1833, 
.and is the daughter of Oliver and Ann (Simpson) 



•r-^ 



f 



■•►-HI-4I 



SKIX'.WICK COrNTY. 



l.iltle, imtivfs of the KiiuTiilil I»l<', »ho (1i<><l in 
thiit lan«l, li-avin^; six cliildrfii. of wlunii tlie follnw- 
ill); is tlic rec<ir(l: John i\\n\ in Irolnnd, iind Mnr- 
gnn-l, llic wife of Henry Ray. is !*till n resiiik-nt 
of her native land; Kliznbeth, tlie wife of .John 
HetheriiifTtnn. came to the Initeil States in 1852, 
an<l (1ie<l at St. I.oiiis, Mo.; .lane, Mrs. William 
Ho<ij{ers, einif^Tited to America in IK^'i, and is a 
resident of Cincinnati. Ohio; M.-irtha, who is the 
wife of our subject, came to this land in 1><G2; 
Thonia.*, who live.s in Morton County. Kan., is an 
emigrant of the year lt<84. 

Our subject, who comes of a family that can 
trace their ancestry back to U'.O.'i, remained after 
liis marriaffe anumg tlie verdant scenes of his native 
land until 18(;2. when he came to the I'nited 
.Stjites and hxiited at Mineral Point, Wis., where 
he purchased a small farm. In IHC.') he moved to 
Mercer County, III., where he made his home until 
1878, the date of his coming to Kansas. On his 
arrival in this State he .-cttled where he is now liv- 
ing, purcha.sing at that time some 480 acres, to 
which he has added from time to time until he 
now owns 1 ,000 acres, most of which is in one 
body. He is giving the greater projtortion of hi.s 
attention to the breeding and raising of a good 
grade of stock, principally Short-horn cattle. Much 
of this land is well improved and cultivated, 
and the apiiearance of his residence, with its beau- 
tiful surroundings, attr.icts the attention of every 
pns,<er-by. 

Mr. Little is what may be lernieil a self-made 
man, n.s he hail but very little capiUil when he 
cros.*«cd the breast of the stormy Atlantic and 
landed on America's shores. His excellent Imsi- 
ne.HS tact, coupled with his industry, frugality, and 
the other noble trails common to his people, are 
the only architects of his substjintial and handsome 
fortune. He is one of the representative men of 
the i-oiinty, and a credit to the land that gave him 
birth. He is a Ucpiiblican in his politics, but lm,s 
strong tendcm-ies toward I'rohibition. and haa 
served as a member of the School Hoard of his 
district for several years. Both he and his wife 
are members of the .Methodist Kpis<'opal Church, 
as arc all those of his family. He is Chairman of 
the Hoard of Trustt'es, of the society of that 



denomination at \ iola, and i.-> a .sincere Chri.-tian 
gentleman. His fnllier was a school teacher in the 
<ild country, and acted as clerk in the Church of 
England for some thirty-nine years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Little there have been bom a 
family of eleven children, as follows: Margaret, the 
eldest, died in Wisconsin at the age of six years; 
Francis, who is engaged in farming in Har|ier 
County, this Stat«; Annie, who is the wife of .7. 
P. Graham; Oliver, Susannah, Eliauibeth, Kllen, 
.lolin C, Ncoma, Robert and Martha. Francis 
Little, the brother of our subject, is living in Wis- 
consin, has held every oflii-e within the gift of his 
constituency, from Road Overseer to State .Senator, 
and has served in the Legislature of the liadger 
State for eleven years. The Little family hold 
annual family reunions, the last being in IssTat 
the house of our subject, and the next will be held 
in Linn County, Iowa. It is the intention t<.i con- 
tinue these i)leasant meetings .is long as two mem- 
bers of the family are in existence. 

1 LKXANDKK M.CoR.MICK. Ciuiteanum- 
i ^/Ul ber of the leading and prominent citizens 
of Sedgwick County are of alien birth, and 
have transported to this land of fertility 
and plenty the thrifty habits of their native country. 
Among these there is none that is better known or 
more widel\' resiK'cted than the gentleman whose 
name appears at the head of this sketch. He is an 
extensive farmer and st<>ck-raiser of Ohio Town- 
ship and resides on section 4, where he settled in 
1 883. 

Beneath the humble roof of his parent.-^, Francis 
and Ann (McKenzie) McCormick, and under the 
shadow of the mountains of Scotland, Alexander 
McCormick was born Aug. l.'i, 1843. He is one of 
a family of nine children, of whom the following 
still survive: Dougald, who is living in Waco Town- 
ship, this county; Fmn<-is, a resident of Wichita; 
.lohn, who is living in (ila.sgow, Scollanil ; l)on:ild, 
living in Kngland ; .lanet, at home, in Scotland, and 
Alexander, the subject of thissketch. In his youth 
the latter received the elements of that education 
which is so dear to his countrymen, and was reared 



•♦► m^^ 



h 



-4*- 



■■» ■ ^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



305 



to manhood in his native land. In the spring of 
1.S62 he left fair Scotia's heaths and braes, and tak- 
ing passage at Glasgow on a steamer, after a voj'age 
of eleven days on the stormy Atlantic, landed at 
Montreal, Canada, settling at Guelph, Ont^irio. He 
resided for about three years in that city, where he 
was engaged in the blacksmith trade, which he had 
learned of his father, working for the firm of Mills 
& Melvln, who were the leading foundry men of 
Guelph. At the expiration of that time he came to 
the United States, and for a short time in I8G0, was 
in the employ of Cyrus McCorinick, the inventor 
and manufacturer of the reaper which bears his 
name, at Chicago. 111. 

In 1866, the subject of our sketch being seized 
with the ^\■estern fever, went to Montiina, where he 
was engaged, principally, in mining for a period of 
some ten j-ears. In 1876 he came to Sedgwick 
Count}', Kan., and for a short time made his resi- 
dence with Nicholas MeCormick, who then resided 
near Wichita. He removed to Ohio Township dur- 
ing the year 1880, and for about three years lived 
on the southeast quarter of section 4, from which 
he removed to his present farm. The latter con- 
sists of 160 acres of most excellent land, all of which 
is well improved and highly cultivated, and a very 
valuable estate. Besides it, Mr. MeCormick has an 
interest in property in the city of Wichita. 

The marriage of our subject took place April 7, 
1878, at which time he entered into a matrimonial 
alliance with Josie Cartwright, a native of Sanga- 
mon County, 111., who was born Jan. 14, 1842. She 
is a daughter of Valentine C. and Cynthia (Scott) 
Cartwright, and the granddaughter of Rev. Peter 
Cart^^Tight, the noble and widely known pioneer 
preacher of Illinois. Valentine Cartwright was one 
of the prominent men of Central Illinois, to which 
he had removed from his native State, Kentucky, 
with his father, when but a boy. He removed to 
Sedgwick Count}' in 1873, and was numbered among 
the pioneers of Waco Township, and died in that 
locality, Oct. 30, 1886. He was one of the most 
prominent citizens of the county, and .at one time 
was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for mem- 
ber of the State Legislature, but the politics of this 
portion of the State being averse to that party, he 
was not elected, notwithstanding the large compli- 



mentary vote he received. The mother of IMrs. 
MeCormick was a native of Illinois, and the mother 
of nine children, of whom the following eight are 
still living: Thomas B., a resident of Waco Town- 
ship; Can'ie E., wife of S. D. Pallett, of Wichita: 
Hattie J., Mrs. D. 0. Williams, of the same place; 
Charles A., of Salem Township, this county ; Albert 
B., residing in California; Jliiuiie P., wife of J. L. 
Nessley, of Wichita: AValter L., living in Wichita. 
The father of Rev. Peter Cartwright, and the great- 
grandfather of Mrs. MeCormick, was one of the 
gallant band of heroes who fought under Gen. 
Washington during the Revolutionary War. 

Being independent of party lines, Mr. ISIcC. 
usually casts his ballot for the man, and not for 
measures. In the fall of 1887 he was the candidate 
on the Labor Reform ticket for Sheriff of Sedgwick 
County, but was defeated in the race for office bj' 
the present incumbent, W. W. Hays, his party not 
being so thoroughly organized at th.'it date as it has 
since been. Both he and his estimable wife are 
sincere and consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and possess the warm esteem and 
confidence of the entire community. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, his name being upon 
the rolls of Wichita Lodge No. 99. 

Around the domestic hearth of our subject and 
his wife there are gathered their little family of three 
interesting children, who are being trained up un- 
der all the good influences of a Christian mother's 
care. Their names are as follows: Ernest L., who 
was born Aug. 4, 1879; Frank N., whose birth took 
place Aug. 7, 1881; and Lottie S., who made her 
advent on the 7th of May, 1884. 



yilLLIAM F. PUTNAM, the leading tonsor. 
ial artist of Valley Center, was born in 
Madison County, Ohio, March 14, 1854. 
He is the eldest of the three children of Solomon 
H. and Zcruah (Ford) Putnam, natives respectively 
of New Hampshire and Vermont, whence the}' re- 
moved to Ohio before their marriage. There the 
father eng.aged in farming and merchandising, and 
w.as also the proprietor of a notion w.agon which. 



•¥^m^^*- 



f 



'^KDGWICK COUNl V 



iifUT llu I,.-.,......., I ■,..\.-, .i..-.-.i,i ...a ihrou}:li 

llic country juid usually well |>nlroiii/.c<l by tla- 
people living remote frtun the towni-. 

'I'lie pHternnl gmndiMireuL-i of our sulijeet, John 
:iii(l Ann (lliird) rutimni, niso natives of the Old 
Cranite Stale, em igmted to Ohio and settled in 
Madison County aliout Ih.OO, being among the pio- 
neers of that region. On the mother's side the 
Ilurd family were also natives of New limnpshire, 
and Grandfather llurd served as n soldier in the 
Wir of lsi'2. IJoth families it is supposed were 
of Kngli.-h nneestrj', and built up for themselves a 
creditable record as citizens and business men. 

Solomon II. I'ntnam, the father of our subject, 
left Ohio in 1x57, and moving to Illinois located in 
Farm Kidge Township, La.Salle County, where he 
purchased a quarter-section of land and engaged in 
agricultural j>ursuils. Three years later, however, 
hi.'i mercantile and business instincts led him to 
aliandon farming, and moving into Odell, Living- 
ston County, he took up his old pursuit of merchan- 
dising, and also conducted a hotel for a ix?riod of 
eight years. In the meantime he was appointed 
I'ostmaster, which ollice he occupied ten yeai-s at 
Odell. Subsequently he sold his farm, and conn'ng 
to this State in March, 1875, invested a portion of 
liis capital in a stock of hardware and carried on a 
trade in this commodity for three years. Not long 
after he was seized with the illness which terminated 
his life in Peabody, on the 5th of March, 1880. 
The mother (»f our subject after the death of her 
lii-st husltand was married, on the '2d of April, 1881, 
to George A. Warner, and is now a resident of 
I'uniona, Cal. 

Mr. I'utnam, of our sketch, completed his educa- 
tion in the gnided s<-hools of Odell, 111., and was 
there married, on the 25th of December, 1872, to 
-Miss Ida M. Kenyon. Mrs. Putnam was born in 
Wayne County, N. Y., in 185.3, and is the third 
<liild of Daniel A. an<l Antoinette (liartell) Ken- 
yon, whose family included five children. Her i 
parents and grandparents were also natives of the 
Kmpire SUite, the latter on the father's side being 
Daniel and Animinla (Armstrong) Kenyon, who i 
|«!issed away many years ago not far from the place 
of their birth. Iler maternal gnmdparents were 
James and Louisa IS. (.McNeil) liartell, who were 1 



also l".iii ..ii.i i,Mi,.i III New York State, and there 
spent their entire lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. Putnam after their marriage con- 
tinued in Odell, 111., three years and then, with the 
parents of our subject, came in 1875 to this county. 
Mr. Putnam engaged in mercantile business in Pea- 
body two years, then resolved to try farming pur- 
suits. He acconlingly purchased IGO acres of 
im]>rovcd land, upon which he followed agriculture 
four yeai-s, but like his father before him found 
that trade antl similar business was more in har- 
mony with his tastes and capacities. He accord- 
ingly returned to his merchandising in Peabody, 
and continued until 1882, when he removed t*) 
Towanda, liutler County, and eng.iged in the har- 
ness trade two years. Then selling out again, he 
came in 1885 to Valley Center, and ])utting up the 
sign of his new undertaking, commenced business 
as a barber, in which he has been ver^' successful. 

Mr. Putnam has never taken any active |)art in 
[Hjlitics, but in performing the duties of an Ameri- 
can citizen at the polls votes the straight Uepub- 
lican ticket. In religi(jus matters he is a Methodist. 
His family consists of his wife and five children 
living, one child having been taken from the house- 
hold circle by death at an early age. The eldest 
child living, Roy K., wjis born Sept 5, 1875; Ella 
May, March 20, 1878; Emniett 0., March 12, 
1880; Ernest, Feb. 22, 1883, and William liny, 
April 2, 1885. The three first mentioned are at- 
teniling school at \'allcy Center. 



/jf^j I'. HEED, editor and proprietor of the Mul- 
'|[ (^=- vane Jiecurd, is one of the ablest journalists 
^^f^ of the West. He comes of goo<l stock, being 
a descendant of the gallant Gen. .loseph Keed, of 
Revolutionary fame, a warm i)ersonal friend and con- 
fidant of Gen. Washington. Oursubject was born in 
Richland County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1831, and is the 
son of .Joseph and Nancy Kecd, natives of Wash- 
ington County. Pa. Immediately after their mar- 
riage, they moved to Richland County, and s|>ent 
their entire wedded life on the farm that they then 
bought, enjoying the full respect and honor of the 
jjcople among whom they made their luune. The 
niutlicr died in 1811 and the father in 1873. 



.^n.:* 



' ' 





\J 




2 






1s« 



V^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



309 ' ^ 



Our subject was reared in the home of his birth, 
and his father, being in prosperous circumstances, 
gave him tlie advantages of a good education, wliich 
was conducted at the academy at Monroe, and fur- 
ther supplemented liy a good course at Haysville 
Academy, Ohio. Thus lie was eminently fitted by 
education as well as by temperament for the pro- 
fession of teacher, which he adopted and pursued 
with marked success for several years, thirty-three 
terms in all. 

Mr. Reed was married in the county of his birth, 
.Sept. 15, 1855, to Miss Mary E. Wigton, daughter 
of William and Jane Wigton, natives of Mercer 
County, Pa. Her p.arents migrated to Ohio in 
early days, and there remained till death, her father 
dying in 1865 and her mother in 1843. Her father 
was of Scotch descent, and alw.ays followed the 
occupation of a f.armer. To our subject and his 
wife have been born six daughters and three sons, 
as follows: Minnie, born in Ohio; Ellie, born in 
Iowa; Emma, William E., Eva, Josephine, Lila, 
John and George. Lila died in October, 1878. 

Some time after marriage, Mr. Reed moved to 
Iowa, and for six years was Principal of a select 
school in Washington County, that State. Finallj' 
he abandoned the ranks of teachers for the broader 
fields of journalism, it being but a step from the 
professor's chair to that of the editor, and as man- 
ager and proprietor of the Keota Eagle he became 
in a wider sense an instructor of the people, editing 
and publishing that paper for eight years, attaining 
high rank among the journalists of Iowa. While 
a resident of that State he was prominently identi- 
fied with the public interests of Washington Countj', 
as his fellow -citizens recognized his fitness for ollice, 
and for three terms he served thera as County Su- 
pervisor, and was also Justice of the Peace for a 
number of j'ears. 

In 1884 Mr. Reed disposed of his paper, the 
Eacjle, .and came to Kansas, having shrewdly fore- 
seen in this wonderful State and among this wide- 
awake people, still more brilliant prospects for him 
in his chosen profession. He immediately pur- 
chased the Mtilvane liecorcl, and has ever since been 
successfully engaged in its management. Although 
he is a Republican and in high standing with the 
members of that party in this State, his paper is 



conducted on the broadest and most liberal basis, 
giving clear and impartial views of the political 
questions of the day without regard to party. His 
editorials show deep culture and are marked by 
virility and sound common sense. 

Our subject is a member in full standing of the 
I. O. O. F. Both himself and his wife are com- 
municants of the Presbyterian Church; their gen- 
uine social .and moral worth gives them a high place 
in the regard of their fellow-citizens. 

-^ — ! ^ ^-'l/-^^ C * *^^ 

RANKLIN YIKE, whose portrait we give in 

Pthis c'onnection, is the owner of Yike's Addi- 
tion to Wichita, and a gentleman who has 
done efficient service in the progress and growth of 
this remarkable Western city. His fine farm which 
constitutes his present homestead, lies adjacent to 
the city limits, and was purchased by him in 1883 
for the sum of $5,000. It comprises 229 acres, most 
eligibly located, and is now estimated to be worth 
1200,000. In addition to this property Mr. and 
Mrs. Yike are the owners of three lots on South 
Lawrence street, nine lots on South Market street, 
five on Campbell avenue, five on North Oak street, 
three on Martison avenue, three acres of land in 
Perry's Addition, and a whole section in the western 
part of this county. The estate also includes a 
livery stable, store building and dwelling-house at 
Eureka Springs, Ark. This property was accumu- 
lated from a modest beginning, and illustrates the 
result of industry and perseverance, coupled with 
good judgment in regard to investments and sound 
sense in the general trans.action of business. 

Henry Yike, the paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, emigrated with his parents to America from 
near the River Rhine in Germany, when but a lad 
and before the war of the Revolution. He subse- 
quently participated in that conflict on the side of 
the Colonists, and after the struggle was ended em- 
ployed himself as a farmer and blacksmith in 
Schuylkill County, Pa. He was of splendid consti- 
tution, strong, vigorous and robust, and was at the 
head of a family including eight children. In politi- 
cal opinions he w.asa Whig, and in matters of relig- 
ion, a Presbyterian. 

The father of our subject, Henry Yike, Sr., and 
son of the above, was boru at his father's homestead 



4 



• -4»- 



«KI»i;\\K^K COrNTY 



III S.liuUkilU'Murily, I'li., Doc. -J-'. !>'<>;•. lie iilso 
li-;iriicil llio liiisiiiejw of farmer niid Iho Irnilo of 
Markstiiith, ami u|>oii rcAobin^' inniilitKK) ninrricd 
Miss Hostor, dniiglitcr of .loiiiitimn Kjiber. of liis 
(iwn foiintj-. To them were Imrn nine cliildn-n, 
immciv: Kliznhclli, llistor, Ilnirv. Isiiav. .lulin. 
Fnii kliii of our sketch, .Iiiiiifs, Mnry aixl t'urolinc. 
Of Ihesic childri'ii six arc hviii^aml mostly rpsidents 
of Miiimi C'ouiily, IikI. The mother died wlieii 
foiiiparntively n youni; woinaii. and the father was 
sidisequeiilly married, in Indiana, t4> Miss Annetln 
Morris, l>y whom he had one child, a daughter, 
Sarah .1. In 1817 he changeil his residence from 
Schuylkill County, l*u., to Miami County, Ind., 
wiicre he l)Ocame owner of a tine farm of 28G acres, 
and where his death took place in 1 M82, at the afje 
of seventy -three years. He had lieen a hard-work- 
in;; and law-abiding citizen, peaceable in all the 
relations of life, and held the resiKCt of his entire 
community. He was somewhat prominent in public 
affairs, holding the ofllces of Assessor and Tax Col- 
lector. His funeral was atteniled by a large con- 
course of people, and over 200 guests besides his 
own family took dinner at his house after the 
services. His second wife is now deceajied, having 
died in 18GC. 

The subject of this sketch was born at the farm 
in ."Schuylkill County, Pa., on the .'kl of .luue. 1«41. 
When a bo}' six years of age he removed with his 
|>arent» to Indiana, whore he learned the trade of 
blacksmith and business of farmer, and became 
familiar with pioneer life. He acquired a fair 
education and receiverl careful home training, re- 
maining a member o( the parental household until 
after the (»utbreak of the Kebellion. On the !lth of 
August, IK02, uol long after his twent^'-first birth- 
day, he eidist<'d as a private in Com|)any C, 87th 
Imliana Infantry, for three years, or during the war. 
With his comrarles he met the enemy in battle at 
I'erryville, Stone River, Chirknmauga, Missionary 
Ui<lge, liosaca. Kenne.snw Mountain. Atlanta, .lones- 
boro and .Smithlleld. He also joined with the 
troo|is of (len. .Sherman in the famous march to the 
sea, and with them al.S4i afterward marched up U> 
Washington and was present at the flnal grand 
review. Ho was never wounded and never in an 
ambuluucc, and never ini».seil sticking arms with 
4» 



his eoni|W)ny. At tlie rUov of the war he was mus- 
tered out under general orders at Indianapolis in 
June, 18()5. He was, however, visited with a 
severe atlliction in the loss of his hearing from the 
eoneussiou of shells thrown by the rebels in the 
battle of lliM)ver's (iap, and has never recovered 
the lo.ss of this sense. 

After his relea.se from army life Mr. Yike re- 
turned to Indiana and resumed blacksmithing, 
although for but a short time. In a few months he 
slart4-d out to see something more of the great West, 
visiting the .States of Colorado, Wyoming. I'tah, 
Idaho an<l Kansas, where in connection with his 
trade he also dealt considerably in live sto<'k. In 
1 872 he concluded to settle in Wichita, and not long 
aft^'rward made his first venture in the business 
which has since proveil so successful. 

The marriage of Franklin Yike and Mr>. .Mary 
Soger was celebmted at the home of the bride in 
Wichita, .Ian. 1, l«7f>. Mrs. Yike is the daughter 
of .losopb anil Hannah (Allen) Car|)enter, of Canada, 
where she was born Feb. I'.i, 18;5'.(. Her father was 
a native of Vermont and s|K>nt his last years in 
Michigan. The mother is dead. Hy her first mar- 
riage Mrs. Yike became the mother of a son, Will- 
iam F., who is now living in .Sedgwick County. Of 
her present marriage there are no children. The 
family residence is a tast<>ful and substantial struc- 
ture, full}' in keeping with the means and ))osition 
of its inmates, who enjoy the esteem and confidence 
of all who know them. 



'S^^iDflAU W. I'ilii.iJl'.s. 1 he splendid f;irra 

t owned by this gentleman, in .Sjdem Town- 
' ship, is a standing monument to his industry, 
pel-severance and good management. He comes 
under the category of self-made men, having been 
thrown upon his own resources early in life, and 
has succeeded only by the exercise of his stendj', 
plodding labors, both mental and ph^'sical. Just 
at this time ho is one of the prominent representa- 
tives of the agricnitund and stt>ck-raisiiig interests 
of Southern Kansas. \lo liuys and ships largely to 
the Kans.'Ls City inarkeLs, and luis one of the finest 
farms in the t<i«nshi|>, and one which, from the 



1 



■*► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



311 



manner in which it has been cultivated and supplied 
with buildings and inachinerj', affords him the fa- 
cilities for carrying on his chosen calling in the 
most successful manner. The farm comprises 320 
acres of land, located on sections 25 and 35, and is 
one of the special points of attraction .along the 
southern line of this county. 

Our subject, a n.ativc of the Green Mountain 
State, was bora in Addison County, March 28, 1847, 
and is the son of Joseph and Doretha (Eastman) 
Phillips, the former living in Tecumseh, Johnson 
Co., Neb., and the latter deceased. The Phillips 
family is of English ancestry, and was first repre- 
sented in America prior to the Revolutionary War. 
In th.at war the paternal grandfather of Edgar W., 
Solomon Phillips, served as a soldier under the 
illustrious Washington, and fulfilled well hir- p.art as 
a niilitarj- man. After the close of the struggle he 
settled in Addison County, Vt, where his son Jo- 
seph, the father of our subject, was bora. His 
death took place after he had arrived at an ad- 
vanced age. He was a blacksmith by trade, and 
followed the manufacture of scythes for several 
years, .at that time they being made bj' hand. The 
maternal grandfather of our suliject was a stone- 
mason by trade. Ilis name was Ichabod Eastman, 
and he was probably of English descent. The re- 
nowned Wendell Phillips was a second cousin of 
the father of our subject. 

The subject of this history was but four j-ears of 
age when lie was deprived of the affectionate care of 
his mother by death, and .although so young it was 
not long before he realized what a change this be- 
reavement had effected in his life. Eight j-ears 
later, in 1855, in company with his father and other 
members of the family, he emigrated to Illinois, 
locating among the pioneer settlers of Salem Town- 
ship, Knox County. Young Phillips and Mr. W. 
H. Egan were instrumental in giving the township 
in which he now lives its name. 

Mr. Phillips continued a resident of Illinois until 
after the outbreak of the late war, and was a youth 
of but fourteen years when the first shell was di- 
rected toward Ft. Sumter. Although impatient 
for the fray he was too young to enter the army, 
and waited with what patience he could summon 
imtil he could be admitted to the ranks. In this 



he was gratilicl .n il,,. 28th of March, 1864, be- 
coming then a nicnilH-r of Company- H, 1 1th Illinois 
Cavalry, under command of Col. Carr, of Galesburg. 
This regiment had been organized by the renowned 
Col. Robert Ingersoll. The company of j'oung 
Phillips was .a.ssigned to duty in the armj' of the 
West under the immediate command of Gen. A. J. 
Smith, lOth Army Corps, at Vicksburg. He par- 
ticipated in one severe battle at Egypt Station, on 
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and various minor 
engagements, but his duties as cavalryman were 
principally as a scout and patrol, also to forage and 
destroy the bridges of the enemy, and other duties 
similar. He continued in the service until October, 
1865, and received his discharge at Springfield, 111. 

At the termination of his array experience Mr. 
Phillips returned to Knox Countj', 111., and em- 
ployed himself at farming, in the meantime laying 
his plans for a future home of his own. With this 
end in view he took to himself a wife and helpmeet, 
Miss Emily Adams, the wedding occurring at the 
home of the bride, on the 24th of March, 1868. 
Mrs. Phillips was born in Harrison County, Ohio, 
April 7, 1850, and was one of a family of five chil- 
dren, the offspring of William L. and Nancy (Tim- 
mons) Adams, also natives of the Buckeye State. 
Her brothers, Wilson, John W. and Henry, and her 
sister, Annie M., the wife of Albert Oman, are all 
residents of Knox County, 111., where the father is 
now residing, the mother having died in that county 
in 1861. The Adams family, like that of our sub- 
ject, was of English descent, and William L. was 
one of the early pioneers of Knox County. He is now 
in the seventieth year of his age, in the enjoyment 
of good health and the esteem of a large circle of 
friends. His life has been one of industry, and his 
character that of a true man in the highest sense of 
the word. 

In the fall of 1870 Edgar W. Phillips started from 
Knox County, 111., for Southern Kansas, driving 
the entire distance with a team of horses and a 
wagon, camping out at night, and traveling for 
about twenty-two days before reaching his destina- 
tion. He made his way to this countj', and located 
first on section 25 in the township where he now 
lives; thence lie removed, ten years later, to his 
present farm, which he has occupied since the spring 



■ -4* 



•■u: 



SKIKiWlCK COUNTY, 



t 



iif l.sso. Hi' and his eiitiiiiitlilo wife cmliirwl all 
tlip luir(Ishi|t!* mill privntion!^ iiiridcnt to lifo in n 
nrw M'ttlt-nicnt, linving come here at n time when 
tlii'ir nei^'hbors were few and far helween, and !>«■- 
U\li !<nlijectcd to all the ineonveniences of a distant 
mill and market. 

'i'iie little hovisehoUl of our siiliject and his wife 
wiu-i eompleted by the liirth of >i.\ children, of whom 
one, Leslie L., who was horn Fel>. "Jl, 1873, died 
in the folh>wing month. Lola A., their eldest 
danjthlcr. w:i* horn .Ian. ;i, 1 SO'J ; Lneila M., Sept. 2."). 
1H70; Arthur L.. April 7, 1H71; Willard R., Aug. 20. 
1K80, and Kdgar W., June 30, 1X85. The unculti- 
vated tract of land n|)on which Mr. l'hilli|)s l<x;atcd 
with his family nearly twenty years ago has under- 
gone the transformation which only the resolute 
will and the hand of industry could bring alioiit. 
Mr. lMiiili|>s ha.« been quitt- prominent in local 
affairs, and politically is a stanch Republican. He 
Ii;l>* been for a number of years .School Director in 
his district, and was one tif the nine delegates from 
Salem Township to the Reitiiblioan County and 
State Convention held at Topeka, wiieii .lohii .Mar- 
tin W.1S nominated for fi<Jveriior in IHSo. lie has 
been frequently sent ui)on like errands, being a J 
man of decided views and good aildress, one whose 
opinion invariably commands respect. lie wjis 
elected Trustee of .Salem Township in the spring 
of 1885, serving in this c.-ipacity two years with 
crciiit U> himself and siitisfactioii to all concerneil. | 
He assisted in the organization of the township, and ' 
has ever accorded a ready and cheerful assistance 
to all the enterprises calculated to further its inter- 
ests. Socially, he belongs to the 1. O. O. F., Lodge ' 
No. 174, and is a member of Mulvane Camp No. 71, 
and Mulvane I'ost No. 203. (i. A. R.. of which he 
is at present Commaiuler. and in .Mulvane Camp is 
Chief I'atriarch. A lithographic |>ortrait of Mr. 
rhilli[is is shown on .'iii acconipan^ing i)agc of ' 
this work. 

C'^.AVEN LANNIN(;, a faithful anil valiant 
^ sohlier in the lati- war, after the settlement 
cJ^^ of the dillli'ulties between the North and the 
South, carried on farming in his native Slate of 
Ohio until the spring uf 1N81. He then iiiaile his 



way t4» tliis coiinly. settling soon aftcrwjird on his 
present farm in Valley Center Township, where he 
hay since resided. He was at once recognized .-ls a 
valued addition t4i the community, a man likely to 
further its best interests, the friend of religious and 
educational institutions, and an enterprising citizen. 
He has served sis Director of School Di.strict No. 9, 
almost from the beginning, a jH-riiKl of six years. 

The bciyliood and youth of our subject were s|)ent 
in Guernsey County, t)liio, where his birth took 
place Oct. 1(>, 1H2H, at the moilest lu>mestead of 
his |Hirent.s, Lsiiac .M. and Lydia (Fuller) Lanning. 
He at an early age became familiar with the var- 
ious employments of farm life, and received his 
education in the district schixji. Isaac Lanning 
and his wife were natives of New Jersey, and spent 
their entire lives in that State and Ohio. The father 
died about 18(J0, when seventy-six yean of age, 
and the mother, surviving her husband for a perio<l 
of nineteen years, passed away at her home in Ohio 
in May, 1«85. They owned and occujjied a 
good farm in New Jersey, which was devoted 
largely to the raising of hogs and cjiltle. The mother 
for iiiniiy 3'cars wius a consistent member of the 
Haptist Church. The father was not identified with 
any religious organization, but politically, uiiiforiiiiy 
Voted the Democratic ticket. 

There were in the family of Isaac and Lydia 
Lanning six sons and two daughters, the record of 
whom is iis follows: Martha became the wife of 
David Fisher, of (Jueriisey County, Ohio; Robert 
married Mi.ss Margaret Kennedy, and is now a resi- 
dent of Hlackford County, Ind. ; Jerr}- married 
Miss Jane I'crrigo, and is farming in Guernsey 
County, Ohio, where her brother, Oakley, who 
married Miss Martha Lanning, is al.so located; 
ALary is the wife of William Little, a well-to-do 
fanner of Valley Center Township, this county; 
.lohn married Miss Klizalielh Styles, and during the 
late war enlisted in the HOth Ohio Infantry, in 18C3, 
and died that same year while in the service; George 
married .Miss M.ary Kinelinc Urown, and occupies 
the old homestead in (Juernsey County, Ohio. 

/•aven Lanning continued a resident of the Hiick- 
i-ye Stjitc until twenty-two years of age, attending 
.school during the winter season, and laboring on 
the fanu in the smniiier. Altogether he carried on 



•► • -4»- 



1 

i 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-i^l 



313 



•►Hh-^ 



farming in Guernsey County for a period of thirty 
years, with the exception of the time spent in the 
army. On the 1st of January, 1861, after the out- 
breaii of the Rebellion, lie enlisted in the 80th Ohio 
InfanUy, his coinpan}' being under command of 
Capt. J. M. Andersoii, for a period of eighteen 
months, and who was then succeeded by William 
Wagstaff. After two ciianges in the Lieutenancy, 
Mr. Lanning was given a commission as First Lieu- 
tenant, which he held until being mustered out of 
service. 

Lieut. Lanning met the rebels in twelve pitciied 
battles, namely: luiva, Corinth, Port Gibson, Cham- 
pion Hills (botii engagements), Raymond, Mission 
Ridge and Resaca, Ga. The last named was one of the 
principal battles of tlie war. In addition to these the 
SOtii Regiment was also engaged in the famous 
"charge of McAllister." At the time of the sur- 
render of the Confederate forces under Gen. Lee to 
Gen. Grant, and the troops of Gen. Johnston to Gen. 
Sherman, the 80th Regiment proceeded to Rich- 
mond, Va., whence, after resting a few days, they 
went on to Washington City for the purpose of 
being mustered out of service. From the capital 
they were sent to Louisville, Ky., and thence to 
Little Rociv, Ark., where the 80th w.as mustered out, 
and tlie boys in blue wete permitted to return to 
their homes. 

Our subject, upon receiving iiis honorable dis- 
charge, sought the home of his childhood in Guern- 
sey Countj', Ohio, where he continued to reside 
until coming to this State. In 1850 he married 
Miss Elizabeth Little, who became the mother of two 
sons, and died six years later, in 1856. Their eld- 
est child, Is-iac N., died Aug. .31, 1880, in Guern- 
sey Count}", Ohio; George M. is emploj^ed as a 
teacher in Morganza, Pa. 

The second wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married on the 12th of August, 1859, was in her 
girliiood Miss Margaret Wliitcraft, who departed 
this life on the 10th of August, 1881, at her home 
in Sedgwick County. She w:is a devoted member 
of the Metiiodist Episcopal Church, and tlie mother 
of six daughters and two sons. These were named 
respectively: James W., Eckley B., Moiiie, Alma, 
Amanda Jane, Carrie, Elsie A. and Zella. Ail are 
living, and two daughters and one son are married. 



James W. took for his wife Miss Emma Oxley, of 
Guernsej- County, Ohio, and they were married in 
Janu.ary, 1882; this lady died on the 4th of April, 
1 887 ; she was a member of the Baptist Church. 
Mollic is the wife of William Lowry, a real estate 
man of Wichita, and doing business with the firm 
of Sherman <& Barwise; Alma is the wife of Samuel 
Gibson, who is farming in Guernsey County, Ohio. 
The present wife of our subject, formerly Miss 
Lydia AVhitcraft, was born in Guernsey County, 
Ohio, March 11, 1839, and is the daughter of James 
and Mary (Cransteon) Wliitcraft, who were natives 
respectively of Ireland and Ohio, and are now de- 
ceased. Their family of nine diildren included 
seven daughters and two sons, namely : Mary, Nancy, 
Thomas, Margaret, Lydia, Isaac, Jane, Sarah Ellen 
and Amanda Matilda. 

-^ ^-^ ^ 



LBERT F. BEST. The quarter-section of 
land which came into the possession of our 
subject in the spring of 1883, h:is been 
(gj« transformed into one of the most comfort- 

able homesteads of this section, the land of which 
h.as been l)rought to a fine state of cultivation, and 
is embellished by a handsome and substantial set 
of frame buildings. In addition to general farm- 
ing the proprietor is giving considerable attention 
to the raising of fine stock, making a specialty of 
cattle and Poland-China swine. A flourishing or- 
cliard, and a choice assortment of the smaller fruit 
trees, serve to add to the comfortable appearance 
of the premises, and supply tlie household with the 
luxuries of the season. 

Mr. Best is a man of good education, well 
informed and intelligent, and the offspring of an 
excellent old Southern family, who made their way 
:icross the .Mississippi at an early period in the 
history of Kansas, and located in Jefferson Count}', 
where our subject was born on the l.Jth of April, 
1861. His parents, Joseph and Sar.ah (Marsliall) 
Best, were natives respectively of Kentucky and 
North Carolin.i, and the father all his life followed 
farming pursuits. A few years after his marriage he 
moved to Clinton County, Mo., where he carried on 
agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1863. 



t 



•►•-^^ 






;ii I 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



F 



Mil' iiiiitlier >vii> .<iiil>M'c|i]cntly iiiarriod t<' Mr. .luliii 
(iriineA, a native of Koiitia-ky. aii>l coutiiiuc^ on 
till- olil honifstcail in ('linU>n County, .Mo. 

.losepli ami .Sjirali Ik-st were the imrenUs of three 
i-liildren, namely: Launt, who wa.s lH>rn in Au<;u«t, 
1H59, anil is now the wife of M. .M. .Miller, and 
living in Clay County, .Mo.; Alhert F., of our 
>kel<'h, and .lo-^eiih II., who w:ls Itorn .Ian. 17, I8G3, 
and i.>< now livin<;in thi.s town.>>lii|i. Of the second 
marriage of the mother of our .suhjeel there were 
born two children: Fanny, in September, 1809, and 
Kdwin, in April, INT3. 

Young IJest completed his education in the 
schools of Clinton County, Mo., and engag'ed in 
farming there until l.'<iS.'i, in which year be came tu 
this county and purchased the land which he now 
own.* and occupies. 'I'hree yeai-s later, on the 3d 
day of March, 1H8C, he was united in marriage with 
.Mi.-«s Lida Norton, daughter of C. A. and Klmira 
(Holmes) Norton, a sketch of whom will be found 
elsewhere in this vtdume. The young people have 
commenced life under favorable auspices, and have 
a large circle of friends ami well-wishers. They 
are both members in good standing of the Baptist 
Church, and Mr. Hest, (tolitically, atliliates with the 
Democnitic |»arty. 



JO.SKPII il. KYLK ("line l<> the -uuthwestern 
part of thi> county in I M84, arriving here on 
the "id of July, and commenced work in the 
' hiirvcst-field for I'cter Smith, in Aflon Town- 
ship. After satisfying himself that this was a highly 
"lesirable region of country, he purchaseil the south- 
west quarter of section II, of that township, and 
luw* since occupied himself its .-i farmer and stock- 
raiser. He is a man of great energy and persever- 
ance, and ha.H effected man}' improvements upon 
hi> farm since taking |)o^->cfision. He was at once 
recognized as a valued addition to the community, 
a man |K»s»e»sing excellent judgment, antl giving his 
sup|Mirt and en<'ouragement to those enterprises 
calculated for the general welfare. 

The subject of this history is a .son of one of the 
pioneers of I'eoria County, III., and wil* born there 
on the M of .March, Im.'.T. Hi.-, father, William 
vie. W1L1 a native of Iri'land, and after criis.-,iug 



the Atlantic scttlid in Ohio, and wa.« married to 
.Mi-v- Fleanor .Mclntyre. The mother was a native 
of I'eunsylvania, and also of Irish ancestry. There 
were born to them eight children, namely: l{ol>ert 
John, William lieorge, James Calvin, Thomas 
Franklin, .loscpb Herbert, Matthew All>ert, Mary 
KIcanor and Charles Itrinton. 

Robert John married Miss Ella H. Hudd, and 
they have four children ; they reside on the home 
farm in I'eoria County, III. William (Jeorge 
married .Mis.s Catherine Dcdo, and is farming in 
Fulton County, III.; he is the father of one child, 
and his wife <Iied Jan. 15, 1887. James Calvin 
married Miss Mary Reach, and they have two 
children; Thonias Franklin is married, and the 
father of one child; Joseph II. is our subject; Mat- 
thew A. is single and lives in I'eoria County, III.; 
Mary Kleanor lives with her'elilest brother, Uol>ert 
John; Charles Brinlon died when a lad eight years 
of age, March 8, 187i. William Kyle met his death 
accidentally near the stockyards at I'eoria. on the 
•Jd of July, 1881, being run over by a train of cars, 
which severed his he:id anil left arm from his boily. 
The mother, who wjui reared in the rresbytcri.nn 
faith, ilied April I, 1881. 

Mr. Kyle assumed the responsibilities of life :it an 
early age, working out by the month and receiving 
a limited education. Ipon re.icliing manhood he 
was married, .March 8, 1886, to a I'eoria County 
lady. Miss Mary Forrester Johnston, who Wiis born 
in Allegheny, Pa., Aug. 11, 1801, and is the 
daughter cf John and Mary (Forrester) Johnsttiu, 
;dso natives of the Keystone State, whence they 
removed to Illinois when their daughter Mary was 
a young child. Her father's family included thir- 
teen children, namely : Robert A.; .lames M. died 
in infancy; ICllen G. married George Fickes; 
Thomas Lee married I>ena Winker; .John M., who 
died in early childhood; Mary. Mrs. Kyle; Archi- 
bald F., Margaret Jane, Alexander T., John I., 
Daisy K.. Kdna F. and William F. The three 
eldest are married and have families of their own; 
they continue in Illinois. Archibald is farming in 
Los Angeles County, Cal. The younger ones are 
at home with their parents. 

The only cliild of -Mr. and Mrs. Kyle, Charles 
llrinton by nume, «ils burn iJec. .H), 18M7. Tliry 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



315 



have started out in life with fair prospects and hosts 
of friends, who wisii them all the happiness which 
can reasonably fall to the lot of mortals. Mr K. is 
an Independent, politically, voting for the best man. 
Their homestead is pleasantly located, and pos- 
sesses that great boon in Southern Kansas, a sjjring 
of living water, from which the farm is amply sup- 
plied with moisture for the crops. 



ellRISTIAX PINCiEL, prominent among the 
stock-raising interests of Grant Township, is 
one of its most wealthy and energetic men, 
and from a humble beginning in life has accum- 
ulated a handsome property. He not only com- 
menced without means, but was obliged to battle 
■with the elements of a foreign soil and the customs 
of a strange country, as he is of German birth and 
parentage. He was born Oct. 24, 1842, and re- 
ceived his education and was reared to manhood in 
his native country. 

Our subject is the youngest child of David and 
Dora (Pingel) Pingel, who were the parents of five 
children, and spent their entire lives upon the soil 
of their native laud. David Pingel carried on farm- 
ing on a small scale, and was notable as an honest 
and industrious man, who provided comfortably 
for his fauiih', and is remembered by bis children 
with affection and respect. He died at the old 
homestead where he had lived and labored so many 
years. The wife and mother subsequently came to 
America and spent her last years in Hall Count}', 
Neb., where her death took place Nov. 17, 1887. 

Our subject, at the age of eighteen years, not 
being satisfied with his condition or his prospects, 
resolved to seek his fortune on the other side of the 
Atlantic. He bade adieu to the friends of his child- 
hood, not without regret, it is true, but with a hope 
of something lietter in the future. Repairing to 
the cit}- of Hamburg he set sail on the steamer 
"Globe," and after a pleasant voj'age of sixteen 
daj's, landed in New York City in the fall of I8G0. 
Thence he proceeded to the home of his brother in 
Kane County, 111., and was employed in that local- 1 
ity as a farm laborer for ten j'ears following. 

Our subject, with true German thrift and fore- 
thought, had saved a snug sum of money from his | 



•►Hh-^^ 



earnings, and in the fall of 1870 came to this county 
and homesteaded eight}' acres of land on section 
18, which is now included in his present farm. To 
this he added another eigiity acres indue time, and 
has brought the w^hole to a line state of cultivation. 
It is well stocked with blooded horses, high-grade 
Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Each 
j'ear has added S(jmething to the beauty and value 
of his propertj', and his upright course as a busi- 
ness man, together with his kindliness as a neighbor, 
has secured for him a large circle of friends among 
tlie peoph' of this section. He has fulfilled all the 
duties of a good citizen with one exception, that 
being that he is still a bachelor. 

Mr. Pingel :issisted in organizing several of the 
school districts in his township, and thoroughly 
believes in the education of the young, which is 
carried out so admirably in his native Empire. He 
acquainted himself with the English language after 
coming to this country, by studying nights after 
the labors of the day were over, and keeps himself 
well posted upon matters of genei-al interest to the 
intelligent American citizen. He cares very little 
about politics, but endorses Republican princii)les, 
and votes with that i)arty upon occasions of general 
elections. 

Mr. Pingel, before the building of the railroad 
from Emporia to Sedgwick, was engaged for a time 
in teaming, and manj' times has hunted buffalo over 
the Kansivs plains. He has watched with lively 
interest the growth and development of Sedgwick 
County, and has contributed largely to its reputa- 
tion as one of the most desirable farming districts 
in Southern Kansas. 

jHOMAS E. KELLER, Postmaster of Clear- 
water, was born Feb. 2'2, 1 844, a day of the 
month made memorable by the birth of the 
first President of the United States, and at the time 
this record was given to the biographers, had just 
celebrated his forty-fourth birthday. His birth 
took place in Brown Count}', 111., and his parents 
were Joshua and Gulielma (Bundy) Keller, both of 
whom were natives of North Carolina. Joshua 
Keller was born April 9, 17'J». Gulielma (Bundy) 
•► 



T 



•^-•-4^ 



316 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



Keller was born Ang. 31, 1804. Joshua Keller 
removed from liU native State to Illiitoiti in ls30, 
and continiiecl n resident there until liii^ death, which 
iH-curre«l on the .'Ust of .Inly, 1H7.'}. The mother 
is ^till livin;;. and makes her home with her 8<in 
Thomas K. The |):iU>rn:tl jy^rainlfathor of nur sub- 
ject, (ieorge Keller by name, served in the Revo- 
lutionary War. It is believed he was a native of 
(Icrnuiny, and after the British army had been 
ilriven home, ho settled in Nnrlh Carolina, where 
he s|N-nt the balance of his life. 

To .loshua and Culiolma Keller there were burn 
twelve children, six of whom are living, namely: 
Clementine A., widow of Thomas .McKinney, and 
now a resident of Xobr-aska; Henrietta E., the wife 
of .lames II. I'yle. of .lohnson County, this .State; 
VMtm L., widow of the late Moses Thom|>son, of 
Adams County, III.; Mar}' K., Mrs. Clark Orton, 
al>o of Adams Count}'; Lydia S., of Oakland, Cal., 
and Thomas K., of our sketch. Those deceased 
are — Catherine A., (Jabriella 1'., Mariah K., William 
II., Ctforge v. and .lohn U. The father was quite 
prominent in the affairs of Urown County. III., 
where he had settled in the i)ioneer da3'sand where he 
built up a cuniforUible homestead from a tract of 
wild l.ind. 

The subject of this sketch received a common- 
school education and continued in his native State 
until near the close of the late war. In February, 
I HC.5, he enlisted in Company H. 14th Illinois In- 
fantry', with which he served eight months, doing 
dut}' with his comnides mostly in North Carolina 
an<l Virginia. With his regiment he followed the 
rel)cl (leneral, .loe .lohnston, from MooreheafI City 
Into North Carolina until he surrendereil, although 
our subject ilid not get near enough to jiarticipate 
in the actual capture. After the surrender the 
I'nion troo|>s turned their faces homeward, niarch- 
ini^ up through the CaroliniLs to W.-Lshington, where 
they filed jiast the I'rcsidenl in grand review and 
were stion thereafter di.-<banded. 

Mr. Keller now returned lo his old haunts in 
Illinois and began to prcpan? himself for the duties 
of the future. lie wiis nuirried, iJec. 29, 18(58, 
to Miss Klixabeth Ausnuis, daughter of I'etcr Aus- 
muA, of Adams Count}', III. Of this union there 
was born one iliild. .Mr-. Keller died Ang. Id, 



18G9, and the child, which was unnamed, died two 
days later. On the '.".tth of DeeemlKT. 1 H70. he «n> 
united in marriage with Miss Kllcn Coo|ier, who was 
born in I'ike County. III., .lune I 'J, lHr,->. Mrs. 
Keller is the daughter of William and Eliza (Harris) 
CiK»|)er, who were natives of Kentucky and t»hio 
respectively, and are now residents of this county. 
She came with her parents to Kansas in I^Tti. Their 
houscholil included ten children, six of whom are liv- 
ing, namely : Kllcn, Mre. K. ; John ; Mary, the wife of 
John Webb, of Ohio Township; Lixzie, a resident 
of Sleveus County, this State, where also are liK-atcd 
their lirothers, Frank and Thompson. The latter is 
the youngest living. Those deceased are — William, 
Archie. Florence and Willis. 

The five children of our subject and his wife 
were born !is follows: William E.. Sept. 18, 1871; 
Ora E., March 4. IK73; Mary E., Sept. 12, 1877; 
Jessie E., Feb. 2, 1880. and Frank E., June 28, 
1882. Mr. Keller is the owner of a good farm of 
eighty acres in Ninnescah Township, and |>oliti- 
cally, a stanch adherent of the Democratic party. 
Socially, he belongs to .McCiovney Post No. 35C, G. 
A. R., at Clearwater, and, with his excellent wife, is a 
member in good sUmding of the Christian Church. 
I He is numbered among the public-spirited men of 
I Sedgwick Comity, and no one is more interested in its 
development and progress. 

IMKON /..\KIN(;. Among the young and 
enterprising farmers of Valley Center Town- 
ship, there is jirobably none more energetic 
or thorough-going than the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. He came to .Sedgwick 
C<»unty in the spring of 1880, from Indiana, and 
settling near where he now resides on section 26, 
hiLs given his attention to genend farming and stock- 
raising, with excellent pecuniary results. He has 
made most of the improvements on his place since 
coming here, and has as flne a location as any in the 
township, and as soon as the further prtijected im- 
provements are complet^'d, the proia-rty will not be 
surpassed by any in the county. 

.Mr. /.aring is a native of (.'linton County, Ind., 
ami was born .lul}' 17, I h,',6. Of his parents. Eli 



■•^BM* 



i^ 



4- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



319 '' 



and Catharine (Fry) Zaring, a history will be found 
elsewhere in the pages of this Ai.ium. Our subject 
was reared in his native State and drew his educa- 
tion from that then fountain-head of knowledge, 
the district schools. Having been early initiated 
into the labors attend.ant upon farm life, he soon 
acquired a proficiency in that art, and to-day is 
ranked .imoug the best agriculturists of the com- 
munit}'. On attaining his majority he commenced 
farming in Clinton County on his own account, and 
h:is followed that vocation ever since. Knowing 
that success almost invariably waits upon the indus- 
trious man. the secret of Mr. Zaring's success is no 
matter of .astonishment to an observant on-looker. 
lie remained at home until 1880, and then branched 
out for himself. 

Appreciating the fact that man should not dwell 
alone, on the 23d of Februarj', 1887, Mr. Zarlng 
took to himself a helpmeet in the person of Miss 
Helen Blin, also a native of Indiana, botli of whose 
parents are residents of this county and wiiose his- 
tory will appear elsewhere in this volume. 

Politically, our subject is a stanch adherent of 
the doctrines formulated by the Republican partj', 
finding in that organization what to him seem the 
principles most calculated to perpetuate our form 
of popular government. He is one of the prominent 
and representative men of Vallej' Center Township 
and Sedgwick County, and is looked up to and 
esteemed by the entire (;ommunity. The view of 
the Zaring homestead found on another page not 
only aids in the embellishment of this Album, but 
presents a striking illustration of the admirable 
manner in which the proprietor has employed his 
time. 



ELI ZARING, a prominent and influential 
farmer of ^'alley Center Township, is located 
on section 5. He is giving considerable at- 
tention to stock-raising, feeling convinced that in 
that direction lies the future prosperity of the 
C(ninty, and the road to wealth for all its agricult- 
ural population, and as a keen and shrewd business 



HI-<^ 



man he has few peers in the township. He is a 
native of Warren County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 
6, 1826. 

Our subject is the son of Peter and Lucy (Arman- 
trout) Zaring. His father was reared a farmer and 
followed that business nearly all his life. He had 
remained witli his father, his mother having died 
when he was quite small, until the former died. 
Peter Zaring's parents had removed from Peimsj 1- 
vania to Ohio when he was about sixteen 3'ears of 
age, and in 1857, after having lived some time upon 
the old homestead in the Buckeye State, and which 
he had inherited, he sold it and removed to Indiana, 
where he remained until his deatli in 1863. He 
was considered a most excellent farmer in his day, 
and paid considerable attention to the raising of 
fine graded stock. He was the father of two chil- 
dren; Eli, the subject of this sketch, and Mary, 
who married Jonas Fr}^ and is living in Hodgeman 
Countj', this State. 

Eli Zaring remained at home until he was twenty - 
three years of .ige, spending his time during the 
summers in assisting in the farm work, and the win- 
ters in attending the district schools. He received 
in this manner a most excellent education, which he 
has supplemented since bj' an extended course of 
reading, so that he is well posted on all general top- 
ics. After having arrived at years of maturity, 
he commenced working for himself on a part of his 
father's homestead, where he remained until his 
marriage. That important event in his life took 
place April 18, 1850, at which time he led to the 
alt.ar Miss Catherine Fr}', a daughter of Christian 
and Elizabeth (Plin) Fry, of Warren County', Ohio. 
The father died hi the Buckeye State about 1849, 
and the mother in Indiana in 1876. Both were 
members of the United Brethren Church, and good 
Christian people. Mrs. Zaring was next to the 
youngest of a family of six children, tliree boys and 
three girls. 

On the 1st of November following his marriage, 
the subject of our sketch removed with his wife 
to Indiana, where he m.ade his home until 1881. 
In the latter year, for the betterment of his fortune, 
he emigrated to Kans:is .and settled in Ilarve}' 
County, where he remained for about twelve months, 
after which he came to this county and purchased 
•► 






••-4- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 



ii,M :i. rr- ni mui'I on sectinn >, wliicli wns |iarliiill.V 
iiii|>rtive<l. lie nt unci- cuninionccil |iiittiiig it on- 
tirc-lv under ciiltivtitioii nml ■■iirryiii<; out the pliiuri 
r<ir building wliicli he liiicl cniu-elvcd. lii.s ^on 
Simeon a».si»te<l liiin in wurkiug llii> plin'e until the 
yenr 11S«7, since whicii time he li:i.s rented it, and is 
living imrtially retired from the active eiires of 
life. 

Since coming here Mr. Znring liiui held several of 
the tuwnship olllces, as he did also in Clinton 
Count}', Ind. In that county he was considered 
one of the most substantial and reliable citizens, 
enjoying the esteem of everybody in the cunuiiun- 
ity, and since coming here has grown likewise into 
the confidence and regard of all in his neighborhood. 
He Utis held the position of Road Commissioner for 
three successive years. 

The liresidc of Mr. and .Mrs. Zaring lias been 
gladdened by the advent of three children: I'elcr, 
who w!is born in January, ISa.'l, married Miss .Mag- 
gie i.ipp, and is living on a farm in \'allev Center; 
Nancy was born .Vpt. 13, 1H,')4, and is living at 
home; Simeon, whose birth occurred July 17, 1H.">(!, 
W!us married in 1H«7 to Miss Ella IJlin; Christian, 
whi>se n.'ital day was March 27, 18G0, raarriecl Miss 
Kmma Armantront; and Ottie, born .Inly "J'.l, 1808, 
is residing with his parents. They had one other 
cliild, Is!uic. who was born March 4, 18,"»H, and died 
in Clititon County. Ind., April 21, IH74. 

.Mr. Zaring is a thorough Kcpublican in his politi- 
cal views and adheres closely to party lines. at times 
of election. Uoth he and his estimable wife draw 
their religious consolation from the doctrines of the 
I'uited IJrethren Church, of which they are sincere 
and consistent members. Two of their children 
also hold membership inthesnme. Their homestead, 
finely tniced by the |>encil of our lithographic artist, 
will prt»ve an object of interest to their descend- 
.■mts for years to come. 



J[ A.MKS M. KlUltV, a thorough and skillful 
I fanner, and a business man of more than 
j orilinary capacity, is a repnnsentative of the 
'/ agricultural anil sttjck-raising interests of Sa- 
irm Township. There he is recogni/.ed as an 
iriipurtanl factor in preserving the rejiutation of 



the township as one oi the most rapidly growing 
sections of Sedgwick Ci>unly. 

The sidiject of our sketch, a native of Imliana, 
lirst o|)ened his eyes to the light in Vigo County on 
the 8lh of September, lK;i7,and was orphaned when 
a child live years of age by the denth of his |>ar- 
enls, John and Mary (Anderson) Kirby. The 
latter, it is believed, were natives of North Carolina, 
and had but three children, of whom but two are 
living — James M., of our sket^'h, and his brother, 
Francis ,M., of Douglas Count}', 111. 

James .M. Kirby was reared to manhood in his 
native SUite, and thrown upon his own resources 
at a tender age, having been deprived of the advan- 
tages usually accorded those who are permitted to 
s|>cn<l their chililhood and youth uutlcr the |iaren- 
tnl roof, lie made his home with John Isbell, of 
Vigo County, Ind., with whom he lived until reach- 
ing manhood, and whose niece he subsequently 
married. In lHo8 he made his way to Dougl.-is 
County, III., of which he continued a resident until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, an<) on the 3d 
of July, 18G1, enlisted as a Union soldier in Com- 
pany A, d.'>th Illinois Infantry. His regiment was 
assigned to the Department of Missouri, under 
the command of Cicns. Curtis and Siegel, with 
whom he fought at the battle of Pea Ridge and was 
seriously wounded in the lower limb.*, involving a 
conflncment of six weeks in the hospital at Hates- 
ville. 

Young Kirby, upon his recovery, wiis transferred 
with his regiment to the Department of the .Missis- 
sippi, and subsequently engaged in the siege of 
Corinth and the battles of I'erryville, Stone River, 
Tallaluima, Liberty tiap. Chickamaugn, L<K>kout 
Mountjiin and Mission Ridge. Later he marched 
with the army of tlcn. Sherman to Atlantn, and 
was under fire nearly every day during that memo- 
rable campaign, which lasted several weeks. Dur- 
ing this lime he met the enemy at Res.-ic4t, Kenne- 
saw Mountiiin and Pickett's Mills, and at the latter 
place suffered the loss of his brother William, who 
met his death on the battle-field. After varitms 
other minor engagements .'ind skirmishes, Mr. Kirby 
with his regiment was detailed for guard duly 
along the railroail in the Slntv of (ieorgia, to pro- 
tect the trains which were bringing troops and pro- 



-^^m -^ 



HI-4^ 



■•►41-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



321 '^ 



*t 



visions for the reinforcement of the army. About 
this time, tiie term of his enlistment expiring, he 
w.as sent with others of the eomm.ind to Springfield, 
111., where he received his honorable discharge on 
the 27th of September, 1864. 

After a faithful service of three years and three 
months, Mr. Kirby^ returned to his old haunts in 
Douglas County, 111., comforted with the reflection 
that although he had never been rewarded with any 
shoulder straps, he had done his duty as bravely 
and manfully' as many of those who had received a 
military title. The terrible scenes which he had 
witnessed during his conflict with the enemy, the 
wearisome marches and the tedious monotony of 
camp life, the hardships and privations, will live in 
his memory until he is no more numbered among 
the living. 

During the time of his absence in the South there 
had been a maiden of his native county who had 
watched the career of young Kii'by with intense 
solicitude, and who perhaps rejoiced more than any 
other in his safe return from the scene of conflict. 
To this lady, Miss Lucinda Isbell, he was married 
on the 5th of January', 1865, the wedding taking 
place at the home of the bride in Vigo County, Iiid. 
Mrs. Kirbj' was born in Vigo County, March 15, 
1842, and is the daughter of Henderson C. and 
Jane (Kdna) Isbell, the father a native of Ken- 
tucky, and the mother of North Carolina. Mr. Is- 
bell was twice married, and Mrs. Kirby was the 
daughter of the first wife. Mr. I. removed from 
Kentucky to Indiana during its pioneer days, and 
was the head of a household including eight chil- 
dren, of whom the following survive: Alice, the 
wife of C. R. Fritchard, of Montgomery County, 
Kan. ; Martha, Mrs. William Osborn, and .Josephine, 
of Vigo County, Ind.; and Lucinda, Mrs. Kirby. 

The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby are: 
Emma, born Oct. 9, 1865, and now the wife of E. 
P. Carson, of Salem Township; Melissa, born April 
12, 1868; and S.amuel, March 28, 1870. Af- 
ter marriage our subject and his wife settled in 
Douglas County, III., where they lived until the 
spring of 1876, then crossed the Mississippi and 
took up their abode in Salem Township, this 
county. Here Mr. Kirby now h:\s 240 acres of 
finely improved land, with a splendid residence, 



•ind other substantial out-buildings — in fact every- 
thing required for the success of the progressive 
modern agriculturist. When it is remembered that 
Mr. Kirby started out in life with no capital but 
his strong hands and resolute will, too much credit 
cannot be given him for the manner in which he 
has imjjroved his time and opportunities and wiiat 
he has .accomplished. 

It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Kirby is 
one of the most earnest adherents of the Repub- 
lican part3', and a member of the Grand Army of 
the Republic, belonging to Post No. 25, in the city 
of Wichita. He has served as the Director of his 
school district, and with his estimable wife, is a 
member in good standing of the M. E. Church at 
H.aysville, in which he h.as olliciated as Class- 
Le.ader and Steward, and is still serving in the lat- 
ter cap.acity. No man takes a deeper interest in 
the prosperity of his adopted county, and it is safe 
to say that few have c(jntributed in a larger degree 
to bring about this result. 



— ' -#>#- 

\w)OIIN D. PING EL was the second actual 
settler of (irant Township, coming to this 
county at a time when buffalo roamed in 
great numbers over the plains, and when his 
nearest neighbor was two miles away. He hauled 
the pine lumber for his house from Emporia, a dis- 
tance of 100 miles, and endured the common lot of 
the pioneer — its hardships, its struggles, its priva- 
tions — and is now enjoying the reward of persever- 
ing industry. The fine tract of land which he 
transformed from the wilderness into a productive 
farm, embraces an area of 200 acres, and is well 
stocked with high-grade Clydesdale horses, blooded 
Durham cattle and PoKand-China h(>gs. In the 
early d.ays he was engaged in freighting from Imu- 
poria to this point, and has engaged in inanj' an 
e.Kciting buffalo hunt, which he followed one winter 
for a living. 

Our subject first opened his eyes to the light 
within the confines of the German Empire, where he 
was born Sept. 4, 1835. Of the five children com- 
])rising the famil}' of David and Dorothy (Pingel) 
Piugel, John D. w.as the third, and the family 



•_ ^M ■^* 






-•► ■ -4« 



.12 i 



SEDGWICK COUNTV 



iraciMl it« niii-e.stry l>ai'k tliroiigli scvenil generntions 
wild lm<l Ix-en born nii<l reared in tliat rej^ion. 
David riii;:«'l, like hi.s forcfatliers, was mostly 
en<;a4;ed in a<^ricultiiral pursuits, and .s|icnl his entire 
lifi- on his native Moil, lii:4 death iK'ourrin<; in lHt3. 
The mother came U) America in 1H,<h. locating 
first in Illinois, and thence removing to Mali County, 
Nel)., where she |Kussed away in 1H87, at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-three years. 

Mr. I'ingel, of our sketch, cro!M>ed the Atlantic 
when a youth of eighteen years, setting sail from 
llanilmrg in the spring of l.s.');j. The voyage was 
made in a sailing-vessel which anchoretl in New 
York Harbor twenty -eight days after leaving Ham- 
burg. Young Pingel remained in the metropolis 
but a short time, and then made his way to Toledo, 
Ohio, where he worked on the railroad a year, and 
s|K,'nt the winter following chopping in the woods 
around Sheboygan, Wis. He passed his summers 
in Chicago engaged at mechanical labor. His first 
labors on a farm in this country were in the vicinity 
of KIgin, HI., where he also met and married Miss 
Axann Welch, the wedding taking place on the 
.'ith of .September, IH-OS. 

Mi-s. Pingel wt\s born in Tiog:i County, Pa., .Sept. 
30, l«12. and is the seventh child of Josiah and 
Julia Ann (Stowell) Welch, whose family included 
si.\ sons and five daughters. Her father w.as a 
native of Ohio and the mother of New York State. 
Her father served in the War of 1812, and after- 
ward settled in Pennsj'lvania, and moved in 1857 
to Kane County, III.; he died in 1859, at an 
advanced age, in Crofford C<junty, Wis. His wife 
is still living, and draws a jKinsion from the Govern- 
ment. 

.Mr. and Mr> Pingel, .-iftcr their marriage, settled 
on a farm in Kane County, 111., where our subject 
followed .'igricultiire until the outbreak of the Lite 
Rebellion. Then feeling it his fluty to join the 
army of volnnt<'ei-9 who were entering the mnks in 
behalf of the Union, he enlisted for three years in 
Ciinipany H, 3Glh Illinois Cavalry, being mustered 
into s«-rvice in August. ImOI, at Aurora. .Soon 
afterward the troo]>s left Camp llaminond, and the 
.'IGth Uegiment. with others, did gooil service in the 
battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perryville, Stone 
Kivcr, NiLnlivillc, Chickaniauga, Loukuut .Muuntnin 



and Mi.ssJDuary Ridge, our subject (mrticipating in 
each engagement and fortunately escaping Imth 
Wounds and capture. He aecom|mnied the army 
of (ien. Sherman as far a* Atlanta, and then, his 
term of .service having expired, received his honor- 
able discharge on the 2;id of September, 1MC4, an<l 
returned to his home and family in Illinoin. 

For tw(j or three years after retiring from the 
army, Mr. Pingel was engaged in <j]>eniting a hay- 
press at Klgiu, and then, in 1870. came to this State, 
and homestcadcd a quarter of section 18, in (Jrant 
Township. This was then an nncultivate<l prairie, 
and in the fall of the year he put up a house into 
which he removed with his family, and the spring 
following commenced in earnest the cultiv;ition of 
the soil. His labors were crowned with success, 
and he invested his stir])lus capitid in .idditional 
l:uid, all of which he has brought to a fine state of 
cultivation. The farm buildings are iieat and sub- 
stantial, and everything about the premises is 
crediUibIc to the taste and industry of the pro- 
prietor. 

Mr. Pingel takes an active int«M-cst in p<ilitical 
affairs, and uniformly votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket. He iissisted in organizing the districts 
of Gnint Township, and has been a Director in his 
own district for several years. .Socially, he belongs 
to Stephenson Post No. 255. G. A. R., at Sedg- 
wick City. Mr. and Mrs. P. have no children. 



EDWARD A. 1! 
anrl wealthy 
I ject of this 



HROWN. Among the inlluential 
citizens of Mulvane, the sub- 
sketi'h occupies an honorable 
position. He is senior member of the firm of 
Brown >t Campbell, dealers in grain, and the largest 
buyers and shippers v( stock in Sedgwick Count}-. 
He wius born in Ross County, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1H2'.*. 
His parents, Peter O. and Anna (Harvey) Brown, 
were of Knglish and German origin. In 18;$.'{ 
they became pioneers of Indiana, and in 1880 
the father died in his adopted Stjite, having m;ide 
his home there for over half a century, gaining .-ind 
retaining by his upright course through along and 
useful life, the respect of the pco|)le among whom 
he settled. He was twice murncii. His fii>l wifi>, 



■<^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



t 

-•►Hh-* 

323 ' ' 



a most estimable lady, rliod in 183;^. To them had 
been born six children — Edward A., Robert J., Le- 
vina, Margaret, James M. and Almander. Ilis 
second marriage was with Mrs. Matilda Jones; that 
most worthy woman departed this life in 1867. Of 
the last union five children were born — William, 
Alexander, Chancey, Harriet Ann and Siegel. 

The subject of our sketch was a small child when 
his parents took up their abode in Indiana. He 
grew to manhood in that State, and when quite 
j'oung launched himself into the busy world as a 
slock dealer, which business he has prosperously 
followed ever since. While a resident of Indiana 
he took an important part in local affars, and 
served eflieiently as Township Trustee. During 
the late Civil War, he with eleven others, anticipat- 
ing a draft, furnished substitutes, and he paid 
for his the sum of §1,500, his business being such 
at the time that he could not well leave it. 

The marriage of our subject to Miss R. B. Jen- 
nings, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Tatman) Jen- 
nings, all of Ohio, took place near LaFayette, Ind., 
March 29, 1850. To them were born six children, 
namely: Sarah Ann, Theodore Cicero, Laura H., 
Josie, Frank and Carrie. Sarah married, in 1873, 
George AV. Lawrence, a loan agent of Ottawa, Kan. ; 
Josie married, in 1885, Lake Davidson, who is in 
the real estate and loan business in Woodbury 
County, Iowa. Mrs. Brown died in July, 18G5, 
and in her death the Methodist Episcopal Church 
lost one of its most sincere members, and many 
mourned the loss of her who had ever been a de- 
voted wife, a kind mother, and a faithful friend. 
Mr. Brown's second marriage was to Miss Mollie 
Yarnall, daughter of Aaron and Drusilla (Campbell) 
Yarnall, natives of Ohio, June 5, 1866. She is an 
amiable woman, highly esteemed in social circles, 
and is a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. The childnin of this union are — 
Charles L., Edith, Bertha and May. 

In 187G Mr. Brown came to Kansas with his 
fami'y and made his home in Wichita until 1881, in 
the meantime activelj' engaged in his old occupa- 
tion of dealing in cattle. In the latter j'ear he 
removed to this place, where he has built a fine resi- 
dence, and has invested in several valuable lots of 
land. Since becoming a resident of Mulvane Mr. 



Brown has greatly added to its material prosperity, 
and has aided its growth in a most substantial 
manner. He and his able partner, Mr. Campbell, 
have established their immense gr.ain and stock 
business on a secure foundation, and it is counted 
one of the greatest enterprises in this part of the 
county. 

Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
in politics he alllliates with the Democratic party. 
He has a high reputation in business circles through- 
out Kansas as an intelligent man, with a quick, 
keen judgment, and a thorough grasp of his business 
in all its details. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members 
of the National Union, a secret insurance society. 

-^ #.^ ^ 



ENRY J. HAMPSON, a i)rominent farmer 
and stock-raiser, residing on section 15, in 
Grant Townshij), was born in Ross Count}', 
Ohio, April 8, 1 829. He is tlie second child 
in a famil30f eleven born to his parents, James and 
Christiana (Peppers) Hampsdn, natives of Pennsj'l- 
vania and Maryland respectively. James Ilampson 
was a farmer by occupation, and followed that 
vocation in Ohio until 1837, when he removed to 
Illinois and settled in Tazewell County. He was 
one of the pioneers of that i)ortion of the Prairie 
.State, and was prominently identified with its early 
history. Peacefully engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, he remained in that count}' until his death, 
which took place March 8, 1874, when he had 
reached the age of sixt\--five ye.ars. His widow sur- 
vived him until Feb. 28, 1887, when she too was 
called to her heavenly home, having lived five 
years more than the allcttcd threescore years and 
ten. 

The subject of this sketch was reared upon his 
father's farm, receiving his education in the district 
schools of Illinois, and was early initiated into the 
work attendant on agricultural pursuits, and assisted 
his father on the old homestead. He was united 
in marriage with Miss Nancy Haines, Oct. 14, 1850, 
in T;izewell Countj'. His wife is a native of Lick- 
ing County, Ohio, and was born Feb. 13, 1833. She 
is the 3'oungest of a family of three children, in the 
home of her parents, John and Nancy (Larramore) 



T^ 



•^:J^ 



f 



324 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



t 



^ 



llnincs. unlives of N'ir^-inin. After liis mnrringc 
otir snlijet't si-ttlcd on n fnrti) in Tazcwi'll C'ounlv. 
wluTv he rcninincd until Fchruiin', \h'i',, wlion, 
wiUi a view lt> improving lii?i fortunt-ji, lie cnnK' to 
KnnMiM nnil settled in (Imnt Townsliip, where he 
now lives. He i)iiri'lm>ed iMO acres of rnilrond 
Innit, which was then iikw prairie, and eoninienecd 
at onee its improvement, lie has liroiighl it all 
under a state of high cultivation, and il is all thor- 
oughly fence(! and well stocked with grailed Nor- 
man and I'en'heron horses, Durham cattle an<l 
I'oiand-China hogs. His house. Imriis and other 
Ituihiings arc neat, tasty and cumniodious, an<l the 
whole place manifests the prosperity of the owner. 
A Democrat, jKilitically, Mr. Ilainpson, although 
not very active in the interesLs of his party, has 
still helil the ollices of Road C)versecr and Clerk of 
the School IJiMird. His eslimahle wife is a c^msist^ 
ent men)lier of the Baptist Church, anil .-i true and 
sincere Christian woman. She is the mother of a 
family of ten children, eight of whom survive, as 
follows: .lohn C, who is mnrrietl and lives in Km- 
|x»ria, Kan.; .lames A., who lives with his wife on 
a farm near by; Gertrude; Clara B., Mrs. William 
.Smith, lives in the neighhorhood ; Christina; Min- 
nie, who is living in Kmporia; Henry Kdgar and 
Cora. The other two children died in infancy. 
.Mr. Ilampson's younger children are attending 
school, it being the intention of their father to give 
them all the facilities for acquiring a good educa- 
tion. 



OlIN K. HILL, an agriculturist of energy 
and ability, who is residing on section 34, 
N'alley Center Township, is a native of 
' Cooper C<»unly, Mo., born .luly H, 1K,'53, 
and is the son of I'leasant and Kda (<>ordon) Hill. 
His pareiiLs were natives of Kentucky, and both 
have passed the dark river, the boundary of the 
mystic land beyond the grave, the f.-itlier about 
1H80, anil the mother in 1S.57. They were the 
parents of nine chihiren, whose names were a.s fol- 
lows: Bird, Howard, Alexander S., Harrison, New- 
Ion, Maca, Amanda, Margaret an<l .lohn K. 

The subject of this n.'U'ration was reared in the 
cuunty of Ins birlli, and there drew the clcnicnts of 



his e<lucation from the common district schools. 
In the days of his youth ami younger manhofxl, 
while remaining under the |>)irent«l roof, he assisted 
his father in the labors of the fann. and grew up 
surrounded by all the holy influences of a mother's 
care. Having attained maturity, he looked alxiut 
him in search of a life com|ianion, and on the 1st 
of May. lH.5;t, was united in marriage with Miss 
.lunette Fniy, a native of Howard County, .Mo., 
who wa.s born .Inly I, 1><'M, and was the daughter 
of Charles anil Melinda Fray, who were farmers in 
that State, and were respected and honored citizens 
of the community' in which they lived. Mrs. Hill 
was the seventh in a family of eleven children born 
to her parents, who bore the following nariies: Ben- 
jamin, .Solomon, Thom.as, Leonard, Nelson, Robert, 
.lunette, Paulina, Maud, .Mary and Melvina. But 
three of this family are now living, the balance 
having passed aw.ay. 

After his marriage Mr. Hill assumed the duties 
and responsibilities of farm life on his own account, 
and remained in the county of his birth until 1887, 
when he started for Kansas. He was in sean-h of 
a place less confined than Missouri, where his 
efforts to secure a comiK?tenc)' could be cirried out 
on a more extensive scale, and accomplished with 
less ex|X'nditure of physical and mental force. (In 
the 26th of February, that year, he came to .Sedg- 
wick County, and located on the farm on section 
.'J4 where he at present resides. He now owns a 
place which embraces 160 acres of excellent land, 
which, with his experience, and industrious and 
energetic toil, he has brought to a condition of 
excellent culture, and which he h.-is handsomel}' and 
subst.'intially improved. He is engaged in general 
fanning and stock-raising, and luis met with excel- 
lent success in his chosen calling, and is to-day one 
of the prosperous anil well-to-do agriculturists of 
tin- township. 

Mr. and .Mrs. Hill are the imrents of .seven chil- 
dren, three girls and four boys — .lohn. .lames, Rob- 
ert. Benjamin Franklin, Arzelia, Ella Belle and Ida 
Virtoria. .lohn is married, and lives in Saline 
County, Mo. : .lames and his wife arc residents of 
Kansas City; Arzelia was a student of the higher 
branches of study at the Lincoln I'niversity at 
.Icrt'erson City. William, a pruinisingynung man. 



I 



■^•- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



325 



a graduate of Lincoln University', rlied on the Htli 
of June, 1887, shortly after coming home. Mclimia, 
their little daughter, died in childhood. 

Mr. Hill is a stanch adherent to the principles of 
the Itepnblican partj' in his politics, and supports 
the candidate offered bj' that organization upon all 
occasions. He is a great believer in the purity of 
the ballot box, and uses his influence, which is not 
small, for the i)urification of ])olitics. He and his 
family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and .ire respected and esteemed Christian 
people of the community. 

ENRY GLESSNER. The One farm which 
occupies the southeast quarter of section 20, 
in Park Township, invariablj' attracts the 
aye of the passing traveler ;is being under 
the supervision of a thorough and skillful agricult- 
urist, and a man otherwise of good business quali- 
fications. The residence of our subject in this 
county dates from the spring of 1872, when he re- 
moved from the Hawkej-e State to tr^' his fortunes 
upon the soil of Southern Kansas. 

Like many of the intelligent men around him, 
Mr. Glessner is a native of Ohio, his birth taking 
pl.ace in Columbiana County, Jan. 22, 1841. He is 
the only child of Henry and Nancy (Culbertson) 
Glessner, the former of whom died in Ohio when 
Ilenrj' was an infant. Our subject and his mother 
continued there until the former was a lad nine 
years of age, and thence removed to Van Buren 
County, Iowa. The mother in the meantime had 
contracted a second marriage, with Patrick Sloan, 
who died in Monroe County, Iowa, about 18G8. 
After the death of her second husband Mrs. .Sloan 
came to this countj', and now makes her home with | 
her son Ilenrj'. Of her later marriage there were ■ 
born six children, five living, namely: Thomas, ! 
Kate, P^lizabeth, Nancy L. and Mary, who are resi- 
dents m(>stly of Iowa. 

Young Glessner completed his education in the i 
common schools of Van Buren County-, Iowa, and 
commenced for himself at the age of fifteen years as 
clerk in a general store. He remained with his first 
emplo3-er over four years, and with the second, at ' 



Bentonsport, Iowa, over fiveyears. In ISG.'i.when 
twenty-two years old. he was first married, January 1 , 
to Miss Margaret E., daughter of Milliam and Re- 
becca Becker, who became the mother of five chil- 
dren — William B., Emma, Walter W., Otto and E. 
.M. Stanton, the two latter deceased — and departed 
this life at her home in Kansas, on the 8th of No- 
vember, 1879. In 1867 he removed to Wapello 
County, Iowa, and followed farming there until 
coming to Kansas, in 1871, since which time he has 
occupied his present homestead, and has given much 
attention to stock-growing, making a specialty of 
cattle and hogs. 

Our subject, on the 20th of IMay, 1 884, contracted 
a second marriage, with Miss Josephine E., daughter 
of John B. and Mary C. (Downing) Downing, who 
was born in Chester County, Pa., April 28, 1848. 
Her parents continued in PennsjMvania until the 
spring of 1877, then came to this county, where 
they were joined two years later bj' their daughter 
Josephine, who was their third child. Mr. Down- 
ing died in Illinois Township in 1878. The mother 
is still living and a resident of Harper County, this 
State. This union resulted in the birth of one 
child only, a son. Earl B., who died in infancy. 

Mr. Glessner is a decided Republican, and has 
served one term as Justice of the Peace. He has 
no aspirations for otlice, and discouraged any further 
attempt at an election thereto. He identified him- 
self with the Masonic fraternity in 1862, and in re- 
ligious belief is a Congregational ist. 



m&^m^^ 



RS. SMITH & HOIGLAND, dentists, of- 
1 fice. No. 1 1 3 Eiist Douglas avenue, Wichita. 
This is one of the strongest dental firms in 
Kansas, both of these gentlemen for ability, 
professional knowledge and skill, standing very high 
in their profession. Dr. David W. Smith, the senior 
member of the firm, is a worthy descendant of an 
old New York family who were among the early 
settlers of that State. His grandfather, the Rev 
Elijah Smith, was born in that State, and became a 



m 



r 







■«» 



4^ 



SKDGWICK COUNl V 



pii'iiiHT faniHT of niiiitlior. iiml Intor ••(•ttU'<l portion 
t>r till- snitic StAtc, and he wnsikNu ii ijiunccn-lergy- 
ntnn of the Itiiptiiit ilenoniinntion. Ah a soldier in 
the Hevulutiiinnry Wnr, he did pUlniit .service in 
.'Lvii.stin^ to free the Colonic.-' from British iloniiiiion. 
In his death, at the nge of sixty-seven, a valued citi- 
zen was lost to the cotnninnity. His liirth oeeurred 
in 17.'i<>, and his death t4iok place in 1S24. His 
wife lived to the ndvance<l a-je of ninety-three years; 
their union had lieen l>les*ed by the hirth of seven 
children. 

Chester .'smith, tln-ir son, the father of our sub- 
ject, was horn in New York State in IT'.U. lie wsis 
.•I farmer in Tompkins County, N. Y., and there 
married .Miss Amanda >f. Howe, daughter of Titus 
Howe, a farmer of llcrkinicr County, N. Y. Of 
their union ten children were born, namely: Mary 
A., (Jeorge W'., .lohn C, Henry, Harriet, Phiebe, 
Daniel H., I)a\ id W., .'^orena A. ami BemLs. Mr. 
.Smith lost his farm in Tomjiklns Coimty, through 
frauil of an agent, and then moved to Allegany 
County, in the s;ime Stjite, where he bought another. 
Mr. Smith was beloved and respected It^- all who 
knew him, for his marked integrity of character and 
honor, which w:ls shown by his carcfid example to 
bis children, and by the training in strict moral 
principles which they received at his hands, and of 
which they i-an feel justly ])roud. He wjisa devout 
member of the Baptist Church, and took n warm in- 
terest in all religious affairs, lieing, in fact, one of 
the pillars of the church, serving as Deacon for at 
le.'Lst fifty years. lie was a true patriot as well as a 
(bristjan, as is shown by his services as a .soldier in 
(be War of \n\->. The Ics.son of such n mor;il and 
upright life c:innot fail to give character to his 
family and riescendants, forming a precious inherit- 
ance. His useful iind hononilile life was brought 
to a close ill Norwalk, (Jliio. in l«7(j, at the jige of 
eighty-two years. Mrs. Smith roundeil out an ex- 
istence of eighty. two ye:iis, dying in Norwalk, (Jhio. 
She was also a devout member of the Baptist Chiinli, 
and died an earnest Christian, respecteil and es- 
teemed by all who knew her. 

Dr. Smith, of this sketch, was born in Tompkins 
( oiinty, N. Y., .Ian. 17, |h:1|. He received a good 
common-selujol education, and when a young man. 
Went lc> reside in Ohio, and duriiig tin- Uebcllioii 



wiLS oiu- of the men whom that State sent to the 
front in the service of the I'nited Stat»'s fiovern- 
nient. He enlisted in 1HG3 as a private in Com- 
pany A, lOlst Ohio Infantry, but was afterward 
promoted to the rank of Orderly Sergeant, and acted 
in IhatcniKicity in the battle of I'errysville. Ky. In 
Ihfi-I the Doctor began his dental career in Nor- 
walk, Huron Co., Ohio. He afterward practiced in 
Shelby, Ohio, and still later in Chicago, III., and 
subsequently oijened an ollk-e in .lackson, Mich. 
While a resident of that State he was one of the 
three deiitisLs who were instrumental in establishing 
the Chair <jf Dentistry in the State I'liiversitj- at 
Ann Arbor; he wius .-ilso Treasurer of the State 
Dentiil A.ssociation of Michigan, and was otherwise 
p.'-ominently identified with the leading members of 
his profession in that part of the country. 

In 1H77 Dr. Smith came to Wichita, o|>cned an 
oflice here, and very soon was in |x>sse.ssion of an 
excellent practice, his reputation forex|»erienceand 
skill having preceded him. In a few j'cars his busi- 
ness had so increased as to warrant his taking into 
partnership Dr. Hougland, a young and skillful 
dental surgeon, with a fine knowledge of his pro- 
fession. Dr. Smith is an imjMjrUint member of the 
Dental Association of Kansas, and ranks among the 
leading dentists of this State, who jealously giiaril 
the good name and character of their profession, 
who are advef.se to anything like charlatanism, and 
who, by their example, have raised the practice of 
dentistry in this .Slat* from a mere mechanical trade 
to the dignity of a profession. These gentlemen 
well deserve the thanks of their fellows for their per- 
sistent efforts in raising the standard of dental 
surgery, and for the professional etiquette that now 
prevails among the ablest dentists. 

The happy home circle of our subject embraces 
his wife, formerly Miss Kmily L. .Shane, daughter of 
I'eter C. Shane, of Bloomingville, Ohio, and two 
children — Artie M. and Ralph W. Both himself 
and his excellent wife are infiuential members of the 
Ba|)tist Church, and he has been Sunday-school 
.Superintendent for man)' yeai>, and also Deacon, 
which oHice he still holds, the mantle of his fore- 
fathers seeming to have fallen on him, for they 
have been strong Baptists for many generations and 
ollli crs in the church. In political o]iiiiioiis he is a 



i" 








W i'*"-'' 



Hl-^^ 



■•►-II 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



329 ' ^ 



stanch Kepublican. The Doctor is a man of sub- 
stantial means, and owns a goodly portion of real 
estate in WichiUi. 

Dr. Smith's able partner, Dr. U. S. Hougland, 
was born in Boonville, Ind., where his parents were 
residents, in 1803, and is the son of Andrew and 
Anna (Stinson) Hougland. He received a High 
School education in his native town, and at the 
early .age of sixteen began to study the profession 
of dentistry' there. He afterward went to Ev.ans- 
ville, Ind., and studied under Herman Wilde, a 
noted dentist of that city, remaining in his office 
until 1884. He then entered the dental depart- 
ment of the University of Maryland, and was grad- 
u.ated from that institution in 1885. He came to 
Wichita the same 3'ear, and entered into partner- 
ship with Dr. Smith. He has had excellent op- 
portunities for learning his profession, and has 
attained his present honorable position by his own 
unaided exertions, earning the means for pursuing 
his studies by his own labors. He is talented and 
skillful to a marked degree, and as he is a young 
man of correct habits and of an upright moral char- 
acter, an honoral)k' career lies before liim in his 
chosen calling. 



-f3- 



A A 






£S- 



jTSAAC COOLEY, deceased, was an extensive 
l{ farmer, owning a large farm in Sedgwick and 
i\ Butler Counties, and was a valued citizen of 
Kechi Township, with a pleasant home on section 
34. He was born in Indiana in 1805, and was the 
eldest of five children born to Thaddeus and Jane 
Cooley, natives of Ireland and Germany respect- 
ively. His father came to this country when quite 
a young man, and settled in Indiana in the verj' 
early days of its settlement, when it formed a 
part of the great Northwest Territory, before 
it became a separate Territory, and long before 
it was admitted into the Union as a State. There 
he toiled to clear a farm from the wilderness, that 
he might gain subsistence for his family and make 
a home for them. In that primitive pioneer dwell- 
ing of his parents our subject was reared to man- 
hood, sharing its trials and hardships, assisting in 



the farm labors, and gleaning an education in the 
rude log school-house. When he became a man he 
commenced farming for himself in his native State, 
and to assist him in making a home, he wooed and 
won Miss Frances Ally, to whom he was married 
in 1825. Only a few years of wedded life were 
granted to them, however, as she died leaving five 
children — Sarah, William Strange, John Wesley, 
David Carey and Isaac Newton. Sarah is now Mrs. 
All3% and lives in her native State; David and Isaac 
are both married and live in Kansas; William S 
and John W. are deceased. 

Our subject was a second time married, Miss 
Sarah Evans becoming his wife: after the birth of 
five children, she too passed awa}'. In 1859 our 
subject was again married, in his native State, he 
having previously become a resident of Illinois in 
1857. Caroline Lounsbury w.as the maiden name 
of his third wife, who w.is born in New York in 
1835, and was the third child in the family of six 
children born to Daniel and Phebe (Niffin) Louns- 
bury. Her paternal grandparents, Stephen and 
Sarah Lounsbury, and her maternal grandparents, 
Roger and Elizabeth (Bacon) Niffin, were all 
natives of New York. Her grandmother Niffin 
died at the extreme old age of ninety-five; she 
helped to scatter flowers after the battle of Bunker 
Hill; she and Roger Bacon were descendants of a 
common ancestor. 

While a resident of Indiana Mr. Cooley took an 
.active part in political and public matters, and was 
Deput}' Sheriff for some time. On the formation 
of the Republican party he became a prominent and 
trusted member of that organization. After mar- 
riage Mr. Cooley returned with his bride to his 
home in Areola, Douglas Co., Ill, and there they 
continued to live until their removal to Kansas. 
Mr. Cooley became very prosperous in his business, 
and as the years went bj* five cliildren were born to 
him and his wife in their pleasant home; their 
record is as follows: Phebe Jane, now Mrs. Miller, 
of Pratt Countj', Kan.; the second child died in 
infancy ; Charles died at the age of six months; 
Adaline and Etta Emma live with their mother. 

In 1870 our subject came with his family to 
Kansas and located in Wichita Township, where 
he bought 100 .acres of land, forty acres of which 






-^^ 



3.10 



•«»• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



were improved. I'rior t<> timl he lii»d liouj;lit 90(i 
iiiTfS i>f IhikI in Hiitlcr County, near AiiKiisUi, 
!i<. that lie <»wne.l in nil l.OCO acres of valunlile 
land, lie and his family made their homo on the 
farm near Wichita for some years, iniprovin;; the 
l>lace and Imildin;; a ;.'o<m1 house and ham; it is 
still in |>oss«^sion of the family. .Suhsequently Mr. 
C'ooley bought IdO acres of land on section ;I4, 
Kechi Township, moved onto it in 1«84, and made 
his home there the few remaining years of his 
life. <lyinp Feb. iH, Iftrtll, thus closing n long and 
u.xeful career. I lis record had been an honor- 
able one, and his memory will long be cherished 
by the many who had the pleasure of his friendship, 
for his sturdy worth, and for his ctiuntlcss act>i of 
benevolence and kindness. lie was an inthicntial 
man, and contributed liberally to all good enter- 
prises. He always manifested a great interest in 
his adopted township, and cheerfully aided all 
schemes for its advancement. Mrs. C'iK>ley con- 
tinues t4> rej^ide in the home where her hu-^band's 
la-sl days were s|)cnt. She is held in high respect 
as a good wom.-in and a true Christian. She is a 
Worthy member of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church. 
A portrait of Mr. Cooley graces an adjoining 
page. 

^1 A.MKS (). CRf )CKKH, whose portmil is given 
in this connection, was a citizen of Union 
Township, where, as a leader among men, 
i^W' his memory is held in reverence and honor. 
He was a resident here from 1877 until his death, 
.Inly .31, IKft.'i. During those years he was verj- 
intliientinl in public affairs, as by his strong force of 
i-hanictcr and undoubted integrity he early gained 
the confidence of the pe(i|)le, who sjiw in him a man 
whom they could trust ns a guiile and well fitted U> 
hold public olllcc. Accordingly, at the very first 
election lifter he became a citizen of Union Town- 
ship, he wa-s made Township TrenMircr. lie also 
held the olllce of TowiiMhip Trustee for some years. 
Ills death has left a vncaiK-y hard to be filled, .'lud 
WHS considered a severe blow to the miiterinl and 
iiioml interests of the township. 

.Mr. ('r<M-ker was born in Thelford, Oninge Co., 

Vt., .May IC, \H'/i). He there grew to manhood, 

-4» '■ 



imbibing the fresh air of his native hills and the 
rugged virtues that characterize the hanly New 
Knglander. He wa.s brcil on a farm, and was .accus- 
tomed t<> the labors of farm life from early youth. 
In early manhood he went to Illinoisand purchiLst-d 
land in (Jrundy Count}', and resided there some 
ye.urs, when he returned to his native State, and 
U)ok unto himself a wife in the |>erson of Miss 
Sarah M. Mason. .Slie was liorn in Woodstock, 
Conn., May 23, 1H25, and was a daughter of 
Leonard and Sally (Morse) Mason; the latter 
was first cousin to .Samuel F. B. .Morse, inventor 
of the electric telegraph. Leonard Mason wjus 
born in Connecticut, and there followed agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death. Feb. '23, 1825, 
le:iving five children, of whom Mrs. CrcK-kcr is the 
youngest and sole survivor. Mrs. Mason subsc- 

I quently married a second time, the name of her 
husband being Dennis Dewey, and they afterward 

! removed to Windsor County, Vt.. where Mr. Dewey 

I died in February, 18K7. Mrs. Dewey now lives with 
her d.nnghUT, Mrs. Crocker. She is now ninety 
years old. 

After marriage Mr. Crocker returned to Illinois 
with his youthful bride, and the}' began their mar- 
ried life on the prairies of Ln.Salle County, thus be- 
coming pioneers of that county. They continued 
to reside there for many yeai-s prosperously engaged 
in farming. During his long residence there Mr. 
Crocker w.is a conspicuous figure in public life, and 

i held several local ollice.s. In 1H77 Mr. Crocker, 
after siK-mling forty years of his life in La.Snlle 
County, witnessing and assisting in its development, 
broke up his home there, sold his Viiluable fjirm of 
120 acres, and came to Union Township with his 
family to establish a new home and form new ties, 
his son Henry having preceded him to this county 
a few years before. In the fertile valley of the 
Arkansjis Kiver Mr. Crocker soon became the pro- 
prietor of Ji fine farm of 20(1 acres, whose bro.'id 
fields yielded him rich harvests, and there his useful 
life was brought U> a close. He has left a shining 
record behind him of faithfulness tt> the many trusts 
iiniMised upon him in public and private life. He 
was an earnest Methodist in his religious belief, 
:ind in politics the Kepiibliean party had in him a 
stanch support«'r. Untohlmand his wife were born 



HI-4»- 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



331 ' M 



seven ehildren, namely : Ellen M., William H., John 
H., Ilerheil L., Chnilc.^0., N. Jane (deceased) and 
James D. 

Mrs. Crocker resides on the homestead, which 
comprises 200 acres, and is herself the owner of 
230 acres of land. She is endowed with much 
energy and caijability, and is quite equal to the 
management of her large interests. She is held in 
the highest respect in the neighborhood. 



HILIF OSMON. Prominent among the old 
pioneers of Lincoln Township mentioned 
in this work is the gentleman of whom this 
history is written. He is one of the lead- 
ing and influential farmers and stock-raisers of this 
portion of the count3% His home is situated on 
section 10, where he carries on his agricultural pur- 
suits, and where he has one of the finest farms in 
the township. He was born in Davis County, Ind., 
March o, 18;i2, and is the son of Jabez and Mar^' 
(Baker) Osmon, natives of Virginia and Ohio, 
respectivelj'. 

The father of our subject came from the Old 
Dominion to Indiana at an early day, and was one 
of the first settlers in Davis County. He cleared up 
a farm and followed agriculture in that State until 
his death, which occurred in 1849. He w.asa might}- 
hunter in his day, following that sport to a great 
extent in the early days of the Hoosier State, and 
killed a great many bears and other animals which 
infested that region. The mother of our subject, 
who was the daughter of William and Mary Baker, 
survived her husband until 1860, when siie de- 
parted to her rest at the age of eightj'-three years. 

The subject of this biographical notice was 
reared upon liis father's farm, educated in the dis- 
trict schools of his count}', and there grew to man's 
estate. After attaining his majority, he com- 
menced farming for himself in the vicinity of the 
old homestead. He was married in Davis County, 
Ind., in September, 1853, to Miss Sarilda Wright, 
who was born in Orange County, Ind., in 1837, and 
was the youngest of three children of Jonathan and 
Drusilla (Roberts) Wright, both natives of Ken- 
tucky. The paternal grandparents, Jonathan, Sr., 



and Mary Wright, were also natives of the Blue 
Grass State, and the former served as a soldier in 
the War of 1812. The maternal grandparents died 
many years ago. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Osmon set- 
tled on the farm of our subject in Davis County, 
Ind., where he labored uninterruptedly until the 
outbreak of the Rebellion. In February, 1862, 
Mr. Osmon enlisted for three years, or during the 
war, in Company I, 60th Indiana Infantry, and was 
mustered into service at Indianapolis. In the 
army he was mostly engaged as a teamster, and was 
wounded in the battle at Arkansas Post, having his 
shin split open by catching on a lock hook. He 
continued in the army until in March, 1865, when 
he was mustered out at Ft. Gaines, .ind received 
his final discharge at Indianapolis. 

Upon returning home, Mr. Osmon resumed farm- 
ing in Davis County, Ind., where he continued 
until the spring of 18C6, then coming to this State, 
located first in Jefferson County. In the spring of 
1871 he disposed of his interests in Jefferson 
County, and coming to Lincoln Township, home- 
steaded 160 acres, the improvements of which he 
carried on successfully, and was enabled to pur- 
chase eighty .acres additional. Besides a creditable 
set of farm buildings, he has a good orchard, and 
his farm is stocked with blooded Norman and 
Morgan horses, and good grades of cattle. The 
third year of his residence here a prairie fire de- 
stroyed his hay and corn. When building his 
house and barns he was obliged to haul lumber 
from Cottonwood Falls, a distance of seventy-eight 
miles. 

Mr. Osmon, in the pursuance of his agi'icultural 
interests, has had very little time to give to poli- 
tics, but at the general elections votes the .straight 
Republican ticket. He assisted in the organization 
of the school districts of his townsUip and has been 
Director for a number of years, also Road Super- 
visor. He and his excellent wife are membei-s of 
the Protestant Methodist Church at Furley, and 
Mr. Osmon belongs to the G. A. R. Post, at Wichita. 
The ten children born to our subject and his wife 
are recorded as follows: Nancy Jane died in 187C, 
when .an interesting young lady twenty-two years 
of age; James H. died in 1874, at the age of sev- 






■ -4^ 



-•^-•-^ 



.s|:i)(;\\i( K COUNTY. 



i\ 



I'liUa'ii yi-ars; Jnuulliiin ilivd in 18GG, wiu'ii f\x 
_\ I'lirs old ; Sjinili .1., Mrs. Thtuniw (Jrecn, live.* at 
Fiirlcy ; J4>!tluiii is nt home with hi.s imrcnU; Mnry, 
llif wife of Frank liiiilcy, lives near her fnther's 
homestead; Samuel eonlinue» with his |>arent>; 
An<lrew died when an infant of nine months, in 
ls7(i; Mnrllia 0]ibelia is nt home; Isaac died when 
fi;,'hteen months old, in the year 187C. William 
MeCaull. the sou of Mrs. Osmon, is married and 
the f.'ither of two ehihlren; lie makes his home at 
.Jefrer>oii, and i.- in the eni|iliiy of the l{i>ek Island 
liailroad. 

|{()F. [■. 1'. sni'LL, A. M., Principal of 
tile Wichita lliyh School, on Eni|)<iria ave- 
nue, came to the city in 1881. Here he 
continued to follow his profession, and 
now has three assistants. He is at the head of one 
of the best High Schools in the State of Kansas, 
an<l occupies an enviable position socially, and as 
n born and bred gentleman enjoys the esteem and 
Confidence of many friends. 

Our subject is n native of Switzerland County, 
Ind., and w.is born Oct. 30, IH.'ia. He is the sou 
of Rev. .Jacob and Lucinda (Cole) Shull, natives 
of Ohio, and of German descent. The father of 
our subject, who was the son of a farmer, was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, but being of a stu- 
dious disposition was educated for the ministry of 
the L'nited Brethren Church, to which he was or- 
dained in Switzerland County, Ind. There he 
labored until life's decline, but being fond of rural 
life took up his abode near l<>lvaston, Hancock 
Co., III., on a large farm of which he secured 
IMissession in 1807. The parenbil family included 
eleven children, of whom but six aie living, namely : 
Hebeeea, Mrs. Osborne; iMoiizo; Mary. .Mi's. Hall; 
Howard; I'lysses I', of our sketcli, and Krasmus. 
.Mrs. Lucinda .Shull de|>artei) this life at her home in 
Indiana, in 18.'iO. The father is still living, but 
retired from active labor. 

I )ur bubject, who is a student like his father, 
i-ompleted his education at Wcstfleld College, and 
commenced t4^-aching in a graded school at Anna])o- 



lis, Ind. From there twn years later he removed 
to Warren County, where he had charge of mathe- 
matics in Greenhill Seminary. His next |H>sition 
was Principid of the High .School in Westlield. 
Clark Co., III., and from there two years later he 
went to \'ermillion, Kdgjir County, where he also 
occupied the |>ost of l'rinci|ittl. and which plac<- he 
left in 1881 to take up his residence in Wichita. He 
received the degree of A. B. from his Alma .Ma- 
ter in 1879, and the degree of A. .M. three years 
later, in 1882. As a member and active worker in 
the .Stjite Teachers' Association, and as an instruc- 
tor in county Normal Institute's he has gained :in 
enviable reputation, which is ' not only local, but 
geneiiil throughout the State.'. 

While a resident of Annapolis Prof. Shull was 
married, .hine 22, 1880. to Miss Ktta, daughter of 
John and Mary (Fvenger) Connelly-, natives re- 
sj)ectively of Kentucky and Ohio, and the father a 
farmer by oceu|iation. .lohn Connelly was born in 
1812 and emigrated to Illinoi.-> in 18;iO, when a 
youth of eighteen years, with his father, .loel Con- 
nelly, who settled in Coles County during its pio- 
neer da^ys. The maternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, a minister of the United Brethren Church, 
was one of its pioneers in the counties of Coles, 
Kdgnr and Clark, and was largely instrumental in 
the building up of this church in that region. 

Mrs. Shull was born in Ilutton Townshij), Coles 
Co., III., Feb. 8, 1855. Of her marriage with our 
subject there have been born three children, of 
whom but one is living, the youngest, Helen C, 
who was born June 18, 188G. Prof. .Shull and 
his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, while our subject, politically, votes with 
the Republican |>arty. 

Our subject purch.-i.sed two lot* where he now 
lives, and put up his present dwelling the fii*st year 
of his residence in the city. He is also the owner 
of other property in the city, besides ICO acres of 
improved land in Sunnier County. 

.Mrs. .Shull, like her husband, is a pei-son of rare 
accoinplishnients and line education, which she ob- 
tained mo-'lly through her own efforts. She was 
i>nly fourteen years of age at the time of her 
father's death, but became a stuilent of Westlield 
College, paying her cx|>eiises by teaching during 



•► ■ -4»- 



4 



^. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



333 



vacations. After being graduated she taught six 
years in Illinois. She made the acquaintance of 
her husband while pursuing her studies in AYest- 
field College. 



(^^^IIO.MAS WILLIAMS. This prosperous and 
,//^ intelligent farmer, living on his homestead 
^\^^ on the southeast quarter of section 6, Eagle 
Township, came to Sedgwick County in 1870, and 
located on his present place, which he took up un- 
der the provisions of the homestead act. He has 
his land well improved, and has set out six or seven 
acres of trees, which add much to the scenic effect 
of the farm, besides being of great utiiitj'. Mr. Will- 
iams has devoted much of his time to the raising of 
cattle, keeping about 100 head, principally Durham 
stock, and his success in this line of business is am- 
plj- shown in his well-kept herd. He also raises 
manj' swine, preferring the Poland-China to any 
other breed. His cattle and swine, which he sells at 
home markets, are well known, and demand the best 
market price. He is also an excellent judge of 
horses, and is the possessor of some valuable ones, 
having one English draft horse, and some fine 
Clj'desdales. 

The subject of our sketch was born in the Azore 
Islands, Dec. 28, 1832, being a son of Joseph and 
Marj^ Ann Williams, natives of England, neither of 
whom are living. Mr. Wil'i.ams remained in his na- 
tive island home until seventeen years of age, when 
he came to the United States via Cape Horn, land- 
ing in San Francisco in 1849. He staid there for 
several years, emploj'ed as a blacksmith and in a 
foundry shop. Desiring to see more of this great 
country our subject went from California eastward 
to Ohio, where he located in Summit County, re- 
maining there about a year. AVhile there he be- 
came acquainted with Miss Marietta Jordan, to 
whom he was married Oct. 30, 1859. She was born 
in Ohio, Dec. 13, 1841, being a daughter of John 
Clemence and Mary (Cook) Jordan, natives of 
Virginia and Ireland, respectivel}'. The Jordan 
family are of French origin, Mrs. Williams' paternal 
grandfather having been a native of France, while 
his wife, whose maiden name was Jones, was born 



•►Hl-^*- 



in Wales. JIary Cook, Mrs. Williams' mother, was 
an infant when her parents emigrated to the United 
States, locating in Ohio, where they remained, Mr. 
Cook being engaged in mechanical labor. Mrs. 
Jordan died Dec. 19, 1859. a short time after the 
niarri.ige of her daughter to Mr. Williams, being 
then only thirty-eight years of age. She was an 
amiable. Christian woman, being a valued member 
of the Methodist Church. 

To her and her husband were born seven chil- 
dren, three daughters and four sons, two only of 
w^hom lived to maturity; the boys all died in in- 
fancy. Of the three daughters, Julia F., Lucy and 
Marietta, the two former died in earl}' life, Julia 
having attained womanhood ; Marietta became the 
wife of our subject. Mr. .Jordan is still living, hav- 
ing nearly rounded out the allotted threescore and 
ten years, being now sixt3--eight. He formerly at- 
tended the Wesleyan Church, but of late years has 
given it up. He learned the business of paper mak- 
ing when young, and continued its manufacture in 
Ohio until 18G6, when he disposed of his propertj' 
there, and moving to AVooster, Kosciusko Co., Ind., 
bought a sawmill which he man.aged for two j'ears. 
He then removed to Etna Green, in the same 
ccjunty, where he engaged in the manufacture of 
wagons, but subsequently sold out .and embarked in 
the mercantile business, combining with it the sale 
of drugs. Mr. Jordan married for his second wife, 
Miss Rebecca Bidleman, a native of Virginia, the 
ceremony being solemnized in Delaware County, 
Ohio. She died in 1872, leaving six children, all 
of whom are living. Mr. Jordan was again mar- 
ried in 1874, to Miss Catherine Aresman, who is 
now living, they being pleasantly situated in their 
Indiana home. Our subject and his wife have one 
child, George T., born Oct. 8, 1860, who lives at 
home. 

Our subject is classed among the pioneers of 
Sedgwick County. Coming here when it was in its 
infancy, he has ably performed his share in placing 
it among the most prosperous counties of this State. 
During these years his interests have centered in 
Eagle Township, of which he was one of the original 
settlers. He has watched its rapid development 
from a sparsely inhabited prairie to a prosperous 
townshij), with large and well cultivated farms, on 
•► 



T 



-4»- 



-I I 11 . w H K n )l \ I V 






which in the proiwi >..!-.. II. im:i> m m.m .xiliii-im 
fioMs of grain, fine orchnnls. IhtiIs of ■•attU-, slu»'|i, 
nn<l horses gra/.injj, auil plcjisant dwellings, whose 
exUTior surroundings denote thrift ami comfort, 
wliilc the intcrnni domestic economy and arninge- 
nients show the intelligence, culture and refinement 
of ihe owners. 

In politics our subject is a Uepublicnn. and a 
firm believer in the principles of his party. Mrs. 
Williams is an esteemed member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 

SA.Ml I:L II. IIOOVKU, of the real-esUUe 
firm of Hoover A- Kelley, No. .s-Ji Ivist 
Douglas avenue, is a pioneer of Wicliitji, 
cuming here (Id. IfJ, 1.SG9, when it wjus 
a mere tniding-|Kjst. Since that time he has been 
an important factor in aiding its wondi-rful growth, 
and has contributed libeiiilly to the various enter- 
prises that have made this city in a few short years 
a leading metropolis. Ilis fortune has grown with 
the city, and now he is numbered among the we.'dlh- 
icst and must substantial citizens of Sedgwick 
County. 

When Mr. Hoover came to Wichita he pre- 
empted the southwest quarter of sectiitn 22, town 
27, range I east; a j)art of the same he hius now in 
city lots. He built a cottonwood board house, IGx 
21, one story in height, and in that humble abode 
commenced life as a farmer in the sunny Arkansiis 
Valley, continuing to live in it until 1h,s2. The 
first year he broke fort}' acres of land and fenced 
sixty acres, Chisholm Creek forming a bound.-trv 
on one side, ami raised a gijod crop of wheat and 
c<jrn, selling the former for ^1.10 a bushel, and the 
latter for fifteen to twenty cents. In a few years 
he had all of Ilis land under plow, siirrouiided liy a 
fine hedge, and h.-ul a good apple and peach orchard. 
Jn 1HH2 his farm had greatly increased in value, 
owing doubtless, in part, to its nearness to the city, 
and he sold it for $8,000. He then bought 27:t 
acres on section 18, paying therefor ?,'»,. 'lOO. He 
made his home on it the three ensuing years, and 
thin sohl it fur *1I,8.')0, which well illustrates the 
wiiiiderful r:ij)ldity of the increif-e in the Miliic nf 



i:ii 1 :ni(i near tile <it_\. lie :ilU'rward bought 

on the West Side the northwest and the northeast 
cpiart^'rs of section 2.'l. and the north half of the 
southeast quarter of the snme section, amounting 
to 100 acres. He sohl 2 10 acres of that for ♦7(»,. 
000, and still retains the riMnainder, and hius set out 
a large apple orchard on eighty acres of it. He 
also bought five acres of land, which he has laid 
out in town lots, and disi>osed of at good prices. 
He owns five lots on Douglas avenue, on which he 
intends to build. He has a number of other 
vidiiable lots on .Mosely and Washington avenues, 
and his line residence is on the corner of Mosely 
avenue and Second street. 

.Mr. Hoover t<.iok part in the late Rebellion as a 
member of CVnupany K, '.)4th Illinois Infantry, 
serving three yeai-s and two days. For gallant 
conduct on the field he was given a Corporal's 
commission, holding that rank in the battles of 
I'rairietirove, \'an IJiiren, N'icksburg, Ft. Morg:in, 
Albany and Spanish Fort. He is now a proiuinenl 
meinber of the (i. A. U.. and is still as faithful a 
chainplon uf the Hepiiblican parly jus in the trying 
days of the liebellion. 

Our siilijeet has been three times married. The 
children of his first marriage are as follows: Will- 
iam C, Kdward, Maud and Mabel (twins), and 
Uirdie. He was niarricd to his present wife, for- 
merly MissKlla DeLong, of Wichita, in 1887. She 
presides gracefully over their attractive home, dis- 
l)enslng its hospitalities with a lavish hand. 



Il.mU A. IIL 1 1. One of the active, i)rom- 
^.. iiient and enterprising citizens of Salem 

'^s^ Towiishi|) is the gentleman whose name 
heads this sketch, who is at pre.seut engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits on section 21. He made his first 
appeanince u|)oii the sUige of life beneath the roof 
of his parents, .lohn and Leonora (Green) HiilT, in 
Allegany County, N. Y., March 12. 1852. 

The parents of our subject were both natives of 
the ICmpire State, their forefatliers being among the 
noble band of I'uritans who had settled on the bleak 
cojist of New l-jigland at an early day, and who, 
suiiie uf lliiia, at ,'in eailv date seltleil ill the wilder- 



-•►■ -4» 



•►Hh-*- 



SEDGWICK COUlSfTY. 



335 



4 



ness of Western New York. Wilbur was one of a 
family of eight children, horn to his parents as fol- 
lows: Edgar, a resident of Cattaraugus County, N. 
Y. ; Mary, the wife of Rev. F. K. Woods, of Buffalo, 
N. Y. ; Ada, wife of J. H. Blessing, of Salamanca, 
N. Y. ; Wilbur A., the subject of our sketch; Car- 
rie, who is living in Allegany County, N. Y. ; Orin, 
living in Cattaraugus County, in the same State; 
Bowman, a book-keeper in a wholesale establish- 
ment in Bo.-iton, Mass. ; and Nona, a resident of Buf- 
falo, N. Y. John Huff died in Cattaraugus County, 
N. Y., Dec. 19, 187(1, and the motherof our subject, 
who still survives, makes her residence in the county 
of Allegany, in the Empire .State. The father was 
an ardent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and for a number of j'ears filled the posi- 
tion of Deacon. He was engaged in the mercantile 
business, and for years was the Postmaster of Can- 
eadea, N. Y. He was for the long period of forty- 
two years Superintendent of Sunday-schools and 
Class- Leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at 
Caneadea, N. Y. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood 
in his native State, and while in his boyhood re- 
ceived the elements of a good education. He 
remained at home with his parents until his marriage, 
which happy event took place on the 28th of April, 
187 4. Upon that day he led to the altar Miss 
Mary Shotwell, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., 
who was born Nov. 28, 1851. She was a daughter 
of Rev. Samuel and Patience (Bloss) Shotwell, both 
of whom came of English ancestry. The Rev. 
Samuel Shotwell was a. native of .Saratoga County, 
N. Y., and was married to Miss Patience Bloss Aug. 
22, 1842, at her home in Annsville, Oneida Co., 
N. Y. By this union there were two children, a 
boy and a girl: Bloss .Shotwell, who married Miss 
.Sarah Lansing, and resides in Detroit, Mich., and 
Mary, the wife of our subject. When Mrs. Huff 
was but three years of age she was bereft by death 
of both parents, who died during the year 1854. 
From that time on until she had reached the age 
of womanhood and was married, she made her home 
with her uncle, John Sliotwell, of Herkimer County, 
N. Y., from whose house she moved to that of her 
husband. In the spring of 1874 the j'oung couple 
concluded to try their fortunes in the great and 

^ 



growing West, of which they heard such glowing 
accounts, and coming to Kansas and finding that 
half the truth had not been told them, settled in 
Sedgwick County, where they have ever since made 
their home. They located on a tract of unimproved 
prairie, but Mr. Huff by diligence, industry and 
su)^erior management, and assisted in all his enter- 
prises by his most estimable and devoted wife, has 
literally made for himself a farm of 120 acres of as 
good land as any in the township. His improve- 
ments upon the place are of a substantial character, 
and ever_vthing about it manifests the thrift and 
prosperity' of the owner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Huff have had their home briglit- 
ened b^' the advent of two children : Nona, who was 
born Jan. 28, 1881, and Ernest, Aug. 8, 1883. Mr. 
Huff affiliates with the Republican party in politics, 
but has no aspirations for office. His virtues, which 
are wholly of a domestic nature, cause him to pre- 
fer the quiet of his own fireside in preference to the 
acclamations of his fellow-citizens, or the onerous 
duties of political positions. Both he and his wife 
arc highly esteemed and respected members of the 
society which surrounds them, and enjoy the con- 
fidence and regard of all who know them. As an 
enterprising and progressive farmer, with ideas of 
his own, Mr. Huff has no superior in the southern 
part of Sedgwick County. 



■vi? N. STONE, Street Commissioner of Wichita, 
I is a representative citizen, the owner of con- 
^.^ I siderable real estate in the city, and stands 
(^1^' well in the community. He was born on a 
farm near Springfield, in .Sangamon County, 111., 
July 7, 1853, and acquired his education in the 
common schools. He spent his boyhood and youth 
after the manner of most farmers' sons, becoming 
familiar with plowing, sowing and reaping, and 
amid the quiet scenes of country life grew up with 
a healthy constitution and a clear brain. 

Our subject, in 1870, engaged in the agricultural 
implement business with his father in Wapella, De- 
Witt Co., 111., in which they were successful, and 
whore they continued together three j'cars. Then, 
desirous of crossing the Mississippi, our subject 



*► M-^ 



-4*- 



••► B^^a 



SKI )G WICK COUNTY. 



t 



' more embarked with his 

fiitlii-r ill liii<tiiu-.H!t, iiivi-nlin;; tliis tinio his cnpltnl in 
liviTV stock mill fpfil. Tlioy lliiis coiitiiiuril to- 
gether until in April. 188.'>, when our siihjeot wils 
elected to his present otllce. In the <lis<'harge of 
ill) duties he hns >;iven >{ener:il sati-ifnclion, lieiiij; a 
goo«l liusiness man of Mjund jiiduinent and correct 
principles. 

.lohn N. Stone, Aiij;. 17, lx"l, w.-ls united in 
niarri;ige with Miiw Fanny Sjiyrc, in the city of 
Hl<K)iiiington, 111., who Wiu- horn March 13, 1850, 
in Now .Ierscy,and i.s the dau^'htcr of .Icreiniah and 
Mary (Walker) Sayre. The young |x>opK' coiu- 
nicnced housekeeping together at Wichita, and their 
roof now shelters two bright children: Cosie, horn 
April .'in, lK7t;, and LcoU, Aug. 3, 1><71). Their 
pleiL-^mt home is located at No. 233 North Fourth 
avenue, and our subject and his wife enjoy the 
s«K'iety and friendship of the best jwople of their 
community. .Mr. Stone is a stanch Republican, 
politicall}', and in all respects has de|xjrtcd himself 
:l> an honest man and a g(jod citizen. 

The parent.s of our subject were James H. anil 
Elizabeth Stone, natives of Kcnluck}', and now 
residents of Wichita. The household circle in- 
cluded five children — I. v., J. N., Annie K., Lula 
and Laura B. 

., i..- ;<^ . ,J. . ^i-,.(S^^^ 

O.MKU STKIMIKN.SON is familiarly known 
to the people of Valley Center Township as 
the possessor of one of the fliicst homesteads 
within its limits, a view of which we take 
plea.sure in giving on the opposite page, lie is 
succcssfullj' C4irrying on farming and stock-raising, 
keeping from eighty to 100 lieail of Short-horn cat- 
tle, a stable of valuabh' Clydesdale luirses. and 
feeding annimlly fioni fifty to sixty head of Herk- 
-hire swine. To the latter ho has given j>:irticular 
attention, and li.-is been in the habit of carrying off 
the liliie rililions at the comity fairs. For the care 
and accommodation of these and the raising of grain 
and hay, he o|»cral«'s 320 acres of choice land, which 
is valueil at ♦7.'» [K-r acre 

The Hubjecl of this sketch wiu born in Truinbiill 
County, Ohio, March 27, 1«44. His parents, De- 
catur an<l I'liebi' M. (Webb) .Stephenson, were 
natives rcsjM;clively of .New York and Cuiincclicut. 



TIloy were married .Inn. 9. 1840. In 1881 they 
crossed the Mississippi, becoming residents of Val- 
ley Cent4>r Township, where the death of the father 
took place in that year, when he was sixty-two 
years olil. The mother is still living, making her 
home with her son, tiur subject, and is now sixty -three 
years old. Decatur Stephenson was a man of ex- 
cellent business capaciti(>s, enterprising and indus- 
trious, a man of decideil views and opinions, and a 
sUinch adherent of the Democratic party. 

The parental family of oursubjwt includeil llin-e 
sons and one daughter, of whom Homer is the 
sole survivor. Delos, the flrst born son, died when 
about two years old; Adelaide al.so died in early 
childhood, when two and one-half yeai'S of age; 
Decatur, a bright and promising young man. was 
stricken down at the early age of twenty-four years, 
his death occurring in Stark County, t)liio, about 
1S75; he had been for some time a student at Mt. 
Union College, and was just about to enU-r the 
senior class, when he w!is seized with congestive 
chills, which terminated fatall)- by going to the bmin 
about two weeks after the first attack. 

The subject of our sketch was about seventeen 
j-eai-s of age upon the breaking out of the late 
Hebellion, and in 1862, there being no immediate 
prospect of its termination, enlisted in the 10."<th 
Ohio Infantry, and served until the close of the war, 
being mustered out in .lune, IHi'i,'). He met the 
enemy in man}* of the principal battles of that 
memorable conflict, and was present in the engage- 
ment at Perry ville, Ky., where it w:ts estimateil that 
the loss exceeded that of any regiment in the field 
and during which 2 10 men were cut down in five 
minutes' time. Subsequently he fought in the bat- 
tles of Chickamauga and .Missionary Kidge, and 
went all through the Atlanta camiiaign, joining in 
the famous march of Sherman to the sea. Ujion 
leaving the Southeast the troops went up through 
the Caroliiias to Richmond, Va,, from there to 
Washington City. This was one of the last impor- 
tant eiig.'igenienls of the w.'ir, and young Stephenson 
was mustered out at Washingttin City. His father, 
in 1^02, also entered the ranks, enlisting in the tith 
Ohio Cavalry, and wjis mustered out of service 
about the same time as his son. His regiment o|>cr- 
aled around Petersburg and Richmond. Mr. S. 



•^•-^ 



-it-M^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



3:59 



enlisted as a private, was promoted to Cori)oral, 
and frequently performed the duties of Captain 
of a company of picked men to rout the enemy in 
places where they could not well be approached by 
the regular troops. The Stephenson Post at Sedg- 
wick was named in honor of him. 

The subject of our sketch upon receiving his 
discharge from the army returned to his old home 
in Ohio, and entered upon a course of study in the 
Normal Institute at Ashtabula, where he remained 
two years, and then engaged as a teacher in the 
schools of Trumbull County. In 1869 he left his 
native State and took uj) his residence ten miles 
from Aurora, Kane Co., 111., where he remained 
twelve months, then crossed the Mississippi and 
determined to locate in this county. He purchased 
eighty acres of land in Valley Center Township, and 
for some time taught school in Sedgwick City and 
four winters in Valley Center Township. 

Mr. Stephenson was one of the first settlers in 
the northern part of this count3', his residence here 
dating from the 3d of July, 1870. After being 
released from his last winter of school teaching, he 
commenced in earnest the improvement and culti- 
vation of his land, and at the time of his marriage 
was enabled to invite his bride to a home of which 
any man might well be proud. Taking into account 
the fact that the country was in the first stages of 
its settlement, the home of which Mr. and Mrs. 
Stephenson took possession was all that could re:ison- 
ably be desired. The wife of our subject was in 
her girlhood Jliss Dora Morgan, and the}' were 
wedded on the 18th of May, 1876, at the home of 
the bride in \'allcy Center Township. Mrs. Stephen- 
son was born in Shelby Count}', Ohio, Aug. 27, 
1857, and is the daughter of Montfortand Rebecca 
(Mulford) Morgan, who were of New England birth 
and parentage. The father followed farming all 
his life, and with his estimable wife spent his last 
years in this county, where he died at a good old 
age, the mother having died in Ohio. The family 
consisted of three sons and three (laughters, namel}' : 
Milton, ll^'mcneus, Elbert, Rebecca. Marilla and 
Dora. Of these all are living, and residents raostl}' 
of Kansas. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are also the parents of 
si.\ children, one of whom, the second born, died in 



1 880, when about one year old. The others are 
named respectively: Stella, Decatur (named after 
his grandfather), Laura, Bruce and one unnamed. 
Mr. Stephenson gives his attention principally to 
his farming interests, but when called upon to per- 
form the duties of an American citizen at the polls, 
votes with the Republicans. He is a member of 
the G. A. R., belonging to Stephenson Post, at 
Sedgwick Cit}'. 



■ ^^N^S-* — •»*^'< 



->fe i-O^E-^* 



UILLIAM LITTLE, a well-to-do farmer of 
Valley Center Township, established him- 
'J^ self on a good farm of 1 (>[) acres on sec- 
tion 30, in 1880. His first lessons in agriculture 
were acquired upon the soil of the Buckej'e State, 
where he first opened his eyes to the light on the 
17th of June, 1830, in Guernsey County, where his 
honored father still lives, and has now reached the 
advanced age of ninetj' years. The mother died 
in Ohio in 1873. 

Francis Little, the father of our subject, was a 
native of County Antrim, Ireland, whence he emi- 
grated early in life, about 1817. He was a stone- 
cutter by trade, which he followed for a period of 
twenty -seven years, and in the meantime also suc- 
ceeded in accumulating a fine property in the 
Buckej'e State, consisting of a good farm, on which 
he operated extensively, and largel}' devoted him- 
self to cattle-raising. He retired from active labor 
in 1860, but is still hale and hearty and able to 
superintend his business affairs. He took an active 
interest in townshij) affairs, and from the first 
voted the straight Republican ticket. 

Francis Little was married in Guernse}' County, 
Ohio, to Miss Rebecca McDonald, a native of that 
State, and thej' became the parents of eight chil- 
dren, three sons and five daughters: Mary, the 
eldest sister of our subject, became the wife of 
Robert Gl:iss, who came to this county in 1882, and 
is carrying on farming in Union Township; Isa- 
bella, Mrs. Thomas G. Foster, is living on a farm 
with her husband in West Virginia: Martha Jane, 
the wife of M. L. Kennedy, is a resident of Ohio, 
where her husband carries on farming; Rebecca, 



1 



■<• 



340 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



now Mrs. .I.'iiiio >iiiiili. IS !i|vi iiviii;; in (iiiernsc^' 
( oiiiity, to^L-tlier with Jiilmiiiiii, who i.s innrricit to 
'I'liciKU)re F. Itmiiin^er, a fnr|K'nlt'r l>y lni<k', niul 
!iNi I carrying 1 in farinin;;; William, of mir sketch, 
waji thi- eldest of the family; (M-or-re niarriol Miss 
N:incy Orr, and .lohii married Miss Mary Cniver; 
Imth are farming in (iuernsey County. 

Our snliject conlinned under the parental roof 
until twenty-four years of age, nc({uiring liis educa- 
tion in the district seliool and as.si,stini; his father in 
sowing and rcnping. His first venture upon his 
own aei'onnl wa.s on a farm near the old homestead in 
( Iuernsey County, which he rented three years, and 
then purchiused 120 acres in that locality. lie was 
successful in his labors of tilling the soil, and con- 
tinued there until the spring of 1880, when he re- 
solved upon a change of location, and crossed the 
Mississippi into Southern Kansiis. In addition to 
general farming he is giving es|X!cial attention to the 
raising of swiiu-, feeding annually from fifty to 140 
head, dealing mostly in I'oland-Chinas. 

Mr. Little, while a resident of his native .State, 
and when nliout twenty. three years of age, was 
married, Oct. ."Jl, 1853, to a lady of his own county, 
Miss Mary Lanning, who was horn .July 1, 18.30, 
and is the tlaughter of Isaac and Lydia Lanning, 
who were natives of New .lersey anil Pennsylvania, 
and among the earliest settlers of Guernsey County. 
Ihey are now i)oth deceased, the father dying in 
1 8iir>, ami the mother in 1882. Their family con- 
sisted of six sons and two dauglitei's, namely : Rob- 
ert, .lerry, /aven, Oakley, John, George, Mary and 
.Martha. The latter, now deceased, wjis the wife of 
Uavid Fisher, and the mother of three sons — Isaac, 
.I.'icob and Perry, who are all farming in Guernsey 
County, Ohio. .Mrs. Fisher died in 18HL 

To .Mr. and Mrs. Little there have been born 
eight children, three sons and live daughters. The 
eldest .son, Oakley, married Miss KIdora While, of 
Oskaloosa, Iowa, and located in the latter place, 
where his wife died on the 2;)il <if October, 1887; 
she wits the mother of one daughlt^^r, Mary Helle, n 
bright little girl now two years of age. Melissa is 
the wife of .lohn Lanuiiig, who is farming in Ten- 
nessee; Alice married .Melvin Stofer, a well-to-do 
f.iruH^r (jf this county ; they have one child, a son 
Frederick, burn .Sept. 'J, 1 88 J. The other children 



of our subject — \ lola F.. Isjuic M., Lydia .lane, 
Charles S. and Martha K. — are at home with their 
IMirents. 

•Mr. Little cast his first Presidential vote for 
liuchanan, and has since voted the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket. In his native county he held the 
olllce of School Treasurer, and holds the .sjinie in 
his present ilistricl. He was elected .lustice of the 
Peace, of \'alley Center Township, in 1883, of which 
ollice he is still the incumbent, receiving at the last 
election the unanimous vole of his township. As 
a business man he possesses excellent judgment, is 
skillful and enterprising in his farming opcnitions, 
and in all respects accounted a useful and desirable 
member of society. We present a view of the 
Little homestead in this volume. 

TdLKH, a Director of the iJarliel.l Ini- 
j] versily, and a real-estate agent, is one of the 




leading citizens of Wichita, and is promi- 
nently identified with the business men of 
Sedgwick Count}'. He is a native of Richmond, 
Va., born Oct. 2, 181G, to George W. and Su.san A. 
(Jones) Toler, likewise natives of Virginia. His 
father was very prominent and influential in public 
and (xjlitical affairs in N'irginia's capital city. He 
was a member of the Old Richmond Blues, and wju>i 
M.nyor of Richmond for one 3'ear, being the first 
one elec-ted to that high ollice by the Know-Noth- 
ing parly. He was actively interested in educa- 
tional m.'itters, and jis he was well-to-tio gave his 
children a fine education. While he remained a resi- 
dent of Richmond he was prosperously engaged in 
the loan, real-estate and brokerage business. In 
185.') he removed with his family to Kansas City, 
Mo., then a town of .'iOO inhabitants, and there he 
engaged in furnishing steamboats with supplies, 
continuing in that business five years. Subse(|uenlly 
he became an auctioneer, Hn<l followed that calling 
nnlil his death in 18(>0. He took a leading part in 
public affairs while he lived in Kansas City, and for 
a number of years held the olllce of Recorder. He 
was a man of remarkable decision of character, and 
business talents of a high order. His wife sur- 
vived him several years. In Im72 she removed 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



341 - k 



with her family to St. Louis, where they remained 
until 1874, thence to Plattsburg, Mo., and from 
there in 1878 to Wichita, Kan., where the mother 
died in 1880. To her and her husband had been 
born two sons and two daughters, as follows: Mrs. 
C. W. Parry, of Kansas fit}'; Mrs. M. S. Lovejo}', 
of Penos, Old Mexico; Edwin \V., of Kansas City, 
where he is engaged in the real-estate business with 
another gentleman, under tiic firm name of Tolerdi 
Evart, and II. (i. 

The subject of this sketch started out from the 
parental home at the age of fourteen j'ears to learn 
to become a self-supporting and self-reliant member 
of society, and as a means to that end entered the 
prinling-oflice of the Kansas City Advertiser, after- 
ward the Kansas City Times, and was in the employ 
of the editors of that sheet for two and one-half 
years. He then went to New Mexico, driving six 
yoke of cattle across the plains. This was a long, 
tedious, but most eventful journey, and our subject 
thought that if he ever returned alive no one 
should ever catch him in another such fix. This vvas 
in the fall and winter of 1804-65, it taking him six 
months to travel across the plains to his destination, 
and the winter season was one uf unusual severity'. 
He saw many outfits burning their o.v-yokes, their 
loads of bacon, flour, corn, and everything that 
would keep them warm, and many men were frozen 
while sitting on their mules. He returned from his 
trip to Mexico with nothing but a supply of wood 
and corn; some members of his party were frozen; 
one man had to have his legs and arms ampu- 
tated. 

On his return to Kansas City from his mem- 
orable Jlexican trip Mr. Toler entered into the 
employ of Scott, Cutler & Co., wholesale grocers, 
representing that house on the road, being the first 
gentleman so employed b}' any business firm of Kan- 
sas Citj"; he traveled on horseback, with a pair of 
saddle-bags, visiting Paola, Garnett, and other places 
within a circuit of 100 miles of his headcjuarters. 
He continued to represent that firm until they were 
burned out. When his father died the care of the 
family devolved on our subject, as his brother was 
married, and had a family of his own to care for. 
Subsequently j\lr. Toler eng.aged in the horse trade, 
and followed it two years. He then engaged in 



the liquor and wholesale grocery business until 
1872. He then removed with his family to St. 
Louis, where he became interested in the tea busi- 
ness with Hugh Menown, continuing with him until 
their establishment was burned out in 1875. He 
then went in with Forbes Bros, in the tea business, 
traveling on the road until 187G; our subject then 
returned to Kansas Cit}-, and entered into the 
wholesale grocery business with Cochrane, Carroll 
& Beckham, continuing with them the ensuing three 
years, and while thus employed moved his family 
to Wichitii, Kan., where he afterward established 
himself in the retail grocery business. Finding 
that it did not pay he sold out, and went on the 
road again, this time for Bittman, Taylor & Co., of 
Leavenworth, Kan., continuing with them until 
1884. In 1885 Mr. Toler opened an office in Wich- 
ita for the purpose of engaging in the real-estate 
business, which he has since prosecuted with much 
success, and in the very few years that have elapsed 
since he first started out he has so increased his 
property that he may now be numbered among the 
wealthy men of this cit_v. He is a man of marked 
energy and enterprise, and while laying the founda- 
tions of his own prosi)erity has greatly aided in 
building up Wichita. He has made seven additions 
to the city, platted and disposed of the same, and 
has erected twenty houses in the northern part of 
the city. He purchased 515 acres of land five miles 
from the city, and has converted it into a valuable 
stock farm, devoting it to the breeding of fine 
horses and Jersey cattle. Our subject is a Director 
in the Slate National Bank, of Wichita, and a 
Director of the Wichita City Street Railway. He 
is noted for his unbounded generosity, benevolence 
and public-spiritedness. He takes a marked interest 
in educational matters, is one of the Directors of 
Garfield University, and has donated liberally to 
its support, as well as to other luiblic institutions in 
the city. 

Mr. Toler was married, in 18G7, to Miss Sallie J. 
Frame, of Kansas City, and niece of Allen Frame. 
Of their union three sons have been born — Foster, 
Edwin C.,and II. G., Jr. Our subject and his wife 
are leading members of the Christian Church. It 
w;is mainly through the earnest and persistent 
efforts of Mrs. Toler and Mrs. Ella G. Shields, 



Hl-^^ 



-► ■ ^* 



t 



■•-«► 






\ 



842 



I' ' 

4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



daughter of P.ov. Glenn, of Illiiii.i«, thai this church 
was cstjiblishofi; they enlled n meeting of th'>9e in 
.sympjilhy willi the religious view.-* of the Chrislinn 
Church, orgtmi/.ed a church, the first one in the city 
of that ilcnoininntion, and employed the Hcv. T. .1. 
Sheltnu «ii the [Mustnr. 

.Mr. Toler is a Dennn-rat in (xiiitics; socially he is 
all Odd Fellow and a Knight of I'ythias, belonging 
t.. First Lo.Igc No. I. ..f -Missouri. 

FN in W. MDYFIiS, a native of I'icston 
County, W. Va., holds a good ])osition 
among the agriculturists of Salem Town- 
ship, where he is engage<l in general farming 
:iud stock-raising, and from which he derives annu- 
ally a conifortalile inciuue. 

Our subject was bom on the 4th of October, 
l.H.SS, and is the son of Daniel and Fva (Wiles) 
.Muyers, also natives of the Old Dominion. Their 
ancestors were of (Jerinau descent, and Henry W. 
was one of a large family of children, of whom the 
fiillowing survive: Catherine, .Susan, David, Chris- 
tina, \\ illiam, Eva and George. 

.Mr. .Moyere develo|ied into nianhood in his na- 
tive county, receiving a limited education and 
becoming familiar with farm pursuits. In these he 
always took great pleasure, and luis since been con- 
tent U> thus occupy his time. He wjis married 
rather late in life, after reaching the twenty-ninth 
year of his age, to Miss .Julia A. Jackson, the 
we'Miiig taking |)lace at the home of the bride near 
Albrightsville, \V. Va., on the Titli of Se]itend)er, 
lHCi~. .Mrs. Movers was born in I'reston County, 
N'a., not far from the home of her husband, and is 
the daughter of .Samuel and Fliz.-ibeth (Barns) 
Jackson, natives of N'irginia. Her father sought 
the gold regions of California in 184!), and never 
returneil. The mother died when her daughter 
.Iiilia was a little child live years of age. and she w.as 
reared among the friends of her |iareiits. 

Mr. and Mrs. Moyers continued in their native 
SL'ite until 1H77, and then our subject with his 
family made his way to this county, where he em- 
ployed himself an a farmer in Salem Township, and 
took |Kis.'>e.-sj()ii i)f his present farm in the month of 



May of the year 1877. This embmcos ICO acres 
of good land on section .Tl, where he and his de- 
voted wife now hope to s|iend many pros|)erous 
and happy years. Mr. Moyers is a member of the 
Diinkard Church, and with his estimable wife, enjoys 
the society and friendship of a large circle of nc- 
quaintiuices. He votes tlie straight Democnitic 
ticket, and is projjcrly numbered among the self- 
made men of Sedgwick County, who arc carving out 
their fortunes with their own industrious hands and 
resolute will.s. 

Mr. Movers and his estimable wife are the |>ar- 
eiits of twelve children, ten of whom are living and 
form a most interesting family group. Their eldest 
daughter, Fva F., was born June 18. 18G8, and is 
the wife of Walter Olvc}-, of Salem Township; 
Sarah C. was born Sei)t. 2C, 18G9, antl with the 
younger children continues at home with her par- 
ents; Martha A. w:is born Feb. IC, 1871, married 
Thomas Murphy; Mary A., born Jan. 20, 1873; Ida 
l{.,May 28, 1874; Daniel F., Feb. 19, 1871!; David 
W., July 27, 1879; John B.. Jan. 20, 1883; Joseph 
11., March 13, 188.'), and Flsie J., Feb. 17, 1887. 
Those deceased are Florence F., who was born Oct. 
If., 1877, and died Feb. 28, 1887, and George W., 
who was bom .Sept. 26, 1881, and dieil July 12, 
1882. 

Mr. Moyers is pursuing the even tenor of his 
waj' as an honest man and a good citizen, and to 
his general farming operations is also adding that 
of raising good grades of cattle, horses and swine, 
in moderate numbers. 

J~Jt)llN T. LFSLlK.anativeof the Old Domin- 
ion and now a stock-grower and capitalist 
I of Park Township, came tothis.State in 1873 
' and pre-empted eighty acres of land in 
Attic.'i Township. Upon this he effected some im- 
provement«, .sold it, and purchiiscd again from time 
to time until he is now the owner of a half-section 
in I'ark Township. This has been brought to a 
high state of cultivation and is supplied with a sub- 
stantial set of frame buildings. His has been an 
exceedingly l)usy life, in the course of which he has 
improveil several farms in Attica Township. He 



-•►-■ -^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



343 



took up his residence in the latter in 1873. He 
iisuailj' keeps a herd of cattle numbering from 
seventy-five to 100, and at the present writing, 1«88, 
has ninetj'-seven head of cattle, besides eighteen 
head of fine horses, and also handles good grades of 
swine. 

Our subject, a native of Loudoun County, Va., 
was born April 30, 1838, and is the son of John 
and Rachel (Morrison) Leslie, natives of the same 
county as their son. The father, born in March, 
1804, was reared to farm life, which he followed all 
his days, and departed from the scenes of his earthly 
labors at his home in Loudoun County, in July, 
1874. lie was a Class-Leader of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church for many years, and a Colonel of 
the State Militia. The mother was born Feb. 7, 
1794, was m.arried in 1828, and died at her home in 
Loudoun County on the 2d of August, 18C2. She 
also was a Methodist by meniber.ship and belief, and 
a devoted mother to the six children comprising the 
parental household. These were named respect- 
ively : Virginia, America, Hannah, Angeline, Ben- 
jamin F., and John T. of our sketch. 

Mr. Leslie was married quite late in life, on the 
30th of Majs 1872, and while a resident of Lou- 
doun County, to Miss Julia J. Smith, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride in Columbiana 
County, Ohio. Mrs. L. is the daughter of Thomas 
and Phebe (Jolly) Smith, and was born Feb. 14, 
1844, in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her parents 
were also natives of the Buckeye State. Thomas 
Smith was born in 1804, followed farming all his 
life, and departed hence in February, 1884, in Col- 
umbiana. He was a man of industr}- and good 
judgment, and accumulated a handsome propertj'. 
Possessing excellent principles, he w.as a worthy 
member of the Presbyterian Church, together with 
his estimable wife. They were married in Colum- 
biana County, Ohio, in 1830, and became the par- 
ents of six children — Elizabeth C, John C, Hannah, 
Julia J., Sarah A. and Williard. IVIrs. Smith was 
born in Frederick County, Va., in 1812, and died at 
her home in Columbiana Count}', Ohio, July 5, 1 885. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Leslie are the parents of three chil- 
dren, namel}': Phebe M., born May 5, 1873; Jessie 
L., Nov. 14, 1874, and Daisy A., April 19, 1870. 
In their well-ordered household Mrs. Leslie has 



done her part, and exhibited in a forcible manner, 
during their years of life together, to what extent 
a wife ma}' become the able assistant of her husband 
and aid in his efforts for success. 

Mr. Leslie, in 18G0, became agent for the South- 
ern Confederacy in the purchase of grain and horses, 
at which he employed himself until the outbreak of 
the Rebellion. He then joined a Virginia regi- 
ment and saw considerable fighting. He bears two 
scars, one the result of a wound in the engagement 
at Culpepcr Court House and the other .at Spottsyl- 
vania. He w.as captured by the Federals in Marcli, 
18G3, and continued in the stockade at Ft. McHenry 
until being exchanged. Upon his return home his 
father accompanied him to ILarper's Ferry, and made 
him take the oath of allegiance to the Union, after 
which he returned to the peaceful pursuits of farm 
life. He was present at the surrender of Lee in 
April, 1865. 

Our subject continued in his native State until 
starting for Kans.as, in 1873. This venture proved 
quite successful. Besides the property .already 
mentioned, Mr. L. in 1884 purchased 100 feet front 
in the city of Wichita, where he put up a fine dwell- 
ing. He has also two houses on Washington ave- 
nue, seven lots in another locality in the city, and 
thirty-six acres of iron ore Land in Columbiana 
County, Ohio. Like his father before him he is a 
Democrat in jiolitics. He is giving his children 
excellent school advantages, they now being under 
tuition of the Sisters at Al Hallows' Academy in 
Wichita. 



tf^^ELOTF;S F. SU'MMERS, prominent among 
/// the farmers and stock-raisers of Lincoln 
//^—^ Township, is pleiisantly located on section 19) 
about three miles from the new town of Furley. 
eight miles from Valley Center, and nine miles from 
Greenwich, thus having easy access to market, 
church and school. He came to this count}' in the 
spring of 1870, and settled on his present farm, 
which has been his residence a greater part of the 
time since, although for a time he was a citizen of 
Newton, and also resided in Valley Center one 
year, and four years in Illinois. He was also a year 
in the Indian Territory, where he had contemplated 
going into the stock business, but not being satisfied 



3d II 
ed Tj 



t 



«» ■ ^ 



3U 



■]u:\\ ]i ic ((iI'NTT. 



with the pro(<poct», rptiimod totlii> miUuh. wlurchu 
lin.H bcfii ooiitented Ut rciiiiiin. lie still nwiis lii.s 
n-siileiK-p property in Viilloj' C'fiiter. 

Mr. Siiuiiiiers wns born in Mmlison County, 
Ohio, April 20. 185.1, juui wns tlie youngest of 
sfvi-n .'•ons am\ three (liiiifrlitcrs. the ofTsprinfjr of 
l)r. Andrew and Klvila (l)illo) Sununers, who were 
niitives of \irj|jinin. whence they removed to Miidi- 
jion County, Ohio, at nn early period in iLs history. 
From the Uuekeye Stjite, in JS.'iCi, iliey migrated to 
Illinois, settling llrst in iJeWitt Count}', thence re- 
moving to Tazewell County, where they remained 
three years, nnd from there went into McLean 
County. In the latter the father followed his pro- 
feivsion as before, and there s|)ent his last years, his 
death iK-curring in August, IH.sO. The mother of 
our subject is still living, and continues a resident 
of .McLean County. Nine of their children lived to 
mature years. Of these seven are now living and 
are residents mostly of Illinois. Missouri. Indian 
Territory and Kansas. 

Our subject was reared to farm life, and under 
the instruction of his father, who wiisa man of good 
education, pur8\ied his early studies successfully, 
and later was graduated from the graded schools of 
McLean County, III. Upon leaving school he fol- 
lowed teaching nearly twovcars in McLean County, 
and also U»u<rht one term subsequently in Hutler 
County, this .StiUe. In the fall r)f 1H7.'), he pur- 
chfised of the Santa Fe Rjiilroad Com))any the 
northwest quarter of section 1!), Lincoln Township, 
this county, upon which he removed in the spring 
of the year following, and there commenced the im- 
provements which have constituted his farm one of 
the most dcsinible in this])artof the county. One 
of its most notidile features is a fine apple orchard, 
anil Mr. .Summers also planted 100 peach trees, 
which yield bountifidly, nnd from which he realizes 
a handsome income. The farm is stocked with 
graded Hickory, May and llambletonian horses, in 
the breeding of which Mr. Summers has attained 
quiu- a reputation. Heiii;; so largely interesle<l in 
farming nnd stock-raising, he ha.« little time to give 
to |iolitics, but is the stanch friend of tem|M-r:ince, 
and votes with the Prohibitionists. 

The deceiused wife of our subject, In whnin he 
was married in .McLean County, III., in I ••SH2, was 



•►■-4^ 



furnicrly Miss Ida May (iai-st, who wns born in 
Clarke County. OImo. Oct. 2.'J. 1 «G2. .Mrs. Summers 
was the fourth of her |>;irenU<' nine children. Iler 
father wns Michael Ciarst, of Clarke County. Ohio, 
and served in the late war. The motlu?r. Miss 
Mary K. IJailey, in her girlhood, died when her 
daughter Ida .May wius a young girl ten years 'of 
age. The father is still living, and continues his 
residence in Ohio, taking cnre of an invalid brother. 
After marriage .Mr. and .Mrs. .Summers settled in 
Stanford, McLean Co., III., where our sul)ject for a 
time made his headquarters, while he engaged as a 
traveling salesman for the lightning-roil firm of 
Brook A- Somcrs. On coming to this county, they 
settled on the land which Mr. S. had purchased, and 
to which he has since given his close atl4-ntion. 
Mr. .Summei-s is the father of two l>right little ones: 
IVarl, born .Sept. .''), IMS J. and C.irst, Feb. G, 1887. 
The devoted wife and mother departed this life 
on the !tth of February, 1 887. aged twenty-five years. 
Mr. Summers is now keeping house, and has both 
of his children at home on his beautifully Iocnt«d 
farm. 



,OBKHT F. IIAUOIIKY, a valued and es- 
teemed agriculturist of Salem Township, 
JmV has his residence upon section 9, where he 
'^^has a farm of eighty acres of most superior 
land, which is under excellent culture .and well im- 
proved. The buildings upon his place are of a 
neat and substantial character, and betoken thrift 
and prosperity. He is meeting with a merited suc- 
cess in his farming o|)erations, and bids fair to 
achieve an easy competence, so that in his declining 
yeai-s he may rest |H'nccfully from the care^ of life. 
The i>irth of .Mr. Ilaughey took place Feb. 27, 
18,');!. in Williams Count}-, Ohio, at the home of his 
parents, .Jacob and Margaret (Cassel) llaughej', 
who are now residents of this county, and of whom 
a sketch is given elsewhere in the pages of this 
Ai.iiiM. In 1 878 the subject of this memoir came 
with his parents to Kansas, and settled in .Sedgwick 
County, where he has made his home ever since. 
In his youth he ."ittendi'd the district schools of his 
native .Stale, from which he drew the elements of a 
^ 



1 



-^•- 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



345 






libera] education. He remained beneath the par- 
ental roof, surrounded by all the tender influences 
(tf that home, until his marriage, which occurred 
Dec. 28, 187G. On that day he and Miss Mollie 
Brandon became man and wife, and joined their 
fortunes for better or for worse. The bride, who 
was a n.ative of Columbiana County, Ohio, was born 
Sept. 4, 18r)5, :ind is the daughter of Francis and 
Ann (Cunningham) Brandon. Her parents are liv- 
ing at present in AV'illiams County, Ohio, and are 
both natives of Ireland. They had a family- of nine 
children, seven of whom still survive. Their names 
are as follows: Hugh, living in Williams County, 
Ohio; Thomas, in the same State; George, a resi- 
dent of Hillsdale County, Mich.: Mollie, the wife 
of our subject; Alexander, who is living in Williams 
County, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of Blinn Peck, who 
makes her home in the Bucke^'c State; and Maggie, 
also living in Williams County, Ohio. 

The domestic fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Ilaughey 
has been brightened by the advent of two lovely 
children: Reno B.. who was born April 11, 1881; 
and Orilla, whose birth took place July 20, 1887. 
Both the subject of this sketch and his estimable 
wife are esteemed and valuable members of the com- 
munity, and possess the entire confidence and regard 
of their neighbors. Success has waited upon the 
labors of this gentleman in all his efforts, and the 
general verdict is that he has deserved it. Labor 
and perseverance, coupled with economy and frugal- 
ity, are bound to win in the long run, and he and 
his wife possess these virtues to a large e.\tent. 



SLADDIN GORIN was born on the 13th of 
August, 1820, in Todd County, Ky., and is 
..j;.;^ the son of John D. and Jlartha Gorin, who 
were natives of Virginia. They left the Old Do- 
minion at an early day, and located upon the farm 
in Todd County, K}'., where they remained till 
1828, and thence moved to Vandaiia, III., at that 
time the State capital, and here the father died in 
1846, when fifty-six years old. The mother lived 
.to a ripe old age, dying at the home of her daughter. 



Mrs. Pugh, at Decatur, 111., in 1876, having nearly 
attained the eighty-eighth year of her age. Her 
remains were interred at Vandaiia. 

The paternal ancestors of our subject arc believed 
to have been of Scotch descent, and John D. served 
as a soldier in the War of 1812. The parental 
household included eight children, of whom the 
following survive: Maria, the widow of Thomas 
K. Kirkman, of Scott Countj', III.; Henry M., of 
Scotland County, Mo.; Elvira, widow of Gen. 
Isaac C. Pugh, a commander of the Union forces 
during the late war; Jerome R., of Decatur, 111., 
and Gladdin, of our sketch. Those decesised are 
Dr. Bartley W., John D. and Mary J. 

When about eight years of age our subject 
removed with his parents from Kentucky to Fay- 
ette County, 111., where thej' settled among the 
early pioneers of that region. Young Gorin left 
his home in 1837, and crossed the Mississippi into 
Pike County, Mo., where in the town of Louisiana 
he engaged as clerk in a store of general merchan- 
di.se, and where he continued until 1842. During 
that year he took a similar position at St. Louis, 
Mo., and in 1873 located in Kansas City, where he 
was employed .is book-keeper with the wholesale 
dry-goods house firm of Tootle, Ilanna & Co., until 
1881. He next became the emi)loye in the same 
capacity' of the dry-goods house of W. B. Grimes, 
with whom he remained until 1884. In that year 
he came to this State, locating first in Wichita, and 
took up his residence in Clearwater in the sjiring of 
1887. 

Mr. Gorin. while a resident of Louisiana, Mo., 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary C, daughter 
of Abraham and Sarah M. Weber, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride on the 19th 
of October, 1841. Mrs. G. is a native of Center 
County, Pa., and was born Jan. 18, 1824. Her 
father died at his home in Louisiana, in 1850, when 
nearly fifty-five years old. The mother is still 
living, and makes her home in Florence, this State; 
she is now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, 
Their family consisted of nine children, of whom 
the following survive: Anna L., the wife of Isa.ac 
H. Sisson, of Pike County, Mo.: Clara M., Mrs. 
Thomas McGinness,of Florence, this State; Angela, 
Mrs. W. W. Bickford, of Florence, and Mary C, 



<^ 



:*^*^ 



f 

I 
' ' 346 



■«» 



-L. 



SKDCWK K' rolNrV 



the wife of our siilijcct, 'riiuM- ilcti'iisetl iiro— 
HoMilin, Kliza, Helen, Snnili M. nnd Florence A. 

To our sulijfi-l nnd liis wife there hiive been born 
six chililrcn, of whom lliree onh iire living, namely : 
Henry .1.. who is employed ns n book-keeiwr wilji 
tlie Winner Investment Conipnny; S«lly M., the 
wife of Oeorge N. Byer*. of Kansas City, and who 
ih' book-kee|>er for the firm of \V. Norris A Co., 
railroad supply merchniils: and .Joseph R.. who 
lives in Clearwater. Tiiose deceased are Francis 
A.. Honice, and <il:iddin, .Ir. Mr. and Mre. Gorin 
are members of the Old-School I'resiiyterian Church, 
in which our subject has otllcinted as Elder. I)ur- 
injj; their residence in St. Louis he wjis [a Deacon. 
He takes an active interest in the maintenance of 
churches and schools, and has always given cheer- 
fully of his means for the promotion of religion and 
education. He is independent, |>olitically, with 
Prohibition tendencies, and endeavors to support 
the men whom he considers best qualified for oflice. 



•^ NDKRSON K. HARGETT came to this 
(@yr)l, county in the spring of 1h70, and in the 
/// (L month of April located on a part of his 
^* present farm, on section 14, Valley Center 

Townshi)). He commenced oi)erations in a modest 
manner, first purchasing eighty acres, and was suc- 
cessful in his undertaking, adding eighty more to 
l.is first purchase five 3'ears later. After a few 
yc:irs employed in tilling the soil he invested a part 
of his capital in Durham cattle and Norman horses, 
of which he now makes a s|)ecialty, and has attained 
an envialile reputation in this county. His faniil}' 
consists of his wife and a son and daughter, and the 
homestead, with its comfortable residence andsuitn- 
Me out-buildings, is one of the most desirable in 
this section of countrj'. 

Our subject is a Kentuckian b}' birth, his earlj* 
home having been in the northca.stcrn part of the 
State, about forty-live miles from Cincinnati. Here 
he first o|)ened his eyes on the 1 1th of March, 1842. 
Ills parcntji, .Sampson and Lavina (Booth) Hargett, 
who are now deceased, were natives respectively of 
Soutli Carolina and Kentucky. The father removed 



fr<iui liis native .State alKiiit lt*CO, and engaged in 
farming in the Blue Gra.»» regions until quite aged, 
then retired from active labor, nnd piLssed aw.-iy at 
his home in Bracken County, in 18M1. The mother 
dcpnrti'd this life while a young woman, in IHI4, 
when her son Antler^on K. was two years old. 

Sjunpson Hargett at the time of his death was 
eighty-three years of age. He had been a remark- 
ably industrious and entcrprisitig man, and took an 
active interest in everything [K'rtaining to his 
ailopteil .Stiite and county. He died in the faith of 
the Christian Church, and is still remembered as an 
honest man and a good citizen. The |>ateriial 
grandfather of fiur subject, Daniel Hargett, was a 
native of South Carolina and of German descent. 
He removeil to Kentucky about IhOO, and died 
there at an advanced age. He was a man of great 
force of character, wj'll educated and intelligent, 
greatly interested in religious matters, and for a 
number of 3'ears preached the Gosik-I to the jwople 
of his county. Later he engaged in farming, and 
passed his hist years in Fleming County, Ky. 

The children of Sampson an<l Lavina Hargett 
included six sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, 
the eldest, is the wife of William Rcmley, who is 
farming in Cole County, Mo.; .John married Miss 
Mary Teegardcncr, and is farming in Bracken 
County, Ky.; William, who had continued on the 
farm with his father, died in Kentuck}- at the .'ige 
of twentj'-four ycai-s; Joseph during the late war 
enlisted in a Missouri regiment, and wa.s killed at 
the battle of Pittsburg Landing on the 7th of 
AjM-il, I8(!2; Rial is married, and a practicing phy- 
sician of Morgan County, Mo.; Nancy is the wife 
of B. H. Thomas, a miller of .JefTei-son County, III.; 
.Tane is a widow, and lives in Illinois; Harrison is 
married, and a resident of Kentucky. 

Anderson K.,of this sketch, received a good edu- 
cation, attending the academy at Augusta. Ky., 
three years, and taking a full course of stud}' under 
the instruction of Prof. A. C. Armstrong. After 
leaving school and reaching his majority, he located 
in Austin, Nev., where he was occupied in mining 
until 1 87(1, a period of six years, and thence came 
to this county, of which he has since been a resi- 
dent. The land which he first purchased had been 
but iinliffercntly cultivated, and there were no im- 




% 



A n-s. 



^21^2^^ 



•-•-«• 



T 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



349 ' 'I 



provements worthy of mention. The buildings, 
niachineiy and live stock which now serve to em- 
bellish the homestead and add to its value, have 
involved the outlay of considerable money, besides 
no small amount of labor, and will bear comparison 
with anything of the kind along the northern line 
of Sedgwick Countj\ 

Our subject very sensibl}' waited before taking 
upon himself the responsibilities of a family until 
he was assured that he could provide comfortably 
for this important adjunct to the happiness and 
standing of a well-regulated citizen. He then, on 
the 27th of December, 1876, led to the altar Miss 
Rebecca Jewett, a native of LaSalle County, 111., 
where her fatlier had been engaged in farming 
many years. Mrs. Hargett was born Jan. 23, 1856, 
and is the daughter of William and Hettie (Brown) 
Jewett, natives of Ohio. Iler mother departed this 
life Sept. 26, 1877. The father is still living and 
quite well advanced in years. Rebecca was the 
fourth child in a family of ten, and the others are 
residents mostly of Kansas. 

The elder child of Mr. and Mrs. Hargett, a son, 
Harry, was born Oct. 21, 1882, and is a bright and 
promising youth ; Grace, the daughter, was born 
Feb. 22, 1885. Mr. Hargett cast his first Presiden- 
tial vote for George B. McClellan, and has since 
continued a stanch adherent of the Democratic 
party. 



ellARLES WASHINGTON EADS, a wealthy 
and prominent citizen of Minneha Town- 
ship, resides on section 20, on a fine property 
which he has acquired b}' industry, diligence and 
shrewd business tact. He has retired from most of 
the active pursuits of life, and is now enjoying the 
fruits of the labor of his earlier years. He is a native 
of Lexington, Ky., and was born Ma^' 20, 1811, 
and is the son of Jolhan and Carrie Ann (Self) 
Eads. 

Jothan Eads, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Maryland, and removed with 
his parents to Ohio in his childhood. From that 
State he went to Lexington, Ky., on attaining his 
maturity, and learning the blacksmith's trade, fol- 
lowed the labor of the forge for a number of years, 



to his pecuniary benefit. In 1809 he was united in 
marriage with Carrie M. Self, the daughter of Char- 
nock Self. The latter was an old Revolutionary 
hero, and was engaged in many of the contests of 
tliose days, when "deeds of eternal fame were done." 
He w-as on the field of Yorktown when Cornwallis 
presented his sword to Gen. Washington, and the 
latter refused to receive it, preferring to humiliate 
the British General by putting forward an under 
ofttcer. Col. Washington, of Virginia. After the 
close of the war Mr. Self removed to Kentucky, 
and took up his residence in a fort some eighteen 
months before the city of Lexington was laid out. 
After living in the latter city for sixteen years after 
its settlement, he purchased a farm in the vicinity, 
and followed agricultural pursuits for nearly forty 
years. Moving thirty miles below Cincinnati, on 
the Kentucky side of the river on a farm, he there 
made his residence until 1831, when he was called 
away by death. 

Charles AV. Eads was reared in the city of his 
birth and adopted the trade of his father, that of a 
blacksmith, which he followed for manj- years. He 
and one brother, John Eads, of King City, ]Mo.,are 
the only survivors of a family of nine children born 
to his parents. In 1882 he decided to journey 
farther north into newer country, and accordingly 
located in Morgan County, and in 1852 removed 
to Whiteside County, 111., where he followed the 
business of farming until 1878. At that time, a 
great tide of emigration having set in toward the 
golden State of Kansas, he removed here. Imme- 
diaiely on his arrival in this county he bought the 
farm where he at present resides. The place was 
entirely without a house or shelter for man or beast 
at that time, and although it was October a tent 
was procured with a view of the family using it as 
a shelter from the elements until a building could 
be put up. For three months during the winter 
they managed to keep house in this little better than 
no protection. Breakfast was often eaten in the 
early morning bj' the liglit of a lantern, as the strong 
winds which penetrated the tent would extinguish 
the flame of a candle. 

Mr. Eads, the subject of this sketch, has been 
twice married; the first time, Aug. 15, 1831, to Miss 
Catherine Johnson, a distant relative of Col. Will 



^ 



f 

' ' 350 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



inm JohnM^n, the man who killed the fnmoiis Indinn 
chief, Tc«nnii!>eli. at tiie Imttle of the Thnnii-s, in 
IHl.H. Ry this first inarrin^e there were nine cliil- 
dren, burn to them na follows: Kli/.nbetli. Williiiin, 
Catherine, George W., Mnry. .John II., .lonnthnn, 
Eliui and lliirtlin; KlizA nn<l llnnlin arc twins. 
F'ive children are dead. The remainder arc all 
niarric<l and in the enjiiyment of comfortable fort- 
unes. Most of his children having left the parental 
roof, "like binis that leave their nest.s with keen 
regret," Mr. Kads concluded again to enter into 
matrimony. Sept. 22, 1874, at Moi-rison, White- 
aide Co., 111., he led to the altjir Miss Silence K. 
Cobb. She is a native of Potsdam, St. Ijiwrenrc 
Co., N. Y., and wa.> born May 20. 184J. She was 
reared in the county of her birth, among "the hills, 
rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun," that cover that 
portion of the Kmpire State. The faniil}- then re- 
moved to Morri.son. III., where she remained with 
her parents until her marriage. She is the daughter 
of Ilarvcy C. and Charlotte (Willniark) Cobb, who 
were natives of Burlington, Vt., but had moved to 
New York. Hy the second marri.ngc Mr. and Mrs. 
Kads arc the parents of six children, as follows: 
Charles H., Alice M.. Theodore II., Anna .M., Rob- 
ert L. and Thomas .1. The Inst two arc deccjiscd. 
Mr. Eads is the owner of .some 400 acres of land, 
divided into three farms, all of which are under 
excellent cultivation. Each place is well supplied 
with a good, comforUdile house, spacious barns and 
other out-buildings. He has set out a good orchard, 
which is in a very healthy and thriftj' stale, and all 
the land is well feiic<'d in, either with the Osage 
herlge or wire. He is also the pos.M;.sjior of a hirge 
brick block fill Douglas avenue. Wichita, which is 
valued at <(.')0,000, and ten dwellings on First street 
in the same city, which bring him a monthly rentil of 
$170. During the late cfinllict between the .States, 
George ami .Tonathan, the sons of Mr. Kads, and 
David Follansbce ami Thomas Hansford, two sons- 
in-law, entered the service of the Government. 
The first-named died from sickness at Henderson. 
David KolUinsbee was captured by the rebels, but 
being paroled, came home and died two weeks later. 
Like many other families, theirs must suffer, for 
throughout the length and breaclth of our fair land 
llnre are but few fln-sjiles that are not called upon 



to mourn soui. m.^.m member carried to nn un- 
timely grave by the war. .Mr. F^ads is a cousin of 
Capt. .1. B. Kails, the builder of the St. Louis steel 
bridge. an<1 the originator of the Jetty system of 
the Lower .Mississippi. He is a member of tin- 
Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and in |)oli- 
tics is entirely independent. As a representative 
and leading citi/.en of the county we present the 
portrait of Mr. Eads in this volume. 

-^ -i^^ -^ 



TITSWORTH, capitalist, is one of the ear- 
ly settlers of Wichita. Coming here while it 
was in its infancy he has watched its rapi<I 
growth from a straggling handet to a |)op- 
ulous, thrifty city of 40,000 inhabitints, occupy- 
ing a leading position among the pros|>erous cities 
of Kansas. He is a native of I'cnn Yan. N. Y., 
where he was born in 1H.S2. His ])aternal grand- 
father, Josiah Titsworth, was bom in New Jersey; 
from ther«> he emigrated to Livingston County, N. 
Y.. where he died. The father of our subject, 
Martin Titsworth, was also born in New .Jersey. 
He le.nrned the trade of miller and pursued it 
through life, first in his native Stjite and then in 
New York, where he removed aftiT his marriage 
with Elizabeth Evans, both spending the remainder 
of their lives in that State. Mrs. Titsworth was a 
daughter of Robert Evans, a native of Ireland, 
who emigrated to the United .States when a boy, 
and made his home in New .Jersey. 

The subject of this sket<'h attended the public 
schools of his native State during his younger days, 
but after his father's death in 1849 was forced to 
depend on his own resources. This proved no 
detriment to him, however, his industricms habits 
and energetic temiwrament securing steady em- 
ployment for him. In 1852, being seized with an 
irresistible desire to search for gold in his native 
soil, he went to California, where he s|)ent the en- 
suing four years engaged in mining, and made 
considerable money in the o|ieration. In IH,')6 he 
returned to Allegany County, N. Y., and estidj- 
lished himself in the grocery and commission busi- 
ness, following the same ff)r U-n years with good 
riiianclal results. He then discfintinued that busi- 



•►« -4- 



-•^^9^^ 



»► f ^ ' 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



351 



n 



ness, but continued to live in the place four years 
longer, having an interest in the Genesee Valley 
Canal, for which he manufactured and sold boats. 

Mr. Titsworth was married, in 1855, to Miss 
Lucy Estabrook, a daughter of Aliihcus and Han- 
nah (Hitchcock) Estabrook, natives respectively of 
Vermont and New York. Her father, a son of 
Benjamin and Rebecca (Houghton) Estabrook, was 
a blacksmith, and followed that trade during life. 
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Titsworth were 
Timothy and Sally (Chandler) Hitchcock, who 
were extensively engaged in farming. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Titsworth were born three children, namely: 
Edith S., wife of L. C. Jackson, of Wichita; Leon- 
ard C, a student in Lewis Academy, and INLnbel 
R. Mr. Titsworth suffered a sad bereavement in 
the death of the devoted wife and loving mother, 
who passed to the eternal life March 1 3, 1 1S88. 

In the pleas,int month of June, 1872, our subject 
came to Kans.as on a prospecting tour, visiting, 
among other parts of the State, Sedgwick County, 
and was so imjiressed with the many natural ad- 
vantages, undeveloped resources, and fine geograph- 
ical location of Wiehit'i, which he shrewdly foresaw 
would render it a great agricultural and commercial 
center, that he loft capital for investment and re- 
turned to New York. Disposing of his property in 
that State, in November of thesameyear he retraced 
his steps to Wichita, this time accompanied by his 
family, and located on Emporia avenue, where he 
purchased a house in which he lived nine years. 
Subsequently he sold that and bought a dwelling 
on Fourth avenue, where he lived until 1886. At 
that time Mr. Titsworth purchased his present resi- 
dence on the corner of Indiana and Third avenues, 
which he has tastefully and convenientl}- fitted up 
with all the modern api)liances for making life 
enjoj'able. In a few weeks after coming to Wich- 
ita Mr. Titsworth, with characteristic enterprise, 
established himself in business as a dealer in queens- 
ware, glass and stone ware, opening his store Dec. 
10, 1872. It was tlie first one of the kind in the 
city, and was located on the corner of Douglas 
avenue and Main street, the building being the 
only one of stone or brick in the place. Associ- 
ated with him :is a partner was his brother-in-law, 
Mr. Colwell, who is now engaged in a similar busi- 



ness in Emporia. They continued in business, un- 
der the firm name of Colwell <fe Titsworth, for five 
years, when our subject sold out his interest to his 
partner, and engaged in the grocery business at No. 
138 Main street. In 1884 Mr. Titsworth disposed 
of his mercantile interests and has since been re- 
tired from active business. During the boom in 
Wichita he was an active and fortunate buj'er and 
seller of city property, using keen foresight and 
judicious wisdom in his transactions, which, with 
his other enterprises, have placed him among tiie 
wealthy citizens of Wichita. 

In politics our subject is a strong advocate of 
the principles promulgated by the Republican 
party. He has long been connected with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, of which his estimable 
wife was also a member, they being actively identi- 
fied with all of its plans for the social and moral 
elevation of the connnunity. 

JOHN W. FERGUSON, retired f.irmer, now 
engaged in real-estate transactions, with an 
office at No. 1,003 South Lawrence avenue, 
is one of the esteemed and honored citizens 
of AVichita ; he is notable for his sound judgment, 
tireless industry, sterling integrity, and earnest 
religious character. He is a worthj' descendant of 
an old Virginia faniilj' of Scotch-Irisli ancestry; 
four brothers of the Ferguson name settled on the 
James River in Virginia among the earliest colon- 
ists. Thomas Ferguson, the grandfather of our 
subject, who was descended from one of these 
brothers, was a brave soldier in the Revolution, and 
was killed at the battle of King's Mountain, \'a. 
His widow survived him many years, her life being 
prolonged to the advanced age of ninety-two or 
ninety-three years. Thom.as Ferguson, their son, 
and father of our subject, when a boy, was a carrier 
of despatches during the Revolutionar3- War. He 
was a bold, resolute ^outli, endowed with great 
strength and vigor, and when he grew to manhood 
he became a pioneer farmer of Kentuckj* and a 
trader among the settlements on the Cumberland 
River; he was a contemporary frontiersman with 
Daniel Boone, and was in quite prosperous circum- 



■*►-• 






«f:''-':\v!ck rot'>TY. 



Ih,; 









i«^. Mr F^fTTUSt^o's 

u J . .1 

Mr. 



Mr 



■d 



r«n'«i»a? «»f Green* 



br 



V The 

sc all 

were 

■<fas bnrn ;n 



Lag>. la i.'?7;> b<i r£ai>.-vtfii 
K.nr?^«? ^r:'^ ••'tt!'*'! 'vi ■^ farm 



a,-. He 

OD tfa<? 

t>. He 

<io<ie a 
tie u DOW 



v.'SiU <io g^iOti. UI<J 



vere<i witn grea:<eu paper, atiminui^a rerj 



-'-V 



■*Ten- 

Ni.. 



oftea 



T 

i 



. to her hu:^b&n•i. 

ther Mr. n>.>r Mr«. 

. and the voung 

t. i learn to read 

Mn. 

-Mary 

- - _. A.:Uw 



31 



--i'jiia. one of wtuch ws:> an 

_ tho war. We hare re- 

■ L» now an sotiTe 

-ch. in which he ha* 

oeen an <>piaineii minister and Elder for more than 

fifty Tears. 



\ n 



ILUAM G. UACKEl 



..• ca:*. The m 
:x>:ttid his specuil 



par- 
at- 









SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;!;-.3 



tention, and ac the close of two j-ears he moved 
there, located, and entered tlie hardware and imple- 
ment trade with Hailey & Hlake. 

In 187C Mr. Hacker and Charles Fraker opened 
a like business on their own account on Main street. 
Fraker <fe Hacker was the style of the firm, and 
eighteen months numbered the duration of this 
venture. Keichnian & Davis became their succes- 
sors by purchiise. A partnership with Mr. Jackson, 
under the firm name of Hacker & Jackson, followed, 
and the}- engaged in the coal, fuel and building 
material business. This enterprise covers an inter- 
val of nine years and more, with the member of 
that firm of whom we began writing. Thej' em- 
ployed from fifteen to twenty' men, and are said to 
have been as large, if not the largest, dealers in their 
line in the city. 

In March, 1887, Mr. Hacker closed out his inter- 
est to his partner. Poor health was the occjision of 
that sale, as it has also been the cause of restricting 
his energies generally since, but to some extent he 
has been engaged in real estate. A business block, 
corner of Fourth and Douglas streets, called the 
Hacker & Jackson Block, attests his public siiirlt 
and faith in the city of his adoption. AV'est Vir- 
ginia claims his birthplace, and the western part of 
Lewis County in that State marks the localit}'. 
The 16th of February, 1841, fixes the time of his 
first advent to that time-honored country. His 
father's name was Thomas S., his mother's, Char- 
lotte (Hess) Hacker, both of whom were natives 
of the State dubbed "the Mother of Presidents." 
Their foreparenls were likewise of Anglo-Saxon 
origin. John and Willi.am Hacker, two brothers, 
were the first pair of that stock to import themselves 
into America. They landed at the famous James- 
town, Va., not a large place in fact, but when it 
comes to historical record, of no little fame. Those 
brothers landed there, but soon afterward betook 
themselves west of the Alleghany Mountains, and 
settled on what became known as Hacker's Creek, 
in Lewis County, W. Va., in 1609. All the Hack- 
ers in America are said to have descended from 
those two brothers. The Hacker families had much 
suffering at the hands of the red men of the forest, 
of whom there were many at the time we speak of. 
The tomahawk and scalping-knife were often red- 



dened with the blood of those brotliers' families and 
their descendants. The father of Th<jm;is S. was 
named Alexander A., who was a native of Virginia. 
He was a son of the John spoken of !is one of the 
two brothers first coming to this country. John's 
grandfather was Col. Francis, famed for having read 
the death warrant of Charles Stewart, King of En- 
gland. Parenthetically, he would remark, had he read 
the death warrant to kingly ollice, instead of poor 
villain Charles, the race would have had more cause 
to spread his fame, while it blessed his name. 

A brief sketch of the mother of William we 
wish to give. She was Charlotte, the daughter of 
Hezekiah Hess. He was from good old German}', 
and came over the deep blue sea just before the 
Revolutionary War, in which he was destined to 
play the part of a soldier. He received severe 
wounds at the hands of the invaders, but in spite 
of them lived to the age of ninety-two or ninety- 
three before he was gathered to his fathers. He 
too resided in Lewis County, Va. Thomas S. 
was a farmer residing at Letart Falls, Ohio, 
from 1875 to 1884, when our William brought 
him and his mother to Wichita, where, after one 
year, the good mother was gathered with kin- 
dred spirits to the laud of eternal day. The father 
returned to Ohio, and followed her to the land of 
rest in 1885. They were subscribers to the creed 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was dep- 
utized to act as High Sheriff in Lewis County, Va., 
in 1847. These parents iiad a family of six chil- 
dren, five of whom are now living — Jane, William 
G., Virginia, Olive and Sarah. Jane married Mr. 
Harris, and they reside in Ohio; Virginia, Mrs. M. 
B. Tierny, resides in West ^'irginia; Olive married 
a Mr. Spencer, of Hocking, Ohio. Sarah is now 
Mrs. Spencer, of Letart Falls, Ohio. 

The William G. just spoken of was reared on a 
farm, staid there till fourteen years of .age, and 
from there went to the burning springs of Virginia, 
and caught the oil fever so contagious at that time. 
He was so young, however, that it was of short du- 
r.ation. From there in 1861 he went to Beverly, in 
West Virginia. Here he struck more than he con- 
tracted for, being pressed into the Confederate 
service .as teamster, and served until the fall of the 
year, when he got away from this unwilling service. 
•► 



4 



-4*- 



f 



354 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



He thpii secured employment with Trotter it Hop- 
kiiLs. proprietf)rs of the line of stii^es riiiininf,' from 
Monterey to Stanton, W. \a. This he followed 
until 18I>'J, when, as if to atone for unwilling serv- 
ice rendered the Confi'dcratvs, he pivc willing 
service for three months to the Federals, acting 
as teamster under Gen. Milroy. From that s«'rv- 
ice he returned to Lewis (.'i.unty and helped to 
organize Company H, I.'ith West ^■irginia, and 
was regularly mustered into service on the 2."ith of 
August, 11SG2. lie remained in the service until 
wounded at HaU-hfci" Hun. on the 'id of March, 
1«65. lie was discharged nt Fortress Monroe on 
the lUh of June following. 

After the war, Wood County, W. Va., became 
the scene of action for Mr. Hacker. There he fol- 
lowed freighting until 18Cli. Then he removed to 
Maroa, 111., and engaged at farming two years. 
Tinware and implements after this became '-his 
holt" until 1870. when he removed to Kansas. 
The 2Gth of January, 18t;2, he was married. Miss 
Mar3' A. Kellnr forming the bride on that auspicious 
occnsion. She was the daughter of Thomas .and 
Elizabeth (Argerbright) Keller, also natives of Vir- 
ginia. They resided on a farm. Mr. Hacker, by 
his marriage with .Miss Kellar, has had ten children. 
Mary li., Maud E., Gertie M. and William I), are 
the only ones living. 

The sketch taken under Mr. Hacker's supervision, 
from which this notice is written, says he is a Re- 
publican, a Ma.«on, an Odd Fellow, a meml)er of 
the G. A. R., a stockholder in the Kansas National 
Bank. His residence is at No. 105.') North Law- 
rence street, and we think, if all accounts are true, 
he is one of the solid, progressive, aggressive and 
public-spirited men of the city. 



17 < ' r^^ ' > -T 



I^ILLIA.M !•:. lUKHiKS. a i)rominent farmer 
and sUick-ruiser of I'ark Township, haa 
been a resident of this county since .March 
I, 1878. He is a native of Indiana, his birth hav- 
ing wcurred in (Irant County, that .State, Dec. 2.'t, 
18.')l. He is the son of the late Aaron an<l Eliza- 
beth (.Miuton; Hro<jk>, natives respectively of 
^» 



Franklin and Rush Counties, Ind. They pajsscdthe 
first three years of their married life in Rush 
County, then settle<l in (J rant County, and engngeii 
in farming there until 1878, when they removed to 
Kansas. The father's death occurred in this .state 
in .March, 1885, at the age of fifty-nine years and 
ten months. The mother, who was born Oct. 25, 
1828, is still living. They were the |mreuUs of 
seven children, five living to maturity, of whom 
our subject is the eldest. The remaining ones are — 
Sarah Ann, SLary, Alzira and Ella E. Sarah is the 
wife of Tillman Trobaugh; Mary is the wife of 
Henry A. Frost: Alzira is the wife of Thomas J. 
Furnish. The grandparents of our subject were 
pioneers of Indiana. 

William E. Brooks, of this sketch, was early ini- 
tiated into the various duties and labors that fall 
ujHjn the son of a farmer, being often called upon 
to assist in the farm work when out of school. 
During his life in his native State he lived with his 
parents, and when the famil}' came to Kan.sas in 
1878, was a member of the party. He located in 
.Sedgwick County, and here met and married Miss 
Eliza A. Hunt, daughter of Thomas and Sarah 
(Needham) Hunt, the marriage taking i)lace Feb. 
29, 1880, it being the fifth Suntlay in that month. 
Mrs. Brooks w!is born in Canada, Dec. 25, 1859. 
Her parents were natives of the N<jrtli of Ireland, 
but emigrated to Canada when quite young. There 
they married, and to them were born twelve chil- 
ilrcn, of whom eight are now living in Kansas, one 
in Dakota, two in Canada, and one died in Dakota. 
Eliza A. is the ter.th in order of birth. She was 
only eight years of age when her parents died in 
Canada, and she was left an orphan. In 1872 she 
cJime to Kansas with her brcither and sister. By 
her union with Mr. Brooks she has had three chil- 
dren — Allie A., Lena G. and Cecil F. 

.Mr. Brooks owns a valuable farm of IHO acres, 
and devotes some time to agriculture, though he is 
more interested in stock-raising, which he finds very 
profitable, and his well-graded sleek-looking cattle 
compare favorably with those owned liy other far- 
mers in this region. 

In politics our subject takes no active |)art, but 
usually ciusis his vote with the Democratic |)arty. 
He is much interested in the welfare of the U.)wn- 



-•►■ -4» 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



355 



ship, and does wliat he can to assist in the develop- 
ment of its various resources. He is especially 
prominent in educational matters, and is Trustee of 
the School Board. 



■Ateta'©^-'" — m 



-^^&VSVtt 



ERNEST K. 1I0D(;E, editor and publisher of 
the Valley Center JSfeus, claims Pope Coun- 
ty, 111., as the place of his nativity. He 
made his first appearance upon the stage of life 
April 8, 18G0, beneath the roof of his parents, John 
E. and Mary (Randolph) Hodge. The former was 
a farmer in Pope Count}', where he also was engaged 
in teaching school, carrying on the duties devolv- 
ing upon him in both situations with great credit to 
himself. He had received in his early days a most 
excellent education, and not wishing to bury his 
talent, adopted the profession of pedagogue in addi- 
tion to his agricultural labors. He was a strong 
Republican politically, taking an active interest in 
all political campaigns, and in indorsement of his 
own principles, enlisted in 1861 in the 29th Illinois 
Infantr}'. He remained in the service for four 
years, and participated in most of the battles where 
the flag of the gallant 2'Jth was thrown to the breeze. 
At Ft. Donelson, at Shiloh, and on many another 
stricken held, his heroism shone out conspicuously, 
and having entered the service a simple private in 
the ranks, he was mustered out at the close of hos- 
tilities with a First Lieutenant's commission. After 
the war he returned to his home in Illinois, where he 
died Nov. 13, 1872. His wife is still living, and 
makes her home upon the farm in Pope County, 
111. They were the parents of four children ; Ernest, 
the subject of this sketch; Loren; .Julia, who died 
at the age of four years, and Eflie. 

The subject of this sketch remained under the 
roof-tree of his parental home until he was some 
eighteen years of age, going to school and itssisting 
in the labors of the farm. His father, appreciating 
the advantages of a first-class education, placed at 
the disposal of his son Ernest all the facilities for 
acquiring a thorough acquaintance with the foun- 
tain of knowledge, which the latter gladly availed 

-^a 



himself of. When but eighteen years old he taught 
a term of school in the county of his birth, after 
which he was engaged for about two years in farm- 
ing. Leaving the tilling of the soil to others, 
preferring the cultivation of the minds of the com- 
munity, he embarked in journalism, and commenced 
as city editor of the Golconda Herald, located at 
the county seat of Pope County, 111., where he 
remained a little short of a year, in full charge of 
the paper. Removing to Elizabethtown, Hardin 
County, in the southeastern part of the State of 
Illinois, he remained about nine months acting as 
Deputy Postniiister. From the latter place he came 
directly to Sedgwick County, and settling in Valley' 
Center Township, taught school for one term. 

In 1880 Mr. Hodge became interested in the 
Valley Center News, of vvhich for a time he filled 
the position of associate editor, but in December, 
1887, he assumed his present place as editor and 
publisher of the same lively sheet. Although but 
a j'oung man in years, he possesses a wonderful 
ability and wields a facile and powerful pen. The 
editori.al tripod has no more worthy occupant in 
this portion of the State of Kansas than the subject 
of this brief sketch, and excellent judges of these 
matters have no hesitation in saying that there is no 
such paper, outside of Wichita, in Southern Kansas. 
He takes a great interest in all local affairs, and is 
an ardent and powerful advocate of every move- 
ment looking to the advancement and benefit of the 
community. 

The marriage ceremony which united the destinies 
of Ernest E. Hodge and Miss .Mary McAmis took 
place March 29, 1883. The lady in question was 
born in Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., HI., July 24, 
1861. and is the daughter of T. A. and Minerva 
(Mott) McAmis. Her father for some sixteen 
years occupied the position of Postmaster at Eliza- 
bethtown, 111., but is now engaged in the mercantile 
trade in Hurricane, Ky. He was the father of a 
family of six children — John, Ross, Mar}', Laura, 
Minnie and Norah. There have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Hodge two children, Rcna and Rae, the 
former born Dec. 30, 1883, and the latter Aug. 27, 
1887. 

Mr. Hodge is a prominent member of the I. O. 
O. F., and has filled the positions of Recording and 
v^ 



I 



■►^-^ 



' > a.'.c 



SKIii;\\ |( K colNTY. 



FinniirinI Secretary, ftn<l i» tJie present inc-ir 
..f tlu> latttT <>nioe. In tin- spring of Xt^xl Mr. 
Iloiljjc wn» iit(tii('le<l into llic olllco of Town CU-rk, 
vNliifli pinco ho is filling; nt llio present writin;j. 



I i-'.NUY SKKKAMI'. u unlive of the I'rnssinn 
Jyk^ rroviiice of llnnover, and Imrn not fur 
J^^JP from llninlitir^, on tlie 2 1, -it of June, 1H3K, 
^j) !<ou;;ht for n home Icaj^uos iiiul leaj^ues from 
hi>< liirtliphice nnt) the Fiitherhmd. Like hundreds 
of tlijit class to whose efforts the State of Kansas 
owes so much for its dcvolopnicnt and prosperity, 
the suliject of this history came to this section of 
country armed only witii his strong hands and will- 
ing heart, and tiie elenu'nts of cliaracter wliicli 
descended to hitn from a line of honoralile ancestry', 
con^ipicuous chielly for its plodding industry and 
uniform success in life. 

John II. and Annie (Woolise) Seekaniji, the |>;ir- 
cnt-s of our subject, were also of (ierman l)irtli and 
parentage, and natives of Hanover, where the 
mother |)assed away May 1.'), |Kr>|,nnd in 1HG(> the 
father eanie to this country, and now makes his 
honu' with our subject. Henry wjls reared to man- 
hood under the parental roof, and in accordance 
with the laws and customs of his native country, 
was ])laccd in school at an early age, and remained 
under the tutelage of excellent masters until reach- 
ing his fourteenth year. He was given the wisdom 
which enabled him to make the most of his oppor- 
tunities, and emerged from the school-room with an 
excellent knowledge of the common branches of 
study in his native tongue. 

I'lxin leaving school young Seckamp employed 
himself principally at farming, until reaching man- 
iiood, and remained upon his native soil until the 
spring of IMO.'i. His progress then, however, both 
mentally and linanciMll}', was not sjitisfactory, and 
be resolved to seek his fortunes in the New World. 
Itidding adieu to the friends of his childhood, he en- 
gaged iNLstuige on a steamer bound from Hamburg 
to New York, at which latter place he arrivi-d after 
M voyage of fourteen days, four of which hail been 
«|K-nl in tiie harbor (jf Southam|)ton, where the 
vessel was obliged Uj put up for re|>air!). Soon 



aiding upon American soil, Mr. Scekunip 
ma<le his way tii Will County, III., where he on- 
gaged lus a farm laborer for one year, receiving for 
his labor $110 and his board. This contract having 
expired, he det^Tinined to invest his gomewlnit 
limiteil capital in a locality on the other side of the 
Mississippi, and took up his residence, first in Wa- 
baunsee County, this .Stato. where he resided imtil 
1 «70, and w:us employed as before. That year he 
pre-empted a quarler-st'ction of land lying |»arlly 
on sections 24 and 25, in .Salem Township, an<l 
which he still t)ccupies. 

It is hardly necess4»ry to say, considering the 
reputed character of the man, that the land which 
Mr. .Seekamp tlius secured possession of bears now 
a wide contrast to its original condition. He 
settled on the raw prairie, in a region where In- 
dians and buffalo still abounded. His nearest 
neighbor was a mile distant, and not the faintest 
attempt at im]>rovement h:td been made on his own 
land, and very little upon that within his vision 
around him. He had arrived here with a capital 
of ii200, by means of which he provided himself 
with the implements of agrictdturc and a structure 
to shelter himself from the storm. This latter had 
been erected with a view of a prosi>octive family, 
Mr. .Seckamp after his arrival here having been 
married, Aug. IS, 1870, to a young lady of his own 
Country, Miss Mary Kohre. Mrs. Seekamp was 
born in Hanover, .Sept. 14, IS.'iO, and is the daugh- 
ter of Frederick and .Sophia (liunk) Uohrs, who are 
both living and remain upon their native soil. 

Mrs. Seekamp came to America alone, in 1870, 
and settled with friends in Ohio, remaining there, 
however, but a short time, when she joined her in- 
tended husband in this county, and they were made 
one in Wabaunsee County, Kan. The record of 
their seven children is as follows: Christopher H. 
was born Aug. 9, 1h7I ; Martha M., Oct. ;}, IH73; 
Frederick, Nov. H), 1 H75 ; AugusU Maivh 9, 1878; 
Annie, Aug. 17, 18H0; Henry, Jan. 14, 18M3, and 
Adaline, April 20. IK8.j. The home circle remains 
unbroken, all the children living, and all at home. 
The Seekamp farm comprises 312 acres at present, 
Mr. .S. having added to his first claim by subse- 
quent purchases. In addition to general farming 
he is quite a horticulturist and stock-breeder, and 



■•►•-♦ 



•► ll ^ » 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



359 



in each department has been very successful. Both 
he and his estimable lady are general favorites 
in their community, and recognized as among its 
solid, intelligent and reliable people. The wife has 
labored with her husband in building up the home- 
stead, which is noticeable throughout that section 
of country as being a beautiful and valuable estate. 
The dwelling is a commodious structure, built in 
modern style, and the barn and other out-buildings 
form a suitable background, while the assortment 
of fruit and shade trees adds both to the beauty 
and v.alue of the premises. 

Mr. iSeekamp h.as been quite prominent in public 
affairs, serving as School Treasurer, and giving 
both moral and subst^mtial encouragement to the 
various enterprises inaugurated for the general wel- 
fare and progress of the people around him. Polit- 
ically he votes for the best man. 

A lithogi'aphic view is shown in this connection 
of Mr. Seekamp's beautiful property. 



.v:»»^ 



-^fK-^ 



t 



iICIIARD W. VANSANT, a prominent far- 
mer and stock-raiser of Rockford Town- 
ship, is the owner and manager of one of 
!^the fine farms forwliieh tiie Arkansas River 
Valley' is so famed. It is located on section 15 and 
also includes a quarter of section 10, his plesisant resi- 
dence and ample farm buildings being situated on 
the former place. 

Mr. Vansant is a native of Maryland, and wiis 
born in Howard Countj', Feb. 20, 1842, being the 
third son in the family of four children born to 
John and Mary (Brown) Vansant. His parents 
were born in Maryland, iiis father in January, 1810, 
and his mother in August, 1812. The names of 
the brothers of our subject are William, Walter 
Brown, and James Edgar ; the latter is now Mayor 
of Ellicott City, Md. His father was a machinist 
by trade, but in 1853 he removed with his family 
to Linn Count}', Iowa, and turned his attention to 
the nursery business, following it for about six 
years. While residing there he suffered the loss of 
his faithful, amiable wife in May, 1873. In 1876 
Mr. ^^ansant came to Kansas and bought the quar- 



ter-section in Rockford Townshiji, where his son, 
our subject, now resides, and was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death in May, 1884. He 
was in every respect a worthy and honored citizen. 

Our suliject was quite young when his parents 
removed from their Southern home to Iowa, and 
the remaining years of his boyhood were passed in 
that State, principally in the public schools of Mt. 
Vernon in Linn County. In 1861 he enlisted in 
Company A, 13th Iowa Infantry, and was im- 
mediately made Corpor.al of the Guards, and ably 
and faithfully discharged his duties in camp and 
field until the winter of 1864, when he was dis- 
charged on account of sickness. He took part in 
the following engagements: Pittsburg Landing, bat- 
tle of Corinth, luka, and siege of Vicksburg. 

After retiring from the service, our subject re- 
turned to Iowa and engaged in farming there for 
some years. In the meantime he married, in 1866, 
Miss Louisa W. Stinger, a former schoolmate of his, 
and a daughter of Andrew and Mary Stinger, na- 
tives of Washington County, Pa. Mr. Stinger 
was a glass-blower, but after his removal to Linn 
County, Iowa, he turned his attention to farming, 
continuing in that occupation until his death in 
1 876. To him and his wife, whose death occurred 
in 1846, were born nine children. The union of 
our subject and his wife has been blessed by the 
birth of seven children, namely: Jennie, born June 
28, 1867, died in Iowa, Dec. 31, 1873; Andrew, 
born Nov. 1, 1869; Johu L. and Willie, twins, born 
Jan. 27, 1871; Willie died July 27, 1871; Vernon, 
born Dec. 22, 1875 ; James, Aug. 29, 1879 ; Blanche, 
Aug. 15, 1883. 

In 1878 Mr. Vansant removed to Kansas with his 
family, and bought a quarter of section 10 in this 
township. Since making his home here his thrift, 
energy- and sound management have made him suc- 
cessful to a marked degree. He has been prin- 
cipally eng.aged in raising fine stock, has an interest 
in a full-blooded Clydesdale horse, and is the owner 
of several fine horses; his well graded Short-horn 
cattle are classed among the best in the township, as 
are also his Poland-China hogs. 

Mr. Vansant's career as a farmer and stock-raiser 
has been characterized by keen judgment, shrewd 
common sense, and good business habits. In poli- 

9^ 



r 



t 



SKDGWICK COUNTV 



tic?, our Mil>ji-«-l iMi l<<'|mli|ii':iM,ii(.'tivi'ly a(l%-iK.-iiliiif; 
tin- principles iif llml |«irty, which he stiiicerely l>e- 
lievifi to be for the public j{<«mI. 

Mr. Nansaiit Uu» one of the fliu'st and bot kept 
hoinestemls in Se«l>:wick C'ouiitv. Kiiii., anil evcry- 
Ihinj; nlMtut it denotey !ty>ten> ami ii\telligence. 
The handMunc nu-hard of forty acres i^ nithotit a 
pjinillel in this jwrl of the Sljite. It is with nn- 
usiml pleasure that we pre>ont a lithographic view 
of this splentlid place on an acconi|«in_viiij,' page of 
thir. Work. 



IIAKI.KS H. IIASKINS. There is a jh'cuI- 




iar interest att.-iched to the history of the 
'^' pioneers of any portion of our great State, 
and imrticularly of that part of it with which we 
are chisely connected. In this connection a brief 
sketch of Charles B. Ilaskins, the fii-st settler of Sa- 
lein Township, will be of unwonted delight to those 
whu like to keep |)osted in such mailers. He is a 
resident on section .'i, where he carries on (piite 
successfully the vocations of farming and stivck- 
raising. 

Mr. Ilaskins is a native of L:igrange C\>nuty, 
hul., and was born .luly :.'0, lf*lO. His parent«i, 
'Willis and Jane (.bicksoh) Ilaskins, were natives of 
the Slate of New York, the former of Knglish and 
the latter of German ancestry. I lis father wsis a 
soldier during the War of 1S12, and was in the en- 
gagement at Sacketl's Harbor among others, and 
afterward became a pensioner of the Government 
for his services in that contest. Of the large fam- 
ily of chililren that were born to them, the follow- 
ing are still living: George. Albert jind Eugene, 
nil of hngrange County, Ind., and Charles, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The latter was rcjin-d to mnn- 
IdkmI on a farm in his native Sliile, and received in 
his boyhootl days a fair education in the common 
schools of the Iloosier State. He has been (piitc a 
reader all his life, and hits become well versed in 
nuiny subjects and on all the current triples of the 
day." 

While calmly employed in the peaceful viK'a- 
lion of a farmer's life, the storm of war which Inul 
been ;,'Mthering for so many years over our beloved 



country, l>roke, and bidiiing a>lieu lo home aixl its 
inlluences, Mr. ilaskins enlistod .lune (j, IhCl.in 
Company A, 21st Indiana Infantry, under the ctmi- 
mand of Col. .Mc.Millin. This regiment |mrticipnt«d 
in the ex|HM|ition l<i New Orleans untler <;«'n. But- 
ler, which startoil from Fortress .Monroe, Va., ami 
with that noble band of heroi-s our subject t4Hik 
|>art in the entire campaign, and was in the 
battles of Ft*, .lacksoii and St. Phillips, at the 
mouth of the Mississippi, and in the battle of 
Baton Rouge. .Subsequently he was with the reg- 
iment when the cor|>s. under Gen. Banks, pro- 
ceeded up the Ucd River, and wjis in .several 
eugagements that were fought with the Confederate 
troo|)s under Gens. Kirby Smith nn<l Dick Taylor, 
the two princi|>id ones being at rie.i^mt Hill. He 
remained in the department of the Southwest until 
he received his discharge, July Ci, IHdI. He Imd 
served his country faithfully for three years, and 
Fame has enrolled his n:une among the thousands 
of other " brave boys in blue," on the psiges of onr 
country's history in chanicters which time c.nn never 
efface. After his discharge he returned lo his na- 
tive Stjite, but having acquired a taste for array 
life, in May, 18(iG, he enlisted in the .^th Regiment 
of the regular army, and wiw stjitioned on the fron- 
tier, principally in New Mexico, where he |)artici- 
pated ill several skirmishes with the Indians. After 
si'rving three years he received his di.schargo in 
May, 1869. at the iiiilit^iry camp, which then stot)d 
where Wichita is now locatcil. At that time the 
business interests of the future metro|H>lis of .South- 
ern Kansas were represented liy an Indian trader 
within the stockade. 

Resuming his duties as a civilian in December, 
18011, Mr. Ilaskins pre-empted 100 acres of land, 
on section 5, in what is now known as .Salem Town- 
ship, being the second one t<.> take up land in that 
jMirtion of the county, Mr. Ransom having pre- 
empted a quart«r-section before him. He immedi- 
ately settled on this land, which was then in its 
entire primitive condition, on which not even a fur- 
row had been turned, and by iliiit of energy and 
industry Iiils brought the land to a high state of 
cultivation, erected a fine and handsome residence, 
subst.-tnli:d barns, and made other general improve- 
meiiLs, until to-day il is as valu;il)le a jiiece of prop- 



•^11-* 



-•►►• -^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-^1^ 



361 




erty as there is in Salem To^vnship. He has seen 
this section of the county, which he fouii<l a v:ist 
wilderness covered with weeds and j^rass, developed 
from its state of pristine loneliness into a land cov- 
ered with fine farms, handsome residences, excellent 
schools and noble churciies, and lias helped in tlie 
good work of bringing about the change that has 
been almost miraculous. B3' adding to his original 
purchase Mr. Haskins is now the owner of a noble 
estate, which covers some 360 acres of land, and he 
is rankeil among the prosperous and wealthy citi- 
zens of Sedgwick County. 

On the 4th of October, 1880, our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss Fannie M. Foulkc, a 
native of Champaign, 111., who was born Nov. 1, 
1861. She is a daughter of Watson and Olive 
(Saj'les) Foulke, who came to Kansas when Mrs. 
H.'iskins was about five years old, and are now liv- 
ing in Reno County. The fireside of Mr. and Mrs. 
Haskins h.os been brightened by the birth of three 
children: Olive J., who was born July 8, 1881; 
Gertrude, April 14, 1883; and Jean, Dec. 23, 1884. 
Politically Mr. Haskins is a pronounced Democrat. 

The family of Mrs. Haskins is pre-eminently a 
pioneer one. Everett Foulke, her grandfather, was 
one of the first settlers in Champaign County, 111., 
and her father and mother, who settled in Kansas 
in 1860, were among the first to locate in Southern 
Kansas. Her parents had a large family, of whom 
the following are living: Edward, a resident of 
Morton County, Kan. ; Emma, wife of M. H. Search, 
of Sedgwick County; Lester and Myron, in Reno 
County; Gracie and Amy, at home with their par- 
ents; and Fannie M., Mrs. Haskins. 



EORGE S. ROBERTSON. Among the act- 
ive farmers and stock-raisers of Eagle Town- 
ship the gentleman whose name stands at 
the head of this sketch holds a prominent place. He 
is a native of Illinois, born in Mason County, Oct. 
28, 1852, the son of Samuel and Martha (Jones) 
Robinson, both natives of Kentucky, wiiere they 
spent their earlier years. His father departed this life 
at the age of sixty-one years. He was a man of 
great force of character, and after removing to Illi- 



nois took an active part in general and local affairs. 
He was a very successful agriculturist, and was 
engaged in that occupation until his retirement 
from active life about fourteen years prior to his 
decease, he having accumulated a comfortable com- 
petence. The mother is still living on the old 
home place in Illinois. To him and his wife were 
born five children, namely : John Wesley, Elizabeth, 
Georges., Alice and William; two others are dead. 

The subject of this sketch remained under the 
parental roof-tree until fourteen years of a^e, 
attending the district school, where he received a 
good common-school education. He then engaged 
work as a farm laborer, continuing thus occupied 
the ensuing four years, when he returned home. 
The following year, being then nineteen years of 
age, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Wilson, daugh- 
ter of Jesse and Nancy (Fink) Wilson, natives of 
Ohio. Neither arc living, her njother's death pre- 
ceding that of her father's, which occurred in 1872. 

Mr. Robertson has always been engaged in gen- 
eral farming and has been exceedingly prosperous 
in that occupation. After remaining several years 
in his native State he concluded to cross the Mis- 
sissippi and test the truth of the brilliant accounts of 
the ad vantages offered to those engaged in ao-ricult- 
ural i)ursuits in sunny Katisas. Accordingly, in the 
fall of 1880 he removed to .Sedgwick County. He 
did not purchase a farm at once, but the first year 
rented a farm on section 26, Eagle Township, 
where his labors were rewarded with such good har- 
vests that he was encouraged to buy a farm. He 
tiierefore purchased ICO acres of land on section 
24, where he lived for eighteen months, then dis- 
posed of his property to Boone Watts, and bou'j-ht 
eighty acres on section 25, of F. M. Furnish. Sub- 
sequently Mr. Robertson bought of the Santa Fe 
Railway Company eighty acres more on the same 
section, joining his previous pureliiise on the north- 
east. This tract of 1 GO acres he has improved from 
raw prairie land, on which a furrow had never been 
turned, to one of the best cultivated farms in the 
township, producing some of the finest crops in the 
vicinity. It is well watered and has great natural 
advantages, being well adapted to tillage or grazino-. 
Our subject makes a specially of stock-raising, hav- 
ing commenced with ten head of milch cows, and has 



I 



t 



-^■-4. 



362 



SEDGWK K I oi N TY. 



iiuToji-o'l till- iiiMiil «r iKili _\iMi. Ii:i\ iiijj iiuw eijjlily- 
fiiur bond, tlioii);li ho Una hnd iia iiiuiiy n.H 1 10 Ih-ikI. 
Ili'M-'IU |)rii)ci|>ally in thi> liniin' mnrki't. lie Uim a 
giMMl j^milf of calllo, niiiDiig Iheiii lioiiigf<t»uii' Sliort- 
liuriij*. His horsv.s nrv of {jtxxl li|iio<le<l »UK-k, one 
AtAllion bi>in>; n cross of Mor^iin and Nonnnii. Iliit 
iiinres nn- C'lytli'.tiliilf ami Mnrf^ii) ('r<>!i.scil, iinil were 
.shi|>|M-il to liiiii from liU niilive i-uiiiity, .Mhmoii, HI. 
Mr. HtildTUmii it< one of ilie re])reM'nt!ilive men 
uf Kii^le Towu^liij), iih.l nn inipurUtiil fiit-tor of 
tile fiinnin;; and l)iisine».>i eoniniiinity, liein^ a wide- 
awake, energetic man, willing to aid any work that 
will iLvist in developing the resoiiree.s of tlie town- 
ship. 

To Mr. IJoliertson and hi.< exeellenl wife have 
lieen l>orn nine children, namely: Charles Henry, 
Kii/.a llelle, Joseph .Marion, (leorge Lester, Frciler- 
iek ('., Hirtlie May. and three who are dead : .Samuel 
.lied Fel.. 2i', l«80: .Julia L., Dec. 2, 1882, and 
William A., .June 2('), 1H87. Their plenivant home 
is a center of attraction to a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances, whose esleem and confidence 
they have won by their cordial manners, kind .icts, 
and hearty sympathy with all. Mr. Robertson is a 
member of the rniun J,:d.or party, and an earnest 
Worker. 

'TT^ DWAUO K. riTCIIKK is one of the pioneers 
U^ of K:\^\f 'i'uwnship, and owns and manages 
IlLis^j a good farm on section 2G, which he took 
up in 1870 umler the homestead act. He immedi- 
ately set about its improvement, and now has it 
under the highest cidlivation, and from its rich, 
fertile s<jil gains a good income. lie has it well 
stockcfl with cattle of the most improved grades, 
owning a fine herd of about thirty head. He for- 
merly look a great interest in niising swine, but of 
late yeaiD has censed to niise them. 

.Mr. I'itchcr is a native of the northern part of 
Somersetshire, Kngland, where he wjl-. born Sept. 27, 
1m;!7, being a son of Kdward and Mary (Kastment) 
ril<-hcr, both natives of Kngland. His mother died 
ill her native land, in the year 1840, at the age of 
forty years. .She wils a true Christian woman, and 
a worthy member of the Church of Kngland. The 
f.ither came to the I'liited States when our .-ubject 



h:ls aliout two years of nge, (Iret locatiiij,' in Medina 
County, Ohio, and there labored as a farmer for 
nUiut Ave years. The following three years he 
rented land until his removal to (irtindy County, 
HI., where he actively engaged in farming the sue 
ceetlingM'ventceii years. For about ten years prior 
to his <lecea.se in that county he lived in honorable 
retirement from the active duties of life. At one 
time during his residence in Illinois he was seriously 
ill of typhoid fever, and was unable to do anything 
for four months. lie was a stanch member of the 
Itepublican |iarty, wits a representative man of his 
county, and highly ropected by all who knew him 
He wa-s the father of eight children, four boys and 
four girls, as follows: Kdward, .Susan. Caroline, 
Mary, Thomas, Prudence, Edward and Ileber. 

Our subject began life for himself when he was 
twelve years old, continuing, however, to make his 
home with his father until he was twenty -one. In 
1862 he enlisted in the r27th Illinois Inf:intry, and 
did loyal service on the battle-fields of the .Smth 
until the close of the war, receiving his discharge 
in .Inly, ISCi, at Washington, D. C. In one of the 
hard-fought cngagemenUs in which he took an active 
imrt he received a serious wound in the hip. which 
laid him up in a hospital for two months, and oblige<l 
him to go on crutches; be is now entitled to a jHsn- 
sion. He fought in the battle of Arkansas Post, 
and wn.s present at the siege of ^'icksburg, which 
histcd six weeks. 

After Mr. Pitcher w.is mustered out of the army 
be returne<1 to Illinois and engaged in farming the 
three succeeding years. He was united in m.-irriago 
to Miss Delia Itagon, a daughter of Horace and 
.Sally (Atlams) liagon, natives resi)ectively of New 
York and Ohio. Her parents were married in Port- 
age County, Ohio, in 18 j;}, and moved to (irumly 
County, 111., in the spring of IH.'tl. They are now 
both deceased, the father dying in the spring of 1 870, 
aged fifty-three. When a young man he learned 
the carpenter's trade, .-ind followed it to some extent 
in after years in connection with farming. He was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of 
the Baptist Church. They had five children, namely : 
Delia, Horace Orlando, Ann, Klla and Milton. 
Horace died at the age of three mi^niths. Mrs. 
Pitcher w;l- Ixirii in PorLigi' County, Ohio. Oct. 24, 



-^•- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



f 

353 ' • 



1846. To her and her husband have been born 
three children, of whom Ella, born Sept. 17, 1873, 
is the only survivor: Sherman Ulrick was born 
Dec. 2il, 1869, and died in July, 1879, at the age of 
ten years; Horace Edward, born in May, 1875, died 
in August of the same year. 

In 1870 Mr. Pitcher decided that he would try 
farming in Sedgwick County, Kan., which was then 
attracting general notice for its wonderful .agricult- 
ural facilities, and he had been well impressed 
with what lie had heard of its climate and situation. 
Since coming here he has industriously engaged iu 
general farming with marked success, as before 
noted, and with the cheerful assistance of his help- 
meet, has built up a cosy home, where thej' can 
enjoy the comforts of life in the peaceful conscious- 
ness that b}' their faithfulness in the performance 
of life's duties the}- have well earned the respect 
which is .accorded to them by .ill. 

In religion Mr. Pitcher and his family are faith- 
ful members of the society of the Seventh-Day Ad- 
ventists. In politics he is a firm believer in the 
principles of the Republican party. 



ATTHEW ROSSWOG. The subject of this 
narrative was one of the early pioneers of 
Salem Township, and has contributed his 
full quota toward its development and 
progress. A farmer by occupation, he operates on 
a fine tract of land comprising IGO acres, on sec- 
tion 28, in .Salem Townshi]), from which he has built 
up a fine homestead, and he is now ranked socially 
and financiall}' among the leading men of Sedgwick 
County. 

Mr. Rosswog, a native of the Grand Duchj' of 
Baden, Gemianj-, was born on the 23d of Septem- 
ber, 1827, and is the son of Andrew and Mary A. 
(Zimmerniann) Hosswog, who were also of German 
birth and parentige. The father was a stonemason 
by trade, and Matthew, at the age of fourteen years, 
commenced his apprenticeship at broom-making, 
which occupation he followed until arriving at his 
twentieth year. Upon the outbreak of the war of 
1848, between Prussia and Denmark, he became a 
soldier in the arm}' which was raised in his native 



Baden, and which co-operated with the Kingdom 
of Prussia. lie fought in three regular battles, in 
one of which the Danes opened the dykes and 
drowned about 300 of the enemy. Young Ross- 
wog narrow!}- escaped with his life, being in w.ater 
up to the arm-pits, but w.as a good swimmer and 
managed to escape. 

In 1849, still continuing in the service, Mr. 
Rosswog took part on the side of the Baden revo- 
lutionists, and again participated in several battles, 
in one of which he received a severe wound in the 
knee, which incapacitated him for further service, 
and he accordingly received his honorable dis- 
charge. Our subject now decided to seek his 
fortune on this side of the Atlantic, and took 
passage on a sailing-vessel bound from Havre to 
the port of New Orleans. After a tedious voyage 
of fifty-six days he landed at his destination, and 
after a few months spent in the Crescent City made 
his way to St. Louis, Mo. There for two 3'ears he 
was engaged as a day laborer, and thence migrated 
to Marshall County, III., where he made his home 
until the spring of 1870. 

Mr. Rosswog now determined to cross the Missis- 
sippi, and coming to this county made his arrange- 
ments to settle permanently. While in Illinois he 
had worked for a time at $12 per month, and with 
true German thrift and economy, had managed 
each year to save something from his earnings, 
which he eventuallj' invested in land in Marshall 
County, paying therefor the sum of 83,200. On 
account of a flaw in the title he lost the whole and 
had but $60 left with which to begin anew. 

Too much credit cannot be given to a man who 
thus, without anj' time spent in bewailing his losses, 
began at once to retrieve his fortunes, determined 
that it should not be for the want of effort if he did 
not finally succeed. In tlie short interval which had 
elapsed from the time he was forced to give up his 
land until coming to this county, he emplo3-ed him- 
self for a time as a drayman at Henry City, where 
he became one of the most poi)ular men of the craft. 
In Marshall County, on the lath of November, 1858, 
he was united in marriage to Miss l>ouisa Seydd, 
who had been born and reared in that vicinity, and 
is the daughter of August and Julia (Hoober) Scj'- 
del, who were among the earliest pioneers of that 



r 



^ 



<• 



1 



i: no WICK COUNTY. 



rp^rioii, lixvitini; iluTi' iii IS.IT. (»f tin- iinioii tht'rc 
vta» Itorii imp cliilil only, n (lau};lit«T, Mnrtim I'., uii 
tlip ;Ui of (»clol>«'r, 1KG4. Shi- is now llie wife of 
Henry K. I^un-nt, w1k>, in IftH.'i, piirchnsrd llio 
ftirm of onr ^nll)jcct, nnil with wlmni the liiltor now 
res id PI*. 

Mr. Kofwwoji, ii|N)ti coining t<i Sjileni Town>liip, 
|iro-i'nipt»'<l tlip west linlf of the sioulliwMt qiinrttT 
of seetion 27, nnd the oiust lialf of the southpiist 
qimrUT of sei-tion 2K, thus nmkin)^ I GO acres, which 
he tirought to a good stat<' of cultivation from a 
wild prairie. Ho erected, in 1S82, a heaiitiful resi- 
dence which is flanked by a line barn and all the 
iiut-liiiildings required by the enterprising and pro- 
gre*.»ive agriculturist. The homestead will stanti 
ns a inonunicnt to his industry and ]H>rscvcranco 
long after the projector ha.s been gathered to his 
fathers. 

Mr. Ho.*swog. in due time after emigrating to 
America, acquainted himself with the general prin- 
ciples of the Kepublican (iuvernment, and deciiled 
to ca.-t his lot with the Itepublican party, it.s plat- 
form meeting his ideas of right nnd justice more 
nearly than any other, anil he has accordingly given 
to it his earnest support, Alllu>ugh frequently 
solicited to accept olllce, he has invariably declined, 
preferring to wield his influence in a more quiet and 
unobtrusive manner, and which doiditless has served 
fully ns well to further the principles of truth nnd 
justice. 

Mr. Rosswog when landing u|)on American soil 
had but .'i single franc piece in his jweket, which i> 
equivalent to fifteen cents in American money, ami 
in looking upon his possessions to-day and the po- 
sition he occupies among his fellow-citizens, too 
much credit cannot be given him for the resolution 
and determination which must have been exercised 
in order to bring about what he has accomplished. 
His devoted wife, who for nearly thirty years was 
his cheerful nnd f:iithful helpmeet, nnd a wise coun- 
selor in many ditllculties, departed this life on the 
2*2d of February, l^iHT, leaving in the home a va- 
cancy which can never be filled. .She was a lady 
greatly beloved for her many excellent qualities of 
heart and mind, having endeared herself to all by 
her kindnes.s of heart ami the re.-idy charity by 
which .■■he extended n helping hand to whiM'Ver 



around her wns in iljltiiiiliy <>r distrcM. Mr. Rom- 
wog in his declining years finds great solace in the 
compnnionshipVif his daughter and grandchildren, 
by whom he is cherished with that filial tenderness 
which is involuntarily bestowed upon one who has 
|HTformed so well his part in life. 

Our subject, religiously, is identified with the 
Cicrmnn Kvangelical As«<KMation, and socially, bc- 
i longs to the I. C). O. F.. at Henry, HI. While a 
I resident of Hlinois he wai; drafteil into the nrmy, 
I and without endeavoring to evade it, cheerfully 
i took upon himself the duties of a Union soldier, 
becoming n member of Company A, 48th Hlinois 
; Infantry, which was nssigned to the I.'Uh Corps, 
Army of the Cumberland. He met the enemy at 
the siege of Nashville, and was in the battles at 
Snow Hill and Kingston, N. C., besides various 
minor engngements nnd skirmishes. After the sur- 
render of the Confederate troops he participated in 
the grand review at Wiushington, and received his 
honorable discharge in September. 1865. 

Mr. and Mrs. I.nunint, the son-in-lnw and daugh- 
ter of oursul)ject, nre the jMirents of three interesting 
children, namely: Mary L., born Oct. 7, 18S2; 
Kmil A.,Jan. 8, 188;'i, nnd Floyd Matthew, Feb. 1, 
1888. 

A handsome lithographic view is shown on an- 
other pnge of Mr. Kosswog's residence. 



1 ulIN M. Ui..Ma;i.V. This model man and 
citizen is one of whom the biographer tie- 
lights to write, worthy and upright, held in 
I high esteem by his neighbors, devoted to his 
family, intelligent and ca|)ablc as a business man, 
I nnd who, ns a contmett>r and builder. Lakes pride in 
the l>eauty and correctness of his work and aims at 
nothing else than the highest excellence therein. 
He became a resident of WichiUi in 1880, nnd in 
connection with his business of conlmcting, has 
dealt consiilen»l)ly in real estate, from which he 
derives n comfortable income. 

The Kmpire of (Jermnny hn.s contributed to the 
I'nited States some of its best citizens, who hnvc 
nided es|)ccinlly in the development of the rich 
resources of the ^^'eslern country. Our subject, a 



•►a-^ 



-•►■ 



i 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



365 ' ' 



•►'t:^ 



native of the little Kingdom of Wurtcmberg, was 
born on the 21st of March, 182!}, and is the son of 
George and Christine (Finkbeiner) Blakely, who 
were also of German birth and ancestry. The father 
was a lumber merchant, and both parents spent 
their entire lives upon their native soil. Their 
family included eight children, four .sons and four 
daughters. 

Our subject, in accordance with the laws and cus- 
toms of his native countr}', was placed in school at 
an earl}- age, where he continued until reaching his 
fourteenth year. He then commenced an appren- 
ticeship at the cabinet trade, and after serving three 
years, started out to see something of the continent, 
traveling throughout Germany and Switzerland, at 
the same time paying his expenses b^' working at 
his trade. In 1847, soon after his eighteenth birth- 
day, he embarked on a steamer at Havre, and after 
a safe voyage landed in the city of New York. 
There he oocn])ied himself at his trade six months 
then proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained 
a resident of the Queen fit}' for a period of six 
years. 

Young Blakely, still proceeding westward, next 
became a resident of Galena, 111., where he com- 
menced as a contractor, and in due time gave em- 
ployment to eight f)r ten men. Two years later ive 
find him in Red Wing, Alinn., where he also built 
up and carried on a large business as contractor. 
From the North he proceeded southwestward into 
the western part of Texas, and for a time ab.in- 
doned the building business and engaged in the 
purchiise and .sale of live stock. He in due time 
had under his supervision a ranch of 640 acres, 
stocked with l,r)00 head of cattle. He was thus 
employed until 1880, when he left the ranch, and 
taking up his residence in Wichita, resumed busi- 
ness .as a contractor, in which he has since been 
engaged. 

The marriage of John M. I51akely and JMiss Susan 
Cogel, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was celebrated at the 
home of the bride in that city, March 24, 18.54. 
Mrs. B. was born Aug. 26, 1832, in Lancaster, Pa., 
and is the daughter of Gotlieb and Barbara (Dice) 
Cogel, also natives of Wurtemberg, who emigrated 
to America in 1831, and first settled in Lancaster, 
Pa. In 1833 they removed to Cincinnati, where 



he was engaged in different occupations. The par- 
ents are now deceased. Their household included 
six children, five of whom are living, and residents 
of Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois and Minnesota. 

The marriage of our subject and his wife h.as 
been blessed by the birth of nine children, namely : 
George, who died in infancy; William F., Eleanor 
M., Charles A., Lydia C, George M., Nellie S., 
Harry C. and Agnes C. Mr. Blakely has taken 
especial care to give his children a good education, 
and his removal to Wichita was solelj' for this pur- 
pose. They are all living and present a very inter- 
esting family group, being bright and intelligent, 
and most justly the objects of pride and affec- 
tion by their parents. The second son is engaged 
in the grocery trade, being located at the corner 
of Third and Main streets. 

Mr. Blakely, politically, has been an adherent of 
the Republican party since casting his fii'st Presi- 
dential vote, and held the office of School Trustee 
in his township while living in Texas. He is public- 
spirited and liberal, .and gives according to his 
means to the enterprises which have for their object 
the social, moral and financial welfare of the city. 
With his family he is a member in good standing 
of the German Methodist Church, in which he offic- 
iates as Trustee. The Blakely residence is pleasantly' 
located .at No. !)27 East Central street, and is the 
resort of the cultivated and intelligent people, who 
have learned to value its inmates according to their 
true worth. 

^f?^ ENRY SCHAD, manuf.acturer of harness and 
l^'^'j saddlery, is numbered among the honorable 
it^^ business men of Wichita. He was born in 
((^ Richmond, Va., March 22, 1846,beingason 
of Henry and Elizabeth (Stephen) Schad. His 
parents were reared .and married in Germany, and 
in the j-ear 1843 left their old home in Giesaw, 
Germany, to establish themselvesin the New World. 
They located in Richmond, Va., and there Mr. 
Schad entered into the hotel business, becoming the 
owner and manager of the famous AVilliam Tell 
House, which was one of the largest and best kept 
hotels in that cit}'. To him and his most estimable 
wife were born five children, three of whom died in 



■ -4^ 



t 



sf:dowick county. 



iiifnncy. nml A*lniii nnil llonry nrc the survivtini. 
'I'lic fonntT Ivft luiiiu- nt tlii- brriikinj,' ciut of llic 
Hcli«-lli<in, iiiiil t<Mik part in tin- ontirc xlriigjrlc, cii- 
li>tiii;,' in tli<'7lli Mnrylnml Kcjjiiiicnl, Fetleralnriny, 
In-ill}; wdtiiultMl live liine.«. After llic war he re- 
i'iili»tcil ill the I'nion iiriiiy, nnd i> now <iUitioiie<l nt 
Tucson, Ariz., Imviiig n jKijiitimi in the t^uurter- 
miwter's I)e|iHrtment. 

The siilijeet of this sketch was educated in the 
piihlic sdiiMils of his native city, and at the age of 
fmirleen l)ej,'!iii to learn the trade of harness-maker. 
This thoughtful, intelligent lad wnlchod with intense 
interest the progress of pulilic afTuirs that rinally 
cnhninated in the terrihie civil strife. He saw the 
first rehel llag hoisted over the dome of the Capitol 
nt Hichniond, nnd in I8l>.'l, the youth, true to his 
sentiments of loyalty to the I'nion cause, and filled 
with jMitriotic desire to aid it, managed to escape 
through the rebel lines from Richmond, though at 
the risk of his life, it being a very dangerous iin- 
derU'iking, the Confederates kept such a close watch, 
lie was, however, iininedintely arrested as a rebel 
spy nnd thrown into pri.son for five days at Fortress 
Monroe. When he wjis set at liberty he enlisted in 
the Union army at Camden, N. J., in Compniij' 
K, 1st New .Jersey Cavalry, being obliged to 
enroll himself under an jisssumcd name as Henry 
Sanders. He was fr<»m Hichniond, Va., and his 
family were well known, his father being the keej)er 
of the |Hjpular William Tell House, and if young 
.Schad were cai)tiired he might be recognized under 
his own name and be shot as a traitor to the South- 
ern cause. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, 
T'xld's Tavern, Trevilian Stiition, Weldou liailway, 
llnt<'hie's River, Five Forksand Ream's Stalion;he 
also took part in the capture of the .South Side Rail- 
way, the eajjture of Leo's head<juartei-s train, nnd 
ill Lee's capture and surrender. He served under 
the gallant tieii. I'hilip .Sheri<lnii, remaining in the 
uriii}' eighl<'eii iiionths, until the close of the war. 
Oiiring that time he was never in the hospiUil, never 
sick. He had two horses shot under him at the 
Wilderness and one at Cold Harbor. In IhG,") he 
w.xs honorably dis<-hnrged under general orders. 
Returning to Richmond he could obtain no work 
:i> lie had fought in the I'nion army, and in IHfid 
III' went to WursJiw, 111., ami resided there fifteen 



years. In the meantime he wa* married to Miss 
l.oiiisjt Riiickel,of Cerinnn descent, but an Ameri- 
can by birth. She has since been t^j him a faith- 
ful nnd ilevoted helpmeet, and their union has been 
ble.sM'd by the birth of two chihlren — George and 
Anne Adcle. 

In I«H2 Mr. Schnd went to Missouri, nnd in Kdina 
Was engaged in the harness trade the ensuing five 
years, doing an extensive and pros|)eroU8 business. 
In 1H87 he removed to Wichita, as he siiw a good 
chance there for men of his calling, and o|x>iied his 
present esUiblishment at No. Ill* West Doiiglaa 
avenue. He makes as|>ecialty of the manufacture 
of fine harnesses, carries n large stock, and is already 
doing a fine business. He superintends his work 
himself in all its details, and to this personal super- 
vision doubtless owes much of his success. Socinlly 
our subject is a member of the G. A. R., niiil of 
the I. (). O. F. ; ixjiilically he is a stanch Repub- 
lican, strongly upholding those principles for which 
he was ready to sacrifice his life in the early days 
of the |>arty. He is a true citizen in every res|x?ct, 
and has an excellent reputation as a straightfor- 
ward and upright man. 

(F KNRY IK) WARD, well known throughout 
l)ll ''"■"'* Township and vicinity, came to Kniisas 
/^j^^ in the spring of 1877, stopping first in Ford 
(^) County about eighteen months, and coming 
from there t<^) .Sedgwick County in December, 1878. 
The following year he purchased eighty acres of 
raw prairie, in the cultivntion nnd improvement of 
which he has since been industriously engaged, with 
the most satisfactory results. His land is pleasantly 
located on section 16, ami in addition to general 
farming he makes a si^ecialty of hogs and cattle. 

Mr. Howard wa.-' born in Caldwell County, Ky., 
Jan. 24, I 8.ir.. He is of Knglish ancestry, his great- 
grandfather having been born in Knglnnd, and com- 
ing to America in the Colonial days, had married n 
lady of Irish birth and parentage. They settled in 
North Cnrolina, of which State the pntern.al grand- 
IMireiits of our subject were natives, nnd where they 
arc supposed tohaves|KMit their entire lives. Geoige 
I'. Howard, the father of our subject, wa.^ Iiorn nnd 



•► ti^^ 




a 




e A^- 




•►HI-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



369 



i 



reared in Caswell County, N. C, whence, in the 
fall of 1829, he removed to Tennessee, and two 
years later to Kentucky. In December, 1832, he 
married a maiden of the Blue Grass regions. Miss 
Isabella Thorp, who was born in Ohio County and 
was a cousin of her husband. 

In 184.'), George F. Howard, with his family, mi- 
grated to Christian County, Mo., where he followed 
farming, and where willi his excellent wile lie spent 
the remainder of his days. Their family consisted 
of six sons and seven daughters, of whom Hcnrj' 
was the eldest. He was reared on the farm in 
Christian County, where he received a common- 
school education and remained until 1874, when, 
desirous of seeing something more of the world, 
he made his way to Colorado, where he remained 
thre years engaged in laboring, and from there 
came to this State in 1877. 

While a resident of Missouri our subject was 
united in m.irriage, in February, 1856, to Miss 
Martha A. Moore, who was born in Benton County, 
Mo., Sept. 20, 1838. Of this union there arc nine 
children living and one deceased, the latter being 
William, who was killed by the explosion of a shot- 
gun in February, 1878, after the removal of the 
family to Park Township. The eldest daughter, 
Isabel, is the wife of William M. Burns, of Park 
Township; Rebecca D. married William J. Baker, 
of Colorado. The j'ounger ones, at home, are 
named respectively; Edward M., Sarah J., George T., 
Priscilla C, Mar^- F., Clara A- -ind Samuel L. 

Mr. Howard has been a member of the Repub- 
lican party for a period of twenty-five years, and 
sociall3', belongs to the G. A. R. He enjoys the 
esteem and confidence of his neighbors, and is re- 
garded in all respecttj* as an honest man and a good 
citizen. 



tllOMAS K. McLEAN. The thriving city of 
Wichita has a full quota of live, energetic, 
and persevering business men, among whom 
is the subject of our sketch, a wealthy and enter- 
prising capitalist, occupying a fine residence at No. 
1705 Fairview avenue. This he purchased in 1887, 



paying therefor the modest sum of 120,000. He is 
a native of .Scothmd, and was born in Argyleshire, 
May 12, 1837. 

The parents of our subject are John O. and Mary 
(McLean) McLean, both natives of Scotland, where 
they lived and carried on farming until their re- 
moval to Canada East. They then located in 
Brompton Gore, and continued farming there until 
1869, when they moved to Bowling Green, Mo. 
There they retired from active work, and in 1887 
removed to Wichita, where, at the respective ages 
of eighty-seven and seventy-seven, they are enjoy- 
ing the comforts of a well-deserved competency. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was the 
second of the twelve children born to his parents, 
and came with them to Canada at the .age of eleven 
years. He attended the public schools, and being 
an ambitious student, soon won a reputation for 
ability and intelligence. At the age of eighteen 
years he secured a position in the Melbourne slate 
quarry, where he had charge of the workmen. It 
was he who first opened the Rockland slate quarries 
in Canada, now valued at millions of dollars. For 
a number of years afterward he was engaged as a 
contractor for the slate and copper mines of Canada. 
In 1869 he left the Dominion .and proceeded to the 
State of Missouri, where he was engaged as a con- 
tractor on the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern 
Railwaj', between H.annibal and Louisiana. The 
stone for the bridge that crosses the Mississippi at 
Louisiana he procured from Clinton Hill, Pike Co., 
Mo., and the work on it was pushed forward with 
such rapidity, that six months from the time that 
the first stone was blasted, the bridge was com- 
pleted and the cars running across it. In 1873 Mr. 
McLean invested a part of his capital in a farm in 
sunn}' Kan.sas, purchasing 1 60 acres of land in Cha- 
nute, Neosho County, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising. Two years later he secured 
a contract from the Frisco Railw.ay Company, and 
assisted in building the Frisco road, running from 
Pierce City, through Wichita, to Avoca. At the 
completion of that railwaj', he removed to Ft. 
Scott, this State, and the next six years was em- 
ployed bj' the Missouri & Pacific Railway Comp.any 
in superintending the grading of that road, having 
under him some 300 men, with as many teams. 



f 






-•^-■-4» 



370 



-1 1' WICK COUNTY. 



Sul»fMM]iu'iitl_v lu' ln-c:»nie a ctiiilrnctor fur llic Smiln 
Fp Konil, 1111(1 rp.iidiMl nt difforcnt p<>iiit>* iiloiiff 
tlio line of ilint rnilwny. lie rcLniiiod liis coiim-c- 
liim with llmt C(iin|mny until lie cniiie U> Wic-liiU 
ill 1H83, wlii'ii lu- Ijccnnjc coiincctod with the M. 
lA)ui!<, Ft. Sc'iilt (V AVicliitn, now llio Mis.souri \- 
I'noiflc Kiiihviiy Conipnny. 

Mr. Mi'Lenn invcstod liirjjfly in reiil (>sl:tt« in this 
city, liiiyinij proix-rty on Mnin and Donglii* strcols, 
ninl in other |Mirts of tlic city. :tnd since then he hns 
carried on a ."ucce.ssful liusinc.s.-* as a real-estate 
hroker. Nor liave his interests l>een centered en- 
tirely in this county, for in company with Mr. O. 
Martinson, he purclujsed 400 acres of land in But- 
ler County, on which there is a fine quarry of linic- 
stono. an<l from winch they take 200 carloads |>er 
month, shipping it to various [wirts of the State. 
They have a stone and coal yard on the cast, and 
also one on the west side of Wichita, jiud in the 
yards and quarry give employment to sixty men. 

In 1871 the subject of our sketch was married to 
Miss .lessio Miller, a native of lirompton Gore, 
Canada. She was horn in April, 1847, and is the 
sixth child of a family of seven, born to Charles 
and Mar'.'aret (Mcl)ougnl) Miller, who were natives 
rc.Hiwctively of Olasgow and IIi;Lrhliuid, Scotland. 
Mr. Miller was by trade a cop|>crsniith, and emi- 
grated in I.S4H with his family from Scotland to 
Canada, whore he is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. 
McLean have been born seven children, namcl}': 
Mary, Charles. Annie, .lolin, Thomas, .lessie and 
Maxwell. 

.Since becoming a resident of Wichita, our sub- 
ject has identified himself thoroughly with the in- 
teresLs of his adopted town and county, and by his 
dcr-ision of character, integrity and true worth, has 
won the respect and esteem of the entire com- 
munity. In politics .Mr. McLean is a strong Pro- 
hibitionist. .Socially, he is a member of the .Masonic 
frat«'rnity. Religiously, both Mr. anil Mrs. McLean 
are valued and consist<'nt members of the I'resliy- 
terian ("hurch. Among the |M)rtraits of the live 
and enti-rprising business men of Sedgwick County", 
who <le,servc a place in n record of its best people, 
none will be more highly appreciated or more 
deserving n prominent ponition tlinii that of Mr. 
Mil.i:.ii. whiili Hppears on an adjoining page. 



^ W. SNVDKK 

prominent capitalist of Wichita. 



•► • ^4* 



a name reprcscntnig a 
The fall 
of 187;t introduced him to this place. He 
bought a quarter- .sect ion of laud in Wichit.i Town- 
ship when he first came, and farmed it for two 
years. lie then, in I87.'>, took u|> a claim on the 
Ninnescah River of IGO acres. He made some im- 
provement on this place, then .-Mild it, auil went to 
Coloriidoon a pros|K>cting and mining tour, but one 
year there sjiti.-'fied him that Kansjts win a better 
place for him, so he returned and engaged in a con- 
fectionery and "short order" house on Main street. 
Two years at the last-mentioned business satL-^ficd 
Mr. .Snyder, so he went with Mr. (irifTenstein into 
the Indian Territory, where I hey located a stm-k 
ranch, now known as tlu- (irifTcnstein Ranch. Af- 
ter six months Mr. .Snyder returned and became a 
member of the i>olice force of Wichita, with which 
he remained thirty-four months. His health then 
failing he resigned and went to the Hot .Springs, 
Ark., an<l was greatly benefited there. He then 
returned and went into the real-estate business, 
which he has since successfidly followed. 

Our subject was born March 18, 18 19, at Canton, 
Fulton Co., III., and is the son of (leorge and Mary 
(Racley) Snyder. They were from New Jersey and 
Northampton, Pa. The former was a native of 
Pennsylvania, and followeil boating on the Ohio 
River. Mary Radey's father was a native of the 
same .State, a farmer, a Democrat, descended from 
the Oermans. By trade the elder .Snyder was a 
blacksmith, and now resides in TjizowcU County, 
III. They have four children — Amelia, .Maggie, 
Charles W. and Mary. The first mentioned is now 
Mi's. Tripps, and resides in Peoria, 111.; Maggie 
joined her fortunes with .lohn .Swartz, and resides 
at .loliet; Mary is at home, where all giwid girls 
usuall}' are till they have a home of their own. 

The Mr. Snyder of whom we began writing wjis 
reared on a farm, and rein:iined at home till his 
eighteenth year. He farmed thcn-afler in Illinois 
three years, then came to Wichita. He put up two 
buildings here, one where he now resides, and in 
1HM7 the one adjoining on North Lawrence street. 
He built a grocery house on the corner of Main and 
Central streets in 1883; he also put up a black-" 
-mith-shop on the same block. The .MyiTs and 



I 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



371 "I 



Snyder Addition to the city was laid out by Mr. 
Snyder and his wife's fatlier. It lies north of Carey 
Park and contains eighty acres, which they have 
sold. This is not the only property he has handled. 
He has a five-story building on Douglas avenue, 
besides other buihlings in different parts of the city. 
Mr. Snyder and Miss Gertie A. Myers were mar- 
ried in 1884. She was a resident of the city. Her 
parents' names are Thomas L. and Kansas A. 
(Saltznian) Myers, natives respectively of Pennsyl- 
vania and Cortland County, N. Y. Mrs. Snyder is 
the first daughter of their family. Mr. Snyder is 
a Democrat in politics and a gentleman in princi- 
ple. He has paid liberally to the support of public 
enterprises of the city, and is in every w.ay a worthy 



'-^^^:^^!^^^^^7<f^^ 



\f? H. TILDEN, M. D., an eminent physician 
of Wichita, residing at No. 2oo North Main 
street, located here Sept. 1, 1886, and imme- 
diately established himself in his profession 
as a general practitioner, though he makes a specialty 
of surgery. At this writing he has been in the State 
less than two years, and without doubt has per- 
formed more capital operations, such as laparotomy 
for tumors of kidneys, ovaries, uterus, etc., etc., also 
for stone, and others of less character, than pe:-haps 
anj' or all the physicians in the State. 

Dr. J. G. Tilden, our subject's father, was a na- 
tive of Vermont. He received an exceptionally 
fine education in the schools of his native State, and 
was graduated when quite young from the Univer- 
sity of Norwich, Vt., after which he taught school 
and read medicine. Subsequently he attended 
medical lectures in Castleton and Woodstock, that 
State. Two years later he was gi-aduated from the 
medical department at Dartmouth College, Han- 
over, N. H., where he was afterward employed as 
instructor in ciiemistry. In 1841 he removed to 
Highland, 111., where he practiced medicine and 
taught school. Two years later he went to Vanl)u- 
renburg, in that State, and opened a drug store. 
There he successfully carried on his profession in 
connection with the drug business for several 3'ears. 
In 1871 he made another change of residence, mov- 
ing to Raymond, 111., where he made his home until 



<»HlrO- 



his death, which 'occurred Dec. 8, 1887, at the ad- 
vanced age of seventy-seven years, six months and 
nineteen days. He was one of the first practicing 
physicians of the Prairie State, locating there when 
the country was rough and siiarsely settled. His 
practice extended many miles, his journeys be- 
ing performed on horseback over the broad prairies 
and swampy lands of Illinois. For many j'ears Dr. 
J. G. Tilden was a faithful and honored member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. During his long 
practice he made man}' warm and life-long friends, 
and was the beloved physician and counselor in 
many a household. At his death he left an aged 
wife and six children, all grown to maturity, to 
mourn the loss of a kind husband .and father. His 
wife, Ann W. (Hill) Tilden, was born in Illinois in 
1819. Her parents were .among the early settlers 
of Montgomery County, III., going there from Ken- 
tucky. The names of the six children of the late 
Dr. J. G. Tilden are as follows: Joseph, John H., 
Scott S., Seth H., Ruth E. and George A. Joseph 
lives in Mississippi; Scott is a druggist, of liay- 
mond, 111.; Seth is a medical student in Raymond; 
Ruth is the wife of H. C. Coleman, a commission 
merchant of St. Louis, Mo.; George is a clerk in 
his brother Scott's drug store. 

Dr. John H. Tilden, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Montgomery County, 111., Jan. 21 , 18.51. 
He received his earl}' education in the public 
schools of Litchfield, and as soon as old enough 
commenced the study of medicine under the super- 
vision of his father, and at the age of seventeen had 
perused several medical works. In September, 
1868, he entered the oflice of Dr. J. Fellows, of 
Nokomis, 111., and pursued his studies with him for 
two years. He then matricul.ated at the Eclectic Med- 
ical Institute of Cincinnati, and was graduated from 
there May 21, 1872. After receiving his diploma 
he commenced the practice of medicine at Noko- 
mis, and continued there eight years, in the mean- 
time, in the spring of 1877, taking a post-graduate 
course in the American Medical College at St. Louis, 
Mo. In 1879 Dr. Tilden left Nokomis for St. 
Louis, to assume a position as one of the faculty of 
the college there, where he was engaged for two 
years as lecturer in anatomy and physiology. In 
1881 he removed to Litchfield, 111., where he formed 
a^ 



t 



3T2 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



*h 



ft |>Artncr!jl)ip with Dr. R. F. Bonnolt. mid tlicy 
liiiilt up a vury largi- practice. Tlie followiiij,' year 
tlie pnrtiic>n>hip was dissolved, and Dr. Tilden con- 
tiimcil practicinjj there the ensuing four ycnrs, and 
established a tine reputation. In .hinc, 1HK2, lie 
was elected Ailjunct I'rofesstir of Anatomy in the 
college al St. Louis, where he had previously 
taught, and that position he still retains. In 18H0 
the subject of our sketch removed to Wichita, 
where he has a large and lucrative practice, llis 
thorough knowledge of medicine, and skill in sur- 
gery, have won for hira the confidence of the peo- 
ple to such an extent that, although comparatively 
ft new-comer of this city, his success is alreadj" an 
assured fact. 

Dr. Tilden w;is married, in 1)S73. to Miss Ue- 
becca Maddux, a native of Ilillsboro, III., an<l 
daughter of Nathaniel Maddux. The Doctor and 
his wife have had two children, one living, a 
daughter, Edna, born in 1876; she is a brilliant 
and promising scholar, pursuing her studies at 
I^wis Academy. The child deceased, Elsie, was 
born in 1H78, and died in 1884. Our subject is a 
prominent member of the National Eclectic Medi- 
cal S<K-iety, and also of the .State Medical .Society, 
of Illinois. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 

JJOIIN 15. TH().Ml'SON,ca|)iUilisl. and <leuler 
in real estate at Wichita, is of English and 
flerman ancestry, and the son of Robert 
' Thompson, who was a native of \'irginia, 
learned the trade of tanner, and migrated when a 
young iiian to Kane County, III. He was married 
ill the (Jld Dominion, to Miss Margaret Surbaugli, 
probably a native of his own county, and their 
union resulted in the birth of eight children, 
namely: Robert, (leorge, John B. of our sketch, 
Barbara, .lacoli, Mary, Catherine and Elizabeth. 
The flrst-born ilied in infancy. The others are all 
living and resiileiits of the I'liited Stjites. 

The father of our subject dc|)arted this life at 
his home in Illinois in IH.0.3, when in the prime of 
life, being but forty-two years of age. He had 
Accumulated considerable property, being a man of 
Miuiid siii^e and cxccllriit jud;,'iinrit. and in polili- 



•► ■ -4* 



cal opinion adlliaioi wiiii the licuiociMiif parly. 
The mother was n member of the .Methodist 
Church, and is now deceased. Robert Thoiii|>son, 
although not a member of any religious organijun- 
tioii, had gre.Mt respect for the church to which his 
c«tiinal)le wife beloiigeil and attendeil quite regu- 
larly. Through his own efforts he jKissessetl a well- 
informed mind, and took great interest in political 
affairs, being always prominent and etilcient in 
times of election. lie wielded a wide influence, 
and his retentive memory constitiit<>d him a man 
pleasing to converse with, and who drew around him 
many warm friends, llis career was marked by 
honest industry, and he is most afTectioimlely re- 
membered by his children and friemls.. 

The subject of this sketch, a native also of the 
Old Dominion, was born April 29, IS.'I'.t, in (Jreeii- 
briar County, and wa.s but a lad when his |Kirents 
removed to Illin<iis. He acquired a common- 
school eilucation and develo|)ed into manhixid in 
Kane County, where, .Mfter the first call for troops 
by the martyred I'resident, Abraham Lincoln, he 
responded proinpll\' and enlisted in Company B, 
:iGlli Illinois Cavaliy. With his comrades he pjirtici- 
pated in many of the important battles which fol- 
lowed, l>eing present .-it Chaplin Hills, Kj'., Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, the siege 
of Atlanta, and various other engagements and 
skirmishes. At Chickamauga he received a flesh 
Wound which, however, did not seriously disable 
him. After the conflict was ended by the surren- 
der of the Confederates he received his honorable 
discharge. At Atlanta he learned the trade of 
barber, remaining a few months in the South before 
his return to his home in Illinois. In the mean- 
time he spent a few months in .^oulh Carolina and 
also in Philadelphia. Pa. 

In IKG'.i .Mr. Thompson crossed the Mississippi 
antl traveled coiisi<lerably among the more Western 
Stall's. The month of October, l.'<70, found him 
in this connly, where, not long afterward, he took 
upatiovernment claim in what is now West Wich- 
ita, u|)on which lie remained, with the exception of 
two years spent in Texas, until IM70. In the 
spring of this year he returned to Colorado and 
employed himself al mining, together with his 
trade, until IM.sG. That year he reliirned to Wich- 



T 



t 



1' 



J; 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



373 ' ^ 



ita, purchased more property and began speculat- 
ing in real estate, in which he has since heen very 
successful. lie is the owner of four houses, two of 
which were put up under his own supervision. He 
has the reputation of a straightforward antl reliable 
business man, and uniformly votes the Republican 
ticket. He is constantlj- making improvements on 
his property, and has abundant Confidence in the 
future of Southern Kans;is. He delights in noting 
its growth and progress, and in proportion to the 
time wliich he has spent here probably no man has 
effected greater results. 









lOBERT CHERRY. The gentleman whose 
1!^^ name stands at the head of this sketch is a 
iii\V general farmer and stock-raiser, pursuing 
^P his pleasant and profitable occupation on 
section 29, Rockford Township. He is a native 
of Ohio, having been born there Aug. 20, 1825. His 
parents, James and Margaret (Hannah) Cherry, were 
natives of Ohio, his father being of -Scotch origin. 
Both died when Robert was a lad. Being thus left 
an orphan in his j'outh he became inured to labor 
ere reaching man's estate, and being dependent on 
his own resources he soon acquired the habits of 
self-reliance, industry' and economy, which became 
the foundation of his present prosperity. In 1838, 
when only thirteen years of age, he went to Henry 
County, 111, and secured work as a farm laborer. 
He soon won friends in that place, and kind hands 
were willing to aid him in his efforts for self-main- 
tenance, and in a few years, by stead}' application 
to work, he had saved quite a small sum, and had 
decided to settle in that county until he was sure 
his condition would be much improved by change. 
Several 3'ears later Mr. Cherry, after investigating 
the merits of the wonderful accounts of the Kan- 
sas soil, its fertility and productiveness, decided to 
renaove to this State. Accordingly in 1883 he 
came to this county, and purchased the property 
which he now occupies; it is very favorably lo- 
cated, is well watered and finely adapted to the 
raising of stock, in which he has already made a 



good start, as well as to the various crops common 
to Kansas. This farm comprises 160 acres of choice 
land on section 29. 

In August, 1849, Mr. Cherry was married to 
Mar}- A., daughter of Adrian and Esther (Hanks) 
Van Winkle, natives respectively of New Jersey 
and Kentucky. After the marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. Van Winkle they settled in Rock Island 
Count}', 111., where Mary, their daughter, was born 
in 1832. Mrs. Van Winkle was an own cousin of 
the lamented Lincoln. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Cherry have been born six 
children, namel J' : Marj' F., who died in June, 1850; 
James H., born May 15, 1851 ; Alwillda J., Aug. 
29. 1853; Robert A., Oct. 1, 1855; Alice L., Oct. 
6, 1857; Lillie Laurentine, Nov. 9, 1866. All are 
mari-ied and successful in life. As an honest man and 
worth}' citizen Mi'. Cherry deserves the respect and 
esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen. 
In politics he is a Democrat, intelligently support- 
ing his party by voice and vote, alth(jugh he does 
not care to take an active part in public life. A 
lithographic view is shown of Mr. Cherry's resi- 
dence. 

JEREMIAH P. PARKHURST. No man in 
Sedgwick County is probably more worthy 
of representation in a work of this kind than 
he whose name stands at the head of this 
sketch. He has been identified with the agricultural 
interests of Sedgwick County since its early settle- 
ment, and is the owner of one-half of section 34, in 
Attica Township, which he bought in the spring of 
1873. This land is embellished with a fine set of 
farm buildings, while adjacent is a flourishing 
apple orchard and the smaller fruit trees, and an- 
other attractive feature is the excellent grades of 
farm stock, of which the proprietor has made a 
specialty. The estate is one of the most valuable 
in this section of country, and indicates in all its 
appointments the supervision of a man of intelli- 
gence and sound judgment, and one who has been 
remarkably judicious in his investments. 

Mr. Parkhurst is a self-made man in the broadest 
sense of the term, having commenced in life with- 
out any other means than his strong hands and 



-•►HI-* 



•►►•-4»- 



374 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



nsnlul*! will, which were oljsorvnble nt nil early 
|KTi<Ml ill hiit life, and when, iil the a;;e of cight- 
ivii year., he cntnicted Ui pay his father $!.'>() 
for hi.s time for the privileffc of eiilling it his own. 
From llmt time he wi.sely iiivo.stert his eorniiifjs in 
land, in the lultivntion and iiiiprovenieiit of which 
he hits been remark;d)ly !<iicces,-fiil, and which 
formed a »<.lid foun<lali<>n for his fntiire ()|)eralions. 
Onr subject is a New Kiif,'lander ori^^inally, 
having been born in the town of Miinson. Mass., 
April 3(1, lt(40. I lis parents were .Jacob and 
.Malinda (Thayer) Parkhurst. the former the son of 
.binathaii I'arkhiirst, who cnlisU'd jls a Revolution- 
ary soldier at the age of sixteen years, entering the 
army about the fourth year of the war, .•iiid serving 
until its dose. rjKni laying down his musket, 
.lonatliaii I'arkhurst located in IJaiia, Worcester 
Co., Mass., where he curried on farming, and 
married a lady of that county, by whom he l>eciiiiic 
the father of two children. The elder of these 
wjis a ilauglit«r, Hannah, who became the wife of 
Klijah Towiie, and died leaving a large family of 
chililren. The other child, Jacob, the father of our 
subject, was born in Dana. Mass., in 17"J5. 

•bicob I'arkhurst was twice married, first to a Mrs. 
Allen, who became the mother of three children — 
Kunice, Abigail and Lewis. His second wife, 
Malind* Thayer by name, and to whom he was 
married in lai'J, was the sister of the first, and 
lliey became the parents of twelve children, of 
whom Jeremiah P., of our sketc-li. was the youngest. 
I'hileria was married, and died leaving three chil- 
dren; Dolly died when ten years of age; Alinus is 
a resident of Indiana: Creighton served as a Union 
soldier in the late war, and was wounded in battle 
by a piece of shell, on account of which injury he 
now receives a pension; he is a resident of Repub- 
lic County, Ibis SUl«. .loiiathan lives in C^uincy, 
111.; I'liny T., in (ireenwich, Mass.; Hetsey R. is 
the widow of Warren Hager, and is living in 
WichitJi; William is farming in Lewis County, W. 
T. ; (ieorgedied when a youth sixteen years old; 
Dolly (ill) is the wife of Alonz,) M. Hutterfield, of 
Springfield, .Mass. ; .Mai tha .J., Mrs. .luhn A. Atwood, 
lives at Onarga. 111. 

.lacob rarkliiirsl followed farming nearly all hi.-, 
life, and pa.vcd from the scenes of his earthly labore 



in the spring of l^^•.l. when al>oiit scvmiy years of 
age. .teremiali P., of our sketeh, completed his 
education in the academy at Niushua. N. H., and 
commenced teaching at the age of eighteen years, 
which he followed during the winter season for four 
yeai-s. In summer he was engaged as clerk in a 
sUm: I'pon the outbreak of the Rebellion, and 
when twenty-two years old, he enlisted in the »<<;th 
Illinois Infantry, which be<-ame a luirt of the Mth 
Army Corps, and saw a great <leal of liar<l service 
with actual fighting. At the battle of Kennesjiw 
Mountain, on the :.'7tli of June, 18C4, he was 
wounde<l in both arms and captured. In the hos- 
pital at Atlanta his right arm was amputated. He 
filially made his escape on the I'Jth of August, and 
was befriended by a I'nion man. Charles Elgea, who 
kept him secreted until there was an opportunity 
for him to pa.ss the rebel lines. He then joined 
his regiment at ChattiduMwhce, and received his 
honorable discharge in February, 18(!5. 

Mr. Parkliursl, upon retiring from the service, 
resumed his occupation as a teacher, and was thus 
employed until the winter of IH76-7G. His liust 
term was taught in West Wichita. Previous to 
entering the army he had purchased land in Wood- 
ford County, III., of which betook jxissession in the 
spring of 1H(I7. He carried on the cultivation i<{ 
his land during the summer sea.son and followed 
teaching in winter. On the 1 1th of March, ISOK, lie 
was niarrietl to Miss Martha M., daughter of Robert 
and Hannah (Titus) McAdam, who was born in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., May 27, 1847. 

The father of Mrs. Parkhurst was a native of 
.Scotland, while the mother was Viorii in Oswego 
County, N. V. Her maternal grand|)arcnts were 
natives of Connecticut, and of Fnglish descent. 
Our subject and his wife continued on the farm in 
Woodford County, III., until 1874, when they 
removed to the vicinity of Kl Paso, where .Mr. P. 
engaged in teaching. He became considerably 
interested in [wlilics, and was sent .is a delegate to 
the .State Convention at .Springfield, which met for 
the pur|)osc of nominating .StJite ofllcei-s on the 
(Ireenback ticket. 

In 187.') Mr. Parkhurst came to this State, and 
purcliJised a quarter section of land in Attica Tt)wn 
shi(), linn returned to Illinois, ami in 1871 came 



■•►•-♦ 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



375 ' ' 



back and purchased a half-section. In 1 875 he re- 
moved his family to Wichita, where they remained 
eighteen months, and then all removed to their 
present farm. Of the nine children born to Mr. 
and Jlrs. Parkhurst, six only are living. The eldest, 
Clara, was born Dec. 21, 1868, and died Sept. 1, 
1880; Susan was born July 27, 1870, and is attend- 
ing the Garfield University at Wicliita; Dora, born 
]\Iarch 21, 1872, died August 12 following; Nellie 
was born July 20, 1873, and is at home with her 
parents; Freddie M., born Feb. 1, 1876, died on 
the 23d of June following; Mattie M. was born July 
8, 1H78, and continues with her parents; Flora was 
born Aug. 0, 1880; Ada, Sept. 13, 1882, and Fanny, 
Sept. 29, 1886. 

Mr. Parkhurst was a member of the Greenback 
party until it became merged into the Union Labor 
party, and he is now an earnest advocate of the 
principles of the latter. He received the nomina- 
tion for County Treasurer by the Greenbackers in 
1878, and for Register of Deeds by the Union Labor 
party in 1887. Notwithstanding the loss of his 
arm he hiis labored considerablj-, and has given his 
personal supervision to his large farm of 640 acres, 
which is well stocked with good grades of cattle 
and horses, and upon which the v.irious modern im- 
provements of the day have been effected in the 
most creditable manner. He is public-spirited and 
liberal, and there are few men more popular among 
the people into whose midst he came when Sedg- 
wick County was in its pioneer days. 



-«= 



TT 



"T~T 



=£::^ 



J A. WALLACE is a wealthy and influential 
citizen of Wichita, where he is carrying on 
a large wholesale and retail business as a 
dealer in farm machinery, wjigons and bug- 
gies, at Nos. 308, 309 and 310 on the east and west 
side of Douglas avenue. He also has a branch 
establishment at Kingman, Kingman County, in 
this State. He was born in Cooper County, Mo., 
in 1840, and is the son of Robert and Margaret 
(Steele) Wallace, natives of Kentucky. 

Robert Wallace was extensively engaged in farm- 
ing in Missouri, to which State he removed in 1818, 



•►Hl-^*- 



where he became a pioneer of Cooper County. lie 
soon took a prominent part in State affairs, and 
was one of the framers of the Missouri Consti- 
tution, and was otherwise identified with the pub- 
lic interests of his adopted State. He was a 
warm personal friend of Thomas H. Benton, the 
renowned statesman. Mr. Wallace was twice mar- 
ried, and was the father of seventeen children, 
six of whom died in infancy, eleven grew to ma- 
turity, and four are now living, namelj' : Kate, Eliza, 
A. N. (a twin brother), and J. A., the subject of 
this sketch. Kate is now Mrs. Ferguson, of Sedalia, 
Mo. ; A. N. is a farmer in Kingman County, Kan. 

Mr. Wallace, of whom we write, was reared on 
his father's farm, and after he gi'cw to manhood 
assisted in the management of his large property 
until he was twenty-eight years old. He then trav- 
eled for the Walter A. Wood Mower and Reaper 
IMachine Company, of Hoosick Falls, N. Y., remain- 
ing in the employ of that firm for several j'eai-s. 
At length he decided to go into business for him- 
self, and came, in February, 1878, to AA''ichita, be- 
ing attracted here by the fine location and other 
superior advantages It offered to men of push and 
enterprise. He first established himself in business 
on East Douglas avenue, but at the end of a year 
he bought out Honck Bros.' establishment, and 
merged their business into his, retaining both estab- 
lishments. His first building is 50x120 feet in di- 
mensions, and the other house across the street is 
25x120 feet, with two warerooms in the rear, each 
75x120 feet. He carries on a verj' large business, 
which he has greatlj' extended since he first began, 
and now has a branch store in Kingman, which 
is doing a fine trade in a building 50x150 feet in 
dimensions. He employs ten men here and has one 
of the largest houses in the city. He is a stock- 
holder in the Wichita National Bank, and has other 
interests in the cit3'. 

Mr. Wallace was married, in 1879, to Miss Pame- 
lia M. Hutchison, of Independence, Mo., daughter 
of Thomas Hutchison. They have a very pleasant 
home at No. 1020 North Lawrence avenue, to which 
their large circle of friends often resort to enjoy 
the charming hospitality extended by the gracious 
hostess and genial host. Mr. Wallace's large busi- 
ness interests have made him widely known through 
•► 



f 



t 



37f. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 






the Mnlo of K.'iiiwi.'i, iiiui he li:i- ;::iiiii'il tlic CMmfl- 
ilonce of nil with whom he deals hy his strictly 
hoiionililc iiietlicxh uf t;oii<liictin^ his business. In 
politics he is a stanch Democrat. 

(i ij^ILLIAM I'AUKKK. a representative farmer 
" '" and st<.K'k-rais»>r of Salem Township, is a 



native of Krie Count}', N. V., and first 
drew the hreath of life April -J, lK;t3. lie is a s(m 
of Thomas and Mary Ann (Jameson) Parker, hoth 
of whom were also natives of the Kmpire State. f)n 
his father's side his ancestors were Scotch- Irish, 
while u|K)n his mother's they were of New Kiiglund 
and Knglish origin. Olmdiah Moore, the great- 
grnndfather of our suliject, Wiis a soldier in the 
Contiuenlal Army during the Revolutionary War, 
and served throughout the greater part of that 
memorable struggle. Hugh .Tameson, the maternal 
grandfather of Mr. Parker, w.is a sohlier during the 
contest with Great Britain in 1812-15, and wsis 
present at the burning of the city of Buffalo by the 
English during that conflict. Mr. Parker w.is the 
eldest of a family of three children: Henry, the 
second, is living in Minnesota, and Clark, the 3'oung- 
est, makes his residence in Jackson County, this 
State. The mother passed away Uj her reward in 
1«19, and the father in 1882. 

The sul)joct of this personal narrative was reared 
upon his father's farm and attended the district 
school in his boyhood d.iys until he lunl attsiined 
his thirteenth year. From that time until he was 
seventeen j'cars ol<l he a.ssisted his father in the 
labor attend.'int upon an agricultural life. On at- 
taining the latter iige he came west, and resided 
with an uncle, Michael Miller, in Wisconsin for 
some six months, after which be removed to Butler 
County, Ohio, where he remained engaged in farm- 
ing until 1805. During th.-il year, with a desire to 
improve his condition and have more room in 
which to extend his efforts, he journeyed westward, 
and .settled in Woodford County, HI. Resuming 
his agricultural labors in that portion of the great 
Prairie State, he there niailc his home until 1K77, 
when he came to Kan.sas and .s<>ttlcd in Sedgwick 
County. While in Butler County, ()hi(j, he was 



employed li>r some two yenr^ .'i-" a liiriii linnd at 
$12 jH-r month, after which he rented a farm, which 
be tilled until he had accumulated sulllcient capit.-il 
t«j purchase land of his own. 

Eebrintry 11, 1M5C, Mr. Parker and Miss Kliza 
A. Myers wore united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony, in Butler County, Ohio. His wife was born 
in the last-named place, Jan. 15, 1835, and is the 
daughter of IsJiac and Eliza ((!ray) Myers. Her 
father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother 
of Kentucky, and were among the early settlers of 
Butler County, having located there when that 
|)ortion of the Buckeye .Stjite was literally a wilder- 
ness. They were the parents of six children, of 
whom the four following are living: Ch.-irles, a resi- 
dent of Nebrask.'i; Joseph and Jacob, still living in 
Butler County, Ohio, and Kli/-;i A., the wife of the 
subject of our sketch. 

Mr. Parker, who is among the large laiul-owners 
and (extensive farmers of Sedgwick Count}', resides 
upon a farm of 3-12 acres, which is his property on 
section 33. A large, handsome and commodious 
dwelling, neat and roomy barns and subsU-mtial 
out-buildings, beautif}' his place, which is considered 
one of the finest in Salem Township, and a view of 
which we give in this connection. He is in all re- 
spects a self-made man, ami having begun life a 
poor boy entirely without capital, has accumulated 
an easy competence, which, with his splendid farm, 
is a monument to his industry, energy and ability. 
Both he !ind his most estimable wife are respected 
and honored members of society, and enjo}' the 
confidence and regard of the entire community. 
Thej' .ire spending their declining years in the en- 
J03'ment of the fruits of a life spent in toil, and 
look back with fond memories to the days when, 
joining their fortunes under a<l verse circumstances, 
the}' still had time for nniny deeds of charily .ind 
benevolence. In politics, .Mr. Parker is a stanch 
adherent t<.) the principles of .lelTersunian democ- 
racy, and takes great interest in whatever tends to 
the purification of party, and tlie elevation of so- 
ciety at large. 

The family of .Mr. and Mis. Parker has consisted 
of eleven children, eight of whom arc living. They 
an" as folhiws: Hulda, who wius born March 20, 
l.s.'iK, is the wife of W. F. Copner, :uiil lives iu 



•►•-^ 




Residence of Joseph Wads worth , Sec 14. Union Township. 




Residence OF W-, Parker, Slc.33. Salem Towmship. 



>► 11 ^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



379 ' 



Salem Township; Stephen A., the eldest sou, and 
still a resident of this township, was born March 
19, 1860; Emma L. was born Dec. 28, 1861, and 
married Samuel Butts, and is a resident of Summer 
County, Kan. ; Laura B., the wife of Winficld Booth 
of this countj', wjis born Nov. 12, 1863; Henry C.'s 
birth took place Dec. 27, 1865; William F. was 
born Dec. 26, 1867; Annie E. made her appearance 
upon the stage of life April 26, 1872, and Lewis S. 
was born Oct. 21, 1871. Those deceased were 
Mary E., born Nov. 6, 1856, died Jan. ."., 1861, and 
two who died in infancy unnamed. 



^-S.'ZWB* - -w-v- 



•► 



i 



wv'v^ ■v^4J2J£J2,'55■^^ 



<j|)OSEPH WADS WORTH is a successful agri- 
I I culturist and a pioneer of Sedgwick County, 

dl having, in 1871, taken up as a homestead 
/ claim the southeast quarter of section 14 of 
Union Township, where he has since resided. He 
was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Oct. 1, 
1829. His parents were John and Nancy (Walker) 
Wadsworth, both natives of Pennsjivania. The 
mother died in that State, leaving eleven children, 
of whom our subject is the oldest. The father was 
again married, and subsequently moved to Knox 
County, 111. By this marriage he had two children. 
His death occurred in Galva, III., in 1862. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, 
and also in early life assisted his father in his trade of 
fuller and carder. Subsequently he was engaged 
for some time in teaming on the pike lietween Mo- 
nongahela and Cumberland. Afterward he was 
employed on the coal boats of the Ohio River. Tir- 
ing of that work, in 1854 he came as far west .as Illi- 
nois, and located in Knox County, securing work at 
first as a farm laborer. The following year Mr. 
Wadsworth married Charit}' Foster, a native of Ohio, 
who came to Illinois when a 3'oung child with her 
parents. She was the daughter of Richard and 
Nancy Foster, pioneers of Knox County. After 
marriage our subject rented land and was engaged 
in agriculture, first in Knox Coimty and later in 
Henry County. In 1861 he determined to take 
advantage of the fine opening for farmers in the 
fertile valle^-s and ])rairies of the young State of 
Kansas, that had just been admitted to the Union. 



Accordingly he started with his family for this 
'•land of milk and honey," but on reaching Mercer 
County in Illinois, he met an old man who had 
recently loft Kansas. This man persuaded Mr. 
Wadswoi'tli to stop in Keithsburg, and there he 
remained the following eight years, acting as fore- 
man in a sawmill and warehouse. After that he 
resumed the journey begun so many years before, 
and came to Kansas, locating on his present home- 
stead. He owns 160 acres of land, all of which he 
has under cultivation, and on which he has erected 
good dwellings and substantial farm buildings- 
Beside paying careful attention to the culture of 
his land Mr. Wadsworth raises many fine cattle and 
hogs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have h.-id seven children, 
of whom one died in Illinois and two have passed 
away since coming to Kansas. The four now living 
are Richard D., Walker, Mamie and Fayette, all of 
whom reside in this county. Mamie is the wife of 
William Andrews. 

Among the citizens of this community Mr. and 
Mrs. Wadsworth are held in high esteem for their 
many social qualities and genuine worth. In poli- 
tics Mr. Wadsworth is identified with the Demo- 
cratic party. 

A view of the Wadsworth homestead is presented 
in this volume as a representative country csl4ite. 



^ ■ p^ DGAR V. WELCH is editor and proprietor of 
fe] the Mt. Hope Mentor, a seven-column folio, 
1} ' — -^z Republican in politics, and devoted to the 
interests of Mt. Hope and vicinity. This youthful 
editor is conducting his paper with the skill and 
tact of a veteran journalist. It has a good circul.a- 
tion, and meets in ever}' respect the requirements 
of a good local paper. It w.as founded March 27, 
1885, by Mr. Frank Anderson, who, six months 
later, disposed of it to Mr. Stephen M. Johns, and 
he, in turn, sold it to the present proprietor. 

Mr. Welch was born in Marion County, Iowa, 
Aug. 11, 1863, and is the eldest of the four chil- 
dren born to John A. and Mary E. (Haines) Welch, 
natives respectively of Paris, 111., and of New Jer- 
sey. His father was for several years engaged in 



•^•-4" 



f 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



business ns a inrrcliniU in KiKixvilli-, lown, but in 
IKKl (lisiHisoil of his |>r(i|KTt_v in tlmt SUiU', and re- 
niuvin^' to Knnsiis, KK'aU?d in IturUm, wlicro lie now 
holds the |H>!«itiun of eujihivr in the Merrhiuits' luul 
Fiirniers" Itnnk of itaul pliieo. He is n nisin of .-hrewd 
jixlgiuent nnd giMwl business ImbitvS, well deserving 
ilie trust nnd confl<leneo of his eniplovcrs. 

Our subje«'l received n $ub>l)intial education in 
the public schools of lowii, nnd in Jnnuitry, IH7U. 
he entered the printing-ulilcc of the }fariin\ OjiihI;/ 
ICepijrt'T in Iowa as a cuiu|>usitur, where, as he was 
intelligent and quick, he soon gnisped the details 
of iiis new work, and subsequently became conver- 
sant with the art of printing. In 1881 he came to 
Kansas and worked for some time on the Newton 
Jif})ul)licau. lu 18H4 he returned to his native 
Statf to take the position of manager of the Vinton 
Telephone Kxchange. In June, 1885, he gave up 
lluil olHce, and returning to Kansas clerked for 
awhile in a general store in Burton. In December, 
18H(;, he bought a job printing outfit and cstJib- 
lishcd himself in business at Lyons, which he con- 
ducted until August, 1887, when he came to Jit. 
IIo|K' and purchased the Mentor. t)ur subject is 
a young ni.-in of decided character and ability, 
possessing a good fund of general information, and 
is undoubtedly destined at no distant day to take 
a prominent place among the journalists of this 
great ciimmonwealth of Kansas. 

Mr. Welch w!is married, July ;1, 1882, at Knox- 
ville, Iowa, t^i Miss Klla J. B<»wers, a most estima- 
ble young lady, ."^he was early left an orphan and 
was reared in the family of D. V. Koster, of Knox- 
ville. (If this union two cliihlren have been born — 
Helen and KIsie. 



K. I). T. SNOKK, the leading veterinary 
surgeon of \Vichit;i. came to this city from 
l^al'orle, Ind., in 1mm|, nnd immediately 
made arrangements to continue the pro- 
fession in which lu? had alrea<ly enjoyed a large 
ex|>erience and been eminently succe.ssfid. He is 
|iarticularly fond of line horses, anil has a number 
of splendid animals in his stai)les; he also has the 
l:irgest dog kennel in the State, which is called the 



Wichita and Southwestern Keiniel, in which he has 
ninety animals of dilTerent siK-cies, comprising some 
of the fliicst l>lood in the I'nited States. 

Our subject was born on the 4tli of July, 18.'»;J, 
in Cundn-rland County, I'a., whence his parents 
later removed to Franklin County, where he was 
reared to manhood. His father was Dr. Christian 
Snoke, and iiis mother in her girlhood Miss Anna 
High, both natives of Pennsylvania, as also were all 
the gran<l parents, Kev. John and Mary (KIsie) 
Snttke, and John and Lena (Zicgler) High. The 
Snoke family were originally from Cerman}-, whence 
the |)aternal grandfather emigrated in boyhood. 
The m.-iternal grandparents were natives respect- 
ively of England and .Scotland, and crossed the 
Atlantic in their youth, settling in Pennsylvani:i. 
where they were subsequently married. 

Dr. Christian Snoke, a graduate of the same pro- 
fession as his son, our subject, followed this suc- 
cessfully through life and rested from his labors in 
18G'J. The parentjil household included sixteen 
children, of whom Denton T. was the fourteenth. 
Of the others thirteen are surviving, and resitlenls 
mostly of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri and 
Kansas. Denton T. spent his 3'ounger years mostly 
in schocjl and later attended the Philadelphia Vet- 
erinary College, by which he was graduated in 1873. 
He attended lectures in New York City and began 
practice in Chambei-sburg, Pa., where he oi>eratiMl 
successfully four years. 

Dr. Snoke left Pennsylvania in 187;i, making his 
viny fii-st to Minneapolis, Minn., where he resided 
two 3'ears, then took up his residence at LaPorte, 
Inil., where he lived and followed his profession 
three years. Since coming to Wichita he luis built 
up a large practice, extending throughout Seilgwick 
and adjoining counties. 

Dr. Snoke wius married, Sept. 1, 18,S(;. to .Miss 
Kmnia L. Hill, of Ottawa, III., and daughter of 
John J. and .Mina (Setzka) Hill, natives of (Jer- 
ni:inv. The father is a manufacturer of carriages 
and wagons, and senior member of the firm of Hill 
ii Foemhalls, well known throughout Ottawa and 
vicinity. Mrs. Snoke is the eldest of the nine chil- 
dren born to her parents and who are living with 
them in Ottawa: throe died in infancy. 

The Doctor occupies a comfortable home in the 



-•►•-4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



••► 



381 



city, and with his estimable wife enjoys the society 
of many friends. He has very little to do with 
politics, but upon occasions of general elections 
sui)ports the Democratic party. 

RNOLD MOON. The quarter-section of 

fli land pre-empted by this gentleman, in 1 87 1 , 
lies not far from the Arkansas River, and 
the portion over which he has worked 
thoroughly, including about forty acres, has been 
brought to a high state of cultivation. He has 
made a specialty of fruit-growing, iiaving a line 
orchard, and the smaller trees, which yield abun- 
dantly, are a source of both profit and luxury. He 
also keeps good gi-ades of the domestic animals, and 
the entire operations of his farm are indicative of 
industry and good judgment. 

A large proportion of the intelligent men of 
Sedgwick County are natives of the Empire State, 
and our subject was also born thei'e in Wayne 
County, on the 23d of November, 1823. He is 
the son of Almond and Thankful (Clark) Moon, 
natives of Vermont and Connecticut respectively. 
Tlie father was of Welsh ancestr}', and carried on 
farming in York State until resting from his earthly 
labors in October, 1861. The mother survived 
her husband about seven years, and then she tOo 
passed away at the lioniestead in Cattaraugus 
County. 

Mr. Moon began farming in York State with his 
father, and remained a member of the parental 
household until about thirty years of age. He 
then emigrated to Illinois and located in DeKalb 
County, where he carried on agriculture about 
seven years, and thence removed to Minnesota, 
where he remained two years. From there he 
migrated to Iowa and tilled a portion of the soil in 
Johnson County, near Iowa City, for a period of 
four years, and from tliere came to this county and 
settled upon his present land. 

Mr. Moon, while residing in Cattaraugus County, 
N. Y., was united in marriage with Miss Caroline 
Campbell, the wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride in the same county, on the 2.5th of 
December, 1848. Mrs. Moon is the daughter of 

>» l i ^ 



Lemuel and Hannah (Atwell) Campbell, who are 
both natives of Otsego County, N, Y., and are now 
living near Mayfield, Travis Co., Mich., where 
the father has carried on farming successfully 
for several years. The children of Mr. and iMrs. 
Moon are recorded as follows: Leonard F. was 
born Oct. 1,1849, and is living in this township; 
Hester A. was born June 14, 1854, and became the 
wife of T. D. Wardell, who is carrying on farming 
in this township; Carrie was born Sept. 4, hSfjC, 
and died on the 11th of June, 1885; Daniel 
C. was born June 19, 18G1, and married Miss 
Emma Sloat; they are living in Rockford Town- 
ship. Andrew was born June 3, 18G6, and died 
Jan. 15, 1881. Mr. Moon votes the straigiit Re- 
publican ticket, although he has very little to do 
with political affairs, preferring to give his time and 
attention to his farm. 

?RED BUCKLEY, proprietor of the Eagle 
Cornice Works, located at Nos. 800, 802 and 
804 South Main street, is conducting the 
largest business of its kind in the city of Wichita, and 
gives employment most of the time to over twent}' 
men. He turns out first-class work, as may be seen 
in a glance at a large number of the important 
buildings of the city, namely, the Fletcher Block, 
the buildings of Peter Getts, Smith, Skinner & 
Snively, anil other notable structures. He also re- 
ceives orders from outside parties, and furnished 
the galvanized work for the school-house at Harper, 
this State, the bank at Kingman, various business 
blocks of Piatt and Greensburg, the Garfield and 
Wichita University buildings, the Catholic scliool 
buildings and others too numerous to mention. He 
commenced business with a small capital, and has 
made his way unaided, presenting a forcible exam- 
ple of the results of perseverance and industry. 

Reuben Buckley, the father of our subject, a na- 
tive of England, was born near the city of Man- 
chester, whence he emigrated when a 3'oung man, 
although married, and settled in Toronto, Canada, 
lie engaged in the butcher business, was prosperous 
and populai, and after a well-spent life, during 
whicii he had accumulated a good property, died at 



^- 



l 



•^-•-^fc 



* ' 3,- 



SKDGWICK COITN lY 



the n^e of sixty ycnrv nt lii.s lidinc in Wimlsur, 
(':iiiH<ln. Ilis son Kre<lerifk, our siilijcct, w.-w born 
ill Toronto in IK6I. Ilo m-<|iiirc<l ii ('oiiiiiion-sc-liool 
i-ihicatioii ill the Doiiiiiiion niid Icnriioil th«' tmclo 
of a I'oriiii'O-iniiki'r. 

In INNI Mr. Hiicklpy left Win<lM)r, anil t liiijj 

to Kansiuj City, Mo., worked nt his tritile until 
IMS;?. In the spriii;: of lii.nt year he made his nd- 
vent into the city of Wirhita and sought einploy- 
lucnt in the (ialvnnizcd Iron Coriiiee Works, 
(ininini: a ginid insi^'ht into this liusincss, he in 
ISH-l, ill eoinpitny with Mr. K. M. Dodd, invested 
liis capital in tliis industry and wa.s lliereafler very 
sucocssfiil. A year latt>r .Mr. \V. N. ('.'iswell was 
taken into the linn, but in IHKf. Mr. Buckley pur- 
chased the interest of both i)artners and has since 
handlcil the businei^'< alone. lie lifts the re[iutation 
">f a first-class luisiiiess man, and avails himself of 
every opportunity to increase his knowledge of this 
really fine art. 

Our subject, iKilitically , votes the Hcpiiblican 
ticket, unci socially, is .a Knight of I'vthiivs. 



R.S. KLIZAUKTU J. TIFFANY, widow 
the late llirnin TifTaiiy, of W.iyne 
oiinty, N. Y., aftt-r the death of her hus- 
band, which occurred July 1.}, 1880, gath- 
ered together her personal eflfects, and with an 
ample cajiit^d came to the city of Wichita, and 
invested in real estate. She is in manj- respects a 
remarkable woman, possessing more than ordinary 
business capacity, and h.is managed her property in- 
terest-s in such a manner that she is now in<lc|)endcnt, 
and the owner of [)ro|K'rty valued at nearly ^.'>0,000. 
While courageous in her investments she has not 
been reckless, and the fact that she began with 
ij;t,000, from which she has realized the amount 
already stated, is a forcible illustration of her 
-Jigacity and good judgment. 

.Mrs. Tiffany was born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
Sept. 2.'1, 1H;I3, and is the daughter of .lohii and 
Ann F. (I'eacfjck) Kverctt, also natives of the 
Kinpire State, and of (ierm.an <le.scent. She was 
reared on the farm of her father, and on the 1 '.tth 
of .Sept<-iiilM'r, IH.OO, when a young lad}' .seventeen 




•►-•-* 



years of nge, was united in marriage with Ilirnin 
Tiffany, who li.-id been born and reared not far 
from her own iieigliborli<K«l. Mr. T. w.« born .Jan. 

I 1(1, 1H24, and was the son of (•ardiier Tiffany, a 
native of Wayne County, I'a., and of .Scotch de- 
scent, lie married .Miss Itebecca Slay ton, and 
removing from the Keystone State, they setlle<l in 
Wayne County, N. Y., where Gardner Tiffany be- 

! came the owner of .'lOO acres of land, all in one 
body. This wils fertile and valuable, and yielded 

I a generous income. Iliram iijieritcd a farm from 

; his father's estate, to which he added by purchase, 

I and setoiit and cultivated one of the finest orchards 
in Wayne County, from which he raised annually a 

I large anioiint of choice fruit. 

I Iliram Tiffany was a man of fine abilities, and of 
correct and upright character. He was a Hepiib- 

] lican in politics, and prominent in the affairs of his 
township, holding its various offices of trust and 
responsibility. In religious views both he and his 
wife were in accord with the doctrines of the Free 
baptist Church. Mr. Tiffany was a strict abstainer 
from intoxicating drinks, a member of the .Sons of 
Tem|)erancc. and a man whose character was above 
reproach. lie p:issed his entire life engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and died at the homestead in 
Wayne County, at the age of fifty -si.\ years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany there were born four 
children, the record of whom is as follows: Fred- 
erick R. married Miss Kmma Holmes, of Wayne 
County, N. Y'., and they are the parents of three 
chihlren — Inez E., Hazel M. and Mosceline; this 
son, like his father, votes the Republican ticket; he 
is a resident of Wichita. Gardner h., the second 
son, marrieil Miss Kmma L. Brandt, of Wayne 
County, N. \'., they have two children — Freddie 
F. and Ilaltie L. ; he is carrying on farming and 
the evaporation of fruit in Wayne County, N. Y'. 
Lida A. is the wife of Orlando J. Newhall, a 
carpenter of Wichita, ami they have one child — 
\Vells T. Lizzie II. married .Melville \\'arren, 
formerly of Lincoln, III., but now a shoe dealer of 
Wit-hila; they have two children — Claiidine and 
Wayne. 

In 1884 Mrs. Tiffany left the scenes of her child- 
hood and early womanhood in Wayne Ctiuiity, N. 
Y., selling out Iht pro|H'rty lliere. and in company 



-^^ 




SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



383 



with her son Frederick and her daughter Lizzie 
ciinie to Wichita, where her admirable business 
ability lias resulted in making her a wealth}' woman. 
At the same time her sterling worth of character 
and natural goodness of heart have drawn around 
her a large company of sincere friends. There are 
none more worthy of re])resentation in a work of 
this kind than this lady, who has accomplished 
more than many men with the same opportunities. 
Her comfortable residence is located at No. 1,50() 
East Douglas avenue. 



ENRY W. RUBLE, a resident of Payne 
Township, on section 22, is by occupation 
a farmer. He was born Nov. 5, 1840, in 
the State of Ohio, his parents bearing the 
names of John and Sarah (Cofifman) Ruble. The 
father of our subject carried on farming, and lie 
and his wife both died in 1846, the father March 
6, and the mother April 15. Thej- passed nearly 
all their lives in the State of Ohio. The father was 
born in 1800 in Shenandoah County, Va., and was 
a son of one of the pioneers of the Buckeye State. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Balsar 
Ruble, lived to the advanced age of ninety-one 
years, and passed to his rest "be3'ond the river" 
while a resident of Ohio. 

John, the father of the subject of this narrative, 
was an active member of the Christian Church, and 
helped to organize the society of ihat denomination 
in Highland County, and indeed often did the 
preaching of that locality, in an emergency. He 
was a zealous, faithful and honest Christian worker, 
and his good wife entered heartily into his religious 
endeavors. He died in the full faith of the Chris- 
tian. He was a believer in the Scriptural injunction 
regarding a blow, reading in a literal sense the pre- 
cept that says, "If smitten on one cheek, turn the 
other." In furtherance of his faith in this doctrine, 
he was a member of a local organization, whose pur- 
pose was indicated by its name, "Non-Strikers." 
The aim of this association was to keep the peace, 
one means of which was turning the other cheek 
to receive a second blow, should an}' one smite them. 
He was the father of ten children, viz: Magda- 



lene, K:irll,.| :,ihI \ViI1i,-,1i1. .Irrr.TM'^l; .l:ir,,l,, .l,,>eph, 

Washington, (icorge, Henry \\ esli-y, l>aiah and 
Sarah A. 

Henr}' Wesley Ruble, the subject of this sketch, 
remained at home u[)on the paternal farm in Ohio, 
acquiring an education in the district schools of 
that State, until he was some si.\teen years old. At 
that time, leaving his home, he went to Pike County, 
111., where he worked at farm labor bj' the month 
until 18G0. The gold fever now having attacked 
him, he started overland with ox-teams for Pike's 
Peak, and reached that Eldorado on the 22d of 
May, that year. He went to mining and followed 
it with varying fortunes for about two j-ears, but 
finally gave it up and began teaming and freight- 
ing. A j'ear later, farming having held out allure- 
ments to him, he accordingly embraced that calling, 
which he followed until 1807. Returning to Illi- 
nois he located in Logan County, on a farm which 
he purchased. While a resident here, Nov. 2, 1870, 
he led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. Woolums. 

The parents of the bride were named Will- 
iam and Elizabeth (Stout) W^oolums, and were 
both natives of the Buckej^e Stsite, where the 
father still carries on farming. His wife passed 
away Aug. 15, 1876, in the full enjoyment of the 
Christian faith, and a deep-seated belief in the doc- 
trines of the Methodist Plpiscopal Church. They 
were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom 
are still living. The father of Mrs. Ruble and her 
two brothers, Benjamin and Wilson, with a noble 
patriotism, enlisted among our National defendere 
during the late war between the States, which 
"called to a martj'r'sgravetheflowerof our beloved 
land." The father, after enduring many hardships 
and privations incident upon a soldier' life, partici- 
pated in Sherman's glorious march to the sea. Ben- 
jamin lost his life at the battle of Nashville, Tenn. 
Wilson was in the service but three weeks, and was 
brought home sick with thetyiilioid fever and never 
recovered. 

Mrs. Henr}' Ruble was born in Highland Count}', 
Ohio, Dec. 10, 1845, and while a resident of Illinois 
communed with the disciples of our Lord in the 
IMethodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ruble was at 
one time associated with the Christian Church, but 
is now unable to attend any congi'egation of that 



f 



' 8ft4 



■^^ 



^KDGWICK COUNTY. 



iloiiominntion within reach. In IK7^ the fnniily 
came to Kan!uu<, nn<l looateM tm the farm of 1 "JO 
acres where tlicy now reside. Nearly all the ini" 
provenienli* u|M>n it are the work of the lirain and 
hand of our Milijecl. Mr. and Mrs. Uiilde arc the 
liarents of seven children: .lolin W. was born March 
•-'. 1H78; KlizalM-th A., horn Aug. 22, I N74, and died 
( )ct. 1 K. 1 «74 : C'alista 1' wa.s horn Oct. 1 2, 1 87.'> ; Hc- 
licccn ("., who was horn March 28, 1877, died May 
12, 1877: Louie M. W!i# born May 11, 1880;. lames 
W.. May 18, 1882; and fJertrude, who was born 
.Iiine 27, 188.1, lived only a couple of weeks. 
Mr. KuMe has held the ottices of .lustice of the 
l\-;icc. Treasurer of the township, and Director of 
the scIkmiIs of the district. Politically he once 
alllliatcd with the Republican party, hut of late has 
been a Orccnbacker. a member of the Knights of 
Labor, and votes rather independently. He is a 
man of sound sense and respected by his neighbors 



llPil ^' ^•'^^^'^"*> |>li<'l<'?raphcr, with studio at 
ijL^ No. 1;")1 Nortii .M!iin street. Wichita, is a 
l^^jl line represenUitive of a good old Puritan 
^5^/' family, who early left their old English 
home across the water, and became pioneers of 
New Knpland, there being five brothers of them 
who came to this country with the great Puritan 
emigration t<i New Kngland between the years 16;{0 
and 1C40. Two brothers settled in Massachusetts, 
one in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island, and the 
liflh one is not accounted for. The gieat-grand- 
fatlier of the subject of our sketch, Noah Taylor, 
was born, reared, and married in Connecticut, and 
there followed the occu|)ation of a farmer. At 
about the beginning of this century he removed with 
his family to the wilds of Cayuga County, N. Y., 
Mhd there settled down to the laliors of a pioneer. 
Mis son N('ah, grandfather of ourstdtject, was iiorn 
in Connecticut in 17;»1, and went with his father to 
tlie .State of New York when but a lad of six years. 
When he grew to manhood he learned the trade of 
larpcnter, and also engaged in the lumber business, 
owning and successfully managing four sawmills 
ill the town of Venice. Ca> iiga Co.. N. Y. He 
married a Miss Anna Knapj), of New York State, 



and they were the parents of four chihlren, namely: 
.Sarah; I'hoinas Ara<l, who dietl in infancy; Ilirnin 
H., and a son who died in infancy. In |H>litical 
opinions Mr. Taylor was a Whig; he was an exem- 
plary man and was highl)' res|>ect<M| by nil who 
knew him. lie was of a Arm, even tempeniment, 
and his habits were go<Hi and well under his con- 
trol, lie was a kind and loving huslmnd, and n 
tender, affectionate father, having the love and 
conBdence of his children. 

Iliriun 1$., the father of our subject, wna born in 
1827. lie fttlliiwed the occupation of his father 
and at one time did an extensive biisines.s. He 
married Miss Kliza T. Green, daughter of Itanium 
Green, formerly of Vermont. To them were bt»ni 
eight children — H. Frank, Ida. Mary K., Lee N. 
(deceased), Lamott, llinim 11.. .Jr.. William P. anil 
Luella A., all of wlnnn were born in the town of 
Venice, N. Y. Mr. Taj'lor resided in that place 
until 1871, when he sold out and moved to Iowa, 
Allamakee Countj". He bought a large stock farm, 
on which he lived for three ye.'irs; he then sold this 
and moved into Postville, the same count}'. There 
he had a car|)enter's shop anrl resumed his early 
calling, and is still a resident of that town, where 
most of his children were brought up. In his 
political opinions Mr. Taj-lor is strongly Repub- 
lican; in his religious views he is broad and liberal 
miiKled. He inherited the genial and aflfectionnte 
nature that was so characteristic of his father. He 
is honest, upright and industrious, has accumulated 
considerable property, and has been enabled to 
bring up his family in comfort, and, with the aid 
of his good wife, instilled into their minds the 
virtues which have been his and her guiding prin- 
ci])le8, and which will serve to make them useful 
and honorable citizens, worthy of such parents. 
Mr. T.'iylor is intensel}' patriotic, ami during 
the late Rebellion was a strong Union man, and 
would willingly have given his services to his coun- 
try, but was with dilUculty restraineii by the plead- 
ings of his wife and dependent children, lie has 
a strong sense of honor and carefully cherishes his 
own reputation and that of his family. 

H. Frank, the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Venice, N. Y., in 18.'il, and went to Itiwa when 
seventeen years of age. He received a common- 



•► 9i-^ 



I 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



385 



school education, and in early life learned his 
father's trade. When twentj'-one years of age he 
bought a farm in Western Iowa, and remained there 
three years, and was conducting it quite success- 
fully. In 1877 Mr. Taylor learned the art of pho- 
tography in Postville, Iowa, and subsequently 
bought out an establishment and began the practice 
of his profession. By patient and careful attention 
to his work he acquired great skill, seciu-ed good 
patronage, and was numbered among the leading 
artists of that part of the State. While a resident 
of Iowa, our subject w.is united to Miss Carrie 
F. Beedy, daughter of N. J. and Mary (Barnes) 
Beedy, worthy and intelligent people of Nevv En- 
gland birth. This union has been blessed by the 
birth of one child, Mary Floy. 

In 1884 Mr. Taylor w.as attracted to the State 
of Kansas by its many advantages, both as a place 
of residence .and of business, and bought land in 
the southern p.art of this county and built a home 
in Clearwater. In 1886 he came to Wichita and 
made considerable investments in real estate, and 
built a substantial dwelling here. He soon after 
coming here opened a studio, and has since been 
busilj' engaged in his art. He thoroughly under- 
stands his profession, and his work is pronounced 
by connoisseurs to be of a high order and to 
possess genuine artistic merits. Our subject is an 
active and capable business man, possessing a clear 
judgment, and is amply endowed with those quali- 
ties which m:ike an honorable citizen, and secure 
for him the highest respect and regard of his fellow- 
men. 



S7 ORENZO D. OOSSLER, who is occupying 
I (^ the southwest quarter of section 27, in Park 
jik^. Township, pre-empted this land in June, 
1871, and has since given to it his undivided care 
and .ittention. A native of Sunbury, Northumber- 
land Co., Pa., he was born Aug. 2.5, 1841, and is 
the son of Charles and Margaret (Becker) Gossler, 
also natives of the Keystone State. 

The father of our subject was a natural mculianic, 



I- 



of great ingenuity and skill, a cabinet-maker by 
trade, and also employed himself largely in the con- 
struction of canal boat-*, besides operating these be- 
tween Philadelphia and Baltimore. It is estimated 
that he at least finished off 100 structures of this 
kind, besides skiffs, flatboats, etc., as he carried on 
an extensive business of this description for several 
yea»s. Later in life he took u|) agricultural pursuits, 
and spent his declining years amid the rural scenes 
of Iowa, ]\Iissouri and other .States. lie, however, 
eventually returned to his native county, where he 
died in 1 872, at the .age of sixty-seven ye.ars, hav- 
ing been born on the 5th of January, 1805. The 
mother survived her husband a period of twelve 
years, her death tiiking pLace in May, 1 884. 

The parental f.amily of our subject included eight 
children, five of whom grew to mature years. The 
eldest living is Isaiah, a resident of Sunbury, Pa.; 
Louisa became the wife of Jacob Martz, a well-to- 
do farmer of Macon County, Mo.; William II. is a 
resident of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Adelia continues 
in her native town of Sunbury, Pa. ; Lorenzo D., 
of our sketch, is the youngest of the famih' living. 
He W.IS reared to farming pursuits, and educated in 
the common schools. He continued in his native 
State until reaching his majority, and then started 
by himself for the West. Upon reaching Peoria 
County, III., where his brother-in-law, Mr. Martz, 
was eng.aged in farming, he assisted him for about 
a year, and at the expir.ation of this time went into 
"Van Buren County, Iowa, where he commenced 
operating on rented land, and raised the crops of 
one season. 

Young Gossler then crossed the Mississippi into 
Ottumwa, Iowa, near which city he followed farm- 
ing until 1871, ami from there came to this county. 
He was married in Van Buren County, Iowa, on 
the 24th of December, 1808, to Miss Anna M., 
daughter of Robert and Rosanna (Morrison) Cress- 
well, who was born March 14, 1839, and came with 
her p.arents, two years later, to Van Buren County, 
Iowa, where the mother died in 1843, when her 
daughter Anna w.as a little child four years of age. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the p.arents of ten children, of whom 
Mrs. G. was the youngest, and eight were living at 
the time of the mother's death. Mr. Cresswell sub- 



f 



t 



' ' inr, 



RED(;WICK COUNTY. 



•► m.-^ 



uoqiH-iilly iiinrrii'il .Mi.-» Mary A. l<i|i|>iiic<itt, n un- 
live iif Nrw Jersey, ami died at liiit home in \nu 
Bureii County. Iu«a, in Doconilier, 1«7C. 

To our stilijii't anil hi!* wife there Imve l»ecn horn 
five ehihlren, hut three of nhoni arc living, nnniely : 
Rohcrt C, l^inhert and Delhert 1). Mr. Gossler 
cnrrie!! on sttH-k-niising to a coii<«idernhle extent, 
ami althon^'h not |mrli('ularly intere.'>ted in politics, 
gives hi» cordial !tu|>|)ort to the Ke|inlilican party. 
He ha.« MTVed as flerk on the .'x'hool Hoard in his 
di.«trict, and is a man in wiiuni his ncijLrhbors have 
entire confidence. 



^^ IIUISl IAN FATK. The name of this gen- 
[If ^1, tieman is well and favorahly known through- 
^^^ out Wiehilii, where he is prosixrously en- 
gJige«i in the Uiiloring busine^. He is of Gernmn 
ancestry, his father, a druggist by profession, hav- 
ing eniigrjited from CJermany in IK.S.'J, and settled 
in .Manhcim. I-ancister Co., I'a. He married Miss 
Catherine lloff, who came from an old and worthy 
family. They were Mennonitesand came to Pennsyl- 
vania many years ago to escajte from religious jkt- i 
scculion. Mr. Fate died shortly after marriage, and 
before the birth of their only child, the subject of this 
notice. He was an eilucatcd man, and pa|)ers which 
came from (■■ermany. and are still in iwssession of 
his son, attest his worth and the esteem in which lie i 
W!us held inliis native country. He was Captain of j 
the hunters, and had accumulated considerable ', 
pro|K;rty, leaving his widow in comfortjible circum- 
stances. His son has many relics which he holds \ 
sacred, among them being the medicine scale and 
implements, and also a fine double-barreled rille of 
excellent workmanshi)) which his father.ii.sed. Mr. 
Fate's father, the grandfather of our subject, held 
an olllce under the King of Wurtend)crg, and the 
family wiut one of prominence and imporbince, be- 
longing to what is termed in that country the "up- 
|K'r class. " 

Chri'-lian Fate, subject of this sketch, was born i 
at .Manhcim, .March 2K, \Mr>. He received a com- 
mon-school educati(jn, and at the age of fourteen 
years cnmmcnccd to learn the tailor's trade, al which 
he workcil until 1 HO.'i, whiii he engaged in the scw- 



ing-mnchine busin«-»8. In IHii; Mr. Fate look n 
most important step in life, being Uien united in 
marriage with Miss Anna Mellingcr. of .Mnnboim 
(for |)nrental history .see skett-h of David H. Mel- 
linger. The mother of Mrs. Fato belonged to nn 
old I'ennsylvanian family, and Ls connected by mar- 
riage with many of the present families of that 
.State, among whose members are some of the 
wealthiest and nn>st intelligent jk-oijIc in the coun- 
try. 

Mr. Fate remained a resident of his native SUite 
until INK."!, when, at the urgent solicitation of Mrs. 
Kate's brother, I). H. .Mellinger, he left liLs pleasant 
home in Lnnca.ster. I'a., and with his wife removed 
to Wichita. They at once assumed the position in 
society for which they arc well qualified by educa- 
tion, integrity, and sterling worth. They nre in- 
dustrious, economical people, who have ac(piire<l 
some pro|)erly, and stand high in the estimation of 
other residents of the community, .""locially our 
subject is a Mason, and a member of the Blue 
Lodge, Royal Arch, Chapter K. T., and (JtHxIwin 
Council of Hoyal .Su|)er, Kxcellent and Select .Mas- 
ters. Mrs. Fate is a worthy member of the Church 
of God. 



^8^ 



, EV. .M. .1. CASKY, I'.asU)rof .St. Aloysius Cath- 
olic Church, Wichita, is a native of County 
Monaghan, Ireland, whei-e his birtli took 
j^l)lace in 1S.")0. His education was completed 
in All Hallows, Dublin, and in 187.5 he emigrated 
to America, and making his way westwanl t<K>k up 
his residence first in Leavenworth, this .State. 
Thence he went to Olalhe, where he was sotth-d f«.ir 
ten peal's and where under his su|K;rvision there 
was erected a very fine church edifice at a <-ost of 
$;'»0,000, including the church projK-rty adjacent. 

While at Olathe Father Casey esUiblished the 
celebrated mi.ssion there and also churches in various 
other places, where he either erected buildings or 
paid off the debts which had accrued. II is remarka- 
ble encrg}' and executive .ability have been forcibly 
illustrated by his labors in WichiUi, to which city 
he came in November, IHH,5. The church' here at 
tliMl time was in an cnfccbli-d ruiidition, but Father 
C.Lsrv .-it once set to work, and in the short sp.'icc of 
'. -«^ 



f 




I 






.\' 




vJ 






^ 



f 



•►HI-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



389 



two years erected a substantial edifice at a cost of 
125,000, and the interior of which is most beauti- 
fully decorated. He also founded All Hallows 
Academy on the West Side and put up its building 
also at a cost of 125,000. This, h()we*'er, is not yet 
completed, but promises to shelter one of the larg- 
est institutions of tlie kind. One mile south of the 
acadeni}^ there is now being completed, also under 
the supervision of Father Casey, a seminary build- 
ing for young men, equal in proportion to that of 
the academy. He has also erected a church edifice 
on the West Side, where the church owns property 
to the value of $50,000. In addition to this he has 
also erected a building for the St. Aloysius School 
and a hall for parochial purposes, which it is de- 
signed shall be thoroughly equipped with all modern 
appliances. The entire value of the St. Aloysius 
Church property in Wichita is estimated to be 
nearly ^1,000,000. The greater part of this has 
been accumulated by the wisdom, persistent labors 
and forethought of Father Casey. 

In addition to his other labors, Father Casey 
while at Olathe established a paper, the Kansas 
Catholic, the only journal of its kind in tlie State, 
and devoted to the interests of the church. He is 
Administrator of the Diocese of Wichita. His 
force of character, talent and ability are phenomenal, 
and he possesses great power for good among his 
people. 



-¥ 



G. MOSHER, a wealthy and influential 
capitalist of the city of Wichita, came to 
Sedgwick County in 1870, and took up a 
claim of 160 acres of land in Kechi Town- 
He broke up, for the purjwse of cultivation, 
about twent^'-five acres, and on the place erected a 
frame dwelling-house, 14x16 feet in size, and a 
story and a lialf high. He wa.« a resident of this farm 
for some four years, but the grasshoppers came and 
destroyed his crops, and finding a purchaser who 
would pay ^1,600 for the property, he disposed of 
it. He then came to Wichita and purchased a lot 
on the corner of Central and Water streets, and two 
lots on Wichita street. He took up his residence in 
a house which was on the first-named lot, and bought 
a house for fBO, which was 14x22 feet in size, and 



removed it to bis property on the corner of Wichita 
and Pine streets. In the fall of 1875 he made a 
purchase of about 130 acres of Land on the West 
Side, which he sold in 1882, and bought the prop- 
erty where he now lives. No. 323 North Emporia 
avenue. He is the owner of considerable real es- 
tate in the city, much of which is improved. 

Mr. Mosher is the son of Gideon and Sarah (Bill- 
ings) Mosher, and was born in Lake County, Ohio, 
April 12, 1825. Both of his parents were natives 
of the State of New York. His father was a farmer 
by occupation, and had moved to Ohio about the 
year 1818, and after a residence of some years in 
Lake County, settled on a farm in Lorain County, 
where he remained until he and his wife were both 
called to their chamber in the silent halls of death. 
They were the parents of twelve children, of whom 
the subject of this sketch was the youngest. 

Reared beneath the paternal roof-tree, the latter 
remained with his father and mother, assisting in 
the manual labor attendant on the life of an 
agriculturist, until he was some twenty -four years 
of age. Sept. 4, 1849, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Clarissa J. Fry, a daughter of George and 
Anna (Souder) Fry, who were both natives of Penn- 
sylvania. Her fatlier was a shoemaker by trade, 
but foi' some years had been engaged in mercantile 
operations in the Keystone State. He removed to 
Ohio in 1842 and settled in Richland County, from 
there went to Lorain County, Ohio, where he staid 
seven years. He then migrated to Missouri and 
from there to Sedgwick County, Kan. On coming 
here he located in Grant Township, where he pre- 
empted some eigiity acres of land and entered upon 
agricultural pursuits. After eight years of exper- 
ience, being quite aged, he returned to Missouri 
and made his home with a daughter in that State, 
where he died in 1881, at the age of eighty-five 
years. His wife, who was born in 1790, survives 
him, and is living with her daughter, Mrs. Mosher, 
in Wichita. They were the parents of eight chil- 
• dren, of whom Mrs. Mosher is the second. Two of 
their children have preceded them in death. 

After his marriage Mr. Mosher eng;iged in fai-m- 
ing on seventy acres of land in Lorain County, 
Ohio, and was a resident of that State until four 
years later, when he moved to DeKalb County, 111., 



^* ' 390 






SKKCW KK ror'NTY. 



laid n Innd warrant un ICO acres uf land, ni 
altoiit improving it, nnd making a farniufwlmi » i- 
a }.Ta.H.H_v wiMerncs.-, Imt coiicliiiliii^' tliiit tin- Sintc 
of .Mi.s.sotiri ofTfred him 8ii|)crior indilconu'iiUi, two 
yoant InttT he iiMnoved thither. I'lirrhiuiinji; nil 
improved farm and pro-cmpting some nilii lands 
also, hi- iigain cs!yiy<'»l farmin<;, Iml five \eiirs Inter 
he .M.in};ht in Iowa a more convenient farm, and 
founil n home suited to hi.s mind in Appano(>!«c 
County. While a resident there, employed in the 
|>oaeeful avocation of his calling, he was rudely 
awakened from his dreams of the future Itj* the 
sounds of civil strife. Patriots in all parts of pur 
country lM?came aware of a strong attempt made liy 
tlu« slave oligarchy of the .South at the life of "the 
hest (•ovcrnnient the sun had ever shown upon," 
and on l're.sidcnt I^incoln's calling for troops in 
IHCl to defen<l the honor of the Union, ami of our 
glorious old llag, Mr. Moslicr, burning with intense 
patriotism, enlist^-d in C'om|Kiny II, (ith Iowa In- 
fantry. He did not remain long in this regiment, 
and on account of disability he W!isdis<-hargc(l, jiiid 
in a short time after joined the .'tTth Iowa Infantry, 
known as the ol<l ( Iraybeards. He endured all the 
privations and hardshij>s attendant on a soldier's 
life. He was mustered out and honondily dis- 
charged in IXfj.T, and returned to his Iowa home, 
where he remained until l.s70, and then came to 
Sedgwick County. Mr. Mosher wjis well situated 
in .Missouri, but owing to the breaking out of the 
war .'ind his strong I'nion proclivities, he was ad- 
vised by his friends that he had bettor leave while 
there was an f)p|K>rtnnity to save his property, lie 
did 80. going into Iowa, niirl >hortly after entered 
the army. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Mosher are the parents of one child, 
Georgia Annie, Mrs. .S. S. King, of Portland, ((re. 
Her father, knowing the advantages to l)e firawn 
from a thorough education, made it a |>ointtogivc 
her all the advant'iges iKjssible, and aft4.-r receiving 
the elements of knowledge in the ordinary schools, 
placed her at Oberlin College, Ohio, where she took 
a three-years cours*-, as a proDcient musician. She , 
Uught the science of music, both theoretical and 
|>nicli('al, for a number of years in the States of 
Ohio, Iowa and Kansas, anil on Christmas Day, 
1H7'2, was united in mrirringi- with Selah S. King, 



lH>m in lonin County. Mich., in 1844. 

I III .i:iie of Mrs. King's birtli was Oct. 9. 18.10. and 
the place was Itrighton, Ohio. Mr. King w.-us ri-^ired 
on n farm, but in early life t<H)k up the tnide of a 
printer, which he followed for many years. In |H70 
he came to Kansas and t<Mik up acL-iim in .Sedgwick 
county, but in IH?.'! removed to Wichita, and was 
engaged at the "art preservative of all arts" in the 
Earjle olllce. He .nerved its Deputy SherilT of the 
County, after which he entered the employ of the 
Lombard Mortgage Com|iiiny, and is at present the 
Sii|K'rinten<lent of their business in Oregon, with 
his heaflquarters at Portland. He and his wife are 
the parents of one child, Clarence II. 

Mr. Mosher is one of the reliable nnd most es- 
teemed citizens of Wichita, and is looked up to ns 
wne of the most inlliiential citizens. His adherence 
to the rlictates of hontjr in all his business transac- 
tions, his spotless private life and his public spirit- 
edness in all nnitters for the benefit of the comniii- 
nity. li.ive elevated him to ;i high |>innacle in the 
minds of his fellow-citizens. In |K)litics he is a 
Republican, a strong believer in the progri>ssive 
principles of thai party, and seeking in it a per|>et- 
iiation of the principles of free government. 

The portRiits of .Mr. and .Mi-s. Mosher are given 
on an adjoining page. 

■!«>*.«. WILLIAM NKSIUT AVKKS. who is 
!l ])) also entitled to the term "Honorable," 
'fi^^ having served in the Illinois Legislature^ 
has long been numbered among tlu' aged 
roidcnts of X'alley Center, having been born on the 
."id of March, IHll. He is .-i native of Freilcrick. 
t)hio, and the son of William :ind Klizabelh (Cul- 
ver) Ayrcs, wh(» were born respectively in Luzerne 
County, Pa., and Columliia County, N. Y. Will- 
iam Ayres. Sr., followed the joint occupations of 
miller and farmer, first in his native State .Miid later 
in Ohio, where his death occurred in Lexington. 
Richland County, in IK.IO. He is renieinbered as 
a very intelligent man. of resolute will, untiring 
energy, and a valued citizen. 

Of the children, twelve in number, born \.o Will- 
iam, Sr., iind l'".lizabetli Ayrcs, and comprising seven 



•► ■ -M' 






•►Hh-*- 



•►-II -4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



391 



i 



sons and five daughters, five died in infancy and 
seven lived to mature years. Tliere are now but 
two surviving, Lavina, and AMIliam, of our sketch. 
The former is the widow of Dr. Jotm C. McCoy, a 
native of Ohio, where he followed his profession, 
and died in middle life, leaving his wife with two 
sons — Lucynus S. and Willard. Mrs. McCoy is now 
a resident of Dodge City, K:m. The other chil- 
dren of the parental family were named respect- 
ively : Sarepta, Eliza, Pamelia, Harriet and Sam- 
uel B. 

Young Nesbit continued under the home roof 
until a youth of sixteen years, assisting his father 
in the mill and on the farm, and pursuing his stud- 
ies in the district school. Later lie attended the 
uuivei*sity at Mansfield, Ohio, taking a full course, 
and about 1830 commenced the study of medicine 
in Louisville, Ky., under the instruction of the 
eminent Dr. William C. Bunnell, with whom he re- 
mained from May, 1830, to December, 1833. He 
entered ujmmi the practice of his profession at New 
Amsterdam, Ind., and subsequently returned to 
Louisville, where he received his diploma as a grad- 
uated physician of the Regular School. His close 
application to his studies thoroughlj' fitted him for 
the duties and responsibilities of his chosen calling, 
which he entered upon and followed with conscien- 
tious devotion until the flight of years admonished 
him that it was time to rest. 

From Louisville Dr. Aj'res removed to George- 
town, Ind., and in due time was married there, 
Feb. 4, 1836, to Miss Eveline H. Hanger, who was 
born in Stanton, Augusta Co., Va., Sept. 19, 1814. 
Her parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Fullwider) 
Hanger, the father a farmer by occupation and one 
of the solid men of that section. Four sons and 
six daughters completed the household circle of 
Mr. and Mrs. Hanger, one of whom is now living 
and a resident of Eagle Township, this'countj'. The 
parents are deceased. 

Dr. and Mrs. Aj^res commenced life together in 
a modest home in Georgetown, Ind., where they 
remained thirteen years, and thence removed to 
Elizabethtown, 111. This latter place was their 
home for a period of thirty-four years, during 
i which time, in connection with his practice, Dr. 
A^Tes carried on a drug-store for fourteen years. 



Ujwu making his arrangements for his future resi- 
dence in Kansas, he sold out his drug business and 
invested the proceeds in eighty acres of land on 
section 26, in Valley Center Township. He ar- 
rived in this county on the .0th of July, 1 882, .and 
took possession of his farm, which, however, on ac- 
count of business, he only occupied a few weeks, 
then removed to Valley Center, where he has since 
remained. He is partially retired from active prac- 
tice, although, when especially called upon, con- 
siders it his duty to respond. 

Dr. A3'res is a devout member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and since the organization of 
the Democratic party has been one of its warmest 
.adherents. During his residence of thirty-four 
years in Hardin County, 111., he exercised a per- 
ceptible influence in political affairs. Before being 
elected to the Legislature he had held the office of 
Sheriff, and was otherwise prominent in the affairs 
of that section, being a man decided in his opin- 
ions, usually correct in his judgment, .and one in 
whom the people had entire confidence. 

The children of Dr. William N. and Mrs. Eveline 
II. Ayres, ten in number, consisted of two sons and 
eight daughters, five of whom died in infancy, two, 
Eliza and Harriett L., ))eing taken from the house- 
hold circle in one day during the cholera scourge 
of 1 849. Of the others the record is as follows : 
Mary Elizabeth is deceased ; Warren was named 
.after the famous General who commanded the 
troops at Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary 
War; Harrison Hamilton died when five years old; 
Augusta A. is the wife of l^r. James Rose, who first 
studied medicine under the instruction of his father- 
in-law from 1869 to 1871; Adeline, who died Jan. 
28, 1877, was the wife of Elbert G., brother of 
Dr. James Rose, .above mentioned. Dr. James and 
Elbert Rose continued in Elizabethtown, 111., two 
years after the death of Elbert's wife, then re- 
moved to Harrisburg, Saline Co., 111., of which 
they are still residents. He h:is a fine farm in Har- 
din County, and is the father of two sons, one of 
whom, Tevis M., died when about five years of age. 
The other, William Ernest, lives with his father. 
Elizabeth Aj'res, the daughter of our subject, mar- 
ried John W. Ralph, in Elizabethtown, 111.; he was 

a farmer, and held office in his county for a num- 
.^ 



t 



m- 



392 



SKIXIWK K CofMY 



'h 



•►•-4« 



bcr of years. Of this union there were two cliil- 
droii — William 1'. ami George N. Mrs. Itaiph de- 
pnrt*-*! this life on the 2I»l of .lanuary, 1H6«. Shi- 
was a coii!tist4.-nt meniher of the Rejiular B:ii'ti>t 
Church. 

Dr. Williiini N. Ayres was one of the charter 
members of the Ark Loilge No. 243, A. K. A- A. M.. 
in Valley Center, with whirh orj^uiization he is still 
eonneeteil.and in the suee«-8s of which he i.x warmly 
interested. His plea.<<ant home on Avenue B is the 
resort of a circle of warm friends and acquaint- 
ances, who have learned to esteem him for his ster- 
ling worth, and who will hohl his name in kindly 
remembrance long after he hiis departed hence. 



WH. II. CAMTHKLL, of WicbiU, fn>t came 
to this State in lis7(>, and settled in Sedg- 
wick County on the northeast qu.arter of 
section 21, in Miimcha Township. Here he pre- 
empte<l a (juarter-section of land, and began its 
improvement by building what wius called a dug-out. 
8x12 feet. In this crude Imbitation he kept bach- 
elor's hall till he could haul lumber from Humboldt, 
Kan., ovsr 100 miles. But. nothing daunted, he 
builtahouse,»et out trees, and planted hedge around 
and through the farm. He kc])! the finest breed 
t>f hogs in the SU-ite, besides which he raised horses 
and cattle. After he settled there buffalo, deer, 
wolves and other game were plenty. He remained 
on this farn) until IHH.!, when he came to Wichita. 
Here he bought three lot* anil a house, ami sellled 
in the city. The 8:ime year he had foresight enough 
to buy 160 acres two miles soutlii>f Douglas avenue. 
It was under cultivation, so he rented out the place 
for two years. He then platti-d eighty acres of the 
land, half of it in each of two additions, calleil 
Campbell's Fin*l and Second Additions. Not con- 
tent with this he ha-^ been buying and selling other 
real estate. 

Our subject is a representative ^■irginian, born 
there in l«42. His father's name was .lames A., 
and his mother's, Kliznbetli I'pdike. Tlicy, too, 
were natives of Virginia. Tin- paternal grandfather 
was liev. .lames A. Campbell, of Scotland. The 
father of our subject moved UiOhio in IKI3, lixat- 



ing in Morgan County, where fanning and stock- 
raising engaged bis attention, lie now resides in 
HiK-king County, Ohio. His good wife died in 
I s7'.t, leaving a family of eight children, seven of 
wlinni are now living — ,)ohn C .lamw .S., .Middletoii 
S.. W. H. H., Samanlha E. (now Mrs. Miller), 
(leorge K. and .Mary F. Mr. Campbell is a mem- 
ber of the Melhodi-t Kpiscopal Church, of which 
his wife was also a member. 

W. H. H. Campbell was reareil on a farm, where 
he remained until he was eighteen years of age. 
He then began s|H-culating in stock in Ohio, and 
continued it until he came to Kansas, in 1>70. In 
IST.'i he was united in marri.ige with Miss Annilda 
Boyd, the daughter of W. .M. and Harriet (Hobin- 
son) Boyd, natives of Kentucky. His business was 
farming and stiK-k-raising. His father was named 
Thomas, and his mother Kdna ( I'arker) B< ly d, natives 
of \'irgiiiia. Harriet Robinson's father was named 
Robert, and her mother's maiden name was Martha 
How.'ird; he was a native of South Carolina, and 
she of Maryland. Farming was their occu|iation. 

Mrs. Cami)beirs parents were members tif the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Her mother died in 
ISOO, leaving four children, two of whom are yet 
living — Mrs. C. and her brother .John. Mr. Camp- 
bell has two children — Rhua E. and Ira E. He and 
wife are membei-sof the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
to which he is a liberal contributor, ;is he also is to 
many jjublic enterprises in the city. 

f OIIN < ; HI Klv. The subject of this biography 
settled in \iola Township on the ISth of 
February, IH79. having bought a quarter of 
section 28, and subsequently added to his 
|M>s.sessions until he is now the owner of .'^-'O acres 
of some of the best land in the township. In 
noting the thrift and industry of this gentleman, 
who is one of the most solid and substantial rcsi- 
denUs of Niola Township, we are not surprised to 
learn that he is of .Scottish birth and parentage, his 
early home having been Ayi-shire. where he lirst 
o|)cned his eyes to the light on the 1st of December, 
1821. He was left an orphan at the early age of 



^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



393 ' ^ 



nine years and then went to live with his mother's 
brother, John Young, with whom he remained until 
tweut3'-one j-ears of age. 

On the 11th of January, 1848, Mr. Grier was 
united in marriagewith a maiden of his own county, 
Miss Margaret I)iinla|), and they began life together 
on a .*;mall tract of land near the parental homestead, 
where there were in due time born to them seven 
children. Of these four are now living, namely: 
James, who resides in Sumner Count}', Kan. ; Adam, 
a resident of Nebraska, and George and AVilliam, of 
Viola Township. John died in Illinois, Dec. 1, 1875 ; 
Margaret died in Scotland at the age of seven years, 
and Andrew died in Scotland, June 1, 18G6. Mrs. 
Margaret Grier departed this life at her home in 
Scotland on the 19th of June, 18G2. 

Our subject contracted a second m.arriage, Feb. 
9, 1864, with Miss Janet Small, and in 1872 sailed 
with his family for the United States, and located 
fust in Will County, 111., where he followed farming 
until crossing the Mississippi. He paid *10 per 
acre for his land in this county, which is now valued 
at %'lh per acre. He has worked the entire tract 
and has erected comfortable buildings, in the mean- 
time also operating a steam threshing-machine. 
More fortunate than man}^ of those who came from 
a foreign land, he arrived here with a snug little 
capital of $1,500, which he was fortunate in invest- 
ing judiciouslj', and now ranks among the well-to-do 
and successful men of this localit}'. He is a Pres- 
byterian religiouslj', and in politics avails himself 
of the right of a free- American citizen to vote 
independently. Of his second marriage there have 
been no children. 

James Grier, the eldest living son of our subject, 
and the child of his first wife, Margaret, was born 
in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 29th of March, 1857. 
He was always a i)right and ambitious lad, and even 
at an early age upon the farm became greatly inter- 
ested in agricultural pursuits and especially ac- 
customed to the care of hoi-ses. He received a 
practical education, and continued a member of 
the parental household until the removal of his 
father to this State. Soon afterward he pre-empted 
a (juarter-section of land in Sumner County, to which 
he secured a clear title, and in 1887 returned to his 
native Isle, and on the 21st of August was united 



in maiTiage with one of his childhood friends. Miss 
Janet Dunlap. This lady is also a native of Ayr- 
shire, and born Sept. 29, 1859. Her parents were 
Adam and Mary (Watt) Dunlap, who were also of 
substantial Scotch ancestry, and are now deceased. 
In September following their marriage James Grier 
and his bride set sail for their new home on the 
Western Continent, and still continue residents of 
Sumner County, this Stiite, where they are in pos- 
session of a good homestead with fair prospects for 
the future. 



ylLLIAM S. R0GP:RS. This skillful artist, 
who occupies a leading place among the 
photographers of Kansas, and who holds a 
high rank among the prominent and influential 
citizens of AVichita, is justly entitled to a worthy 
mention in this volume as one of the important 
factors in developing the resources of Sedgwick 
County. He was born in Wisconsin in 1853 and 
passed his earlier years in that State, receiving a 
good common-school education, and a thorough 
training in those principles so essential to the mak- 
ing of a good citizen. 

After leaving school our subject learned the 
photographer's business, for which his artistic talent 
peculiarly' fitted him. In 1872 he came to Wichita 
and followed bis previous employment, being for 
several years engaged in galleries where superior 
workmanship was required. In 1879 our subject 
opened his present studio, at No. 116 East Douglas 
avenue, where he has been very successful in his 
business. He employs first-class talent, and his gal- 
lery' is fitted up with the finest and most modern 
instruments, one of which is worth $500. 

Mr. Rogers' work is well known throughout the 
county and Stiite, wherein he has established an 
enviable reputation for satisfactory and artistic 
work. His specialties are free-hand crayon, bromide 
crayon, and India ink portraits, life size photographs, 
and large family groups. He began in Wichita 
in a small way, .and bj' skillful ability in his pro- 
fession graduallj' built up a good business, having 
now the best custom of the city and commanding 
the highest prices. His natural talent, aided by his 



•►Hl-^^ 



n 



«► ■ -4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



iiimiv years of i'X|>ericncf. hiun jjivoii liiiii n slroiij; 
holil on llif va*t |x>si.»il>ilitif.- of the future, wliuli 
every nrtist. worthy of the imine. is strivin-: to 
seize, tiixl lii.s work coni|«res favonihly with that 
of any of the guiUl of miy of the hirj^e KiisU'rii 
eilie!<. A fine iiiiit life sizeil |>ortmit of the late 
C'oiniiuMlore WiMMlinaii its to be seen in Mr. HoKers' 
slnilio; this i.s a |)crfeet s|M>eiuien of art and the 
best picture of the (oininoiiorc ever taken, llu- 
|»orlniiU. of k-adin^ citizens of Widiitji attest the 
lii;:h estimation in which his work is iiehl, esjKcially 
the crayon life size pictures, wliich are true to life 
and finished in the best in;uiner. Among other 
pictures we iiolice those of Mr. Charles Walker, 
Vice President of the Citizens" IJjink, and of Mr. 
Jolni MoflTet. Mr. Rogers also deals in the finest 
and most beautiful frames of chiu-U' and elegant 
designs; they are manufactured in Cincinnati and 
Chicagt), and h;ive solid c<iniers. The most modern 
designs in gold meUil and silk plush are carried in 
stock. 

In 1«7h .Mr. Hogei-s was united in marriage with 
Miss Susie M. Coggeshall, a pleasant and acct>m- 
plishcd lady, and of their union three children have 
been born, namely : Pearl, Albert and Guy. Their 
home, a beautiful residence on the corner of Fourth 
and Central avenue, is a mcKlcl of refinement and 
hospitality. Our subject also owns a large amount 
of real estate, inclutling sixty-eight loUs in the city, 
anfl is prolcibly worth from ^TS.OOO to * 100,000. 
He is a public-spirited man, and has contributed 
liberally of his means to as.-ist the different enter- 
prises of WichiUi. and has donated generously to 
its various educational and charitable organizations. 
Socially. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Tnitcd 
Workmen, and in jKjIitical opinions is a Repub- 
lican. 

•w-* • •' ; -^^ t »i< < -0-; ':-(f^ - 

ff OllN IIAKIIKKI.K. Among the citizens of 
Ohio Township who arc of Cernian birth is 
the gentleman of whom this narrative is writ- 
t<ii. lie was reared in his native land, and 
there lejirned the traits of economy and frugidity 
which have been the source of his present comije- 
Uncy. Many of the lust citizens of Sedgwick 
Comity are his countrymen, and they almost in- 



variably merit ami receive the esteem and respect 
of the <-ommun<ty to the same degree that he iIih-s. 

.Mr. llaeberle is a native of Wnrtvmberg, (Jer- 
many, and was born Aug. 2, IHIT. The home of 
his jMirents, Frederick and Regina llaeberle, sUmmI 
among the beautiful hills and mountains which dot 
that pictiirestpie land, and there our subject grew 
to maidioiMl. In his boyhood, like all (ierman 
youths, he was well educated in his native language, 
both in the common schools anil the High .Sc1kh>1, :ls 
he was an only son. As he grew \m maturer years 
ideas of the future began to tlit across his mind, 
and knowing how dilllcult it was in his native land 
for a man to rise above the circumstances of bis 
birth, and fin<ling the land oppressed by an iron 
military des|K)ti8in. he east his eyes tow.ard America. 
In that land, he thought, where one man is as gou<l 
as another, he might rise t«.> a better state of alllueiice 
than was |H>ssible at home, ami in IHGf. he went to 
Bremen, and embarking on a steamer, after an ocean 
voi'age of twenty-two days .icross the stormy At- 
lantic l:uided at New York City. 

After a short time siKJut in the metro|x>lis, Mr. 
Haebcrle came West, and settled .-it the town of 
Mctlregor, Clayton Co., Iowa, which w:is then one 
of the busiest places on the Mississippi River. For 
alxjut three yeaif< he wius employed as a clerk in the 
store of Mr. IJcbhardt, after which, in 1871, he re- 
turned to the fatherland, on a visit to his boyhi«>d 
home. On returning to the L'nited States, in the 
following year, he came to Kansas, .'ind settling in 
Sedgwick County, ti.H>k up, under the pre-emption 
act, the southeast quarter of section 8, Ohio Town- 
ship, where he made his residence until 1871. 
From the latter date until 1880 he s|)ont his time 
in the West, where he was engaged in mining .-mil 
brewing, and then returned to his farm, where he 
has since live<l. 

Din-ing the year 1880, however, previous to set- 
tling down to agricultural pursuits for the second 
time^ our subject revisiti-d his native land, but re- 
turned the same year. He was united in marriage, 
May 22, 1882, with Miss Paulino Krimmcl, who waii 
born in Wurlembergon the 17th of February, 1».5'J, 
anil is the daughter of .John and Amia (Fuss) Krim- 
mcl, natives of (Jermany. t )tir snbjivt and his wife 
make their home u|>on his farm, where he luis KJO 



-•►• -<• 



>► II 4* 



.SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



395 ' ' 



acres of highly fertile and productive land, which, 
by the exercise of industry, energy and excellent 
management, he has brought to a model condition 
of cultivation. Coming to this country a poor lad, 
he has been the architect of his own fortunes, and 
is deserving of the highest commendation. Pos- 
sessing the esteem and respect of the entire com- 
munity, he may well be ranked among the honest 
and representative German citizens of Sedgwick 
County. His honor and integrity are unimpeach- 
able, his word being considered .-is good as his bond. 
Politically, he is entirely independent of any par- 
tisanship, and in the exercise of his elective fran- 
chise considers the man and not party platforms. 
He is a nieiuber of the German Evangelical Associ- 
ation, and is a trut! and sincere Christian gentleman. 



kAFAYETTK STEWART, a retireil merchant 
and farmer, residing at No. 426 South 
Topcka avenue, is a native of the Empire 
State, his birthplace haviug been Brockport, the 
date, June 21, 1824. He is of sturdy Scotch ances- 
tr}', and has inherited the traits of industry, thrift 
and economj' peculiar to that people, that always 
bring to them success in their various occupations. 
His father, Roderick R. Stewart, was born in 
Massachusetts in 1787, but later in life settled in 
New York State. He learned the trades of architect 
and bridge-builder, and being a fine workman early 
won a reputation for efficiency in his business. He, 
with Cromwell C. Bartlett and John C. Ward as co- 
trustees, was sent from New York to enter and locate 
the land now forming the site of Geueseo, 111. In 
the fall of 1836. the said Roderick R. Stewart moved 
to the embryo city of Geneseo, and took contracts 
for erecting churches and other large buildings, 
meeting with great financial success in the new city. 
He was very actively identified with all its interests, 
aiding all its business enterprises. He was an influ- 
ential member of the Stewart Lodge No. 92, A. F. <fe 
A. M., which was named in his honor. He was an 
Elder and a very prominent member of the First 
Congregational Church of Geneseo, being one of 
the founders of the same. For man}' j'ears he 
presided as Judge of the Court of Henry County, 



III., and for a long time served as Justice of the 
Peace. He was also Postmaster several years. As 
a man, he was high!}- respected for his sterling 
worth and kindly Christian character, and his death, 
which occurred in Geneseo in 1860, was deemed a 
public loss, and the community mourned with the 
bereaved widow and children in their allliction. 
The maiden name of his wife was Clarissa F. 
Dresser. She was born in Massachusetts in 1789, 
and died in Geneseo, 111., in 1867, having rounded 
out nearly a period of fourscore years. She was 
also a member of the Congregational Church, and 
worked faithfully with her husl)an(l for the good 
of the denomination. They were the parents of 
eight children, namely: Isaac N., Narcissa R., 
Elislia M., Susan D., Pcrmelia, Lafayette, Josiah 
T. and George AY. 

The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in Brockport, N. Y., June 21, 1824, and removed 
with his parents to Geneseo in 1836. He received 
a common-school education, and later pursued his 
studies at an academy. At the age of twenty- 
seven years he embarked in a mercantile business 
in Geneseo on his own account, and followed it for 
some time. Subsequently he was engaged in the 
lumber business there and in Atkinson, III., for a 
period of five years. Disposing of his interests 
there he removed to Waterloo, Iowa, remaining 
but sis months. The ensuing two years he spent 
in Kansas City, Mo. He then came to Wichita, 
w'here he purchased city property, and has since 
been engaged as a real-estate broker. He is the 
possessor of valuable landed property here, own- 
ing 170 acres of good land and several house lots 
in the city. While a citizen of Illinois he held vari- 
ous town offices, being the first Marshal of (Jeneseo, 
and serving several years as Deputy Sheriff, and 
was also Township Collector for a long time. Mr. 
Stewart is a charter member of Stewart Lodge No. 
92, A. F. tt A. M., of that city, where he has taken 
the third degree. 

Our subject was married, Dec. 25, 1849, b^' the 
Rev. Mr. Lewis, to Miss Amanda Faxon, who was 
born in Lamoille County, Vt., Oct. 26, 1826. She 
is the daughter of Azariah and Roxanna (Lewis) 
Faxon. Her father was born Jan. 19, 1799, .and 
died Oct. 8, 1881, in Nebr.aska. He was a farmer 



•►HI-<«- 



i 



' ' 396 






"^KIHiWK K COUNTY. 



by oocupalion, anci was « strict mpiiilwr of the 
CVingrcpntional Church. He was iimrrioM in Ilart- 
f«r<1, Vt,, Se|it. r.», 1H2.'», Ui tlio intither of our sub- 
jeot, who* birth occurreil I)o<-. II, IHOl. Hor 
father, Klea/.er Lewis, lived to the ripe ohl age of 
one hundred iind Ave years. 

The Faxon family are of Knifli.-ih descent. 
Thomas Faxon, a proj^'i-nitor many generations 
remove<1, came to MiLssachusclts in \i'<')Ct. and |)ur- 
cha-sed the Brst tract i>f land .sold in Hniintrce, that 
State. The family record i» honorable, ami one of 
which the dest-encbmUs may justly be proud, as no 
criminal of that name has ever stained the purity 
of the Faxon family archives. The parents of .Mrs. 
Stewart had a family of eight children — Amanda, 
William II.. .John \V., (leorgo II., Roxanna M., 
Mary .1., Charles F. and .Mary. All arc deceased 
except Amanda and .John W. 

Mrs. Stewart is a consistent and valued member 
of the Congregational Church. .She and her hus- 
band arc both Republicans in |Kilitics. To them 
have been born five children, namely: Kugenc F., 
Marion K., -Mary N., I.sjibclla R. and (ieurge F. 
Kugene was born Oct. 4, IHjO, and died (Jet. 12, 
1H71; .Marion was born June '29, 1852: she mar- 
ried . .1. K. Shaw, of Mulvane, this SUite. Mary 
was born Aug. 12, 18.")t, and died .Sopl. 4, lt<5/>; 
Isabella was born ."^opt. 2. IH.'iT; she married R. M. 
.Sohn, of the WichiUa National Rank. George was 
born April 20, IK02; he is an electrician by trade. 

Mr. Stewart is an esteemed resident of Wichita, 
and tJikes now, as he always hsis, an active interest 
in its pros|>ority, aiding all beneficial schemes tend- 
ing to develop its business resources, or improve 
its moral, educational or social status. 



-mD&mom^- 



,OSWi;i,l. .1. IMl.KV. f the active, 

prominent and most enterprising citizens of 
I'ayne Township, is at present engaged in 
^^1 farming on s«'Ction 21. I lis parents, Nathan 
r. and Itethany (.lackson) Riley, were natives of 
Connecticut and Ohio resj>octively. Tht? father of 
our subject wius born Nov. 10, 1 810. and wa.sa car- 



l>cnter by occu|«tion. lie followcil his trade in 
I'itpni, Ohio, and in many other towns in that State, 
and from there removed to Wi»con»in, and wits 
employed both at lieloit antl Oslikosh. In M44 
he removed with his family U> Illinois, .settling in 
Logan County on a farm, where he remained for 
two years. At the expiration of that time he went 
to Reloit, Wis., and engaged his energies at his old 
trade. There he remained six years, anil we next 
find him at .Salina, Ohio, at which place in the fall 
of 18.')2 he ha<l the misfortune to lose his life com- 
|>anion, who was born Dec. 4. 1810. Shortly after 
this he returned to I'ifjua, where he s|H!nt two more 
years. Heloit, Wis., again claimed him lus its resi- 
dent, but in a few years he returned to Illinoi.s, 
where he has since remained, making his home in 
Logan and Menard Counties wiih his children. He 
was the recipient of a common-sch(K»l education in 
liis youth, and although religiously inclined was not 
a member of anj' church, while his wife was an 
adherent to the doctrines of the Raptist denomina- 
tion. They were the parents of ten children: R<»s- 
wcll J., the subject of our narnitive; Mary; Sarah 
P. and Ashcr, decensed ; Asher (2d). Pha'bc, Parker, 
and a twin child, the latter deceased; James W. 
deceased; and Jess- V. James W. was accidentally 
scalded to dejith at the age of two years, by drink- 
ing a cup of boiling hot water which was upon the 
table; Asher is a disci|>le of the "art preservative" 
in .St. Louis; .Tesse \'. is a farmer in Missouri ; Mary, 
Mrs. Jefferson Johnson, resides on a farm in Illi- 
nois; and Pha'be, Mrs. Isajic Rrown, is tin- wife of 
a farmer of Logan County, III. 

The subject of our sketch first saw the light of 
day at his father's house in Shelby County, Ohio, 
Oct. 12. 18:52. He was reared beneath the pari'Utal 
roof-tree, and received a limited education in the 
common schools, but has largely added to it by 
very careful and extensive reading and protracted 
thought. He was united in marriage. May 1, I85.'», 
with Miss Catherine Shafcr, the daughter of Daniel 
and Klizai)eth .Miafer. Of this union there were 
born two children — Harvey II. and Josiali ,1. On 
the 1st of June, IHCl. Mr. Riley was bereft of his 
life companion, who pa.ssed to her rest beyond the 
dark river. Reing still a y«iung man in the verj' 
])rime of life, he felt that it wiu> not right for man to 



•►• -4« 



•► ■ ^ 



4 



SEDCaVICK COUNTY. 



399 



dwell alone, so upon the 16th of March, 1865, be 
led to the marriage altar Mrs. Laura A. Goodwin, 
who was born in Wilkinson ('<)unty, Miss. 

Mrs. Riley is the daughter of David and Drusilla 
(Mc(Traw) Boland, both of whom were natives of 
the State of Mississippi, the father born Jan. 22, 
1810, and the mother Dec. 31, 1813. Mr. Boland 
was a farmer by occupation, and was the parent of 
three chihlren — Laura A., Amanda and Cornelia. 
Laura A., the wife of Mr. Riley, was first married 
Feb. 5, 1855, to George Bonney, and to them was 
born one child, George, who is now a resident of 
the State of New York. Mr. Bonney died Nov. 7, 
1850, and Nov. 28, 1858, his widow was united in 
marriage with Allen T. Goodwin. By this union 
there were three children born: Atlanta, deceased; 
Cornelia, a resident of Topeka, Kan. ; and John, de- 
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Riley became the parents of 
two children — Mary, now deceased, and David D. 
During the dark days of war which overshadowed 
our countrj' early in the "sixties," when our land 
was rife with sounds of civil conflict, and patriotic 
blood leaped warmly from the heart, Mr. Rilej' be- 
came seized with a longing to march forward in 
defense of the old flag. On the 9th of September. 
1861, he enlisted in Company C, 55th Illinois In- 
fantry, and vvith that gallant regiment marched for- 
ward to the gor}- front of battle. During the 
bloody days of Shiloli the regiment sufl'ered se- 
verely, and out of 666 men who proudly advanced 
in the morning, but 300 answered the roll-call at 
the close of the conflict. By the side of our sub- 
ject twenty-two men fell, and he helped place them 
in their final resting-place in "the hallowed spot 
where valor proudly sleeps," upon the historic bat- 
tle-field. In the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, 
and the battles of Jackson and Atlanta, Mr. Riley 
bore a gallant part, and was present in most of the 
engagements where the flag of the 55th Illinois was 
displayed. He was wounded at the battle of Vicks- 
burg so severely that he was incapacitated for duty 
for over two months. He was mustered out and 
discharged from the service Oct. 30, 1864, and re- 
turned to his home. 

Mr. Riley came to Kansas in 1878, and after five 
years spent in Topeka, and one year in Butler 
County, settled in 1884 in Sedgwick County. He 
« 



is now the owner of 110 acres of as fine land as the 
count3' can boast, all of which he has brought under 
cultivation. His improvements are of a most ex- 
cellent character, and the neatness and thrift of the 
proprietor are manifested by the general appearance 
of the place. But a short time ago in digging a 
well on the farm, he found at the depth of fifty feet 
from the surface a fine specimen of copper ore which 
was almost pure. Valuable specimens of mica were 
also taken from the same excavation, and there is 
every indication that underlj'ing his property are 
some very valualile mineral deposits. 



^^OTTLIEB S. GRIBI, one of the mostpromi- 
jll g— , nent and wealth}' men of Sedgwick County, 
^^45J has not only been successful as a business 
man, but his personal character is such that he enjoys 
the esteem and confidence of the entire connnunity. 
Although the owner of 480 acres of valuable land, 
he has given his principal attention to the building 
interests of the city, employing himself largely as a 
contractor. He represents a large amount of real 
estate, being owner of the lots and building of tlic 
Wichita wholesale grocer}' house, valued at about 
$25,000, and has a fine residence with ground ad- 
joining, the whole being valued at 4^8,000. His farm, 
which is valued at $16,000, lies between the two 
Ai'kansas Rivers, a tract of country finel}' watered 
and abundantly fertile. He has great faith in the 
resources of Southern Kansas, and feels justly 
proud of the fact that he has been no unimportant 
factor in its growth and prosperity. 

Our subject was born in the well-known city of 
Berne, a mountain town of the Alps, in Switzer- 
land, March 27, 1844. His childhood and 3'onth 
were spent amid the romantic scenes of his native 
Province, where he acquired a good education in 
the German tongue. In 1867, when a j'oung man 
twenty-three years of age, he began an apprentice- 
ship at the carpenter trade under the instruction of 
his father, who was one of the largest contractors 
of the city of Berne, and largely employed in Gov- 
ernment contracts. He put up man}' public build- 
ings and bridges, including the penitentiary in the 
city of Berne, operated numerous sawmills, and was 



t 



-•-4»- 



-•► ■ -4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



i 



the iiroprii'tor of nii t'»Uil>li!<liii)tMit muri' cxU-iisive 
tliiin aiiytliiii^ uf tlie kind in lliis \Vi>>tcrn cimnlry. 
In the prosecution of liin Iiir};e intercuts lie ;^vc eni- 
l)lo_vinenl I*) .'l()0 men. lie resl»Ml from his eiirlhly 
hiluirs in ISHI, niul the bii>inf»s is now carrieil on 
liy his son Alfreil. nml iilllioii^h |K^rhii|>s not as ex- 
tensive OS ilurin^; the lifetime of liis father, is still 
the source t>f a larye incume. 

The |tnrcnls of our sul)jcit, Samuel and Anna 
(Jrilii, were natives of the sjiuh- I'rovmce as their 
son. where they s|kmiI their entire lives. The 
mother is still livinj,'. The househoM included 
five chiUlren. Our suhject, wliile a resident of 
lierne, w!t« united in marriage with Miss Anna Aull- 
house, a native of his own country, honi also in the 
ciiy of Berne, Ntiv. ."i. 1841. Her [Kircnts were 
Samuel and Kliuiheth Aulthouse, natives of .Switzer- 
land, and now bi^tth dead. Mr. and Mrs. Urilii 
c<inimenced life together in Berne, and are now the 
parent.^ of four children : Knima, horn April 4, 1 H(j9 ; 
Anna, Feb. 27, 1H71; Lena. Aug. 20. 1K74, and 
.lohn. May ."i. 1875. The eldest child was horn in 
Topeka, and the other three in Wichita. 

Mr. (Iribi, u|K)n emigrating t<> the rnited States, 
made bis way directly westward, and engaged as a 
carpenter at TojH'ka from isiu lo 1870. In the 
spring of the latter year he came lo Wichita, and 
three years later began the business of contractor, 
in which he has since been so successful. I'pou be- 
coming a naturalized American citizen, he identified 
himself with the Democratic i)art3-, and with his 
estimable wife is a member in good standing of the 
German Lutheran Church. Socially, be belongs to 
the L O. <>. F., and bos tilled all the chairs in his 
lodge, including that of Past and Noble (irand. He 
is prrjmpt and reliable in his business transactions, 
and in all res|K.'Cts one of the solid men in the city. 

aOL. MILTtjN STKWAKT. Not only has 
the sturdy agriculturist sought the rolling 
lands and fertile fiehls of .Southern Kansas, 
but men of genius and learning have also been 
pleased t<i >elcct a home in this new country, and 
found pleasure in contributing to iLs attractions. 
The .subject of this biography, a gentleman of cult- 



ure and education, an extensive traveler, and the 
author of a most readable iHxik, came to this county 
in 187 I, and during the |>erioil of a fourteen years' 
residence here has l>ecn intimately' identified with 
its most important int^TcsLs. 

Col. .Stewart established the first |>ork-packing 
est^iblishment in Wichita in 1874, which he con- 
ducted for a |>eriod of ten years. lie then lici-amc 
connect<-d with the Citizens' Bank and Citizens' 
Land Coin|>any, in both of which he retains an in- 
terest to the present time. No man has been more 
warmly interested in the establishment of educa- 
tional institutions, and the various other enterprises 
tending to benefit the people. In 1885 he was 
appointed member of the Board of Regents of the 
.Stale Normal .School, and served three years !is 
Treiisurer of the board. He was one of the «'harler 
members of Garfield I'niversity, of which instilu- 
lion he has been a Trustee and Treasurer since its 
organization in 188G. As a I'nion soldier in the 
late war, u|M)Ii the establishment of Garfielil Tost 
No. 25, C;. A. R.. at WiebiU, in 1881, Col. Stewart 
was c-lioscn its first Post Commander, which |Hisitioii 
be held three consecutive terms. In March, 1885, 
he wjis chosen Department Commander of Kansas 
G. A. R. Among the financial interests of the citj' 
ho h.as been no uiiim|X)rlanl factor, serving as 
President of the Board of Tnide in 1882, and being 
closely identified w itii the leading eiiteri)rises of the 
city. 

Our subject was born in Somerset, Pa., March 5, 
1843. His parents, Andrew and Susan (Ankeny) 
Stewart, were jdso natives of the Keystone .State, 
the former of Franklin, and the latter of Somei-set 
County. Andrew Stewart was born in 1787, and de- 
parted this life at his home in Somerset, in June, 1 8C4. 
The mother w.is born in 17ii7, and also died at the 
homestead in Somerset, in 1 862. The |>arent> were 
of .Scotch-Irish ancestry, who for seveiiil genera- 
tions lived in County Down. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject, Peter 
and Rosina (Bennett) Ankeny, were among the 
early pioneers of Western Pennsylvania, to which 
they emigitttcd from Washington County, Md. 
They were descended fr«mi the i-ld French Hugue- 
nots, ami also died at Somerset, where their 
rculaiu^ were laiil U> rest in the old (jerman Ke- 



-•►-•-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



401 



.t 
"■'] 



formed Churchyard. The inscription on the tomb- 
stone of Peter Ankeiiy tells that he was born in 
1751, and died in 1803. His wife, Rosina, w:is 
born in 1759, and, surviving hrr husbiind over thirty 
years, died in IS'-M. 

The father of our subject followed the occupa- 
tion of a planter, and Milton, of our sketch, con- 
tinued under the home roof until the outbreak of 
the Rebellion. He was tlicn but a youth of eiglit- 
een years, but determined tc assist in the preserva- 
tion of the Tnion, and accordingly enlisted in 
Company K, 4tli Virginia Infantry, on the 12th of 
July, 1861, for a terra of three years. In 18C2, 
near Logan Court House, Va., lie was captured 
after a desperate struggle, in which all but one of 
his comrades were slain. He was held by the enemy 
for a brief season, and then effected his escape. 
For gallantrj' in this encounter he was promoted 
from Sergeant to Captain of Company B, 13th West 
Virginia Infantry. He continued in the service until 
1804, when he was again taken prisoner by a band of 
guerrillas, again effecting his escape. Later on, at 
the battle of Winchester, on the 19th of September, 
while charging at the head of his command, he 
received a gunshot wound in both thighs, disabling 
him from service for three months. Before return- 
ing to the field he was promoted to Lieutenant 
Colonel, and detailed as Inspector General on the 
staff of Maj. Gen. George Cook. He was mustered 
out of service in June, 1865. 

Col. Stewart in 1867 took up his residence at 
Junction City, Kan., but that same 3ear the Indians 
being on the war path, and committing depredations 
in Western Kansas, he went out against them as a 
volunteer. The year following he commanded a 
company in the 19th Kansas Cavalry, and on the 
resignation of Col. Crawford was promoted to 
Major. 

In 1870 Col. Stewart was married to Miss Clara 
Holmes, of Jacksonville, III., who died of consump- 
tion about two years thereafter. In 1872 he moved 
to Wichita, where he has since resided. In January, 
1875, our subject contr.-icted a second marrLige, 
with Miss Emma R., daughter of Henry and .Mar- 
garet Newcomer, of Polo, 111. Mrs. Kmma Stew- 
art was born Dec. 29, 1861, in Polo, III. Her father 
was born in Maryland, and was the son of Isaac 



and Barbara (Snivelj') Newcomer. The mother of 
Mrs. Stewart was also a native of Maryland, and 
died in that State in 1876. Mr. N. is still living, 
and a resident of Polo, III. Of the first marriage 
of our subject there were born two children: Miua 
R., born in November, 1876, .and wiio died in 
August following; and Charles M., who was born 
Aug. 22, 1878, and is now pursuing his studies in 
tiie Wichita Scliool for Boys, and is a promising 
youth with a bright future. 

In May, 1887, Col. Stewart with his wife and son 
sailed for Europe, making a tour of the Britisli 
Isles, and man}' parts of the continent. They also 
visited Palestine, and journeyed into Egypt as far 
as the pyramids. During the entire time Col. Stew- 
art acted as correspondent of the Wichita Daily 
Eagle, and upon his return, at the earnest request of 
many citizens embodied his letters in book form 
under the title " From the Nile to the Nile." a work 
which promises to be a financial succi!ss, and in a 
literary point of view has a graceful finisli and 
completeness which renders it extremely readable 
and interesting. 



-■X^K^ 



kEWlS BERRY, who after the labors of a 
long and busy life, is spending his later 
j-ears in ease and retirement in the city of 
Wichita, his residence being at No. 1,600 South 
Mead avenue, is a native of the Buckeye State, and 
was born in Gallia County, April 27, 1826, and 
is the son of Joshua and Annie (Tharp) Berry, 
who were natives of North Carolina. 

Joshua Berry was born April 19, 1801, and de- 
parted this life at his home in Benton Count}', Iowa, 
Ma}' 18, 1879. His education was obtained in tiie 
primitive log school-house of his native county, 
and being reared a farmer's boy he followed this 
vocation through life. He was a man of great 
force of character and high moral princii)le, and 
became prominent in the community wherever ho 
made his home. His wife, the mother of our sub- 
ject, and to wliom he was married in 1825, was 
born June 2, 1800, and although so aged is still iu 



t 

H ' 4ti-2 






SEUGWUK COUNTY. 



th<- ciijnynii-nt of ^<k)<1 licnith, iiikI i-untiniii> at 
the hoinesU-ail in Iiiwn. 

Till' twelve oliil'Ireii nf tin- imrcnlal liuuseliold 
wiTf iiiiiiicti re»|Mftivi'K : I'yiilliin, lliirrisMii, Lewis, 
U..l.erl, Wejillhy, Nancy, Klsie .lolin, Saninel, .lane, 
•Inino!. \V. and .Joseph. Willi the execption of 
SAiiiuel and (.'yntliiii nil are livin),', and re^idenU 
mostly of lowa, two in Colorado and two in Kan- 
sas. I.ewi.s of onr sketch, who w.-is the third ehiM, 
develo|HMl into a .-.Ironf;, healthy )ioy. and aft«r 
reaehing manhood accon)|>iuiied his | mi rents to lowii. 
in lf<52, being then in tlie twenty-seventh year of 
his age, and nlrejuly married. .Soon after his ar- 
rival in the llnwkoye Stiite, he purchased eighty 
acres of land, upon which he commenced to build a 
|H'rmancnt homestead. He wa.-, entirely familiar 
with tiic life and lai>ors of a pioneer, Imviiig as- 
sisted in clearing up the farm of his father in 
IWme County, Ind., felling the trees, grubbing out 
the stumi>s, nnd ])re|M»ring the soil for cultivation. 
His muscles became splendidly dcveloiwd, and he 
was blessed with good health, which was better than 
golil. lie could e.isily chopund split four cords of 
wood (H-r day, aii<l many a twelve hours nuidc 30(t 
rails from the rough tree trunk, lie wa.«. in fact, a 
champion with the ax, a fact which wiis acknowl- 
edged liy all the |)eop|e around. 

Our subject, on the "iOth of .March, is.M, before 
his removal west of the Mississippi, was united in 
marriage with a maiden of his own Stato, Miss Kliza 
Ilnyward, .Squire l5owcu of Thornton, Ind., olliciat- 
ing. Mrs. Herry was born in I'reble County. 
Ohio, Nov. K'p, 1H;j:I, and is the ilaughler of Abi- 
jah and Naomi (Johnson) llayward, natives of 
Kssex County, N. .1. Her father was born March 
."10, 1794, and departed this life at his home in Hen- 
ton County, Iowa, .Ian. 5, 1H7I. lie followed the 
trade of <'ar|K'nter and joiner, and nui<le a g<H)d 
home for his family. The parents were married in 
Kssex County. N. .1., .lune 21, IKl.O. Mi-s. Ilny- 
ward was born March 1 .'>, 1T'.I.», and |Mis.Hei| away 
twenty years before the ilccease of her husband, 
her death taking place in IH.'il. She wiis n most 
cxi'cllent and w<jrthy lady, and a uiemlicr in good 
slniidiug of the Old-.School Presbyterian Church. 
The lioiisehold included three children : Mary, the 
elilesl, liecnme llii' wife of .Siliut A. (lilmore, and 



with Ikt husbnnd is now decen.Hod ; they were the 
parents of Ave boys — Dr. Fninklin, Willinni I... 
Henry ('., Altijnh H. nnd lltinncr I.. Kphniim mar- 
ried, and became the father of six children, viz: 
Naomi S., Kliza K., Kacliel A., William .M. C.. Lewis 
A. nnd Kphniim C. Kphrnim died in Clay County, 
III., in November, lt(.')3. 

.Mrs. Herry was the youngest child of her parents. 
( »( her marriage with our subject there have been 
born nine children. The eldest sou. Charles K., 
die<l in childliiH.Ml ; Hnrrison was married, Aug. 9, 
1H7;J, t<i Miss Nettie C. Ilnvens. in C«-dar Kapids, 
Iowa; Ihey hail three children — Kre<ldic .^^, Kosa 
an<l Kli/a O. The latl<'r was killed when only six 
Weeks old with its mother by a failing tree, May 
18, 187H; her busbnn<l was cutting timber in the 
Woods, and she with her cliild was going to him, 
and hapi)ened to gel there just as the tree which 
he was cutting fell; she was killed instantly, but the 
child lived about three days. Abijah married Caro- 
line McCoy, .luly 24, 187(;, in Hentou County, 
Iowa:liiey had one daughter, Herthn K. William 
II. W!is married to Mary L. Lane in Vinton, Iowa, 
in May, 1H7S; they have had three children — Hhoda 
M., Flora H. and .Sydna K., Flora H. died aged 
eleven months. Rht>da A. w.-is married to K. L. 
Mack, .Sept. 10, 1885, in Wichita. Kan.; she has 
one daughter, Nellie T. Laura K. was married to 
Charles H. McClellan. Oct. 19, 188."), in Wichitsi; 
she luis one daughter, Fleta Pearl. .lohn W., the 
youngest, is pursuing his studies in the district 
school. 

Mr. Herry, in the year 18(!8, sold his first pur- 
chase in Iowa, and after dealing considenibly in 
real estate there, finally traded for a quarter-section 
of land in Uockford To>»-nship, this county, iipfui 
which he removed, and remained six years. Then 
disposing of this at a good flgure. he purchased 
in the city of Wichita two lots and also a house 
on Fourth avenue, for which he paid ^I.OOO, 
and which he sold in January. I8h7, for >.5,000. 
He is now the owner of about twenty lots within 
the city limits, and a house and two lots in the 
town of Coddard, in Attica Township. His prop- 
erty is now estimated in alt at the snug sum of 
♦20,000. 

Our subject and his estim.-iblc lacly are proini- 



-»-* 



-•►• -4« 



-^•- 



-•►Hh 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



40.3 ' ' 



nently connected with the Christian Church, corner 
of Second and Market streets, Wicliita, and Mrs. R. 
has been acliurch member since a maiden of sixteen 
years. Not alone a Christian in profession, she has 
carried out the principles of her religion in her daily 
life. The f.amilj' is one of the moslhighI_v respected 
in the city, where thej' have many friends. Mr. 
Berry, politically, alllliates with the Democratic 
party, and maintains his principles in this regard 
with the same steadfastness which has characterized 
him in all the relations of life. 

<^i\ DAM HUFBAIIEU, senior mcmlier of the 
( @ffj[ enterprising firm of Hufbauer k Wliitney, 

//rifc dealers in grain, hay, fruit and general 
<^j farm produce, on Main street. Mulvane, is 

a genuine pioneer of Sedgwick County, coming here 
from Tazewell Count}', 111., in 18G9. On arriving 
in Kansas, he at first .settled in Salina, Saline Connty, 
where he engaged in farming for the ensuing two 
yeare. Thinking Sedgwick County a more favorabl(> 
place for pursuing his vocation, he came to Rock- 
ford Township, and pre-empted a tract of eighty 
acres on section 19. lie at once commenced the im- 
provement of his land, and met with such success 
in his agricultural labors that he subsequently pur- 
chased 200 acres more of land, and now has a large 
farm in a good state of cultivation. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Tazewell 
County, 111., March 12, 1848, and is the son of 
Peter and Margaret Hufbauer, both natives of Hol- 
land. His mother died in the latter part of 1849, 
Adam, the youngest child, being but a year and a 
half old. His father married again in 1854, taking 
for a wife McLean Herwig. He lived ten years 
after this marriage, and his second wife survived 
him until 1872. 

Adam Hufbauer was reared in his native county, 
where he received a good common-school education, 
:nid early began to raalce his own way in the world. 
Being an energetic and industrious 3'oungman, free 
from bad habits, he had in a few years saved 
enough of his earnings to justify his establishing a 
home of his own. Accordingly, in 1868 he was 
married, in Washington, 111., to Kate Kline, who 



was born in Ohio in 1850, being a daughter of 
Phillip and Marj' (Myerlie) Kline, natives of Ger- 
many, who emigrated to America and settled in 
Ohio before their marriage. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hufbauer remained 
a j'car in Illinois, and tiicn decided to tr}- their 
fortunes in this section of Kansas, which w;is being 
much talked of as tiie farmer's Eldorado. Our sub- 
ject became a pioneer of this county, and has been 
a valuable factor in establishing it as one of the 
most prosperous in the State. Not only has the 
county received substantial aid from him in the 
development of its resources but Rockford Town- 
ship has received equal benefit from his citizenship. 
His well-improved and well-stocked farm is a testi- 
monial to his industry and perseverance, and a 
credit to this part of the State. Mr. Hufbauer has 
retired from active farm life, and now lives in the 
city of Mulvane, where his varied mercantile inter- 
ests demand his attention. 

To him and his good wife have been born five 
children, name!}' : Laura May, John Frank, Gr.ace 
Edna, Jessie Ray and Mary Hazel. The eldest 
child, who was born in Illinois, died in infancy. 
Mr. Hufbauer takes an active interest in all matters 
pertaining to the welfare of the city, township or 
county, and ablysupports all schemes conducive to 
their advancement. In politics lie is a strong 
Democrat, and does all that he can to advance the 
interests of that party. 



ell. SOWLE, an extensive grain-dealer of 
Mt. Hope, in partnership with G. C. Rob- 
bins, under the firm name of C. H. Sowle 
& Co., and also having an interest with his 
brother in the same trade at And.ale, occupies a 
prominent position in business circles of Sedgwick 
County. He is a native of Livingston County, 
Mich.; the date of his birth was Jan. 8, 1843, and 
his parents were Eli L. and Mary (Vosburgh) 
Sowle, natives of New York. His father was a 
practical farmer, lived in his native State until after 
marriage, and then moved with his wife to Liv- 
ingston County, Mich., where he industriously and 



•►■t:^ 



•^»-^ 






t04 



SKIMIWK'K COI'NTY. 



•►•.-* 



proHublr Piig»gc<l in his occupation until lii.<* dpntli, 
wliicli waa n loss to the euinmiinity in whiciriio liiul 
niailc bis home, as he wns in :ill es.H0iiti:il8 a ^oml 
citizen. There also his nniiahle wife (1e]mrle(l tlii-. 
life. To them hn«l been Imrn five children, of 
whom our subject i.s the eldest. The following is 
their record: Kmerson died in Cnlifornin in 1m70; 
Mai^gie is the wife of Dr. Mclliitcli, of Livingston 
C'<»unty, Mich.; Hronson A. lives in Andiile, Knn.; 
Frank lives in Snn .Io.se, C«l. : .lennie is the wife <jf 
Otis Towne, of Livingston County. .Mich. 

Our subject received the foundation of n sub- 
stantial education in the public schools of his na- 
tive State, and afterward entered the University at 
Ann Arbor, but did not reninin n .'tudent of th;il 
institution long enough to coniplete a full coui'se. 
In the year IH-O'j he lefl the home of his ytiuth t<; 
take up his residence in S:ingamon County, III., 
whence he started two years later for Wa^^hington 
Territory, going via the Missouri Kivcr to Ft. Hcn- 
lon, and from there to his destiMatir)n, where he 
was engaged in freighting for one season, lie sub- 
sequently went to Idaho, where he was quite 
profitably engaged in farming and mining until 
1SG5. In that year he purchased a henl of cattle 
in Oregon, drove them into Montan.-i, and was eni- 
|)|oycd in the cattle business in that Territory until 
IH~.'). He then resolved to locate in Kansjus, and 
accordingly purchased land of the .Santa Fe Kail- 
road Company, in .Sherman Township, buying at 
first ICO acres, which he iniproved, and afterward 
iiivesteil in more land, lie contiiuied his agricult- 
ural labors until 1 «hL developing by his industry 
and shrewd management a highly cultivated and 
fertile farm from the wild prairie land. In that 
year he sold his property at a good advance on the 
purclia.«e price and removed to Andale, where he 
turned his attention to dealing in grain, esUdilish- 
ing, in connection with his brother Hurton, under 
the style of C. II. .Sowle il bro., the first business 
of that kind in the place. They were so very suc- 
ecssftd in building up a good trade that our sub- 
ject, with characteristic enterprise and energ}-, 
determined to extend the liusine.-s. anrl in accord- 
ance wiih that resolution came lo .Ml. IIo|k' in the 
fall of IKHC, and established himself its a grain- 
dealer here, admitting C. C. Holibins its a |>jirtner 



in the spring (»f 1887, under the firm name of C. H. 
.Sowle it Co. The business in both places is in a 
very flourishing condition, and our subject and his 
associates are steadily acquiring wealth. 

Mr. .Sowle was married, April 24, lf<8", to Mi>» 
M. T. McCormick, a luitive of Illinois. .She i> a 
Woman of great energy and business Uact, and is 
successfully conducting an extensive millinery es- 
tid)lisliment in Mt. Hope. 

Mr. .Sowle is prominently identified with the 
Democrats of Sedgwick County; he was the candi- 
date of his fMirty for the ollice of County Treas- 
urer, and although the county is strongly Itepub- 
li<-an, he so reduced the vote of that |«arty that his 
op|K)nent was elected by only a small majority of 
thirty-five voti-s. Our subject is counecteil with 
various social organizations, being a member i>f 
Warwick Lodge No. M, K. of I'., \\ichitn:of Mt. 
Hope Lo<lge, A. F. <V A. M., and of the Chapter, it. 
A. M., at Ilntchinson. Kan. He and his wife oc- 
cupy a pleA.sant siH'ial position among the |>eoplc 
of this community, by whom they are respecl<-d for 
their intelligence, and heartily liked for their frank, 
open-hearted hospitality, and genial and kindly 
manners. 



^ C ' lafe; . > 



R. .1. .T. STONKR, a leading physician and 
)]j surgeon of the homeo|)athic school of 
medicine, resides at Wichita, where he 
has practiced his professitm since 1MS4. hav- 
ing his odice at No. 127 North Main street. He 
[uis secured the confidence of the people b}- his 
success in dealing with serious and chronic eitses, 
and by his cari'ful and considerate treatment of 
his patients. He was born in (^uiucy, Krie Co., N. 
Y, .Ian. 12, 1817, and is the son of .lacob and 
Hannah (Webb) Stoner. natives of New York. 
His father owned a large farm in Krie County, 
where for many years he w.is very succe.ssfidly 
engaged in various s|)ecidations. He was quite 
prominent in public affairs, and at one time was 
Postmaster. His wife U(jw makes her home in 
(Jrand Haven. Mich., where the father died in 
the month of l-ebruary, 1H8H. They luive six 



I 



; 



SF.nnWICK COUNTY. 



405 



children now living, namely: Charles D., Isaac W., 
Fred, J. J., Frances and Frederic F. Charles is 
editor of the Belleviie Oazetta, and is also engaged 
in the clutliiiig business in Bellevue, Ohio; Isaac is 
Marshal of Butte City, Mont., where he owns a 
large stock ranch; Belle is the wife of Prof. Kwiiig, 
now teaching in one of the Eastern colleges, witii 
his residence at Grand Haven, Mich. ; Frances is 
now Mrs. G. 1). Sandford, the present Postmaster 
at Grand Haven; Frederic is engaged in tiie whole- 
sale candy manufacture at Muskegan, Mich. Mr. 
Jacob Stoner was the son of Dr. John Stoner, a 
native of Germany, who came to America and set- 
tled in Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the 
practice of his profession until his removal to New 
York State, where he spent the remainder of his 
life. Mrs. Stoner, the mother of our subject, was a 
daughter of John Webb, a native of New York. 
To him and his wife were born five children, three 
of whom are living, as follows: Howard, John and 
Hannah. Howard and John are capitalists and oil 
speculators. 

Dr. Stoner, of our sketcli,as a lad was very fond 
of his books, and at the age of fifteen lie com- 
menced the study of medicine under the skillful 
guidance of his grandfather. Dr. John Stoner, in 
his native town. He afterward entered the Medical 
University, of Philadelpliia, Pa., from whicii he was 
graduated with an honorable record as a student in 
the year 1 870. He returned to his father's home 
in Grand Haven, Mich., whence he went shortly 
.after to Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., Mich., and there 
commenced his career as a physician. He did not, 
however, cease to be a student when he entered 
upon his professional duties, but made a thorough 
study of the cases that came under his observation, 
and his leisure hours were devoted to the perusal 
of the best medical works of the day. To still 
further fit himself for his calling he finally took a 
course of instruction at the Hahnemann College and 
Hospital at Chicago. After his graduation from 
that institution' in 1880 he returned to Mt. Pleas- 
ant ,and resumed his professional duties, and in 
succeeding years built up a hu-ge and extensive 
pr.actice. During his residence there he made a 
trip to Wichita, and being much struck by the 
beaut}' of its situation and the salubrity of its cli- 



mate, he solved to make his permanent home here, 
and since that time has licpii in active practice in 
this city. 

The marriage of Dr. Stoner with Miss Ilattie A. 
Barron took place in the j'c.ar 1870. She is the 
daughter of L. K. and Ilattie M. (Fowler) Barron, 
of Milwaukee, Wis., where Mr. B,arron is engaged 
in the business of buying and selling grain. Of 
this union one son has been born, George DeWitt, 
who is now a student of the Southwestern Com- 
mercial College, of Wichita. 

Dr. and Mrs. Stoner have a beautiful home on 
the corner of Tenth street and Emporia avenue, to 
which many friends are .attracted by the genial wit 
and conversation of the charming hostess and the 
courteous host. Dr. Stoner is connected with the 
Wichita City Medical Society, of whicli he is Vice 
President, and the Southeru Kansas Medical Society. 
In politics he is a Kepul)lican. 

-^ ^-^^ ^ 



'ifJACOB C. RODKEY, one of the few octo- 
genarians of the city of Wichita, ripe in hon- 
ors as well as years, is now retired from the 
^1' labors of a long and active life, and spend- 
ing his declining d.ays in the midst of case .and 
plenty at a handsome home (m Douglas avenue. 
He was born Oct. 1!>, 180C, in Huntingdon County, 
Pa. His position, socially and financially, is the re- 
sult of his own unaided industry, coupled with the 
sound sense and excellent business capacity with 
which nature endowed him. The history of a 
career more than ordinarily interesting we give in 
brief .as follows : 

Our subject is the son of John .and Hester (Clu-is- 
tian) Rodkey, natives respectively of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. The father, born in 1777, served iis 
a soldier in the War of 1812 for a time, but subse- 
quently iiaid a sum of money, and was released 
from military duty, and returned to his farm. He 
w.is a man of great force of character, accumulated 
a comfortal)le property, and died when fifty-five 
years of .age at his home in Huntingdon. He pos- 
sessed decided views upon Christianity and moral- 
ity, and was a member in good standing of the 
Lutheran Church. The mother died in Miami 



' inr, 



-•►Hl-^i 



SKIxaVK K ("(UN TV. 



('iiiinty, Oliio. Of the cliililrcn Ixini to .lohii nnti 
1Io>Ut UtMlki-y, llu' rt'i-onl is iu< follows: .liu-ub ('. 
of our skelcli was llio chlost )>orn; Kliautbetli nnd 
Aiinio arv (Icccjis^mI ; Siisnii; Samuel; David and 
.loiiii, defeased; .lusepli, Marjpiii'l, Mary, and Jessie, 
« lio died when aliout twenty-three years old. 

.laeob C, when nhout ei^liteeii years of age, left 
the farm and eonimeneed learnin;jthe tinner's trade, 
which he ft)llowed four years in his native State 
witii excellent results, lie left Pennsylvania in 
|s|.'>, an<l located in Darke County, Dliio, whence 
he removed to Indiana in l«4'.t. He had in the 
meantime followed tanning, but now became inter- 
ested in the fur trade, and subsequently embarked 
in general men-handising at Middlejiort, which he 
continued until 180.1, and thence he removed to 
Kokomo, Ind. October of \HS4 found him in the 
city of Wichita, settled at his present home, and he 
has since lived retired. .Success followed his efforts 
here lus elsewhere, and he wi.<ely invested his sur- 
])lus capitid in additional lami, and continues the 
owner of considerable real estjite which is very val- 
ualtle. He h.is a half-section near Mulvane, in Sum- 
ner C'tiunty, and properly in Wellington, this SUite, 
liesidcs eighty acres in Indiana, and his home in 
Wichilii. The latter, a model of comfort and con- 
venience, comprises a handscmie and commodious 
dwelling, carriage barn, fruit trees, shrubbery, and 
all the surroundings indicative of cultivated tastes 
anil ample means. 

.Mr. Hodkey, while a resident of I'ennsylv.'inia, 
was first married, in March, 18.'i0, to Miss Sarah Ilcss. 
who was born in Huntingdon County. Pa., Feb. 17, 
I80'J, anti departed this life at her home in Indiana, 
ill IK.") I. Of this union there were boni eight chil- 
dren, namely: .Mary A., Rebecca, Samuel, Hannah, 
David, .loliii, Margaret and .Sarah. The second 
wife of our subject W!is Mrs. Lucind:i .Sliflfer, who 
died .Sept, 1 M, 1m7m, in Kokomo, Ind.; they had no 
chihlren. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he \v;is 
married Nov. I.'J. JMTli, was formerly Mrs. .Susan 
IJidKinan. a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, 
and who was born .Iiiiie l.'i, 1M2I. Mrs. Kodkey is 
the daughter of .lohn and Jane (.Maze) Hannanian, 
who were natives of Ohio. Her father carried on 
farming there in Union County during the brief 



years of his life, and died in 1H2-I, the .same year of 

his daughter's birth. The mother was born in 1801t, 

and de|«rted this life at her home in Dnyton, Ohio, 

in l«7i». 

I Mr. Rodkey enlerL-jins a deep and abiding ad- 

I miration ftir the principles of Masonry, and became 

identified with the fiatcrnily in the State of Indiana 

j as early as 18;tH, when he was received into Howard 

I Lodge No. 93, at Kokomo. He has not only oill- 

cint4>d in all the ollices of his lodge, but advanced 

to the Royal Arch degree. He hits always taken 

, great pride in tracing the history oT this organiza- 

! lion which wjis founded centuries ago, and which 

has commanded the respect and attention of some 

of the best men who ever livetl. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
; natives of Marylaml, where the grandfather carried 
on farming and merchandising, and became verj' 
wealth}'. The great-gnindfather was a native of one 
of the Rhine ProvincesofOermany, and crossed the 
Atlantic when a boy ten years of age. He located, 
it was believed, in Maryland, where he develojx-d 
into manhood, married, and reared his family. 

RKDKRH K P. STACKMAN is a cai-italist 
yi and a proinincnl citizen of WichiUi. where 
he has a Ir>iiic beautifully situated in River- 
side Addition, between the Bigand Little Arkansis 
Rivei-s. He is a native of the German Kmpirc, 
having been born in Prussia, in the year 184.'?. He 
was the son of Carl and Anna (Hurke) .SUickroan, 
natives and life-long residents of Prussia. Their 
three children, Frederick P., Albert and Charlotte 
(Mrs. Schonemanii), all live in America. 

The subject of this liiography was well educated 
in his native land, attending school until he was 
fourteen years of age, in accordance with the strict 
laws of Prussia. He then served an apprenticeship 
of three aiul one-half years to learn the tailor's 
trade. .Snb.sequently he traveled throughout Ger- 
many, plying his business in difTerent towns, besides 
having a good chance t(.» see many of the famous 
and historical places in the land of his birth. He 
was an intelligent and wide-awake young man and 
Anally ventured to the United States, in the belief 



•►•.-4. 



f 




^^^/^^: 



o ^; 



^€yL{e^ ^:^^H- 



41-4^ 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



^! 



409 ' S 



that this country possessed superior advantages for 
hiui over his own. This was in the year 1860. lie 
soon left New York, where he iiad first stepped on 
American soil, and went to Missoiui, where he es- 
tablished liinisclf in business !is a merchant tailor. 
He built up quite a trade, but still he was not sat- 
isfied, feeling convinced that he could do still 
better, and leaving the town of Louisiana, which 
was the place of his residence while he was in 
Missouri, he came to Topeka, in this Slate. He 
there opened a merchant tailor's establishment, and 
was soon doing a comfortable business. 

During the same year above mentioned iMr. 
Stackman paid a visit to Wichita, which then gave 
no indications of becoming a thi'iving city, as its 
small i)opulalion was lodged in about_ twenty rough 
board shanties. Hut Mr. Stackman was jjlcased 
with its beautiful location in the valley of the Ar- 
kansas River, and shrewdly foresaw that, possessing 
so many advantages, it was destined to be the 
metropolis of a great agricultural region. How- 
ever, he did not then decide to locate here, but 
still continued in business in Topeka for some time 
until the spring of 1873. He then closed his estab- 
lishment and disposed of his interests in the State 
capital and came to Wichita. Here he purchased 
a lot, adjoining the one on which the court-house 
is built, paying therefor and for the shop that stood 
on it, 1800, and established himself as a merchant 
tailor, continuing in that business until 1883. In 
that year he retired, having built up a large trade, 
employing seven men to 1111 his orders, and acquir- 
ing quite a fortune. Two years subsequent to his 
first purchase Mr. Stackman bought a lot adjoining 
his on North Main street, on vvhich he built a frame 
storehouse. In 1881 he bought 130 acres of land 
in the Riverside Addition, and has since made his 
home there. He has built a fine brick residence 
and other buildings, and has laid out the grounds 
with numerous fruit and ornamental trees; it is 
delightfully situated and has plenty of natural 
shrubbery. He will plat a part of it this year, 1888. 

Mr. Stackman has paid frequent visits to his na- 
tive land, crossing the water in 1884, 1885 and 
188C, and on his return in 1887 from his last trip 
he brought with him a wife to preside over his 
pleasant home. Her maiden name wiis Marie Halm. 

m 



She was lioin in Strasburgb, Germany, Aug. 6, 
1860. She is very finely educated, having gradu- 
ated from Strasburgh College in 1880. Her parents 
are Charles and Josephine (Antonie) Hahn. Her 
father is cashier in a bank; to him and his wife have 
been born four children — Charles, Maria, Bertha 
and Mathilde. 

Mr. Stackman is an intelligent, well-informed 
man, possessed of superior business tact and sound 
common sense, which make him an invaluable 
member of this community. He has the courage 
of his convictions and is an independent thinker, 
especially in political matters, always voting for 
the best men and measures irrespective of party or 
creed. 



DOLPH K. FEIILEISEN, capitalist and 
dealer in real estate, in former years car- 
ried on carpentering and farming, and may 
be singled out as a man who has been uni- 
formly successful in life. Industrious and enter- 
prising by nature, he has never been content to lead 
a life of idleness, and the fine properly of which he 
is now the possessor is but the just reward of his 
industry. He came to this State in 1878, and first 
purchased a farm in Marmaton Township, Allen 
Count}', where he carried on agriculture seven years. 
Then selling out, he changed his residence to Wich- 
ita, erected a fine dwelling, and is now numbered 
among its most valued and prosperous citizens. 

The property of our subject included originally, 
besides his own mansion, seven other dwelling- 
houses with their lots, the latter of which he dis- 
posed of at a good profit. He has operated largely 
as a contractor and builder, and several of the fine 
residences and business houses of the city attest his 
skill and reliability. He served a thorough ap[)ren- 
ticeshipat the carpenter's trade, and h;is been called 
the finest mechanic in his line in the State. In the 
finishing of inside work he has no superior, being 
an expert at carving and mosaic work. Perhaps 
the finest specimen of this will be found in the house 
of Joseph Lougworth, on East Walnut Hill, Cincin- 
nati, on the parlors of which Mr. Fehleisen spent two 
j'ears, and which has called forth unbounded ad- 
miration from the people of taste and culture who 









■I . 



in 



SKDCWK'K COUNTY. 



\ 



^i 



fr< (|ii(>nt UiAt lioiise. Sinco coming to KntiMu he 
liiLH Ix^n j;iviM> the contract in this line es|)criftlly 
for some of the finest <lwellinfj> in Wichiln. 

The piirent^ of our snliject. Willinm II. and 
I..ouis» ((Jrumlxicli) Feliieisen. were nntives of .^tntt- 
^rt, (Scnniiiiy, nnil Ail(>l|ili K. was born during the 
vo_VRj:e niTO!v-i the Atlnntii- on tlie lOth of ."v-pteni- 
Iht. 1H40. Hi.H fiitiuT, a man of fine ediicntion, wus 
lM)rn in ISOl, and departed this life at his home in 
Ripley County, In<l.. Oct. 17, 1H72. For many 
years he ollieiated as n n)inistor in the Luthentn 
Church, luit later in life, aliout 1 842, espoused and 
taught the doctrines of Kmanuel Swcilenliorjf. lie 
taught Ixith the < German and Knglish lan;{imges, 
could read Ilelirew readily, and translate it, and 
was master of four other foreign tonj(ues. 

The |Mircnts of our sulijcet after coming to the 
I'nited .States located in Uipley County, Ind., where 
the mother died ten years before the decejiso of lier 
hiisltand, at the age of fifty-three years, her liirth 
luiving taken i)lace in IHOit. Of the eight children 
com])rising the parental household but four are now 
living, namely: Theodore, Amelia, PM ward, and 
Adolph K. of our sketch. The l'ilt«r wa.s the young- 
est of the family, and spent his boyhood and youlli 
on the farm with his parents in Indiana. Upon the 
outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company 
K, 22d Indiana Infantry, being mustered into serv- 
ice .Inly 14, 1«G1, for three years or during the 
war. lie iMirticijjated in many of its im|)ortant bat- 
tles, including the scige of Corinth, the engage- 
ments at Stone River and I'erryville, the regiment 
losing heavily in the latU-r place, and was also at 
Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was 
promoted to Cor|Minil, and placed in the pioneer 
corps, thereafter serving !is a [Mjrtion of the bod}'- 
guard of (ien. Morton six months. Later hisc<mi- 
pany was transferred to the command of Gen. 
Thomas, and before leaving the army his genius as 
A natural mechanic having been discovered, he wils 
given a position on the public works at Murfrces- 
boro, Tenn. 

li|K>n receiving his honorable discharge at the 
expiration of his term of enlistment, .Mr. Kehleisen 
returneil to Ohio, of which he continued a resi- 
dent for .some years following. In INCO he set 
out for California by the Panama route, and in 
-4» 



.Stockton, timt Stntc, employed himself as a car- 
|)cntcr. While n resident of Indiana, he was mar- 
ried on the 2.3d of May, IM70, u> Mi.<8 Kmma /.. 
Jackson, n native of Imliana, and born .Ian. .'U, 
1H47. Mrs. Kehleisen is the daughter of .loseph II. 
anci .Sarah .Jackson, of Ripley County. The father, 
a native of New York Stale, wa.« born Man-h 7, 
1H22, and removed with his |>:trents to Indiana when 
a small Iwiy. From there, in 1879. he emigrated t4i 
this Sljite, l(K'aliiig first in Allen County, and sidi- 
se(|uently took up land in Lane County. In mak- 
ing his last visit from his home to the latter county, 
and while at the residence of his daughter, the wife 
of our subject, he wils seized with pandysis of the 
heart, which terminat4'd fat^dly on the 20th of Octo- 
ber, ISHC. lie was a Mason of long standing, and 
was buried with the honors of the fraternity, lie 
had, during his early manhood, been occupied both 
OS a farmer and miller, and held the ollice of .Tustice 
of the I'eace for a |>eriod of twenty-eight years. 
The children of the parenUil household arc recorded 
as follows: Kmma Z., the wife of our srtbjeet. was 
the eldest born; Omar died in infancy; .lohn G. 
died at the age of ten months; Monclove was br»rn 
.Sept. IC, 184tt; KImer, t)ct. 2;i, 18.^1; Omar (2d), 
.luly 8, 18.'>4; .To.seph II.. .March .51, 18,'i(!; ^Villiam 
T., March 12, 1«.".8; Kranz Siegel, Keb. 17. 1800. 
The mother, formerly .Mi.ss .Sarah .1. WaUon, was 
born Feb. 2, 1824, and w.is the sister of Rev. .lames 
V. Watson, the fii^st editor of the CliriKtian A<1- 
vocatp, Chicago. She departed this life ;it the old 
homestead in Ripley County, Ind.. on the 27lh of 
May, 1870. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Kehleisen there have been born 
three children, namely: Leoni S., ,Jan. \'.>, 1871; 
William IL, March 1, 187.'j, and LotlieG., Aug. 2.'i, 
1877. The latter died of membranous croup, aged 
four 3"ears and two months. Leora. the eldest 
daughter, a highly intelligent and accomplished 
young lady, is a member of the Christian Church, 
while our sidjject and his wife are communicants in 
the lOpiscopal Church. 

Mr. I'Vldeisen inearly manhoixl i<li'iititii'il himself 
with the fii-sl Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. K., esUiblished 
in the State of Ohio, lie is now a number of Siini- 

I mit L<»dgc No. 182, K. 1'., and also of IheG. A. R. 

! I'tililically, he atllliates with the Republican party. 



HI-4*- 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



-•►■-4« 



411 



Mrs. Fehleisen belongs to the Order ni tlic l'.;i>i( i n 
Star .iikI Rebecca degree. She is a hiily of fine 
education, having completed her studies in the High 
School .at Moore's Hill, Dearborn Co., Ind., and was 
enii)lo3'ed as a teacher for a period of six j-ears 
tiiereafter. The portrait of Mr. Kchleisen deserves 
a pluoe among those of the representative men of 
the county, and we give it in tin's connection. 

JOHN M. ROSS, a representative and pro- 
gressive young farmer and stock-raiser of 
Salem Township, making his residence on 
section 29, is a native of Indiana, having 
been born in Clinton County, Dec. 22, 1854. He 
is a son of James and Hannah (Milburn) Ross. 
His mother was a native of Virginia, and his father 
is believed to liave been born in Kentucky; the 
former's ancestors were of iinglish origin. His 
mother is still living in Clinton County, Ind., and 
is now nearly seventy years of age, and is spending 
her declining years amid relatives and friends, en- 
joying the fruits of a life spent in usefulness and 
well-doing. The father of our subject was killed 
in a railroad wreck near Stockwell, between Indian- 
apolis and LaF.ayette, Ind., in October, 1864. 

The family of James and Hannah Ross consisted 
of ten children, eight of whom are living, as fol- 
lows: William K., residing in Livingston County, 
III.; James F., of Sedgwick City, Kan.; Dr. Charles 
F., of Saunemin, 111.; John M., the subject of our 
sketch; Frances E., living in Clinton County, Ind.; 
Mary J., the wife of (Jeorge Price, of .Salem Town- 
ship; Rachel, wife of David Anderson, of Clinton 
County, Ind.; and Evangeline, Mrs. Alhandra 
Smith, living in the Latter place. The parents of 
him of whom we write were among the early settlers 
of Clinton County, wiiere the father served as Jus- 
tice of the Peace for someye.ars, and like all pioneers 
in the Hoosicr StJite suffered many privations and 
hardships in those early days. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was reared 
to manhood in his native State, and in his youth 
received his education in the common schools of 
that locality. He made his home beneath the 
parental roof until bis marriage, which interesting 



. w ill occurred Oct. 10, 1875. On that day and 
date he w.as united with Miss Eliza B. Cooley, a 
native of Boone County, Ind., who was born July 
8, 1858. The lady of his choice is a daughter of 
William F. and Julia A. (Orchard) Coolej', l)Oth of 
whom were natives of Kentucky. Her parents had 
a family of ten children, seven of whom are living, 
viz: James M., William I)., Thomas A., John II., 
Frank E., Story W. and Eliza B. Her mother died 
Nov. 24, 1873, but her father is a resident of Waco 
Township, having come to Kans.as in 1881. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ross consists of 
four bright and intelligent children: Fidelia M., 
born Oct. 17, 1877; James C, Sept. 16, 1879; 
William E., Sept. 18, 1882; and Lolia F., Feb. 14, 
1886. In the fall of 1880, with his family, our 
subject came to Sedgwick County, Kan., and in 
the following spring settled on the farm on section 
29, where ho is at present residing. He is the owner 
of eighty acres of land, which he h.as brought by 
diligence and excellent management to a high state 
of cultivation. He is a Republican in politics, and 
has served for two j^ears in the oflice of Treasurer 
of Salem Township, and is School Director for his 
sub-district at present, this being his third year. 
Both he and his wife are conscientious and consist- 
ent members of the United Brethren Church, and 
are valuable members of society. 






yA. RICIIEY, a wealthy resident of Wichita, 
is now retired from business. He is a native 
of Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Pa., and was 
born Sept. 20, 1 844. He is the son of Samuel and 
Ann (Boney) Richey, natives of the same county 
and State. His mother, a woman of estimable 
character and high standing, died at their home in 
Pennsylvania, in 18G3. His father came to Wichita 
in 1876, and now makes his home with his children, 
living in honored retirement from the active labors 
of life ; he is seventy-four years old. He has four 
children, namely: W. A., .Tames C, Samuel E. .and 
Mrs. Mary Drake, all of whom reside in Wichita. 
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in 



■•► 



• -#• 



4 



41.? 



SKDCU l( K (OlM Y. 



hi^ In 18GU he went into the oil 

rogiMii- ■.! I'< iiiisylviiniA, and fuund a |>osition as 
clerk in a !>torc. l)n the 1st of SejiU'nilK'r, IKG'i, 
he iMili.Htfil in Couipuny K, "Klh I'onnitylvnnin Itcgi- 
nienl, and shouldering his nuiskct went linively lo 
the front, where he remained until the lii^t battle 
was fought, and the longed-for i>cafe between tlie 
North and South was at hust declared. During the 
but |Kirt of the war he was in the 1st Division of 
the Nth Army CoriJS. lie fought in the battle of 
Stone River, and in the numerous enga;,'enients 
under Cicn. Sherman from Chattanooga to tiie sea, 
thence from Savannali to Washington, to take part 
in the gntnd review of the armies. After that he 
wont to Louisville, Ky., wliere he wius mustered out 
of the service. After the war our subject engageil 
as a traveling salesman until he came West. 

In April, 1x72, .Mr. Kichey decided to settle <lown 
in Wii-hlla. Here lie built and managed a hotel, 
known as the Uiciiey House; it was tiie first hou.sc 
built on Ka.>t Douglas avenue. He readily a<Iaptcd 
himself to ids new position !is "mine host," and by 
his genial and .nccommodating spirit, and careful 
attention to the comfort of his guests, became very 
poj'ular, and secured a large patronage, lie con- 
tinued in the management of his iiotcl until No- 
vendicr, 18H7, when he retired to private life, 
having acquired a fortune in that business, and in 
Various judicious investments of his c:i|iiUil. He 
owns a good deid of valuable real estate here, and 
IcLS laid out two additions to the city. He is also 
the owner of one of the finest farms in (inind River 
Township. Several years ago he pre-empted 1C«0 
acres of land there, the sonthejust quarter, section '2, 
town 27, range 1 west, and bought the ICO acres 
adjoining it. This tract of .'320 acres is well under 
cultivation, and is a good source of income. 

The marriage of our suliject with .Miss ICinma ('. 
Colby, of Hurlington, Kan., Ujok place March ."), 
1n71. They have one child living — Kugene A. 

Mr. Richey is a stoeklmlder in the Wichita Watch 
Factory, and is one of the Directors of tiie Wichit-i 
Mining and Investment Company. A> a citizen he 
is inlluential and active in public afTaii-s. In politics 
he is a KansiLH I)em<x.'mt, and a National R<-pub!ican. 
He has been since I87>< CapL-iin of Com|Kiny A, 2d 
Regiment of the famous Kansa.s National CiuanN, 



one of the oldest organi7.ation8 in the .State. He is 
also Notary Public. 

Since Mr. R's residence here Wichita has grown 
from a small .•settlement, with grass growing in the 
streets, to a tlouri>hing niclro|Milis, with tine avenue-, 
elegant Imildings, and a general air of thrift and busi- 
nes.s, such as only a city with the voricd ent4'rprises 
such as arc actively carried on here can have. In 
this pro8|)erity he has been an important factor, and 
has contributcil liberally to the support of the vari- 
ous works for the improvement of the city. Unr 
subject is a mendier of botli the .Mas<.)nic fraternity, 
and of the order of Odd Fellows. Hoth he and 
his wife ligure prouiinently in the social life of 
this lively city, and their home is ren<lered very 
attractive to a hirgc circle of friends by tlie culture 
and geniality of the host and hostess. 

'\i| ACKSON sIl.VNK, a successful real-csUito 
ll dealer an<l respected citizen of the city of 
Ij Wichita, is one of the pioneers of Sedgwick 
(^/ County. Karly in March, 1871, he came l>< 
this localit3', and pre-empting 100 acres of land in 
Minneha Township, commenced agricultural pur- 
suits. His first efforts were in the direction of put- 
ting up a siielter for his comfort. Cutting the sod 
from the native prairie, he erected the walls of his 
dwelling, which he covered for a roof with his 
w.'igon cover. Inside there was no lloor except 
mother earth, and a bunk in which he slept was 
roughly constructed of unplaned boards. In this 
cabin he resided for aliout four months, during 
which time lie erected a hoU!>c of lumber. llxU"' 
feet in area, containing but one phuii. This edifici' 
he built with no other tools than a s.-iw and a liain- 
mor. 

Having protected liiinself from the inclemency of 
the elements. Mr. Shank liegan improving the farm, 
breaking the sod to prepare it for cultivation, put- 
ling out heiige rows, planting fruit and sliadi- trees, 
and erecting barns and other buildings. In 1S78 
he built a large and commodious farmhouse, aixl a 
fine barn, (living great attention to the rearing of 
horses and cattle, in addition to the raising of grain, 
he was eminentlv successful, nnaiiciallv, and was 



-¥^m^^ 



-4*- 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



*J 



413 ^ > 



^h 



amply repaid by fortune for the trials and priva- 
tions endured in the earlier daj's of his settlement. 
While living on this place he was largely instru- 
mental in the organization of a church society and 
of the school district, and paid liberally for the 
support of both. He held the position of School 
Director, and also that of Roadmastcr during these 
years. 

In 18.S1 Mr. Shank removed to the town of And- 
over, Butler Count}', where ho entered into mercan- 
tile business, which he followed for some eighteen 
months. Disposing of his stock and store, for six 
months' time he kept the liotel in the same place. 
Not being pleased with this, he closed out his in- 
terest therein, and with his wife made a trip to New 
Orleans, on a visit to the A\^orld's Fair at that 
place, in 1884. On returning to this county, he 
settled in Wichita, and commenced purchasing 
real estate, and has since then largely dealt in that 
class of property. Mr. Shank is a native of Perry 
County, Pa., born Oct. 20, 183.5, and is a son of 
Christian and Mary (]Moyer) Shank, both of whom 
were natives of the Kej'stone .State, and of German 
ancestr}-. 

When .Jackson, the subject of this sketch, was 
some thirteen years of age, he removed to Indiana 
with .Jacob Smith, and helped him to make a farm 
in that State, cutting off the timber, rooting out 
the stumps, and breaking up the sod. With this 
gentleman he made his iiome until he was twenty- 
two years old, when, in betterment of his fortune, 
be sought a home in Vermilion County, 111., in 
1857. While in this latter place, Feb. 15, 1858, he 
was united in marriage witii Miss Rachel Layton, of 
that county. She was a native of Indiana, and 
born about 1840. She became the mother of four 
children : .John C, who married Ellen Kelle}'", and 
is a resident of Sangamon Count}', 111.; Anna, Mrs. 
Ellis Poor, of Sangamon County ; Ilarr}', who 
married Katie Hughes, and is a resident of this 
county, and Helen, a resident of Springfield, 111. 
In 1858 Mr. Shank removed to Springfield, and 
made that city his home until coming to Kansas 
in 1871. 

A cruel an<l unnatural war r.aging between the 
States, and the General Government being in want 
of men to put down the bands of armed traitors 

<■ 



who sought the National life, in 18G5 Mr. .Shank 
enlisted in Company E, 154th Indiana Volunteers, 
which was organized for a four-months service, and 
remained in the army until after the close of hos- 
tilities. In 1805 he had the misfortune to lose his 
wife, who died at Springfield, August 10, and in 
1871 he removed to Kansas as mentioned above. 
Oct. 16, 1872, he .again contracted a matrimonial 
alliance, leading to the altar Miss Rebecca John- 
son, a daughter of Erastus and Minerva (Styles) 
Johnson, both of whom were natives of Ohio, of 
Dutch and English ancestry respectively. Mrs. 
Shank was born in Calhoun County, 111., Sept. 2, 
1850, and was reared on her father's farm, and 
received her education in the village schools of Wis- 
consin, where they were living. Later, she entered 
the Normal school at Platteville, Grant Co., Wis., 
from which she is a graduate. For two years after 
she taught in tiie district schools of Wisconsin, 
and after coming to Kansas for the same length 
of time in this State. 

In .all his financial operations Mr. Shank has 
been highly successful. On coming to the city of 
Wichita he purchased considerable real estate in 
the city, and also 640 acres of excellent land near 
Kingslcy, in Edwards County, Kan., which place 
he afterward sold at a large advance. He is still 
extensively engaged in the purch.ase and sale of 
city lots, and fartn property in the county, and is 
one of Wichita's most prominent and influential 
citizens. In politics he is a thorough Republican, 
believing that within that party lie the principles 
which are the safest guides for our National Gov- 
ernment. Both he and his wife are active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and give 
largely both time and mone}- to their religious 
work. 

^ — €-fr^ ^- 

J~ OSEPH PEACHEY, residing in the city of 
Wichita, presents in his life a splendid ex- 
ample of downriglit hard Labor, close appii- 
' cation to business, and perseverance. He 
commenced in life at the foot of the ladder, but 
blessed with a prudent and sensible wife as help- 
meet, not too proud to labor, he is now able to 
take life easily and comfortably, in the enjoyment 






4U 



SK|h;\S|(K (••mnty 



of the fruit« (if liKH cnrly iii(lu!iti> 1 1 
cnllftl tho flnoal lirickliiyiT in llir Woi, u hu-i- 
lu'ss with whicli li<- bi-cniiii- tluiroii<;lily ncquiiintod 
ill liis cjirly iiiiinliood. iiiit) from wliicli he inainly 
lni<l till- fiiiiiiiliitioii of lii!( little fortune. 

Mr. JViuluy, n native of Old Knjjiniid, wjus born 
in t':inilirid;,'i'.-.liire. May 27, IS.'W. ami hi.s |>!iiiMit>. 
.Ii>M?|ili \V. and rie:i.sant IVarlioy, were also of Kn- 
;;li.sli liirtli and |>!U('nl«jj:f. .losfpli, wlu-ii a youth 
of fiftfcn years, ooininenced his a|)|ireiiti(eslii|i at 
tunneling and se«er-buildin|j;, at which he worked 
until reaciiinj; his majority, in different |Mirts of hi.s 
native county. He bceanie familiar with the dif- 
ferent linimhes of this business, workiiij; at high 
and middle level sewers. Some of them twelve feet 
in <liunieter .mil .some eighteen, and as many mile- 
long, lie estimates that lie has ji-ssisted in building, 
during a |K;riod of si.x years, tifty-eight niili-s of 
sewer. I'arl of this labor consisted in making a 
tunnel under Regent's I'ark, Cornwall, a suburb of 
London lie al.-o labored in the tunnel under the 
London ilocks. anil at that time detected a fraud 
involving IT.O.ono pounds sU-rling, which through 
his instrumentality wius .sjived the company. The 
latter rewarded him by making him foreman of 
their works, a |>i)sitiiin which he occupied for a 
jieriiMl of twenty years. 

Mr. reachey. at the age of niiietocii years, was 
married, in 1n.'>:J. to his pre.sent wife, .Miss Sophia 
Ilowlett, who, like himself, w.ms of pure Knglish 
stock, a native of Cambridgeshire, and born in 18133. 
.She was reared by her parents in the doctrines of 
the Church of Kngl.ind, and with her husband con- 
tinues her membership in the same. Her parents, 
Willi.-nn and Sarah Ilowlett, are now deceased. 
Mr. I'eachey, in addition to his regular trade, .-dso 
gained a line knowledge of ganlcniiig, in which he 
wiLs assisted by his wife, to whose ability, skill 
and splendid coiistitulion he is indebted for a 
large measure of his success. After marriage they 
locat<Ml upon a tract of land upon which they raised 
grain and vegetables, and .Mrs. I'e.'ichey assisted her 
husband in the harvest-IU'ld, hnndling the reaping- 
liiKjk llrst, and afterward the llail in threshing, with 
a skill and endurance equal lo that of her husband. 
Oursiibject and his wife bolli cherishing the laud- 
able ambition to build up a home and acquire a coui- 



lctcrmine<) .\tlanlic and seek 

Hull toi tunes in the .N<» W^ii'l. Accordingly, in 
the spring of |m7|, taking with them their two chil- 
dren, they boarded the steamship "City of Ant- 
werp," at Liver|n>ol, and after a safe voyage landed 
in New York City. After farming wvcii years in 
the Kinpirc Stiite, they made their way further 
westward, and cerUiinly have no reason to regret 
that they chose their |MTmanent liK-atiou among the 
rich resources of .Southern Kansas. They located 
ill the then village of Wichita, and .Mr. I'eachey for a 
year afterward employed himself on the Santa Ke 
Railroad, then resumed his old trade of bricklayer, 
in which he made his siilistantial start in life. 
The giKxl wife cultivated the l.-uid around their 
moilcst home, aii<l the garden priHiucL< yielded them 
a handsome incoine. She transixtrted her vegeta- 
bles t4^i market in baskets, and each year found them 
laying by a snug little sum of money for future in- 
vestment. They now own, besides their conifort- 
nble home, eight lots within the city limits, which 
each year are iiicreiusing in value. Mr. I'eachey 
loans money upon the best of real-estate security, 
and claims that any healthy and industrious man, 
of good judgmeiil. can make a fortune in .Southern 
Kansas. 

Two children who were born in Knglaiid, and 
one in New York .Stjile, have come to bless the 
union of our subject and his wife. These were 
named, respectively : .Joseph \\'., Reuben and Simon ; 
all three are residents of Wichita. Mr. and Mi-s. 
I'eachey proudly claim four grandchildren, the oflf- 
spring of their son .Ios»'ph W., who inarrietl Miss 
Hannah .Mann, of Orleans County, N. Y. These 
bear tho names of Sophie (dead), Bessie, Ruby and 
.Salena. Our subject, u|)oii becoming a naturalized 
citizen, identified himself with the Republican party, 
with which he uniformly casts his vote. While in 
Kligland he and his estimable wife were inemliersof 
.St. Marley's Kpiscoix-il Church, Newton, which was 
presided over by Rev. William Tilear. 

Among the thrilling experiences which Mr_ 
l'<'Acliey encountered during his ex|>erience as a 
sewer-builder, was an occurrence in the White- 
chapel sewer, which caught fire, and which threat- 
ened the instant death of liiiii>elf and three men who 
were with him. Mr. I'euehey, with udiuiruble pres- 



-•►• ■<• 






t 



V 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



415 ' ^ 



ence of mind, succeeded in saving himself and com- 
panions, and by his heroism was the ol)ject for a 
long time afterward of admiration by all acquainted 
with the circumstances of the case. He also carried 
tinee men from Baron Rothschild's refinery at the 
time of a boiler explosion, saving their lives also. 
Although not by any means an aged man, tiie scenes 
of his varied iiistory, if given ample space, would 
make a good-sized book. lie and his wife and two 
younger sons are now visiting in England. 



AVID C. KIGGS. The subject of this biog- 
raphy', now a retired and well-to-do farmer, 
having his residence in the city of Wichita, 
is numbered among the early and honored 
pioneers of this county, who came within its bor- 
ders during its very first settlement, and when the 
cabins of the homesteaders were few and far be- 
tween, lie wisely took advantage of the state of 
things at that time, and secured a quarter-section of 
land six miles south of the city, upon which he 
operated about two years. He then sold out at a 
good price, and invested the proceeds in city real 
estate, of which, however, he could only purchase two 
lots with the capital at liand. He, however, was sub- 
sequently enabled to add to this, and his property has 
become valuable. He has been prominent in the 
local affaii-s of the county. 

Our subject was born in Howard Count3', Mo., 
during the territorial days of that section of coun- 
try', on the 27th of January, 1821, and is the son of 
Reuben and Catlierine (Saiing) Riggs, natives of 
Nortii Carolina. Reuben Riggs removed from his 
native State to Kentucky, by means of pack horses, 
before the daj' of wagon roads, locating in Warren 
County, near the pioneer town of Bowling Green, 
where he met and married Miss Catherine Saiing, 
who was born and reared in North Carolina. They 
lived in Kentuckj- until after the birth of five chil- 
dren, then the young people removed to Tennes- 
see, locating in the vicinity of Duck River, nhere 
they became the parents of six more children. 
Their next removal was to Howard County, Mo., in 
1818, where David C, our subject, was born, he be- 
ing the youngest of twelve children, the eldest 
<■ 



child being born in 1797. From Howard they re- 
moved to Boone County, Mo., and thence to Mor- 
gan County, 111., in 1828, being among the early 
pioneers there. 

The father of our subject took up eighty acres of 
land in Morgan County, and purcliased eighty acres 
addititional, upon which he farmed successfully for 
many 3-ears. Both parents were members of the 
Oid-S(^hool Baptist Church, in which Reuben Riggs 
served as Deacon for many years. He was a stanch 
Democrat politically, and maintained both his re- 
ligious and political principles witii all the natural 
force of his character. The motiier of our suljjeet 
removed with her parents from North Carolina to 
Kentucky wlien a young girl. Reuben Riggs and 
wife removed to the vicinity of Berwick, in War- 
ren County, 111., in 1840, where they spent the last 
years of their lives, and their remains were laid 
to rest in the cemetery at Berwick. Mr. Riggs was 
upwaid of eighty-four years of age, and Mrs. Riggs 
was eighty-two j'ears old. They were well known 
and highly respected wherever they lived. 

David C. Riggs was the youngest of tiie parental 
family, which included twelve children, of whom 
only three are living. Jesse Riggs, now past eighty 
years, lives near Berwick, Warren Co., HI. His 
other brother, Hemy, now aged seventy-six years, 
lives at Liunville, Morgan Co., HI. David C. re- 
ceived a fair education in the common schools, 
and contiiuied a member of the parental household 
until twenty-two years of age. While a resident of 
Warren County, III., he was united in marriage 
with Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of Warren 
County, Ky., and who removed with her parents to 
Warren County, 111., when a little child. Siie de- 
parted this life at her home near Berwick, Warren 
Co., 111., in August, 1866. Of this marriage tiiere 
were born four sons and five daughters, namel}' : 
Jolm P., Reuben, Nancy, Emeline and Angeline 
(twins), Mahlon, Douglas, Catliarine and Mary. 
John P. married Minerva Brown; they live in 
Larchland, Warren Co., 111. Reuben married Fan- 
nie Kite in Galesburg, 111.; they reside near Nor- 
wich, Kingman Co., Kan. Nancy has been mar- 
ried three times; her present husband is a Mr. 
Galbreath, and their home is in Yuba City, Cal. ; 
Emeline nuuTied A. J. Butler, and resides iu 



i 






SEDfSWICK COUNTY. 



Orfgon; Ai)j;olino ninrrip<l .1. I*. lli-n«1pr>on, ftiul 
now lives ill Wolfe Cilv, 'IVx.; llu- twins were 
inarriol nt llie same time, nt tlie luinie of llieir 
father; Miililon ninrrie<l Nancy Snow in Tcxn*; 
he lUeil »t I'eoria, III., in iMM'i. I)uuf;lni< nu»rrie<l 
Ma .Ion«-«, nn<l they live at C'alilwell, Sumner Co., 
Ki»n. ; Catharine married Thoninj! Wiekery; they 
also live in Calilwell, Kan. M.iry marriet] William 
Derin;;. ami their home i< in Mt. Hope Township, 
Sedgwifk Co., Kan. 

Mr. Ki^fgs. on the 17th of June. 1H(;7. contracted 
a .«econd marria^je, with Miss Martha (Jowily, who 
died in WichiUi on the :{d of December, IH83. Of 
this union there were no children. Mr. Kiggs has 
no relatives with him in Wichita. In the fall of 
1862, while a resident of Illinois, he was elected 
Sheriff of Warren County, on the Deujocratic ticket, 
in a county at that time giving 700 Republican 
majority. His deputies were the well-known attor- 
ney, John K. Alexander, ffjrnierly of Ale.xis, and 
the brother of our subject, Jesse Riggs, of Rose- 
ville. During his two years' term of cilice there 
was an unusual nunii>er of criminal arrests, and it 
was st:»ted that Sheriff Riggs captured more desert- 
ers than any other otllcer of the kind in Illinois. 
During his residence in Warren County he also 
served as Justice of the Peace of Roscville Town- 
.shii)fora |teriod of ten years, and during this whole 
time never had a decision reversed by a higher 
court. He represented Roseville Township also in 
the County Hoard of Supervisors for a i)eriiMl of 
six years, and was Township Assessor two years 
and Collector one year. 

.Mr. Riggs still votes the Democnitic ticket, and 
continues an old I'redestinarian Baptist in religious 
belief. 



^ 



•4; A.MIKL r. KUlKfiKR, a pmniincnt slock- 
rniMT of Sedgwick County, can justly l)e 
numbered among the pioneers of Southern 
Knn.sas, jl* his residence here dates from 
February, 1871, at which time he took up a home- 
stead claim, comprising the northwest quarter of 
section II, I'nion Township. lie was liorn in 
Adnnis County, III., Dec. 23, l«lll. His father, 



John C. Krieger. was liorn in (ierinany, and came 
to the rnit<'d Slates with his |inn-nt<« when seven- 
levu yejirs old. His first wifedieil leaving him with 
three children. His >econd wife, mother of our 
subject, was Maiy Sink, a native of In<linna. Iler 
marriiige with Mr. Krieger took place in IJrown 
County, III. Subsequently they settled in Ailams 
County, where they ongageil in agricultural pursuits. 
In IH.'!'.! they removed to Knox County, Mo., where 
they were engaged in the same cK-i.-u|iation. 

In l«(;i Mr. Krieger, the father of our suliject, 
enlisted in the 2d Missouri Infantry, and s<-rved 
throughout the entire war. Aftrr his dis<>harge he 
returned to his home in .Missouri, and resumed farm- 
ing. In 1876 his wife died, but be still continued 
to reside there until 1887, when he came to Kansjis 
to live with his son, of whom we write. He is now 
sixty-five years old, and in the sunset «»f life en- 
joys the reward to which he is justly entitled as an 
honest, upright and patriotic citizen of this coun- 
try. To him and his wife were born eight chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living, our subject being 
the eldest of that number. 

The early life of Samuel F. Krieger was |uissed 
on a farm, the first ten years of it in Illinois, and 
after that in Missouri, whither he went with his 
pareuts. He wius but a boy at the breaking out of 
the late Civil War, but he res|ionded to the hist call 
for volunteers, although he was not mustered into 
service. At the age of eighU en he commence<l 
I earning his own bread by following the occupation 
to which he hail been reared. In 1871 he came to 
Kansas, and, as before mentioned, took up UIO 
acres of land in this township. He has'devotcd the 
greater part of his time and attention to the lucra- 
tive business of buying and selling live stock, and 
his name is well known throughout the county, 
where his reputation for fair dealing, sound judg- 
ment, and systematic business methods make him a 
desirable man to deal with. 

Mr. Krieger was married, in 1870, to Mi-ss .Mary 
J. O'Dell. daughter of Thomas and Lydia O'Dell. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Krieger have been born five 
children, namely: Amanda; .Mabel, now deceased; 
Arthur, Addic and Minnie. Our subject and his 
wife (K-ciipy a strong position among the intelligent 
and thrifty inlial)itiints of I'liioii Township, and diir- 



■•► ■ ■<• 



Hl-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



•tl9 



ing their long residence here they have made nianj' 
warm friends. In politics, Mi'. Krieger is a Repub- 
lican. 

We present a view of Mr. Krioger's residence in 
this volume. 



(|1 IfelLLIAM F. STEVENS, one of the honored 
\/yJ/l pioneers of Sedgwick County', arrived here 
W^ ill December, 1870, and homesteaded the 
nortlieast quarter of section 1, in Union Township. 
He has been an interested witness of the changes 
which have transpired during a period of nearly 
twenty years, and has contributed his full quota 
toward the building u]) of the section of countiy 
where he determined to make his permanent home. 
A native of the Blue (irass State, he was born in 
Ohio County, Jan. 5, 1834, and although he has 
labored long and industriousl3', may be still called a 
man in the prime of life, and in full possession of 
the strength of mind and bodj'. 

Charles W. and Polly (Wallace) Stevens were also 
natives of Kentucky, wliere thej' spent their entire 
lives. Their household included five children, all 
of whom lived to reach their majority, but only 
three survive. Charles U. continues a resident of 
his native county; Emilj' died in Kentucky about 
18;')3 ; William F., of our sketch, was the third child ; 
Isaac died in Mississippi County, Mo., about 1857; 
John W. continues in Ohio County, Ky. 

Young Stevens received a limited education in 
the schools of his native county, and when twenty 
years of age was married to Miss Sarah E. Ward, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, 
Feb. 7, 1854. Mrs. Stevens was a native of the 
same count}' as her husband, and was the daughter 
of Matthew and Cassandra (Bennett) Ward. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stevens, soon after marriage, left their 
native State and located in (iihson County, Ind., 
where our subject engaged in farming until after 
the outbreak of the Rebellion. Although a South- 
erner by birth, he had been trained in the first prin- 
ciples of patriotism, and on the 11th of August, 
1 862, responded to the call for additional volun- 
teers by enlisting in Corapanj' B, 65th Indiana 
Infantry, with which he served until the close of 



the conflict, and was present at all the engagements 
in whieli his regiment participated, including the 
siege of Knoxville, and otlier engagements in Ten- 
nessee. He also marched with tlie Atlantic cain- 
jiaigu, and with his comrades was under fire for a 
period of ninety days during the siege and capture 
of that city. He carried the banner of his regiment 
and fortunately escaped wounds and captui'e, al- 
tiiough frequently experiencing many liairbreadth 
escapes, serving often at the front as a non-com- 
m issioned oflleer. 

After the war .and upon receiving his iionorable 
disch.arge, Mr. Stevens resumed farming in Gibson 
County, Ind., where he continued his residence 
until the spring of 1870. Then resolving upon a 
change of location, he disposed of his property' in 
the Iloosier State, and loading his personal effects 
and his family into a wagon, proceeded b^' team to 
the f.arther West. After becoming comfortably 
settled upon the land, the cultivation and improve- 
ments of which he began with hope and courage, 
he was visited with a sore affliction in the death of 
his wife, which occurred the following year. May 
1.3, 1871, while she was still a J'oung woman, being 
but thirt3'-eight years of age. His seven children 
were thus left motherless and his plans sadly bioken 
in upon. Of these children his eldest son, Isiuic, 
died eight years later, on the 24th of November, 
1879, when a promising 3'oung man twenty-four 
years of age; Priscilla Ann became the wife of 
John Merkle, who is farming in AVashington Ter- 
ritory ; Charles R. died in Leadville, Col., March 16, 
1872, .aged twenty -one j'Ciirs; Samuel M. is attend- 
ing school in Wichita; JIartha is the wife of Francis 
T. Little, a farmer of Harper County, this State; 
Arthur C. died March 12, 1873, .aged four 3'ears; 
George W. died April 6, 1871, when two days old. 

Mr. Stevens contracted a second marriage in 
1872, with Miss Dorcas A., (htughter of Samuel and 
Clu'istian Embler, of Union Township, who died 
July .30, 1877, at the age of thirtj'-one 3- ears and 
eleven months. Of this union there were born a 
son and daughter (twins), the latter of whom died 
in 1879, when six years old; Mark E., who died 
July 23, 1878, when one 3'ear old, and Evan E., 
who died Aug. 24, 1876, aged eight months. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 



-t- 



•►■-4» 



4-.'0 



SKDCWK K COIMV. 



niiMi was formerly Mias Anmiula 

M., .lau-ht.i ..f rii..r,i:i> .1. niitl N«ii<'V (KoV) Ty- 
Irr. Mrs. Aiimndn Stcvriis wius Imrii in Lawreiico 
Cixiiily, Iiid.. Miircli i'.K 1K,V.». Of lur union with 
iiiir siilijocl lliero linvc liccn burn tliroo children, 
the I'ldosl of whom, ( iirliti T.. dii-d in l8Ki;, aged 
oni' yenr. Those >.nrviving nre Arlvnuis, now six 
years of age, ancl an infant named Frances. 

Mr. Stevens voles the stniij^lit liepiililic-nn ticket 
and Uns serve<l on the .Scliool Hoard of his di.strict, 
allhougb he prefers to he out of ollice. lie is a 
member of Wichita Lo<lge No. ;i9, A. F. A A. M., 
and helon^'-^ to tlie (i. A. K. l'o>t at C'olwich. 

We present in this volume views of many of the 
representative farm homesteads of this county-, and 
that owned by our subject is entitled to a jjlace 
among them, and it may be found on an adjoining 
imge. 



■••icfi.'©i®-^|3K 



-StS'TS''^- 



ARNFITK W. IIFNiNINCKR. an active 
and energetic member of the farming com- 
munity' of Valley Center Township, has his 
residence on section IG, where he owns some 
eighty acres of good land. He came to .Sedgwick 
County in 1 H~x, arriving in \'allcy Center Township 
on the^Ust of .March, and settled on the farm where 
he now lives. lie came here from Mason County, 
III., wiierc he was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
for some twelve years. 

The subject of our sketch wan born in Northum- 
berland County, I'a., Aug. 1, 184.'), and is the son of 
I)anie| anrl Mary (Renn) llcnningcr, both of whom 
were natives of the Keystone Stale. His parents 
came to Sedgwick County about the year 1K77, 
where his father is engaged in f.Mrming on section 
Ifl in \'alley Center Township. The latter wius or- 
dained a minister of the fiospel when a young man, 
and h:is always followed that calling, lie began his 
first ministration in I'ennsylvania, having been con- 
verted when but nineteen years of age. .Since 
coming to Kansa.i he has been actively engaged in 
preaching, except during the liLst year and a half. 
When a young man he learned the gunsuiilji's trade, 
which he followed in connection with his pastoral 
dulie.H for about thirty years, lie wju, the father of 



ciglit children, as follows: Baructte, the subject uf 
our sketch, who is the eldest; .S;inili .lane, William 
Ottbein, M.'iry Catharine, Lydin .\nn, KluMhi Kllen, 
Louisa and l)aniel (iranU William ami Kh<Hla are 
deceased: Sarah .lane is living in Illinois, and the 
rest arc in Kansas. 

Mr. Ilenuinger, of whom this biography is writ- 
ten, remained at home with his parents luitil he wjis 
twenty-six years of age, receiving his education in 
the days of his youth in the district s<.-hools of bis 
native SUite. IJut war broke out over our country, 
and the life of the Nation w.is threatened by the 
traitorous hand of the slave oligarchy, and with the 
s|iirit of palrioti.-<m that imbued most of the youtlis 
of our country, on the 17th of August, 18C2, he 
enlistcil in Company II, lUOth Illinois Infantry, and 
was mustered into the I'nitcd Stales service. With 
his regiment he endured all the hardships and pri- 
vations of a .solilier's life, and participated in many 
of the battles in which the Armies of the Cumber- 
land and Tennessee were engaged. The principal of 
these were Nashville, I'erry ville, Stone Uiver, Look- 
out Mountain, Chickamauga, Kennesaw .Mount- 
ain. Missionary Hidge, all the battles in and around 
Atlanta, Franklin, and the second battle at Nash- 
ville; besides these he was present in quite a num- 
ber o{ skirmishes, some of which, like that of Spring 
Hill, almost asj^umed the pro|)ortions of genend en- 
gagements. During the early part of his services 
the company to which he was atUiched was com- 
manded by Capt. Goddard, who was succeeded by 
Capt. Kelson. Mr. llcnninger was mustered out of 
service .luly 1, 18Go, at N.-ishville, Tcnn., and after 
receiving bis honorable discharge, returned home. 

Having no desire to live a life of single blessed- 
ness, Mr. Ilenningcr was united in marriage. May 
26, 1870, with Miss Josephine Musselman, who wjis 
born in Indiana, .July I'J, 18.")l. They are the par- 
ents of three children — Nathan UeLafayelte and 
Alice Virginia (twins), and Daniel Clarence. Na- 
than and Alice were lK)rn March I.'l, 1874, and 
Daniel Nov. 2, 187(). Mrs. llcnninger is a sister of 
Prof. 1). L. .Musselman, so well known throughout 
the West as Principal and successful uian:iger of the 
Gem City Husiness College, at C^uincy, 111. 

Politically, alllli.-iting with the Uepubliean party, 
Mr. Ilenningcr has no Jispiralions for public ollice, 



-•►-■-^ 



•► I I <• 



-•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



421 



but being educated liimself, he takes great interest 
in school matters, and has been prevailed upon to 
accept the position of School Director of District 
No. 38, in his township, which place he has filled 
for four years. With his estimable wife he is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
they are both good, sincere Christian people. 



ENUY SllUMAN, a retired farmer of ample 
means and engaged moderately in the hand- 
ling of city real estate, owns in addition to 
other property' one of tlie finest residences 
in Wichita, which is pleasantly located on Topeka 
avenue between Tenth and Eleventh streets. He 
came to this count}' in 1S71, and purcha,sed eighty 
acres three miles northeast of Main street and 
Douglas avenue. 

Upon this projjerly our subject set himself indus- 
triously to work, planting fruit trees, and preparing 
the ground for garden produce, and followed this 
business with fine results for a period of sixteen 
years. In the spring of 1887 he was the fortunate 
possessor of eighty acres, which he laid off into regu- 
lar lots, reserving, however, sufHciently for his own 
homestead. The same jyear he put up a large and 
elegant residence on Topeka avenue between Tentii 
and Eleventh streets, with all tiie modern improve- 
ments. This involved a cost of ^6,000 besides the 
fixtures for gas and water. Aside from his home 
he has twent^'-four lots inside tiic corporation. In 
his prosperity' he has not forgotten to be generous, 
and gave ten acres of his valuable land to the 
Congregational Female College. 

The subject of this history' was born in Perry 
County, Pa., June 27, 1835, and is the son of 
George and Susannah (Rusher) Shuman, also natives 
of the Keystone State. The family originated in 
Germany, and was first represented in this country 
during the Colonial days. George Shuman, the 
father of our subject, was born in 1809. He was 
a farmer by occupation, and a member in good 
standing of the Baptist Church. Prudent and in- 
dustrious he accumulated a comfortable property'. 
Tiie mother, wiio was born in 1813, survived her 
husband only about four years, her death taking 



-ih-^f 



place in 1847. She was a member of the same 
church as her husband, and thiiir cliildreu were 
trained to habits of industry and principles of 
honor. 

There were born to (Jeorge and Susannah Shu- 
man si.v sons and three daugiiters, who are recorded 
as follows: Samuel died unmarried at the .igc of 
twenty-seven years; Mich.ael married Miss Eliza- 
beth Chesney, and is living in Covington, Ohio; 
Sarali became the wife of Daniel Uoush, of Perry 
County, Ph., and is now deceased ; John married Miss 
Sopiuonia lluckins, and is living in Covington, 
Oliio; Hannah, Mrs. William Bargcr, is a resident 
of Perry Count}', Pa.; Mar}- married William Inch, 
of Sedalia, Mo.; Henry of our sketch was tlic next 
in order of birth; George married Miss Cora Elliott, 
and William took to wife Miss Margaret Duboice. 

J\Ir. Shuman was reared on the parental home- 
stead in Pennsylvania, receiving the education com- 
monly given to farmers' boys. He left his native 
State in 1854, and the two years following was a 
resident of Jliami Count}', Ohio. At that place he 
v/iis engaged as a clerk for his brother, wlu) was 
engaged in general merchandising. At the expi- 
ration of this time they fitted out a horse-team, 
and started overland for Marshall County, Iowa. 
The result of this venture, however, not being sat- 
isfactory, our subject disposed of the grocery busi- 
ness in which he had been interested, and made his 
way to Marion County, this State, settling first at 
Cedar Point on Cottonwood Creek. Thence in the 
spring of 1859 he removed to the Gregory mining 
district, and from there went to Leadville, Col., 
where he took up a mining claim and remained 
five years. Then selling out he proceeded to Mon- 
tana via Salt Lake City, thence to Virginia City, 
and for three years following contiiuied operating 
in the mines. 

Our subject now longing for a look at the old 
faces, made his way eastward to his childhood 
home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until 
1805, then with a load of produce returned over- 
laud to the mountains. His next camping-ground 
was in the vicinity of Sedalia, Mo., where he en- 
tered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. 
Inch, in the grocery business. He remained there 
three years, and two years later pitched his tent in 



•#^«-« 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



llii.H county, wIutc Ih- has .-iiK-i' hiHMi ronU'iiU'tl to 
ri'innin. IIi- \\n» licid the vnrioiis m-Iiimi| c>l1li-('.-> of 
\iU (liritricl, aii<l Ikto n-s else whi-ii', luu* iil ways jjivcn 
his t'nriie.Ht siiipport to the priiu-iplos of ilu' Itopult- 
licaii jMirty. 

Oiii'iif the most iiii|xift.-tiit cvciit-s in the sonu'- 
whal fhftn;;ffnl lifi- of onrsulijecl was his niarriaj^u, 
which took place on the 8th of Manh. iKTo. the 
hilly of his choice heing Miss Kate M. Simpson, 
who was horn in Snrato;;ii Coiinly, N. Y., l""el». '.t, 
l«4C. Mrs. Sliiinian is the (hiUL,'liter of Henry ami 
.Mariah ('I'ravis) Simpson, who were al.so n.atives 
of the Kinpire State. The father, who is still liv- 
ing, is a carpenter by trade and continues his home 
in New York. The mother <lied about 1857. Of 
their nine children five arc liviii'i and mi>stly resi- 
dents of New York, MIciiigan and K:insas. 

Mr. and .Mrs. .Sjuiman are the parent-s of four 
ciiildren, namely : IJertnim, who is pui-suing his 
studii-s in the lli^'h .School; Frederick U., Ual|>h K. 
and fJaylord. The wife and eldest son .-ire members 
of the Metho<list Kpiscopal Church. 

G< i:( >K( ; K W. slMl'l'KJN. cement mason, con- 
^. tractor and builder of line cement sidewalks, 
J) bns<-mcnt floors, curbstones, steps, founda- 
tions. liridj;e piers, abutments, cement cisterns, etc., 
is well known in Wichita where he resides. lie is 
conducting a successful and well established busi- 
ness, which occupies an important place among the 
various inilustries of this thriving city. He is a 
man of higli sUiuding in financial circles, fu* he con- 
ducts his busines-s upon strictly honest principles, 
and is l<ioke<l u|>on as a useful and an honorable citi- 
zen. 

Mr. Sumption comes of a fine ohl Knglish family 
whose descend:iiits jiave intermarried with gooil 
I'ennsylvanian Cerman slcwk. Charles Sumption, 
his grandfather, was liorn in Chester County, I'u., 
in IT').'!, and went from the home of his birth in an 
early day to bernnie a pioneer settler of Kentucky. 
He acipiired a ^'ood deal of properly tlu-re and was 
the owner of slaves. His son <;eorge S., father of 
our subject, W!w born in ].e.\ington, Ky., in I7'.>l, 
, Mil] was rearcfl to the life of a f.arnier. .Mr. Siitnp- 



i 



tion wiksn man of marked ability ami force of char- 
acter, and in mental development w.-ts far aheail of 
his time, being enilowcd with more tlinn ordimiry 
intellectual gifts, and a keen sense of Justice and of 
the rights due to his fellowmen; he was a life-long 
Cniversidist and a great reader of the Bible, which 
he read through several times, and was more familiar 
with its [Migi's than many profcssctl teachers of the 
\\iird. When a young man Mr. .Sumption niovecl 
from his native Stale to Ohio, as he was a natunil 
Free-Soiler, abhorring the iuntitution of slavery 
with all the force of his great mind, and would nut 
sanction it by living in a slave .State. He bought 
a farm in Darke County, and continued to live there 
several years, and was in the ftirt at Oreenville, Ohio, 
at the time of St. Clair's defeat. He niarrie<l .Miss 
Klizabeth Hush, :uid to thetn were born ten children, 
namely : Abijah, Rebecca, Charles. America, Martha, 
.Sus-nnn.-ih, Ceorge W., Klisha, Adelia and (icorgo 
W. (-Jd); ofthcscbut Iworemain: Abijah, the eld- 
est, and (ieorge ^\'., the youngest. 

Mr. Sumption remained in Darke County, Ohio, 
until 18,10, when he became a pioneer farmer of 
Indiana, settling in ( Ireen Township, St. .loe County, 
which was then a part of the Territory of .Michigan, 
and known as the Ten-Mile Strip. He made his 
home on a beautiful, fertile prairie, well surrounded 
with timber and oak ojionings, which wsis supplied 
with w:iter from a large and beautiful pond. He 
bought about 700 .acres of laml from the Govern- 
ment, and the prairie received its name from him. 
He first built a log house to shelter his family, and 
in that huml)lc abocle his Lost child was born. That 
log house stood for nearly twenty years, and the 
.s(jldicrs of the Ulack Hawk War camped near by it 
for rest. .Mr. Sumption was very much pn>s|>ered 
in his undertakings, and was enal)Ied to replace the 
log structure of the early years of their settlement 
with a fine, commodious brick house, which w.as the 
first one erected in the county, and made from tlie 
first brick manufactured in the county by .Mr. Fur- 
ron. .Mr. Sumption's death at the age of fifly-five 
W!Ls a sad blow to the interests of the county in 
which he had settled; his intle|K'ndcnt character, 
and strictly jjure ami blameless life commanded the 
res|K-ct of his fellow-citizens. 

( ieorge W. Sumption. v( this skel<'li. wils born Feb. 



-•►a -4« 



u 



*HH^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



423 



20, 1832, in the old log house on his father's pio- 
neer farm ; there the wolves would come for warmth 
in tlie cold winter nights and lie close around tlie 
old stick chimney, and the dogs had many a fierce 
encounter with them. He earl^- received from his 
honored parents instruction in those principles of 
truth, honesty and wisdom wiiich were the leading 
characteristics of their own lives, and from his father 
learned the practical business of a farmer, remain- 
ing ill the old lionie until he was twent^'-two. lie 
married, June 25, 1853, I\I iss Sarali J. Tlu'ockmorton, 
of Indiana. To them were born three children — 
Albert, Martha and Bion, all of whom are living. 
His faithful wife and devoted mother of their chil- 
dren died Dec. 2G, 18G3. 

Mr. Sumption married for his second wife, Jan. 
24, 1865, Miss Lizzie I'eck, daughter of Miranda 
and Jane (Dillow) Peck. Mr. I'eck wiis born on 
the shores of Lake Charaplain, in tlie year 1810, 
and remembered plajing with cannon balls which 
has been discharged in the famous naval battle 
fought on the waters of the lake. The Dillow family 
were Pennsylvania people, and when Mrs. Sump- 
tion's gi'eat-grand father was a lad his entire family 
were killed bj' the Indians, except himself and a 
little sister. He remained with them some time, 
but finally made his escape at tlie first opportunity. 
His sister was captured when so young that she 
grew up with the habits of the Indians, and learned 
to regard her captors with affection, and tliough her 
brother endeavored to induce lier to leave them he 
could never do so. Mrs. Sumption's grandfather 
Peck was a soldier in tlie War of 1812. Her great- 
gi-and father on the paternal side was Capt. Aver- 
ill, a hero of the Revolution. 

After his marriage in 1853, Mr. Sumption went 
to South Bend, Ind., where he embarked in a mer- 
cantile business, which lie conducted in tliat city 
until 18G5. Subsequently he traveled in the inter- 
ests of a dry-goods house in New York for two 
years. He then settled down in South Bend, and 
continued his residence there until 1885, and for 
seven years was connected with the Studebaker 
Bros., the great carriage manufacturers. He first 
engaged in the cement business in Soutli Bend. In 
1885 he came to Wichita and established himself in 
that business, and h.is conducted it with great and 



■C* 



rapidly increasing success ever since. He has 
acquired a high reputation for the superiority and 
durability of his work, and his celebrated cement 
sidewalks are of as fine and subst'intial character, 
and as enduring as the hardest stone, making a walk 
of fine appearance which is adapted to all places 
and conditions. B^' his energetic and capable man- 
agement of his business, and also by shrewd invest- 
ments, Mr. Sumption has become quite wealtiiy, and 
is tlie owner of some valuable property here, among 
which is a fine residence, whose interior is replete in 
every appointment of luxurj' and comfort. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sumption are people of good social 
standing, and the hospitalities of their beautiful 
home are often extended to numerous friends, who 
have been attracted to them by their geniality and 
kindness. Of their union six children have been 
born, of whom they have had the sad misfortune to 
lose all but two — Orange D. and Charles Ileniy. 
The names of those deceased arc Mira, (leorge, 
Bertie and Mamie. 

Mr. Sumption is identified vvith the Republican 
party in politics, and is a firm supporter of tiie 
measures of that party; socially he is an Odd Fel- 
low. 

-^ ■ ♦ #J " ^ ' ^■ 

^AMES WKSLEY RICE, proprietor of agood 
farm pleasantly located on section 11, De- 
lano Township, ranks among the self-made 
^^^^' men of that section, who from a modest 
beginning, worked his way up until his property is 
now scheduled at about i§20,000. He has had very 
little time to spend in idleness, and when not busy 
with his hands has added to his store of knowledge 
and thus kept himself well posted upon current 
events. As a man of sound judgment .'iiid intel- 
ligence, he is well worthy of representation in a 
work of this kind. 

The earl}' home of our subject was in Jackson 
County, Ohio, where his birth took place at the 
modest homestead of his parents near the town of 
Jackson, on the 24th of July, 1849. His father, 
Levi Rice, a native of the same count}', was born 
Dec. 9, 1823. His paternal grandfather, James 
Rice, a native of Ireland, emigrated with his parents 
in early life to the United States, and was three 



=t 



-<• 






424 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



^i 



linn's iimrrioil. Hv liist lli>l wife h»' hnd no oliil- 
<!roii. H_v Im!* f>ee< 111(1 tluTi- wore liorii oiglit cliililreii, 
nnd liy llie third, throe childroii. Levi, the f.-ithi-r 
of i>iir suljjocl, wan the fourth chihl of tin- ^t'coixl 
ninrrinfjo. Tho fiiniily UK-uteil in .Iiu-ksoii Comity, 
Ohio, during its early sottU'inoiit, whpri'(5nindfnther 
Uicc carried on farmiii;; n.ssislcd liy hiit soii.i. Levi 
siK'iit hi." l>oyhoo<l and youth nt the ohi liomcyteacL 
ftiid was married in Septcniher, 1X4H, to Miss Lucy 
Ann SheplianL He c'ontiiiue<l in .laekson Coiinly 
for a [H-riod of eijjhtoeii years lliereafter, tlieli 
fanned three years in Tifkaway County-, from there 
removed to Koss t'oiinty. wliere he euiitiniied seven 
years and Iheiiee to Fayette County, where lie now 
lives. 

The imreiiLal household of our suliject included 
seven <-hildren. of whom .lames Wesley is the eld- 
est. The next child, Annie, is the wife of .Samuel 
I'lymirc. a liimher dealer of Sahiiio, Ohio; Minerva 
and .Joseph are residents of Faj-ettc Coniiiy; Kllle 
is the wife of I'hilip I'lymire. a lirolher of .Samuel 
liefore nicntione<l: .Tcnnie married John .Spencer, 
who is now deceased; Alpha is farminj^ ne;ir the old 
Imiiieslead in Fayelt*- County. 

Mr. Uice, <»f our sketch, continued a iiieinlM r of 
his father's household until his ni:irriage, which oc- 
cnrred in Fayette County on the :ilst of August, 
1H7<;. The nmiilen of his choice, .Miss Kmma 
Horiiin. w:is liorn in Highland County, Ohio, .Sept. 
22, 1M.')'2, and is the third child in the family of 
.l4>lin an<l Mary (Terrell) Horum, whose family in- 
cluded two sons and six daiighlci-s, iinmely : Samuel, 
Alice, Kmma. Klla, Annie, Kva, Klla and Clinton. 
Of these seven .-iro living and residents niostlv of 
Oliic) and Kansas. 

Afti-r their marriage .Mr. and .Mrs. Hice took up 
their resilience on a farm in Clinton County, which 
our sulijecl had rented, and eipiippeil with the 
♦OOO which liin father had given him as his share of 
what he h:id earned since reaching his mnjorily, 
carried on agriculture in his n.-itive State until his 
removal west of the .Mississippi. In the meantime 
he hail Itecoine the owner of forty acres of land 
which he had purchased of his father in Ohio, liut 
n|)oii whii-h he had never lived. This lie disposed 
of at the time of coining West in 1HM|. HeliK-aU'd 
first in Cherry Vale, this Stjite. upon property 
4« 



which he still owns. In .Inly of that year he «1»<> 
purchased his present farm, to which he removed in 
August following, and where he has since liveil. 
In addition to general agriculture, he takes con- 
sideralilc pride in his live stfK-k, the proi'eeils of 
which yield him a handsome income annually. The 
four children of the little household were born aa 
follows: Orus, Oct. 2, 1M77; Clinton, April 7, 1H»2; 
Austin, Oct. 17, l««4, and Cora, Feb. 28, 1887. 

Mr. Rice, politically, vot^s the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, and with his estiinal>le wife is a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Methodist Kpiscopal 
Church, at WichiUi. The Rice family have been 
devoted Methodists for two or three generations. 
They were deeply inibtied with iKitriotic sentiment*, 
and (irandfather Hice served in the War of 1812. 
An uncle of our subject, .lames Finley Rice, was a 
bugler in the I'liion army during the late Re- 
bellion. 

J)OIIN SCLLARI). As an enterprising and 
wide-awake business man of Wichita, and 
1 one who, through his fiwn eflforts, has estab- 
' lished himself among the prominent and 
we.'ilthy men of the city, we take pleasure in giving 
a brief biography of the gentleman whose name 
stands at the head tif this sketch. He is a general 
tradesman, and lives on the corner of Mosely and 
Second streets. He is a native of New .Jersey, born 
in 18.').'), being a son of .John and Margaret (Win- 
nans) Sullaid, both natives of New .lersey. His 
father was a harness-maker by trade, who si)ent his 
early life in his native Stjite. When the Rho<le 
Isl.'ind Company sought to establish a colony in 
Tazewell County, he joined them, and moved with 
his family to that State. He thus became a pioni-er 
of that county, and laid out the town of Dela- 
van. He died in Champaign County. 111. To him 
and his wife were born six children, four of whom 
are now living, ramely : Mary, Mi-s. Karoher; .John, 
Charles, and Hannah, Mrs. Bottjer. 

The subject of this sketch has always been a 
shrewd financier, i-eady to seize any op])orlunily for 
making a |K'miy, commencing when a young lad to 
earn his own spending mone^- by selling pa|K'rs on 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



425 i ^ 



the New Jersey Central Railway, being thus en- 
gaged for three years. He was of an adventurous 
spirit, alert and fearless; he became an expert in 
the use of the rille, iind early won a reputation as 
a bold hunter. After spending a few j' ears in Illi- 
nois, his desire for a new field of action deter- 
mined him to join the throng of pioneers of the 
unsettled West. Accordingly, in 1870, he came to 
Wichita, and soon after obtained employment as a 
hunter, receiving the sura of $G5 a month. lie 
continued in that occupation two years, traveling 
through the Indian Territory and Arkansas in his 
successful i)ursuit of the buffalo. In 187() he killed 
a buffalo within eight miles of the city limits of 
Wichita, it being tlie last one killed in the county. 
He was afterward employed for awhile in the free 
and exciting life of a cowboy, driving cattle on the 
route from San Antonio, Tex., to Abilene, Kan., 
meeting during that time with many adventures and 
hairbreadth escapes. In 1873 lie engaged in the 
liquor traliic in Wichita, ojjening the first store of 
that kind in the city, east of the Atchison, Topoka 
& Santa Fe Riilnxid, and continuing in that trade 
until 188G. At that time he gave up his liquor 
saloon and established himself in the drug business 
at No. 706 East Douglas avenue, where lie has 
since been engaged. lie also deals largely in real 
estate, and has amassed a competency. He has 
always taken an .active interest in the advancement 
of the city, and has aided all beneficial enterprises, 
and is the owner of much city property. 

Mr. Snllard was ni.-u-ried, Oct. 20, 1876, to 
Abicenia Johnston, a native of Clinton Countj', 
Mo., theirs being the first marriage certificate 
written by Fred Schattner, the present City Clerk. 
Her parents are James and Mary J. (Rose) John- 
ston. Mr. Johnston is extensively engaged in stock- 
raising. He and his wife have three children, 
namely: Margaret, Mrs. Christler; Abicenia, Mrs. 
SuUard, and James. 

Mr. Sullard and his bride were among the first 
settlers of Illinois Townsliip, and put in the first 
claim house. It was a dugout, and Mr. Sullard 
purchased the lumber from the old variety theatre 
to cover the roof. For two years after settlement 
they lived very happily' and comfortably in tluat 
abode, having for company David Jenen, the 



teacher of the first school ever taught in the town- 
ship, who boarded with them during the school 
session. 

Our subject and his wife have two children living 
— J.ames O. and Harrj' II. Mr. Sullard is a mem- 
ber of the Kansas Freemen, and politically he is a 
strong Republican and anti-1'rohibitionist, having 
been at the polls at every election since the organi- 
zation of the countj'. 



OWARD ROGERS, who is engaged in gen- 
eral f.arming and stock-raising (m section 
18, Waco Township, is a native of Dela- 
ware County, Ohio, and made his advent 
on the stage of life Feb. 1 1, 1835. He is a son of 
John and Sarah J. (Finch) Rogers, who were 
natives of New York and New Jersey, respectively. 
Our subject's father was bom in 1804, and 
removed to Delaware County, Ohio, in his early 
m.anhood, where he was married and where he died 
in 1859. He was a prominent m.'in in the history 
of that locality, and a stan(th member of the old 
Whig party. His wife was born in 1818, and died 
Aug. 24, 1887, at the advaiiced age of sixty-nine 
years. They were the parents of seven children, of 
whom the following is a record: Adelia married 
Samuel Mathena, and is residing in Putnam Count}', 
Ohio, on a farm, surrounded by her family of four 
children; Howard, the subject of this sketch, w;is 
the next in order of birth; Mary m.arried Dr. .S. 
W. Ingraham, a physician of Chicago, and has two 
children; Lucina married George Carpenter, who 
died in Illinois, and is living in Delaware County, 
Ohio, with her two children; Emeline wedded 
Thomas Blakely, a farmer in Ohio, and has one 
child; John, whose wife's maiden name w.as Fanny 
Blany, is living in Chicago; and Marion married 
Ilettie Vere, and is eng.aged in farming in Delaware 
Count}', Ohio. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in the common schools of his native county, in the 
Kuckeye State, where he made his home until Nov. 
4, 1884, when he removed to this State. He was 
united in marriage, Oct. 17, 1865, with Miss Sarah 
B. Carney, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, 
who was born M.arch 1:5, 1838, in the first brick 



*-♦ 






-;- 



SKlx.WU K col NIV 



III in that ooii Illy. Ilcr fntlivr wiu uiii- i 

of till- I'l..!!. .r .HottUTS of tlint »ci-tiuii of the State, 
ami waa btirii in I'fnn.Hvlvanin, .Ian. G, 1 ";•(>. Hi- 
wa.H a phvsiiinii of nion- than onlinarv uliilily, anil 
prai'lk'i-d that |>r<>f«-s.sion tlirniiirlinut tin- whole of 
hi> liff. lie »ii,-< twiie t'li'Cl«'»i to tlie Logishi- 
lim- of tlic Suic of Oliio. anil svrvi'd with lon- 
sitleralik- credit lo hinl^t■lf and hisi-onstilnents, ami 
died .Maj- It, IKli'.t, fnll of years. Ilis wife »n.s 
horn .Ian. 7, IT'.'.'i, an<l die<l April ;I0. l.sTI. They 
were the |jjircnU> of the followinj; eliildren : Hen- 
janiin K.. who wjus horn .lune :•. IHl'.i, i.s married, 
ha.s a family <>f seven children, and is a farmer in 
Miehi<;an; Ann was born .Inly :i, IH-J'J, married 
('■eorne .Sherman, a merchant, and <lieil in Ohio, 
.Ian. I.'!. K*<0,'5, leaving nine children; .loseph I)., 
who was born .Inne 17, 1820, served as I'robalt' j 
.Indge at Hnrlinjfton. Kan., after which he entered I 
the regidar army, and died a t'a])tain, at .SUiten 
Island, N. Y., Feb. 8, l.'^OC; Kdward, who was born 
.Iiine .s, 183;}, is in Kansas; Klvira, who was born 
Oct. 31. 18:55, <lied Aug. 21, 1810; Sarah H., 
the youngest child, is the wife of the subject of 
this personal narnitive. 

Mr. Uudd is the owner of l.'tO acres of excellent 
anible land, which is well cultivated and improved, 
lie is a mendier of the Masonic fraternity, in good 
and regular standing, and takes great interest in 
the work of that order. In his [Kjlitics he is a 
steadfast liepublican, and is a good, enterprising 
:ind progressive citi/en of the township and county. 
To him and his wife have been born a family of 
five children, :is follows: Frank D., born .June '.I, 
IhGi'i, is assisting his father in the farm labors, and 
is one of the model young men of the township; 
Kdwin L., who w.as born .lune 2.'), 18C8, is still at 
home; Charles II., born S-pt. 12, 1871 ; Cora Helle, 
whose birth took place Aug. 2('i. 1m7.'!; and I'orter 
H.. who was btirn Feb. 20, 18"". 



f A.MF.S W. ,MKAI). One of the line slock 
farms of .Sedgwick County is that owned 
and occupied by the gentleman whose name 
heads this sketch, on sections 21 aixl 2.'> in 
Onml 'rownship. .Mr. Mead is a native of Darke 
County, Ohio, and wtin born Oct. 1'.), 182'.). His 



imrcnL", llinuii P. and .Sanih (Oliver) .Mend, were 
natives of New York and Ohio re»|H'ctively. llirara 
I*. .Mead, Ihcjather of the subject of thi> biography, 
was the son of Hiram I', and Sarah A. .Mead, and 
came to t)hio in an early day. He had married 
previous to this, Sarah t)liver, tlie daughter of 
'I'lionias and Mary Oliver, who were natives, the 
former of Kngland and the latter of Ireland, who 
had come to this country in childhood and were 
re.-ired near Culi>e|)er Court House. \'n. Ilinim wa.s 
a ship ear|K'nter by profession, and remained in 
Ohio until his death, which occurreil in 1831. While 
on board a ship on Lake Krie during the summer 
of that fateful year, he was taken ftith Asiatic 
cholera, from which ho died. His widow still sur- 
vives him, and is a resident of Logan County, III. 

The sidiject of our sketch was reared beneath 
the parenlid roof on a farm in Central Ohio, and 
attended the district schools of the neighborhood, 
in which he acquired his education. He wsis curly 
initiated into the mysteries of hard work attendant 
upon a life devoted to agriculture, and after spend- 
ing his youth upon his father's farm commenced 
life for himself at the sjime vocation in his n.'itive 
State. In 18.">0, with a laudable desire to improve 
his condition, he removed to Illinois anil made a 
settlement on Delavan I'rairie, in Logan County, 
among the first scttlei-s in that locality. He con- 
tinued farming in that neighborhood until 1877. 
when, still pursuing the phantom. Fortune, he came 
further west, and settled in (imnt Township, tlii- 
county. At that time he made a purchsL-ie of eighty 
acres of prairie land, and at once commenced its 
improvement, and to the original farm has ad<led 
piece by piece, until he now owns in conne<-tion 
with his son a tnict of 240 acres <if as fertile and 
highly' cultivate<l land as lies in the township. The 
improvements upon his place are of a very neat 
anil substantial diameter, and evince much cnrc and 
Uiste on the |>;irt of the proprietors. The farm is 
well .stocked both with Norman rcrcheron horses 
and high-gnide Durham cattle. 

Mr. .Mead w!is united in marriage in London, 
M.adison Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, lN."i:t, with .Mrs. Lucy 
Hatlield, who is a native of CatUiraugus County, 
N. Y., born Feb. 17, 1813. She is the chlest of 
seven children in the family of her |>arciiUs. Isaiic 



a-^ 



■•►II 



~>^ 








tT'7^- 



Hl-^ 



■•►-I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



429 



i 



and Lodem.i (White) Reed. Her father was a na- 
tive of New York, and the son of Isaac and Hannah 
(Fincii) Reed, who wore also born in the same 
■State. Her mother was the daughter of Nathaniel 
and Hannah Wliite, both of whom were born in the 
Empire Slate. To Mr. and Mrs. Mead h.ave been 
born two children — Francis M. and James Oscar. 
The eldest son was killed at the age of twelve 
years by a team, which in running away with the 
roller, p.issed that imi)lemcnt over him, andcruslied 
him. James is carrying on the farm for liis fatlier, 
and is quite an enterprising and intelligent young 
man. Poliliciilly, Jlr. Mead affiliates with the Re- 
publican party, giv'"g f"ll adherence to the princi- 
ples and doctrines of its platforms. He has little 
or no aspirations for the duties or emoluments of 
public office, but h.as served nevertheless :is Town- 
ship Collector in Illinois and as vSchool Director for 
a number of }'ears, and is at the present writing a 
member of the Board of Township Trustees, having 
been elected to that office in the fall of 1 887. Both 
he and his noble wife are consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and by a blameless 
life set a most excellent example before the rising 
generation. 

/^ OL. JONAH R. TAYLOR, a contractor and 
[if^l builder, holds a leading place among the 
^^^' enterprising and prominent men of Wichita, 
materially aiding the development and progress of 
the municipality, sparing neither time nor expense, 
but using freely of his abundant wealth to hasten 
■ the time when the city shall be known throughout 
the United States as the metropolis of the West. 
His booms in real estate have proved solid and sub- 
stantial, and beneficial results are alread}- shown in 
the increased growth of the city and the enterprises 
recently started. 

Col. Taylor was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 
10, 1819. His parents were Jonah and Hannah 
(Brandonberg) Taylor, natives respectively of 
Pennsylvania and Kentuck}'. His father was born 
in 17i)0, and his death occurred in Troy, Ohio, 
Sept. 3, 1847. He was a farmer by occupation, 
and prominent in religious and political affairs. 



His religious views were broad and liberal, and he 
was an acknowledged leader in the Universalist 
Church. Politically he was an inlluential member 
of the Democratic party. The mother of our sub- 
ject was born in 1791, and after a long and useful 
life, covering a period of fourscore years, passed 
away Dec. 23, 1871. She was a true Christian 
woman, and a consistent member of the same church 
as her husband. 

The subject of our sketch received a good edu- 
cation in the public schools of his native city, and 
remained at home assisting on the farm until he 
attained to the age of manhood. He worked for 
the subsequent four ^-ears as a brickla^^er in Cin- 
cinnati, then in 1838 ftirmed a partnership with 
his former employer, and continued in that business 
until 1862. In that year he raised a regiment of 
soldiers to assist in the preservation of the Federal 
Union. It w:is mustered into service at Camp 
Dennison as the 50th Ohio Infantry. Sept. 16, 
18G2, the regiment marched to the field under the 
command of Col. Taylor. He was with McCook's 
Division on their campaign through Kentucky for 
four months, and subsequently in Tennessee. At 
Perryville, Ky., was fought the first general en- 
gagement in which his regiment took part. In the 
fall of 1863 he threw up his commission on account 
of the emancipation of the slaves. He returned to 
Cincinnati, and shortly after went to Omaha, Neb., 
and for seven years was interested in silver mining. 
His business in this line called him to various parts 
of the United States, and even to the other sicle of 
the Atlantic, whose waters he has four times 
crossed, going to Europe to dispose of mining 
stock. During this time he also operated in the sil- 
ver mining business at Salt City for six years. In 
this business he met with great success and 
amasseil a goodly property. Two years he spent 
in Leadville, Col., and then in 1875 he moved to 
Chicago, 111., where his family remained until 1 887. 
In 1883 Col Taylor spent some time in Texas get- 
ting the right of way and manipulating stock for a 
railway. He abandoned this project, however, and 
returning to Chicago resumed his speculations in 
real estate. On the 1st of May, 1887, he came 
with his family to Wicliita, and purchased his resi- 
dence at No. 1,106 East Oak street, and has since 
•^ 



I 



-«l« 



t 

4 



l.'io 



SKUCWICK COUNTY. 



i 



Uic'it cnrrioil on ii liirgo Im-tiiu'ss in ronlty in lliis* 
city. Ilis prcst'iii't' hero has nctc>il ii» iiii iinpeliis to 
llip various pnU'riiriiws of tlic |tlact', niul he hiis 
liccii n priiiii' niovt-r in the rsUiMishnicnl of tlie 
Itiirlon Car Works, thi- Stock Yiird,'*, tho I'low 
W ork>. Walcli Factory, ami .lacoli Dole it Sons' 
Packing llonso. These enterprises «'nilirnce mill- 
ions of (lollant, and Col. Taylor, liaving been a.sso- 
ciatcd so long with the various iiitej-esLs of Chi- 
cago, is the right man in the right place lus n lca<ler 
in such giganlii' umiorU'ikings. Ho is also President 
of the Wichita (Kan.) .Mining Company. 

The .^ulijoct of this sket<'h was married, .Tune 2H, 
\x\'Jy to Kliza A. Ward, the ceremony being |)er- 
formcd by Bishop I'urcell, of the Catholic Church. 
.Mrs. Taylor wit* born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1819. 
The p.'irenls of .Mrs. Taylor were Robert S. and 
Catherine (Lant) Ward, natives of Baltimore, 
Md. They were the [wirents of ten children, four 
sons and six daughters. Of these four are living: 
Uichard ami William, of Cincinnati, the latter in the 
employ of the Government; .Maggie, Mrs. Carjien- 
ter, of Kansas City, and Mrs. Taylor, the wife of 
our subject. They were among the first k.'ltlers of 
Cincinnati, going there when it was but a hamlet. 
They were married there in 1807, and there they 
s|»cnt their entire lives, the father dying in 18;'>0 
and the mother in 1871. They were burietl in 
Spring Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Taylor's grand-par- 
ents were entombed under St. .John's Cathedral 
in Cincinnati. 

To .Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born six 
children, namely: Fannie, Katie, Kliza B., William 
H.. .Maggie and Alice. Fannie married K. W. Wig- 
gins; Katie married W. W. Angel. Mr. Taylor and 
his family arc all members of the Catholic Church. 
The |)ortrait of .Mr. Taylor is given in this connec- 
tion. 

1 .>'7 .T. %i 



' K. SlIOCKKV, a retired farmer who is mak- 
I i ing his home in Wichita, cnnie to this county 
, I I in 1h7.'!>, and settled on the nortliea.st quar- 
&^> ter of .section 22, Gy[)sum Township. There 
were no improvements on the hind when he located 
there, but he built a flne residence, neat barns, 



granaries and other buildings, and fenced it with 
osagc orange hctlge, while a rt-sident of the place, 
and lived there until |H8t;. 

A native of Fleming County. Ky., .Mr. Sboikey 
wits born Aug. I, 1N.'14. and is the xm of Kev. 
Isaac and Martha (Cunimings) Sh<K-key. His par- 
ents were natives of Kentucky and .Stuth Carolina 
respi'ctively, and were prominent people in Fleming 
County. His father w.-ls engage<l in farming, and 
in preaching the Word of God, in the neighborluxHl. 
They were of German and Irish ancestry, and were 
born, the father in March, 1802, the mother in 
1813. Having been united in marriage in 182S, 
they were the i>arent.s of nine children, of whom .1. 
R. was the third. 

Reared on the paternal farm, the subject of this 
sketch remained at home until he was eleven years 
old, at which time he commenced to work in a 
cotton-mill as spinner, which he continued for 
about two yeai-s. Crossing the Ohio River into 
the Buckeye .State, for the next two years he was 
employed in a lanyard, and then returned to Ken- 
tucky, where he worked on a farm until his ni:ir- 
riage in 18G0. With his young bride, he then 
settled on a farm in Nichohui County, where he 
remained until 18C;5. In that year he sold hi> 
property and removed to Illinois, and located in 
McLean County, .some sixteen miles ea.-t of Bloom- 
ington, where he owne<l a fjirin, au'l ma<le his home 
until IS?."), at which time he migrated to Kans:is, 
and has since made this county his home. .Settling 
on a farm iis mentioned above, he made it his resi- 
dence until 1886, when he traded this property- for 
some imi)roved lots on .South Topcka avenue, and 
in April, 1887, removed U> Wichitn, and purchased 
two lots on .S(juth Market street, where he now 
lives, and where he has built a handsome and com- 
fortable home, and otherwise improved his sur- 
roundings. 

Possessing the entire confidence of the conimunity 
in which he lived, while a resident of his farm hi' 
was honored by having bestowed upon him the 
olllces of Township Treasurer and School Director. 
The former of these positions he retained for two 
years, and the latter for four. Having the interest 
of the religious training of the rising generation at 
heart, he organized the .Sunday-schools in Gypsum 



•►•-♦- 






41-^ 



431 ' ^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



Township, and labored faithfully and long for their 
advaneonient, and many now in that locality would 
gladly welcome him back to their community, as 
they miss his guiding hand and active exertions in 
the Christian work. He and his most estimable 
wife are both members of the Christian Church, and 
evince by their daily walk and conversation the 
reality of their religious convictions. Mr. Shockey 
has taken an active part in the religious life of the 
church for the hist thirty-two years, and "grows 
not weary in well doing, but perseveres to the end," 
remembering tlie Divine promise that "In due time 
ye shall reap, if ya faint not." 

The ceremony that made one the subject of this 
sketch and Miss Dorthcenia Price, took place on 
the 20th of December, 18C0. She is the niece of 
ex-Gov. Bishop, of Ohio, and daughter of Will- 
iam G. and Margaret (Bishop), Price, of Flem- 
ing County, Ky., and w.as born in the latter count}', 
Feb. 3, 1838. Her parents were natives of Ken- 
tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Shockey are the parents 
of three children, as follows: IClla M., Mrs. J. P. 
Graham, of Wichita; William B., a conductor on 
the Transit Motor Line, in the same city, and Irene 
M., at home. 

Although mostly retired from the active cares 
of life, Mr. Shocke}' has too much energ}' to sit 
with his hands folded and do nothing, and there- 
fore employs a part of his time in speculating in 
real estate in the city and vicinity. 

(^j] RTIS J. SWISFIER, a native of the Prairie 
State, is a gentleman young in years, hav- 
ing been bom Jan. 27, 1857, but has al- 
ready obtained a good stsirt in life, and is 
numbered .among the rising men of Salem Town- 
ship. He is carrying on farming successfully on 
section 9, where he has a good farm of 160 .acres, 
and bids fair to make his ni.ark both .as a business 
man and a citizen. 

The earlj' j'ears of our subject were spent in Ver- 
milion Count\', 111., of which State his parents, John 
II. and Harriet (White) Swisher, were both natives, 
and are at present residents of Danville. Their 
familj' included eight children, six of whom sur- 



vive, and of whom our subject is the eldest. His 
sister Caroline is the wife of Andrew Swisher, of 
Vermilion County, and Ella is the wife of George 
Hoover, who also lives there. Clara married George 
I McCullough, of Vermilion County, and the two 
younger, Minnie and Grace, are still living in that 
count}' with their parents. The paternal grand- 
parents were among tlie i)ioneer settlers of that 
region. 

Mr. Swisher received his education in the district 
school, and followed farming in his native county, 
operating with his father until his marriage, which 
occurred on the 23d of March, 1879. The maiden 
of his choice was Miss Lulie K. Anderson, who was 
born in Vermilion County, 111., April 8, 1863, and 
the wedding was celebrated there at the home of 
the bride. Mrs. Swisher is the daugiiter of Miltou 
and Susan Anderson, and by the death of her par- 
ents was left an orphan when a little child four 
years of age. Her father was twice married and 
she was the child of the second wife. Of his fam- 
ily the following survive: Emma, the wife of C. 
D. Bradshaw, of Sedgwick County ; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
F. C. Martin; Jennie, the wife of Simon Lenham ; 
Catherine, of Vermilion County, 111., Frances and 
Lulie E. 

In the summer of 1882 Jlr. and Mrs. Swisher 
came to Salem Township and settled on the land 
which the}' now occupy, and upon which Mr. S. h.as 
effected great improvements. He has brought a large 
proportion of the soil to a good state of cultivation, 
and is putting up suitable buildings as time pro- 
gresses and his means justify. He votes the 
straight Republican ticket, and enjo3'S in a marked 
dcgi-ee the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. 
He has of late given considerable attention to stock- 
raising, keeping good grades of horses, cattle and 
swine. 



^=^ EORGE RUTER, one of the early settlers of 
III (= Sedgwick County, came here in time to add 
^^Ji his quota to its progress and development, 
which has been carried on so rapidly and to such 
a remarkable degi-ee. He first opened his infant 
eyes in the little Kingdom of Hanover, on the other 



■•► 



h 






SEDGWICK COUN'l V 



side of the Atlniitjc, on the 1.1th of Fi-hrimry, 
1MJ3. Ili.t imreiiU*, Christopher mu\ Mnry Uiiter, 
the fnther now ileccnsetl, were iil.no of CM-rni.-in liirth 
nn'l iwrcntnfje, nnd the former spent his entire life 
n|M>n his nntive soil. 'I'lii- mother is still livin;;, 
and ninkes her home in Denver, Col. 

The suhjeet of this history, who is numbered 
nmun^ the most onterprisinj; and sueeessful farmers 
of .Salem Township, is the proprietor of 210 acres 
of fine land on s*'etion9 Id nnd I'l. This ho Iiils 
ncenmuiated l»y his own industry and iKTsevcr- 
ancc, as he started out in life de|>cn<lent upon his 
own resources and with a limited ex|)crien('e of the 
world, lie was hut twenty-three ye.-irs of a<^e when 
he left his native land, sottiny s;iil in the winter of 
IHtJO from Ilaniliurg, and after an ocean vo^ajfe of 
twelve weeks on a sailinij-vessel landed in the city 
t«f New York. 

Young Kntcr soon left the metropolis, and pro- 
ceedinj; directly westward, look up his residence 
first in Will County, III., whence a year later he 
crossed the Mississippi to Wabaunsee County, this 
Slate, where he employed himself laboring until the 
winter of 1870. Thence, in Ihe month of February, 
determined to acquire a piece of pr<n)erly, he made 
his way lo this count}' nnd pre-empted nearly a 
qunrter of section 11, in Sniera Township. This, 
it is hardly neci-ssnry to say, was a tract of wild 
jirairie, over which the plowshare had never 
passed. His wanta were few, and he wixa cnnbled 
U> live economically, and soon began to make a 
decided change in the condition of his purcluise, 
which he sold in a few years at n good figure. 

Mr. Kuter located upon his ])rcsent farm in 18*<'2, 
where he has since resided, and has now a beauti- 
ful residence, with a commodious barn and the 
other out-buildings required for the successful 
[)ro9eculion of his enlling. Nature provided him 
with sound sense and good judgment, which have 
enabled him to make wise investments and lo curry 
on his farming o|)cralions in the most judicious 
manner. When he came to this section cif country 
game was plentiful, including deer, antelope anil 
wild turkeys, many of which he laid low with his 
rifle, and whatever else the family lacked in the 
pioneer <lays they were always provided with the 
choicest of wil<l meats. He has watched with un- 



abated interest the rapid growth ami development 
of .Southern Kansas, and is numbered among its 
most useful and enterprising men. 

Mr. Kuter was first married, in the s|>»-ing of 
IHti.s, to .Miss .Mary Seekamp, who was a native of 
ll.-inover. and by whom he be<';imo the father of 
one chiM, a daughter Minnie, who wiu-* born Dec. 
28. IHC.s, and lives with her father. .Mrs. Mary 
Kuter departed this life nlher home in Salem Town- 
ship, in Decendier. IUXJ. 

The present wife of (pur subject, to whom he was 
married on the Mth of May, 1880, was formerly 
Miss Mary .Stcinmiller, who was born April 2<J, 
1 >>">8. in the Kingdom of Itavaria. Her |iarent-, 
Frederick and Catherine (Gurlz) Steininiller, also 
of (ierman birth luid parentage, continue upon 
their native soil. To Mr. and Mrs. K. w.-is born a 
daughter, Feb. 8, 18S8. Our subject and wife are 
pnuninently identified with the (German Luthenin 
Church at Wichita, and our subject, politically, is 
independent. He is regarded .is among the lead- 
ing men of his township, the friend of every worthy 
enterprise, and is the Clerk of School District No. il.'i. 

y, lOTKU LON(i. who is engaged in farming 
II and stock-raising on section 2, Keclii Town- 
ship, is one of the substantial .-md reliable 
citizens of the community, and a pros|X!r- 
ous and able agriculturist. He is a nntive of 
Wa.shington County, Md., born .Inn. 28, 18.'10. nnd 
is the son of John and Margaret (IJarns) Long, 
who were also natives of the same .Stnle. His 
father was of German descent, and a farmer by 
occupation. He was a member of the Gerni.-m 
B:iptist Church, anil an u|>right nnd Christian man, 
who received the warmest approbation of his neigh- 
biu-s for his sterling int«'gritv nnd straiglitf<irw;iril 
dealing. He died in the .Suite where he wius born 
in 18G.'). The mother of our subject, who W!u< of 
Knglish ancestry, was born in 171M. and died in 
187H, having been the mother of nine children, as 
follows: Kvaline, who married David Palmer; 
•Incob, whose wife wns formerly Miss Kvaline 
Keeny; Catherine, .Mrs. Daniel Highburgor; Susjin, 
deceased; Peter, the subject of this memoir; Lydia, 



1 



•► • -4•■ 



-•^m^^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



a 



433 ' "• 



4 



who is also married ; Hezekiah, deceased ; Em- 
manuel, who married Evaline Ilighbarger; and 
Daniel, whose wife was Miss Ellen Colbert. 

The subject of this biographical notice was reared 
in his Dative county, and there received the ele- 
ments of his education in the district schools, and 
laid the foundations of his future life. On attaining 
manhood he entered into the mercantile business at 
Downsville, Washington Co., Md., which occupa- 
tion he pursued for some three years, after which 
he filled the oftice of Postmaster of that town for 
some nine j'cars. In 1874 he opened a grocery 
store, which he operated until 1879, at which date 
lie sold out and came to Kansas, and settled in this 
county'. At first he rented a farm, and for five 
j'eais was engaged in tilling the soil, but at the ex- 
piration of that time he purchased KiO acres of 
excellent land, on a portion of which he is now 
living. Eighty acres of it, which lay in Wichita 
Township, he disposed of for S200 per acre, and 
[jurchascd some additional land in Kechi Township, 
and at the present time has 120 acres, most of 
which is under an excellent state of cultivation. 

Mr. Long has been twice married. The first 
matrimonial contract was entered into Feb. 7, 1854, 
at which time he was wedded to Miss Matilda A. 
I)(jvenbarger, who died March 14, 1857, having 
been the mother of two children : Catherine, who 
married Henry E. Herr, but is now deceased ; and 
Matilda A., Mrs. Harry J. Winders. In December, 
1860, Mr. Long and Miss Alcatha Dovenbarger, 
a sister of his first wife, plighted their troth at the 
altar. This lady is also a native of Washington 
County, Md., and the daughter of .John and Mary 
E. (Eakle) Dovenbarger, natives of the same State, 
and the parents of the following eleven children : 
Jacob, who married Miss Katie Hollen; Henr3', 
whose wife was formerly Mrs. Auscherman; John, 
whose wife was Maria Roland ; Sarah, IMrs. Thomas 
Auscherman; Christian, who married Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Butterliaugh; William, who was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary S. Ullum ; Daniel, the hus- 
band of Miss Catherine Heaflybouer ; Mar}' A., 
Mrs. Wesley Ullum; Matilda, the first wife of 
Peter Long; Susan, Mrs. Eli Mondel; and Aleatha, 
the wife of the subject of this sketch. By this sec- 
ond marriage Mr. Long is the parent of four chil- 

<• 



dren, viz: Harry J. married Florence B. Warren, 
and resides in Wichita Township ; Emma J., (rvin 
D. and Peter. The latter child died in infancy, 
and was much mourned by its sorrowing parents. 

The subject of this notice is a Republican in 
politics, but has strong Prohibition proclivities, 
being convinced that the rum traflic is not only 
hurtful to the men engaged in it and to their vic- 
tims, but demoralizing to the community. Both 
he and his wife are strict members of the German 
Baptist Church, in which society he is Trustee, 
Deacon and Treasurer. 



^^.^^-i .^ 



— 1-; o^S—^* 



LONZO E. RUDD. Among the self-made 
^yLIII men of Sedgwick County — men who have 
accumulated a sufiiciency of this world's 
goods through their own energy and thrift — 
may be reckoned the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch, lie is a resident of Waco Township, 
where he owns a fine farm of 240 acres, on section 
20, and where he is engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising, meeting with great success in liis 
chosen calling. 

Mr. Rudd is a native of Illinois, born in Will 
County, July 3, 1841, and is the sou of Barak and 
Lavona (Atwood) Rudd. His parents were natives 
of the State of New York, but are residents of Joliet, 
111., where his father lives retired from the active 
duties of life, having achieved a competencj' upon 
a farm. To the parents were born a family of seven 
children, viz: Amy, William, Alonzo, Adelia, 
Charles, Sophronia and Eveline. Amy married, for 
her first liusband, Frederick Barringer, and became 
the mother of three children, and for her second 
husband, Peter Tim, a quarrynian, of Joliet, 111.; 
William married Miss Eliza Haden, who died in 
Missouri, leaving a family of five children, and he 
is again married, and follows the business of farm- 
ing in Missouri: Alonzo is the subject of this sketch; 
Adelia married Albert Parrent. a cabinet-maker, and 
resides at Joliet; she has two children, one living 
and one dead. Charles married Miss Almeda 
Knight, and is in the real-estate business in Wich- 
ita; Sophia married, for her first husband, Warren 
. »» 



-i 



- .|:U 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



Hrouii. who <li«'.l ill .loliol witli srnnll|>ox, after 
whiili she iimrriiMl ,lohn Mnxxuii, wlio jg n rotired 
fiiniuT. livinj; in Wicliitn; iiikI Kveliiic i> iimrried. 
nml (linker licr home in .lo|i(>t. 

Uiir subject received his eihioalitm in hi.t l)oy- 
hoofl (h»_vs in the roiiiinoii .■.olio»>ls of his niitive 
Stiite, iiikI remained wilh liis |Mirents until iitlninin^r 
hii* iniijority. Tlie jjrrent I{el)ellion hiivin;; broken 
out. mid the (Jeneriil ( ioverniiienl beiii;; in need of 
men to o|i|>i>se the nrinies of rebels that threatened 
our Nntii.nii! life, wiien twenty -one years old, July 2. 
\K{'<-J. .Mr. liudd cnlisU-d in Company K, 100th 
llliniiis Inf.mtry, and was mustered in .-it .Tolict, to 
serve tliree years. lie participated in most of the 
privations, hardships and cani])ai;,'ns of the Armies 
of the 'reniiesseo and C'liinberland, and wius present 
in thirteen general engaj,'ements. where the ;,idlant 
re<,'imenl to which he wa.s attached carried tiieir ttti'^ 
into the tiiickostof the tight. .Stone River, Chattjj- 
iioopi, C'hickaniauga and Missionary Ridge were 
among the chief battles where lie bore himself so 
gallantly. At the l:ittcr engagement he received a 
gunshot wound through the leg, which liroke the 
lione and laid him up for six months — one niontli 
in the hospiUl at {'hattanoog.a and live at home. 
On returning to the service he participated in the 
famous Atlanta c.innmign, and when Sherman left 
that city and swung off toward the .sea, Mr. Rudd 
returned with his regiment to the Army of Uie Cum- 
berland, ami W.1S pre.-ent at the sanguinary c Ilict« 

of Franklin aii<l Na-shville, Teiiu. lie was inn.--tered 
out t)f the service ,Iuiic 12. IHC.'i, and returnc<l to 
his home in the I'niirie .Stnte. Like Cincinnatus, 
he returned to his agricultural pursuits, which avo- 
cation he has followed ever since. 

Septt'iiiber '.», IHGf,, was .solemnized the m.arriage 
ceremony which unite<l our subject and Mi.ss Char- 
lotte Kmpie. The bride was a native ol (Jrundy 
County, ill., horn Nov. L"J, 1«.'.2, anil was the 
dauglil4'r of John and Kmily (Louden) Lniiiie, both 
of whom were born in the Kmpire SUite. In her 
parents* family, besi.l.s hei-self, there were the fol- 
lowing children: Uwiglil, who rlied in infancy; 
John .M., who marrieil .Miss Rose Henry, and is a 
farmer in <;nindy County; Adclbert, who married 
.Miss Winnie Allison, and i> a fanner in (iriindv 
County; limma, .Mrs. .Selh CJolher, who is living in 



fJreenwood County, Kan.; I>exter, who died at the 
age of fifteen years; and Charlie, Charity and 
Havie, who ilieil in infancy. 

.Mr. Rudd remaineil in Illinois, engiiged in tilling 
the soil of the I'rairie Stat*, until 187'.». when he 
came to Kansas and settled where he now lives. lie 
commenced life with no capital except energy, in- 
ilustrv and economy, and has met with great siic- 
ct-ss in life, lie is the owner of 210 acres of some 
of the best land in the county, which is well im- 
proved, .'inil on which he has .some flfteen head of 
fine horses, a drove of forty-five high-grade cattle, 
and a large number of hogs. ( )n account of his 
crippletl condition from the wound he receiveil in 
the service, he Inis lieeii comiK-lled to hire much of 
his work done that he otlierwi.sc c<iuld do himself, 
which has been a sinircc of continual expense. He 
is a refined, intelligent and intellectual gentleman, 
who occupies a remarkably high position in the esti- 
mation of the people of the community, an<l is 
known far and wide as one of the leading represent- 
ative men of Waco Township, lie is greatly inter- 
esteil ill educational work, and li;is served for many 
years as a member of the .School Hoard <>f the dis- 



trict. 



■s^^m^^^^ 



VLVK.STKR L. Rr.SSKLL. an honorable 
.•uid well-to-do farmer of Waco Townshi|i. 
is a native of Ceatiga County, Ohio, and 
made his ap|>earance upon the sUige of life 
Oct. 7, 1K2.'). He is the fifth child of his parents, 
Ebenezer and .Sjirali (Livcrmore) Russell, who had 
a family of some nine children, as follows: Eben- 
ezer Justin, Gideon Alvord, I'amelia. Amanda, 
Sylvester L., Alpheus 1'., Hannah, an infant son 
dece.Msed, and Oreii Seward. Kbenezer was a gun- 
smith with I'oweshiek's tribe of Indians in Iowa, 
and was accideiitall}' killed by .-in Irishman pointing 
a gun at him, thinking it w.ns not loaded; (lidcon 
A., born Dec. y, IHIS, who married Sanih Ilalsie. 
and was o|K'i°ating the Triumph I'laning .Mill, in 
South Chicago, at the time of his death, May lit, 
\H>*i;; ramelia is the wife of Ivlward Jo}-, who is 
a real -estati' and Iiimlier dealer in St. Louis. Mo. ; 
Amanda, Mrs. Henjamin Harrington, was the mother 
of two children, but is now numbered with the dead; 



"♦- 



i; 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



435 ' ^ 



Alplieus, who nmrriecl Almira Cowen, and was the 
parent of two children, died on a farm in Hender- 
son County, 111., in 1879; Hannah is the deceased 
wife of William Robinson, who was a farmer in 
Iowa; Oren S. married Mary Hart, a native of 
London, England, and is a farmer near Manhattan, 
Kan. 

The subject of our sketch, Sylvester, pjissed his 
earl}' life in the count}' of his birth, but in I»35 
the family removed to Illinois and settled in Hen- 
derson County, on the banks of the Mississippi 
River. In this place he was reared, acquiring the 
rudiments of his education in the pioneer log school- 
houses of the day, and grew to manhood beneath 
the parental roof. When he had reached the age 
of nineteen years he went to the pineries of Wis- 
consin, where he was engaged in chopping and 
hauling timber for altout a year. He crossed the 
boundarj- line into Minnesota at the close of the 
season, but in the succeeding year returned to the 
pine woods at the head of the Chippewa River, 
wliere he remained through the winter. A year 
was then spent by him cutting cord wood in the 
State of Iowa, after which he made a trip down the 
AHssissippi, as far as Cypress Bend, Ark. Return- 
ing to Wisconsin after a winter's work in that local- 
ity, he went back to his boj-hood home in Illinois. 
\V'hile there he was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Cordelia Alexander, Nov. 24, 1868. The bride 
was a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., born June 
20, 1838, and is the daughter of William and Eliza 
(Maize) ^lusser. She was the widow of John 
Alexander, and the mother of two children: The- 
dore Bush, born July 15, 1864, and Mary E., Oct. 
13, 1866. 

Mrs. Russell's parents had a family of eleven 
children, as follows: EliiLS, Mary Ann, Sarah, Ellen, 
Elizabeth, Samuel, Cordelia, Nancy Jane, Mahala, 
James Hall and John Bush. Elias married Kate 
Stein, and is a miller in the State of Pennsylvania; 
Mary Ann married Bo^'d Updyke, and had one 
child, but all three are deceased; Sarah married 
Isaac Spangler, by whom she had two children; 
after the death of her husband she married George 
Porter, and was the mother of three more children, 
but died in 1863; her husband's decea.se took place 
in 1872. Ellen, Mrs. Johnson Patterson, was the 



mother of three children, but died in 1876; Eliza- 
beth, Mrs. A. Winchester, died in Illinois, Dec. 20, 
1886; Samuel married Amanda Craton, and is a 
contractor and builder at Lewistown, Pa.; Nancy 
Jane, the wife of Rev. G. W. Dunlap, a Methodist 
minister, has four sons and resides in Pennsylvania; 
Mahala died in Peiuisylvanla at the age of eleven 
years; James H. is an attorney at Harrisburg, Pa., 
and married Alice Glazier; John B. w:is a member 
of the 110th Pennsylv.ania Infantry, and having 
re-enlisted at the expiration of his first term of serv- 
ice, in Compan}' B of the same regiment, was 
killed at the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
Mr. Russell came to Sedgwick County in the 
spring of 1877, with comparatively small means, 
but by energy and economy has become possessed 
of a handsome property. He has 1 60 acres of land 
in his farm on sections 27 and 34, which is improved 
and under a high state of cultivation. An orchard 
of about twenty acres is one of the features of the 
place. His residence and biu'nsare neat, and every- 
thing that surrounds him evinces the thrift and 
care of the owner. He and his wife are the parents 
of one child, Sarah 01 lie, who was born Feb. 11, 
1883, in this county. Sirs. Russell is a sincere, 
Christian woman, a member of the Baptist Church, 
and an active worker in all religious movements. 



#^ 



JOHN T. STOUT, one of the leading farmers 
and capitalists of Sedgwick Count}', owns a 
tract of land on section 10, in WichiUi Town- 
ship, valued .at §100,000. Forty acres of 
this are laid off into town lots, and the remainder is 
stiU being devoted to agriculture. He came west 
of the Mississippi in the fall of 1879, renting a 
house at §20 per month, where he located his family, 
and then embarked in the dairy business, which he 
followed one and one-half j'cars, and sold out for 
the snug sum of §940. 

About the next move which Mr. .Stout made was 
the re-purchase of his dairying business and the 
land at §700. He rented fifty .acres three miles 
northeast of the city of Wichita, upon which he 
operated one 3'ear, and in March, 1881, purch.ased 
the quarter-section which he now owns for §3,000. 



>► m-^ 



•#-•-4* 



■^¥-* 



436 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



The rn|>i«l growth of the city, »nd his own jrood 
iimim^onicnt, hnvo in.'ulc uf Mr. St4iiit now nn indc- 
l>on(leiit man. 

The lH)ylioo<l days of our sul>jec't wen- sjwnl in 
Licking County, Oliio, whore lii« birth Uxtk jilnce 
April 1, 1S40. lie i.s the son of Ilenjaniin and Jane 
K. (Wathaii) Stout, natives res|>eclivcly of Virginia 
anil Maryland. Uoth the pari-nU* [Missed away in 
the year 1884, at the home of thtir daughter in 
I'eoria, III. They wi-re members of the Methodist 
Epiisco|ml Church, and the father followed farming 
all his life. .lohn T. received a practical education, 
and continued with his |)arents until reaching his 
majority, assisting in the labors of the farm. He 
then commenced on his own nccoiintas a coal miner, 
at which he employed himself five years near IVoria, 
III. He next rentc<I a tract of land in Tazewell 
County, III., where he followed farming nine years, 
.•ind until the fall of 1S7'.>, when he cluingcd his resi- 
dence to this county. 

Mr. Stout, while a resident of I'eoria. contracted 
matrimonial ties with Miss Hannah Lower, the wed- 
ding taking place at the home of the bride in Taze- 
well County, III., Aug. 1 4, 1 8(52. Mrs. Stout was born 
in Itica, Fult<»n Co., Ill, Feb. 1, 1840, and is the 
daughter of Robert K. and Hannah (Knoch) Lower, 
natives of Virginia, and now decejised. Their 
eleven children were named: Madi.-on, William, 
(ieorge, I'ago, Henry, .lohn, Klizabcth, Julia, .Mary, 
Harriet and Hannah. Of these eight are living, 
and residents of Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stout commenced life together in 
Tazewell County, III.; our subject in the near 
future contemplates putting up a fine dwelling, and 
otherwise completing the plans for a homestead 
which he has long had in view, lie is a mendier in 
liinxl sUmding of the Methodist episcopal Church, 
and politically he is a sUinch Democrat. Hesides 
the property which he occupies he hxs ten lots in 
the heart of the city, valued at ♦10,(100. For these 
he expects to get an even higher price than this, 
when ready to dispose of them. 

To Kenjamin and .lane K. Stout, the parents of 
our subject, there were born the folhjwing children : 
.facob, Susan and (5rant died in infancy; Alvin, 
Nicholas. .lohn T., Miranda. .M.iry, .lulia, Helen, 
Landing. Calvin and ( 'or.i lived to mature years. . 



'Ilie six chil.h i .\h. .,i,.l Mi-. Stout are: 

.loanna, .lohn IL, Marietta F. (who died .Inly 'i.'t, 

1884. aged fifteen and oil.' '■'• I-tl..|l:i. 

Luella and N'iolettJU 



A.MKS HALDOCK. well known throughout 
WichiLn Township as one of its retired far- 
mers and capitidisU, has his homo on section 
(^)// 14, anil at prcsi-nt devotes his attention 
mainly to the loaning of money. He is esscnti.-dly 
a self-made man, his only schooling having been 
obUiined at his mother's knee, never having received 
any other instruction. He was, however, very f«ind 
of his books, and by a course of re.-iding has be- 
come well-informed, .'ind keeps himself thoroughly 
posted upon current events. He is a man of culti- 
vated tjistos, extremely fond of music, and li;is pro- 
duced some fine com|Kisitions, adapted to the violin. 
I'pou this instrument he is an expert, as the writer 
of this biography can fully testify. 

Mr. Ualdock came to the Su-ite of Kansas in 1871, 
and pre-empted ICiO acres cast of the presi-nl city 
of Wichita, which he fenced and planted with trees, 
and after adding other improvements sold it for 
the snug sum of ♦■"j.OOO. He subsequently lioiight 
another ten .acres, to wliich he secured a clear title, 
and which he now occupies. He luis a beautiful 
residence surrouniled by fruit :ind sh.-ide trees, with 
ample grounds, and all the other appurt«'nanees of 
a modern suburiian home. In addition to the prop- 
erly already mentioned he is the owner of ten .acres 
in Reno County. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, near the town of Kent, in Sus- 
sexshire. Fngland, where his birth took place March 
17, lH-23. This tract of country embraces some of 
tlic most fertile .soil of the empire, and is celebrated 
iis having originated the famous Southdown sheep, 
which have become such favorites in this connlry. 
The parents of our subject, .lames and Mary (.Sim- 
mons) Ilidibx'k, wore of pure Knglish blood, and 
al.so born in .Sussexshire, the father in 17'.i.'), and the 
mother in 1 moo. |{.,iii parents .liid in Knglaml, 



■*^m^4» 



♦HH-*. 



♦^1-4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



439 



James Baldock in 1884, and his wife, Maiy, in 1883. 
Mr. B. carried on farming and siicep-growing- ex- 
tensively, and was a man of weallii and inniicnce. 
He was of an old family, and his brothers and sis- 
ters were named respectively: Benjamin, Edward, 
William, Mary, Sarah, Oliver, Thomas, Elizabeth, 
Robert and .Tames. 

To the parents of our subject there were born 
seven children, namel}-: William, Tiiomas, James, 
of our sketch, John, Elizabeth, Jabez and Eli. The 
latter and the only sister, Elizabeth, are deceased. 
The others are residents of England. James, in 
common with his brothers, si>ent his boyhood and 
youth on his father's farm, attending the flocks 
until reaching his majority. Soon afterward, in 
1844, he was united in marriage with a maiden of 
his own county-. Miss Amelia Russell, who w:is born 
in August, 1823, and departed this life twelve years 
after her marriage, leaving fom- children, namely : 
Elizabetli, who became the wife of Davis Fox, of 
England ; .James ; Annie, who married Charles Level ; 
and Benjamin, deceased. 

The second wife of our subject was Miss Fanny 
Smith, also a native of Sussexshire, who became 
the mother of six children, and departed this life 
at her home in Miuneha Township, in 1881. This 
lad^' was a beautiful singer, and sympathized with 
her husb.and in liis musical and literary tastes. Their 
children were named respectively: Albert, Flora 
(now deceased), George, Fanny B., Marry and Ethel 
M. The children are at liome with their father 
Mrs. Fanny Baldock was a member of the Church 
of England, and was forty years of age at the time 
of her decease. 

ilr. Baldock erected his present dwelling in 1884. 
He takes satisfaction in the thought that his prop- 
erty is entirely free from incumbrance, and that he 
has been conscientiously prompt in meeting his 
obligations. Upon coming to the United States in 
1871 he landed first at Quebec, Canada, thence pro- 
ceeded to Chiciigo, where, however, he tarried but 
a brief time, and thence crossed the Mississippi into 
this State. Upon becoming a naturalized citizen 
he identified himself with the Democratic party, the 
principles of which he h.as since uniformly sup- 
ported. He possesses all the qualities of the native- 
born Englishman, not the least of these being his 



downriglit honesty, and love of truth and justice. 
He is the proud possessor of a grandson, little 
David Fox, a bright boy two years of age. 

A view of James Baldock's property is presented 
on an accompanying page. 



ALVIN ELSWICK is one of the industrious 
. „ and thorough farmers and stock-raisers of 
Salem Township, and one of the representa- 
tive men of that portion of Sedgwick County. He 
is the owner of a splendid farm of "240 acres on 
sections 10 and 11, all of which is highly cultivated. 
His residence, which is a ver^' handsome and com- 
modious one. his fine barns and out-buildings, add 
materially to the appearance of the phice, and to 
its value from a financial point of view. He is a 
native of Campbell County, Tenn.,and first opened 
his eyes upon tlie scenes of this life Dec. 28, 1822. 

Andrew Elswick, the father of our subject, was 
also born in the State of Tennessee, and was of Ger- 
man descent. His wife, Elizabeth (Castle) Elswick, 
was born in Virginia, and was the mother of thir- 
teen children, of whom the following are living: 
Jonathan, a resident of K.aiisas; Oliver, living in 
Missouri; Elmira, Mrs. .Tohn Tate, who makes her 
home in Iowa; Rachel, Mrs. Patterson McClure, of 
Kans.as; Sarah, who married John W. Evans, living 
in this county, and Calvin, the subject of our sketch. 
Jonathan Elswick, an uncle of the latter, served us 
a soldier in the American army during the war 
with Great Britain in 1812-15. 

When he 'was four j'cars of age the subject of this 
memoir was taken b}- his parents to Fayette County, 
Ind., where they made their home for about two 
3'ears, and then moved to Rush Count}', in the same 
State. After a residence which extended over a 
period of sixteen 3'ears, the family removed to Iowa, 
and settled in Monroe County. The father died 
while a resident of the Hawkej'e State in June, 
1876, and the decetise of the mother took place sub- 
sequently in Missouri, in the year 1878. Calvin 
was reared to manhood in Indiana, and received 



■*► ■ ^> 



a 



SEDGWKK COUNTY. 



t 



liut n liiuitod oliicntioii in llii- diittrift wliools nf 
llint SUiU*. lint having tlio fncilitics for ni-«|iiirin^ 
kiiowlfilgc thitt i.H |ilnecd nt the ili.«|M>Mil of the 
yoiin;; |>ci)|>lc of the pri'sM-nt iliiy. lit' «!is rejircd 
to the <K"fii|>!ili«in of ii fiirmiT, wiiich voratinii he 
ha« nlnays foHoneil. 

Mr. Kl.swick Iiil- heen twice iniirried, the first 
time ill Inilinn.i, ()<'t, I'.l, IHI.'I, when he |ili;.'hte(l 
hiii truth nt the iiiipli.il iiltnr with Mis.s I'lirllieiiia 
lliek.s. She wn^ the iiiollier of eijjht eliilclreii, only 
three of wlioiii are now livinj,', viz: Oliver, Alfred 
and Kdwnrd. Those deceased liore llie names of 
.lolin W., Henry, Knincifi. Sarah and Mary K. In 
1H72 Mr. KIswiek wa.s unfortunate eiiou^^h to lose 
his wife, whose death occurred on Au>jfust 11. 
A|>|)reeiating the Divine injiiiiclion that man was 
not made to live alone, on the 'JOth of .laniinry, 
I s76, he again entered into a iiiatrimonial alliance, 
riie bride u|k>ii this <K"cj»sion was .Miss Sallie A. 
I{!ill, a native of I'arke C'oiinly, liid., horn Sept. 25, 
\s:,{\, and dauj;ht*.'r of William II. Hall and I-ydia 
Aim Adams, his wife, who had formerly Ipccii resi- 
dents of this county. Hy this iiiarriai,re llieie have 
Ix.'cn three children liorn iiiit<i lliein, vi/.: Emily, 
lr:i aiicl ISertha L. William 11. and Lyilia Ann 
( .\dams) Hall were the parents of nine cliiUlreii, as 
fi'ilows: Sallie A., (leor/^'c, .lames, Zoplier, William, 
( liarles, .loliii, Mary and Kosc (ieor;,'e, .lames, 
Williain and .Mary are deccase<l. Mrs. IJall died 
ill .May, l»!i72, and Mr. Hall was ayain nmrried in 
1^71, to -Mrs. Malissji Koiise, liy whom he hsis six 
children — Howard, Klla, Henry and Alice, twins, 
(alviii and l.ina. Calvin is dccejiscd. 

Ill ls77 Mr. KIswiek and his family came from 
Iiiwa, where he had resided for many years, and 
M'llled in S-dgwick (,'ounty, in Kechi Township, on 
a farm. He remainetl in the latter place until the 
spring of I«h7, when he removed to the farm in 
Salem Township where he is at present living. He 
is virtually a self-made man in the truest sense of the 
word, having liegiin life on a rented farm in In- 
iliaiia, and by industry, perseverance and diligence 
ill his cnlling, Inus hy degrees actpiired the hand- 
some pro|ierly which he now owns, besides having 
;.'ivcii to his sons lOO acres of land. While a resi- 
dent of .MonriH- t'ounly, Iowa, he served a.s Triis- 
•f Monroe Township for scvenil years, and for 



nine years as n member of the.SeluHil lt<uird, always 
with credit to liini.tel( and his eoiistitiientjt. In |m)I- 
ilies he is a I)einix-nit. 

A litliograplii' \ !< w j. -Ii.i«ii •■f Mr. KIsw iik's 
residence. 

'».''^«< I .. ■■■ ■:::: ! „•."*-•'• 

wp^OHKlM M. lUIKA. whose farm is pleasantly 
\LJy lociiled on section 36, in (irnml Uivcr 
J\ \V Township, came tti this county from his 
wg' native State of Ohio in l«7x, and purchased 
I (io acres of school land, paying therefor the sum 
of <i.'ilO. His residence is near the little village <>f 
Garden I'laiii, antl the home with its siirrouii<liiigs 
denotes the su|>ervisioii of an intelligent fanner and 
capable luisiness man, who at the same time ha.- 
proved a ii.seful member of society, and one ileserv- 
ing of the esteem and confiilence of the |>eoplc 
around him. 

The parents of our subject, Alex ami Sarah 
(Conger) Khea, were also natives of the Huckeyc 
Stile, an<l at the time of llie birth of Robert M.. 
which took place on the l.'itli of April. \X\x, were 
residents of Dixon Township, I'ri'ble County. The 
family originated in Ireland, and the first represent- 
atives in this ccmntiy sellled in X'irgiiiia. while 
North Carolina was the home of the Congers. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Rhea, 
removed from the OM Dominium to Ohio iliiring 
the period of it*i early history, and his son Alex, 
the father of our subject, was born not long after- 
ward, on the I Ith of .lamiary, i>^\-i. 

In early manhood Alex Khea w:is a Whig, polit- 
ically, but upon the abandoninent of the old iMirty 
became a Republican, and was Treasurer of Dixon 
Township for a [K-riod of tiftecn years. He W!us 
also a devout member of the Christian Church, in 
which he olliciated as Deacon and wiuj one of its 
chief pillai-s. He died Dec. 10, IHSO, at his home 
in Katon, I'roble Co., Ohio. His wife, .Sanili, the 
mother of our subject, was born Nov. 20, IHll, 
and departed this life at her hnme in Ohio, on the 
'.(III of September, 1877. The parent^i were married 
Fell. 1«, 1h:m. 

The parental hoiischolil of our sulijecl inclmled 
eight children, five of whom grew to years of 
maturity, but only two are now living. .lames T. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



441 



H^t 



was born Feb. 14, 1835, and died on the 8th of 
October following; John Conger was born Sept. 
l'.>, 1836, and during tlio Civil War was in the 
100-days service; lie owns property in both Sedg- 
wick and Kingman Counties, this State. His 
family reside in the latter countj-, but he at present 
is holding down a claim in Wasiiington Territory; 
he is the father of four children. William L. was 
born Nov. 11, 1840, and died July 7, 1854; Sarah 
C. was born March 26, 1843, and died on tlie 13th 
of March, 1866; she became the wife of Michael 
Pentecost, of Indiana, and left one child, a daugh- 
ter Eva, who is now the wife of Charles Witter, of 
Lane County, tiiis State; Robert M., of our sketch, 
was the next in order of birth; !Mary E. was born 
July 14, 1851, and died on the 12th of August, 
1875; she was the wife of James W. Patteuger, and 
left two children — James M. and Charles A. Sa- 
mantha C. was born Jan. 14, 1854, became the wife 
of Julius Lane, of Ohio, and departed this life on 
the 27th of June, 1877, leaving one child, a son, 
Vespasian. 

The early days of our subject were spent on the 
farm where he was born, and he received a good 
education in the common schools. When twenty- 
two yeiu's of age he commenced the cultivation of 
land on his own account, which he followed in his 
native township until a man of thirty years. He 
had been married at the age of twenty to Miss Sarah 
E. Harvey, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride in Ohio, on the 26th of July, 1868. 
Mrs. Rhea is a native of LTnion County, Ind., 
where she was bom May 17,1 848, and is the daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Sophronia (Ilazleton) Harvej', 
natives of Tennessee. They were the parents of 
nine children, and Mrs. Rhea was next to the 
3'oungest. Her eldest brother, William N., is 
married and lives in Howard County, Ind.; Isa- 
belle is the wife of William Beall, of Clifton County, 
Ind.; Mehitable, Mrs. Jacob Nelson, lives in La- 
bette County, this SUite, and is the mother of 
several children; Levi P. served in the army as 
Corporal and died in 1862; Mary is the wife of 
John G. Lai-sh, of Preble County, Ohio, and the 
mother of several children; Ann, Mrs. Moses Har- 
vey, lives in Union County, Ind., and has two chil- 
dren ; Martha J., the wife of Absalom G. Collins, 



lives in Sweetwater, Monroe Co., Tenn., and 
has six children; Ro^'al M. is farming in Rice 
County, this State, is married and the father of two 
children. The father of Mrs. Rhea died at his 
home in Preble County, Ohio, in 1875, and the 
mother followed ten years later, d^'ing in the sum- 
mer of 1885. 

The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Rhea arc re- 
corded as follows: Samantha L. w.as born July 4, 
18()9, and died Dec. 24, 1878, when an interest- 
ing child nine 3'ears of age ; her remains were laid 
to rest in the country cemeterj' in Attica Township, 
known as Pleasant Ridge Cemeter3\ Rolandns 
Evcrheard was born Feb. 25, 1872, and is living at 
home; Royal Conger was born Nov. 22, 1874, and 
Orvie, Feb. 29, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Rhea occupied 
a small farm in Preble County, Ohio, about four 
years, and our subject then not being satisfied witli 
the outlook, sold out and came to this county. He 
has found no reason to repent of his removal, and 
has one of the pleasantcst homes in Grand River 
Township. Both he and his wife were reared in 
the doctrines of the Christian Church, but there be- 
ing no organization of the kind in this township, 
united with tiie Baptists. In this church our sub- 
ject is a Deacon and Trustee, and both he and his 
estimable lady are numbered among the most 
valued members. Mr. R. is a Republican politically, 
but has steadily declined becoming an office-seeker. 

^ ^^ <^ 



ANIEL RUCKLE, a leading farmer and 
stock-raiser of Minneha Township, residing 
on section 1, is a native of Woodford 
County, III., and made his appearance upon 
the stage of life Dec. 22, 1843. He is the son of 
George and Nancy (Ayers) Ruckle, who were born, 
the father in Ireland, in 1802, and the mother in 
Pennsylvania, in 1805. The paternal grandfather 
of the subject of our sketch was a native of Ire- 
land, who came to America. The grandmother was 
born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1805, and is still 
living in Butler Countj', Kan., having survived her 
husband, who died in April, 1 864. These old people 
were both members of the Baptist Church. The 



H 



^^ IV. 



IDGWICK COUNTY. 



■^►» 



>iiliji-fl of ilur .■'ki'U'li «!« uiic iif u family of U>i( 
iliiMren. Imrn U> his iMirvnt.-* as follows: Wcsloy L. ; 
Kli/alietli; .Mnry Ann, Kuiily nml lk-lin<ln, dc- 
ci-iLseil; R'irbnrn; (lonrj;!' \V.. IWnjnuiin and Fnin- 
ris, ili'iviuic'd, nnd l>:iiiicl, tlie Mihjcci of this sketch. 

Danii-I litii-kle, whose parenls wnu iiinoiig the 
pioneers of Woodftirtl County, was rean-d on the 
liroail prairies tif hi* native town.ship. He received 
his eduration in tlie eoniniun seh<H>ls of the district, 
.■ind assisted his father in the manual labor attend- 
ant u|H)n his :i;;ricnltui°:il pursuits. When he had 
att.Hincd the aj;e of twenty -seven years he removed 
to Liviiiju'ston t'ounty, where he engaged in farm- 
in;,' for one year, when he returned to the place 
of his birth. In IHT.'J he came to Kansas, and i)re- 
empted the place where he is now living. 

The marriage ceremony which united the ilestin- 
ie^ of Daniel Ruckle an<l Miss Meli.ssjt .lenkins took 
pince n|)on the .')th of March. I.s(i(). in Woodford 
County, III. The lady of his choice was born 
.March 31), lM4',t, in Mercer County, (.)hio, where 
she w:is reared until attaining womanhood. When 
she was sixteen years old, her parents left the IJnck- 
cye .Slate, an<l located in \'ermilion County, III., 
where they remained but a short time. They then 
removed t4i Tazewell County, and frimi thence to 
Woixlford. She is the daughter of Kpliraini and 
Kli/aibelh (rjlover) .Jenkins, natives of Ohio and 
Pennsylvania, res|K'ctivcly. She is one of a family 
of nine children born to her fathcrand mother, viz: ] 
< leorge W., Cynthia Ami. William, .John. Melissa 
.1., Francis. Sanuicl. Nathaniel and .Joseph. Iler 
parents were active and consistent Christians, :ind 
were members of the Ltaptist Church. 

Mr. Ruckle came to this .Stale with but ^\ W in 
his pocket, lie was a cripple, having h;ul his hip 
ilislocated by his uncoiitrolle<l actions during the 
delirium attendant on an :itlack of typhoid fever 
when .seventeen years of age. Notwithstanding 
these drawbacks, by economy and diligence in busi- 
ness, he has acquired a handsome property, and is 
in easy circumstances linancially. Perseverance, 
energy, and a natural shrewd business lad, have 
elevated him from comp:iralivc poverty to a place 
:iniong the well-to-do farmers of this locality. 
P<js8c»sing the Spartan virtues of sobriety, honesty 
and imluslry. he enjoys the res|M;cl and t'stcem of 



the entire community. lie and his wife, and two 
children, are members of the MethiMlist Kpiseopal 
Church, and endeavor to leail Christian lives. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Ruckle are the |>arent« of ten chil- 
ilren, as follows: F.mil Ozias; Lorenza an<l .Scoltie. 
decciLsed; Ida Ik'll, Kllle K., William .Michael, Lewis 
Oscar. Homer, Cora Annettn and George Macklin. 
The i>arenls have endeavored to give each of the 
chihireu as liberal an education .as their means would 
[KTUiit uf. and the family is a very united and happy 
one. In ])olitics, Mr. Ruckle is a strong Oemocrat. 
seeing in the principles of .lefTerson .and .lackson 
the true administration of a free Government, "of 
the people, by the |)Cople, and for the |)eople." 

The subject of this sketch h.as an extensive farm 
of .'120 acres of lan<l, which is of a very high qual- 
ity, and all brought under a high stsjte of tillage. 
lie h.is juiliciously hedged it off into lO-aerc lot- 
for his convenience. On it he h.as erected as|Kicious 
and comfortable dwelling-house, two capacious 
barns and other out-buildings. A well that |>enetrate* 
Ihe earth to the depth of tifty feet affords an inex- 
haustible supply of most excellent water. 

ORATIO T. CRAVKN, .senior member of 
the firm of Cniven it Work, extensive deal- 
ers in live stock, has his businesi^ he.-i<l- 
qnarters in Room 7, at the .Stock Yanls 
Kxchange liuilding in Wichita. He repre.senls at 
Icjist *25,000 worth of real estate, the accumula- 
tions of his own industry and good management. 
Fnergetic and systematic in his business transac- 
tions, he commands the res|)e<-t of the leading men 
of the cit^-, and is contril>uting his full quota to- 
ward ils linanciid jirosperit^'. 

The Craven family is of English ancestry, the 
first representatives of whom settled* in Maryland 
during the Colonial days. .Samuel Cnivcn, the 
father of our subject, was born Feb. IT, 1800, in 
Loudoun County. \'a.. whence he removed when 
middle-aged, and settled on a farm in .Morgiui 
County, III., in IH.^l. He had married, in .Mary- 
land, .Miss Harriet Trun<lle, :ind they became the 
parents of ten children, eight of whom lived to 
niatnrc years. The.v latter were named rcsjiecl- 



•►Hh-^ 



-•►•-♦! 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•HI-* 



443 



ively: William, Abner, Joseph H., Sophia, Eliza- 
beth, Sarah, Liicretia, and Horatio T., of our sketeh. 
The father spent the last j'ears of his life in Cass 
County, 111., and died on the 31st of August, 1885, 
at the advanced age of seventy-nine j'eai"s. He 
was a stanch Democrat, politically, and took a 
lively interest in the affairs of his county. He ac- 
cumulated a good property', was prominent in the 
membership of the Christian Church, and held in 
great respect by his fellow-citizens. 

The mother of our subject was born March !), 
1812, and died at the old homestead in Morgan 
County, 111., on the 11th of January, 18G9, sixteen 
3^ears previous to the death of her husband. Hora- 
tio T., of our sketch, w.as born in Morgan County, 
III, Dec. 10, 1851, acquired his education in the 
common school, and became familiar with .agricult- 
ural pursuits. He was fond of his books, and de- 
veloi)ed into a teacher, which profession ho followed 
in Illinois five or six years. Upon coming to this 
State, in the spring of 1881, he first officiated as a 
dry-goods clerk at Medicine Lodge. Two years 
later he changed his residence to Wichita, engaged 
for a time as clerk, but not long afterward became 
interested in real-estate trans.actions, in which he 
h.<is since been engaged in addition to his other busi- 
ness. He is fully established, with excellent pros- 
pects for the future. 

The marri.nge of our subject was celebrated at 
the home of the bride. Miss Anna Brook, at Tal- 
lula, Men.ard Co., 111., on the 1 Ith of April, 1878. 
She is a lady of excellent education, and, like her 
husband, followed the profession of a te.acher some 
years in Illinois; they have no children. Mr. B., 
politically, affiliates with the Democratic party, and 
with his estimable wife is a member in good stand- 
ing of the Christian Church. 



ILLIAM II. RANSON, one of the leading 
business men of Wichita, and an extensive 
farmer of Kechi Township, deals largely in 
real estate and operates a fine farm of 320 acres 
which he has brought to a good state of cultivation. 
He came to this section of country in 1872, and first 
purchased 160 acres of railroad land from which he 



¥ 



built up a v.aluable homestead, including a hand- 
some residence and all the out-buildings required by 
the enterprising agriculturist. The dwelling is sur- 
rounded b3- ornamental and natural shade trees, 
with fine fruit trees and the various other embel- 
lishments which go to m.ake up the complete home. 
Tlie farm is divided into 40-acre lots, enclosed with 
beautiful hedge fencing, and the whole forms a very 
attractive feature of the landscape. The farm is 
well stocked with Cotswold sheep, Short-horn cattle, 
Chester-White hogs and superior draft horses. The 
observing traveler notes the premises as the abode 
of comfort and plenty, and evidently under the 
supervision of one of the most intelligent men of 
the day. 

Our subject was born near J.acksonville, 111., May 
IG, 1840, and is the son of James and Sarah (Rich- 
ardson) Ranson, natives of England, who came to 
America in 1832, in their youth. They first met in 
Morgan County, 111., where their marriage subse- 
quently took place. James Ranson had served an 
apprenticeship of seven years in the famous wheel- 
wright manufactory, of Sheffield, England, and 
came to this countr}- fuUy equipped as a first-class 
machinist and millwright. He put up two flouring- 
niills in Morgan County, 111., but his attention being 
subsequently turned to farming, he purchased land 
near Jacksonville, III., where after a few j-ears he 
accumulated a competency and is now living in the 
city retired from active labor. The wife and 
mother departed this life in Jacksonville in the spring 
of 1 883. They were the parents of eleven children, 
.namely: Elizabeth, Mrs. G. Hayden; John; Mary 
A., Mrs. J. Groves; William H., of oiu- sketch; 
Peter, Robert, George; Sarah J., Mrs. Watson; 
James II.; M.-iria, Mrs. Middlcton, and Charles W., 
all of whom are residents of Morgan Count}', with 
the exception of our subject, and most of them en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. George Hayden, 
the husband of Elizabeth, is one of the leading 
merchants of Jacksonville. 

Mr. Ranson, of our sketch, continued on the home 
farm until reaching his majority, and completed his 
education in the Bere.an College at Jacksonville. 
Soon after the outbreak of the late Rebellion he 
enlisted, in September, 1801, in Company K, 27th 
Illinois Infantry, and did faithful service as a Union 



i 



-4*- 



444 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 




•^V 



MililitT ni-nrly four \var». Up met titc eneiuy in 
ninny of the iin|MirtAnt li.-iltlo.H of llir war. nnmely : 
Ht'lniont, Stono liivi-r, C'liic-kiiniaii^n, MiNoion Kiil;;L>, 
Kt'sai-n mill the cniiturv nn<l ^'wfH' of Atliuitn. At 
tlir linttlf of Ik-hiiont, which o<'ciirrf<l on tlio 7th 
of Novi-nibiT, IHCI, he was shot through the left 
fihoiihirr nml still cnrrics the ounce IiaII whicli 
lodgiMl there. The shoulder at the time wiw <li.-.|o- 
ejiteil nml hiis since been n. source of Pontinue<l 
nniioyiince. Mr. Hiuison rcceiveil his hoiionibic 
ilisciiar^rc in October, I «G.'>. 

l)ur subject upon bein>^ tr!tll^fornle<l from n 
soldier to a civilian, returned to hisjiativc county, 
aiicl in company with George llayden, of Jackson- 
viHe. en-^aned in niercaiilile biisinesus three years. 
At lh<- expiration of this time he befjan o|>eratino;a 
farm in .Morf,'au County, where he remained until 
coming to this .SUite. Mr. Kanson hiui for the last 
two years been engaged in the real-estate business, 
iiaving associated with himself Horace A. K.-iy. The 
firm have ])latted of the Kay estate south of the 
city three ad<litions(jf twenty-four acres each, which 
li;ive mostly found a ready sjdcatgooil figures. The 
ollice of said firm is at No. I 10 North Main street, 
WichiUi. 

•Mr. lianson tt)ok for his wife, in M:irch, 18(;7, 
Mis.s Marj- K. (iroves, of Morgan County, III. Mrs. 
Kansfju is the daughter of B:uney and Mary A. 
(Gibb) Groves, natives of Knglaud. The mother 
is now a resident of WichiUi; the father is deceased. 
She was educated in the common schools, and by her 
marriage with our subject has become the mother 
of five children, namely: Delia, Lena, Kllsworth, 
Herth.i and .lessie. Mr. Itjinson, politically', is a 
third party Prohibitionist, and stK-ially, belongs to 
the (J. A. li. He is reckoned among the solid men 
of the county, and one who h:Ls contributed his fidl 
(piota toward its wealth and |>rosperity. 



rr ON. I>AMKL MIIUI'IIV. Tlic name of this 
jr^\i well-known resident of Niniiescah Town>liip 
l^y^ hiLs long been familiar to the people of this 
^K) .Hection as that of (uie of their most valued 
citizens, resolute, energetic and enterprising, and 
one who hiui made his mark in the building up of 



•4^ 



the township, .socially and financinlly. A native of 
the Blue (Jni-ss Stjite, he wa.s born in (!armrd County 
on the 'JOth of .lanunry, IHH7, and his |iarents, 
.lames and Kli/.nbeth (llanunack) .Murphy, were 
also Kentuckinns by birth. 

The |iarenlid hou.schold of our subject included 
eleven chihlren. The ehlest 8<»n, William, is a re.>i- 
denl still of his native county in Kentucky- ; John 

I is f:irniiug in Stevens County, this .State; .lames is 
iK-cupied similarly in this township; Sarah J. is the 

I wife of .lojni Kauat/er, of Madisim County, Kv. ; 
Daniel, of our sketch, is the youngest of the livinir 
children. Those deceiused are (ieorge, Mary. Fann\ , 

I Kmily, Fnincis M., and an infant who died iin- 

I named. The mother died in early life, in .lanuary, 
IHl.'t, when her son Daniel was a little lad six years 
of age. .lames Murphy survivetl his wife for .a 
|>eriod of fifty yeai-s, and spent his liust days in 
Kentucky at his old home, the only one he h:id 
ever known, where he p!isse«i away on the Ith of 
April, 11SH3, jigcd eighty-three years. 

Young Murjihy was reared to maidiood in his 
native county, becoming familiar with the various 
employmeut.s of the farm, and acquiring his e<luc:i- 
tion under the imperfect instruction of the school 
system of that time and pl.ace. When Hearing man- 
hood he eng.oged as a teacher. During the progress 
of the late Civil War he enlisted in Company (;, Isl 
Kentucky C;ivalry, !is a Tnion soldier, and after 
one year's service was promoted to .Second Lieu- 
tenant, lieing duly commissioned, and with which 
rank he was mustered out at the close of the war. 
lie fought at the battles of Perryville, Knoxville, 
Mill Spring>, Hcsaca and I'eachtrec Creek, besides 
meeting the enemy in numerous other engiigements 
and skirmishes. In the meantime for nearly eight- 
een months he had command of the company, act- 
ing as Captain <luriugthe incarceration of the regular 
Captain, who had been caiitured and wjis confined 
in the rebel prison .at .Milan, S. C. The 1st Ken- 
tucky Cavalry was the first in the field, and engaged 
in the service before being projierl}' drilled. They 
did S(ilcnilid .service, however, during the war. and 
it is estimated, captured three times their full 
strength of rebel troops. 

Lieut. Murphy, in the charge at I>.nnca.st4.'r, Ky.,on 
the 'J.Oth of March, 1803, wius nuide prisoner by the 



f 






SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



445 



H'bels, but was in a short time paroled and ex- 
pliaiiged, when he rejoined liis regiiueiit in time to 
participate in the Stoneman raid, near Macon, Ga. 
There he was wounded in tlie left hip by a pistol 
shot, and falling in the hands of the enemy, was 
confined in the Macon and Andersonvillc Prisons 
about nine montlis, fortunately-, however, having to 
endure the horrors of Andersonville only about ten 
days. The wound which he had received caused 
partial p:ualysis, which incapacitated him afterward 
for regular duty. His exchange was effected on the 
29th of April, l.S()r), shortly after the surrender of 
(Jen. Lee, and during the general exchange of pris- 
oners wliich followed. 

After laj'ing aside the accoutrements of war, 
Lieut. jMurphy returned to his native county, where 
he engaged in farming, and about eight years later 
was married, on the 27th of November, 1877, to 
Miss Susie M. Wilson, a native of Lexington, Ky. 
His wife lived less than a year after their wedding 
daj', passing away on the 7th of November, 1878. 
Her memory is held in tender remembrance by her 
husband and a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances, to whom she had endeared herself I)}- her 
many excellent qualities and kindly disposition. 

Lieut. Jlurphy, in 1865, was elected to represent 
his native county in the Lower House of the Ken- 
tucky Legislature, at which time he served two 
terms and was re-elected in 187!), serving also 
another two years. He continued amid the scenes 
of his childhood and j'outh until the fall of 1884, 
then ^determined to seek the Western country. 
Coming to this county he secured the land included 
in his present farm, which lies not far from the 
limits of Clearwater, and is now the owner of a 
half-section which he has brought to a good slate 
of cultivation, and where he gives much of his at- 
tention to the raising of fine stock. 

Our subject began life without means, and may 
properly be numbered among the self-made men of 
Kansas, who have attsiined a good position among 
their fellow-citizens by the exercise of their native 
resolution and industry. In his labors to build up 
a homestead he has also kept in view the good of 
his community, and is one of the first men ap- 
I)roachcd in the inauguration of an enterprise tend- 
ing to the building up of the township and the 



welfare of its people. A stanch Republican polit- 
ically, he keeps himself well posted in regard to 
current events, and is a liberal contributor to both 
educational and religious enterjH-ises. He has been 
identified witii the Christian Church since coming 
here, and is now one of its Elders, also a Trustee of 
Ninnescah Township. 8ociall3' he belongs to the 
G. A. R. Post, at Clearwater. 



38^ 



'^/OHN W. SKINNER, one of the most pros- 
I perous farmers of Wichita Townshi[), and 
finely located on section 4, came to Kansas 
' in 1878, settling first in Reno Countj', where 
he engaged in stock-raising. In 1885 he changed 
his residence to this county, and invested a portion 
of his capital in eighty acres of land along Chisholm 
Creek, two and one-half miles north, and one mile 
Ciist of the center of Wichita. He has sub-divided 
and laid off ten acres of his farm into town lots, 
worth from $200 to $250 per lot. On the 8th of 
November, 1887, he was elected Trustee of Wi(;hita 
Township by a large majoritj'. 

The early home of our subject was in far New 
England, his birth having taken place at Montpelier, 
Vt., Dec. 28, 1835. lie is the son of Stephen and 
Louisa (Dodge) Skinner, natives respectively of the 
Green Mountain State .and Connecticut. Stephen 
Skinner, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, was born in 1803, and died at Piper Citj', 
111., on the 6th of July, 1875. He emigi-ated to 
Illinois in 1844, and as a man of intelligence and 
good education, wielded a wide influence in the 
social circles wherever his lot was cast. The mother 
was born in Littleton, N. II., June 11, 1805, and 
preceded her husband to the silent land, her death 
taking place at Metamora, 111., on the 3d of August, 
1871. 

The parental household of our subject included 
three children. The eldest was John W.. of our 
sketch; Martha became the wife of William S. 
Everett, of Topeka, Kan.; William is a resident of 
Wichita. Our subject was a lad nine years of age 
when his parents emigrated from Vermont to Illi- 
nois, where he completed a practical education, 
and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage, 






■ -4* 



f 



uc 



SKDCWH'K (OrNTY, 



•► ti-^ 



SepL II, 1867, will) Miss Molinda K. I<:arl. Mrs. 
Skinner wiis bum in Lvicfytvniliirc, Kn^lnnd. .Iiinv 
28, 1H47, nnil i.n the cluii^litor of Snniuci iiml Siir:ili 
(Drinitiion) Harl, wlu> wore of [iiire KnglLnli sUK-k, 
nn<l «'ini;;rnle<l U> Ainericii in iM.'ri. 'I'lu-y iiK-nled 
in >V<MKlfor<! ("oiinly, 111. The fntluT wiu* it slioe- 
innkcr by Imde, Iml eventiinlly follnwctl fiirniin;;, 
in which he wn.s ^uccc.sjifiil. The mother is »le- 
ceased. Their ton chihlren were nunietl re.«|>ei't- 
ivelv: Snsiin, .lohn K., lliirriel, Kilwnnl, LimLsii, 
.liuncs, John F. (I'll), Melimlu K., .Skniucl II. ami 
Arlhnr. Only livr are livin;;, .in<l are resident.-; of 
lllinoi<>. 

Mr. .Skinner farnie<l in Illinois until IMTti, the 
year of his arrival in tlii.-* Stale. In the meantime, 
n|>on the outbreak of the Kebellion, he enlisted a.s a 
I'nion soldier, in Coniimny (i, -Ith Illinois Cavalry, 
and foUf,'ht at the battles of Fts. Henry and Uonel- 
son, .Shiloji, Corinth, Talluhatehie, Ilanlcy .'■'prints 
and Coffey ville, besides meeting the rebels in 
various titlier minor engagements and .skirmishes. 
At .Sliiloh he wiis wounded in the hand, and at the 
expinition t>f his term of service received his honor- 
able disfhar'.'e. on the -Ith of November, 1804, at 
Spriiigfiehi, 111. Some of tlie time he served as 
orderly for (len. McPiierson, and afterward held 
the same iKtsition with (Jens. Sherman, (iriei-son 
and liramcn. He w.is for a time detailed to hospi- 
tal duty at Cairo, .•iiid was also in the Quarter- 
master's de)jartment. He servetl as Townsliij) 
Trustee four years, and uniformly votes the Repnlj- 
liean ticket. 

To Mr. and Mrs. .Skinner there were l)orn nine 
children, namely: .Sarah L., Martha A., (ieorge A., 
.lulia A., .Ies.Hie, Lizzie M., William S., .lohn W. 
and Wiiuiie 1*. Three are deeea-sed, namely: .Iuli:i 
A., (Ieorge A. and Jessie. 



K. IIAK\ KV W. Hl.ACK, proprietor of 
llif Kiversjch' Feeii and Sale SUibles at No. 
•Ill West Douglas avenue, Wichita, as a 
man of excellent business capacity has 
made a decided .suc<'e.ss of his pre.sent umlertiiking. 
He has had a varied ex|>erience in life, having been 
reared to farm pursuits, later studying medicine, 



and liiu been quiUr nil cxt<ensivc Irnvclcr, Inking in 
most of the Western Stales and Territories. In 
1870 he came to Wichita, establishetl his present 
business, and also s|K-cidateil considenibly in lands 
thereaftiT. 

The pro|«'rty of our subject comprises two very 
fine, large livery stables with st4»cliyards, and tin- 
Riverside Hotel, besiiles business houses and city 
lots. He put up the first st:d>le for st<K'k in the 
cit}' of Cheyenne, Wyo., during one of his Western 
trips, and has had anipio exi>orience in the mnch 
businc.ss. During the years 1«0'2 and |Kt;« he 
freighted from the Missouri Kivci to the WesU-ru 
Territories with mules, from the proceeds of which 
he realized a handsome sum of money. His t-nergy 
and industry are proverbiid, and in the |Mis.se.ssion 
of a line property he Una but that to which he is 
justly entitled. 

.Icffer.sou County, Ky., w.is the i-arly Imme of 
oiM- subject, where his birth took place on the 1st 
of April. 1 s:iH. Ho is the son ()f (Ieorge W. and 
Sarah L. (llounds) Hl.uck, natives res|K'ctively of 
\irgini:i :ind Ohio. His father was a practicing 
physician :ind farmer combined, and accumulated 
a line property. He was an active member of the 
Methodist Kpiscopal Church, and removing to 
Kentucky about 18G-I, spent his last il.-ys in Mc- 
Cr.ickeu County, of that State, where his death 
took pl.'ice in 18CK. The mother of our subject 
wius born in 1811, and was married to (George W. 
Black in IS.'ll, when twenty years of sigc. She is 
still living and a resilient of Wichita. The follow- 
ing is a record of their children : Mary is the wife of 
S. Daily, of this SUite; William died when about 
twenty years old; Harvey W. \v:\a the third child; 
Na(una is the wife of Nelson Colburn, of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio; (ieorge W. is deceased; Alonzo II. is a 
resident of Ucno County, this State; Minerv;i mar- 
ried a Mr. Burch, and is now deceased ; Sarah, .Mrs. 
Coffnum. lives in Tennessee: Jane <liei| when about 
eight years old. 

Dr. Black when twenty-eight years of age was 
united in marriage with Mi.ss CorictUi l*eaniH)n, the 
wedding taking plai'c in .Se])tember, 18C7. Mrs. 
Black was born May .'il, IMIP, in Galveston, Tex., 
and is the daughter of Alex and Manlonia ( Fer- 
guson) I'earson, the father a native of Albany, N. 



■*^»- 




):^.-_.^.< 







HI-*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



•149 



Y., and the mother, a full-blooded Castilian, was 
born in Chihaiihii.-i, Mex. The three children of 
the parental faniilj' were: Marietta T., who married 
Oliver T. Tipkin; Francis, a Captain on the Ued 
Uivcr, and Minerva, Mrs. Black. The father, who 
also follows river navigation, is noiv a Captain on 
the Rio Grande, Red and Mississippi Rivers. He 
and his son are members of the I. O. 0. F. The 
mother is living, and during the absence of her 
husband and son makes her home in Galveston, 
Tex. The Doctor and Mrs. Black have no chil- 
dren. Our subject was reared, politicidly, in the 
Democratic faith, to which he still loj'ally ailhcres. 

O. BALC'H is one among the long list of 
real-estate dealers and capitalists, of which 
Wichita proudly boasts. He elected to 
make this city his home in 1876, and en- 
tered at once into the handling of real estate. He 
bought, sold, and traded lands West for lands East. 
Besides, he bought outright largel}' of city property. 
He has built two brick blocks, one on Main street, 
and one on Douglas avenue. He controls quite a 
lot of tenant houses in the city, and has about 
twenty business lots. 

Born in 1827, in Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y., 
John and Alniira (Stowell) Balch, natives of Con- 
necticut, our subject delighted to call father and 
mother. The father was a mason by trade, but 
iissociated farming with it. He came to Illinois in 

1 866, and located in Kankakee County. He re- 
mained there until his death, which occurred in 

1867, at the !ige of seventy-five; his wife died in 
1 885, at the age of ninety-four years. They had a 
family of thirteen children, six of whom are now 
living. The sixth child, named H. O., is the one of 
whom we are writing this .sketch; the others are 
Fidelia A., now Mrs. JIaltby ; Emma I\I., Mrs. Beau- 
det; Mar3- Jane, Mrs. Lane; Ransom, John R., and 
Rowenna, Mrs. Ellsworth. 

The parents of these children were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. 
The Whigs were his political associates while that 
party existed, and after its demise he found in the 
Republican party a home, politically. Revolution- 



ai-y War records attest his association with memor- 
able historical events; he drew a pension during 
his lifetime. H. O. Balch spent his young days .at 
home .-md in school, and at the sige of eighteen struck 
out to learn the boot and shoe trade. He followed 
that business at Auburn and Rome, N. Y., for six- 
teen years; he then bought city lots, and engaged in 
building there until he went to Illinois. He only 
staid there three months, then returned to New 
York, where he remained ten years. 

This brought the time down to 1873, when Mr. 
Balch migrated West to Creston, Iowa. There he 
bought, sold, built and rented, as was his wont, until 
he came to Wichita. He has traveled at various times 
extensively, and his peregrinations cover a space 
bounded by no less than twentj'-eight States. Suc- 
cess seems to have marked him as her own in spite 
of the adage, "a rolling stone gathers no moss." 
At fifteen years of age he joined the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. In 1858 he was m;irried to 
Miss Eliza A. Marchant, who was born in Europe, 
and only missed being American born ^ix months. 
Iler parents were named Nicholas and Dorothy 
Marchant. They located at Turin, thirty miles 
north of Rome, N. Y., where he engaged in farm- 
ing. Before leaving Europe he was a manufacturer 
of linen cloth. The latter days of his life were 
spent in Rome, N. Y., where he died in 1866; the 
mother died in 1885. They had a family of eight 
children, three of whom are now deceased. The 
survivors are Catherine, Mrs. Wilson; William; 
Eliza, Mrs. Balch; Elizabeth, Mrs. Wy her; Louisa, 
Mrs. Runk. The parents were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject is spoken of .-is being one of the citi- 
zens of solid wealth among Wichita's best men. 
He is a liberal, public-spirited man, giving largely 
of his means at various times, and for various pur- 
poses. The Burton Car Works, Y. M. C. A., the 
Packing House Company, the Board of Trade, 
Court House, and many similar public enterprises, 
have felt the benefit of his liliendity. He was a 
member of Company C, 50th New York Engineer 
Corps, joining in August, 1862, and was in service 
about three years, laying bridges, building fortifica- 
tions, and doing similar work. He had 300 men 
under his charge, and never received a wound of 



t 



I 



.\r,n 



SKDCU ICK COITNTY. 



nny imU- in this tiiiio. Ik- foil 1,000 MiMlers nt 
Koino, N. Y., lu'fiirc enlisting, lie id a frieiul uf 
all C'hri.slinn |ic(i|ilr, iind a Hopiililiciiii in |>ulilii'.s. 
Mnt. H.'iioli is n life member of the Missiunnry S<i- 
cicty <>f the Melluxlist K|)i!«('<i|>al fhiirch of n New 
Yurk ConfiTonce, nn<l is in ^o<m1 stnndiiij; in the 
ehureh in the city when- she lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. IJ. have trnveleil extensively for 
several years in New York, Wisconsin, t'olonulo, 
■■mtl other States to improve their health. It is with 
pleasure that we give their iwrtrait--- in this con- 
nection. They are ela.sseil among the licst jjcople 
of the city, and are worthy any distinction that 
may be conferred upon theoi. 



♦>■«•<♦ 






i^ TKPllKN L. DAVIDSON, who occupies a 
prominent |x>sition in business circles in this 
county, is President of the Davidson Hejil 
Estiile and Loan Company, of Wichita. He 
was born at Acworth, N. II., Feb. 28, 1814. and 
is a son of .lames and .lane (Davidson) Davidson, 
also natives of New Il.'impshire. His forefathers 
were originally natives of Moneymore. in the 
northern jwirt of Ireland, and the lirst c»f the 
family to come to America left his native islan<l in 
1728, and the subject of this biography is his repre- 
sentative in the flftli generation. 

.lame.s Davidson was a f.nrnier in New Hamp- 
shire, whence he removed with his family in 1821 
to Allegany County, N. Y.. where he located in 
the he^vy timber. ]tusiiing his way into the int4.-rior 
of the forest to the depth of six miles, blazing the 
trees to mark the road. He wrested a good farm 
from the wihlerness, which remained his home 
until death. He was an honest, intelligent, hard- 
working man, an<i a true citizen in every res|H'ct. 
He wa> enabled to give his family n goofi home 
and to give his children good educational advan- 
tages. To him and his estimai)le wife seven 
children were born, three of whom are living — 
Stephen I... Kebccca. Mrs. Hell, and .l;inies. 

Our subject was reared on a farm and received 
from his good parents a careful an<l conscientious 
training, well cjilcnlat4>d to make him a good citi- 
zen. He attended the .Middlebury Academy. N.Y., 
for three years, gaining a substantial education, 



and at the age of twenty-two began his c.nreer as a 
busines.s man in the mercantile and lumber trntle at 
Cuba, Allegany Co.. N. Y.. where he remained 
until 18tjl. During that time he also engage<l ex- 
ten-ively in agricultural pursuits, owning and 
managing a farm of 'MW .-icres. He sub.seqiiently 
engaged in contmcting for the iloveriimcnt. fur- 
nishing some .'1,000 horses f(»r the service. In tlie 
pursuit of his iiusiness he made ipiite a tHiml>er of 
trips to Kansjis and sevend other Western St,ntes 
prosiHK'ting. anil on one of these trips he puniiiiscd 
C40 acres of land of the Ciovernment in Kansas. 

.Mr. Davidson gained a very favorable impres- 
sion of this part of the Suite in his journeys 
through Kansas, and finally determined to make 
his |>ermnnent residence here. In acconlance with 
this resolve he moved t<» Wichita, then a small 
town, in 1872, ami thus as an early settler has wit- 
nessed the various changes that have Uiken place 
in its growth from a mere trading-post to a 
nourishing metropolis, and has himself been an 
important factor in promoting its growth and 
pros|»erity. Immediately aft«r sc'ttling here he 
cstidilislied himself in the loan and real-esuite 
business, which he has ever since carried on. lb- 
owns a large amount of real estate, and is a sto<'k- 
holder in the Citizens' Bank, W'ichita. The com- 
pany of which he is the head is one of the most 
substantial jind prosperous in the city, and conducts 
a large business by strictly honorable melhofls. and 
its credit is good wherever known. 

Mr. Davidson has been twice married. In IS.'t'.t 
he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lancaster, 
of New liam|>shire. a daughter of William aii<l 
Fanny (Davidson) Lancaster. Two children were 
born of that union; Mary .1., now Mrs. Sweet, and 
Sjirali. now Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Davidson died in 
1814. To his piesent wife, formerly Mis-s Sus.-ni 
R. Hampton, of Pennsylvania, our subject wa> 
married in the year 18lfi. Of this marriage four 
children are now living, namely: .lames O., Charles 
L., Alice and .Jennie H. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson 
and their family occupy a line residence on the 
corner of Toi)eka avenue and Seconil street. 

Mr. Davitlson is a firm Republican in jHililies. 
While a resident of Allegany County. N. Y.. he 
was one of the leading citizens and took a proini- 



•►■-♦•- 



^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•► 



451 



t 



nent part in public affairs. He was Supervisor for 
six j'cars, Justice of the Peace for several 3'ears, 
and Session Justice for one year, ail of which 
ollices he fulflllcfl with honor and credit to himself 
and to the satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. 



»1LLIAM MOUGAN, a resident of Attica 
/ Townshijj, who is engaged in agricultural 



l)ursuits on section 1, was born in Lewis- 
town, Fulton Co., 111., Aug. 10, 1842. His great- 
grandfather was of Scotch descent, his forefathers 
coming to America in early Colonial times, and were 
probably among the earlier settlers of the colony of 
Mrginia. None were more patriotic in the cause 
of American independence during the Revolu- 
tionary War than the honest and sturdy Scots, 
and the great-grandfather of our subject was no 
exception to the rule. He became a soldier in the 
Continental Army, and suffered all the privations 
of that body of heroes in the campaigns under 
AV^ashington. Mr. Morgan remembers very well 
having heard among the other traditions of the 
family how, at the close of this war, the old hero was 
so anxious to reach his home that he blistered his 
feet in traveling over the rough country, over which 
he had no other conveyance. The famil3' at that 
time was proba])ly living in Virginia, as our sub- 
ject's grandfatiier, Daniel, had his home in that 
State, where the father of William, James Morgan, 
was born. Daniel Morgan removed to Ohio in a 
very earl^'day, while his son James was a small boy, 
but having the instincts of a frontiersman strong 
within him, James Morgan, the father of our sub- 
ject, moved westward, and settled in Fulton County, 
111., previous to the Black Hawk War, and was 
among the earliest settlers of that portion of the 
Trairie State. During the war above spoken of 
James Morgan served for two terms of enlistment 
in the Illinois troops. 

The father of our subject learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade, which occupation ho followed for 
several years. He was married in Fulton County, 
III., to Miss Elizabeth Hummel, who became the 
mother of four children — Sarah, Mary, Matilda, 
and William, the subject of this narration. These 

m» 



are all living, one near William and the other two 
in Illinois. In the decade between 1840 and IS.'JO, 
James Morgan purchased 160 acres of land in Ful- 
ton County, in which he still makes his residence. 
Our subject's mother died when he was an infant 
about a year old, and a few years thereafter his 
father married Miss Mary Orwig, who became the 
mother of four children — Rachel, Melinda and Lu- 
cinda, twins, and David, all of whom are living. 
In 18.50, James Morgan being seized with the gold 
fever, went overland to California, and after re- 
maining there about a year, during which he made 
consideriible money, returned home by way of the 
Isthmus. In 1870 he took a trip to Kansas, pre- 
empted some land, upon which he lived awhile, and 
then purchased another tract of land, upon which 
he platted the town of Jamesburg, which had excel- 
lent prospects for a few years and may yet become 
quite a business center. The old gentleman is still 
living in Fulton County, 111., being upward of eighty 
years of age, but still hale and hearty. He visited 
Kansas in November, 1887. 

The subject of our sketch received the elements 
of a good common-school education in his boyhood 
days, in Illinois, and remained at home, helping his 
father upon the farm until he vvas some twenty-five 
years of age. Having a desire about that time to 
strike out for himself, his father made him a pres- 
ent of a team of horses and a wagon, and about 
$2,. 500 in money. Our subject then removed to Han- 
cock County, in the same State, where he purchased 
eighty-five acres of land, and commenced farming 
operations on his own account. Two years later he 
sold this property and returned to his father's home, 
where he managed the homestead for the ensuing 
three years. About that time he bought eighty- 
five acres of land adjoining his father's place, 
which he owned some years, but rented it out, and 
made his home beneath the paternal roof-tree. In 
1878 he came to Kansas, and purchasing some 
land put in a crop of wheat, which he did for sev- 
eral successive seasons, returning to his Illinois 
home each fall, and there spending the winter. 

March 22, 1881, Mr. Morgan was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Fleanora Rife, who is a native 
of Madison County, Va., born in 1858, and the 
daughter of Noah and Sarah Ellen (May) Rife. 



••► 



4.V2 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



Tile iiTt-nn'iiy liHik \i\ncv in .MeiiIjmjii {.'niiiity. Vn., 
at till- ri.'sitli»iK'«' iif llie briile's imrcnUt, but the 
|>!lrlil■^ linil lii-conic ni-qiiiiinlvtl in Illiiiui.x. Slinrlly 
aftiT llif nediliii;; our subject und lii» youiiy w ifo 
cuiiie to tlii!< part of KnUNUs to make a |M'rmitnent 
wltleiiu-ut, where his new re.siileliec wn.-* awaitin*; 
liiiii. Previous to eoniiiig tu this jHiinl he hail 
diit(M>!>eil of all hi!< |irui>crty in Illinois, and is now 
the owner of -IvtO iieres of as good land aa there is 
in the eounly, all of it lying in Attica Towiishii). 
A fine stream of living water meanders through 
the projierty, and a fine grove covering some thirty 
acres i> u|)on the place. The latter is said to be 
unc(|ualei| in the county. Mr. Morgan has very 
handsume improvcmenls on his farm, his residence 
iH'ing one of the finest in this section of the 
county. He is giving a large share of his atten- 
tion to stock-raising, and hius a fine herd of graded 
short-horn C4ittlc. 

In his |>olilical faith Mr. Morgan is a strong 
adherent to the principles of .leffersonian Democ- 
racy, and cast his first Presidential vote for Horace 
(Ireeley in 1M72. He has no desire for [xdilical 
preferment, allhuugh he served as Constable for 
one year, but lakes a great interest in educational 
matters, and is the Treasurer of the Jiiniesburg 
School District. Although no member of an}' 
church organization, he is quite libend in the sup- 
jjorl of the ministry, giving about ^200 a year to 
the Jamesburg Church, of which his wife is a mem- 
ber. The latter is a lady of fine education and 
M-holarly attainmeuls, and is highly esteemed, as is 
her husband, in the communily in which Ihev live. 



«-fH-4«-M=»- 



' OHN F. MASTKKSON is a farmer and stoc-k- 
1 1 rai.ser, on section I ;">, ( larden Plain Township, 
, where he owns and operates a farm, which, 
(^Jf' for sitii.-ition, proilucliveness, an<l larefid 
<-nltivnlion, e<imparcs favorably with any other in 
Si-dgHi<'k County. Mr. M.-LHter.son wiu* born in 
D.erfield, Lake Co., III., Aug. i,, 1HJ:J, and is the 
Hon of Lawrence and Ann (Fagan) Mnstt'rson, na- 
tives of Westmeath, Ireland. They came to 



America while single, and united tluir fortunes in 
Deerfield, III., in 1842. 

Mr. Masterson bad at one lime worked in a 
(<tone quarry in Pennsylvania, where he w:lh injtireil 
by a premature explosion while blasting, and his 
flesh was |)onetr!ited by pii-ces of ro«'k which H'- 
mained in it until ihc day of his death. He liecanie 
an early pioneer of Liike Couiit\ , and there engaged 
in farming w-ith g<H>d results until his years of 
labor were brought to a close by his death. To 
him ami his wife were born five children, of whom 
our subject is the eldest; the names and rec- 
ords of the othere are as follows : Thonu-Ls P., 
Nicholas, Lawrence and .lames. Thomas wa:s born 
April ;}, 1)<4.'>; he owns 160 acres of land in Carden 
Plain Township; he h:us been twice married, but h:is 
lost both wives. Nicholas is married, ha* one 
child, and lives in L.'ike Forest, III.; Lawrence 
lives in Lake C'jnnty, 111.; .lames died in Novem- 
ber, 1HH7. 

Our subject grew to manhoo<1 in the home of 
his birth, doing his share of the work, thus acquir- 
ing strength, vigor, and a pnicticul knowledge of how- 
to conduct a farm ; he also obtiiined a fair education 
in the common schools. When he was nearly 
twenty-two years of age he left home to make his 
living in work elsewhere. In 1S7.'>, by his well- 
directed energy, industry and wise economj', he 
had gathered together enough of this worhl's goods 
to enable him to esUibli.-h a comfortable home, anil 
on the 22d of N\)Vcndier he was married .at I>akc 
Forest, Lake I o., 111., to Miss Mary Poland, 
daughter of .lames and Agnes (.lordan) Poland, na- 
tives of Ireland and Scotland. She was born in 
Wicklanshire, .Scotland, Feb. l.'j, IH.")!. 

After marriage .Mr. .Miustcrson continued to re- 
side in Lake County, although during the year 1x7.) 
he visited Sedgwick County, Kan., and iK-ini: 
pleased with the surrounding countrj', the salubrity 
of the climste. and with the many evidences of the 
fertility of the soil, he purchiused a tract of land 
with the intention of making his home here at 
some future time. In 1.S77 ho disiMjsed of his 
properly, settleil up his affairs in Illinois, and came 
with his family to .settle on his lan<l in Carden 
Plain. .Since that time his ao»iduous labors an<l 
the care he luus bestowed on bis farm have been 



A 



t 



-^f 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4.03 



i 



well rewarded. It is fertile, well watered and well 
stocked, and his neat, substantial farm buildings 
make it an attractive place; he is also in receipt of 
a good income from it. 

The union of our subject and his wife hsis been 
blessed bj' the birth of six children, five of whom 
are still living; their record is as follows: Law- 
rence, born Sept. 3, 187G; Agnes, Nov. 20, 1878; 
Anna, Feb. 21, 1880; Elizabeth, born Feb. 10, 
1884, died Aug. 11, 1884; .James, born .July 17, 
1885; John F., March 19, 1887. 

Mr. and Mrs. Masterson are highly respected 
members of societj^; thej' are communicants of 
the Holy Catholic Church, having been confirmed 
when about fourteen years of age. Mr. Master- 
son's solid worth and al)ility have received due 
recognition from his fellow-citizens, who elected 
him to the office of Township Treasurer, which 
position he held for two years, and also to the 
position of School Treasurer, which he filled for 
one term. In politics he votes the Democratic 
ticket. 



j^s^ YLVANU8 DUNKIN, County Clerk of 
^^^ Sedgwick CoXinty, and an esteemed and 
Iv^Ly) influential resident of Wichita, is a native 
of Indiana, born in Cass County, March 
27, 1851. His father, Benjamin Dunkin, was born 
in Pennsylvania, but removed with his parents to 
Indiana when a 3'onth, they being pioneers of Cass 
County, where they took up a claim of land and 
improved a good farm therefrom. In due time he 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Peyton, a native 
of Kentucky', and settled on his father's homestead 
where he still lives, successfully engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. The mother of our subject died 
in 1851, leaving two children: William II. .and our 
subject, then an infant. His father subse(iucntl3' 
married for his second wife Jane Rhine, and of this 
union live daughters and one son have been born. 
The subject of this sketch was but three weeks 
old when his mother died, and he was reared b^' his 
paternal grandparents, the parents of his mother 
Uiking charge of his brother. When our subject 
was fourteen years old his grandparents died, and 
he returned to the home of his father, where he 



assisted on the farm anil completed his education, 
which was obtained at the district school. At the 
age of twenty j'ears, our subject beingan ambitious 
youth, with well matured plans for making a living, 
came to Kansas. Emporia was then the terminus 
of the railway, .and not having money enough to 
pay his stage fare, he walked from there to Wichita, 
his brother having preceded him one 3'ear. They 
took up claims under the homestead act in March, 
1871, the subject of this sketch locating on section 
G of Salem Township. He was one of the first set- 
lers of that township, and that spring built a shanty 
and broke up the prairie land, and in the fall, when 
too late for farming, he secured employment in 
herding cattle on the ranges. 

In the winter Mr. Dunkin came to AVichita .and 
worked at any honorable employment he could find, 
getting small wages, and frequently receiving noth- 
ing but his board for his services. Realizing that 
a farmer, of all men, needs a wife's encour.ageinent 
and assistance in his toils, he went back to Indiana 
in April, 1872, and soon after was united in mar- 
I'iage with Miss Salome Sence, who was born near 
Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1850. Her parents, S.amuel 
.and Eliz.abeth Sence, were pioneers of Cass Countj', 
Ind., where they were occupied in farming. Soon 
after marriage Mr. Dunkin and his estimable help- 
meet returned to Kansas and located on his home- 
stead, where he remained several 3'ears laboring 
hard, and by energetic industry and skill in man- 
.ngement he brought his farm under a good state of 
cultivation. 

During the winter seasons, for a period of eight 
years, Mr. Dunkin engaged in teaching, thus bring- 
ing in some ready money in that part of the year 
when he could not farm to advantage. After he 
had his land all broken our subject engaged in a 
mercantile business at H.aysville, which he success- 
fully pursued until 1886. Then, being favorably 
imprcs.«ed with Wichita's growing importance as a 
commercial center, ami thinking it a desirable place 
in which to permanently establish himself, he came 
here, and for a short time w:is emplo^'ed !is a clerk. 
Subsequently he opened a store and carried on a 
prosperous grocery trade. In November. 1887, 
Mr. Dunkin, whose integrity and ability are appreci- 
ated by his fellow-citizens, was elected to his pres 



t 



4.M 



SKI ti. WICK ColNTY. 



lorm of two yenr- 

111- .Intl. - .I.Ki. :t, I8«8. Ho hna l.iiii .,uci-..vful in 
life, and he t:in well lie con.tiilrre)! one of llu- sul>- 
itUtntiiilciti/fiis iif Wichitn. 

Of the iiniiin uf Mr. iiiul Mrs. Diiiikiii tlu>r»- luive 
bfcii horn four iliiliircn, iinincly : Miiy, Diii-ny, V'mt] 
urul Mnbcl. 

Politically our Mibji'il i> ii lirrii adlicronl of llii- 
Krpiililicjin party, ami an attivi- Mi|>|)<>rl«r of it.s 
|>rimi|i|e.s. While living in Sili-in Town.-hi|i he 
served as Township 'rrnsU-c. .Sx-ially he is a 
nunilier of the I. (). () F. 

;)IIN N. COCHRAN canie to the eity of 
Wichita in 18HI,:ini| piin-hasei) two acres of 
^-^round in Hnnter's fii>t Aildition, put up 
^gj/ buiidin','8, set out trees, anil in 1KK7 platted 
one acre, which wsis named the Cochran Sub-divi- 
sion. For this property there has been a good 
demand, and his attention to this, in connection 
with various other real-estate transactions, employs 
the greater part of his time and atU'nti<ui. His 
own comfortable residence is pleasantly locateil at 
No. Iliy I^ura avenue. 

A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Cochran was 
boni in Terry County on the 1st of .lanuary. 1«37. 
His parents, Kcv. William and F^lizabeth (Martin) 
Cochran, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania 
and Virginia, whence they removed to Ohio in their 
youth, and were there married. The father, n min- 
ister of the Methodist Cliurch, entered u|>on his 
pious duties in his early manhood, and spent the 
remainder of his life in Ohio, <lyiiig in I'erry 
County. The mother survived her hu>liaud less 
than a year. 

The brothc'rs and sist<'n* of our subject includeil 
four children, of whom but three are living, namely-: 
Harriet, Mrs. IJitter.of Nebraska: Wesley, a wealthy 
fjirmer of Madison County, Iowa, and .lohn N., of 
our sketch. The latter became orphaned at the 
early age of four years, and was reared by his nni- 
ternal grandparents. When a boy of twelve he 
eonimcnced to work out on a farm in his native 
county, at which he I'onlinued until a youth of 
si.vl<-en. Th<'n, in conijmny with two uncles, he 



cut t4) lown, whei' inter, and in 

the spring returned c;u-<t a.^ fiii ;i» I..a.Sidle County. 
III. There he employed hiniM-lf on a farm, and in 
a.vsisting tii o|>eratea dit<-hing-maehine, remaining in 
the Prairie .State until after the outbreak of the late 
war. 

Voung CiK'hnin, in August, IMt'il, enlisted lu- a 
I'nion S4j|<lier in Company It, 12th Illinois Infantry, 
but on account of ill-health w:ls only |)eniiitted 
to serve seven months. I'pon leaving the army 
he returned to Ohio, visited friemls three months, 
then migrated to his former Ixune in La.Salle 
County. 111. There for two years following he 
engaged in farming, and in the meantime wils 
married. .Ian. .>. IHC-I. to .Miss Hannah M. (Jay. 
a native of Pennsylvania, who was born .July 
l.'l. 184.'1. .Mrs. Cochran is the daughter of He v. 
(ieorge and Nancy (Stuckey) Gay, natives of Cen- 
ter County, Pa. Her father entered the pulpit as 
a Methodist exhorter, liut joined the I'nited Hreth- 
reii in 1X(;.'1, at .Mendota, 111., where he entered 
formally upon the work of a minister. Leaving 
Illinoi-i in l.S(Wi. he took up his residence in Ottawa 
County. Mich., where he laborc<l until the spring of 
1871. That year he crossed the Mississippi the 
second time, and coming to Uiis county, took up his 
abode among the pioneers of Lincoln Township, 
and wius one of the first reprost-nUitives of the .South- 
western Conference. In the pursuance of his pious 
labors he traveled many miles to and from in this 
Stat*', freipiently camping out in his w.-igon at night, 
but willing to endure sacritlces.-ind privations for the 
sake of the end in view. In the meantime ho took 
up a claim of eighty acres of laud in Lincoln Town- 
ship, the improvement an<l cultivation i>f which he 
pnx-eedcd with sis time and opportunity permitted. 
He still occupies the homo built up under many 
dillicullics. He retired from the ministry in I8^l.5. 
To the parentis of Mrs. Cochran there were born 
live children, all living, namely: Hannah M., the 
wife of our subject; Mattie, Mi-s. ^\'alker. of (Iratiot 
{■(junty, .Mich.; Charles, a harness-maker of Wiu- 
(leld, Cowley County, this .Sijite; Kmory, a cjirpeu- 
ter of Wichita, and Frank, who is farming in Lin- 
coln T«»wnship. Mr. and .Mrs. C. after their nnir- 
riagi', settled u|mui a farm in LaSalle County. III., 
soon after going to Livingston Comity, III., where 



> ► i r <« 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



"^-^^^ 



455 



they lived until the spring of 1867, then removed to 
Ottawa County, Mich. There our subject became 
interested in the lumber trade and milling, but after 
a residence of eighteen months abandoned this, and 
took up his abode in Madison County, Iowa, where 
he carried on agriculture three years. 

Mr. Cochran upon coming to this State, in 1870, 
pre-empted ICO acres of land in Payne Township, 
this county, which he improved and lived upon six 
years. Then selling out, he purchased a quarter- 
section in Grand River Township, on the western 
line of the county, where he proceeded :is before, 
cultivating the soil and making improvements, and 
in 1882 sold out at a good figure. The year pre- 
viousl}', however, he had brought his family to the 
city, and secured possession of the ground already 
spoken of in Hunter's Addition. His prudence and 
industry have met with ample reward, and comfort- 
ably located in a pleasant home, he is enjoying a 
share of the good things of this life. 

Our subject, politically, adiliates with the Repub- 
lican part^-, and is a member of Garfield Post, G. 
A. R., at Wichita. He is a member and Steward of 
the jMethodist Episcopal Church, while his estimable 
wife finds her religious consolation in the doctrines 
of the United Brethren. 



JlA^nCS JIcADAM. Similar to a foundation 
stone which holds its place under an imjior- 
tant superstructure, the subject of this sketch 
occupies an immovable position among the 
solid men of Salem Township. His occupation is 
that of a general farmer and stock-raiser, and he 
has hUccessfuUy operated for the last seventeen 
years on section 28, where he has a gO(xl farm finely 
improved, and where ho has built up a homestead 
of no small importance. 

Mr. McAdam was born in the North of Ireland, 
on the 3d of August, 1831, his early home having 
been in Castle Wellan, County Down. His parents, 
James, Sr., and Jane (Hagen) McAdam, were na- 
tives of the same country. They continued upon 
their native soil during their entire lives, passing 
away one jxar ago, in the. year 1887. 

The father of our subject carried ou farming in [ 



a modest manner in his native county, where James, 
Jr., first learned to cultivate the soil, and also to 
depend upon his own resources. Harly in life he 
began to experience a desire for something better 
than he had known, and before reaching the six- 
teenth year of his age resolved to seek his fortunes 
on another continent. He had very little capital to 
start upon, and accordingly embarked as a sailor on 
the vessel " Fame, of Limerick," bound from Belfast, 
and which was subsequently' lost in the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, off the coast of Anticosti Island, during a 
storm, going down with all on board, and our sub- 
ject and ten others escaped. 

Mr. McAdam spent his first winter in this country 
in the city of liuebec, Canada, and continueil in 
various parts of the Dominion for two years follow- 
ing. Fr(,>m there he migrated to the Territory of 
Minnesota, and having become a naturalized Ameri- 
can citizen cast his vote for the first Governor after 
it had been admitted into the Union as a State. He 
also obtained a knowledge of survej'ing, and as- 
sisted in forming some of the township boundaries 
of Rice Count}'. 

Jlr. McAdam, in the spring of 1852, was seized 
with an attack of the Califoruia gold fever, and 
accordingly crossed the plains with a company' of 
other men, and followed mining on the Pacific 
Slope until the fall of 1802. He met with fair suc- 
cess, and resolved to invest his capital in Southern 
Kansas. Making his way to this county he pre- 
empted a quarter of section 28, in what is now 
Salem T(jwnship, where he has since continued to 
reside. In the meantime he has effected a vast im- 
provement in the condition of his property, build- 
ing up from the raw prairie a fine homestead, with 
a good set of farm buildings, and erecting for him- 
self in this manner a monument to his thrift and 
industry which will sUind long after he shall have 
been gathered to his fathers. 

Our subject added gradually to his first posses- 
sions until he is now the owner of COO broad acres 
in this county, all of which is cleared and enclosed, 
and embraces one of the most fertile tracts in this 
section of the country. While in the Territorv of 
L^tah he made the acquaiuUmce of a most estimable 
young lad}', Miss Jane Allen, and their mutual 
attachment resulted in an engagement of marriage, 



•►4l-^»- 



-•►-•-^ 



•►•-4^ 



•►■-4* 



I' ' 4:,'- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1 



wlii<-li WHS col«'!>rHt*d Aug. .'M, IHC.'». tlic prot^idinj; 
ullifinl Itcing .liulc 'ritim, of Snit I.nko Citv. This 
hilly \vn.« Ixini .Inn. 12. IM'tO, in North Shields, 
Northuiiiliorlnnfl. Knglnnil, nn4 by tier union with 
our .suliji'cl lu'canip tin- niotlirr of thriv i-hildron. 
one of whom. OnilionI, wns born Oct. H!, IKC.O; 
.lohn WAS horn .Innt> '.'I, Im77, iind eontiiuies iit 
homo with his |Hin-iits; Nollic wn.s horn Oct. 27, 
1XH2, anil died Anj,'. I. IHX.'i. 

Mr. McAditin. |Nilitically, is a decided Domocrat, 
although he reserves the right to «ist his vote in- 
de|>endently, and in support of the man whom he 
considers licst qiialilicd for oflice. As for himself 
he prefers the ipiietude of his own fireside, and the 
|(rivilei;o of giving his attention to his own per- 
sonal inlerestji rather than to identify himself with 
the ollice-seekers, although re|)eatedly solicited to 
accept positions of trust and rosponsiliility. Ho 
has watched with the warmest interest the growth 
of liis adopted county, and no man is more cheer- 
ful in responding to the call for a.ssistance in those 
enterprises calctihited for its advancement. Socially 
he liclongs to the .Masonic fraternity, being a mcni- 
I'or of the lodge at South P.oss, Wyo. 



K.S. SARAH ALLISTON, whose handsome 
.•mil valuable property lies on section ."J in 
\Vichita Township, is a lady of remarkably 
good business capacitj', great intelligence 
and resolution. Since the decea.sc of her lamented 
husband, Charles C. Alliston, who pas.sed away on 
the llth of April, 1S77, Mrs. Alliston hiis managed 
with unusiml good judgment the extensive business 
interests left to her charge, paid off various debts, 
carried on the opcnitioiis of the farm, and now Uas 
one of the linest homes within the limits of Wichita 
Township. The father of Charles C, dropping the 
••I" from his name, simply wrote it Allison, as do 
ihe family in Champaign County, 111. 

The lady of whom wc writ*' w.os born in I'icka- 
«uy County, Ohio, .March IH, |K|1, .ind is the 
<laut;ht4-r of .le.s.sc II. and Maria (Thomius) Reeves, 
natives of Virginia and Maryland. The mother 
■ leimrted this life at her home in DeWitt County, 
III., in 1«.')7. .le.sse II. Reeves is still living and a 
n«idcnt of .Miami, this SUte. Since the death of 



his excellent partner, thirty-one years ago. Mr. 
Reeves Iiilh remained a widower. Iloth |iarent-- 
united with the Methodist Kpisco|iid Church early 
in life, in which .Mr. Reeves olllciated as.Steward fur 
several years, lie is n farmer by occu|>atioii, but i> 
taking life ciisy in his declining days. 

The children of the parental family of Mrs. Allis- 
ton are recorded as follows : The eldest (laughter, 
Harriet, is the wife of .Miles Kdmiston, and lives in 
I'noln. this .Slat*-; .Sjirah of our sketch is the .second 
child; Caroline is the wife of I).,]. Ramey ; Marcus 
married .Miss .Mary Lukens, lives in I'aola, and is 
the father of three children; Minnie, .Mrs. Lyman 
Harden, lives in 0.s:iwatomie, Kan. ; .lennie is the 
widow of Dr. Firebaugh; Alice is unmarried, and 
makes her home with her father. 

The subject of this history received a practical 
education, and under the training of an excellent 
mother became |iro(icient in all liou.sehold duties. 
While a resident of her native .State and when 
nearly twenty years of age, she w.-ls united in 
marriage with Charles C. Alliston, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride, Oct. 1>, 
1K()0. Mr. Alliston was born in Loudoun County, 
Va., April .">, l!S.3.'i, and emignited with his parents 
to Ohio when but ii child. In lf<."»(! he removed to 
DeWitt County, 111., and completed his education in 
the High Schools of Clinton, emploj-ing himself on 
the farm during his vacations. Mr. and Mrs. Alliston 
were mjirrieil after a two years' acquaintance, and 
siMMit the first nine years of their wedded life in 
DeWitt County, III. Then resolving to cross the 
Mississippi, Mr. Alliston came to this county and 
pre-empted a rpiarter-section of tine land in Wichita 
Township. I'pon this he labored industriously with 
good success, anil being a man of intelligence and 
enterprise was recognized as a citizen eminently 
qualified tt> look after the interests of the |)eople as 
the incumbent of the various local ollices. 

Upon the outbreak uf the Rebellion, Mr. Alliston 
was in the midst of his |H'rsonal plans and interests 
in connection with the welfare of his family. After 
wnt(*hing the struggle for several months, and seeing 
no prospect of immediate settlement of the dillicnl- 
ties between the North and South, he finally left 
his farm in the hands of his wife, in whom he had 
undaunted confidence, and on the 17tli of October, 



•► ■ -^ 






VX/<t 




RESIDENCE OF 5ARAH A LLISTO N , S EC. 3, Wl CH 1TA TP . 




%^^R^^^i&^^^S^i&-^itJsi^^-ix^^i^ S? iS ^ 



»- ■ ^" 



•^ m <• 



vSEDGWICK COUNTY. 



459 ' ' 



1861, enlisted in Company C, Sth Illinois Cavalry,- 
marching with liis regiment to the scene of conflict. 
He participated in some of the most important bat- 
tles of tlic war, including the first engagement at 
Champion Hills and the siege of Vicksburg, and 
met the enemy iti various other engagements and 
skirmishes. As the result of his hardships and ex- 
posures he contracted a disease which confined him 
in the Overton Hospital at Memphis, Tenn., three 
months, and from which he suffered more or less the 
remainder of his life. It also was the indirect 
cause of his death. Mr. Alliston was a strong Re- 
publican, politically', and a member in good stand- 
ing of the Presb\'terian Church. He was of that 
genial and companionable disposition which gained 
him many friends, and in the spring of 1 870 he 
was personally acquainted with every man in the 
county. He took a livel}' interest in the growth 
of Southern Kansas, and was largelj' instrumental in 
securing the laj-ing of the Atchison, Topeka <fe 
Santa Fe Railwaj' tracks to Wichita, which had they 
passed by it would have made a wide difference in 
the standing and importance of this city to-day. 
For his services lie received a corner lot in the city 
of "Wichita. 

Charles C. Alliston w:is the offspring of an excel- 
lent old family, his parents having been Wilfred 
and Susan (Littleton) Alliston, natives of Virginia, 
the father born in Fairfax County and the mother 
near Leesburg in Loudoun County. The paternal 
grandfather owned a plantation in the Old Domin- 
ion, and there spent his entire life. His brother, 
William H. Allison, a lawyer and farmer of Chtim- 
paign County, lU.. is one of the best known men 
of that section, having served as Justice of the 
Peace and Supervisor, and held various other offices 
in his adopted county. He too was born in Loudoun 
County, Va., Feb. 23, 1837. During his boyhood 
and j-outh he attended the public schools at Urbana, 
Ohio, having been two years of age when his par- 
ents removed to that State. He was a bright and 
ambitious j'outh and developed as a teacher, which 
occupation he followed three winters. He emigrated 
to Illinois in 18;')7, and thereafter followed teaching 
during the winter and farmed in summer for a 
period of nearly thirteen 3'ears. 

William H.Allison settled in Champaign County, 



111., in 1869, and punliasiiiL; u f.iini iu Brown 
Township, continued a resident there until 1881. 
He then removed to East Bend Township, wheie he 
has 100 acres of valual)le land, highly cultivated 
and improved, and furnished with a substantial set 
of farm buildings. He was married, Dec. 8, 18G1, 
to Miss Mary K. Karr, a native of DeWitt County, 
111., and the daughter of .John Karr. formerlj' of 
Ohio. Mr. Karr removed to Illinois during its 
early settlement in 1840. He subsequently m.-u-- 
riod Miss Mary Morgan, who was born in Ohio, re- 
moved thence with her ])areuts to Kentuckj', and 
afterward to Illinois during her girlhood. William 
H. Allison is a gentleman of more than ordinary 
al)ility, po.«sesses a thorough knowledge of common 
law, and does a hirge business throughout the coini- 
try districts. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Alliston there were 
born the children whose record is as follows: .Susan 
M. became the wife of Sylvanus Ruckle, and is now 
the mother of two children — Charles and Lulu; 
they are farming in Butler County, Kan. Hall, the 
second child, is unmarried .and attending the busi- 
ness college at Wichita; Earl, Kate, Jessie and 
AVilfred are at home with their mother, the first- 
mentioned being her chief assistant on the farm, and 
the other three pursuing their studies in the dis- 
trict school. The homeste.ad comprises sixty acres 
of land, valued in 1887 at *1,000 per acre. Mrs. 
Alliston after the death of her husband put up the 
present fine dwelling, a view of which we give in 
this work, and has now besides her real estate a 
snug bank .account. 



ylLLIAM A. CRAIG is a successful and 
cnterjirising farmer located in Union Town- 
ship, Sedgwick Count}-, where he pre- 
empted the southwest quarter of section 2(), on 
the 1st of April, 1872, and has since resided on the 
same. He is a native of Illinois, his birth occur- 
ring in Jersey County, Sept. 5, 1848. 

Our subject's father, Archibald Craig, was born 
near Princeton, N. J. In 1844, when still a young 

■> 



I' ' 460 



m;i)(;\vi( K ('iiiNiv 



lunii, hi- I \ County, III., nixl — u 

iifUT iiinrni'l I alln riiir I laiikinmiii, a iialivi- of ( )lii" 
Iter iiarcnls wert- nntives of Nfw .Icnti-y, Iml »fi< 
iiiurriii|rt> scttleil in Ohio, aixl later rcti)t)Vi>il to Illi- 
iiui.s. The |iari-iit-> of tnir miIijoc-1 otviicd n farm an<l 
were eiipige<l in aj^rii'iillurc in .lerst-y County until 
IxM.'i, when they removed to .Mnloni, Macoupin 
County, that Slat*-, where they now live. They 
have hail eleven ehihiren, eij.'ht of whom are still 
livinj;. 

The subject of our ^kell•h wils tin- eldest cliild. 
and remained with his |>!irent» until after he had 
grown to manhood, lie received a eonimon-school 
education, and a practical training in farming. In 
l!<72 he came to Kansas, performing' the journey with 
a team, and pre-empted his present farm, on which 
he at once commenced work. He has since heen 
enabled to add to his ori<;inal quarter-section, and 
now owns i' 10 acres of l:nid, all of wiiicli he has im- 
proved and has under a high sUite of cultivation. 
lie has erected a ;;ood dwelling and siiltstantial farm 
buildings, a view of which we give in this connec- 
tion. His wife is also the posses-sor of 1(10 .-icros of 
lnn<l situaii'd in the southwest iiuarti'r of section 
22, in L'nion Township, which is partially improved. 
When Mr. Cniig cjime to Kansas he had few posses- 
sions siive those with which nature endowed him, 
but he was courageous and energetic, and soon the 
rich Soil tif this fertile region yielded 'to him abun- 
dant harvestii, in return for the care and labor he 
bestowed uj^jn it; his undertakings prosiKjred and 
he soon found himself on the highw.-iy to success. 

The sid)ject of our sketch was married, Feb. 25, 
1H«0, to Alice (Joodrich, a native of I'ort liyron, 
III. Her parents, Calvin and Kmily ( Fisher) (Jood- 
rich, were natives of New York .SUite. .Some time 
after marriage they removed to Kock Island County, 
III., where her faliier died. Mrs. (Goodrich sur- 
vived him .'uid is still living in th.-it county. 

In |>olili(s .Mr. Cniig d(H-s not connect himself 
with any [Militical party, but sii|)port« such men and 
principles a-i he deems will best benedt the people 
.•lud the country at large. Neither is he connected 
with any religious or social organization, but leads 
a moral, honest and upright life, and as a result has 

won tlie res|H'ct and esteem of tin nimunitv in 

which he lives. 



bl M;^ U' H.I n-i .-. !iug citlrcn of 

'•:iribii I'lain I <i« ii-lii|.. »liere he uwiis a 
^ irgc st<K'k farm, and is ext4-nsively en- 

[^ gaged in rearing cattle and in agricultural 
pui>uiLs. He was born in Barren County. Ky.. 
.lunc II. 1h;{2, anil is the son of Koberland .Martha 
(Howard) liobinson. natives of \"irginia and Ken- 
tucky. His jiateriutl great-gnind father came from 
Ireland, and his grandfather was probably born in 
\'irgiiiia: his nuiternal great-grandfather was a na- 
tive of ( Germany. 

The following is the record of the eight children 
born to the parents of our subject: Kli/.abcth, 
Kcbecca, Harriet .M., Henry, Christopher, licnjamin. 
Hubert and Kli/a. Klizabeth is the wife of .lohu 
W. Howard, u farmer of Kentucky; they have fif- 
teen children. Hclx-cc;i was the wife of liobert 
Hoyd: she died leaving eight children. Harriet 
married Woodford Boyd; she died leaving three 
children. Christopher married and died, leaving a 
family of children: Ik-njamin lives in Wichita; la- 
is married and has one child. Robert, a farmer in 
Iowa, is married and has a family of three children; 
Kliza married James Peyton, lives in Kentucky, 
and has six children. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were 
resijectable farming |)cople, nnil had gathered to- 
gether enough of this world's goods to enable them 
to bring their children up in comfort, and give 
them the advanUiges of a fair education in the 
common schools, besides the good home tr:iining 
they received. 

When about twenty years of age our subject 
left the p.-ircntal roof to make his own way in the 
world. Shortly after, on the .'Id of February, lH;"i;t. 
he took a most important step in the direction of 
estjiblishing n home by his marriage with .Miss 
Margaret .lones, the youngest child of Harvey 
and Lydia .lones. Her mother, who is still living, 
was born ni-ar .lonesboro, Tenn., .Ian. 2:i, 1804. 
The father was born not far from the .s;»me town, 
Aug. 1 I, 17'.i,'>, and died .March 11. IM.^.T. They 
were the parents of five chihiren — Caroline. .Icssc 
W.. Nathan H. (deee.-i.sed), Clinton A. and .Margaret. 
Caroline married Richard Hammer, and died, leav- 
ing a family of five children; .levse lives in Te.\as, 
is married, and has seven childreti; Clinton lives in 
Macoiid^, III., is married and hius a family of six 



-♦-■ -4« 



-it-M^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



461 ^ 



children; Margaret, our subject's wife, was boi'n in 
Monroe County, Ky., April 10, 1837. 

After his marriage our subject farmed for one 
3'ear in Kentuckj', but in March, 1854, he moved 
with his family to Illinois, which then presented 
better opportunities for a poor man than were to be 
had in his native State, and located in McDonough 
County. At that time his means were very limited ; 
he had but one horse, and was obliged to go in 
debt for nearly' everything else that he needed in 
order to farm successfully. In about four years 
he was enabled to buj' a quarter-section of wild 
land, but the hard times which preceded the war 
coming on, he feared he could not hold it, and 
sold it again, continuing to rent land after that 
until 1864, when he bought eighty acres, and in 
1870 purch.ased an additional eightj- acres. While 
a resident of Illinois Mr. Robinson took an impor- 
tant part in the administration of public affairs. 
He held the ollice of Supervisor for three years, 
and so popular and eflicient was he in that office 
that his fellow-citizens wished him to hold it for a 
longer term of service, but he refused re-election. 
He was also Road Commissioner for seven years 
and Treasurer of the board. 

Inl87'J ^Ir. R. suffered severe financial embar- 
rassments and lost nearly all of his property, but he 
honestly paid all of his debts, and with the little 
he had left began anew to build up a fortune. 
Kansas, with its productive soil, its fine climate, 
and its many other advantages, seemed to him a 
land of promise, and he came here to re-establish 
himself, and at once bought the 1 60 acres of land 
where his home is now situated. Since that time 
he has been greatly prospered, and has added to 
his original purchase until he now owns 960 acres 
of land, which forms one of the best stock farms 
in this vicinity. He has 350 acres of it under 
plow and the rest of it in grass. Over this beauti- 
ful farm large herds of cattle roam, some of which 
are fine specimens of graded stock. 

To our snliject have been born ten children, six 
of whom are now living, as follows; William L., 
born Oct. 21, 1862; Edw.ard E., Sept. 5, 1866; 
Elnora May, Aug. 18, 1868; Alfred H. and Albert 
B., March 21, 1871 ; Henry, Oct. 31, 1875. William 
married Miss Ilattie Carr, and has one child, George 



AValter. Elnora married .lanic^ 1'. Garnett, of 
Grand River, and has one child, Daisy May. 

Mr. Robinson is an influential member of the 
Democratic ijart}-, and takes a conspicuous p.art in 
public life. He has been Treasurer of the school 
district in which he lives for seven years, and is 
now Townshij) Treasurer. His course as an office- 
holder has always been marked b}' strict fidelity to 
his trusts and by exceptional ability. 

The pleasant social and hospitable qualities of 
Mr. and JNIrs. Robinson are widely known, and they 
enjoy the esteem and respect of all in this commu- 
nity to a marked degree. They are well worthy of 
a place in this work. 

— r» '^l^l T— 



il/ SAAC L. SKINNE;R, one of the leading mer- 
ll chants of Clearwater, is a man who combines the 
i\ virtues of energy and pluck with excellent 
judgment, which have brought great success to his 
efforts and labors. He is a native of Knox County, 
Ohio, born March 12, 1836, and is the son of 
Courtland and Mary (L3'nn) Skinner, both of 
whom were natives of Pennsylvania. 

The paternal ancestors of the subject of this 
biogr.iphy were Scotch, while his mother is a de- 
scendant of the sturdy English yeomanry. When 
Isajic was about three years of age he removed 
with his parents to Fayette County, I'a., where he 
received his education and was reared to mauhood. 
In his eighteenth year he came westward with his 
parents and located in Putnam CV)unty, 111., where 
he resided for several years. He had received the 
benefit of but a limited education, his father being 
a poor man, who followed the business of cooper- 
ing and farming, .and our subject commenced to 
assist him at a very early age. His father w.as also 
an itinerant Baptist preacher for many years, and 
labored long and faithfully in the vinej'ard of our 
Lord. His mother died in Putnam County, 111., in 
1854. 

On the breaking out of the Rebellion the subject of 
our notice enlisted, in LaSalle County', 111.. .luly 16, 
1861, in Company- D, 23d Illinois Infantry, under 
Col. James A. Mulligan. The regiment started out 
first .as an independent commanil, and after operat- 






-4« 



-4^ 



-•► ■ -4« 



.SKI)«\S'K'K COUNTY. 



u,u I..1 :il.uiii ihuf montlis ill Missouri witi- Uken 
priMiiiiTs l>y (Ion. Sterling Price, iiflor a ;;i»llnnl 
(lofi'iisc nl Loxiii;/:toii. Tlify were iiniiinlintol^- 
|i:ir<)lc<l iiml sciil l<> St. I.oiiisi. ntitl afleru short linn- 
e.\»'lmiij;r<l niul pl.iooil Iwiek in tin- si-rvice. Tlii>y 
wiTO (ir«leri'<l iil oiu-e to join tin- Army of the 
I'otomnc, ami won- in the I'liKajfcnu-iit nl llariK-r's 
Forry. in tin- spring; of IKOi, and partici|>at(>(I in 
nio->t of til)' liatlle.'i nnil skirniislips that took place 
in Northern Virginia, from that tinie until his 
(lisehnrf^e. At Cetlyshurfr tile retfiment to which 
he was attached was iield in reserve, lie was dis- 
cliar|,'ed in Aiifjrnst. IHOI, and returned to his home 
in Illinois, where he remained until coming to 
.Sedgwick County in 1H7.^). With the exception of 
three years s])ent by him in Missunri he has heen a 
constanl resilient of this county since the latter 
dale. 

.Mr. Skinner wius united, .):iu. 1, ISC.T, with I'hebe 
Hammers, dauj;hter of Joseph 'I". Hammers, n 
sketi-h of whom is given elsewhere in the pages of 
this Ai.iii «. 15y liiis marriage there have been 
born five children, four of whom are living — Leia, 
Mauil, (leorgiaand Lutie. Our subject is a Kepiib- 
lican in his political faith, and filled the ofliees of 
•lustice of the Peace in Ninnescali Township forjtwo 
years and Police .Imlgo of Clearwater for two more. 
Ill' isa gentli'iiian of sterling integrity and honorable 
principles, and enjoys the esteem and conlidence of 
the entire community. As an old veteran he is 
looked lip to by the "boj's in liliie," and for disji- 
bilities received while in the service is in receipt of 
a pension of ^S a month from the Oovcrnmeiit. 

II.SNVDICU is a farmer and stock-grower 
of UiK-kford Township, of which he was 
one of the lirst settlers. His farm, linely 
liwaled on section 27, is all under culliva- 
it.s rii'li, alluvial soil has well repaifl his care, 
and yields him a fine income. He has luiilt a good, 
comniodioiis residence, his farm buildings are coni- 
forUible and convenient, and his orchard of choice 
fruit trees is in a bearing con<litioii. lie makes nspe- 
cialty of raising fine, lilooded horses, and h.-is met 
»ilh uiiiiieasureil success ill that line, his horses 



I iM'ing in great demand and M>lling nt f^ood flgiim; 
they are iiinong the best in this township. His 
cattle are of common stock, but are well kept, sleek- 
looking animals, and cominand fair prices whenever 
he wishes to dis|K)se of them. Formerly he paid 
great attention to raising superior breeds of hogs, 
more so than at present. 

Our subject wits the seventh of a family of eleven 
children bin-n to William and .Mary K. (.Martin) 
.Snyder, and was born Feb. 1.'), iHI.'i, in Kentucky. 

1 His pjirents were born in Kentucky, his father in 

[ 1«I'J, his mother in I.S17. His father wa» a farmer, 
and moving to Missouri with his family plied his 
calling there for twelve years. He then moved to 
Sidiiie County, Kan., and after a brief residence 
there of six months his useful life was brought to a 
elo.se by death in the spring of IKG4. 

Our subject grew to maiilioo<l in Missouri, receiv- 
ing the usual educational advantages in the common 
schools, anil from his worth}' parents a good train- 
ing in the duties of life, so that ho was well pre|Mired 
to make his own way in the world. He was strong, 
energetic and ambitions, and when he adopted the 

I calling to which he had been reared as his life work 

! he determined to have Land of his own. Accord- 
ingly he came to .Saline Countj'.this .State, with his 
father, in the year ISfi;?, and pre-empted a quarter- 

' .section in Smoky Hill, living there for several years. 
He eomnieiiced with characteristic energy and reso- 
lution to set about preparing the land for culture, 
and he steadil}' carried on its improvement while it 
remained in hispo.ssession, increasing its value many 
fold. He fiimll}' decided to take up his abode in 
Hockford Township, and in IK70 pre-empted a 
quarter-section on .Spring Creek, where he lived 
until IH82, when he bought the farm where he now 
resides. This farm is considered one of the finest 
and most productive in the township, he having 

t spared no pains or money in its improvement. 

I In building up this attractive home our subject 

I li.'us had the cheerful and able !ussist!ince of a good 
wife, to whom he was married Aug. 1, 1S67. Her 

I maiilen name was Kli/abeth Farris, and she is one 
of the two children born to Lindsey and Kli/.abelh 
(Snyder) Farris, natives of Kentucky. In l.S.IC 
they became resident.s of Shawnee County, Kan., 
where her father kept a store, in those days called 



-*»■ 



-^•- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



" I'iincbes," for the accoininoflatioii of travelers, con- 
tinuing in that business for a number of years until 
bis ileath. Mrs. Snyder received her education in 
the schools of .Shawnee County. To her and her 
husband have been born four children, viz : William, 
born April 5, 18G9; Charles H., Nov. 27, 187'.); 
Amy; Sept. 8, 1884; Fred W., Jan. 24, 1887. 

Mr. Snyder is identified with the I. O. O. F., and 
is a full member of the lodge to which he belongs. 
He affiliates with the Republican party, and is one 
of its strongest supporters in this vicinity. His 
intelligence, abilit}', and well-known probit3' of 
character make him a leading citizen of Rockford 
Township, and he is now serving bis second term 
as Township Treasurer. 



"ifl AMES MORAN, located on the western 
line of Sedgwick County, in Grand River 
Township, has his residence on section 1 9, 
' and also owns land on section 20, adjoining. 
The main points in his history will be read with 
interest by the people of this section, by w^liom he 
is held in the highest esteem as a worthy represent- 
ative of the prosi)erous farmers who have assisted 
in redeeming the soil of this locality from its primi- 
tive condition. 

Our subject, a native of Muskingum Couut^', 
Ohio, was born March 14, 1828, and is the son of 
Thomas and Mary (Beckham) Moran, who were 
natives of Loudoun County, Va. They are both now 
deceased, dying in Licking County, Ohio, the mother 
in May, 1847, and the father in February, 1861. 
The latter had served as a soldier in the War of 
1812. The parents were married in Virginia, where 
two of their children born, and removed thence to 
Muskingum Count}', Ohio, subsequently taking up 
their residence in Licking Count}', that State. 

In Licking County, Ohio. Thomas Moran entered 
land from the Government, and was recognized as 
one of the most worthy of the early settlers of that 
region. After the death of his first wife, he was 
iigain married, and by his two wives became the 
father of twenty children, eleven by the first and 
nine by the second. James, of our sketch, was the 
fourth child of the first marriage, and of the nine 



sons of the parental liousehold all grew up and 
voted the Republican ticket. Four of them served 
as soldiers in the L'nion army during the late war. 
Nine of the children were married and their chil- 
dren in all number thirty-two. But seven of the 
original household are now living. 

Mr. Moran, of our sketch, received his education 
in the district school, and when twenty years of 
age, left his native State and made his way to Henry 
County, Iowa, where with money which he had 
himself earned, he purchased eighty acres of land. 
On the 27th of September, 1851, he was married in 
Henry County, to Miss Am.anda, daughter of Thomas 
and Isabelle (McDowell) Nickell, who were natives 
of Monroe County, W. Vu. Mi'. Nickell was born 
April 15, 1800, and dei)arted this life at his home 
in Dakota, Sept. 9, 1885. His wife, Isabelle, was 
born Dec. 20, 1805, and died Nov. 15, 1883. 

The parents of Mrs. Moran were married in 
West Virginia. Jan. 24, 1822, and soon afterward 
removed to Jackson County, Ohio. From there 
they emigrated to Iowa as early as 1849-50, where 
the mother died, as above stated. Mr. Nickell 
afterward removed to Dakota, where his death took 
place. They were the parents of nine children, of 
whom their daughter Amanda was the fifth in order 
of birth. She was born Nov. 2, 1831. Of her 
father's family, eight cliildren lived to mature 
years, seven were married and their children num- 
ber twenty-one. 

The State of Iowa continued to be the residence 
of our subject until 1859, when he removed to Gen- 
try County, Mo. Ui)on the outbreak of the Rebel- 
lion he joined the State Militia, enlisting in the 18th 
Missouri Inf;mtry, but w:is subsequently drafted 
into the regular service. He now receives a pen- 
sion on .account of disability. He made the SUite 
of Missouri his home until 1877, then coming to 
this county, pre-empted a quarter-section of bottom 
land along the Ninnescah River, which has since 
been the field of his oiierations. His family includes 
four children: William was born Sept. 25, 1854, and 
married Cintha Pierce, of Gentry County, Mo., 
Feb. 15, 1874; Thomas E. w:is born June 25, 1858, 
and was married to Miss Mary L. Barlow, June 24, 
1883; Isabelle was born "March 20, 1867, .and be- 
came the wife of J. I. Saunders, of Garden Plain, 



463 4 



•*^«r* 



"1 



4fi» 



SEDCWIfK rOFNTY. 



Dec. 27, 1 885 ; Fremont was born <>'i 

Mini oil tlio 8tli of Fplirimrv. IHSS. wn:- uniu-ii in 

iiiarriii;:o witli Mis> F.llle IJiirlow. Mr. and Mrs. 

Miiriiii Imvi' six j;miid<liililrfii. Swiiilly Mr. Moraii 

is a ini'iiilier i>f Miprtmi l.oil-io No. '.'.'i.s, Cliciu-y, 

Kail. 

-•fj; .» II ' -y^Cr .: i! ' ."*•?•■ 
^v u -.•"■ . 'V^»^>'' • 

ARION M.(lYI). llu- (IccoLSol hnsliand of 
.Mrs. Ilaiin.-ili Moyd, wlio is ri-siiliiij; on 
soclion 27, ill Grant Towiisliip, was a na- 
tive of Oliio, born Aug. 20, 1827. He was 
the tliiril cliild in a family of eight children born 
to his parents, .lolin and Catherine Lloyd, both of 
whom were natives of Virginia, lie was educated 
in the district schools of his native State and wjis 
reared to agrienltiiral pursiiit-s. In an early day 
the family removed to Illinois, where he finished 
his education. On attaining his manhood he en- 
gaged in fanning, and in 18l).5 removed from 
(Jrnndy County, III., to (!rand Rapids, Mich., 
where he remained about thirteen years. In search 
of a warmer climate he and his family then emi- 
gmtc<l to fJrayson County, Tex., where he made 
his home until Oct. 30, IHHl, mi which day he was 
called from this world by death. 

At the breaking out of the great Rebellion the 
sjiirit of putrioti!<m moved him to enlist, but on 
examination he was refused on account of weak 
lungs. He was a man of excellent principles and a 
blameless life, and thoroughly enjoyed the esteem 
and respect of every community in which he re- 
sided, and died mourned by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. He was united in marriage, 
Fei). 10, 1HC2, with .Miss Ilainiah Yarnall, who was 
born ill Ohio, March (!, 18-12. She was the sixth 
child in a family of twelve born to her parents, 
Samuel and Fli/.abeth (Foster) Yarnall, both of 
whom were natives of the .State of I'cnn.sylvaiiia. 
Her grandfather. Mordecai Yarnall, wa.s a soldier in 
the I'liited States service during the war with Creat 
liritain in 1H12-I.'>. Her grandfather on her 
mother's siile, William Itarton, was also a native of 
the Keystone Stiite, and served likewise during the 
same war. His death wjls caused by being thrown 
from a horse while in the army, and his widow, 
A* 



lliiiiiah liiirton, drew a pension from the (Jovern- 
iiiciit during her natuml life. 

The ffither of Mrs. I.loyd was a farmer by oecu- 
imtion, nnd removed to Illinois in an early day am) 
made n settlement in (iruiidy County, where he re- 
mained until called hence by death. His estimable 
wife still survives, is the wife of .John McCombs. 
and a resident of Indiana. After the death of her 
husband in Texas, Mrs. I.loyd removed to Kansas, 
and purcliJised a Imct of eighty acres of improved 
land on section 27, ( J rant Township, where she at 
present resides. The date of her s»'ttlenienl in this 
State wa.s 1881. She has the farm, which is most 
excellent arable land, in a good state of cultivation, 
with line improvement* antl two good orchards upon 
it. t^uitc a grove of forest trees is planted u|>on 
it, and it is a pleasant and eo/y home for her and 
her family. It is in a nmst excellent situation, being 
but about one mile from Sunnydale, and six from 
Valley Center. She is the mother of six children, 
as follows: Cora Luella, who is a music teacher at 
Wichit!*; Melvin M., an emi)loyo of the Midland 
Rjiilroad; Irviii, K. Lizzie, Ernest and George. 
The four younger children are att<-nding the 
district school and remain at home with their 
mother. Mrs. Lloyd is an active and consistent 
member of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church, ami 
t^ikes great interest in the religious work of that 
denomination. 



ellAULKS ROLL. Among some of the most 
enterprising citizens of Salem Township are 
tho.sc who were ln)rii in Germany, and who 
have brought into this fertile and productive coun- 
try the thrift .and economy of the OM World. 
Among these there is no figure that stjuids out more 
prominently in the history of the township than 
Charles Roll, one of the bold pioneers who first 
broke the way for civilization into the grassy wilds 
of this locality. 

Mr. Roll is a native of (;cniiaiiy, born Aug. 17, 
IK.')!!, and is the son of Henry and Frederika (I'letz) 
Roll. His parents had a family of seven children, 
six of whom are living, viz: Henry. Gustnviis, 
Charles, Ralph, William and Anne. His father is 



-•►HI 



•p^m-^ 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



465 



dead, but his mother is at present a resident of Ohio 
Township, in this county. When Cliarlcs was about 
four years of age ttie family determined to emi- 
grate, and accordingly embarking on a sailing-ves- 
sel at tlie port of Hamburg, crossed the ocean. 
After a voyage of six long and weary weeks, tliej' 
landed in New York City, and at once started for 
.Sheboygan County, Wis., where they settled. The 
subject of this sketch received his education and 
was reared to manhood in that [)Oi'tion of the 
Badger St,ate, and on attaining his eighteenth year, 
in company with his brother Henry, he started out 
in life for himself, settling in Cook Countj', 111. 
After about a j-ear's residence in th.at locality, the 
brothers removed to Morgan County, in the same 
Stiite, vvhere they only remained about four months. 

Having a desire to see the AVest, and Kansas in 
particular, in 1871 both Charles and Henry Roll 
came to Sedgwick County, where the subject of 
this sketch pre-empted the 160 acres of land em- 
braced in the southwest quarter of section 19, 
Salem Township, where he has made his residence 
ever since. Being among the very first to loc.ite 
in this sub-division of the county, he found the 
land in a state of wilderness, and like all the pio- 
neers, was called upon to undergo the hardships, 
privations and want consequent upon life on the 
frontier. For some two years after his settlement 
he was obliged to go to Augusta, some forty miles 
distant, in order to carry his grist to mill. Not- 
withstanding all the disadvantages under which he 
labored at that time, he has by persistent and hard 
work, in which he had the assistance of his devoted 
wife, acquired a goodly share of this world's goods. 
He owns at the present time some 400 acres of 
land, nearly all of which is brought under cultiva- 
tion and to the uses of civilization. This splendid 
estate, on which he has made some very valuable 
improvements, is the entire result of his own dili- 
gence, energy and good man.agement. It stands 
to-day a monument to the industry and thrift that 
he possesses. 

On the 1st of Septemlier, 1«79, Mr. Roll was 
united in marriage with Miss Enieline C. McGaha, 
a native of Douglas County, 111., who was born 
June 17, 18.i8. .She is the daughter of Joseph .and 
Sarah (Thornton) McGaha, residents of Salem 



Township, who came to this county in 1878. She 
is one of a family of four children born to her par- 
ents, viz: Marion, living in Stevens County, this 
.State; Emcline, the wife of the sul)ject of this 
sketch ; Susan C, wht) married Ralph Roll, and is 
living in Ohio Townshiji, and John W., of Salem 
Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Roll have come four 
children, to gladden their hearts and brighten their 
home. Their names are .as follows: Alice, who was 
born Dec. 1.5, 1881; Clar.a, .I.an. IG, 1884; An- 
drew A., Oct. 21, 1885, and Albert, Oct. 1, 1887. 

Mr. Roll is a member of the Lutheran Church, 
and is thoroughly identified with its interests, and 
both he and his wife are highly respected and es- 
teemed as valuable members of the community. In 
politics he afliliates with the Republicans, deeming 
that in that party is the best guarantee for the 
perpetuation of our principles of free (Government. 
He is a very liberal and public-spirited man, and 
takes a foremost position in every movement or 
enterjH'ise which promises to accrue to the benefit 
of the people in general. 



UILLIAM B. ROGERS is plear-antly located 
on the northwest quarter of section .'), of 
^?^ Union Township. He is engaged in general 
farming, to which he devotes his whole attention, 
and is meeting with unbounded success. He is an 
extensive real-estate owner, being the possessor of 
187 aci-es of valu.able land, all of wiiieh he h.as under 
a good state of improvement, and it constitutes one 
of the finest pieces of property in the community. 
His present commodious and substantial residence 
w.as built in 188.'); it is of a good style of architect- 
ure, two stories in heigiit, and is an ornament to the 
township. 

Mr. Rogers was born Oct. 17, 1842, in Morgan 
County, Ohio. His parents, John and Susan (An- 
trim) Rogers, were natives of New Jersey, in which 
State they married, shortly after emigrating to 
Ohio. There they first settled in Belmont County, 
and subsequently in Morgan County, where Mr. 
Rogers engaged in the tanning business until 1866. 
In that 3'ear he removed to Illinois and settled on 
a farm in Bureau County, and was there actively 
•► 



I 



' ' 466 



f 



SEDGWICK COl'NTY. 



cngagoil ill agriculturnl piireuiLH for several years, 
nii«l Iht-rc his death oocurreil in 1NK2 nt the age <if 
wvontv-live. lie was a hi;;hl_v ii'."<|>i'ete<l .-iiul well- 
t<>-<lii cili/.cii. lie was a ■^tniu-h Deiiinerat until 
the uiithreak of the late t'ivil War, but from that 
tiine he became a supporter of tlie liepubliean party, 
bein;; convineed that its eours<' wa^ the true one in 
regard to the ('onilu<-t of the Uel)eIlion. His widow- 
is now livinij with lier son. our subjeel. She was 
born Sept. ;*, 18(111. and w:i.> endowed with great 
physical vigor, whieh .slie reUiined in a marked 
degree for sever.-il years beyond the time when 
most iH'iiple are enfeebled b}' the infirmities of age, 
remaining in good health anil active until 18h7, 
when she was stricken by [Kii-alysis. To her and 
her husband were born seven children, namely: 
Antrim an<l Sarah (deceased), Franklin, Hannah. 
.Mary (deceased). William 15. and Kilwin. Franklin 
ri'siiles in liureau Countv, 111.; Hannah is the wife 
I'f T. Ilogue, of Whiteside. III.: Ktlwin resides in 
Wise County. Tex. 

(Jur subject grew to manhood in his native SUite, 
receiving the educational advantiiges nfri>rded by 
llie public schools. He adopted the trade of black- 
smith and iiecamc ijuite skilled in that branch of i 
mechanics, continuing to follow that vocation while 
he remained a resident of Ohio. He was mariied, 
Dec. IH, 1801, to Mary Beswick. daughter of Will- 
iam and Kli/.a (Abbott) licswick. She was born in 
Morgan County. Ohio, April 20,1813. When she 
was but eight years old she had the sad misfortune 
to lose her mother, who left live children, namely: 
William T., Francis M., Mary, .lane R. ai\d Angelina. 
William lives in Marysville, Ohio; Francis, Mi-s. 
Rogers' twin brother, lives in Morgan County, Ohio; 
.lane is tin- wife of .lohn Wooton, of Morgan County ; 
Angelina resiiles in Morg:in County. 

Aft»'r marriiigc .Mr. and Mrs. Rogers remove<l to 
Bureau County, III., where he purchased eighty 
acres of land which lie cultivated with good success 
for several years. Finally he decided to remove to 
Kaiisiis, allured hither by its tine climate, which is 
likc! that of N'irginia, without its excessive heat; 
iiiid the richness of its soil, which is declareil to l)e 
much su]>erior U> that of ordinary prairie land in 
fertility, and freely produces everything, except the 
tropical products of the extreme .South, that is grown i 



in the United States. Here by industry and enter- 
prise he and his wife have built up n beautiful 
home, surrounded by all the comforts of life; they 
have al.so made for themselves an a.^siired position 
in the be>t siK-ial circles of the community'. 

l'"our children have been born to Mr. and .Mrs. 
Rogers, namely : Harriet, Carrie, Herbert and Krmiii. 
In politics Mr. Rogers is an intelligent and faithful 
Republican. He performs satisfactorily the duties 
devolving upon him as a good citizen, but h.os never 
desired to hold public ollice, his numerous busine.^s 
interests abxirbing all his attention. 



JKRO.MK II. SJIKR.MAN, a representjilive 
farmer and sto<'k-rai.-ier of Ohio Township, 
I residing on section l.'), lirst saw the light of 
day in Branch County, Mich., Dec. 28, 1847. 
His parents, .leremiah and Knuna (Beesmer) .Slier- 
iiiiin, were both native.'? of the State of New York, 
and were descended, the father from German and 
Irish ancestors, aiid the mother of Cierman and 
English stock. His father, .leremiah .Sherman, came 
to Sedgwick County, Kan., in l87i'. aiul pre-empted 
the northwest (juarter of section 15, in Ohio Town- 
ship, which our subject now owns. 

Jerome was one i.if a family' of three chihlren 
born to his parents, of whom he is the only sur- 
vivor. His father died April 20, 1884. At the age 
of eleven years the subject of our memoir com- 
menced the business of life for himself. He had 
received a rudimeiitjiry education in his boyhood 
days, after which he worked at any farm labor that 
he could get, that l.a}' within the com|)ass of his 
strength. In 18(!l, when he wa.s some seventeen 
years of age, he went to Oakland County, Mich., 
where he worked !is a farm hand until his twenty- 
fourth year. From there he moved to DeWitt 
County, III., where live years more of his life were 
spent, and in the fall of 1877 eniignited from the 
great Prairie .Stiile to .Sedgwick County, Kan., .and 
locatiMt on the farm with his father, where he now 
lives. 

While a resilient of the Wolverine .Slate, in No- 
vember, 1 806, .Mr. S. was uiiilcd in marriage with 
Miss Mary Clwipman, a native of Oakland County, 



•►■-4^ 



•► ■ ^ ■i" 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■in 9 



Mich., and a daughter of Fleet and Garthelia (Green) 
Cliaitnian. One son has been sent to brigliten their 
fireside and gladden their hearts. His name is Ray, 
and his nat-il day was Oct. 8. 1869. He is a bright, 
intelligent lad, and bears the mark of great promise 
for his muniiood's years. Mr. Sherman was unfort- 
nnate enough to lose his wife on the 12th of March, 
1870, 1)3' death, she leaving a disconsolate husband 
and her orphan boj". 

In his political views our subject is a Democrat, 
but is not strictly bound bj' party lines, as in all 
local matters he is generally apt to support the one 
wliom he considers the best man for the oflice. He 
has been honored by his fellow-citizens with sev- 
eral of the offices in their gift, chief among which 
are those of Trustee of Ohio Township, in which 
he served three years, Township Treasurer for three 
years, and Road Ovei-seer of District No. 3, for 
three years more. He has also held the oflice of 
Trciisurer of the School Board for several j'ears, 
and in all these positions gained great credit both 
for himself and his constituents. He is the owner 
of a fine farm of most excellent arable land, which 
has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and 
on which the improvements are of a good and sub- 
stantial character. He is classed by his fellow- 
citizens as one of the public-spirited and represent- 
ative men of the township, and merits and receives 
the warmest confidence and esteem of the entire 
community. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and a good, worthy and sincere 
Christian gentleman. 

^^EN. BEROTH BULLARD EGGLESTON, 
III (=- a capitalist and a distinguished citizen of 
^^iH Kansas, lives in Wichita. He has occupied 
:i prominent position in the public affairs of our 
countrj', both as a soldier and as a statesman. He 
is of New England ancestrj- — a hardy, self-reliant 
peijple, witii much force of character and fine cour- 
age. His grandfatiier, John Egglcston, was a native 
of Massachusetts, and of English descent. He was 
a farmer by occupation, and after marriage and the 
birth of two children, he removed to Corinth, Sara- 
toga Co., N. Y., at the time of the Revolution. 
That part of the countr3' was then a wilderness, and 
there was not another white famil}- within twenty 
^ 



miles of them, but plenty of the Sar;ii<iga Indians, 
with whom he had some trouble. He was a vigor- 
ous man, and was endowed with great courage, and 
w:us full of resources. At one time Indians came 
with the determination to entice him away from 
his house and kill him. He, with great coolness, 
told them if they would help him split a log in two 
he would afterward go with them. At the same 
time, pointing to a log into which he had driven a 
wedge, he told them to put their hands into the 
opening and pull it apart. The unsuspecting sav- 
ages innocently comiilied with his request, when he 
knocked the wedge out, and had them caught fast. 
He then despatched them to the "hapi)y hunting- 
grounds." The home he built for himself and 
family in the forests of Saratoga County was a com- 
modious frame house, two stories in height, 20x40 
feet, sills fourteen inches squ:u-e, posts twelve inches 
square, and a porch across the front of the house. 
When they first moved there, for a year or two 
they depended on the game they shot for meat. He 
and his wife remained residents of their pioneer 
home until death. His life was prolonged many 
years, and he was considerably over ninety years 
old when he paid bis debt to nature. To him and 
his wife were born the following children: John, 
Amos, Benjamin, Arter and Lovina. 

The old homestead fell to Arter Eggleston, father 
of our subject, who was born thereon in 1781. He 
married, in his native place, Lovina Prosser, a na- 
tive of the same county. Bj- that marriage he had 
four children, namely : Amos, Draper, Joseph and 
Seth. Draper and Seth are now living in Ohio. 
Mrs. Eggleston died, and for his second wife Mr. 
Eggleston married Clarissa Barrus, a native of Brat- 
tleboro, Vt., where she was born in 1781. By this 
marriage they had three children — Cromwell, Be- 
roth B. (our subject) and LoVina. The latter mar- 
ried James Gibbons. Cromwell lives in Oliic), en- 
gaged in farming. 

The grandfather of Gen. Eggleston on his mother's 
side was Jonathan Barrus. He married Marcia 
Allen, youngest daughter of the celebrated John 
Allen, of Revolutionary fame. He w.-is a brother 
of Ethan Allen, and is said to have been the plan- 
ner of all their daring exploits, among which was 
the capture of Ticonderoga. Jonathan Barrus, the 
:m^. 



■ -4^ 
■J70 



si:i>i:\vi( K ("oiNTY, 



^r 



Kmixlfalhcr, sorveil ns « Third Lieutenant ci 
jjKOns for thn-c yt-arn in the Uovoliitionjirv ^^'n. 
He was iil.*<> in tlio ContinenUil Arniv when tlic 
DeclBfJilidn of Iiii|<'i>oii(loncc was iloolared. 

Tlu' fallur of our stibjcct iiiov<m1 with his fniiiily, 
in IS.'IH. U> lliK-kin^ t'oiintv. Ohio, that [Kirl which 
is now known as Vinton C'onnlv, and pnn-liiuseil a 
farm near New Plynioutli. whero he and his wife 
made their homo nntil deatli, his occurring in 18(M, 
and hent in 1«C>.'». They connnaniled the res|M'ct 
and confidence of evcryliody about tlicni, anil he 
was well known all over the country as " Honest 
Uncle Art." 

The suhject of this sketch was born in Corinth. 
SaraU>ga Co., N. Y., .Inly II, IHIH. lie spent 
his 3'outhful day.> on the home farm, and in attend- 
ance at the winter sessions of the district school, 
one mile away. He still has a vivid recollection 
of his childish school days, and of the old .Sciitch 
schoolmsister who presided over the school, who 
considered the half-dozen black-birch sticks with 
which he armed himself every morning before pro- 
ceeding to the scene of his daily labors as more ef- 
fective than moral suaision in keeping his unruly 
subjects in order. 

< )ur subject remained an inmate of his parents' 
home until he wjis fifteen \'ears old. At that early 
age, shortly after the removal of his father to Ohio, 
he went to work by the month ns clerk in a store 
in Plymouth, Ohio. He remained there aliout four 
months, then went to C'hillicothe, in the same 
State, and there apprenticed himself to the firm of 
I). Ad:ims Ar C'<i., with whom he remained four 
years, receiving in return for his services his board 
and clothes. AVhen he went there it was agreed 
that he should be .sent to school, if it were neces- 
sary, to make him a business man. It probably was 
nut deemed necessary, as he was never sent to 
»ch<K)l. He, however, acquired a clear insight into 
the business, and an experience which was beneficial 
to him in after life. After he left the employ of 
that firm he engaged in business in C'hillicothe with 
Charles Cornwell, under the firm name<if Kggh«ton 
A Cornwell. The}' cjirricd on that enterprise for 
eighteen months, but it proved to be a disastrous 
venture. Our subject then read law in Chillicothe 
for three years, and traveled through the county 



iig a large collecting and |M>ttifogging business. 
I'loni that he turned his attention to the lumber 
trade, with Mr. Ma-ssie, of Majisicville, six miles 
from Chillicothe. While residing then-, Mr. Kg- 
ulc-ton received the ap|>ointment of I'ostmasti-r 
from rresident Fillmore, and he retained the ollice 
three y«'ars. He and .Mr. .Massie afterward extended 
their business t<i include farming, leasing 1,700 acres 
of land two miles south of the city «if Chillicothe. 
At the eml of two years .Mr. .M.assie died, and the 
partnership being thus dissolved, Mr. Kggleston, in 
eomi)any with .lob Ste|ihenson, engaged in farming 
near Yellow Ibid, in Uoss Coiinlj', where they had 
2,600 acres. They continued to conduct their farm- 
ing o|)erations until the hust of .hine, I HOI. At that 
time our subject began his career as a soldier, and 
all private Considerations of his large business inter- 
ests were put aside that he might go to the battle- 
fields with the other brave defenders of our country 
and its institutions. 

Mr. l^gglest<m enlisted in the 1st Ohio Regiment 
as a private, but when the command wjis orgnni/ed 
he wjLs elected Captiiin, and during the following 
years of strife he wa.s conspicuous in camp and field 
for his ability, braveiy, and devotion to the duties 
devolving upon him as a leader of men, an<l at the 
close of the war lie retired from the army with a 
brilliant record and a high rank as an olllcer. In 
18C;i he was promote<l to the position of Major, and 
within a year became a Colonel, and in March. 1 si'i.'i, 
was breveted Brigadier dcneral, and held that rank 
when he was tlischargcd from the army. In .Inly, 
11SG2, he w.as taken prisoner at Coiirtland, Ala., and 
remained for six months in the hands of the rebels 
before he was exchanged. He then returned to his 
command. He wjus always on the field when any 
engagement was going on, and when in Tennessee 
t»K>k an active part in the battles of Miirfreesboro, 
Mission Uidge and ChickainHiig.i. He was with 
(<en. Wils(ui hi his raid into Alabama after (ien. 
Forrest, and there Gen. Kggleston disniounted his 
cavalrj' and with them captured Forrest's battery of 
artillery, for which gallant deed he received special 
conimendation from (lens. I'pton and Wilson. 

(Ien. F.ggleston wjls with (Ien. Kilpatrick when he 
started to go round Atlanta, and when (ien. Long 
was wounded the command of the lro<ips fell to 



•t-« 



Ih-^*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



471 



him. The General met the flag of truce at Macon, 
Ga., and by order of Maj. Gen. Wilson he took 
eigiity dismounted men, and jiroceeded to Atlanta 
and received the surrender from Col. Glenn, and 
assumed command of the city. There he had abso- 
lute authoritj', excused the Mayor and all tlie city 
olliccrs from further duty; also advised the Judges 
of tiie court to hold no more sessions; and the 
members of the Legislature who siskcd his advice 
were advised not to convene an}' more sessions of 
that bod}': established a military guard, and soon 
had the city under a quiet and orderly government. 
Jefferson Davis, and Mallory, Confederate .Secretar}' 
of the Navy, and C. C. Clay, were prisoners under 
him at AtlanUv. At the expiration of six weeks 
Gen. Kggleston was relieved by Gen. Alexander 
from his position as military commander of At- 
lanta, and ordered to proceed with his command to 
Orangeburg, S. C, and report in person to Gen. 
Gilmore, at Hilton Head. When he airived there 
Gen. Gilmore immediately placed him on his staff 
as Chief of Cavalry for the Department of the 
South, which important and responsible position he 
hehl until he was mustered out of the service at 
Camp Chase, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1865. 

After leaving the army Gen. Eggleston became 
a citizen of Mississippi, settling with his family on 
a plantation of 640 acres, near Crawfordsville, where 
he remained one year, engaged in the culture of 
cotton and corn. He soon became a conspicuous 
figure in the public affairs of the State. He was 
elected a delegate to the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, held at Jackson, Miss., and was elected Pres- 
ident of the Convention, holding that position 
until its close. After the formation of the Consti- 
tution he was elected Governor of Mississippi, but 
Congress would not then re-admit Mississipj)! as a 
State, and he did not take the gubernatorial chair. 
Gen. Eggleston subsequent!}' came within two votes 
of being elected to the United Stjites Senate from 
that .State. He was appointed by Gen. Grant As- 
sessor of Internal Revenue, and retained that posi- 
tion for four years. During his term of oflice he 
purchased an interest in the gas works at Columbus, 
Miss. This proved to be a very profitable invest- 
I nicnt, and he held it for six yeai-s. 

In the year 1878 Gen. Eggleston disposed of his 
^» 



various interests in Mississippi, and with his family 
left his Southern home and came to Kansas. He first 
settled between the Big and Little Arkans:is Rivers, 
where he purchased 100 acres of improved land, and 
on the rich soil of that valley resumed his old voca- 
tion as a farmer. At the expiration of three yeai-s 
he removed to the city of Wichita, and has ever 
since been one of the leading citizens of this flour- 
ishing metropolis of the State. He was elected 
Superintendent of the Water Works, and held that 
position until they were purchased by a syndicate. 
He is now Chairman of the Metropolitan Police 
Force of Wichita. He is a leader in the Repub- 
lican party, and steadily upholds the principles 
for which he fought so nobly during the trying 
days of the Rebellion. He is a prominent Mason. 
His courteous and affable manners, together with 
his integrity and ability, have won for him the 
same high place in the regard of his fellow-citizens 
of Kansas that he has ever held among the people 
in other parts of the country where he has had a 
home. 

Gen. Eggleston w.as married, in 1844, to Miss 
Martha Phillips, of Chillicothe, Ohio, daughter of 
James and Mary (Ilarr) Phillips. Her grandfather 
on her mother's side was the first Methodist preacher 
in Ohio. She was herself an honored member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and a woman of 
rare personal endowments, which made her be- 
loved by all who came under her influence. Her 
death, which occurred June 1.3, 1867, at her pleasant 
home on a IVIississippi plantation, was a sad loss to 
her many friends. To her and her husband were 
born five children, four of whom are now living, 
namely : Arthur, Clara, Mary and Laura. Arthur 
is a resident of Pratt County, Kan. ; Clara is now 
Mrs. Junkerman, of Wichita; she has one child, 
Katie. Mr. Junkerman died in 1883. Mary is 
now Mrs. Charlton, of Wichita; Laura B. is IMrs. 
Myers, of Wichita. 

A portrait of Gen. Eggleston is shown on an ad- 
joining page of this work. 

ylLLIAM C. ROSENSTIEL, who is exten- 
sively engaged in farming and stock-raising 
on section 26, Attica Township, was born 
Aug. 10, 182.3, in Germany. He is the son of 



- ► ■ ^ 



•►■-^ 



47t 



SKIii-.WICK COCNTY. 



Jacob nnd Mary (Schftr.n. 

wore also iintivc.H of that |:iii ••! iin' i.( 1111:111 

Kiiipiri". 

Our siihjfct rcnmiiiot) jii \m native liiml. when' 
he n-ceivpfl a most cxccllfiil edtu-ntion, until he was 
some nineteen yean* old. !it whirh nj^e iic rame to 
Ihi.i L-ountry with his father anil his father's family. 
The parents locateil in Stephenson, 111., where ho 
pureliosoil a tract of land, anil mndo it his home 
duriii<; the remainder of his life, his death iK-currin>; 
in August, ISG.'J. There were six children in his 
family, .OS follows: .Tohn, Charles and llonry, who 
are residents of the Stati- of Illinois; ^^'illiam C, 
our suhjecl; Krederiok and Mary, deceased. 

At about the a<rc of twenty-three, the gentleman 
wlu»se life we are endeavoring to trace comnienceil 
busine^ for himself on a farm which he owned in 
.Stephensftn County, where he remained some fifteen 
years. Mo removed, at the expiration of that time, 
to l)ouglas County, in the same .State, where he 
rented a farm just south of Areola, and made his 
home there for two years, and then moved to 
Cham|>aign County, where he purchased 230 acres 
of land, and on that ]ilace he lived about nine 
years, but in the latter part of 187.'! he removed to 
Kansas and purchased his present home, to which 
he moved in the spring of 1874. Since locating 
on that tract he has bought an additional half- 
section, si> that he has now a magnificent farm of 
480 acres of land, all of which is well under culti- 
vation, and on which he has erected some handsome 
and comfortable improvements. 

The marriage ceremony which took j)laee Dec. 
21, 184r>, unil4-d the destinies of Mr. Hosenstiel 
and Miss Rachel I'ickard. The lady was born near 
Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1827, and is the daughter 
of .Smith W. and AlTa (.skiel) Pickard, both of 
whom were also natives of the Km(>irc .Stjite. Her 
father wa.s of (German and Irish descent and the 
mother of French and Welsh. Mrs. Hosenstiel was 
reared in New York until she was about eleven 
years of age, when she went with her parents to 
Stephen.Hon County, III., where she was living at the 
time of her marriage. Our subject and his wife 
are the parents of thirteen children, twelve f>f 
whom are still living. Their record is a-* follows: 
Adeline V.. who was born f)ct. 17, I m17, married 



I >i<l. and is a resident nf Montgomery 

liiiiiii\. K.iii.; Lutiinda A. wjlh born .Sept. II, 
1H4'.). and died in infancy; Henry A., whiise birth 
tiKik plac«' .July 2t'>, 18.'il. married .Miss ,lane 
I'ickard. of Stcplnn.son County, III., Aug. I.t, 1h72, 
and i> living on his father'.'* farm; Alon/n H., born 
April II, IK.'i.'t, married, and is living in ilar|>er 
County, this State; Susan K., .Mrs. HoIhtI O. Iliek- 
8on, was born .Sept. 2.3, I8,''>|, :ini| Is a resident of 
New Mexico; .Sarah .M., born Oct. 20. lK.-|t;, married 
Mose.s A. lliles, of this county; Frank K., who was 
born March 30, I M.'»K, married ,Mi.ss (Jreen, and is 
living in Harper County, this Suite; Matilda .1., 
Mrs. John F. Curtiss, was born Dec. 12, IKj'J; 
Edgar J., Feb. 13, lwr>2; Oliver L., Jan. IC, l«C4; 
Albert . I., Dec. 20, 1«(;."); Lewis ()., Dec. 7, 18G7; 
and Lillie M., whose birth UM»k place Oct. 20, 1870. 
In his politics, the subject of our nari-ative is 
entirely independent of [wirty lines. sup|Hirting the 
fittest man for the office i)n all occajtiims. He w.ns 
reared in the Lutlienm faith :md his wife in that of 
the Methodist Kpisco|)al Church, and are good and 
sincere Christian |)eoplc. They enjoy the esteem 
and rcs|icct of the entire community for their many 
virtues and their generous and genial hospitality. 

— ^ -o*<»©v"v®-<'^ V— 

tllO.MAS .1. MAC UKDIK. Among the old 
leers and represenUitivc agriculturists of 
inoscah Town.ship, there is probably no 
more prominent figure than Mr. .M.icredie, who 
makes his home on section 2G. He is a native of 
.Scotland, born April 18, 184.'$, and the son of Sjim- 
uel and Janet (Japp) Macredie, both of whom 
were natives of the sjune ccuintry. When he wa.* 
about seven years of age his jiarents determined 
to emigrate to America, in the betterment of their 
fortunes, and :iccordingly took passage on :i steamer 
at (ila.sgow, which took them to I.iver|>ool. From 
the latter |)ort the family came to the I'nited SUiU-s 
on a .•<ailing-vcs.sel, and after a weary voyage of 
four weeks acro^s the wild .Atlantic, landed in 
Boston. 

For some eight years the parents of our subject 
remained in .Mas.nachuselLs. where Thomas received 
a |H>rtion of his educational tniining. At the ex- 




•► ■ -4- 



T 



i 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



473 



pir.ition of that time tho fainil}' removed to Illinois 
and located in Grundy County, wliere his parents 
remained for quite a number of j^ears. During ids 
residence there the subject of this narration linished 
his education, and at tiie age of sixteen years be- 
gan to learn the tailor's trade, which avocation his 
father followed. He was employed in this business 
for about three years and a half, but subsequently 
was eng.aged in coal-mining until 1867, when he 
embarked in the mercantile business at Braid wood, 
111., and continued in that business until 1870. On 
tlu' nil of July of the latter 3'ear, in company 
with William Ross and Thomas Jamieson, he started 
from Will County, 111., on an exploring trip into 
Kansas. Mr. Ross had one span of horses and a 
wagon, and the other outfit was owned \>y Alessrs. 
Jamieson and Macredie in partnership. They had 
c-oiK-ludod that in Kansas they would find a home, 
but had not definitely' decided on the exact locality 
where they would settle. On the Gth of August 
following they arrived in Wichita, and made up 
their minds that Sedgwick County ofifered better 
inducements to them than any place that thej' had 
seen, and concluded to pitch their tents within its 
limits, The following spring Mr. Macredie, ac- 
cordingly, pre-empted a quarter-section of land 
on sections 2G and 27, eighty acres of which lay on 
each section. He was among the first pioneers in 
Ninnescah, and settled on his claim when it was in 
an entirely raw and primitive condition, a waste of 
prairie grass and weeds. As no house w.as built 
upon the land, our subject was compelled to camp 
out for a short time, until he could erect what is 
locally called a dugout, which provided him with 
a better shelter. He had .spent the previous winter 
in Osage County, Kan., but made his settlement 
on his present farm in February', 1871. 

The subject of this biograph}' w.as united in mar- 
riage in Illinois, Jul^' 16, 1866, with Miss Anide 
Ilynd, a native of Scotland, who, however, died in 
June, 1868. After his settlement in this county 
he kept bachelor's hall for about a j'ear, and was 
married, Feb. 26, 1872, to Miss Janet Jamieson, a 
native of Scotland, born Sept. 3, 18.52. She is a 
daughter of James and Janet (Tudhope) Jamieson, 
both of whom were also natives of t)ld .Scotia. She 
had emigrated with her parents to America in the 



summer of 1860, and on their arrival in this coun- 
try tlie family had gone direct to Will County, 
III., where they remained until coming to Sedg- 
wick County in 1870. Her father died here May 
6, 1876, but her mother still survives, and m.ikes 
her home with her children in Kansas, being now 
in her sevent^'-fifth year, although a vcrj' hale and 
hearty old lady. To Mr. and Mrs. Macredie have 
been born a family' of nine children, only three of 
whom are living, as follows: .Samuel T., born Nov. 
12, 1873; James J., whose birth occurred June 4, 
1877; and Agnes R., who was born Dec. 1, 1881. 

The subject of this sketch is the owner of some 
226 acres of fine arable land, which he has brought 
under a condition of high cultivation, and on which 
he h.as erected a good residence, and mauj- other 
substantial improvement*. He is practically a self- 
made man, having commenced life with no capital 
except strong arras, an iron constitution, and an 
energy of purpose that was bound to vvin. His 
large and handsome farm is a standing monument 
to his industry, perseverance and good manage- 
ment, coupled with economy, and a praiseworthy 
frugality. He is a Republican in politics, and has 
served for several terms as Trustee of his town- 
ship, and .as Clerk and Treasurer for several j'cars. 
Being greatly interested in educational work, he 
has filled in a praiseworthy manner the oflice of 
Treasurer of School District No. 33 for a period 
of fifteen years. Both he and his estimable wife 
are members of the Presbj'terian Church, in which 
Mr. M.aeredie is officiating as Deacon, and holds 
several otlier minor church offices. 



HARLES A. NORTON, in 1880, came to 
UHisas and purchased a half-section of fine 
bottom land, near the confluence of Spring 
Creek with the Arkans.as River, from which he has 
eliminated one of the finest homesteads in Rockford 
Tomiship. Most of the land is enclosed, and 
among the attractive features is a fine orchard with 
apple and peach trees, while around the residence 
are the smaller fruit trees which yield the luxuries 
of the season for the use of the household. Adja- 
cent to these is the beautiful residence, upon which 




-•► 



-^*- 



<74 



SEDC;W1CK COINTY. 



much lime and money have Iteen expended, and the 
olhtT furni building nro fully in keeping with Ihf 
rcquirenu-nts of the nxMlorn ngrit-iiltiirist nnd the 
l^ciitli-niitn iif tjis'.e nnd nionns. Mr. Norttjn uinkcs 
a !i|>ecinlty of thio >t<>rk, including cuttlo, ninles and 
hofM's, from the proeeetls of «hicii In- rcidi7.e> 
nnnunlly ii hnndsiinie income. 

deneset' County. N. Y.. was the curly tramping 
ground of our sulijoct, nnd there his liirlh took 
pbice on the INth of March, 1 «3(). ili;* parent*., 
Chnrle.s nnd Amy (Knapp) Norton, were natives 
resj)ectively of Vermont nnd Connecticut. Chnrle.s 
Norton. Sr., was born in 1789, wn.s reared to farm- 
ing pursuiUs, nnd when a young mnn engngeil in the 
War of 181:i, and witnessed the burning of the 
city of HufTnIo l)y the Hritish. He was in the 
battles of Lundy's J..anc, Lexington nnd I'Inttsbnrg. 
and nfl«'r the troubles of that period were tiver 
located in New York, Inter in Lawrence County, 
Ohio, where his death took place on the t',ih of 
June, 1 «.'»}. 

The mother of <jur .suliject wn.s born in 1787, and 
survived her husband for n |)criod of eighteen 
years, her death Uiking place in Clinton County, 
Mo., on the 8th of .September, 1872. Tiie children 
of the parentiil family were: William, Norman, 
Harvey, Almon, Alfreil L., I'ully, Amy, .•iiid Charles 
A., of our sket<^'li. The latter is the oidy surviving 
member of the family. Me completed his educa- 
tion in the academy at Albany, Ohio, and when 
twenty-one years of age w.-ls united in marriage 
with Mis.s Almira, daughter of Hev. William and 
Cnmlace (Hy<le) Holmes, the wedding taking place 
at the home of the bride, in ScioUj Comity, ()lii«i, 
on the !tth of Kebriuiry, l.s.Ol. Mrs. Almira Norton 
was born Oec. 2o, IX.'JI, in .Sciolt> County, Ohio. 
Her father for a |)eriod of twenty-five years offici- 
ated as a minister of the liaptist Cliurcli, not far 
from the place of his birth, which wns in .Scioto 
County, Ohio; he died in 1^70, in Koss County, 
»."ime .State. The mother was a native of Cnnndn, 
and |in.s.sed nwny !»<'Verjil _vears before the <leccns<' 
of her husband, her death taking place in Scioto 
County, Ohio, in the spring of 18;')2. 

.Mr. ancl Mrs. Norton, in Ih."i;}, left their home in 
Ohio, nnd lo<-at4-d on a farm iienr St. .losepli. Mo., 
where Mr. N. tilleil the soil until thespringof 1880, 



which wilncssod his arrival in this county. In the 

menntimc he hnd given eighteen months t4i the 
service of his country, having enlisted in the 12tli 
Missouri Kcgiment in October, 18C)1. He wns pro- 
mote<l to Corporal, and met the enemy in battle 
nenr Camden Point ami Rochester, Mo., the regi- 
ment being under command of Col. O. O. McDon- 
ald. He escaped without injury, nnil returning 
home, resumed his fnrming operntions, in which he 
litLs since been more than ordinarily successful. He 
is a stanch adherent of the Kepiiblican party, and 
ofllcinted ilh Treasurer during the organization of 
U«H-kford Township, besides serving as .ScIiimiI 
Director in his ilistrict the greater |mrt of the time 
since his residence here. He nnd his excellent 
wife are both members of the .Missionary Baptist 
Church, in which .Mr. Norton holds the ollices of 
Trustee nnd Treasurer. 

Of the nini' chililren born to Mr. and .Mi-s. Norton 
the record is as follows: Cnndace was born .May .'Jl, 
18.').">, nnd became the wife of Charles !•'. Chamber- 
lain, n nntivc of Maine; he died in IHS;}, and she 
was a second time ninrricd, to !•'. U. Whittemore. 
Jennie, born -Vug. 1.'), 1S;'(7, is the wife of A. .M. 
Hunt, a native of Kentucky, and they are now resi- 
dents of Rockfoid Township; Charles W. was born 
.Sc|)t. 18, IH.i'.t, married Miss Fannie Law, and is 
now engjiged at farming in Seilgwick County, this 
State; Amy was born April 2, IsCl ; Harvey, March 
22, 18(;;!; Lidn, born Nov. 12, 18t;C, married A. 
F. Best, and they are living in Rockford Town- 
ship; Annette was born Feb. 12, IHd'.); Mattie, 
July 27, 1871, and (liiy L., Jan. 1, 187'.i. Those 
unmarried are living with their p!ircnls. 



(* )»ILLIAM I. .STRICKLAND. Among the 
\/\/// leading and representative agriculturists of 
VW Ohio Township, stalwart and sturdy tillei-s 
of the soil, there is none who stands a more promi- 
nent figure than the gentleman of whom this notice 
is written. Hi» residence, which stands u|>on his 
fine farm on .secti<ui l)!, is a hniidsome and substan- 
tial one, and is known far and wiile for the open 
hospitality nnd geniality of its inmates. 

Mr. Strickland made his appearance upon the 



•►Hl-^*- 



■•►■-^ 



-4^ 



SK DC WICK COUNTY. 



475 



stage of life April 28, If^d'J, in Tazewell County, 
111., at the home of his parents, Thomas and Susau 
(BontUirant) Strickland, who were both natives of 
Tennessee. His father was of Scotch descent, while 
tlie ancestors of his mother were among the emi- 
grants from La Belle France, who settled in the 
.Southern States at an early day. The parents of 
our subject were among the pioneers who led the 
wa\' toward the settling and development of Taze- 
well County, and endured many of the hardships 
and trials that were necessary to the opening up of 
that now splendid county of the Prairie State. His 
father remained a resident of that locality until his 
death, which occurred in 1880, and there his 
mother still makes her home. William was one of 
a family of seven children born to his parents, of 
whom the following five are still living: James M., 
of Woodford County, HI.; Robert G., of Tazewell 
Count3', the same State; William I., the subject of 
this sketch; Thomas J., of McLean County, 111., 
and Mar}' J., the wife of James Trewalla, of Bal- 
lard County, Kj-. Pleasant B. and Margaret A. 
are deceased. The husband of Margaret A. is 
Thomas Cooper, now Internal Revenue Collector, 
with headquarters at Springfield, 111. 

The subject of this memoir was reared to man's 
estate in his native county, and has a wide experi- 
ence of pioneer life, having grown up among the 
scenes of the first settlement of that portion of the 
Prairie SUite. He received his education in such 
schools as the times and locality afforded, and ob- 
tained the training upon his father's farm that has 
been so valuable to him in making the splendid 
success in life that he has. He remained at home 
until he was about twent^'-four years of age, at 
which time he was married, the ceremony taking 
place Jan. 3, 1863. On that day he led to the 
marriage altar his chosen bride. Miss Mary Drury, 
who was born in Peoria County, 111., March 26, 
1846. She is a daughter of William and Susan 
(Truitt) Drury, natives of West Virginia and Ohio 
respectively. 

William Drury, the father of Mrs. Strickland, 
removed from Portsmouth, Va., in 1834, with a 
colony of forty colonists, and settled in Tazewell 
County, near where the town of Washington is 
now situated. At that time Peoria was but a liam- 
-4* 



let and the country about it almost uninhabited. 
Mr. Drury was a stone and In-ick mason, and assisted 
in the erection of many of the large buildings of 
Washington, El Paso and Peoria, and worked at his 
trade for a number of years. In 1876 or 1877 he 
removed to McLean County, III., where he was 
engaged in farming in the neighborhood of Lex- 
ington, and afterward on the farm of J. H. Kenp, 
east of that town. In March, 1885, he purchased 
property in the eastern part of the city, where he 
lived a quiet and retired life, until he was called 
to that home in Heaven not made b}' hands, pass- 
ing away in December, 1885, in his sevent3--fourth 
year. He was, until the last few 3'ears of his life, 
possessed of a very rugged constitution, and with 
the exception of occasional attacks of neuralgia of 
the heart, with which he had been troubled for 
twenty years and from which he died, was in excel- 
lent health. He was the father of seventeen chil- 
dren, twelve of whom, seven boys and five girls, all 
grown, survive him, as does also his estimable wife. 
He was a member of the Methodist Church for more 
than fortj' years, and a sincere and exemplar^' 
Christian gentleman. 

The subject of our sketch remained a resident of 
Illinois until 1885, in which year he came to Sedg- 
wick County, and settled on the farm where he 
is now living, which he had purchased several 
j'ears previous. Besides this excellent property' of 
160 acres he is also the owner of a quarter-section 
of land in Kingman County, this State, which is 
also of great pecuniary worth. What he has ac- 
cumulated of this world's goods is the result of 
the industrj', perseverance and economy of both 
himself and his wife, the)' being the onl^- architects 
of their present comfortable fortune. The}' are 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and take an active interest in all that relates to 
religious work. Our subject is at present ofliciat- 
ing as Recording Steward of that society, and is 
also serving as Clerk of the School Board in the 
district in which he is living. While a resident of 
Woodford County, III., he filled with considerable 
credit the difficult office of Assessor of Panola 
Township, but has little desire for political office. 
In the discharge of his elective franchise he sup- 
ports the candidates of the Democratic party, and 



f 






-4*- 



476 



sKUCWICK COINTY. 



iiilvocntcs tlip |>riiu'i|>le.s as laid down by ThomaA 
.li'fTiTMiii. Till- entire family receive the higlie.xt 
meed of praiiK- from tlieir noighhors for tlicir inilus- 
Iry, iuU-grity. and pleasant, genial manners). 

To .Mr. and .Mr?. Strickland lliere have been born 
n family of nine children, lus folluw.s: Tliomiis F. ; 
.Mary V.. wife of (1. M. Horner; .Iniia A., .Mrs. II. 
(!. ('(Mjiiey; Cora F., the wife of T. 15. Burger; 
Charles I., Ella .M., H.rt \V., IHIul B., .leceased, 
and Clarence. The five eldest children are mem- 
bers of the Melhotliat K|)isco|ml Church. 

ANIKJ< K. HOONK is a prominent stock- 
jlj raiser and an extensive land-t)W'ner, residing 
in I'nion Township, lie, like the illus- 
trious founder of Boonesboro, Kj'., who 
bore the same name as his own and was of the 
same ancestnil descent, is a pioneer of a later day 
and generation, as he came here in IIS72, when the 
county w!is just beginning to be settlcil by men 
who were attracted by the reports of the wonder- 
ful fertility of the soil of the Arkansas River 
Valley, its beautiful location and fine climate. He 
pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 25 in 
Union Township, where he has since made his 
home. He is engaged extensively in raising cattle 
and road and draft horses, and has a fine ranch 
of 110 acres, besides owning town propertj' in 
various places throughout K.-uisas. In addition to 
these intercsL'^ he is prominently identifiecl with the 
Colwich Town Company. t)nc of the finest illus- 
trations given in this volume is the full pjige view 
of .Mr. Boone's properly. 

Mr. Boone was born in Corll.-iud County. N. Y., 
Nov. 12, l«iJ2. His father, Klroy Boone, w.-is a 
native of Kentucky and a descendant of the .same 
family of which Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky 
frontierMuan and hunter, was a member. When :i 
young in:in he went to New York .SUite to live, and 
there married Catherine DeLoug. of Oneida County. 
In the year l«ij« they removed to Kno.x County, 
III., and there engaged in farming in Copley Town- 
ship, meeting with good success. In IM72 they 
removed with their family to I'nion T(;wnship, 
Sedgwick Co.. Kan., where thoy bought a half-sec- 



tion of lajid, and. making their homo upon it, be- 
came pion(>cr8 of this county. The Iniid was well 
located, and in time Mr. Bin me had impro\ed a 
valuable farm. He is now living in honorable 
retirement, with a mui in Kin;.'man County, deserv- 
edly enjoying the respect and esteem of all. His 
estimable wife de|>arted this life in 1«7'J. To them 
hail been born seven children, namely: Marietta, 
Daniel M., Emery G., Klizubeth, .lames H., .Maggie 
and Alice. Marietta is the wife tif Uoj-al Tucker, 
of Hutchinson, Kan.; ICnicry Ii\es in Kingman 
County; Klizabeth is the wife of Charles Miller, of 
Seilgwick County; .lames resides near Colwich; 
Maggie is the wife of Henry Max»vell, of Wichita; 
Alice is the wife of Samuel Kussell. of Mai/.c. 
Besides these Mr. Boone has two children by a 
former wife: M. W. and Tillie Boone, living at 
Galesburg, III. 

Our subject was about .-.ix years old when he left 
the home of his birth and accoinpani('<| his |KirenLs 
to Illinois. He received the rudiments of his 
education in the public schools of Knox County, 
and completed by a fine coui-se of instructittn at 
the Galesburg (111.) Business College. During 
vacation he assisted his father in farming. In 1K72 
he came with his parents to Kansa,s, and has since 
been a resident of Sc<lgwick County. He is a 
shrewd man of business, endowed with a clear 
intellect anil :i decided force of character, which 
have rendered him an invaluable f:iclor in develo])- 
ing the various resources of the county. In ever)' 
enterprise that he ha.s undertaken he li:us been ex- 
ceedingly prosjierous, :uid has addcil over ♦2,000 U) 
his fortune each year since he became a resident of 
this State. His methods of farming and stock- 
raising are the most approved, conducted so 
skillfully !us to produce the best resnlt.s. and giving 
him :i high rank among the progressive and wide- 
awake fjirmers of Sedgwick County. 

Mr. Boone was married, Dec. 25, 187.'!, to Miss 
Katie Carpenter, daughter of Horace and Mary 
(Kmery) Carpenter, the former a native of I'enn- 
sylvani.'i and the hitter of \'ermont. They (Mr. 
and Mrs. Car|»«'nter) were m.'irried in Dul'age 
County, III. Mr. CariK'nl4'r was engaged in the 
Unnber business, and for nine years held the otiico 
of United Stittcs Ucvcnue Assessor. He now has 



i 



■•►■ 



•►Hl-^^ 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



479 



his residence in Colwich, this State. Mrs. Boone 
was born in California, Sept. 1, IS.'iS. Her union 
with Mr. Boone has been blessed by the birth of 
two children — Franl< and Mabel. 

Mr. Boone is an influential member of the Re- 
publican party of Kansas, and takes a great interest 
in public affairs. He has done good service to his 
township as Justice of the Peace. He has never 
connected himself with anj' religious organization, 
but is large minded and tolerant of the views of 
others. His business dealings are characterized by 
fairness and strict honesty, and he and his amiable 
wife have won for themselves an enviable place in 
the regard of others in the comnuinity. 



yilLLIAM WALDO HAINES, Chief of the 
Metropolitan Police Force, is a very highly 
esteemed resident of Wichita, and under 
his judicious management the police force is fast 
gaining the favor of the citizens, who objected to 
the new system and strongly denounced the force 
when it was first established. But jis under his 
careful supervision order is maintained and the 
conditiou of the city is daily improving, the people 
now respect the force and honor its chief. 

Mr. Haines is a native of Hocking County, Ohio, 
where he was born Aug. 2G. 1849. Mr. William 
H. Haiues, father of our subject, was born in Vir- 
ginia, the Haines family having been residents in 
the United Suites for many j^ears. At the age of 
eighteen j'cars he removed to Oliio, and at the 
breaking out of the Mexican War enlisted as a 
member of the army. After peace was restored he 
returned to the Buckeye State and entered the 
political arena, receiving the election for District 
Clerk, and serving in that capacity and as Deputy 
for twent3'-four 3-ears. Subsequently he was elected 
to the highest office in the gift of the city, serving 
as Mayor of Logan, an office which he was holding 
at the time of his death in 1877. Politically' he 
was a Democrat, a man of great ability and force 
of character, and wielded a strong influence in 
Hocking County, both in political and in civil life, 
and at his death the entire county mourned with 
the city so sadly bereaved in the loss of one of its 



most faithful counselors and prominent citizens, 
and all extended sympathy to the atllicled family 
deprived of so kind a husband and tender father. 
The maiden name of his wife was Emily C. Tucker, 
who faithfully' co-operated with him in all his un- 
dertakings, and was a most estimable and loving 
companion. She is now living in Santa Barbara, 
Cal. To her and her husband had been born four 
children, of whom our subject is the only one 
living. 

William Waldo Haines, of whom we write, re- 
ceived a good common-school education, and in 
1804, though but a boy, being of an ambitious and 
an adventurous spirit, started for Kansas, accom- 
panied by a cousin. They spent a year in Topeka, 
and then pushed on to Salina, where they took up 
a claim of land and resided for several years. In 
the winter season they were engaged in hunting 
buffalo, and at other seasons in freighting on the 
plains, raising a little corn, etc. In 18G8 our sub- 
ject was employed by the Goveriunent as a scout, 
his braver}', astuteness and vigilance peculiarly 
fitting him for that hazardous position. Three 
3'ears later he leased the Salina stockyards, and the 
first year was very successful in conducting the 
cattle business, but the following winter being of 
unusual severity he lost heavily. He then went to 
Ottawa County, where he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff, and served for one year, subsequent!}' locat- 
ing on a farm in said count}'. In the spring of 
1873 our subject returned to Salina County, and 
from there came to Sedgwick County, and estal)- 
lished in Wichita, where he engaged in freighting 
to the Territory with his two teams. He afterward 
obtained a position as clerk in a store, and then 
served as Deputy Sheriff and jailer for a year. 
Later Mr. Haiues followed contracting and road 
grading, finally becoming interested in real estate, 
and making money in manipulating the same in 
Wichita. On the 13th of July, 1887, our subject 
was appointed to the responsible position he now 
holds, as Chief of the Metropolitan Police Force, 
composed of twenty-two men. The following 
Januai-}', in recognition of his efficient service, and 
as a just tribute to his worth, the citizens of 
Wichita presented Chief Haines with an elegant 
gold badge, surmounted by an eagle, set with dia- 



- » 1 <» 



1' ' 4H() 



>► ■ -^ 



SKDCWICK ror NT V 



4 



niuiicis, aitd inscribed witii his m<'i 
II.. which \va.>« siirroiiiKled by Ihc w..r>l> ■(.Uuf of 
the Mi'tri>|MjliUii I'olicc. Wicliiln, Knii." TIm? n*- 
vcrsc .•ii(l«' is iii<icribc<l with Iho follnwinj; WKrtl,*: 
"I'm-m-iiUmI b}- tin- ciliztno nf Wichilii to W. W. 
Haines, a» n toki-ii of ii|ipri>ciiitiiiii of his services a» 
Chief of Tolice of Wieiiil.i. K.-iii., .Ian. 1. 1»«H." 

The union of our subject with Miss Anna L. 
Sinclair look place in Kllsworlii. Kan., in l»70. .She 
is a native of N'erniont, and wlien quite youn^ 
was left an orphan, her f;itlier, who was a physician, 
dying in California, and iier mother in Chica<;o. 
Ml>. llaini-> w:us reared iiy an uncle named Overton, 
who adopted her. lie wju; a ship builder and died 
in New Orleans with yellow fever. She afterward 
came to Kans:i.» with Mrs. Hickerdykc, a friend of 
the family. To her .'ind her husband have been 
born five children, namely: Harry. Kddie, Cora, 
Lydia and Ward. 

Mr. Haines is a Republican, thoU}.di h<- takes no 
active i>art in politics; socially he is a member of 
the Improved Order of Heel Men. 



W. li.Mtill.MAN, manajier of the WichiUi 
Omnibus and Carriage Company — p,'»sscn- 
;:j;er an<l bagj^jige transf<'r — hiis his hcad- 
(piarters at No. .3.3H South Kmporia avenue, 
and is favorably known throu<rhout the city for his 
enterprise and business ability. He w.-ls born on a 
farm near Zanesville, Ohio, and s|>ent his boyhood 
mid the quiet scenes of xurai life. 

Our subject w.-w a youth of eighteen ycu-s upon 
the outbreak of the Rebellion, but w.-ls one of 
those who first res()onde<l to the call for troops,and 
enlistt^'d in Company A, Hl'd Ohio Infantry, for 
three years. He |>arlieipated in many of the im- 
portant battles of the war, namely: \VinchesU.'r, 
Stony Creek and Newmarket. an<I was in the entire 
campaign along the Shenari<lo:ih \ alley. At the 
siege of Richmond he dislinguisheil himself for his 
valor, ar.d subsequently at Malvern Hill wiis in the 
thickest of the light, and was shot through both 
thighs by a minie ball. These wounds necessitated 
tiie conliiH'ment of our subject in the linHplUil for a 



. and he was then honorably 

iiiMh:ii-^nl ikud i\l»;k.M;d from further duty, lie, 
however, could not remain an idle S|ie<-tiit4ir of the 

I eonllict, and u|Min returning to Zitneeville assisted 

I in raising Company li, Ohio National (iuani, of 
1<I(|. (lays men. t>f this he was first commissioneil 

i .Sergeant, then promoted to F'irst Lieutenant. 

Mr. Haughman came to this .Slate in February. 
1^T■I, and settled in lola, Allen C<junty. where he 

I engaged in the mercantile business and was al.Mi 
I'oslmasler. In .laniiary, |Sm;{, he cst;iblishe<l the 
livery liusiness in Wichita, in which he was success- 
ful from the start. Two years later he s<»ld out to 

I good advant;ige and end)arkcd in the hack-line 

' business, in comiwiny with C. K. Freeman. Their 
man-agement of this business g:»ve general S4ilisfac- 
tiou, and it so increased that the lirni, in l.'^.'^T, [xit 
up their present substantial and commodious build- 
ing, which, with the ground, involved an outlay of 

I *;}i,000. The slrurture is probably the finest of 
the kind in the .SUit<> of Kansas, and would do 
credit even U> Chicago. The business wsw incor- 
IHjratctl in accordance with the laws of the .Slate 
of Kansas, in 1887, with a capital stock of #100,- 
OOiK They keep forty-one head of horees, give 
empK>yment to sixteen men, and run eight h.acks, 
four omnibuses and two baggage wagons. Their 
business in IS87 runoiinted to ^'IC.OOO. Their 
vehicles arc of the latest improved pattern, aiul 
kept in the best possible condition, and it is h:irdly 
necessary to say th:it the Ijusiness of the concern 
is conducted in the most systematic manner. 

The lady who has presided with grace and dignity 
over the household of our subject for a period of 
more than twenty years w.as in her girlhood Miss 
Phelie Cusiic, and became his wife Oct. '20, ISGl. 
Mrs. Haughman is the (iaughtcr of Squire .1. IJ. 
Cusac, the founder and proprietor of Cusjic's mills, 
near Zanesville, Ohio. Her mother was formerly 
Miss Slack. The parents are now deceased. Our 
sul>ject and his wife have one child only, a daughter, 
I,i//.ie R., who is now the wife of C. K. Freeman, 
of this city, and a business jKirtner of his father- 
in-law. Mr. H., politically, voles the Republican 
tii-ket, and socially is a member of the (J. A. R. 
As a nuMuber of the .Suite Militia of Ohio he 
assisleil in the capture of .lohn Ahirgan when the T 



•► II <• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



••► 



481 



latter ventured over tbe line into that State on 
mischief intent. The family residence of Mr. B. is 
ple.isantly located at No. 338 South Kmporia avenue, 
and its inmates enjoj" the society of the best people 
of Wichita. 

eALVIN RACE, who in connection with 
farming is engagfcd as a dealer in real estate, 
in Valley Center Township, m.akes iiis home 
on section 4, where he h.os a farm comprising eight}' 
acres of good land. Of this he took possession in 
the spring of 1876, .and gave to it his entire atten- 
tion for a period of eleven years, and then, in 
partnership with A. II. Giflln, became interested in 
real-estate matters, taking an office in June, 1887, 
on Fifth street, in the viil.ige, where they have 
since ojierated quite profitably. 

Our subject was born in Wayne County, Pa., 
Aug. 29, 1831, and is tlie son of Alvin and Mary 
(Monroe) Race, who are now deceased, the mother 
dying in 1872, in .Jones County, Iowa, at the age 
of sixtj'-eight, and the fatiier at his home in Valley 
Center, of this county, in 1881, after reaching his 
fourscore yeai-s. 

Alvin Race, tiie father of our subject, learned 
the miller's trade in his native State of Pennsyl- 
vania, which he followed there for a period of 
tiiirtj' years, and thereafter engaged in sigi-iculture 
in Wisconsin thirteen years. Thence he removed 
to Iowa, where he farmed another thirteen years, at 
the expiration of which time he wisely- retired from 
active labor, although superintending the operations 
of a farm in Valley Center Township, which he 
occupied until his deatii. The remains of the father 
were laid to rest in the cemetery at Sedgwick City. 

The subject of this history left home at the age 
of twenty-one yeai-s, and commenced an apprentice- 
ship at the carpenter's trade, which lie followed for 
thirty-one years thereafter, and up to about two 
3'ears ago. While a resident of Delaware County, 
N. Y., he was united in marri.nge with Miss Anise 
M. Moore, on the 21st of May, 18.54, and the}' be- 
gan life together in a modest home at Fair Water, 
Wis. Mi-s. Race was born in Delaware County, N. 
v., in 1834, and is the daughter of William Henry 



•►Hh-^^ 



Moore; he and his excellent wife are both now 
deceased. Anise wjis their fourtii child, and de- 
parted this life at her home in Valley Center Town- 
ship, on the 23d of February, 1879. She was also 
buried in Sedgwick Cemetery, the funeral services 
being conducted by tiie Rev. I. N. Fry. 

Of this marriage of our subject there were born 
eight children, namely: Augustus C, Ella A., Stella 
A., Edwin H., Calvin H., Anise, Chester and 
Mj'rtle, all of whom are living. Augustus married 
Miss Clara Carpenter, and is in the oflice of the 
County Treasurer at Wichita. Ella is the wife of 
O. F. Nelson, a stock-dealer in Nebraska. The 
others are unmarried and at home with their father. 

Mr. Race, on the 26tii of February, 1880, con- 
tracted a second matrimonial alliance, with Miss 
Sophelia Wilson, who was also born in Delaware 
County, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1838, and is the daughter 
of G. P. Wilson, a well-to-do farmer of the Empire 
State, who died in 1884; the motiier is still living 
there. The parental family included eight children, 
of whom Mrs. Race was next to the eldest. Of her 
union with our subject there is one child, a sun, 
George P., who w.as born Nov. 2, 1883. 

Mr. Race is a straight Republican, political!}', 
and in the spring of 188Cwas elected Justice of tiie 
Peace of Valley Center Townshi|), and still iiolds 
that office. He has carried on his farming oper.a- 
tions with excellent I'esults, and is numbered among 
the representative men of his township. 



otpjear®^^- 



K4— -^^W"*- 



ri.^ EV. JOHN C. SEVY, an ohl soMicr of liic 
'jLJf Union army, in which he iield all the offices 
/JOil of his company, did ci)aplain duty, and hon- 
W^orably mustered out, settled in 1876 on the 
homestead which he now occupies, and where for 
the last twelve years he has been contentedly en- 
gaged in agriculture. He is a gentlemen of more 
than ordin.ary intelligence, has traveled extensively, 
and has m.ade the most of his opportunities to tice 
the world and become acquainted witii the dif- 
ferent phases of life. 

Mr. Sevy was born and reared in the State of 
New York, where his birth took place Dec. 13, 



i 



- ► ■ ^« 



-*»■ 



• 82 



SKDOWK K COUNTY. 



I82A. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Drake) 
S'vy, nnlivcs rf«|)octivi'ly of .Mass;ii.' huso Its and 
Now York. Jind wlio are now ilei-on.sod. Joseph 
S'vv was II miller \iy trmle, which he followed 
nm.-tly in the eelelirnU'tl Koi-hesler Mills, (>!«we)i^> 
Ciiiinty, N. Y., anil lifter n worthy and useful life 
<le|(nrled from the scenes of his earthly lahors in 
IHSO. He w!us a liepulilican |Militicnlly, and the 
niollier wns a menilier in <;(>o(l standing of the 
Christian Church. John C. was the eldest of their 
four children, the others lieing nameil Amanda, 
Launi and William. The latter is a hlacksmith by 
trade and a resident of Ft. .Scott. The two sisters 
are d ccea.se d. 

Our suliject in 18:50 went to Illinois with his 
father, where he remained until twenty years of 
age, then crossed the Mississippi and for twenty- 
eight years thereafter followed farming and stock- 
raising in Appanoose County, low.i. lie left the 
Hawkeyc Slate in 1 hTC., liK-.aling first in .Slaffoitl 
County, Kan., where he continued farm life for five 
years, and at the expiration of this time took pos- 
session of his present homestead, lie coninieneed 
his laliors in the ministry in Appanoose County in 
lH(iO. and now devotes his lime entirely to the 
service of the Master, having charge of the churches 
at Andale, at I'lejisant Hill in Coffey County, and 
the Union Clia|)cl in Reno Ccjunly. For the past 
six years he has also hecn the preacher in charge 
of the church at Mt. Ho|)e. 

The marriage of our suliject with Miss Maiy 
.Swallow was celebrated at the home of the bride 
in Appanoose County, Iowa, March 22, 18.00. Mi"s. 
Scvy is the daughter of liobli-y ami Kliza (Spence) 
.Swallow, natives of \'ermont and New Hamp- 
shire respectively, and the father during his early 
life wiLs a member of the Uaptist Church. .Snbse- 
ipicntly he uiiit«'il with the Christian Church, 
Uigether with his excellent wife. They spent their 
last yeara in Appanoose County, Iowa. Their seven 
children were named respectively : Ivlwiii ; .Mary, 
now the wife rif our siibjcri, Fiiocli, deceased; 
Dennie, John, Martha and Timothy. 

Mr. Scvy, iliiriiig the progress of the late war, 
enlisted in 18t;4 as a private in Company F, I.'ith 
Ohio Infantry, and served iliiring the following 
wiiil<T ill till? I'rovisioiial l)ivi>ion of the Army 



of Uic Tennessee under f>cns. Thomas and Francis 
.Meager. He was present at the battle of N.T.-«h- 
ville. met the enemy at Kingston. N. C.. ancl at 
Cioldsboro, and was the first man in the city before 
the >urrcn<lcr, assisting in trying to save the stori* 
to which the rebels hail applieil the torch. He was 
miisli'red out of service in the fall of 18(;."i at 
l).iveuport. Iowa, and, although his army life was 
comparatively brief in duration, he has reason to 
be proud of his record. 

Of the five children born to our suliject and liis 
iiieslimable wife, two sons, Charles and Frederick, 
are deceased; Alice is the wife of T. J. Andei-son, 
and lives in Hutchinson, this State; Mattie. Mrs. 
.loliii McCoinb, is a resident of Stafford Conntj', 
where Marshall, who is married, also resides. Mr. 
•Sevy belongs to Joe HiHiker Post, <;. A. K., at 
Hutchinson. 

KNHY C. DKVORKisa farmer and .stock 
grower, living on section 10, Payne Town- 
ship, post-ortice address. (Jrecnwich, .Sedg- 
wick Co., Kan. He is a jiioncer of this 
township, coming here when but few claims had 
been taken up; since that lime the developinenl of 
his farm h.is kept pace with the growth of the town, 
and now he owns one of the finest farms in the 
vicinity. It contains IGO acres of land, eighty-five 
of which are under plow, and very productive; it 
is surrounded by good wire anil hedge fences, and 
is well su])plied with water from three good wells. 
He has a fine bearing peach orchard and a thrifty 
young apple orchard; from these hcderivcs a good 
income. 

Our subject wa.s born in Fairfield County. Ohio, 
Aug. a, I81.'i, and is the son of Daniel and Catlieriiie 
(Herman) Devore. He is a brother of .losliiia I)e- 
vore, who lives on section 2 of this township, and 
whose sketch ap|)cars elsewhere in this work. Our 
subject lived on a farm from the age of ten to six- 
teen years, receiving in the meantime a good edu- 
cation in the common schools. At that youthful 
age he bravely went forth to avist in the preserva- 
tion of the great Union, enlisting Nov. .S, 18(11, lus 
a member of Company I, .OSlli (Jhio Infantry. 



-•►-■-4« 



-4«- 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



483 



He served iicail}' iiiiif nkmuIis .ukI was then dis- 
charged as his term of enlistment had expire<l. 
Ou tiie 4th of June, 1863, he re-enlisted in Com- 
pany A, the same regiment, and served with 
fidelity and i)atriotism nntil after the close of the 
war, his final discharge being dated Sept. 16, 180;'). 
lie was in the battle of Ft. Donelson, and took part 
in many minor cng.agenients. 

After his return from the seat of war Mi-. I), went 
to Illinois and engaged in the pottery business with 
his father, and was also employed in farming. He 
final!}' decided to try his fortunes in Kans.os, and on 
the loth of March, 1870, he arrived in Topeka. He 
soon found work on a farm near that city, and 
remained there for six months. He then resolved 
to obtain a farm of his own and engage in farming 
and stock-raising for himself. Accordingly he 
came to Sedgwick County, and took up 160 acres in 
this township under the homestead law. His brother 
had a claim near b}- and thej' kept a bachelor's 
establishnieut until 1877, living, in the meantime, 
in the various habitations known to the frontiers- 
men, such as a dugout, h.a}' shanty, etc. He now 
lives in a more commodious dwelling and has pro- 
vided ample shelter for his horses and cattle. 

Our sultject took unto himself a wife to preside 
over his home on the 18th of March, 1877. Her 
maiden name was Miss Mary M. Thomas, and she 
h.TS ably co-operated with him in building and 
mainUiining a pleasant home. She is the daughter 
of John and Matilda (Pickens) Thomas. Her fa- 
ther was born in England and came to the United 
States in aixrly life. Since coming to this country 
he has been engaged in farming. In 1870 he came 
with his wife and children to Kansas, and lives in 
P.iyne Township. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
His wife was born in the State of New York, and 
was there educated in the public schools; she is a 
faithful member of the Christian Church. To them 
were born six children, two .sons and four daughters, 
namely : George W., Frank A., M.arj' M., Liuna, 
Ida A. and Anna B., all living and married. Linna 
married W. J. Miles; the}' live in Salt L.ake City, 
Utah. Ida A. married E. A. Fanning; Anna 15. 
married E. A. Phillips. 

To our subject and his wife there have been born 
four children — Nora E., Pearl B., Mossaline and 



Bertie; the latter died when about one month old. 
Mr. Devore votes with the Ropulilican party. He 
is a stanch and true citizen, always using liis influ- 
ence to promote the best interests of the township. 
He well deserves the esteem and favor in which he 
is held 1)V all. 



•~w -\tiiCi2/®-i@' 



>»@J.a/OT^»^~ -V/\/v- 



•► 



r 



HS. CHARLES E. SULLIVAN, a resident 
of Wichit^i. came to Kansas in Octo- 
ber, 1880, arriving here on the 18th of the 
month with her sister, Miss Alice R. 
Graham, who afterward married Thomas Hunt, of 
Kechi Township. The latter was a resident there 
until her death, which occurred three j'cars later, 
in 1883, when she left one son, Herbert G., who is 
now living with his aunt, Mrs. .Sullivan. 

The subject of this history, formerly Miss Emil}' 
Graham, became the wife of Charles E. Sullivan on 
the 3d of November, 1880. Her husband was 
the son of Thomas and Adeline (Rude) Sullivan, 
natives respecLively of Ireland and Massachusetts. 
The wedding took pl.ace in the Ba}' State, and Mr. 
.Sullivan carried on his trade of cabinet-maker 
there for a time. Subsequently they lived in 
Maine and Canada, removing from the Dominion 
in 1870, arriving in Kechi Township on the 1st of 
May. Here they spent the remainder of their 
lives, the father dying in December, 1872; the 
mother is still living. 

Charles E. Sullivan in 1869 located in Kechi 
Township in company with two brothers, each of 
them taking up land. Mr. S. became possessor of 
eighty acres, which he brought to a good state of 
cultiv.ation, .and upon which he effected good im- 
provements. He had previously owned consider- 
able real estate. Here he spent the remainder of 
his life, and departed from the scenes of his 
earthly labors on the 2i)th.ut November, 1886, in 
Kechi Township. The parents of Mrs. S. were Will- 
iam and Jane (Kent) (Jraham; her father was a 
native of Scotland, and her mother of County 
Cavan, Ireland. His people subsequently moved to 
County Cavan, Ireland, where the}' were reared 
and married, and crossed the Atlantic in 1852, 
locating in Canada, where the father engaged in 



•^ m ■^*- 



■» ■ ^ 



" 4«4 



SEDGWICK C'OINTY. 



running. He 011I3' lived nnlil the following 3'cnr, 
howi'vcr, !iii<l nl Ills (lealli U-fl n fninily of six c-liil- 
•Ircii, (if wlioiii five survive. .lane, Mr>. Riley, is ft 
rrsiilfiit of New Ynrk City; Mrs. C. F. .larvis. 
Mrs. Kll/.a Cr.-iliaii) anil .Mrs. Williaiii Murray live 
ill 'roriHilii, CaiKiiln; Aii(-<', Mrs. T. liiuit, <lic<l in 
Kri-lii 'rinvnsliip. Man-h I H, ISS.'i; .lames live.s in 
Tnronto. 

.Mrs. .Siililxan was Imrn .Inni- :10. IM.M.and »|)ent 
licr early years nmler the |iarent4il roof. After the 
<l<-ath (if her liiislinnd, and as soon as suitable 
arnm^'enients eimld be made, she rented her farm 
and |iurchiised |>r<>|>erty on Nurth Water street, 
ill Wiehit.a, wherr she has a plen.saiil home. She 
i.- a huly greatly res|)ec-ted anmng a large ein-le of 
friends and ac(|iiaintnnees, and a nieiiiber in good 
stjiiKling of the Kpi.scopal Church. 

.Mr. Charles K. Sullivan during the late war en- 
listed in Company L, 2d Colorado Infantry, and 
was wdunded in battle in the right ankle, which 
connned him in the hospital a 3'ear. lie was not 
entirely di.'iAbled. however, bnt served in the posi- 
tion of steward. This wound subsequently healed, 
but he was always partially lame until his <leatli. 
Mr. S. was a very intelligent man and remarkably 
kind-lieartetl, an excellent letter writer, and served 
in this ea|iacity for his comrades while in the 
service. As one of the pioneers of Kechi Town- 
ship, he a.vsisted in the organization of the Old 
Settlers' Association in IHO'.t, and was a member of 
the G. A. {{.. belonging to Garfield I'ost No. '2!>, of 
\Viehit!i. In |>olitics he was a stanch Republican. 

IIARLKSA. FOSTKR, a resident of WichiUi 
e IKHU, a capiUdist and a retired farmer, 
10 has distiiigui.'<lied himself as a business 
man of more than ordinary capacity, is at present 
engaged in the real-estate and loan iiiisiness, having 
his headquarters on North Waco street. Ilis career 
has been remarkably interesting, the main |ioiiils of 
which we siibjcjin .ms follows: 

The Knipire Stale, which hsus given to the West 
so many of its capable men, claims our subject as 
one of its sons. In- having been born there in .lelTer- 
son County, on the .3il of August, 1822. A de- 



''Uj ,1,., 



scendnnt of New Kiiglnnd ancextr^*, he is the son 
of Thomas an<l I'olly (Adams) Foster, who were 
born in the city of I'ortlnnd, Me., where they were 
reared and married, their union t.iiking pliu-e about 
IHII-I.'i. They removed from the I'ine Tree .Stale 
shortly after their marriage and settl<-d in .lefferson 
County. N. Y., whence in later ye.ars they crossed 
the .Mississippi to the Pacific C'oa.'*t. The father 
died near Omaha, Neb., in the fall of 1 8IG, whitlur 
he lia<] gone on account of his health. He wils a 
man of mu<-li force of character and prominent in the 
eoinmiinity wherever he made his home. Although 
not a member of any church organization, he 
adhered strictly to the principles of honesty and 
justice, and is remembered with re,si>ect by all who 
knew him. 

The mother of our subject, who wa> about six 
years younger than her husband, died in Solano 
County, Cal., in 1H.5K. .She was a member in giKKl 
standing of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church. The 
children of the parental family were named res|)ect- 
ively: Daniel, Marj', Olive, Charles, Arthur and 
Olive (2(1.) Charles A., in common with his brothers 
and sisters, was re.ired on a farm, acquiring his 
education in the district school. I'pon reaching 
manhood he was married, in August, 1HC5, to .Miss 
.lane Winn, who was born Dec. 26. 183:t, in the 
State of 'i'ennes.sec. The wedding took place in 
Calif(jrnia, to which both our subject and his wife 
had emigrated previously, Mr. F. having made the 
trip by water. I'nder the homest^-ad act he entered 
ICiO acres of land in Solano County, which he im- 
proved and remained upon until March, IH.s;?. 
During his residence in the Sacramento \'all('y he 
accumulated a snug sum of money, whicli upon his 
arrival in this county he inve-sted in real estate, 
both farm land and city pro|>erty. He has IGO 
acres six and one-half miles southwest of Wichita, 
for which he paid *20 per acre in ISS.'I, and for 
which in the fall of IS.s? he was offered *I25 per 
acre, lie also has .•mother quarter-section of land 
near Cheney, which is, like the other, i)rovided 
with sulisUiiitial buildings and machinery, .•iiid is 
nearly as valuable. lie and .some of the nieiiibeis 
of his family are al.so the owners of seven lots within 
the city limiLs, which are each year increasing in 
value. Mr. Foster is one of the fortunate men who 



i' 



-•►Hl- 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



485 



came to Sedgwick County at the right time, and 
possessed the good judgment l>y which lie was cualiled 
to make the most of his opportunities, both in a 
moneyed sense and otherwise. 

The live chihlron of Mr. and Mrs. Foster were 
named respectively: Daniel A., Fann}', Olive, 
Thomas C. and Arthur A. The eldest is twonty- 
eigiit 3'ears of age and the youngest eighteen. 
Daniel and Arthur, very bright and intelligent boj's, 
have developed a remarkable talent for music, being 
expert performers on various instruments. It is 
predicted of the youngest especially that he will, in 
time, attain a reputation on the violin equal to that 
of the renowned Ole Bull. The family attend the 
Methodist ICpiscopal Church, and both Mr. Foster 
and his sons are stanch Republicans, politically, 
while the wife and daughters are also in lively 
sympath}- with the principles of this party. Mr. 
Foster has done good work for his party, generously 
donating his time and money in furthering its suc- 
cess during the time of campaigns. 



^^ EORGE LAUTERBACH. Many of the most 
III g^ enterprising and prosperous farmers of Sedg- 
^^|! wick County have come from the laud be- 
yond the sea, and especially is this true of the many 
who have left their homes in the German Empire 
and sought in this land of freedom a refuge from 
the militarj' despotism and the penury' and poverty 
that so rule their native land. Araoug these quite 
a prominent figure is the gentleman whose name 
heads this sketch, and who makes his home on sec- 
tion 35, in Ohio Township. 

Mr. Lauterback was born Sept. 1."), 1844, amid 
the beautiful scenery that adorns his native Bavaria. 
A sketch of his parents is given in that of his 
brother, John G. Lanterbach, of Ohio Township, 
elsewhere in the pages of this Ai.nuji, and it were 
needless to repeat it here. He was reared to man's 
estate in the fatherland, and received a fair educa- 
tion in his native town, so characteristic of the 
German j-outh. Since leaving school he has been 
quite a reader, and has thus acquired quite a tolera- 
ble amount of information upon general subjects. 
In 1868, with a laudable intention of bettering his 



fortunes in life, he made up his mind to emigrate 
to the New World, and taking passage at Bremen 
on one of the great steamers that plj^ from that 
port, after an ocean vo^'agt^ that lasted some 
thirteen days, landed in the city of New York. He 
at once started for Illinois, and for more than a 
year was employed as a farm hand in Will Coimty. 
From that place he came to Kansas, and for a short 
time made his home in Franklin and Wilson Coun 
ties, but in 1871 came to Sedgwick County. He 
pre-empted the southwest quarter of section 35, in 
Ohio Township, where he was one of the first set- 
tlers, and upon which he located before there was a 
furrow turned on his land, and in the development 
of his place h.as had to undergo the usual hardships 
incident to pioneer life. 

Our subject was united in marriage, Aug. 27, 
1883, with Miss Barbara Kolb, who is also a native 
of Bavaria, and was born April 14, 18C4. They 
have been the parents of three children, as follows : 
Louisa M., who was born Oct. 28, 1884; John R., 
Nov. 3, 1885, and William C, Feb. 20, 1887. Mr. 
Lauterbach is the owner of 320 acres of land in 
Ohio Township, all of which he has made by indus- 
trj'. perseverance and frugality, being the architect 
of his own fortunes. For a number of years after 
he had first settled upon this pl.ace he kept b.ache- 
lor's hall, doing his own work, including the cook- 
ing, etc., in order that he might get a start in life. 

Mr. Lauterbach is entirely independent of party 
lines in his politics, considering, in the exercise of 
his elective franchise, rather the fitness of the man 
for the office than the party who placed him in 
nomination. He is a member of the Christian 
Church, and rules his life by the doctrines taught 
by the Holy Scriptures. Public-spirited to a great 
degree, he takes great interest in every measure 
which is calculated to benefit the community, or to 
accrue to the good of society in general. 



f^^ ILAS RUTLEDGE, in 1870, made his ad- 
Vvj-^ vent into Eagle Township, and located on his 
present homestead on section 34, on the 
IGth of December of that year. His prop- 
erty includes 335 acres of good land, 195 in Union 



■tr?!? 



■•► 



■ -4^ 

'' 4Hf, 



-■»• 



SKI)i:\VKK (((INTY. 



r<iwii.Hlii|), on M-ctioti 2. iiml tlif Imliiiiec in Kaglo 
'l'o^vn^lli|), nil soutiuii 31. lie first lionie^U'aded n 
(|iiarU'r-»ection, uptm wliicli lie |nit up his prfficnt 
ri'.-idi'iuM'. The liinti nl tlint liiiu' «»> iinciiltiviilcd 
prairie, which hy (•.•ir«'fii! iiiaiia<;oiiiciit he has trans- 
I'oriiieil into a fertile trad, ami wliicli, lying not far 
from the A rkaiisa-s Kiver, comprises n |H)rtion of the 
nio>t valiialile territory in Sedijwick County. Ten 
acres of thi.<« is <K'cupic(l hy a fine grove, throe acres 
lieiii;; plaiiteil with walnut trees, and four ncres in 
maple and coltonwood, while three ncres arc do- 
voted to a flourishing orchard and the cultivation 
of gm|)0.«. Mr. K. has aLso atlAined an enviahlo 
repiitJition as a stuck-raiscr, and usually fattens from 
.'ino to -100 hogs during the .seiLsoii, mostly Poland- 
China, which he ships by the carload to Kaiis.ts 
City, lie ha.s had a thorough cx|)erieiiceasan agri- 
culturist, and Iteing a man of industry and si^iiiiid 
judgment, luis lieen uniformly successful in liis 
l.'iliors. 

Our suliject is of Southern liirtli and iwircntago, 
Ills youth luiving Liecn six-iil in Dixon Countj', 
Tenn., where he was born (Ui the ■'ith of May, IX'dl. 
His parents, David and Ann (Harris) Rutledge, 
weie n.'itives respectively of Tennessee and North | 
Carolina. After rnnrriage they removed from Ten- 
nessee to Macon County, III., where the father fol- 
lowed f.'irmiiig. and where his death t<}ok place on 
the '.till of February, 1KC8, at the age of fifty-six 
years. The mother survived her husband thirteen 
years, and died at the home of her son, our subject, 
in Kagle Township, Feb. 22, 1881. She had then 
been a resident of this township ton years, having 
come to Illinois in October, I87ii. 

David Hiitledge had been reared to fanning pur- 
suits, and after leaving his native State followed 
agriculture in lllin<»is for a |>erio<l of twenty-eight 
years. There lilso he became quite prominent in 
public affairs, holding the local olllces, and after 
1 M.'ii; being one of the warmest ilefenders of the 
principles of the Republican party. In religious 
iii!ilU-rs he was a Ciiinbi-rland I'rcsbytcrinn. The 
p:ii'eiital household includeil ten children, of whom | 
but f<Mir lived to mature years: William, during 
the Civil War enlisted in August, \M'2, with Com- 
p:iiiy K, 1 I'llh Illinois Infantry, and yiehled up his 
life on the ballle-fiehl .at Cliickninauga, Sept. 20, i 

4* 



IKU3; his n-ninins fill a soldier's gnivc nt Chieka- 
inauga. Snmh Jane is married and n-siile.M in Illinois, 
nnd .Sihus, of our sketch. 

Our subjiH-t continued under the [mrenUd r<Mif 
until about twenty-Uiree years of age, acquiring a 
common-school education, and assisting in the labors 
of the farm. The first im|iortnnt event of lii-< life 
was his marri.age, which took place July 2M, IHCij, 
with Miss Maria lIufTinan, who was born in 1k:!:S, 
in Illinois, and departed this life nl her homo in 
Christian County, III., in October, 18C4. .Mr. Rut- 
ledge, in I SCO, contractod a second marriage, with 
Miss Martha K. liraninn, who died the following 
year, leaving one child. This lady was a native of 
Illinois, nnd n-as about twenty-nine years old at the 
time of her decease. 

The pi'Q^ent wife f)f our subject, to whom he wjus 
married .Ian. 10, IMliU, was formerly Miss Olive P. 
Smith, who was born in Readfield, Kennebec ('»>., 
Me., .Sept. 25. 182C, and is the daughter of Howen 
and Lucinda (Wing) .Smith, who were also natives 
of the Fine Tree State. Iler f:ilher was a farmer by 
occujiation, and died in middle life, Feb. ,1, lsi;i. 
The mother, surviving her husband over forty years, 
died Jan. 29, 1884, in Sedgwick County. Kan. 
Their family consisted of six sons and two daugh- 
ters, all of whom lived to matureyears. They were 
named resi)cctively : Cyril C, Kbcnezer II.. rardon 
Bowen. Benoni, Dorillus Greenwood, James \nn- 
derbilt, Lucinda Orinda and Oliver I'. Of these 
four are surviving, and are residents of Californi:i 
and Kansas. 

Sil.Hs Rutleilge was about twenty-three years of 
age at the outlireak of the lato Rebellion, and on 
the lyth of August, 1«C2. enlisted lu* a I'liion sol- 
dier in .Com|)any K, ll.">th Illinois Infantry, under 
Capt. J. M. Lane, who was succeeded by ('apt. 
James Whiltakor. Our subject participated in the 
battle of Chickamauga, from whose terrible field he 
escaped unharmed, but in the engagement at Resaca, 
Ga., was seriously wounded, and not long after- 
ward received his honorable discharge on account 
of disability. He wn.s .-ilso present in the battle at 
Na.shville. l!|ion retiring from the service he re- 
turned to his old tramping-ground in Illinois, and 
piireh.a.seil land in Macon County, where he carried 
on farming five years, whence he came to thi 



iiis Y ! 




Sunflower Stock Ranch, (soo Acres) Property of \ 




I'K. Rogers , 5ecA. ArTONTowNSHip,5EDGwicK Co, Kan 





O-t-'U^^, 






S^} ju 



*^lr 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



491 



county. In the spring: of 1887 lie was elected 
Treasurer of Eagle Tt>wnship, which position he 
still holds, and lias been the incumbent of the vari- 
ous school oflioes in his district. He is an earnest 
defender of Republican principles, sind is a man 
whose opinions are invariably held in respect. Of 
his last marriage there has been no issue. Ralph 
R03' is an adopted child, who at this writing (1888) 
is a bright bo^' four years old. Our sullject is in 
religion a materialist, and his lady is an agnostic in 
belief. 

-^ "^-^ "^ 

'ELI'l'A A. ROGKRS. Among the men who 
have been instrumental in the development 
of the rich resources of Southern Kansas, 
) the subject of this sketch holds no unim- 
portant position. He operates a large section of 
the best land of Afton and Garden Plain Town- 
ships. He also controls a large area of land near 
Medicine] Lodge, in Barber County, on which he 
grazes hundreds of cattle. He is noted as one of 
the largest stockmen in Sedgwick County. His 
herds roam over 2,000 acres of fine p.asture, which 
is enclosed with subsUuitial board and wire fencing, 
and there are, in connection with this, am|)le barns 
and sheds sulHcient for the accommodation of 350 
head of cattle, besides the other animals required 
for service and sustenance. One of the best of 
Fairbanks Stiindard scales ascertains correctlj' the 
weight of heavj' bodies, cattle, hay or grain, .ind 
the other conveniences possessed by him for the 
use of the progressive agriculturist are hardly ex- 
celled b3' anything of the kind in this section of the 
country. One special feature of Mr. Rogers' enter- 
prise was the building of a steam-mill, in which he 
grinds and cooks all the feed for his vast herds of 
cattle and hogs, obtaining the best of results by 
this process, making beef and pork at a minimum 
cost. The farm residence is a model of comfort 
and taste, and in its vicinit}' is an orchard of 200 
fruit-bearing trees, while a vineyard of 1 ,000 grape 
vines and two acres of Sne natural timber add to 
the attractions of this valuable piece of propert}'. 
The whole is watered bj' a branch of Clear Creek, 
which irrigates the land for a distance of two miles, 
and is not only of great use, but serves to enhance 
^ 



llie charms of the landscape. It is with pleasure 
that we present a full page view of his splendid resi- 
dence and surroundings and his stock ranch. 

The moving spirit in the establishment of this 
farm and home is a native of Perry County, Ohio, 
and was born on the 5th of August, 1855. His 
earliest recollections are of the rural home of his 
parents. Nelson and Miriam (Saunders) Rogers, 
who were natives of Virginia, and are still living in 
Perry County, Ohio, where the father also follows 
farming and stock-raising. The^' reared six chil- 
dren, the eldest being a daughter, Sarah E.,a bright 
and intelligent young lad^', who is completing her 
studies in the college at Ada, Ohio; Kelita A., of 
our sketch, was tlie second born; Benjamin, after 
leaving the district school, took a coui'se of instruc- 
tion in the business college at Zauesville, Ohio, and 
is now the Treasurer of Perry County; Abishia L., 
a builder and contractor by trade, and a resident of 
Corning, Ohio, was married to Miss Carry Rich, 
who died on the 5th of .January, 1888; David M. 
and Ida May are pursuing their studies in Ada, 
Ohio. 

Mr. Rogers, in common with his brothers and sis- 
ters, received the .advantages of a good education, 
completing his studies in the National Normal 
School at Lebanon, Ohio, and remained a member 
of the parental household until reaching his major- 
ity, lie had in the meantime occupied himself 
somewhat as a teacher, and now engaged in the 
insurance business, representing the New Jersey 
Mutual Life and manj' fire insur.ance companies. 
A j'ear thus occupied satisfied him in this direction, 
and we next find him officiating as clerk in the office 
of the Sundaj' Creek Mining Company, of Colum- 
bus, Ohio, where he disposed of another twelve 
months, and then engaged as a butcher at Corning. 
Two years later he sold out to his brother, Abishia 
L., and engaged in the manuf.acture of churns, 
fashioning them after his own model, upon which he 
had been at work for some time, and obtained a 
patent. He still retains control of this. 

Mr. Rogers, now determining to enlarge his 
sphere of action, came in the fall of 1885 to South- 
ern Kans:is, having in view the business in which 
he is now engaged. He first [jiirchased a quarter- 
section of land in Afton Township, this county, 



■•^Hl 



•#^B 



*-«- 



i92 



SKDCWIf'K' rorNTY. 



u|)oii which he hiiilt, nnd siibspquently ad<l' 
entire cection to llie ori^innl purchiuse. Fnnii llii.-< 
he reached over into (Inrdcn I'liiin Township, tj»k- 
inp there n h!ilf->eotion, iiiid wjtliin two yours from 
the time of piirohiUHe l>eciinie eonvineed that he hnil 
foiinil lii^ mission. lU-sidc>i Ituying nnd shippin;.', 
he hiu* iilr<o cnpiRed largely in hreedinj;. and feeds 
annually about ■'('2') head of cattle and .'lOO head of 
hoip*. keeping for hreoding pnr|Mise8 alone 100 head 
of cattle besides. Mr. Rogers' business grew to 
su«'h projxjrlions tlii.t by the spring of 18rtS he re- 
niove<l his faniil}- from the farm to a be.-iutiful 
home in the village of (iarden I'lain, thus enabling 
him to run the ranch by male help exclusively. 
Within his hou.sc now is to be seen a gentleman of 
ebony color, who with dexterity manipulates the 
ciHiking utensils, and keeps the place tiily and clean. 
From i.'iO to ;J00 acres of his property are usually 
planted in corn, and 400 acres of hay are mown. 
Winter is his most busy time: the mill is then run 
d.ny and night in order to prepare feed for the hun- 
dreds of cattle and hogs that a<lorn his corrals. To 
give proi)cr care and attention to these extensive 
interest- alisorbs the greater portion of his tin)C, 
but as a public-spirited citizen he pauses between 
his pressing duties to interest himself in the welfare 
of his ailoi)ted count}', and iissist as opportunity 
offers the enterprises tending to its development 
and progress. He votes the straight Republican 
ticket, but lias steadily declined becoming an olllce- 
seeker, being convinced that he can serve the inter- 
ests of the public full}' as well by sustaining prin- 
ciples of the party, and allowing other men to 
r-njoy the olllces. 

Mr. Rogers before leaving his native State se- 
lected for his wife Miss Heulnli A. West, of Morgan 
County, Ohio, to whom he was niarried on the I2tli 
of October, \H~'.i. To them have been born four 
children: iJelmer .1., Willie C, Fannie H. and 
Frankie; the last-named died in infancy. Mrs. 
Rogers was born .Inly '-, IH.Ol, and is the daughter 
of Avery 11. jind Sarah (Taggert) West, natives of 
Ohio nl.so, :ind the father a stonemason by trade. 
'I'hey arc both living and reside in the vicinity of 
I'orlei^ville, Ohio. Of their thirteen cliilrlren Kli/.a- 
beth, the eldest, was married to .John t'urran, a 
blacksmith by trade, and they are both now de- 



ilipy were the parent* of thirteen children: 
.Miirg.iret, the wife of Reej>e llolcomb, a prosjK'rous 
farmer of Tnion County, Iowa, and the mother of 
seven children; Amos died when eighteen yeai-s 
old ; Lydia, Mrs. ,)ohn White, is the wife of a well- 
to-do f.'irnicr of .Morgan County. Ohio. an<l the 
inotlierof four children; Katie married .lohn (fold- 
ing, who is a machinist of Lancaster; she died on 
the l.Uh of .lune, 1887. Mary, .Mrs. Ixjwis Alder- 
man, is the wife of an attorney -at-law in I'erry 
County, and the mother of one child ; Iteulah A., 
Mi-s. Rogers, was the next in order of birth; Ma- 
tilda is unmarried, and living in Morgan County, 
Ohio. 'I'he remaining five children died in in- 
fancy. 

Mr. Rogers, before leaving Ohio, identified him- 
self with the Knights of I'ythias, and still continues 
a member of .lames A. «!arfield Lodge No. l.tl, at 
Corning, Ohio. No jKirtrait given in this volume 
is more worthy of a place among the best |ieople 
of the county than that of this enterprising', public- 
spirited gentleman. 



-.-^_ < - 



^fOHN IJAX'IDSON, a resident of Wichita, is 
a well-known business man of .Sedgwick 
County, where he carries on a large lumber 

business. Mr. Davidson is a .Scotchman by 

birth and descent; he was born in Fifeshire, .Scot- 
land, Nov. :iO, 1839, and is the son of .lolin and 
Agnes (Wilson) Davidson, natives of .Scotland. 
While living in Scotland the father was a traveling 
man. He and his wife came to America in 1882, 
and now make their home in Wichita. They have 
only two .sons now living — .lohn and William. 

.lohn Davidson, of this sketi'h, remained at home 
until thirteen yeai*s <jf age, receiving his education 
in the meantime in the common schools. He then 
went to learn the car|)enter's trade and served an 
apprenticeship of four and one-half yeai-s. He con- 
tinued to ply his trade the three following years .-is 
a journeyman. We next hear of him in Lonibm, 
where he li:id turned his attention to .-liiiJ-building, 
.and wius so engaged for live veal's. He wius a good 
worker ami was andiitious to get on in the world, 
so he decided to try his fortunes in America. Ac- 



•►•-♦•- 



I 



-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



493 ' 



cordinsly in 1867 he crossed the seas to this coun- 
try. Bein<r a skillful carpenter he soon found 
employment. His first work in this country was on 
the asylum in Newliurg, Ohio, where he remained 
for two mouths. From there he came to Leaven- 
worth, Kan., and was for seven months employed 
in the building business. After that he was em- 
ployed in Topcka on the State C'apitol, continuing 
to work there for a year. 

On the 2;')th of January, 1870, Mr. Davidson 
came to Wichita and took up a tract of IGO acres 
of land, four and one-half miles from the city, .and 
there improved a farm. In the same year he estab- 
lished himself in the city as a contractor and lumber 
merchant. He continued as a contractor for seven 
years, but since then confined himself mostly to the 
lumber business. He has gre.atly increased his bus- 
iness and h.as been verj' successful financial^. He 
established the pioneer lumlier-yard of the cit}'. 
He has besides two other lumber-yards, one in 
Springfield, Mo., and one in Aurora, Mo. He is a 
Director and stockholder of the Wichita National 
Bank, and a stockholder in the savings bank. By 
his shrewd business ability and fair dealings, our 
subject has won an assured and iuttuential position 
among his fellow-citizens. 

Since becoming a resident of Wichita Mr. David- 
son has tiiken unto himself a wife, and to her owes 
it that their home at 210 North Market street is 
one of the pleasantest and coziest in the cit}'. The 
maiden name of Mrs. Davidson was Ellen I'atton, 
and she was the daughter of George and Helen 
(Morton) Patton. She was married to onr subject 
in 1874, and wiis like him a native of Scotland. 
Two children have been born to them — .John V. and 
Agnes W. 

' t > I®: < l ' 

JOHN G. LAUTERr.ACH, an extensive far- 
mer and stock-raiser of Ohio Township, has 
his residence on section 29, where he settled 
in 1874. For a short time after he took up 
his abode here he lived in a dugout, in which he 
did his own cooking, and carried on the usual house- 
hold duties incident to a bachelor's life. In the 
bumble cot of his parents, Rudolf and Kunigunda 
Lauterbach, under the Ijlue skies and amid the pic- 



turesque scenery of Bavaria, Germany, (nir subject 
first opened his eyes upon this world Feb. l.'i, 1850. 
His parents were natives of the .same portion of the 
fatherland, and had a family of eight children, of 
wliom but the three following survive: George, 
who is living in Ohio Township, this county; Al- 
bert, in Chicago, and John G. 

John (i. Lauterb.ach received a verj' fair educa- 
ti(m in his boyhood days, and was reared to manhood 
beneath the parental roof-tree. As he attained to 
man's estate, he saw the slight possibility of his 
rising in the world in the land of his birth, where 
the country is ruled by an ir(jn military despotism, 
and the poor are poor indeed, and determined to 
seek in America the alleviation of his lot in life. 
Tlierefore, in 18C9, taking passage on a steamer at 
the port of Biemen, after an ocean voyage of thir- 
teen days he landed in New York City, from which 
point he at once went to Illinois. For several years 
he was engaged in farm Labor in the counties of 
Will and Kendall, in that State, but in 1874 came 
to Kansas. After a short time spent in Wichita, 
he pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 29, 
in Ohio Township, this county, and settled on it 
lieforc there was a furrow turned or a particle of 
improvement made. As he looked over the grassy 
wilderness he sighed to think how nuich labor was 
before him ; but by the exercise of industry, energy 
and perseverance, he has wovr brought it to a con- 
dition of excellent cultivation. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Annie 
McDaniel took place March 24, 1 880. The lady of 
his choice was born in Sangamon County, III., 
March 24, 1860, and is a daughter of Henry C. and 
Amanda (Richardson) McDaniel, who were n.atives 
of Virginia and Illinois respectively. When she 
was but a child she removed with her parents to 
Appanoose County, Iowa, where the famil3- resided 
until 1877, when they came to K.ans.as, and made 
their residence until the fall of 1879 in Sedgwick 
County. During the latter j'ear the parents mi- 
grated to Harper County, this State, where they 
now live. Mrs. Lauterbach is one of a famih' of 
seven children, as follows: John, Annie, Charles, 
William. Sherman, Alexander and Grace. The family 
of our subject and his wife numbers five children, 
as will be seen from the following record : Lewis F., 



i 



f 



4 



^r.DCWICK COINTY. 



I'liilil, WAS biirii Jan. : 

Miiiili .;o, 1882; Charli's, June 2.'j, ISSl, IVail, 
Jiin. 10, 1880; anil Artliur, I)er. l.'i, 1887. 

Mr. Ijiulerbach is thi" owner at the present tinu" 
of JSO acre.' of lanil in (.Hiio Townsiliip, on which 
he ha.s put up .M.)nie very substantial and neat ini- 
provenienUs. lie haa niade his entire property by 
bis own fxertions, as he had but ^10 in his ]N>c-ket 
when he landed in Illinois. In reli-^ious affairs he 
is identifu-d with the Lutheian Church, and follows 
closely the teachiuj^'s of that denomination. Kn- 
tirely inde|K'ndont in politics, he is bound by no 
IKirliciilnr platform or erred, nnd votes for men, not 
nieivjures. 



KON C. FOIQDKT, I'ostnia«tcr at Ma«rno- 
li:i. an<I dealer in <reneral merchandise, is a 
native of Fninee, and wa.s born Dec. 12, 
1848. His st<'pf!ither, licne Boulicr, together with 
his wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Oe>irc Lan- 
nay, were natives of Fnuu-e, and emignitetl to the 
I'nitcd .Stjites in 1875, making their way to Ihi- 
county and locating on section 27, in Slu-rni.uii 
Township, where the}' still reside. 

( >ur subject was the only son of his parenU*, whom 
he left in their native France in I8GM, and crossing 
the Atlantic, located first in Springdale, near Leav- 
enworth, this State, where he engaged in farming 
for a time, but the following year went into the 
city and was employed as clerk in a store of gen- 
eral merchandise, and wan thus occupied until Au- 
gust, 1870. That }-ear he took up a claim of 1(10 
acres near the city of WichitJi, which, however, he 
subsffjuentlj' abandoned for another tract of land. 
This he sold six months later, and hoinestcaded 1 GO 
acres on section 10, in Sherman Township, from 
which he built up his present fine homestead. The 
fields arc enclosed with hedge fence, and the build- 
ings are creditable to the entcrpri.sc and industry of 
the proprietor. 

Mr. Kouquet, in connection with his farming op- 
enitions, carried on a store of general merchantlisc 
on his f:irm until the completion of the railroad, 
then removed to Andale, a short disUmce from his 
present homestead, and where he nl.so hail charge of 
the ixjbt-ollice. lie removed to Wichita iu 1870, 



was n mere village, and Indians were nnmer- 
ini:; tliruughout this section. lie <lid not for S4jme 
time see a while woman there, and the neare.«l 
tniding-point, a.-ide from Wichita, wius at Km|Miria, 
10(1 miles distant. ISnfl'alos were plentiful, and 
in 1m7;1 our subject, in con)|>any with twt» other 
men. went out u|>on a hunt, and were pursued by a 
band of thirty or forty Inrlians. who threatened to 
take them cajitive, imt were finally i>ersu:ided by ihe 
chief, as they judged, to let them go. The >;iV!ige» 
were decorated with their war |>aint and well armed 
with guns, revolvers and lances. It is hardly nec- 
essary to .siiy that when they parted company with 
the Indians our hero and his comra<les abandoned 
the hunt for that day, but aft«rward fell in with a 
comiMiny ttf whites and supplied themselves with a 
quantity of buffalo meat, which w.is their main de- 
l^ndcnce throtigh the winter. 

Mr. Foutpiet took charge of the |)ost-ollice under 
the Uepublican administration in 188;"). lie wsl- 
married in Wichitji Township, in November, 187ri, 
to Miss Mathilde Foncher, who was also of French 
descent, anil of a family noted for longevity, her 
paternal grandfather, who died Jan. .'J, 1888, having 
reached the advanced age of ninetj'-two 3eai'». 
Mrs. Fouqucl was born .Sept. 7, 18,i.'), in Paris, and 
of her union with our subject there are five chil- 
dren, namely: Charles, Kniily, Kom', Ileruiance lunl 
Uobert Cleveland. 

Mr. FoiKpict, in 188('>, put up his present store 
building, which is two stories in height, the upper 
part occupied .as a residence and the lower part con- 
taining his merchandise and the post-oltlee. lie is 
independent in religion and politics, and a man 
genenilly respected by the community. 



jflOSFl'll A. NKI.SON. The represenUlives 
I of the farminj; anil slock-raisiu" interests of 



J .Sedgwick County acknowledge this gentle- 
man iis one of the most im|iortant faetiir^ 
who aided in bringing this .section of the .Stale of 
Kansius to its present enviable condition, lie is a 
man of more th.-ui ordinary business capacity, intel- 
ligent and well-informed, and at once upon becom- 
ing a resident here identified himself with the 



•►• -4»- 



I 



t 

•► II ^» 



■i^l 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



49.- 



progress and best interests of the people. There is 
seldom written the history of a great work without 
iisuall^^ a close allusion to tlie antecedents of the 
man who was chielly instrumental in its inaugura- 
tion and completion, and we accordingly glance 
with interest haci< to the history of those from whom 
our subject drew his origin. 

Mr. Nelson was born in Vigo County, Ind., Doc. 
26, 1828. His parents. James and Susanna (Cruse) 
Nelson, both deceased, were natives respect! velj' of 
South Carolina and Kentucky. They were among 
the earliest pioneers of A'igo County, where they 
spent the remainder of their days, the mother dying 
in 1 8G5, and the father in 1 871 . -Seven of the eight 
children comprising the parental household are still 
living. Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of .John 
Copeland ; Letitia married Henry Lovell, and both 
are living in Vigo County ; William P.'s residence 
is unknown; James E. is residing in this county, 
also Mar}', the wife of J. T. AVatson ; John F. 
rem.ains in Indiana; Joseph A. is thesubject of this 
sketch. James Nelson, the father, accumulated a 
goo<l property', cultivating a large extent of land, 
and being one of the prominent business men and 
citizens of Vigo County. 

Our subject spent his boyhood and j'outh on the 
farm where he was born, and attended the district 
school during the winter season until nearing man- 
hood. From that time he was employed at farming 
and carpentering until thirty-one years of age, anil 
on the 9th of Jul}', 18.59, occurred one of tiie most 
important events in his life, namely, his marri.age, 
which took place in Davis County, Ivy., the bride 
being Miss .Sarah J. Hantsford, a native of th.at 
county, and born Aug. 12, 1841. Mrs. Nelson w.is 
the daughter of Stephen and Eliz.abeth (Cruse) 
Hantsford, natives of Kentuckj'. Her mother had 
been twice married, and there remain living eight 
of her nine children. Marj' A., the eldest, is the 
wife of David Lee, of Davis, Kj'., and the others — 
Sarah J., Thomas W. ; Beatrice, the wife of Alex.an- 
der Jones; Elizabeth, the wife of Elijah Atherton; 
James B.; Mary B., the wife of Jacob Dame, and 
John — are all residents of the Blue Gr.iss State. 

To Mr. anil Mrs. Nelson there have been born 
three children: Thomas II., March 3, 1862; John, 
Feb. 7, 1867, and James, Sept. 22, 1869. .Mr. and 



HI-<»- 



Mrs. Nelson, in the spring of 1862, less than a year 
after their marriage, removed from Indiana to 
Douglas County, III., where Mr. N. purposed engag- 
ing in farming. The exigencies of war, however, 
necessitating another call for troops, Mr. Nelson 
laid ."iside his personal plans and interests, and on 
the 8th of March following enlisted in Company 
(i, 28th Illinois Infantr}', which was .assigned to the 
1 3th Corps, Armj' of the Mississippi. ShortI}' after 
entering the r.anfo Mr. Nelson became ill, and spent 
a large pro|)ortion of his time in the hospital, having 
been stricken with panalj'sis about June 9, 1865. 
The last few months he was in Memphis, seeing 
very little of active .service, and received his dis- 
charge at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in August, 186."). 
Mr. Nelson soon after his retirement from the 
service returned to his old tramping ground in 
Illinois, and from there, in 1870, crossed the Mis- 
sissii)pi and came directly to this county. He 
occupied himself at farming until the j'ear following, 
and then pre-empted a quarter of section 5, in Salem 
Township, upon which he settled and commenced 
to do battle with the uncultivated soil. He was 
obliged to build from the foundation, there being 
no house, barn or out-buildings on his place, neither 
a fence nor fruit tree. The period of seventeen 
3'ears during which he has labored industriously a 
good share of time, h.as effected a wonderful trans- 
formation. The fine modern homestead eliminated 
from the sterile tract of country is the admiration 
of the passerby, and indicates to what good pur- 
pose the proprietor has adapted his time and means. 
He is still in possession of the original pre-em])tion 
claim, which has far more to him than a moneyed 
value, as it is the scene of both his struggles and 
triumphs. It is conceded by all that Mr. Nelson 
has the finest fruit orchard in Sedgwick County. 
His fine walnut grove of two acres is the admiration 
of all who have the pleasure of seeing it. 

Mr. Nelson at an early stage of his residence here, 
and as soon as the townshii) began to make .any 
progress toward settlement, became prominent in 
public affairs and was first elected Trustee in 1 872. 
This office he held three years, and in 1875 was 
elected Countj' Commissioner, in which capacitj- he 
served two j'ears. In 1 883 he was again elected 
to this office, serving three years and receiving the T 

•^m^^ 



►►•-^ 



SK1h;\\ ick fdlNTY, 






marked nppruval of his constituents. Ilo v<' 
.■4lnii};iit I{o|>iiblicnii ticket, iiiid belongs lu thf < •. A. 
U., !it WichiUi. To those project* which liiive been 
ii)iiii>;iii-nUMl for th ■ ImiMiii^' up of tlie township. 
nn<l the l)e,-l intercnts of the people, .Mr. Nels«^»ii hn,* 
ever lent his clieerfiil nml remly nissislnnce. Relig- 
iously*, he i» a rniversiiiisl. 

The first election in whut wa;; then known jl-^ 
W !ico Ttjwnsliip, but i-> now Salem, was held in 
I XT I. The t<jwnship then coinpriseil towns •>!< anti 
211 Ciusl anil west, res|H'clivel3'. Two precincts were 
provided fur the voters, one bein^' located at what 
was then known as Babcock's .•ind Parndey's lOinch 
on the C'owskin, near the present resi<lence of T. 
H. Carl Wright, and the other at the f.ariu of V. M. 
Tyrrell on .section 21. What was then known !ls 
Waco Township, it w.is pro|)oscd to divide, and n 
|)etition to this eflfcct was present4.'d by WaUson 
Tyrrell and others. The south h.alf wjis called Wat- 
son Township, and in .a short time afterward the 
|K)rtion now known as Ohio Township ilrew off, and 
has since retained that name. In liST.'ia petition 
was got up to change the n.-ime of Watson Town- 
ship to that of Salem, which carried and the latter 
name has been reUiincil, 

1^^ OHACK K. KOISK. wiio has spent the most 
of his life on the western side of the .Missis- 
sippi, is now comfortably locjileil on section 
27, in (iarden I'lain Township. His boy- 
hood honie was in St. Francis County, .Mo., where 
his birth look pLace .lunc l.'3, 1S(;2. He is a young 
man just beginning the bnlllc of life, and possesses 
the elements which in the course of ordinary events 
will bring him to a successful issue. 

Horace K. and .MeliN>Ji ( Haiila) House, the parents 
i>f our subject, were natives respectively of Ma-ss-a- 
chusetts and Indiana, and the father, who had 
served tis a soldier in the I'nion army, died from 
the result of measles at .Ieflfei-son Barracks when 
oiir subject w.as an infant of but six weeks olil. 
The mother, after her sore bereavement, removed 
with her little f.imily to a point near the city of 
Burlington, Iowa, where she purcliiused ten acres of 
land, and with her two boys made a comfoititblc 



ving. After rcmoininf; ten years h widow she wiw 
iiiarrietl to William II. Ridl, a farmer of ludiaiui, 
will! removed latt-r It) Southern K:in.«ji> ami pre- 
empted laud in this township, which they iK-cupied 
thirteen years. They then sold out and removed 
to .MeAtl County, this Slate, where they now live 
on :i homestead. 

The only sister of o\n subject died when a babe 
of si.\ months, and his only brother, Wall:ice T., who 
I w!Ui born on the2'.ithof November, 1 H.V.), is County 
I Clerk of B!irber County, this State; he is married 
I and hius two children. Horace K. continued with 
his mother until reaching his majority, but worked 
by the month t4i aid in the sup|>ort of the family 
from the time he wsis thirteen years old. The 
money which had been paid his mother its a |ien- 
sion he invested in land about the time of reach- 
- ing his twenty-first year, and this is now the prt>p- 
erty of our subject. The next most im|K>rtanl 
event of his life w.as his marriage, which ix'ciuTed 
I on the \>l of .lanuary, isx.'), the maiden of his 
choice being Miss Anna, d.aughter of David and 
Hannah (Kerr) Voris, who were natives of Ken- 
tuck}' and New York City, respectively. Mrs. House 
WH> born April 21, IHlI.'t, in Switzerland County, 
I Ind., and removed with her father to Nebraska 
when a maiden of .seventeen. Her mother, who 
was born Dec. 30, 1K4,'>, die<l in ludiami on the .')lh 
of Novend)er, 1XS2. Mrs. House lia.> five brothers 
living who are residents of Nebraska. They are 
named respectively: .Sanford Sparks; Curtis K.,now 
I a resident of Clay County; Abram, of I'lieliKs 
County; ■lohii Kerr ami .lames Me(!ee. Her father 
.served as a Union soldier four years, and although 
i he Niw consldenible lighting wiis fortunately nevei' 
j woiMxleil or capturetl by the enemy. He i> slill 
I living, a resident of I'lu Ips County, Neb. Heroidy 
i sister died when .seventeen years of :ige. Anna W!b< 
' but eleven years old when she wius deprived of a 
mother's care, and was sidisequently her father's 
housekeeper until her marriage. 

Mr. House at the time of his marriage had #201) 
at interest and one horse, with which he projHiscd to 
commence the umre serious battle of life, tireally 
l4i the distress and disappointment of the young 
people he wils unable, by rea.Min of sickness, to 
labor the following summer, but in due lime recov- 



■•►■ -4« 






^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4'J7 



>► B ,^^ 



ered, and although suffering considerably from ili- 
healtli and some other misfortunes, considers tluit 
lie has reason to be thankful for his comfortable 
home and the other blessings which he enjoys. The 
little household has been brightened by the birth 
of two children: Wallace T., who was born May 
•21, 1886, and Everett Wesley, Aug. 21, 1887, lioth 
natives of this county. Mr. Rouse is a Repub- 
lican, politically, and with his estimable wife, an 
active member of the Baptist Church, with which 
they both became identified when about sixteen 
years of age. 



ROF. FRANK L. BOYD is a liberally edu- 
cated, well-informed gentleman, and has 
charge of the Franklin .School in Wichita, 
where he is ably discharging the duties 
devolving upon him in the responsible position he 
occupies, giving general satisfaction to all. He is 
a native of Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind., born Oct. 
27, 1855. John Boyd, his. grandfather, a native of 
Virginia, followed the occupation of general farm- 
ing in that State until his removal in 18u0 to Ken- 
tuck}'. There he carried on farming on an extensive 
scale during the remainder of his life. 

Elisha Boyd, father of our subject, was born and 
reared on the home farm in Kentut^ky. He was a 
self-educated man, and made farming his life work. 
In 1824 he married, and shortly after removed to 
Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind., where he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. There his wife died, leaving 
three children — Thomas, William and Ann. Sub- 
sequently Mr. Boj'd married again, the maiden 
name of his second vvife being Mary J. Tilford, a 
native of Indiana, by whom he had four children — 
Frank L.. Charles T., Ella and Lovie. In 1858 
Mr. Boyd moved with his family to Coles Count}', 
111., and settled on a farm one mile from Mattoon. 
Thirteen years later he retired from active labor 
and moved to Carbondale, the same State, partly 
on account of his health, and partly that his chil- 
dren might receive greater educational advantages. 
Two years later his death occurred in that place. 

Prof. Boyd, of this sketch, w:is reared on a farm 
and attended the district schools, where, being a 



studious, ambit i(iu> Mliular, he received a very good 
elementary education. He was fifteen years old 
when he moved to Carbondale with his parents, 
and the following four years he was employed in 
the post-ollice and bank. He then took a two-years 
Course at the Southern Illinois Normal School in 
that place, and afterward taught for seven years in 
the public schools of Jackson County, 111. His 
steady application to scIkjoI work seriously impaired 
his health, and in order to recuper.ate he decided 
to try the invigorating climate of Kansas. Accord- 
ingl}' he came in 1884 to Sedgwick County with 
his family, and for two years thereafter was engaged 
in teaching in Clearwater. He was then called to 
tiike his present position in Wichita. He has a 
corps of five assistant instructors, and an enroll- 
ment of more than 400 pupils. The Franklin 
School, under Prof. Boyd's excellent management, 
holds a high rank among the educational institutions 
of Wichita, which are second to none in the State. 

Our subject was married, Nov. 10, 1878, to Miss 
Lizzie Rendleman, of Makawanda, 111. To them 
have been born four children — Charles, Nora, Homer 
L. and Eiiinia. 

In politics Prof. Boyd is a Republican ; socially 
he is an Odd Fellow; religiously he and his wife are 
members of the Christian Cluirch, and hold an hon- 
ored position in literary and social circles. 



eHARLES L. SOUTHWICK, an enterprising 
farmer and stock-raiser on section 19, Garden 
Plain Township, was born in Deerfield, Liv- 
ingston Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 18G2. His parents, 
Rawson and Emily (Ilutchins) Southwick, were 
both natives of New York, his father having been 
born in Cayuga County, June 17, 1815, and his 
mother in Herkimer County, Oct. 10, 1821. The 
parents of both moved to Michigan in the early 
days of its settlement, and bought heavily timbered 
land of the Government, where they cleared up 
spaces to erect log cabins. In their Michigan home 
the chihlren of both families grew to maturity, mid 
ill Lenawee County, June 28, 1840, the parents of 
Mr. Southwick were united in marriage. His father 
afterward carried on farming, having bought 160 
i^ — -•► 



-4*- 



•►■-4» 



r.if 



SKIM. WICK COUNTY, 



ncros of land, r«jii<liiig Uicrc until 1870. He nssistcd 
in building' tlio flrst railway in Mirhigan. wliicli 
oxUMidod from ToItMln, Oliin, to Adrian; tlie rails 
wore inadi- of wood, lull iiflorward improveil by 
|>iittin<; on strap iron, the can* being dniwn hy 
horses. Adrian wiis then a small town, with only 
one store of ;reneral nierolmndis*-. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Southwick were born six chil- 
dren, namely: llyron I lawloy, Norman MiL^on, Sarah 
Louis:i. llarley .Sabin. Lucy Kilith and Charles Leroy. 
Myron, born in Hudson. Lenawee Co., Mich., Oct. 
7. IH4*J. is a i)anker in Cage County, Neb.; he was 
a soldier in the Civil War, anil .served eighteen 
months as Hospital Steward; he is married, and 
has two children. Norman, born in Hiidsun, Mich., 
.Sept, 2'2, 1H4C, is a clerk in ji store in Wichita; he 
is married, and has three children. Sar.-ih, born in 
Wright, Hillsdale Co.. Mich., .luly 15, 184;>, married 
Alvin Wardin, now deceased; she lives in .Shenan- 
doah, Page Co., Iowa, and has one child; her hus- 
band W!is a railway engineer, and lost his life in a 
wreck near Huineston. Iowa, being found under the 
engine with his hand on the throttle. Harlcy. born 
in lliiiison. Mich., .Iiiiie 21, 18.")7, died .June 1, 
l«tj2; Lucy, born in Hudson, Mich., Dec. 215, 
18.'»'.i. inarricd Amlnw ('<jlcinaii; she died .liinc 19, 

In 1M70 Mr. Southwick with all of his family 
excepting his eldest son. who had preceded him. 
moved to Iowa, and settled in Union County, where 
he bought 11)0 acres of land, which he improved, 
remaining there four years. In 1.S74. deeming a 
removal to Kansas advantageous, he di.s|K>sed of 
his farm, .'ind coming to .Sedgwick County, with 
siK'h meinlicrs of his family as had not estjiblished 
homes of their own, he pre-empted his present 
homestead. His son Norman pre-eni|>ted another 
quarter-section across the road from his. Mr. 
Southwick sub.Heqiienlly bought 1 CO acres more of 
hind, which his son Charles, the subject of this 
sketch, bought of him in 1883. lie and his wife 
were worthy ineiuliers of the Itaptist Church, where 
Mr. Southwick served as Deacon until his death, 
.June HI, I8H,'). His life record was an honorable 
one, and his loxs will long be felt in this community, 
if which he was a valuecl and respect<'d member. 

Charles L. .Southwick, of whom we write, received 



a common-school cducntion, which was supple- 
mented by further study in Corning. Iowa; he nl>o 
received a gotMl tniining in husbandry from hi> 
father, who was a giwid farmer. He was married, 
.Sept. 28, 1882, to Miss Lne Alice, daughter of 
.Jonas and Susan (Dockins) I'ipkin. .She was born 
in (Jibson County, Tonn., .Ian. 17, 18G1. .Since the 
marriage of t)ur subject he has lived on his father's 
homestead. To him and his wife have been born 
three children: Oliver Marshall, Aug. 2, |h8;»; 
Theoilore Myron, .Sept. 24. 1884; IV-.nrl, born Dec. 
12, 1887, died Feb. 12. 1888. 

Mr. .Southwick holds a pr«>minent place among 
the int<^lligent young fanners of Sedgwick County, 
and his integrity, manliness and true Christian char- 
acter h.'ive won the resj)ect of the entire community. 
Religiously he is a f:tithful member of the Haptist 
Church. 



mmmo^^y 



SAAC 1). .STOX'KR. This ;.'cntleman occupies 
no unimportant |>osition among the leading 
citizens of (iarden I'lain Township. He c.ime 
hiTe during the days of its early settlement, after 
having previously .assisted in the organization of 
the adjoining tt)wnsliip of Attica, which is indebted 
to him perhaps more than to any other individual 
for his assistance during the time it was striving to 
gain recognition as a community of people, am- 
bitious and enterprising, anil alive to the necessity 
of being duly governed !ls a regular township. 
There were school districts to be organized .also, 
and in these .as well .as the esUUilishmcnl of other 
enterprises, Mr. Stover was one of the most active 
men. 

Our subject removed from Attica to Oanlen 
Plain Township in 1876, and taking up a tract of 
240 acres on section .36, has since devoted his time 
and attention to the building up of one of the most 
desirable homesteads in the township. He has 
alw;»ys been fond of horticulture, and one of the 
most attractive features of his iiremi.ses is the tine 
young orchard of over 400 trees, which are just 
commencing to bear. He ha> a handsome and 
commodious residence, a good barn and other tint- 




Residence OF Andrew 1 NSLEY ,Sec.1 . Afton Township. 



-^'SS^^PS^S^^^TT^ 










Residence or Isaac D.Stuve-R ,S lc. 3G. Garden Plain Touvus^ i h 



t 



■*► II <• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



501 



buildings necessary to the complete country home, 
and is now enabled, as he fully deserves, to take 
life in a comparatively easj' manner. 

Montgomery County. Pa., was the boyhood 
home of our subject, where he first opened his eyes 
to the light on the IGtIi of January, 1839. His 
parents were Henry O. and llacliel (Delp) Stover. 
The father, it is supposed, was a native of Penn- 
sylvania or Virginia, and the mother of Juniata 
County, the former State. Henry Stover, during 
his early manhood, was employed as a general 
mechanic, but when about forty years of .age began 
dealing in lumber. His death took place in 1877 
in Montgomery Count\', Pa. The mother died in 
the same county in April, 1888. 

The parental household of our subject included 
ten children, nine of whom lived to mature 3'ears. 
The eldest son, John, during the late war, enlisted 
in the naval service and participated in the bom- 
bardment of Ft. Mcllenr}'; he died unmarried, 
in 1881, in Pennsylvania. Jacob M. is a resident of 
Montgomery County, Pa. ; Joseph died in iTifancy; 
Isaac I)., of our sketch, was the third son ; Kliza- 
beth married Samuel Kosenberger, and died leaving 
six cliildren; M.ary became the wife of Charles 
Hendricks, and died leaving one child, a daughter, 
Alice, who is now a resident of Jloutgomery 
County, Pa. ; Abraham served as a Union soldier 
one 3'ear during the late war, and is now a resident 
of Philadelphia; Catherine, Mrs. John Kratz, was 
also a resident of the (Quaker City; Barbara, Mrs. 
Jacob Kulp, died when a young woman, leaving 
two children; Sarah, Mrs. Joseph Detwiler, lives in 
Montgomery' County, Pa. 

The early life of Mr. Stover was spent after the 
manner of most farmers' sons, in a comparatively 
uneventful manner, and during which he attended 
the common school, and made himself useful around 
the homestead as his years increased. At the age 
of twenty he commenced learning the carpenter's 
trade, but in his labors vv.as interrupted three years 
later by the outbi-eak of the Rebellion, and was 
constrained to enter the Union service, becoming a 
member of the •27tii Pennsylvania Infantry. He 
served three months, .and while out on a foraging 
expedition received a gunshot wound in the leg. 
' Later, at Carlisle, Pa., and after nightfall, being 



ordered to fall into line upon leaving a train, yoini" 
Stover walked out of a box car down a steep em- 
bankment, which so di.sabled iiim that he suffered 
from the effects for nearly twenty years. In con- 
secpience of this he received his honoraMe dis- 
charge in September, 1803. 

A few weeks later, on the /ith of December, the 
marriage of Is.aac D. Stover and Miss KIniina 
Kindig was celebrated at the home of the bride, in 
Montgomery County, I'a. Mrs. Stover was born 
Sept. 9, 184.'), in Montgomery Coimt}', Pa., and is 
the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Ruth) Kindig, 
who were also n.atives of that State, together with 
their family, for several generations back. Mrs. 
Stover wtis the youngest of a family of six children. 
Her eldest sister, Catherine, became the wife of 
Omar Reese, and died leaving five children; Mary, 
Mrs. Joel Rosenberger, is a resident of Mont- 
gomery County, Pa.; and also Sarah, the wife of 
Samuel Althouse; together with Susannah, Mrs. 
Jacob Johnson, and Jacob, the youngest brother. 
Eliza died ;it the ,nge of sixteen years. 

After his marriage IMr. Stover Avas variously- 
occupied — some of the time at his trade and later 
as an employe of the Northern Pennsylvania Rail- 
road Companj'. By tiie latter he was promoted 
first to conductor and then .as confidential messen- 
ger, carrying large sums of mone)- from one point 
to another. He left the Ke3'stone State in 1870, 
and crossing the Father of Waters, arrived in Kan- 
sas during the month of M.ay. He was compara- 
tively without means, but succeeded in obtiiining 
work in Leavenworth, where he remained until 
1872, then coming to this county pre-empted a 
tr.'ict of land in Attica Township. LTpon this he 
operated until 1876, then sold out arid purchased 
•240 acres of school land, to which amount he sub- 
sequently added .at different times, until he is now 
the owner of 560 .acres, which are devoted to the 
raising of gi-ain and stock. 

Eight children came to bless the unicm of Mr. 
and Mrs. Stover, seven of whom are now livin": 
Henry was born in the city of Philadelpliia, Feb. 
27, 186.i; Joseph, in Montgomery County, Pa., Oct. 
9, 1867; Edward, born on the 2.5th of November, 
1870, at Leavenworth, Kan., died when two j-ears 
and eight mouths old; William was born in this 



t 



\> ' 502 



-•►-•-4» 



SKIH;W1( K rol'NTY. 



(■oiiiity, April I . 

Charles, Jiint.' 2)>. i>-<i: >:ir'iii. i iri. j i, i^->;, .uil 
Cvnis \V., Sept. 1, \HSi). 

Mr. Stover, |K>litienlly. voU'> tho strniglil Ht-- 
ptibliciiii tic'ki-t. Notn-ithslaiiiling liisi liii.Hy and 
ai-livc rarei'r :us c-<iiiiiec-U-() wiili the jji-iii-'nil welfare 
of liis township. 111- li!W iievi-r .soii^^hl ollii-f, content 
alone t«> seethe |K'ople aroiiiiil him sleaililv advime- 
injT boeially. morally nndfnianeialiy. A litlioj^'raphie 
view is siiown on another pa^'e of Mr. Stover's 
residence. 



NDRKW IN>I,KV oci-npies a position in 
the front ninks anion;,' the fine stoek- 
(i, growers of Afton Township, whore he is 
able to exhibit some of the handsomest 
Shi>rt-horii cattle and Poland-China swine in Seilj;;- 
wick County. His animals .-ire of re;;istered [K'di- 
gree, and will compare favorably with anything of 
the kind in .Southern Kansas. In the care and 
keeping of these and also in the prosecution of 
general agriculture, he oiM.M-:iles a line farm of 1G'.» 
acres within two miles of town. This land hajj 
been brought to a high state of cultivation and, in 
ad<lition to iLs handsome and subslimtial buildings, 
there are two good orchards with the smaller fruit 
trees and the other ajipurtcnanccs of the country 
homestead, which make it rot only a delightful 
s|M)t to look upon, but a rc.«i<lcncc little short of 
|>erfection. Mr. Insley came to Kan«us in 1877, 
and since that time has been closely identified with 
the interests of Sedgwick County. 

The first recollections of our subject are of a 
modest home in Highland County, Ohio, where his 
birth took jdace on the 21st of December, 182.5. 
His parents were Aaron and Kachel ( Woolard) Ins- 
ley; the former w;ls born in. South Carolina in 1790, 
and departed this life in Fountain County, Ind., in 
IMCi.O. Aaron Insley was a good man in the broad- 
est stMise of the term, a devout mendier of the 
.Methodist ('liunli, .-md followed f:irniing and stock- 
raising all his life. The mother, a native of Vir- 
ginia, was born in 1796, and piusscd away tun 
years before the decease of her husband, at her 
home, in I «.'>.'i. Although not conneeted with any , 
ri-ligioiis organ i^iition, she attended regularly with | 



liusband the Metbudist Kpi8CO|Ml Cbiirch, and 

I- remembered as a devott-d wife and mother. 

The |iarcnt:il liou.sehold of our subject in<-ludcd 
seven children. The eldest son, .John, who married 
Miss .Margaret .Stewart, was the father of six chil- 
dren; he died at his home in IH7.'). Kli/a died 
in infancy; Andrew, of this sketch, was the thini 
child; Cyrus married .Mi.ss .Sjirah Sewall. ami is 
occupied as ;i farmer and stock-raiser near H(m>cs- 
toii. III.; they have six children. The next child 
died unnamed in Fountain County, Ind.; Newton 
is married, and when last heard from was a resi- 
dent of RuKsellville. 111. 

Mr. Insley was a child three years of age when 
his parenLs removed from the Huckeye .State to 
Indiana, and, as soon :ts old enough began his 
studies in the district scIkkiI and made himself 
useful around the homestead, lie remained in 
that locality until reaching manhootl,and on the 
1st of October, l.s4.j, was united in marriage with 
Miss Hannah .Sewall, who was Ixirn July It), 1H2;1, in 
.Martin C(junty. Ind. This lady became the mother 
of one child, John Albert, and died .lune 9, IH52. 
The boy died on the 17th of August. 18.>2, in 
Jasper County, Iowa. 

Mr. Inslej', March 4, 18.'i3, contnicted a second 
marriage, this time with .Miss Uel>ecca Combs, who 
was born in Kentucky, Sept. 26, 1827, and w.xs the 
daughter of Klias and Kisah Combs, who were the 
parents of twelve children, of whom but nine are 
living, namely: Joseph, who is deceased; Mary 
married Daniel .Merrill, and lives in Indiana; Lydia 
married David Sanders; both are deceased. Rebecca, 
now .Mrs. Insley; and .Malind:i married Charles Mrat- 
ton,an<l resides in Illinois; Allen lives in Nebniska; 
Kllen married Robert Philli|is, an<l lives in Illinois, 
where also Levi lives; .Sarah K. married John Mil- 
ler, and also resides in Illinois; .Solomon lives in 
Kingman County, Ivan. 

Of this marriage of our subject there were born 
the ehildren whose record is as follows: .Mary Kllen 
was born Dec. 2;j, 18.i3, and ilied Sept. 20, 1861, 
in tiasper County. Iowa; Thomas Allen W!is born 
Aug. 20, 18.">.'),and died in the sjimc place, Aug. 23, 
I860; Francis A:iron was born April I, 18,57, and 
died on the 2.ld of May following; John Chilils 
Fremont wiis born July 0, 1869, and met his death 



•w m^^ 



^l-^^ 



^2- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



503 



accidentally by being suffocated with gas on the 
27th of November, 1887, in Newton, Kan.; Mar- 
garet Jane was born Sept. 27, 1860, and died Sept. 
10, 18G4, in Champaign Count}', 111.; Alice Emma 
wiis born Jan. 17, 18G;i, and became the wife of 
G. W. Eslinger, July 31, 1884; they have one child, 
William Marion, burn Aug. 28, 1887, and live on 
a farm in this township. Sarah N. was born June 
29, 18()'J, has received a good education in the com- 
mon schools, and remains at home with her father. 
Mr. Insley had the misfortune to lose his wife at 
the same time and in the same manner as his son 
John C. Fremont lost his life, by blowing out the gas, 
and was, therefore, suffocated. She was a kind, 
Christian lady, and was mourned by a large circle 
of friends and relatives. 

For a period of twelve years Mr. Inslcj' was 
engiiged in farming and stock-raising in Jasper 
County, Iowa. Later he returned to Indiana on 
a visit, and from there, in 18o9, removed to Cham- 
paign County, HI., where he resided ten years, and 
was occupied as before. He next located in Ver- 
milion County, and eight years later once more 
crossed the Father of Waters, locating this time in 
Southern Kansas. He is just such a man :is was 
needed during the early settlement of Sedgwick 
County. He is a straight Republican, politically, 
and a strong advocate of Prohibition principles, so 
much so that he would not knowingly cast his vote 
for a man in the habit of using ardent spirits in 
any way, shape or manner. Mr. Insley and his son 
are members in good standing of the Baptist Church. 
Their homestead and manner of living are clearly 
indicative of cultivated tastes and ample means, 
and, in giving the view of the premises in connec- 
tion with this sketch, we are onl}- doing justice to 
one of the most enterprising men of Sedgwick 
County. 

.4»--^!^-.^^<^^. J. 

J|)OIIN E. K. I'AVNE is a worthy roprescnlative 
I of the agricultural and stock-growing inler- 
li ests of Southern Kansixs, and operates a 
j) quarter of section 8, in Afton Township, the 

land of which he has brought to a high state of cul- 
tivation. It is admirably located and well watered 
by a spring branch one and one-half miles from 



Garden Plain, and embraces a portion of the most 
fertile section of Sedgwick Count}'. Mr. Payne 
understood his business when he located here, as he 
h.as been an extensive traveler, compassing the 
States of Texas and Colorado, the Territor}- of Now 
Mexico and other portions of the Southwest, and 
found nothing more desirable than the spot which 
he selected for his permanent abiding-place. His 
farm is principall}' devoted to the raising of grain 
and stock, and besides the labor and care involved in 
the proper supervision of his rural interests, he has 
been quite prominent in township affairs, serving as 
Road Overseer and otherwise identified with local 
matters. 

The infant feet of our sul)ject first trod the soil 
of the Old Dominion, his birth taking place in 
Berkeley County, W. Ya.,on the 18th of April, 1848. 
This section of country was also the birthplace of 
his father, John ftl. Payne, who was there reared 
to manliood and married one of the playmates of 
liis childhood. Miss Mary Long. The parents of 
our subject continued in their native count}' after 
their marriage, and the father became an extensive 
farmer and stock-raiser. He was a Democrat, 
politically, and with his estimable wife, an active 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of 
their twelve children, Martin L., the eldest, married 
Miss Mary Dillon, and follows the occupation of 
his father in his native county ; they are the parents 
of one child. Lydia A. became the wife of Moses 
Trussel, a farmer of Jefferson County, W. Va., and 
the mother of one child; she is now deceased. 
Elizabeth V. T. is the wife of J. E. Umbrage, a 
prosperous merchant of Martinsburg; William D. 
married, and is farming in Clarke County, W. Va. ; 
they have four children. John E. R. was the fifth 
child; Charles O. married Miss Mildred Burns, and 
is farming in Berkelej' County, W. Va. ; thej' have 
two children living and two deceased. Virginia 
married Moses Trussel, of Jefferson County, W. Va., 
and is the mother of two children; Eliza is unmar- 
ried, and continues at the parent-il homestead ; 
Joseph N. married Miss Belle Rinker, and is farm- 
ing in Jefferson County; they have two children. 
Mary is well educated and is following the pro- 
fession of a teacher, making her home with her 
parents; Marshall E. is engaged as clerk in a gro- 



- ► ■ < • 



si:im:\vi< K COUNTY. 



(try Mtorc at Wichita: Ituhert L. is siinihirly 
iMiiplovi'il ill llu- s'lino city: Moilif niul KVtr-n c<>u. 
timio the a»»isUnU<< of their iwin-iiL-* in their imlivi" 
oomity. 

When l»v«'iity-twii y«'nrs i>f !i;.;i> tin- siil>ji'i-t of this 
«ki-l<-h hocaiiio iii-qiiiiiiited with liii' huly wiio now 
lioiint liis iiiiiiio, mill who lii-furi' thuir n)nrrin<;e. 
which iKTiirrivl .Inn. IK. 1S70, w!us.Mis.s I.iihi Wnilo. 
Mrs. I'nyni' was born Nov. .'), lH."i2, in IlerkcK'y 
County. W. \n., niid is llic <iiui;;lilor of .lohn M. 
.•ukI Isjihflle (.MrDoii'iliI) Wnitc, imlivis of West 
Viij^inia. Mr. W'nito dircl in the West sonic years 
since. Tiie mother eontiniies in We.si ^■ilM^i||in. 
They were the |>;ireii(.s of tliree cliihlren, and Mrs. 
I'ayne wa.s the second cJntiyhtor. Ilcr eider sister, 
Miiry M., is tlie wife of Ceorjjc S. Ramslmrg, 
who wiis :i fariuer liv occii|i:ilion and is now livinif 
retired. Her only brother. Robert, died in West 
Virjfinia when about ten yenrs of .-i^re. Mi-s. Wiiitc, 
after the <lealli of her lirst hnsband, w:ls married to 
.lohn L. .Vneendiver, .-i merchant of Darkesvilie, 
W. \i\. 

Mr. I'aync left his native SUito in April, l.*<77, 
and comin<j to this county purchased n quarter- 
section of improved laud, which lie has since occu- 
pied with the results alreaily sU-itcd. The little 
household includes three brijiht children, the eldest 
of whom, a daiiLjhler, Ada 15., was born Nov. I), 
|K71,!ind is now an intelligent .aiid accomplished 
youii}; lady, making her home with iier parents. 
Myrtle .M. was born Aug. 2;'), 1H71, and Luin W., 
named after her mother, Sept. 17, l.S7<;. 



It. (!. C. ri'UDl'K, a prominent physician 
and surgeon (»f WichiUi, came to this city 
in May, 1hh7, -ukI opened an olllce the 1st 
of .June in (ietto lilock, corner of Main 
and .Second streets. Althongli he 1ms been settled 
here but a few months, he has already gained con- 
siderable practice, and is steadily growing in favor 
with the |>eople its his pmctienl knowledge and skill 
are becoming more widely known. The Ooctor is 
:i native of Warrick County, hid. lie wn.s lK)rn 
.Jan. -Ji. IHi^Land is the son of .larrett (J. and Klizii 
(Kellcy) I'lirdiie, natives respectively of Tennes- 



see and Indiniin. .Mr. I'lirdne was nil exteii.«ive 
farmer, and now lives in retiretiicnt at Kvnnsville. 
I lid. His father was Howell I'nrdiic: the mother's 
maiden name was l)ickei>on. They wj-re engiigeil 
in fanning, and removed from Tennessee to Indiann 
in 1S2."). Mrs. I'lirdue was the daughter of .lacob 
Kelley. To .Mr. and Mrs. I'lirdue were born six 
children, namely: Clark H., Adeline. (!. C., .larrett 
L., Harry and Delia. The Intter is.Mrs. Callendnr, of 
Indinna; Clark H. is .a farmer of Warrick County, 
Ind.; Adeline is.Mrs. Itobinson, of Kvansville, liid.; 
■larrett is a maniifactiirer of crackers at Kvansville, 
Ind.: Harry is a farmer of M'arrick County, Ind. 

(hir subject remained at home on the farm until 
sixteen years of age. and atteiKJed the district 
school, where he received the riicliments of his edu- 
cation. He then attended college at li<K'k|M>rt, Ind., 
for two years, attaining high rank in scholarship. 
.Subsequently lie utilized his edu<-ation by teaching 
ill Warrick County, lirst in the district schools for 
two yeai"s, and then in the graded schools of Ncw- 
bnrg the following two years. While lie was 
eiigjiged as an instructor he employed all his sjKirc 
lime for three years in the study of medicine. He 
j then gave up his school that he might more thor- 
! oughly prepare himself for the profession of a phy- 
sician. He entered the Medical College of ICvans- 
I ville for two sessions, aiul was graduated therefrom 
in 18,S0. In March, IHSO, shortly after his gnidna- 
tioii, he commenced to practice in Kvansville, and 
in the following years he achieved many successes 
in his professional career, and became one of the 
leading physicians of Southern Indiana, and w.as a 
prominent member of the V.aiiderbnrg Medical 
Society. While he was at Kvansville he was ap- 
pointed to take charge of the County Hospital, qiiiU' 
a responsible imsilion. He had the c.are of all the 
smallpox cases, antl made a careful study of that 
(Ireadetl ili.sease, and so successful did he beconie in 
dealing with it that he wius regarded as an authority 
on the proper treatment of smallpox patients, and 
w;is i';dlc<l upon as an expert. In 18,s7 he gave up 
his practice in Indiann and came to Kaiisjus, ilk above 
stated. 

Dr. I'upliie w.as married, Dec. .'!1, 1880, to Miss 
Kmnia (Jarwood, a native of Ncwbnrg, W.arriek 
Co., Ind., and daughter of William .S. and Ijiiira 



-^^ 



i 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 



505 



(Wilden) Garwood, natives respectively of Ver- 
mont and Indiana. The Doctor and liis wife have 
two children, twins — Laura and Lelia. 

Our subject and his acconipiishcil wife have a 
pleasant home in this city, and are great additions 
to its social life. In politics he is a member of the 
Republican partj-. He is a member of the Wichita 
Medical Society, and is identidcd with the Odil 
Fellows and Knights of I'ythias. 

NDRKU' F. ROSS, Mayor of Clearwater, 
(@fil "here he is engaged in general merchandis- 
ing, has built up a good patronage and 
enjoj's the friendship and esteem of the 
people of hiscommunit}', was born in Stark Count}', 
Ohio, Dec. 8, 1856. His parents, Hon. William 
and Jessie (Macredie) Ross, are of Scottish birth 
and anccstrj-, and crossed the Atlantic about 185;5. 
They located in Will County, 111., and from there 
crossed the Mississippi into Kansas in 1870, since 
which time they have been residents of tliis county. 

William Ross upon coming to this county pre- 
empted a quarter of sections 27 and 28 in what is 
now Ninnescah Township, upon which he settled 
before there were any improvements, and from this 
uncultivated tract of land built up a good farm 
which he occupied until the spring of 1884. He 
then retired from active labor and removed to the 
village of Clearwater, where he now lives. A man 
of much force of character and more than ordinary 
intelligence, he advanced with the growing country 
and became one of its most prominent men. After 
filling various local positions of trust he waselected 
to the Lower House of the State Legislature, serv- 
ing his term with credit to himself and satisfaction 
to his constituents. As one of the organizers of 
Ninnescah Township he has always taken a lively 
interest in its prosperity, and politically, is a firm 
adherent of the Greenback part}-. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
hood on the farm and began life for himself as a 
clerk in the general mercantile business of J. M. 
Trac}', in Clearwater, with whom he remained for a 
period of five years. He made the most of his 
opportunities, and in 1 884 embarked in the gro- 



cerj' business for himself, following this line of trade 
exclusivel}' for three years. He then a<lded a gen- 
eral stock of merchandise, comprising all the articles 
required in the village or country household and 
the smaller farm implements. His stock aveniges 
in value about ^3,000, and he does a business of 
from ijil 2,000 to $15,000 annually. 

The storeroom of Mr. Ross occupies an area of 
50x80 feet, and he gives employment to two clerks 
the year around. He owns a good home in the vil- 
lage, besides other property, and forty acres of 
land in Ninnescah Township. Of this he at present 
is serving as Clerk and holds the same office in his 
school district. In 1885 he was elected a member 
of tlie Village Council, and in the fall of 1887 
elected Maj'or of Clearwater, and in his position as 
head of village affairs is exercising the same good 
judgment which has been conspicuous in all his rela- 
tions in life. In politics he votes the straight Re- 
publican ticket. 

The marriage of Andrew F. Ross and Miss 
Demma Ferrison was celebrated at the home of the 
bride in Wichit^i on the 20th of November, 18.S2. 
Mrs. Ross was born in Pawnee Count}', Neb., April 
2, 18G0, and is the daughter of Henry and Sophia 
Ferrison, who arc natives of Pennsylvania and 
came to Kansas some years ago. They are now 
residents of Wichita. This union resulted in the 
birtli of two children: Earl A., born Dec. 2, 1883, 
and Gail, Oct. 7, 1885. Mrs. Ross, a lady held in 
high esteem, is a member in good standing of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

-^ ^3^ ^ 



^hM '^^- '^' INN IK RITTER, widow of the late 
John Uitter, of Wichita, is the owner of 
considerable real estate in the city. She is 
a lady who has led an active and busy 
life, spending very few days in useless idleness, 
and is amply entitled to the comforts by which she 
is now surrounded and the enjoyment of her pleas- 
ant home. 

Mrs. Ritter is of German birth and parentage, 
her infant yeai-s having been spent in Germany, 
where she was born near the city of Berlin, Feb. 23, 
1851. Her parents were William and Dora Wei 



-^ 



•►-•:-4»- 






■<• 



•► ■ -4^ 



son 



SF.nOWICK COl'NTV. 



Iiimcr, <k\). niitives of the fnthrrlniul, niid 

«ini>,'rnto<l I., tin IniU-il Stiites in IS/iS. AfU-r 
!««'ttin;; foot u|Kiii American soil tlu-y prrx-pcdcd 
iliriTtly !uiiitli\ve.it\vHr<l, iiikI cros.Hiii'.' tlie Mis.sis>i|>|>i, 
l<K';it«'<l on ;» f.'irni nenr CnliforMin, Mo. In |."<"0 
Mis* Wi'lhiiner cnnip with fricmls to l.oiivcnworth, 
Klin., imtl tliorc met hiT fiitiiri' hn.-l>nn<l, .lolin 
Kilt«'r, witli whom .••he wns iniitvil in mnrriii^^'o in 
OcUdHT, 1h7(>. 

To Mr. .'inil Mrs. Uittor there wore horn four 
ehililreii — Christie K.. (uistie, William nn<l Dorii. 
The father wius n miisieiim of nire merit, i\u<\ three 
years nft4'r their niarriiij^'e they removed to Wichita, 
where Mr. Hitter |>iircliase(l projierly and siicces.s- 
fnlly followed his profession, lie de|«irte<l this 
life April •>:$, I8HI, at the a^'c of sixty-three years, 
lie had lieen connected with the l.uthenin Church, 
with whose doctrines he wius always in acconl, and 
politically, identifled hiniself with the Democratic 
party, lie was \>i>iu in llaniliuri;, (lennMny, Auj,'. 
7, 1S21. 

.Mrs. Kitter since the death of her hnshand has 
liecouie the owner of cousideraliie real estate, pur- 
cliiLsiii" several loUs and putting up live houses. 
The lots which she purchased in 188;? for the sum 
of if\ JtOO have now incrca.seil many times in value. 
.'<he is now practically independent, financially. Her 
eldest s<jn, Christie K.. is a <-arpenter by trade, an 
enterprising un<l industrious .young man, respected 
liy all who know him. Her eldest daughter. Miss 
C.nstie, in I88t; hee.-mie the wife of Napoleon De- 
Marias, who conducts a meat market in Wichita on 
Kiust ()!ik street. The l.alanie of the children are 
living at lionn' with their mother. 



>o^ 



tpy OHKItT L. ( AKNAHAN .nnie to Kansas 

11^^ in the spring of IhTC. and located on see- 

I'i V tion 'J;'), in (• rant Township, upon IGO acres 

^^of land, partly broken, and from which he 

has since huilt up a homestea<l whii-h is worthy of 

more than a piLssing notice in recording Ihe growth 

and development of Sedgwick County. He not 

only hronght his llrst purcha.se to n gcxid slate of 



cultivation hut add ■' lintihe farm e<iin- 

prises 210 acres, whii h \ nl.l i||.- chou'cst priMlncls 
of Southern Kansas. It is finely stocketl with high- 
grade Norman horses. Durham cattle anil I'oland- 
Cliina swine, in the breeding of which Mr. C. has 
been uniformly successful, and exhibits some of 
the llnest animals to be found in this |iart of the 
county. His farm in all ite ap]K)intments indicates 
the thorough and progressive agriculturist, who has 
availed himself of the be.-t and most a|>pruveil 
methods of tilling the .soil anil carrying on the 
various other interests ap|>ertaining to the country 
homestead. 

.Sedgwick County is p<'cnliarly fortunate in hav- 
ing been settled up by a highly intelligent cIil«s of 
people, numbers of whom came from New York 
.Stiite and Ohio. In the latter our subject was born 
May 2, 1811!, and spent his l>oyhiK)d and youth 
near the place where he lir.'t ojiened his eyes t<> the 
light, and where his |»arenLs had settled simiu after 
their marriage. I lis father, Klins Carnahau, was 
also a native of the Buckeye Stale, and married 
Miss Catherine Martin, who was born in Darke 
County, not far from the early home of her hiisban<l. 
The grandparents on both sides of the house were 
also natives of Ohio. 

Klias Carnahau continued in ( »liio, where he ear- 
ried on farming until he emigrated to Logan County, 
III., where .among the |)ioneer settlers he built up a 
good homestead and remained until his death, which 
occurred in 187.'{, when he w.as nearly seventy-one 
years of age. The faithful wife and mother is still 
living at the old homest»'ad in Logan County. 

The education of our subject was begun and 
completed in the district schools of Logan County, 
111., and there not far from the Carnahau home- 
stead he commenced business for himself soon after 
reaching his majority. One of the most important 
events of his early life was his marriage, which took 
place .at the home of the bride in Logan County, .lune 
i;i, 18(1,'), the maiden of his choice being Miss 
Minerva, daughter of Alfred and Agnes (Miller) 
Huff, of Logan County, III. Mi"s. C. was the .second 
in a family of five children and was born Aug. ID, 
I 8.1(;, in Indiana. Her parents were nalivesof Ken- 
tucky, and her fathei- died in Iniliana when she w.'is 
quite a child. The mother is still living and is 



■•^-•-4» 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



507 



now a resident of Harvey Coiintj', this Stsite. Her 
grandparents spent their last days in Indiana and 
Illinois, and died when she was quite young. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan began life together in a 
modest way on a farm in Logan Count}', III., where 
the}' remained until coming to this State. Their 
union has been blessed by the birth t)f five children, 
the eldest of vyhom, a son, Alfred G., was Ixjrn 
April 25, 186G, .and is now with his parents; ,)ennie 
is the wife of AIvy Gilchrist, an enterprising young 
fanner of Grant Township, operating not far from 
the homestead of his father-in-law; William Oda 
and RoUa R. are pursuing their studies in the dis- 
trict school, and continue to make their home with 
their parents; Capa Z. died at the age of six weeks. 

Mr. Carnahan after the outbreak of the Rebellion 
enlisted in the three-months service at Lincoln, III., 
becoming a member of Company F, 14.'3th Illinois 
Infantry, and was actively engaged on guard duty in 
Missouri most of the time during the 100 days for 
which he had enlisted. He received his honorable 
discharge on the ISth of December, 1><G4, together 
with a certificate of thanks given to the regiment 
and signed by President Lincoln. He is not par- 
ticularly interested in politi(-al affairs, but is a sup- 
porter of Republican principles, in behalf of which 
he casts his vote at the general elections. He has 
assisted in organizing some of the school districts 
in his township, and is uniformly the friend of 
progress and education. 



-^ #-#► ^ 

^I? EWIS SCOTT, the subject of tliis biography, 
I !@ ^^^ '* numbered among the pioneer settlers 
/J— ^V of the southern part of Sedgwick County, 
located in Salem Township in the fall of 1870, and 
since that time has l)een engaged as an industrious 
tiller of the soil. He formed an intimate acquaint- 
ance with the hardships and privations of pioneer 
life, and as the result of his industry and resolution, 
is now the owner of a comfortable homestead, com- 
prising eighty acres of good land on section 33, 
which is well watered and fertile, and upon which 
he has erected neat and substantia] buildings. He 
has been quite prominent in the affairs of his town- 
ship, being Constable for a period of nine years, 



and also officiating as District Clerk and School 
Director. In the fall of 1886 he was elected Town- 
ship Trustee, and re-elected in 1887. He is num- 
bered among the liberal-minded and public-spirited 
citizens, who, while carving out their own fortunes, 
contributed !is they had opportunity to the well- 
being of the people around them. 

Mr. Scott was born in Clinton County, Ind., Nov. 
•i, 1842, and is the son of Esom W. and Hannah 
(Arthur) Scott, natives respectively of Pennsvl- 
vania and Kentucky. Ksom Scott departed this 
life at his home in (ioshen, Ind., when about seventy- 
five years of age. The mother is still living, and a 
resident of Salem Township. Their household 
originally included seven children, of whom but 
two are living — our subject and his brother, Fran- 
cis N., the latter a resident of Salem Township. 
This branch of the Scott family descended from 
excellent Scotch and German ancestry, who trans- 
mitted to their posterity in a marked degree the 
stanch and substantial qualities which have made of 
their men honest and good citizens, and of their 
women excellent wives and mothers. 

Lewis Scott was reared to manhood in his native 
State, and early in life became f.amiliar with farm 
pursuits. He was but a j-outh of nineteen years at 
the outbreak of the late Rebellion, and on tiie 20lh 
of August, 18G2, made his w.a}' to LaFayette, Ind., 
determining to enlist as a Union soldier. He 
joined Company L, 5th Indiana Cavalry, which was 
then being formed under command of Col. F. W. 
Graham, who resigned and w:is succeeded by Col. 
Butler. During a part of the following spring and 
summer, young Scott was .among the troops who de- 
fended the southern portion of (Jhioand Indiana dur- 
ing the well-remembered Morgan raid, and .assisted 
in effecting the capture of a portion of Morgan's 
men. This 5th Indiana Cavalry subsequently became 
a part of tlie 23d Army Corps, Department of the 
Ohio, under Gen. liurnsidc, and operated around 
Knoxville, Tenn., performing such duties as natur- 
ally belonged to the cavalry troops. Much of their 
time was spent in Fast Tennessee. 

After the famous battle of Chickamauga. the Con- 
federate General, Longstreet, laid siege to the cit}' 
of Knoxville, occupied bj' Gen. Burnside, the 
troops fighting for a period of twenty-two days, at 



at yl 



-4« 



I" My 



•«►- 



SKlxiU |( K col N rv. 



the end of which time Longstreot raised tli 
U'iii;; untible to Uikc the city. Mr. Scotl w.i>iiiuu 
(•■•iviilry lirignde which «i|H'nitt'd ngnin.sl liic C'on- 
fctlonilt's oiit^idv of Knoxvilli-, iiiid hnriisscil Ihf 
fDnigiiif; imrlii's froiii the rebel raiik.s. The regi- 
iiit'iil liecoiiiing ('oii!<i(leni)ily reiliic-ed in nuniliere 
Hjis then >enl into Koiitueky, where it wns re- 
inforced by hur^e.s nnd men. Conipunies L nnd II 
were the only ei>n)|>nnies which returned to Kentucky 
on horsebiick, the other men being obliged to go on 

f.M.t. 

Mr. ."Ncott after this reinforcement was assigned 
to the anny of (!en. .Sherman, un<l sU-irteil in the 
celebratt'd march to the sea, being under the imme- 
diate conunancl of Maj. t!en. .Stoncnian. During the 
>iege of Atlantii he wa.-'ca|itnred about twenty miles 
north of .Macon, (!a., tttgether with the entire regi- 
n)ent, and for nine months thereafU-r experienced 
the horrors of Andersonville and other .Southern 
prisons. The capture w.-is effected on the 31st of 
July, 1H(!4, and Mr. .Scott with a part of his com- 
rades was exchanged in April, 1H(J.5, at Vicksburg. 
lb- subsequently participated in several engage- 
ments, and w.xs on the pii-ssengcr boat "Sultana," 
which w!Ls employed in transporting the Northern 
prisoners to Cairo on their w.iy home fcir exchange. 
It will be remembered that this vessel was nearly 
ilestroyed by an explosion of her boilers near Mem- 
phis, involving great loss of life. There were on 
board at the time about 2,200 jwrsons, including 
prisoners, passengers an<I crew. About 1,;')00 were 
lost, but Mr. .Scott fortunately escaiie<l with a slight 
wound in the hand, and received his honorable dis- 
charge from the army at Indianapolis on the llth 
of SeptenduT, l«i;.'<. 

Mr. .Scott u|ion his rettirn from the army sought 
his old haunts in his native Sljile, and engaged in 
farming in Ciu-s County, until IKCiS. On the 20th 
of February, that year, he took unto himself a wife 
and helpmeet. Miss Maria I'orter, who was born in 
Ca-ss County on the 17tli of May, 1H4H. The 
parents of Mrs. Scott were Tivisan<1 .Sarah A. (Ilall) 
I'orter, natives of Indiana, and pioneer settlers of 
diss County. They are now deceased. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. .Scolt commen<'ed life together on 
a farm in Cilhs County, Ind., nnd in due time their 
union was bleiwed by the birth of nine ehildix-n. 



I >f thcso but seven are living: Clnni A., the cinest, 
was born Nov. 27. l.sCS; .lames A.. Dw. ."Jl, IMCJ); 
William v.. May 7, 1.^72: Birdie, Aug. 27, 1H74; 
Klla M. was born .Sept. 17, IM7(;, nnd died July 22, 
IHHI; Jciuiie, Ixjrn June 14, IK7«, <lied Feb. U. 
ISHO; Lewis C. was born Feb. 21. 1HH2; Theres.'i. 
May 8, IHS4, an<l the youngest, .Maria .M., Si'pt. 2, 

Mr. Scott with his family resided in Indiana un- 
til the fall of I h7(), then cro.ssed the Mi.ssis.oippi, and 
coming into .Sedgwick County, pre-empted land 
on section 2h, in what is now Sideiu Township, 
and which he occupied four yejirs, removing thence 
in 1H74, to his present farm, lie is Democratic in 
politics, and a member of I'ost No. 203, (i. A. H., 
at Mulvane, and is at present .luuior \'ice Com- 
mander. 

,, _ . ^. ' V-L'. ''A ..'.'..' _ — 



S/SAAC S. MATKIN. ibis gentleman, whose 
name is familiar ;us a successful dealer in real 
estate, arrived in Wichita in the spring of 1 t«H3 
to canvass the jirospccLs and inducements for a per- 
manent location. 'I'he result was satisfactory, and 
the following year after his marriage he took up his 
residence here and put u|) the second house on To- 
[leka aveiuie south of the railroad. This was fol- 
lowed by the building <if four more, and he is now 
fully identified with the interests of this nipidly 
growing city. 

C)ur subject, who is the brother of Charles A. 
Matkin, a sketch of whom and the parent^il history 
will be found elsewhere in this volume, was born in 
(;rc(!ncnstle, Ind., in Novendier, 1800. After leav- 
ing the common school he entered Asbury Univer- 
sity, but before completing the course W!»s obliged 
to abanihui liis studies on account of ill-health. 
After a year spent at the home i>f his uncle in 
Indiana in order to recuperate, he returned to his 
books, becoming a student now of the Commercial 
College in lndiana|x>lis. l'|Min leaving this insti- 
tution he engaged as clerk in a dr}- -goods store there 
anil was thus occupied for a perioil of six years. 

Mr. Matkin wjis united in m.irriage with Miss 
Mamie, daughter of Hernard ami M.iriah McClosky, 
in June, 1 8H4. The young couple a few days after- 
ward eommenced housekeeping in the city of 



•►■.-♦i 





^-.^ 



/y^ Q^./y^^-ryrT^J^'. 



C^ 



•►Hl-^^ 



■•►HI 



SKDOWKK rorxTY 



511 






Wicliitil at their o« ii re.sideiiL't; on Suulli Topeka 
avenue, and now number a large circle of friends 
among the best residents of the cil3\ They are the 
parents of two children: Leon C, born June 20, 
1885. and Frederick T., July 7, 1887. Mr. Matkin 
has been remarkably successful, and has accumulated 
a fine property for a young man, his real estate 
being valued at nearly $50,000. The parents of 
Mrs. Matkin were natives of New York, and are 
now living in Indiana. Mrs. M. was born May iS, 
1862, in New York City, and was the first of her 
parents' seven children. 



R. HOIMKR E. P.ROOKS is one of the 
leading ph3-sicians and surgeons of Wich- 
ita, where he has been practicing his pro- 
fession since the month of June, 1885. 
His wide experience and careful stud^' have given 
him a good position in his profession, and he has 
an extensive practice in the city and county. He 
was born Dec. 25, 1834, in Ashtabula County, 
Ohio. He is of Scotch descent, and his paternal 
great-grandfather, Malcolm Brooks, was a Highland 
Scotchman. He came to America, and settling in 
Vermont, married, at St. Alban's Baj', a ladj' by the 
name of Eastman. The3^ reared a very large family 
of children. Their son Hanniah, grandfather of 
our subject, married P^lizabeth Spooner, also a 
native of Vermont, and to them were born many 
sons and daughters. Their son Joseph, father of 
our subject, was born Dec. 17, 1804, in Ohio. He 
married, Dec. 17, 1829, Lois Richards, who was 
born in Connecticut in 1809. They had nine chil- 
dren, of whom the Doctor is the sole survivor, the 
others dying young. 

Joseph E., the father of our subject, an energetic, 
industrious man, was a millwright by trade. He 
moved with his fanu'l3' from Ohio to Wiscon- 
sin in 1856, and the succeeding eleven ^'ears was 
actively engaged in farming. He then moved to 
Illinois, where he remained a resident for five 
3'ears. Finally he moved with his familj' to Davis 
County, Mo., and there lie and his wife spent the 



remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 
1879 and hers in 1880. 

Our subject grew to manhood in his native State, 
in the meantime acquiring a fair education in the 
common schools. At the age of twenty-one he 
went to Oconto, Wis., and there engaged in the 
lumber business for eleven years. During that 
time he spent all his leisure time in studying medi- 
cine, which he had previously' begun at the age of 
nineteen. He also practiced a good deal, gaining 
quite a local reputation for skill in doctoring. In 
1869 he went to Earlville, LaSalle Co., 111., and 
there engaged in practice with Dr. D. M. Vos- 
burgh, continuing with him until 1875, with the 
exception of the time when he was in attendance 
at the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, from 
which he was graduated in 1872. He afterward 
made further preparations for his professional du- 
ties by taking a course at the Phj'so-Elcctric Med- 
ical College, of Ohio, receiving a diploma from 
that institution in 1879. In 1875 the Doctor 
left Earlville and repaired to Green Baj', Wis., 
and practiced his profession there the succeeding 
two years. In the spring of 1877 he removed to 
Winston, Davis Co., Mo., where he continued the 
exercise of his profession until his removal to this 
city. Immediately- on coming here he purchased 
a lot and built a house ou the West Side. Since 
then the growth of the citj* has been very rapid, 
and the value of his property has increased propor- 
tionatel}'. 

Dr. Brooks, during the Rebellion, was Captain of 
Company A, 1st Wisconsin Independent Cavalry', 
serving for two and one-half j'oars, and while in tlie 
army traveled over the region embracing Kansas, 
Colorado, New Mexico and Indian Territory', and 
had many exciting experiences, and saw some hard 
service. He is now prominently coiniccted with 
the G. A. R. He is a Mason, and in politics is a 
hearty supporter of the Republican party. 

Dr. Brooks has been twice married. The maiden 
name of his first wife, to whom he w:is married 
June 9, 1859, was Sarah Slocum. She was a native 
of Rochester, N. Y., and was the daughter of 
Smith and Elizabeth Slocum. Her death occurred 
Aug. 8, 1869, after a little more than ton j'ears 
of married life. She was the mother of three chil- 



•►HI 



t 



■«» ■ ^ 



M2 



SIDCWICK rOI'NTV 



dren — Amy L., Sjimli V. niul Fmiik K. The I)«>c- 
liir's seooiid niarriiigc was Feb. 7, 1872, to Miss 
KinninM. Diiiiii.diiugliU'r ofJohn nnd Laura Dunn. 
She was Imrn in Colilwntor, Itran<-li Co., Mirli., 
Aufi. 1 1, 184H, and is one of a family of i'if;lil chil- 
dren, namely: llattie K.. I.orelln L., Mary K., 
Kmuia M., C'larn K., Kvn K., Myron A. and John 
E. llattie is now Mrs. Leavh, of Kllsworlh, Kan.; 
LorelUi is .^l^^. Ilildrcth. <if Kansas t'ity, Mo.; 
Mary is .Mrs. Aycns, of Sedgwick County; Myron 
lives in .Mariiui, Linn Co., Iowa; Clara is Mrs. 
Strite, of Springville. Iowa; Kva is .Mrs. Lord, of 
Winston, Mo.; .John F. lives in I(»wa. 

The Doctor and his wife have one chihl now liv- 
ing, A<ia L. They have a pleasjinl, attractive home, 
tt> which they welcome their. numerous friends with 
genial hospiudity. 

The pctrtrait presented in this connection of Dr. 
Hrooks will be highly appreciated by a large luim- 
ber of |KT.sonal friends, who comprise the best peo- 
ple in the county. 



>,ILLIAM 11. DlNKlN.one of ihc early 
pioneers of Waco Township, came to 
this countj' before many settlements had 
Wi-n made, and when these broad pniiries were 
mostly in a wild and uncultivated state, and in 
common with the other early settlers of that i)eriod, 
ex|K'rienced the trials and privations incident to 
life in a new country, but b3' energy, arduous labor 
and economy, he liajj succeeded in acquiring a mod- 
est com [jetoncy. lie is a native of Cass County, 
Ind., where he was born Sept. 2!», 1849, being the 
son of Hcnjaniin and Klizabeth (Peyton) Dnnkin, 
(for parental history see sketch of Sylvanus Dun- 
kin.) 

Our subject wa.s reared on the farm of his grand- 
father I'eyton, going there to live at his mother's 
death, when he wjls nearly two years oM. He 
received a good conmion-school education, and 
remained in his native State until, accom|>anied by 
his brother Sylvanus, now Clerk of Sedgwick 
County, he came to Kansas, lie took up a home- 
stead elaini on section 31, of Wac(» Township, and 
at onee c<jmnieiiced improving and cultivating his 



land. After getting it in a siitisfnctory condition 
so that he fell assured that he could comfortably 
snpiMirl a wife, he retraced his steps to Indiana, and 
.s<M)n after was married to Miss Margnret C. Coin, 
a native of Cass Comity, and the daughter of S. K. 
and Kllen Coin. After remaining in his native 
State two years our subject returned with his wife 
to Kansas, and took |>os.session of his farm in Waco 
Township, where he lived until inH."!, ongageil in 
agricultural pursuits. lie then removed Uj Clark 
County, this .State, where he took up another claim, 
but two yeai-s lat«r returned to his homestead in 
Serlgwick County, which he still owns; it comprises 
12(1 acres of well-improved and valuable lanil ; it is 
very plea.santly locate<l in one of the most fertile 
regions of the county, and on it he has erected a 
comforljible dwelling and ample and convenient 
farm buildings. 

To Mr. Dunkin and his worthy wife have been 
born seven children, namely : Cora, Daisy A., Bruce, 
William L., Mary .Susie, Samuel C. and Gnice. 
Besides giving their children a judicious home 
training these wise parents, desirous of also giving 
them the advanUiges of the sui>erior educational 
system of Wichita, removed to this city Sept. 12, 
1K87, taking up their residence at No. HI Main 
street, where, with characteristic enterprise, Mr. 
Dunkin, with the hearty co-operation of his wife, is 
ably conducting a boarding-house. 

Mr. Dunkin is a stanch Repulilican, and essen- 
tially a self-made man, to whom all credit is due 
for his worthy and |)ersevcriug efforts, which have 
met with abundant sn<-ces.s. 



ES. KNKKKir. M. I>.. a y..ung and 
physician and surgeon of WichitJi, cai 
'i the cilv in Februarv, 1 8x7, from the «)li 



•►■ -♦•- 



and rising 
•a me to 
)ld Hay 

StJite. lie was born in the city of Worcester, Miuss., 
Nov. 13, IH^iS, and is the son of Kev. Saninel I', 
and Alccsta A. ((ioodnow) Kverett, natives of New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts res|)ectively. 

The father of the subject of this sketch is a clergy- 
man of the Baptist denomination, and is occup3'ing 
the ])ulpit of the church at Ayer, Mass. His first 
charge was at Wittingham, \'t., since which lime he 
•^ 



■I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



i^l-4. 



513 



has performed pastoral duties in two eluirches iu 
Massacliiisetts and two or tiirec in New Hampshire. 
He is the son of Rev. Snniiiei and Lucinda (Keyes) 
Everett, both of whom were natives of the State of 
Massachusetts. His fattier, tlu; grandfather of the 
Doctor of whom we write, was also a Baptist clergy- 
man, in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and 
died at the age of eighty-one years, in the State of 
Michigan, whither he had gone some time previously. 
Rev. Samuel P., the father of the Doctor, is a man 
of more than ordinary note. Well educated, and 
thoroughly read in the theology of the dnirch, his 
labors have been highly successful. Like Gold- 
smith's country curate, he has spent his life in good 
works, and, with his congregation, has " allured to 
brighter worlds and led the way." Mrs. Alcesta 
Everett, the mother of the Doctor, is the daughter 
of Ebenezer and Mary Goodnow, both of whom are 
natives of Massachusetts. Iler father was a con- 
tractor and builder. 

Dr. Everett co8|fs from a branch of the same 
family on the paternal side as Edward Everett, the 
great orator and statesman, and Horace Mann on the 
maternal side. The grandfatlicr of Mrs. Everett, 
Calvin Greene, participated in the War of 1812, in 
which he received a wound in the neck, from which 
he never fully recovered. 

The subject of this sketch was reared beneath the 
parental roof and amid the home influences of his 
father's house. For two 3'ears lie attended the 
Academ}- at Bernardston, Mass., known as Powers' 
Institute, as a supplement to the rudiments of edu- 
cation gained in the common schools of his native 
State, to whom high praise is greatly due. One 
year spent at the Hitchcock High School, at Brim- 
field, Mass., concluded his classical education. In 
1879, determined to adopt a professional career, 
he went to Philadelphia, and matriculated at the 
Jefferson Medical College of that city, which con- 
fessedly stands among the first in the land. While 
attending this excellent institution he was a close 
student and a hard worker, and taking great inter- 
est in all departments of the work, accjuired a re- 
markable proficiency. In 1882, having finished his 
course, he was gradu.-ited, at which time his thesis 
drew upon him the observation of many of the more 
learned of the facult}-, as it was a remarkable docu- 



ment Entering into practice at Clinton, Mass., his 
success was assured from the date of his location 
there. From that time until February, 1887, he 
remained a citizen of that place, only leaving there 
to seek in Wichita a more extended field for his 
efforts. 

The marriage of the Doctor took place on the 3d 
of October, 1883, at which time he led to the altar 
Miss Carrie A. Greene, of Warren, Mass., a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Johanna W. (Weeks) Greene. 
Her parents were natives of Vermont and Maine 
respectively, who had removed to Massachusetts 
before their marriage. Her father was formerly 
engaged in the hardware business, but at present is 
retired, at Warren, Mass. He is the son of Cal- 
vin and Nanc}' (Tupper) Greene, natives of Ver- 
mont and Massachusetts respectively, the former of 
whom is numbered with the dead. Mrs. Calvin 
Greene is still living in Vermont, at the advanced 
age of ninety-one years, and is a remarkable old 
lady. She can see to read a newspaper without 
glasses, and can write a beautiful letter to her 
friends. All of her faculties she retains perfectly, 
except that she is a little deaf. Notwithstanding 
her age, she takes a deep interest in all current 
events. 

Dr. Everett occupies quite a prominent position 
among the medical fraternity in Wichita. He is a 
member of the IMedical Society of the citj', and also 
of that of Southern Kansas. He and his wife are 
members of the B.aptist Church, and take a deep 
interest in all religious work, and superintend the 
Sabbath-school of the Baptist Mission in the southern 
part of the city. 

^i^LISlIA K. llAKRIN(^TON is an extensive 
iN farmer and stock-grower, residing on section 
J ^ — ^ 30, Ninnesc.ah Township. We are pleased to 
place before the readers of this volume a brief ac- 
count of the life of the gentleman whose name 
stands at the he.ad of this sketch, who may well be 
denominated a representative pioneer of Sedgwick 
County. He is a native of North Carolina, his 
birth having taken place in Alexander Count}', 
Oct. 20, 1826. His parents were Sion and Re- 



i^-ll 






■^'^ 



514 



SEDCWK K COINTY, 



l)eoc& (Broirn) llarringtou. Iliii imternal gri>at- 
grniiH father was n native nf Kiigland, and he 
fiiii{{Tatc<l U> AiiuTica, soltlcil in llenry County, Vii.. 
anil heoauK- tin- roiiixler of the f:iniily of his name, 
whose represenlnlives are to-day 8Wktt*'red lliroii^h 
various parts of tlie I'nited States. The iMirenti* 
of our suliject settled in Norlli Carolina after their 
nittrria<,'e, making their residence there until death; 
the niotlier ilyii);: in is,30, and the father surviv- 
ing her until IMl. In the pieiisaut home that 
they established in that SUite a large family was 
lH>rn to them, of whom the ftdlowing are now de- 
ceased : Klizabeth, George, Lettie, Williauj and 
Eiioeh. The record of those living is a> foUows: 
Nancy, Sion, Rebecca, .lolin, Klisha and Abner. 
Nancy is now Mrs Shirrell, of Caldwell, N. C. ; 
Sion and John live in Alexjuider County, N. C; 
Uebt'cca is the wife of Charles Carley, of Union 
County. Va. ; Abner lives in Sherman, Tex. 

The subject of this sketch w.is very young when 
he was deprived of a mother's watchful care. His 
father was in prosperous circumstances and sent 
him to a private school, where ho obtained a fair 
cflucation, which he has since broadened by observ- 
ation and extensive reading. He grew to man- 
hood amid the beautiful scenes of his Southern 
home, and there married, in 1851, for his first wife 
Elizabeth Alston. Their wedded life was very 
brief, the young wife being taken from him by 
death. .Ian. 21, 18.5«. he married Miss Marj- 
.lones. Several years later she too passed away, 
leaving six children, namely: Thomas C, Colum- 
bus C, Melinda fi., .lames W., Henry M. and Ida 
L. Melinda is the wife of (ieorge Katchcll, of 
Sumner County. Kan. 'i'he third marriage of our 
subject, which ttiok place Aug. 20, 1873, wa.s to 
Miss Sarah .1. Boyd, daughter of Thomas S. and 
Margaret C. (Smith) Boyd. She was born .May 2, 
1844, and is a native of the .^ame county as him- 
self. To them have been born four children, 
namely: Abner C, Laura H., Robert B. and Will- 
iam R. 

In 1«70, prior t" his la.-t ni:irriage, .Mr. Har- 
rington migrated to Kan.sas fnjm his native .State 
and settled in Cherokee County, where he lived 
until 187:J. In that \car he came to Sedgwick 
County. pre-empU'd the sontheaat ipiarter of sec- 
M» 



til in HO, Ninnescah Township, and hna since iden- 
tified liimself Willi the agriculturists of this liXMlity. 
Here he owns a line large farm, considered one 
of the best in the county; it contains .'>8.'» acres of 
hinil, well adapted to stiK-k-raising, of which he 
makes a 8|>ecialty. When he first settled on it it 
was in a state of nature and never had a plow 
turned the sod ; since then he has rea|)ed many a 
fine harvest from its rich, alluvial soil, and fine 
herds of cattle, mostly Short-horns and other 
grai'ed stock, graze on its broad fields. He has a 
fine residence and commodious farm buildings, 
and has all the most approved machinery for 
carrying on farming. He is a keen, far-sighted, 
shrewd, business man, and his wealth is the accu- 
mulation of years of hard labor. 

Mr. Harrington has served one term il* Trustee 
of Niunescah Town>liip and two years as .lustice 
of the I'eace, filling both olllces with credit to him- 
self and his constituents. In politics he is a Dem- 
ocrat, but in local matters he ^tes for the man 
whom he considers best fitted for the olllce, with- 
out regard to his political adiliations. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harringltm are valued members 
of society, their intelligence and plea.sant an<l 
courteous manners making them welcome guests 
wherever they visit. They are active in all good 
wt)rks and are connected with the Baptist Church, 
(jf which he is Clerk. 



C 



II.MA.M W. A YKI'.S, a gentleman who i» 

Mnow living on section 12, of Eagle Town- 
^ ^ shii), is recognized !is one of the most 
intelligent men and skillful farmei-s of Sedgwick 
County, who. in connection with the raising of 
grain, has also given considerable attention t<i stock- 
breeding. He is pursuing the even tenor of his 
way as an honest man and a good citizen, further- 
ing the good of his community as he has oppor- 
tunity an<l enjoying the resi>ect of his neighbors. 
His early home was near (ieorgetown, Ind., where 
his birth look place Nov. 22, 1838. 

The parents of our suliject, Dr. William N. and 
Hannah K. (Hanger) Ayres, were natives respect- 
ively of New York SUite and \'irginia, :ind of New 



-I- 



>► II 4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;i^l 



515 



England and German ancestiy. They settled in 
Indiana about 1830, anionjj the pioneers of Floyd 
County, where Dr. Ayres at once eoinnienced the 
practice of his profession and continued there until 
1848. He then removed to Elizabethtown, III., and 
administered to the physical ills of the i)eoi)le of 
that section for a period of thirty-three years. In 
1881, when quite an aged man, he crossed the Mis- 
sissippi and located in Valley Center, this county, 
where, with his estimable wife, he is now resting 
from the labors of a long and useful life. Dr. Ayres 
was born in 1811, and his wife, Hannah E., two 
j'ears later, in 1813. Their family consisted of two 
sons and eight daughters, of whom William W. was 
the second born, and with his sister Augusta is the 
only survivor. The latter is the wife of Dr. James 
Rose, a practicing physician of Saline County, III.; 
they have three daughters — Alice, Tessie and Olive. 

Mr. Ayres remained with his parents in his na- 
tive SUte until reaching his niajoritj', and attended 
the district school until sixteen years of age. He 
then entered up >u a course of study at Hartsville 
(Ind.) University, from which he received a 
first-grade certificate, and then returning to Uliuois 
engaged as a teacher in Hardin County for about 
twelve years. When but twenty-two years old he 
was elected County Superintendent of Schools there, 
which oflice he held for a period of eight years. At 
the expiration of this time he was elected Sheriff of 
the countj', holding this office two years. 

Mr. Ayres now determined upon a change of 
location, and Southern Kansa.s at that time being 
the object of much attention by enterprising men, 
he crossed the Father of Waters and, coming into 
Vallej- Center Township, purchased eighty acres of 
good land on section 20, upon which he located. 
Upon this there had been but little attempt at im- 
provement, and the neat fences, the dwelling, barn 
and outhouses, were the result of his own industry. 
Here, as on the other side of the Mississippi, his 
value as a citizen and business man received readj' 
recognition, and at the organization of School Dis- 
trict No. 148 he was elected Director. In 1886 
he was elected as one of the Township Trustees. 
He takes a lively interest in the affairs of his 
community and votes the straight Democratic 
ticket. He and his excellent wife are members 



in good ^laluiillg <>l ilic Mi.-,^iunai;\ ISaptist 
Church, to the support of which they have con- 
tributed liberally and cheerfully since becoming 
identified with it. 

Mr. Ayres has been twice married, his first wife 
having been Miss Catherine Drumm, a native of 
Hamburg, Germany, and who became the mother 
of two sons — George N. and William A. The for- 
mer, a young man of great promise, died in Valley 
Center Township, Nov. 27. 1886; William A. is 
pursuing his studies in the Garfield Universit}' at 
Wichita, which he entered in September, 1887" 
Mrs. Catherine Ayres died at her home in Eliza- 
bethtown, 111., March 18, 1869. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he 
was married in 1872, was formerly Miss Catherine 
M., daughter of John P. and Minerva (Mott) 
Baldwin, natives of New Jersej'. The father car- 
ried on farming in Hardin County, 111., and died 
about 1853; the mother subsequently' married Mr. 
Thomas A. McAmis, who is engaged in mercantile 
pursuits in Hurricane, Crittenden Co., Kj'. 



•^j>t> 



^^^P^' 



NDREW FLAGG, proprietor of the Globe 
M/LJl Iron Works, Wichita, manufacturers of 
Is mining machinery, house fronts, steam en- 
fines, boilers, horse-powers, mill gearings, 
shaftings, etc. ; all kinds of repairing promptly done ; 
dealers in steam pipes, brass goods, iron roofing, hay 
and platform scales, and supplies to order. Mr. F., 
the founder of this important industry, was born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany, and was brought to Amer- 
ica when only fifteen months old, so that he has 
been a resident of this country nearly the whole of 
his life. His parents were Germans. The father's 
name w;is JohnF., and the mother's was Mary. The 
latter has been dead over twenty-five years; the 
father was living when last heard of. 

Our subject passed his early life in the city of 
Buffalo, N. Y., and received an excellent educa- 
tion in the public schools. In 1858 he went to 
Auburn, N. Y., to learn the trade of iron founder, 
and remained thereuntil 1873. During that time 
he married Miss Marv O'Brien, of that city. Their 



.Mf. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



•► 



union lijus Ih-cii I>Ic'>»oi1 l>y llie liirtli i>f Ihreo chil- 
dren — .liiliii, Kli/.ii nn(J An<lri'w I). In 1873 our 
subject thou^'ht Ihnt in ii youn^ and jjrowing Slnto, 
union}; the enterprising iind energetic men of the 
rapitlly growin;; ^^■^'.st, he could more reiidiiy niiiki' 
his wftv t*> 11 rorltine than in the stiiid, long .selllt-d, 
!Uid prosperous cities of the Knsl. Accordingly he 
iiinie with his family to AVicliiUi, which he !s'iga- 
ciou>ly forcsiiw was one day to he an ini|)orUiiit 
metropolis. It was then a small town of .'»0(> in- 
hahitnnts, .'ind the buildings in which the |ioople 
lived and in which they conducted their business 
were |)rincipally a rude i-ollection of shanties; In- 
dians were still in the country. Mr. Flagg thus 
became an early settler of this citj', and estab- 
lished the first grocery store in Wichita, continuing 
in that business until 188^. In that year he 
entered upon his present enterprise in the iron busi- 
ness on Kast Douglas avenue, corner of Washing- 
ton avenue. In 1887 his business had so increased 
that he built the building he now occupies; it is a 
large slructin-e, but his business is still growing, 
and already demands more room, and he will en- 
large his factory in the spring. He has about 
#00,000 invested in this plant, and his machiner}' 
is worth at least #0,000, and the works are equipped 
with first-class tools. 

Mn Flagg posscs-ses remarkable mechanical skill, 
which is backed by energetic, |)ersistent will-|xnver, 
and in business ability he ranks among the fore- 
most men of this community, by whom he is highly 
respected for his honesty and uprightness. In 
religion he is n falholic; in politics he is rather 
conservative, usually voting, however, with the 
Republicans. 



fl?^_ KNHV lU SKNHAHK. a worthy represeula- 
iJTyj^ live of the farming and stock-raising iutcr- 
/^^^ csLs of (;raMt Township, pitched his tent 
^M within it.- limiL- liefore the org:'.ni/,!ilion of 
the school districts, and presided as Chairnmn of 
he fir>t meeting held for this puriM>se. lie hiux 
widchcil the development of the resources of .South- 
ern Kansas with the interest which ever}- intelligent 
m:ui feels in regard to the section of country where 
he has s)K!nt the best years of bi» life, and should 



I feel satisfaction in the thought that he has been no 
unimporU'int factor in bringing it to it-i present con- 
dition, lie ex|>erienced all the trials and dillicul- 
ties of frontier life, but is now enjoying the reward 
of his labors, and his >truggles in the |M>sscssion of 
a fine homestead, where he is surrounded by all of 
the comfiu-t- and many of the luxuries of life. 

James Busenbark. the father of our subject, wa.- 
a IVnnsylvanian by birth, and spent his early life 
in Hutler County. Ohio, where, u|)on leaching man- 
hood, he was married to .Miss Kli/abeth Ciood, a 
native of the same State. They became the parents 
of eight children, Henry, of our sketch, being the 
fourth in order of birth. About 182.] they left the 
Keystone .State, and settled in Montgomery County. 
Ind., where, with his excellent wife, the f.itlier car- 
ried on agricidture, and battled with the didhulties 
of life in .-i new country. He had entere<l a tnict 
of (iovernment land, from which he oinMied up a 
gooil farm, where he spent the balance of his d.iys, 
resting frtun his earthly labors in the spring of 1870. 
His first wife, the UKjther of our subject, had died 
several years before the decejise <if her husband, 
and the latter was a second lime married. 

The early life of our subject was spent upon his 
father's farm, and he oliUiined his education in the 
district schools of Montgomery County, Ind. In 
1817, when twenty years of age, he crossed the 
Mississippi into Linn County, Iowa, where he com- 
menced farming on 2"20 acres of land, which had 
lieen given him by his father. There also he w;is 
destined to meet his future wife, Mis-s Judith .Scott, 
with whom he was united in marriage on the 22(1 
of May, 18.03. This lady became the mother of 
three children : John A. is engaged at tlu- mercan- 
tile business, in Garden City, Kan.; Fninklin I'ierce 
is a resident of Osawatomie; Jane, Mrs. Under- 
wood, lives near her father in (Jnuil Township. 
Mrs. Judith Huseidmrk is <livorced. 

Mr. Henry liuseubark came to this county in 
1871. and homestt-aded eighty acres on section 18, 
in Lincoln Township. In 188 1 he came into Grant 
Township, and subsequently became the owner of 
010 acres of l:uul, a part of which he hits ni>w given 
to his children. Besides his f;irm, which now com- 
prises lOO acres, he owns three city lots in Wichita, 
and line in N'alley Center. He has had very little 



■•►■-4« 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



517 



•0-^: 



to do with politics, but casts liis vote with the 
Democratic party, and has lield the office of School 
Treasurer. 

The second wife of our subject, to wlinm lie was 
married in 1871, was formerly Miss Augusta Tracy, 
a native of Germany, and now divorced. The 
present Mrs. Busenbark was in her girlhood Miss 
Amanda Terry, and was fii-st married to David 
Minard. She was born in Otsego County, N. Y., 
in 1836, and was the seventh child of Samuel and 
Ruth Terry, who were the parents of fourteen chil- 
dren, ten girls and four boys. She was married to 
our subject March 23, 1885. Her parents were 
natives of New York, and are now both dead. 



R. ALFRED RAY, cajiitalist, is a success- 
ful business man and an esteemed citizen 
of Wichita. He can be ranked among the 
early settlers of the eitj', having taken up 
his residence here Dec. 17,1871. He first rented 
the Valley House, and there meeting with such 
success as "mine host," he purchased it the follow- 
ing year, and until 1883 was a popular caterer to 
the appetites of the hungry public. He then dis- 
posed of the hotel and subsequently purchased one 
acre of land on Douglas avenue. On this he built 
a fine house and laid out the remainder in house 
lots which he advantageously sold. He is now liv- 
ing at No. 151 Hydraulic street, corner of Prince 
street, where he has a commodious residence, fitted 
up with all modern conveniences. Dr. Ray is act- 
ively engaged in buying and selling city property. 
The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
in Livingston County, Ky., May 5, 1819. His 
parents were Joseph and Margaret (Rutter) Ray, 
natives respectively of Marj'land and Kentucky. 
His father was reared in his native State, but in 
earl}' life moved to Kentucky, where he engaged 
in farming on an extensive scale, and became owner 
of a large number of slaves. He remained in that 
State until his death, at the advanced age of eighty- 
two 3'ears. To him and his wife had been born 
nine children, three of whom are now living, 
namely : Judge R. D. liay, of Jefferson City, Mo. ; 



Dr. F. G. Ray, of California, and Dr. Alfred Ray. 

Our subject passed his early life on his father's 
jjlantation and in school. He was a studious and 
ambitious scholar, and acquired a substantial 
knowledge of the elementary branches. At the age 
of eighteen years he left home and went to Macon 
County, Mo., where he purchased laud. In 1845 
he commenced the study of medicine, and for a 
few years engaged in the practice of his profession. 

When the glowing accounts of the auriferous 
soil of California began to attract people from all 
parts of the United States and foreign countries, 
our subject was caught in the tide of emigration 
surging westward, and in 1849 found himself in 
the Golden State, where he at first engaged in min- 
ing. Subsequently he bought a ferry-boat, on 
Trinity River, and the next two 3'ears managed 
that, and at the same time was actively engaged as 
a physician. During the two 3'ears he remained in 
California he had one or two perilous adventures, 
one of which occurred while he was making a trip 
on the steamer, the "New World," from Sacramento 
to San Francisco; while running down the river the 
cap head of the steam chest blew off, and twent3'- 
one i)ersons were killed, the other passengers hav- 
ing a narrow escape. In 1851 Dr. Ra3' started on 
his homeward journey, taking a steamer from San 
Francisco to Panama, but Ijefore reaching there 
came very near being wrecked. After receiving 
considerable damage the steamer finall3' put in at 
Realeo, Central America, where the passengers 
were safely landed. Our subject remained there 
two da3's, when he, in compan3' with fourteen other 
men, traveled with three ox-carts to Nicaragua, 
thence proceeded down the San Juan River to 
Gre3'town, in Mosquito Kingdom, where they took 
a steamer for the Island of Cuba. From there Dr. 
Ray went to New Orleans, thence up the Missis- 
sippi River to Missouri, and from the river to his 
home in Macon, that State, having had a long and 
hazardous trip, the v.aried experiences of which 
are never to be forgotten. 

Subsequentl3' our subject engaged in the real- 
estate business in Missouri, remaining there several 
3'ears. Being a man of sagacious judgment and 
keen foresight, he realized the great advantages 
offered enterprising capitalist^ in a growing town 



t^^m-^ 



f 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



IHi.vte.sfiii}' siioh p-fjit imtiiral rcxount-s iu< Wichiln, 
hfiicc in 1874 came liori', a.« l>cforc inonti(>iio<1. 

Dr. Hay wa-* iimrricd, in 1M2, tu Mistt Knioline 
Critlin. of Mirvviiiri. Slit- wsis l>orn in Kentucky, 
Iwing the (laughter of C'apl. W. M. lirillin. To 
them linve been liorn six chililrcn, uumely : Mr?. 
.Sn.-ian (irct;^. Williiini, Mr-. I.. KdwanL*. .Inlin, .Mr?. 
Mary Johnson an<l Kdwin. 

Tlie liny f:imily is an ancient and honored one, 
and on tlie paterii:d .side our subject is rchitcd to 
some of llio leailinp men of the countr}', among 
whom may lie nientioned his cousins. ex-Gov. I'roc- 
tor Knott, of Kentucky, and D. H. Itay, of St. 
Louis, editor of the Amerii-mi liapUat Fla/j. 

Polilically, the Dwtor l>eloii<,n* to the Democratic 
|Mirty, and warmly upliolds its principles at all times. 
Socially, he i.- a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
Religiously, he and his excellent wife are earnest 
members of tlic Baptist Church, where he holds the 
ofllce of Do.icon. These estimable |>eople have well 
performed their part in upholding the intellectual, 
social and moral status of Wichita, and have gained 
the re8|ject and confidence of the entire people. 



KCIIIBALD A. GLKNX, ex-Lieutenant 
Governor, who needs no introduction to 
the iKiopIc of Kans:i.s, is the offspring of an 
old Kentucky family of .Scotch-Irish' an- 
cestry, but which originated in Northumberland, 
the most northern county of Kngland, and called 
by the Latins Northumliria, about the twelfth 
century. From here they migrated to the Lowlands 
of ScotlancI, where they carried on farming for 
many genenilions. They were strict Presbyterians, 
and at the lime of the conquest of Ireland by 
Cromwell the (.llenus were among the Protestiint 
families who settled there. 

The <Jlennswere als<j with U'illiam, Prince of 
Orange, at the liattle of the IJoyne and the siege of 
Londonderry, in If.'.H). The |)aU'rual grandfather 
of our subject, ArchibaM (Jlenn, .Sr., wils born in 
Irel.-uiil, and emigrated to America in 1770, landing 
in the city of Pliiladelphiu when a young man 
twenty years of age. lie wa.s acconi|*anied by his 
three brothers — John, James and Andrew. These 



four representatives of the Glenu family ofTert-d 
their services to the c«u.m» of the struggling Colonies, 
and served all through the Revolutionary War. 
As late as 1840 the name of Andrew Glenn, the 
youngest of the brothers, was on the |ionsiiin rolls of 
the I'liiled Suites. Archibald nnirricd Miss .Sanih 
Ferguson, who was also of .Scotch-Irish tlescent, 
ami to them were born seven children, namely : 
Henry, Moses F., Archibald, Sarah, .Susan, Betsy 
and Nancy. 

The grandfather of our subject, after laying 
down his musket took up farming in Huntingdon 
Count}-. Pa., but ab(»ut 1790 eniigrat-id to Ken- 
tucky, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Flem- 
ing County. There he carried on agriculture, and 
s|)ent the n^mainder of his days, living to the ad- 
vanced age of seventy -six years. lie was a man 
upright and conscientious in his life, of more than 
ordinarj' intelligence, and in religious matters 
Ifiyally adhered to the faith of his f(»refathers. 
Among his sons was Ilenrj-, the father of our sub- 
ject, who was born in lluntingtion County, Pa., 
Feb. 3, 1787, and removed with his parents to 
Fleming County, K}-., when a small boy. He also 
took kindly to :igricidtural pursuits <luring his 
younger years, but later became interested in the 
river trade between New Orleans and other points 
on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and o|)erated 
largely in this line by flatboats. By this means he 
tranb|)orted both his farm prwluce and other 
merchandise down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers 
to New Orleans and intervening |Hiints, and rea|H'<l 
therefrom large profits. 

The business which the father of our subject thus 
followed in those days w.is extensively conducteil, 
and was about the only avenue of trade until the 
era of steamboats and railroads. Henry (ilenn, 
for his wife Ujok Miss Ruth, daughter of Jacob 
Rhoades, of Germany, who wius born in Mason 
County, K}'., Jan. 8, 1790. Their children, nine 
in number, were n:uned respectively: Robert A., 
Fielding T., Archibald A., of our sket<'h. William 
il., Samuel R., Matilda, Amanda .M.. Kli/.abeth an<l 
.S:ii-ali. In 1821 Mr. Glenn moved to Indiana, and 
settled with his family on a farm in Decatur County. 
Tw<» years later he changed his residence to .John- 
son County, and in 1828 removed fii-sl to Vermil- 



a,^ fc J-Jt lT^C^:-->.:.il-^,gA» JS 0»- 






.»^H»-.— ;|^ 



,J.^^^_;3^^^^^2^^^S!^ 







^^ E^x^jj s ^ * 4S-*y i^^ 




E5IDENCE OF 5 . M .5 . CAMPBELL, SEC3, WACO TP. 






X 




-il-M^ 



^i^l 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



521 



ion County, HI., and then to Schnyler County, 
in tiie latter of which his death tooiv place in 1832. 

The father of our subject was an old-line Whijf 
politically, and maintained his opinions with all the 
force of his character. He was of commanding 
presence and of powerful physique, very energetic 
and decided in iiis movements, and could carry 
280-iX)und weights in each hand at once. Like 
most of the early pioneers, he handled the ax with 
great skill and dexterity, and could cut eight cords 
of wood in one day. He was remarkably indus- 
trious, and possessed the natural honesty and frank- 
ness of the race of people from which he sprang. 
The mother of our subject departed this life at her 
home in Schuj-ler (now Brown) Count}', 111., Dec. 
22, 1852. 

Archibald A. (Jlenn, tiie sul>jett of this histor}', 
was born in Nicholsis County, Kj'., at the parental 
homestead on the Licking River, Jan. 30, 1819. He 
was but three years of age when the family removed 
to Indiana, where he was reared as a farmer's boy 
and received a limited education. He was but 
thirteen years old ivhen his father died. He con- 
tinued with his mother, being her chief dependence, 
until a youth of eighteen years. He still clearly 
remembers the log cabin, the old-fashioned fire- 
place, with its huge sticks of blazing wood, the 
iron crane upon which swung the pots and kettles, 
and the other primitive cooking utensils. 

The log cabin has been the early home of many 
famous Americans, including Washington, Clay 
and Lincoln, and a host of others, and all look back 
to the simple days of their boyhood with the 
keenest pleasure, recalling those early scenes with 
the affection which can only belong to a liai)py 
time unmixed witii care, and which is past and 
gone. When eighteen years of age young Glenn 
began learning the printer's trade at Rushville, 111., 
.and continued in this business till 1844. For some 
time he w.as the edit<jr and publisher of a paper 
called the Rushville Whig, and lost his entire 
fortune in the effort to assist in the election of 
Henry Cla^- for President. He never forgave the 
Abolitionists for causing his defeat. 

Mr. Glenn was Justice of the Peace in Riplej-, 
111., for some j^ears, and also Postmaster. He was 
elected Clerk of the Court and Recorder of Deeds 



in Brown County, and was a delegate to the Con- 
stitutional Convention at Springfield in 18G2. In 
his long and varied career a.s a public man, Judge 
Glenn has been connected in intimate relations with 
many eminent men, among them John Dement, 
formerly .State Treasurer of Illinois; William M. 
Springer, Member of Congress; W. J. Allen, re- 
cently ap|)ointed Judge of the Southern Depart- 
ment of Illinois: George W. Wall, of the Appel- 
late Court; Augustus C. French, ex-Governor of 
Illinois; Anthana Thornton, afterward Judge of 
the Superior Court; O. B. Ficklin, Member of 
Congress; Gen. Singleton, ex-Member of Congress; 
Thomas W. McNeele}'; Judge Manning, and Judge 
Purple; Alexander Campbell, Member of Congress, 
and John Wentworth, of Chicago. 

Judge Glenn was Superintendent of Schools in 
Brown County, 111., four years, and Member of the 
State Board of Equalization of Taxes, also State 
Treasurer for the same length of time. He presided 
over the State Senate for four years. Here we 
quote from Davidson and Stuve's History of Illi- 
nois: "During the latter part of the administra- 
tion of Gov. Beveridge, Archibald A. Glenn, a 
Senator from the 3Gth District, was President of 
the Senate, and as such, became acting Lieutenant- 
Governor, and acted as Governor when Gov. 
Beveridge was absent from the State. Mr. Glenn 
had been long a resident of Brown County, where 
he enjoyed to a verj' lai'ge degi-ee the eonlidence 
and respect of his friends and neighbors. He was 
almost continually in official position, and had 
a character well fixed for honesty .and frugality." 

In October, 1878, Judge Glenn came to this 
State, locating in Wichita, where he w.as at once 
recognized as a valued accession to the number of 
its capable and talented men. In 1881 he was 
elected Police Judge, which oflice he has held for 
six years. At the age of sixty-nine, he is still as 
active as most men a score of j'ears younger, and 
bids fair to round up the full number of da3's 
allotted to man. He comes from a race of hardj' 
pioneers and soldiers, from whom he inherited a 
vigorous constitution, an active mind and an ener- 
getic disposition. In political opinions he is a 
stfMich Democrat, and h.as stood steadfast!}' by his 
party during its hours of defeat as well as in its 



•►Hh-^ 






-•► ■ -4» 



sKDGWK'K COUNTY. 



stinsliiiic of victory. In those sliirtly times previous 
to the wiir he wils |>ersoniilly luqiminteil witli Alirji- 
h:ini Ijiicohi, Ste|»luii A. Doiij^his, Kiclmnl Yules, 
mill III! the other lemliii;; |)ul)lie men of Illinois 
Deeply rooted in religious |)ritiei|)!es, he wiis prom- 
inent amon^' those who est4iblishei| the Christinn 
Church in AVicliitii, and in this congrejrsition he has 
olllciated as Klder from the l)e<;inning. Of Gar- 
field I'niversity. ou«' of the outgrowths of this 
elitirch, he was one of the incor|M)nitors. and luitil 
recently a memlier of the Hoard of Trustees. 

February l.t, Ih.'il, occurred tlielirst marriage of 
.lu'igc (ili-nn; he was then united in marri.-ige with 
Miss l^ivinia. daughter of William Cooper, of Pike 
County, 111. Of tills union there were iiorii six 
iliildren — Henry, Kll.i. I'lineiice. Kdward, William 
('. an<l an infant, two of whi>m survive, Klla and 
William C., who are imw in Wichita. The wife 
and mother departed this life at her home in 
WichiUi, on the 2rtth of .May, 1«81. .Iu<lge (Jlenn 
was suhsequcntly married, .lune '.I, IKHf), to .Miss 
Catherine .Strickland, of D.iyton, C)hio. .Mrs. (ileiin 
is the daughter of Henry and .liilia Strickland, 
iiJitives of l'ciin>ylvani:i. and now living at I):iyton, 
Ohio. 

.V mail of intellect and cultured Uistcs, .Iinlge 
(Ilenii early in life evinced more than ordinary 
|K>etical Uileiit. and Uas given to the world many 
lit«'rary productions of a high order. His tribute 
a |>oeni. to the memory' of tiarlield, which was ])ub- 
lished in IMHl, attnicted universal attention, and 
was highly commended. 

KOKCK S. MILI.KU. ..f the lirniof .Miller it 
-, Slieppard, promiiieHt real-esUile de.-ilers of 
Wichitii. He and his partner are reliable 
men, and in all dealings arc strictly hoiinralilc, and 
conduct a large business in the s:ile and transfer of 
farms, lots, blocks and other city pro|H'rt3'. Mr. 
.Miller eslabli^hccl hiiiiself in his present business in 
this metropolis of the Arkansas Valley in the year 
lK7(i. The wealth of the ririii consists principally 
of city properly. They have erected a handsome 
brick bloik on (Jak street, at a cost of * 1 0,00(1; it is 



built of St. Louis pressed brick, is three stories in 
height, 4HxH0; two large stores occupy the Unver 
floor; the upper floors arc devoted to olllces and 
suites of rooms, with water pi|>es, and all the mod- 
ern improvements; the building is an ornament to 
the eity. The firm own a valuable piece of prop- 
erty, with a froiitjigc of seventy- nine feet on thesjime 
street, and have other realty in various iwirts of the 
city. 

The ancestral history of Cleorge S. .Miller, which 
forms a reeonl of considerable interest, we subjoin 
as follows: His paternal grand|)arents were .losepli 
anil Marth.a (Humphreys) Miller, the former of 
.Scot<'li birth and parentage, and the latter of Freneh 
descent. They s|ient their entire lives in Monaghan 
County. Ireland, where their children were born and 
reared. 

(leorge .Miller, the father of our subject, who wa.s 
born April II, ITlM'i, in Hclabay, County .Monaghan, 
Ireland, was the eldest son, and the second of »'leven 
children which comprised the pareiiL'il household. 
Ileeinigiated to the I'nited States early in life, and 
married in New York City, on the (ithof .May, 1S42, 
Miss Isabella Clark. He spent his last years at 
Greenwood, in .lackson County, Mo., where his 
death took place on the 20111 of .laiiuary, 1H7.'>. 

(ieorge Miller, .Sr., was twciity-two years of age 
at the time of his father's death in Ireland, and 
being the eldest son the care of the family naturally 
devolved upon him. This trust he fulfilled in .-i most 
praiseworthy manner, providing for his mother and 
the younger children until the latter were of an age 
to take care of themselves. After becoming a citi- 
zen of the Cnited States he located in New York 
City, where he became bookseller .'ind publisher. 
He started out without any capital, but by the exer- 
cise of economy and good judgment, met with suc- 
cess. In 1854 he resolved to change his location 
and occupation, and made his way to .lo Daviess 
County, III., where he iiivejjted a part of his capital 
in 1 ,000 acres of land. Four years l.-iter he sold this 
and purchased a farm near Zion's Grove, in Carroll 
County, where he lived until 1809. Thence he 
removed to (Jret-nwood, .lackson Co., .Mo., and en- 
gaged in farming and general uu'rchandising, and 
was thus employed until his dcalli. 

The father of our subject was a man of great 



■•► 



-it-M^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



523 ik 



piety, a member of the United Presbyterian Church, 
of sound common sense and most excellent judgment, 
even tempered and cheerful, and made it a rule of 
his life to be governed by principle without passion. 
lie was exact and methodical in his business trans- 
actions, carefully avoided contracting debt, and 
w:is prompt to meet his obligations. Possessing 
these qualities of character it naturally followed that 
he commanded the esteem and respect of all who 
knew him. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject died 
when his mother was about twelve years of age, and 
there is no satisfactory record of them. Mrs. Mil- 
ler was the eldest of four children, two sisters and 
one brother, and at an early age was thrown upon 
her own resources. She learned dressmaking, and 
b}' this means made a comfortable living until her 
marriage to George Miller, Sr., when she w;is about 
twenty years of age. As a faithful wife and mother 
she was devoted to her family. She passed away 
at her home in Greenwood, Mo., on the 18th of 
July, 1875, six mouths after the decease of her hus- 
band. 

George S. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was 
born in the city of New York, No. G49 Broadway, 
Aug. 27, 1850. He spent four years thereafter in 
his native city, four years on a farm near Hanover, 
111., and eight j-ears on the farm near Zion's Grove, 
in Carroll County. He attended school at first 
about seven months each year, and continued his 
studies in the seminary at Mt. Carroll, 111. He 
emploj'ed himself thereafter for a time very success- 
fully as a teacher. Later he returned to his native 
city and engaged first as clerk in a bookstore, and 
afterward occupied the same position in a boot and 
shoe store. 

After tiic removal of his parents to Missouri, 
young Miller attended Lincoln College two years, 
of which Rev. Randall Ross, of the United Presby- 
terian Church, was President. He was an earnest 
and ambitious student and stood at the head of his 
class. Upon the death of his father, by whom he 
had been appointed executor of the estate, he took 
charge of the store, farm and personal property, 
which was appraised at the sum of *27,U00, and 
successfully managed the same through the trying 
times of 1875 to 1880, and without legal advice 



settled up the estate, realizing some *39,000 out of 
it for the heirs. In the meantime he had two 
younger brothers, twelve and fifteen years of age, 
and two sisters of less j'ears, to care for. They all 
lived together on the homestead in Greenwood 
until the boys left for college and the sisters were 
married. 

Our subject inherited in a marked degree the 
excellent characteristics of his honored father, being 
prompt in business matters, careful about contract- 
ing debts, and giving close attention to the detjiils 
which are too apt to be neglected as of minor im- 
portance. He carefully avoided speculation and 
resisted the temptation and excitement of the tran- 
sient "booms" which proved the ruin of so many 
men. 

Mr. Miller, in 188(j, changed his residence to the 
city of Wichitii, and invested his means in real 
estate, associating with him Mr. T. J. Sheppard, with 
whom he has since operated. He had, however, 
previous to this, and after the children had been 
scattered from the homestead, made a brief sojourn 
at Leadville, Col., where he was engaged in the real- 
estate and loan business for a period of four years 
as senior member of the firm of Miller ife Powell. 
These gentlemen commenced as strangers in Lead- 
ville, and a year later commanded the bulk of the 
business into which thej' entered. At Greenwooil, 
when quite a young man the advice of Mr. Miller, 
was often sought by those older upon mattei's of 
general business. He served at one time upon the 
United States Grand Jury, and at another time 
occupied the same position in the United St.'iles 
Circuit Court, an honor quite uncommon for one 
so young. 

The record of the brothers and sisters of our sub- 
ject is .as follows: Annie C. became the wife of 
AVilliam Uawsou, whodieij in 1885, leaving his widow 
with two children ; this sister now makes her home 
with our subject. Humphreys H. C. is practicing 
law in the city of Chicago; John L. died at the 
homestead in Greenwood, Mo., when twent3'-six 
years of :ige, .-uid Joseph C. when eighteen ; Jennie 
I., Mrs. Patterson, is a resident of Evanston, 111. ; 
Martha II., Mrs. Brooks, lives at Leadville, Col.; 
Nathan C. is practicing law like his brother, in Chi- 
cago, 111.; William J. is operating a ranch near 



■•► 



-^^ 



M;|)(;\VI( K COUNTY. 



Diinirifjo, ("ol. ; «;ei>rj;e S. iitlli-i:U«'"| its tlit' ^iinrdinii 
of the younger L-liiMmi, itml iiiiiiiii<;<-i) .■iml |iliitiiu-(l 
for llu-iii iilwnv!* to llio bi'-sl of liiii iiliilitv. 

Mr. Miller, by his llin- liiisincvs Uit iiii«l iiinIoiilitiMl 
integrity of |iiir|i<>sc, liiis Lriiiiicil tin- coiiliilciifi' of 
his ffllow-fiti/fiis, iiiiil iiiiiy lie justly reeonled in 
these pnges .-is one of the leiuling liusiness men of 
this fjir-fiune«l metropolis of the Ark.ins.-is X'lilley. 
He i- !i man of culture, Iml is r:itlier reticent, pre- 
ferring to listen to others riither tli.-in to force him- 
self into notice, when he docs spenk, however, his 
Viirietl iui'l interestini; conversation cummnmls the 
attention of his iuiilil4irs. He is ii memher of the 
A. V. A- A. .M., hiivinj; joined that order in IH7I. 
In |M»litics ho is li supporter of the licpuhlican 
party. 



ANIKL H. m.MI', the fourth pioneer who 
,1 m.ade his way to what is now Lincoln 
^-^ Township, arrived here nt a lime when 
hulTalo .and Indians roamed unrestrnined 
over the country, and hsis licen on many a hunt of 
Ihe l.atler. He assisted in determining the town- 
ship lines and organi/.ing the school dislricls, and, 
as a man of more than ordinary intelligence and 
enterprise, materially assisted in the liuilding up of 
the township and attracting to it .a thrifty ami in- 
duslrious class of peoi)lc. 

.Mr. Hump previous lo this lime had been a resi- 
dent of Illinois, carrying on farming in Cook County, 
and left there in the fall of 1H70, making the 
journey overland to this county, and soon after 
lionicsteaded a quarter of section 20 in Lincoln 
Township. About th.al timcal.so he look up a Ircv 
claim and immediiilely commenced improving his 
property, pulling up first a log house for the shelter 
of his family and later .setting out a good orchard. 
In the suinincr of IKMIl the log house gave place 
to a handsome frame residence, ami around il arc 
210 acres of finely cultivated land slocked with 
good grades of Durham cjitlle, draft and work 
horses, and pure-bred I'oland-China hogs. Of llic 
latter, Mr. Huin|) feeils :iniiually from twenty lo 
fort}' head. 

Our subject, a native of Cook County, 111., wius 
born Nov. 7, 1«I2, and is c«>n8c«iuciitly in the 



I 



prime of life. He was the fourth child in a family 
of ten, the ofTspring of Kdwin and Diana (liobin- 
son) Hump, imli\cs of New York Slate, who came 
lo the West in IH.'ii;, when Chicago was nn iiiipre- 
lenlious town. The grnnd|iarcnLs on both sides of 
the house were all natives of the Kmpirc State, 
their naini-s being respectively, .lacob and Lydia 
Hump and Daniel and Hannah Ii4^>binson. (irand- 
father Kobinson served as a soldier in the War 
of LSI 2, .and subse«|Ueiilly ilrcw a |K>nsion from the 
( •overiiment. 

The father of our siilijcct upon coming to llli- 
nois settled in Cook County, where he eng.aged in 
farming, and where his ilealh look place in 1K59. 
The mother is still surviving, and conliniios her 
residence at the old homestead there. Daniel H. 
wa-s odiiealed in the tlislricl scIumiIs of his native 
county, and commenced farming for himself in the 
I'rairie Slate. He was a youth of nineteen years 
al the outbreak of the Uebellion, and in September 
following enlisted in Comp.any F. «th Illinois Cav- 
alry, and was mustered into service at .St. Charles. 
He was an active participant in the battles at Will- 
iamsburg. Va.. was at the siege and capture of 
Richmond, the fights at AntieUim and Malvern Hill, 
at (iettysburg, and the second battle of Hull Run, 
besides many other engagements, aggregating about 
thirty in all. 

Mr. Hump at the expiration t,>f his first U'rm of 
enlistment veteranized in his old regiment, and 
subseciuenlly, in the battle al Ueverly's Ford, re- 
ceived a gunshot wound in the arm. This necessi- 
tated his continemcnt in the hospital about two 
months, and pnictically ended his warfare. After 
the surrender of Lee, he w.as mustered out with 
his comrades at St. Louis, Mo., and received his 
honorable discharge at Chicago in .Inly, 1 8r«5. t)n 
account of the exposure in the army he has suf- 
fered consitlerably with rheumatism since the war, 
although he has been able most of the time to 
superintend the operations of his farm, and has 
put in many a day's hard labor. 

I'pon retiring from the .service, Mr. Hump sought 
his old hauiiLs in Cook County, 111., and continued 
farming there until slnrting for Southern Kan.sas. 
In the meantime he established marital ami domes- 
tic ties, taking for his weddcii wife, on the 28tU 
a^ 






--- "^ -*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



525 



day of May, 1868, Miss Marian F. Campbell, a 
native of his own State, and born Jan. 9, 1850. 
Mrs. Bump was the eldest child in tlie family of 
her foster-parents. Job and Rebecca Campbell, by 
whom she was adopted after the death of her own 
parents, Henry and Sarah Wells. After marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. B. commenced housekeeping on a 
farm in Cook County, and there their two eldest 
children were born. 'Hie household circle was 
completed by the birth of three sons and two 
daughters, namely: Harry M., Albert, Minnie D., 
Effleaud Robert D. They all continue in the home 
nest, and are pursuing their .studies in the district 
school. 

The homestead of our subject is pleasantlj' situ- 
ated, about nine miles from Valley ('enter and aI)out 
two and one-half miles from the new town of 
Furley, a station of the Rock Island Road. Mr. 
Bump, politically, is a warm advocate of Repub- 
lican principles, although he has very little time to 
devote to politics. He has served as School Director 
for a number of terms in his district, and also ofli- 
ciated as Road Overseer. He assisted in organizing 
the school districts, and has contributed his full 
quota toward the intellectual and moral welfare of 
the people. Socially, he belongs to Wichita Post, 
G. A. R. 



GEORGE C. ROBBINS, senior member of the 
banking fliun of G. C. Robbins & Co., at Mt. 
Hope, stands conspicuous among the success- 
ful business men and financiers of the countj% where 
he is recognized as a straightforward and thorough- 
going business man. and one whose word is a sufti- 
cient guarantee for the fulfillment of his promise. 
Mr. Robbins' early home was in the town of Scott, 
Ogle Co., 111., where he was born Nov. 17, 184U. 
His father, Sandford Robbins, was a native of 
Oneida County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, 
and for several years thereafter carried on an 
extensive business in lumber. He subsequently 
moved to Warren County, Pa., but not being 
encour.aged by the business outlook there he after- 
ward proceeded to Wisconsin. In 1845 he removed 
to the Prairie State, and settled in Ogle Count}', 
where he remained until his death, which occurred 



in 18GG. Mr. Robbins was ihiee times married; 
his first wife, whose maiden name w:is Smith, became 
the mother of three children, two of whom, Lewis 
and Delilah, now Mrs. Alvin Schrambling, survived 
her. For his second wife Mr. Robbins married Miss 
Mar}' Smith, a sister of his first wife. She died in 
Pennsylvania, leaving two children: John, of Repub- 
lic County, Kan., and William D., of Pottawat- 
omie, Kan. During the late Civil War William 
became a member of the l2th Illinois Cavahy, 
enlisting in 1862, and serving until the close of the 
war. Diana Luce became the third wife of Mr. 
Robbins, and by their union five children were 
born, namely: Hiram F., Amelia, Meda, G. C. and 
Mark. Hiram, an extensive farmer and stoek-raiser, 
of Pottawatomie County, Kan., is a prominent 
citizen, and has represented his district in the State 
Legislature; Amelia, deceased, was the wife of 
Ervin Clark; Meda, deceased, wjis the wife of F. 
Walch; Mark resides in Michigan. 

George C, of whom we write, remained on the 
farm with his p.-irents until twentj'-two years of age, 
receiving a good common-school education, and a 
thorough training in habits of industry from his 
excellent parents. His first move after leaving the 
home of his parents was to visit O'Brien County, 
Iowa, where he remained about six months, going 
from there to the Territory of Utah. In that place 
he became interested in mining, and followed that 
occupation for two j'ears, and then the ensuing two 
\'ears was engaged in the same business in Colorado. 
But mining was too precarious fyr a life work, and 
our subject next engaged in stock-raising at different 
times in New Mexico, Tex., and No Man's Land, 
and finally, in the fall of 1882, pushed northward to 
Kansas, where he still continued his lucrative occu- 
pation. A j'ear later, having amassed quite a sum 
of money, our subject purchased ICO acres of land 
in Greeley Township, and increased his business by 
including sheep-raising, and besides rearing stock is 
extensively engaged in bujing, feeding and selling 
the same, his stock farm being one of the most 
valuable in the county. He is also a member of 
the firm of H. Sowle & Co., dealers in grain, and 
derives a satisfactory income from that business. 
In 188G Mr. Robbins, alert to the financial needs of 
the townshq), with Mrs. Ellen A. Gilmore as a 



-^•- 



^ 



SiC 



^KI)<;\\ IC'K COUNTY. 



IHirtnor, c:<tAl)lislied his present hanking busineiu, 
whii'li is carrii'il on in an aMo ami syst^-nintic 
inaiinor. 

I'erlia|« Iho most ini|M>rtaiit step in tlio lifo uf 
our Milijoct was his inarria^re, whicii took place Oct. 
.». 18k;1, the bride lieiiiK' Miss Ma Ihck. flau;;hter 
of I. II. Heck, whose sketch ap|icars elsewliere in 
this volume. To them has lieen liorn one sun, 
(Jeorge Inf;all>. 

Mr. liolibins is .-i wi<le-aiv!ike, cncrj^jetic man, and 
from a modesit lie^innin:,'. in which he was depend- 
ent npun his own resources. h:is placed himself 
anionic the wealthy citizens of .Sedgwick County. 
Both he and his excellent wife are miMubers of the 
Congi-egational Church, to the support of which 
they ^ivo lilierally and cheerfnily. In politics our 
^ubject is a steadfsu-it Republican, and as a man and 
a citizen contributes his full share toward eidianc- 
ing the intellectual and nu>ral welfare of the town- 
ship and county. 



KO L. KKDDINO, the editor of the Wichita 
^1 Dailij Jiiurnnl. is a native of the North .Star 
^. Stiitc, having been born at Plain view, Minn., 
May .'>. IHOC. He is the son of (I. \V. and Johanna 
(Oleed) Ueddiiig, who were natives of N'ermont 
and Kngland respectively. 

(1. W. Redding, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was reared among the granit* hills of his 
native Slate, and early in life engaged in milling, 
selecting this business !is it was that of his father, 
<!. W. Redding, Sr. The latter was a native of 
Wales, but early in life had left his home amid the 
snow-cap|)e<l mountain peaks of his mother countr_v 
an<l erossed the ocean to the New World. He lo- 
cated in VernK>nt, where he followed the busine,<»s 
of a miller until IH.IO, and then removed to Wis- 
consin and resided until his death in IHCiH. 

Mrs. Reilding, the mother of him of whom we 
write. wiLs the daughter of Rev. C. S. fJlecil, a 
Congregational minist4-r in Kngland. He was the 
heir to a large pni|i<"rty, which finally came to him, 
but during the war made by the Church of Ku- 
gland against all dissentei-s, early in the century, 
he drew down u|miii himself the jM-rsccutions of the 



hiofArchy of nn intolcmnt religion, and sufTercd 
the confiscation of all his possessions. I^ing in- 
censed at this ruthless action, and strongly dissatis- 
fied with the laws of his native land, which were 
then op|H>.«ed to any inde|H'ndent tliought in 
religious niatt<'rs, and moved bj" the spirit of the 
rtiritan Fathers, in 18.10 he cros,sed the <K'ean to 
the shores of free America. For several years he 
preached the (iospel to a little settlement in South- 
•■rn Canada, but afterward removed to Morrisville, 
\'t.. where he made his home until 1870, when he 
was called to a better land. He was a man of great 
ability, and of a most Christian and charitable 
chanicter, and with his words and actions " allured 
to brighter worlds and led the way." 

(J. W. Redding, the father of our subject, was 
married at Morrisville, Vt., and in 1847 came 
West, and located at Beaver Dam, Wis., where, 
giving up his trade of miller, he embarked in agri- 
cultural ])ursuits. In 1SC.'> he made a further 
removal, and locat4'd at Plainview, Minn., where he 
again assumed the life of a farmer. At this place, 
in 1872, he was called to his final rest; his wife 
died in 188.1. Leo L. Redding was reared upon 
the broad an<l fertile prairies of his native .State, 
and received the benefit of the excellent educa- 
tional facilities afforded by that noble common- 
wealth. After a term of years sjjent in the usual 
district schools, he attended the High School of his 
native county, from which he was graduated at 
the age of sixteen. Having already- a taste for 
join'ualism, he went to Ft. Scott, Kan., and as- 
sumed the position of city editor of the Daily 
Monitnr of that place. In 1884, Denver, the metrop- 
olis of the mountains, seeming to offer superior in- 
ducements to him, he removed to that place and 
occupied the .same position on the TVi/june, one of 
the leading pa|R'i-s in Colorado. F"rom Denver he 
next removed to .Sioux City, Iowa, to .assume the 
business management of the Tn/>MH<', but .Tan. 12, 
1887, removed to Wichita, and became the hn-al 
eilitor of the Jntirnal. In May following he wsw 
promoted to the position of eriitor-in-chief, which 
place he now fills. 

Having determined to li:ivc a home of his own, 
and knowing that it wouM be incomplete without 
" a woman's heart and a woman's life and a woman's 



•►■-4^ 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



527 



wonrlrous love," he, accordingly, on the 25th of 
October, 1887, led to the marriage altar Miss Jessie 
M. Fletcher, a daughter of Charles W. and Carrie 
(Moore) Fletcher, who was born in Charles Citj', 
Iowa, Dec. 2!l, 1 865. She is a graduate of the North- 
field University, Minnesot^x, and is a highly accom- 
plished and amiable lady. Politically, Mr. Redding 
is a strong adherent to the principles of the Repub- 
lican party, and conceives it his duty to advocate 
its advancement both by tongue and pen. In his 
journalistic capacity he is a shrewd thinker, with 
broad convictions, and handles a facile pen. Al- 
though but a j'oung man, he has already made his 
mark in the world, and will, no doubt, rise to emi- 
nence, as he is gifted with a heaven-born genius, 
and a capacity for hard work. 

1^^, AMUEL FOUST is a retired farmer living 
^^^ in his pleasant home at No. 1024 South 
(jl^\M) Topeka avenue, Wichita, the beautiful me- 
tropolis of the Arkansas Valley. It has 
often been remarked that those lives that are the 
most successful are often the least eventful; this 
seems to have been the case with our subject; his 
life has been one of usefulness and helpfulness to 
those about him, but from his modest account of it 
we can glean but little to incorporate in this biog- 
raphy. From others we learn of his strict integrity, 
of his faithfulness and trustworthiness in all the re- 
lations of life, and of his possession of those qual- 
ities that constitute a good man and a true citizen. 
Mr. Foust was born on his father's old homestead 
in Franklin County, Pa., in the year 182(1. He is 
a worthy representative of an old German family, 
who many generations ago settled in this country. 
His father. Henry Foust, was born in Pennsylvania, 
there grew to manhood, and there established a 
home of his own ; the lady whom he asked to marry 
him and share it with him was a Miss Mary Fog- 
well, of Washington County, Md. Our subject was 
reared to man's estate on his father's farm, and re- 
ceived from his good father a careful training in 
fanning, which formed the basis of his prosperity 
in after life, nor was his schooling neglected, and 
he gained such an education as was afforded by the 



local schools. He assisted his father in the manage- 
n)ent of his projierty until he was thirty -seven years 
of iJge. In that year, on the 1 7th of December, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Ann Elizabeth Cook, 
daugliter of John 15. and Eliza (Stricklee) Cook, of 
Franklin County, Pa. Their union has been hles.sed 
by the birth of two daughters — Kittie May and 
Jennie Belle. Kittie married John A. Jewett, who 
is a merchant on J^ouglas avenue, Wichita; they 
have one son, Fred B. 

After marriage Mi", and Mrs. Foust made their 
home on a farm in Pennsylvania. Franklin County, 
and there, by intelligent and well-directed industry, 
judicious economy and downright hard work, our 
subject gathered together a comfortable sum of 
money. He at last settled up his affairs in that 
State, and prepared to remove to Kansas. When 
he came here he settled in Wichita, and before his 
retirement w:is engaged principally in gardening 
and farming. Things have prospered with him 
very much since becoming a resident of this State, 
and as a result of his energy and shrewd manage- 
ment of his property, he can now enjoy a life of 
ease and comfort in the possession of an assured 
income; he owns his residence and other real estate. 
He and his family are upright and honorable i)eo- 
plc, who deserve and have the respect of all who 
know them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Foust are esteemed 
members of the (ierman Reform Church, and in 
their daily lives show themselves to be true Chris- 
tians. 

^^ YRUS MILLER, a resident of Sedgwick 
[lf^_^ County since the spring of 1883, owns and 
^^^ occupies eighty acres of good land which, 
under a course of thorougli cultivation, now yields 
an abundance of the choicest crops of the "Grass- 
hopper" State, which, in spite of the various trib- 
ulations through which it has passed, is second to 
none in the gi-eat West, and the fact of its having 
attained to its present position is largely due to the 
energetic and enterprising men who settled within 
its limits during the earlj' days when it was in the 
transformation period. 

The early home of Jlr. Miller was in the north- 
western portion of the Keystone State, he having 



■m^^ 



•► ■ -4^ 



35fl 



SK.nOWICK COUNTY. 



t 



Ikm'ii a iinti vc uf Wnrri'ii ('<uinty, whort- lii.« l>irlli t<Hik 
pliKT .Iiilv ll*. 1H4N. His inifiitt, KliiLs mid Mnr- 
^'iirct (Mfl'iif) MilliT, were nlsMi iiativf.M of Peiiii- 
sylvniii.'i, iiiul llie lien<lit uf ii lnr;:e fiiiiiily uf cliildreii, 
of wliDiii llie folltiwjn^' Hiirvivo: Olive, of Wnrren 
(■"I111I3 ; L:iwreiKH\ of Mcl.enii C'oiiiily, 111. ; Kli niiil 
.Sihus. in their unlive SUite; ('yruc, of our sketch; 
lliiiiimh, of Iteiio Coiiiity. this .Sliite; Miiiervti, of 
Krie County, I'li.: Alice, of I'rtilt Cotinty. this 
.State, iinil Mniily, of I'helps County, Neli. 

Kli;i> .Miller, about 1 «.'>'.». removed with hi.t family 
from I'ennM'lvnnia to Woodford County, 111., where 
Cyrus, of our .sketch, wa.s reared to manhood, and 
where the father pn.ssed from earth. .Mrs. Miller, 
mother of our subject, now resides in IVnnsylva- 
nia. Young Miller, in common with his brother.') 
anil sisters, received the ndvantnfjcs of only a lim- 
ited education, but fortunately acquired the h:il>il 
of study and ob.sei vation, and is now considered one 
of the most intelli;;ent men of his day. lie started 
out for himself at an early at;e, an<l for five years 
thereafter was employed ns a farm laborer in Wood- 
ford County, receivinf,' from ^20 to ^20 |>er month. 
Before reachin;; his twenty-third birthday he was 
united in marriiigc, in .lantiary, lis72, with a maiden 
of Woodford County, Miss Mary Ayers, who was 
born in liutler County. ( )hio, and who by her union 
with our subject became the mother of one daugh- 
ter, and ile|i!irted this life at their home in Wood- 
f'pril County. November 2(1 of that simeyear. The 
little motherles.s girl was named Iterlha, and only 
>urviveil a few months. 

Mr. .Miller contracted n second marriage, on the 
1 Hth of February, 1 H«:?. with Mis.s Ida Ayers, who 
wxs also born in Hutler County, Ohio, Aug. !(!, 
lhi;o. .Mrs. Ida .Miller is the daughter of Michael 
.•ind Kli/.abeth (Hou.se) Ayers, who removed from 
the Huckeye .SUil<' to Illinois, and thence to .Snui- 
ncr County. Kan., where they are now resi<ling. 
Of this marriage of our subject there have been 
born two children — Kdward K., Keb. Ih, |h«4, and 
Viol.i I,., .Ian. I '.I, IKHC. 

In December, IKMI. Mr. .Miller came to this .Sijile 
and locat4M| in Sumner Ct>nnly, where lu- continued 
until the spring of I HN.l, thence removing to this 
town-hip. Mr. .Miller uniforndy voles the I)emi>- 
erntic tiikel, and in Novendier, 1 Hn7. was elcelecl 



Constnble of Salem 'rownslii|>, of whi<'h »>lllee he i» 
now the incumbent. Itotli he and his e»limnble 
wife are |Mi]iular in !K>einl circles and numlwr their 
friends among the be«t |>eople of .Sjilem Township. 
The father of Mrs. Miller wils twice married, 
there being born of the two marriages .»even eliil- 
ilren, four of whom are living, namely: .Samuel 
I.., Albert II., Laura li. and Ida. Vpon removing 
from Ohio they settled (Irst in WiKKiforil County, 
III., and later in Livingston County, whence Uiey 
came to this Slate about IH77. .Mr. Ayers ha* been 
a gooil business man and a pmiseworlhy citizen, and 
in his declining years is enjoying, .-w he so well de- 
serves, nil the comforts of life. 

_. ^y . 1 . ^ . 



KKDKKICK HKRTIIOLF, a lively repre- 
-scnlali ve of the mercantile interesUt of Valley 
Center, makes .-i s|K'cially of flour and feetl, 
in the trade of which he has been engaged since the 
spring of 18x7. He arrived in this county in No- 
vember, 18H,'), frtim Humboldt County, Iowa, where 
he had been for five years previously engngcil in 
farming. His early home w:i.s in Lucjis County, 
Ohio, where he was born .March 1 H, 18;i.5. 

Peter and Catherine (South) Hcrtholf, the parents 
of our subject, were natives of New York St:ile, 
where the fjither followed farming many _venrs, an<l 
whence he removed in mi<ldle life to Ohio, where 
with his e.vcellenl wife he spent his bust days in 
Lucas County. The mother passed away in 18(;4, 
at the age of seventy years. The father survive.! 
until 1879, and for some years had been retireil 
from active labor. He was a Hepid)licnn in his 
later life, and with his estimalile wife a devoted 
member of the Haptist Church. 

The parents of our subject were among the early 
.settlers of Lucas County, Ohio, to which they 
renioveil in IS28. where their son Kreilerick, of our 
sketch, W!Ls born seven years later. Their Wn chil- 
liren consisted of four sons and six (laughters, 
namely: Catherine, Sarah, Knehel, Hannah, Mary, 
ICImira, .lames, Isaac, .lohn and Frederick. The 
latter was the youngest child, and continued under 
the home roof until a youth of eighteen years. He 
hnd in the meantime ac<juired a good education in 



t' 



•*¥^m-M» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



631 ' N 



the district scliool, and was tiiorouglily familiar 
witli farming pursuits, which he followed until com- 
ing to this county. Me took to himself a wife and 
helpmeet on the 29th of October, 1804, namely: 
Miss Julia 8. Corser, a native of his own State. 
Mrs. Bertholf is the daughter of Edward and 
Clarissa (C:iss) Cor.ser, who are now deceased. 
Their family consisted of three daughters and two 
sons, namelj' : Lewis, Martha, Julia S., Charles M. 
and Emma Jane. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bertholf there was born one 
child, a son, Charles S., who continues with his 
parents, and is in the store with his father. Mr. B. 
was in the Union service during the late war, enlist- 
ing in 1864, in the 130th Ohio Infantry, but was 
onlj' required to serve a few months, as the Rebel- 
lion was near its close. He was detailed mostl}' to 
camp duty in and around Petersburg, Va., and did 
not participate in any active engagement. 



jj^ IKE ZIMMERLY. The name of this gen- 
tleman, late a resident of Wichita and now 
deceased, is widely and favorably known 
throughout this county. He came to this 
city for the purpose of locating on the 12th of 
July, 1871. lie brought with him by teams, from 
his former place of residence, Topeka, several 
wagon loads of hardware, and at once settled in 
business, engaging in this branch of trade until 
1883. He then traded his stock for land west of 
the city and also purchased eighty acres within the 
city limits. This latter he laid out mostly in town 
lots, making three additions to the citj', and was 
engaged in the sale of these and other real-estate 
transactions thereafter until resting from his earthly 
labors. 

Mr. Zimmerly was a native of Berne, Switzer- 
land, where his birth took place Jan. 12, 18.^0. He 
was brought by his parents to this country when 
(luite young, and they settled in Memphis, Tcnn., 
where the parents spent the last j'ears of their 
lives. Their son Mike pursued his early studies 
in Teiniessee and completed his education in To- 
peka, this State, after which he served an apprentice- 
ship at the tinner's trade, and thus gained a good 



insight into the hardware business. After a resi- 
dence of sixteen years in the city of Wichita, he 
departed this life on the 19th of June, 1887, leav- 
ing to his amiable wife and children the rich legacy 
of an untarnished name. He was cut down in his 
prime, being still comparatively a young man at 
the time of hi.s death. He had, and very naturally' 
so, laid still greater plans for the future, and before 
his last illness had contracted for the erection of 
the well-known Zimmerly Block, which Mrs. Zim- 
merly, after the death of her husband, caused to be 
completed, and which is one of the most beautiful 
structures of the kind in the city. Upon it was 
expended nearly ^80,000. The family residence 
was put up in 187G, and occupies No. 611 South 
Market street. 

A man always warmly interested in the affairs of 
the young and growing city of Wichita, Mr. Zim- 
merly was prominent both as a citizen and business 
man, was a member of the City Council for a period 
of twelve years, and also served as Mayor. In 
many of the enterprises that gave an impetus to 
the business of Wichita and served to attract a 
class of enterprising and intelligent men, he was 
the moving spirit. He constructed the street rail- 
road from his addition to Main street, and it sub- 
sequently- passed into the hands of the company. 
He was usually one of the first men approached 
whenever a new project was set on foot which was 
calculated to benefit the community and enable it 
to take a worthy position among the other com- 
munities of the great West. 

Tne marriage of Mr. Zimmerlj- and Jliss Nettie 
Losh took place at the home of the bride in Butler 
County, Kan., Dec. 5, 1873. His wife was the 
daughter of John and Martha (Howard) Losh, 
natives of Virginia, where they were reared and 
married. They removed from the Old Dominion 
first to Ohio, then to Illinois, and from there to 
Kansas, settling in Butler County, where Mr. L. 
engaged in the real-estate business. They were the 
parents of three children, namely: Louisa, Mrs. 
Winters, of Augusta, Butler County-; Nettie, Mrs. 
Zimmerly, and Stephen, who is engaged as a dealer 
in real estate at Augusta. 

To our subject and liis wife there were born four 
children — Nellie A., Harry, Pearl and Minnie 



H- 



•#-•-4*- 



-«»• 



.MV.' 



SKDOWKK COUNTY 



Mrs. .1.1.. nil- 1- :i' i:i.l\ oi ixrcllcnt busini'ss 
cii|Micity, and Im.s kept up the reputntitm of the 
c^tJ^te left her Ity her husband iii a most adniirnlile 
aixl praiseworthy manner. On the 4th of April, 
ISHS. Mrs. Zimmerly wtu! m:irricii to Lee .leronie. 
a resident of tliis city and a native of Cermany. 

In ("onniH-tion with this skeloli we ),Mve the por- 
trait of Mr. /iininerly, ns that of a man wliose 
name will ever l>e a:<siH'iHted with tiie l.usiiu'.-^ 
interests of Wichita. 

pMjHKI 

11;*^ sentative in the liimlier trade of \\ ichitji. 
iii'\\ own.s and o|)erales a planinji; establishment 
^^on West Williams street. Here are manii- 
faotured |K»rch t-olunins, pilasters, corniecs, balus- 
ters, d<K>rs. siUih. blinds, and evervthin<j of the kind 
in this department of the building l)usiness. His 
factory haj^ the reputation of turning out invariably 
first-flikss work, and as a reliable man, thoroughly 
attentive to his duties, and )>rumpt in meeting his 
obligations, Mr. Carson stsinds well among his fel- 
low-citizens. 

Our subject is the offspring of an old American 
family of .*^cotch descent who were first represented 
in this country by the paternal grandfather, who 
crossed the Atlantic and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
in 1M);J, before the C^ueen City had given any evi- 
dence of its future imiKirtjince. There were then 
but a few houses upon its present site, and Onuid- 
falher Cannon w!is the privileged witness of its e.x- 
Iraordin.'iry development and growth. lie had 
married a New .Jersey lady, and they became the 
parents of nine children, among whom was Robert, 
the father of our subject. 

Robert Carson, Sr., was born in Cincinnati in 
.lanuary, IKl'J, and during his boyhood and youth 
Ix^came familiar with the various employments of 
farm life, assisting his father in Imilding up the 
primitive homestead. Later he turned his attention 
to milling and bridge buililing, and being a natural 
mechanic, thereby siived hundreds of dollars, and in 
due time wiut a man of wealth and inlluence. lie 
married .Miss Hannah Nichols, who was born in 



New tier- , . ...Mud they Im^cjii... .... |.;ir- 

ents of eight children, namely : Kli/ubeth, Kllen, 
.lennie, John, Jonathan S., Robert, Jr.. of our sketch, 
KniK'h I*, and (ieorge. 

The father of our subject died ill IHiM, -a the 
age of forty-five yenrs, at his home near Spring Val- 
ley, (ireene Co., t)hio. He was a stanch Democnil, 
politically, and held many local otilces of trust and 
res|>onsibility. A kind and indulgent man in his 
family, he also bore an excellent character among 
his fellow-citizens, and his word was considered !is 
good as his bond. The mother is still living, now 
residing in llaysville, Sedgwick County. 

Robert Carson, of our sket<-h, a native of the city 
of Cincinnati, which had grown greatly since the 
birth of his honoied f.-ither, there first o|H'ned his 
eyes to the light Nov. ."!, 1«40. He was reared by 
his iMircnts, received a c<immon-s<-ho(>l education, 
and at an early age began learning the trade of car- 
penter. He soon deveK)|M'd into a contractor and 
builder, and having inherited in a marked degree 
the abilities of his father, was elected a .lusticc of 
the Peace in Cincinnati, when but twenty -one years 
of age, which ollice he held for a period of three 
years. .Subsequently he was ap|K>intcd Deputy 
Sheriff in Cincinnati, and was an attache of the 
.Sheriff's oflice there for a period of two ^'ears. 
When released from his otficial duties he returned 
to his business of contractor, which he followed in 
Ohio until 1H7'J. That year witnessed his advent 
into this county. 

Mr. Carson soon after his arrival in Kansiis, 
located on a farm near llaysville, where he re- 
mained two years, whence he removed, in 1.'<W1, U) 
Wichita. Agriculture seemed less desirable as a 
calling than his former pursuit, and in .Fune. 1».'<C, 
he put up his pl.-ming-mill on .South Main street. 
The following M.-m-li he purchased the ground oc- 
cupied by his main f.actory, u|Hin which he subse- 
(juenlly erected the presi'nt buihling. and that ye.ar 
did a business aggregating ?l'4,ihm(. His transac- 
tions have steadily increased, .-ind .Mr. Carscui has 
in contemplation the erection, in the nejir future, of 
an atblition to his mill to sijll further facilitate the 
business which is crow<ling upon him. His build- 
ing is equip|>ed with fin.t-class modern machinery, 
which was put in at a cost of ;>.'>.()()(). He keeps 



•► ■ -^- 



HI-4*- 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



533 



himself well posted upon the details in connection 
therewith, and avails himself of modern methods 
and inventions, determined not to be behind in one 
of the most important industries of the day. 

October 13, 1873, while a resident of his native 
citj', our subject was united in marriage with Miss 
Lida, daughter of William and Sarah (Winesburg) 
Stevenson. The former is a native of Hamilton 
County, Ohio, and now lives here. Mrs. Stevenson 
was a native of Wheeling, Va.. and died in 1862. 
Mrs. Carson was born in Randolph County, Ind., 
Aug. 16, 1852, and by her union with our subject 
has become the mother of three children — Florence 
D., Grace L. and George AV. He and his estimable 
wife enjoy the friendship and society of numbers 
of the best people in Wichita. 



( OSHUA DEVORE resides in Payne Town- 
ship, where he owns 280 acres of valuable 
land on sections 2 and 3. He is profitably 
(j^M/ engaged in farming and stock-raising. His 
farm is neatly fenced with hedge and wire fences, 
and the far-famed productiveness of the rich prairie 
soil of Kansas is here well exemplified. He pays 
much attention to the culture of the small fruits, 
and also has a fine apple and peach orchard, ali-eady 
yielding good returns for the care he has taken of 
it. He has an abundant supply of pure water from 
three wells. His farm buildings are neat and com- 
modious, comparing favorably with those of other 
ranch men in the neighborhood. 

Mr. Devore was born in Ohio, June 18, 1848, 
and is the son of Daniel and Catherine (Herman) 
Devore, natives respectively of Maryland and Ger- 
many. His father was born July 8, 1808, and 
died in 1881. He was a potter by trade, and fol- 
lowed that calling for many years. He was a 
worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
contributing largely of his means to its su]>port. 
In politics he was a firm supporter of the Repub- 
lican part}'. He was thrice married ; there is no 
record of his first and second marriages. His last 
marriage, which was to the mother of our subject, 
took place in 1842. His wife was born in Ger- 
many, Feb. 14, 1823. She came to the United 



States when five 3'ears of age, and here gi-ew to 
womanhood, receiving an education in the common 
schools of her adopted country, and has been for 
many 3'ears a consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Ciiurch. To her and her husband were 
born twelve children, three of whom were daughters 
— Mary Ellen, Maria C. and Margaret A. Three of 
the sons are dead. 

Our subject was the second son born of that 
marriage. He was reared on a farm, and assisted 
in the labors thereof. He received a substantial 
education in the public schools. On the 16th of 
February, 1864, then a lad of sixteen years, he 
entered the service of his country as a member of 
the 17th Ohio A'oluntecr Infantrj', and went to the 
front, taking part in the Atlantic campaign. He 
did faithful service as a soldier until the close of 
the Rebellion, when he was mustered out of the 
army in July, 1 865. He then returned to Ohio, 
and thence went to Effingham, 111. He was indus- 
trious, ambitious and energetic, and, after living 
awhile in Illinois, he decided that on the wonder- 
fully fertile soil of Kansas he could do still better 
in his chosen calling than where the land had been 
tilled for nianj- years, and in 1870 he came to this 
State and located on his present farm, becoming its 
owner bj' complying with the provisions of the home- 
stead act. He was thus one of the earl}' pioneers 
of this township, and has gi-eatly assisted in its 
development. Immediately after settlement here 
he began the improvement of his land, and the 
results that he has brought about have amply justi- 
fied his choice of location. 

Our subject is an intelligent, well-informed man, 
amply qualified for the leading part he has taken 
in public affairs. He holds the office of Township 
Trustee, discharging its duties with signal ability 
and to the satisfaction of his fellow-townsmen ; he 
has also been Township Clerk. Politically, he is 
an ardent Republican. He is connected with the 
Post II. W. Beck, G. A. R., at Benton, Kan. 

Mr. Devore was married to Miss Alice E. Lane, 
March 13, 1877. She is the daughter of Isaac J. 
and Susan E. (Whittaker) Lane. Her father was 
born in Tennessee in January', 1 832, and her mother 
was born in Kentucky, Oct. 27, 1831. They were 
united in marriage in 1851, and to them were boi-n 

•^ 



i 






'..Si 



cijjht children, six sons and two dnugliters, the 
n.'imcs (if ihe Inttcr boiny; Alicf K., and Mary 
.lane, who i> doad. Her (Kirentii came to Kaiis:LS 
ill 187:.', and liK-ated in tliis township. Mr. I.ane is 
.'I worthy lueiiiber of the Cliristian C'hiirrh. 

To our siilijeft and his wifi- have been born live 
thihiren, namely: Ceor-^e I.., .Mamie \'. (<leeeased). 
Kli/Jibeth ('., Harry I), .-iiid an infant, Isiiae. 



UlLl.lAM \V. UKYNOI.Ds, ca|)il;ili>l, and a 
leader aiiioni; the substantial men of 
^ ^ Wiehita. came to this city in the spring of 
IHTlt, and made his first business venture as "mine 
host" of the Pacific Hotel. This, however, not being 
entirely suited to his tastes and capacities, he aban- 
doned it after five months, and became an employe 
in the City Flouring Mills, where he continued for 
a |ieriod of six and one-half j-eare. From his 
somewhat moderate salary he saved a snug little 
sum of money, which he wisely invested in a lot at 
the corner of Second and Mosley streets, paying 
for it ^300 down. He held this property until 
1887, when he disposed of it for the round sum of 
♦ 13,000. 

The prosperity of Mr. Reynolds now began in 
earnest. Soon afterward he purchased the ground 
upon whicli his present resilience stands — lifty feet 
front — anil put up the beautiful dwelling and con- 
venient barn at .-i cost of ^3,000. It is located at 
No. 323 North AVabjish avenue. For the l:utt year 
he has not been engaged in any business. 

A native of Whitt- t'ounty, Ind., Mr. Reynolds 
was born .Ian. "JO, 1837, and is the son of lienjaniin 
and .Inlia (t'olyer) Reynolds, natives of I'ennsyl- 
vania. His paternal granclfather, Isaac Reynolds, 
also a n;itive of the Keystone Stale, followed the 
occupation of a farmer, and emigrated with his 
family to Indiana at an early day. He settled 
upon a tract of land near the present sit<' of the 
city of .Moiiticello, where he built up a good home- 
stead and spent the remainder of his days. 

Henjamin Reynolds wio but a ixiyat the time his 
parents removed from Pennsylvania to Indiana, 
where he waa reared to fiirm piirsiiits, carried on 



SKDlJWICK COUNTY. 



ftsriciilture extensively on hi- ..hm .iccount later, 
an<l finally developed into a successful s|K-culator 
in lands. He became the owner of a whole sec- 
tion in White County, which is now known it-- 
the Mt. .lackson Farm, and became a man prominent 
and highly respected. His de<ease was made the 
occlusion of a notice in the Moiiticello iJeuim-rnt. 
which we subjoin as follows: 

"On June G, 18tJ9, in Hig Creek Township, 
White Co., Ind., Benjamin Reynolds, Ksq., aged 
seventy years and thirty-four days, dieil amidst a 
devoteil family, attended by his pliy.-ician and 
nuinliers of sympathetic neighboi-s an<l friends. Ik- 
was born on the 3d of M:iy, 179;*, in .MilHiii County, 
Pa., and was the first and oldol settler in While 
County. Ind. His first neighbors there wi-re the 
Indians. In disposition he was gentle and kind; 
in activity and energy he h;id no siiiK>rior. He 
possessed a large fr:iine, capable of great endur- 
ance, and a mind which bent to no ailversity. No 
man possessed a kinder heart, and a» husband and 
father he was ever faithful in the iniport^tnt rehi- 
tions of life. In his intercourse with men he aimed 
at a line of integrity, and but a few days before 
his death he ordered the cancellation of all un- 
settled accounts, that no difllculties might after- 
ward arise. He left a wife and nine children, and 
a large landed estate of niie fertility and beauty. 
He w.is a Presbj'terian, and his funenil discourse 
was preached by the Rev. Mr. Seawright. He was 
))opularly known as 'Uncle l$en,' and was gathered 
to his rest in the fulness of years." 

The mother of our subject had preceded her 
husband to the silent land thirty years. He sub- 
sequently married Lydia .lam; (lardner. By the 
first wife were btuii six children, viz: .lolin G., 
Benj:imin, Levi, Nancy, Saraband lilleii; the latter 
is dead, and the others are all resiiling in White 
County, Ind., all married exceiit Benjamin. By 
the second niarn.'ige are Is.aac, a resident of Stevens 
County, Kan., and engaged in farming; -Mary C.. 
Mrs. Ash, of StiirgLss City, among the Black Hills, 
I):ik.: Matilda is deceased, and .Maria, .Mrs. Cow- 
den, is a resident of Huron, Dak. 

William W., of this sketch, spent his boyhood 
and youth in the agi'icultunil district^*, remaining a 
member iif the parental household until twenty-five 
yeai-s of age. In llie meaiitiine he acquired a good 
education, completing his studies in the school at 
Notre Dame, St. .lose])h County. Then in making 
till' arraiigemi'iit for the estalilishmcnt of a home 



i 



^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



535 



^^ 



and domestic ties of his own, he was united in mar- 
ria<je, on the 1st of October, 1863, to Miss Kate 
Fox, who was born Dec. 29, 1839, in J^afayette, 
Ind., and is the daughter of Jonathan and Margaret 
(Hawk) Fox, natives of Oliio, both of whom are 
deceased. 

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Re}iU)lds was 
Absalom Fox, who married Miss Temperance Diek- 
erson, and they were both natives of New Jerse3\ 
Iler great-grandparents, Jonathan and Christina 
(Thompson) Fox, were natives of Maine, wiience 
they emigrated to Ohio in its territorial days and 
settled in Butler County. They built up a cabin 
home in the wilderness, where Jonathan F'ox car- 
ried on farming and spent the remainder of his 
daj's. Absalom took up the mantle of his father 
after the latter had rested from his earthly' labors, 
and lie too spent his last da3's at the same home- 
stead where he had settled after marriage, and 
became the father of a large family. The children 
of Absalom and Temperance Fox were six in 
number. 

The maternal gi'andparents of Mrs. Reynolds, 
Philip and Catherine (Stonebreaker) Hawk, were 
also natives of Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio 
during its pioneer days, settling on Indian Creek in 
Butler County. The maternal great-grandparents 
were Benjamin and Ruth (Cam])bell) Hawk, natives 
of New Jers<;y, who spent their entire lives in 
farming pursuits. The family of Jonathan Hawk 
included six children, of whom but five are living, 
namely-: Catherine, the wife of our subject; Abner, 
of Stevens County, this State; Bonahani, of Atliens, 
Tenn. ; Eliza, Mrs. Godman, of Muncie, Ind., and 
Vincent T., of Stevens County, Kan. 

Mr. Reynolds, after his marriage, proceeded to 
Yankton, Dak., where he kept a hotel five years, 
and in the meantime officiated as Deput}- United 
States Marshal two years. He visited Topeka, 
Kan., in 18C9, cultivating a tract of land in that 
vicinity one year. Thence he returned to Indiana 
and engaged in farming in White County until his 
removal to Wichita. His family includes five 
interesting children, the eldest of whom, Harry A., 
married Miss Lizzie Wroghton, in 1885, and is the 
fatherof one child, a daughter, Mabel. The others 
are Frank P., Frederick F. and Robert C, at 



home, and Jlaggie M., who married July 7, 1887, 
Henry S. Kirkpatrick; they reside ui Wichita. 

Mrs. Reynolds received an excellent education, 
completing her studies in Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
Later engaged as a teacher, mostly' in White County, 
Ind. She is a lady of kind and generous impulses, 
very charitable to the poor and needy, an affection- 
ate mother and devoted wife. In their pleasant 
home they often meet with the friends who have 
learned to respect them for their sterling worth, 
and being among the older citizens of Wichita, 
are regarded with more than ordinary interest. 
Our subject, politically, is a Democrat, and socially 
a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the 
Order of United Workmen. 



"if?OHN J. GARRETT, of the firm of (Jarrett 
I Bros., dealers in wall jmper, paints, etc., 
came to Wichita in 1876, and established 
his shop the following spring, and opened 
his present business on the 1st of December, 1886. 
He carries a complete stock of wall paper, and docs 
all kinds of sign and ornamental painting in the 
best manner. He is considered prompt and relia- 
ble, and has all the elements of a thorough business 
man. 

Mr. (iarrett was born in Tazewell County, Va., 
Sept. 11,1 854, and after completing his education 
in the common school began at an early age learn- 
ing the tr.ade of paper-hanger. He left his native 
State when a youth of eighteen years, migrating to 
Covington, Fountain Co., Ind.. where he followed 
his trade four years, and the spring after his arrival 
in Wichita opened the shop' which he is still run- 
ning in connection with his other business. As the 
result of his industry and perseverance he is the 
owner of a good residence in the city, pleasantly 
located, and where with his family he is surrounded 
by all the comforts of life. 

Our subject, in 1 878, was united in marriage with 
Miss Clara Beard, of Wichita, and they have he- 
come the parents of four children — Mark D., Jessie 



>sie I 



'4* 



f 



f 



5;ir. 



SKm:\VICK COUNTY. 



S . C'lani B. iimi Mnln-I (J. Their eldest fliild was 
killc-il tiv ii kick from the fninily Iioi-kc iit the iigc 
iif !<i'veii years. 

I he piirc'iils of Mrs. ( iHrri'll «uri' K<l»'nr<l uiiil 
iJi-lioriih llcnnl, unlives of lU-anlstown, 111. The 
father is deceaoed, but the iiinlher still .siirvi\es. 
Our .siihjirct ha.s little time t4( •'ive to |Hilitical affair!*, 
and is rather coiis^-rvative in his ideas. A sister of 
the wife of our sulijeel, .Mi.vs luvs Heard, is the wife 
of (Jt'orge I). .Slillinau, who is also eon ueeted with 
the linu of Carrett Hros. .Mr. Stillniaii is a native 
of I'lmdilla Kails, N. Y., where he was born in IfSoI. 
Ill- received an ncadeniic and coiuniercial eollegc 
edueation,und cunie to this Stale in IHCK, lirst eni- 
jiloving himself jus a Ixiok-keeper at Kmporia. Ilis 
next location wils at Osjige City, where he wjis oc- 
eupied as sidesmnn in a hanlwnre store. He came 
to Wichita in Ih77, wsis clerk in a >jrrocery sUtrc one 
year, then embarked in the confectionery trade, and 
subsequently traveled for several wholesale houses 
of the city. lie became the book-keeper of (J ar- 
retl HroT.. in I8.s7. Mr. :iud .Mrs. .Stillnian have 
three children — Unrdetl, A;;nes and Katie. 

\1, OIIN li. Br.sCU.of the lirm Busch A (Mo- 
ver, who are i)roprietors of the Kansas Meat 
Market, Wichita, have one of the largest 
and most important esl.-iblishments of the 
kind in this thriving city. Besides doing an im- 
mense wholesale trade they have the largest private 
tnidc in the city. They employ thirteen hands 
continuously. This importunl industry hsus grown 
rapidly from a small beginning, as it commenced 
with a business of si.\ cattle a week, and now has a 
side of .'(."lO cattle per month, 100 hogs, lU.'i sheep, 
and from lifleen to twenty calves per week, having 
besides a large wholesale business, shipping from 
Kansas Cily about il ,000 pounds of ham every 
week, .lohn B. Bu>cli,the f<n;nder c»f this enterprise, 
was born in I>ul'age County, 111., on his father's 
farm, .Inly 1, I M.IT. Ilis parents were .b.liji atd 
Barbara (St.'irk) Busch. 

Our subjeit was educated in the common schools 
of his native Stale, and in early life received a 
praclical training in the labors of the farm. At ihe 



ago of eight«cn he started out in life for himself, 
and at the long established market at the corner of 
Sljile and I'olk streets, Chicago, 111., gained n Ihor- 
ongli knowledge of how to conduct « large meal 
market successfully iit .ill its details. He remained 
in that market two and one-half years, and contin- 
ued in that city in other markets some years longer, 
gaining a good deal of valuable experience. In 
1H7!I he went to Denver, Col., where he became 
employed by C. StarklolT A Co., one of the prin- 
cipal firms in that city, remaining in their es- 
tablishment for three yeai-s. He then went into 
comiKiny with Mr. Grover, and they bought a lot 
on which they erecte<l a building, which, as soon 
as completed, they occui)ied as a meat market. 
They remained in that place two years, and then 
org:inized the Denver Packing Company, conduct- 
ing a very extensive business, 'i'liey sold their 
market ami went into company with .Mr. Charles 
Buckhanlt, and continued to be assiM'iated in busi- 
ness with him the succeeding two years. 

.lune 21, 18»5, at Denver, Col., Mr. Busch was 
uniterl in marriage with Miss Lucy Mayer, daugh- 
ter of (icorge and .Salma Mayer. Of this union 
there have been born l\\\> children — George and 
Albert. 

In 18S0 .Mr. Busch disposed of his interests in 
Den\er and came to WichiUi in .Iidy, where he 
innnediately established himself in his present busi- 
ness. In IHK" Mr. (irovercanie from Denver and 
entered into jMirtnership with him. The}- have a 
capital of #18,000 investcil in this enterprise, and 
their business, as before stale<l, has become very 
extensive under their successful and energetic 
management, and constitutes one of the leading 
establishments in the city. During the Christmas 
holidays hist sejuson, .Messrs. Busch A- G rover had a 
very line display, embracing some of the tbiest 
beef ever seen in Wichita; it wjis ilrcssed by the 
most skillful butchers, ami wils .-is well dres-M'd a 
lot of lieef as was ever shown. The central decor- 
ative display of the market consisted of mutti^in, 
calves anil hogs dressed by George Bowers and 
other employes of the firm; the sheep tastefully 
trimmed with evergreens, well lettered and pictured 
by hand work, and then the skin cut away, making 
a line show. One could hanlly credit it tli;it so 



-f-^ 



-•►■-^ 



•► II ■» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



537 



artistic a display could be made from such ma- 
terials. The whole arrangement was one calculated 
to impress the beholder with the fact that this firm 
has very expert and skilled men in its employ. 



«-»/Sta«2raTw--w»' 



wv-v/v-tajec/®!®' 



•(^ROF. K. II. FRITCII is President of the 
J) Southwestern Business College, of AVichita. 
This institution justly ranks among the 
best of its kind in the AV^est, and offers 
superior facilities to those desiring a thorough and 
practical business education. Prof. Fritch was born 
in Dcerfield, Lake Co., 111.. Dec. 17, 18.58, and is 
a son of Frederic and liarbara (Strublen) Fritch, 
natives of Klso, German}', where the father's birth 
took place in 1819, and the mother's in 1810. 

Mr. Fwtch crossed the waters to America in 1832, 
and first settled in Warren, Warren Co., Pa., where he 
engaged in farming. In 1844 he i-eraoved with 
his family to Deerfield Township, Lake Co., 111., 
where he purchased a farm, which he continued to 
manage there with good success until 1878. In due 
time he became, through his intelligence, honesty, 
and industrj', one of the influential and wealthy 
citizens of the eonntj', which high and honorable 
position he still maintains. In 1878 he removed 
with his wife and children to the village of Deer- 
field, where he has since been engaged in the loan 
and real-estate business. Mis worthy and devoted 
companion departed this life in 1880. .She was a 
sincere Christian, and a member of the Evangeli- 
cal Church, as is also her husband. To them had 
been born nine children, of whom six are living: 
Saloma, Mrs. M. Knapp; Mary, Mrs. G. Miller; Mag- 
gie, Mrs. R. Brush; Sarah, Mrs. H. Plagge; Carrie 
Mrs. C. Kiest; and the subject of this sketch. The 
father gave to these children a fine education. 

Prof. Fritch remained on his.father's farm until 
he was eighteen years of age, receiving in the 
meantime a substantial foundation for an education 
in the district school. At that age his father sent him 
to Naperville College for two years, and thence he 
was sent to the State Normal University at Nor- 
mal, McLean Co., 111., where he studied for over 
two years. Then, his superior scholarshii) gaining 
for him the approval of the authorities of the I 



institution, he was asked to become a teacher in the 
College of Commerce, at that time connected with 
the university, while still continuing to be a stu- 
dent in the Normal Department. He availed him- 
self of this privilege, taught there one year, and 
was also engaged in teaching in his vacations, and 
was graduated from the university in 1882. Sub- 
sequently he studied penmanship witli Prof. D. L. 
Musselraan at Quincy, 111., in the Glen City Busi- 
ness College. He afterward went from Blooming- 
ton to the <^uinc3' Business College, took a course 
in penmanship, was graduated in November, 1882, 
and continued there in charge of the Department 
of Penmanship until the hist of February, 1883. 
From there lie went to St. Louis to teach book- 
keeping in Johnson's Commercial College three 
hours each day, and the remainder of the time he 
was engaged as ari expert book-keeper in opening 
books and closing accounts for banking merchants 
and in railway offices. He remained in St. Louis 
until Ma}' 1, 1885, and then came to Wichita for 
the purpose of establishing a commercial school, 
and on the 8th of June opened the Southwestern 
Business College to the public. His success has been 
unequaled, and his school has steadily gained in 
favor; for the first year 230 pupils were enrolled, 
and the next year the number had increased to 4.52. 
Our subject was united in marriage, in 1887, to 
Miss Beulah M. Miller, of Phihidelphia, Pa., a daugh- 
ter of Daniel Miller. Their pleasant residence is 
on the corner of Hydraulic and Hunter avenues. 
The Professor's office is in Noljle Block. He has 
also been financially successful since making his home 
in this metropolis, and is now a stockholder in the 
Texas Lumbering and Manufacturing Company, of 
Wichita, besides owning other property. In poli- 
tics he is a Repul)lican. 



AM FS A. NOBLE, an intelligent and pros- 
perous farmer and stock-raiser on section 21, 
town 29, range 2 e:xst, Rockford Township, 
was born in Fayette County, Ind., Oct. 13, 
1843. His parents, John and FMeanor (Darter) 
Noble, were both natives of Indiana, and did their 
full share in advancing the prosperity of their na 



i 



■•► 



I 



■m^4^ 



•► a-^* 



«I:|h;\\ KK COINTY. 



• r wu a tanner I 

ifii I fi.iliiuiii- ili:it iiccuimtiou for :i fi» Wiir-, 
tiimoil liis ntU-ntion U> n};riciiltiire ami liccamc a 
\tTV siuTossfiil tiller ot the 8i»il. IIi- whs ft stnmg 
Alxilitioiiist mill warmly ndviK'ntcrt the cniiM; of the 
o|i|ires.so(l, hi'iii}; in full .tyinpathy tvitlistich lca<k'n< 
i>{ the aiiti->lnvery nioveiiieiit iis William Lloyl 
('•arrisiMi, .lohii Hruwn, ami others. All of his phil- 
iiiithropic Works were seconded l>v his wife, who 
was in hearty accord with his efforts to elevate so- 
ciety, and in her death, which occurred in March. 
Ih7.5. he lost a true helpmate. Mr. Noble survived 
her until .Ian. 1. IHH4, when he t<M> peacefully 
j»assed away. To them had heen liorn a family of 
eight children, live of whom are now living. 

The subject of this sketch [Vissed his early life 
in his native .State, receivinga good common-school 
e<lucation, and lieing trained in the duties incidental 
to farm life. On the breaking out of the late Civil 
War he enlisted in the defense of his country, in 
C'oiniMiny I). 34th Indiana Veteran Volunteers, and 
served three continuous years, being an actor in 
the following engagements: New .Madrid, Island 
No. 10, Ft. Pillow, Memphis, Tenn., siege of 
Vieksburg, .lackson. Miss., Opelousas, Carenerow, 
Bayou .Sabine. Cross-Roads and I'lcasanl Hill. 

Mr. Noble was married at Tipton, Ind., March 
2;j, I.SOS, U) Miss Martini .M., daughter of William 
and Louisii (Askren) Uoliins(jn. natives of Ohio. 
They removed to Indiana in 18.")4 and located in 
Tipton County, where he en^'.-igcd in farming until 
his death in IKUI. Mrs. Hobinson died May IG, 
1«H7, in Kansas, where she had lived the previous 
si.xtcen years. 

Our subject came t'O Kansas in IkC.'.i and located 
in Howard (n<jw KIk) County, where he lived live 
years. Then disposing of his pro|)erty in that lo- 
cality he returned with his family to his native 
SU'il*', where, in Madi.son County, he iiought a tract 
of forest laml from which he improved a farm, 
n-inaining there several years. Kut Kansas, how- 
ever, still had attractions for him, an<l in February, 
I sx.'i. he sohl out and again left Indiana for this 
land of promise, this lime.selecting.'v'dgwick County 
as liiA location, and bought the farm where he now 
livi's. His active industry and good management 
are apparent to the observer, who can see in his 



"lUtlllcd soil, Ane orchards, and fruitful garden, 
evidences of the labor l>o«itowed on them. liesldes 
attending to the cultivation of his land, our sulijeei 
raises nwny line graded cattle, and kee|>s si large 
stock of mules. 

Mr. Noble, though a comparatively new-comer 
here, has identilled himself with the interests of the 
township, and es|)ecially in educational affairs, realis- 
ing that the future pros|)erity of the .State will be 
in the hands of the rising generation, and it must 
be fitted for the res|H)nsible position it is smjn to 
occupy. He has servcil as Clerk of School District 
No. 12;'!, of Hoekford Township. In politics Mr. 
Noble is a stanch Uepublicnn, and works for the 
interests of that party, believing firmly in its prin- 
ciples. 

Mr. and Mrs. Noble have no children of their 
own. but out «jf kindness of their hearts, and to add 
comfort and brightness to their home, they have 
adopted a daughter, Mary Viola, and she, with the 
excellent wife of our subject, is a mendier of the 
Methodist Church, at RockfonI CenU-r. 

\f; AC015 .MAHANNAH. in possession of a fine 
homestead on section 23, in I'ark Township, 
and a view of which we take pleasure in pre- 
' senling in this connection, came overland 
from Macon County, III., in IH'l, the journey <k'- 
cupying five or six weeks. From a very small 
beginning, with little means, and all kimls of em- 
barrassments, he has made his way steadily' upwani, 
and is now the owner of 3H0 acres in one body in 
.Sedgwick County, besides eighty acres in Tratt 
County. He makes a specialty of stock-raisin;;, 
keeping a fine herd of 300 head of cjittle. a stable 
of excellent lioi-ses for general farm purposes, and 
in all resiR'cts presents the picture of .-i go-ahead 
and enterprising man, who is reaping the reward of 
his early toils and ililllcidties. ami is now sur- 
rounded by all the comforts and many of liie lux- 
uries of life. 

Our subject wils born in Washington County. I'a., 
June I, IH3tl, and is the son of ISenjamin and Han- 
nah (I'lery) Mahannah, who were also natives of 
the Keystone .Stale. From there, about 1841, they 



■•►■ -4« 



•► y ^«' 






SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



541 ' ' 



removed to Knox County, Ohio, and from the 
Biu;ke3-e State a few years later, to Macon Count}', 
111., where thej' spent their l;ist years, and died at a 
ripe old age. Their ten children consisted of seven 
sons and three daughters, all of whom, with two 
exce]>tions, are still living, one brother having been 
drowned in the Arkansas River in this State, and 
Stephen, who died in Julj\ 1887. 

Jacob Mahannah, who was the fiftli child of his 
parents, was but a little lad when they removed 
from his native State to Ohio, and fourteen years of 
age when they took up their residence in Macon 
County, III. He received but limited school ad- 
vantages, .and early in life became fully acquainted 
with the various employments of the farm, where 
he remained until reaching his majority. While a 
resident of Macon Count}', 111., be was married, Oct. 
31, 1862, to Miss Sarah J. Ilartman, who was a 
native of Piqua County, Ohio, and born Aug. 22, 
1846. 

Mrs. Mahannah is the daugliter of Valentine and 
Mary Ilartman, who removed from Ohio to Illinois 
with their family, and settled in Macon County. 
After their marriage our subject and his wife 
commenced housekeeping on rented land in Macon 
Count}', 111., where they continued to live until 
1871, and then determining to cross the Mississippi, 
made their way to this county, as we have already 
stated. Mr. Mahannah rented land in the northern 
part of Park Township the first year, and the next, 
in 1872, piirehiused a part of his present farm from 
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. 
He beg.'in in a manner commensurate with his means, 
making it a rule to live within his income, and was 
careful in his expenditures. The result is what the 
passing traveler now observes in the beautiful and 
valuable homestead, which is one of the most notice- 
able points of attraction in the landscape of Park 
Township. 

The household of our subject and his wife was 
brightened by the birth of six children, namely: 
Hcujamin Franklin, Duward B., Chester A., Mary 
II., Mattie J. and Grace L.. none of whom, as yet, 
have left the home nest. Mr. Mahannah uniformly 
votes the straight Democratic ticket, and takes a 
lively interest in all matters pertaining to the growth 
and prosperity of his adopted county. 



RSON B. CLARK. The history of this gen- 
tleman, who is one of the leading farmers of 
Delano Township, is a forcible illustration of 
the exercise of perseverance and resolution under 
the pressure of fin.ancial disaster as well as amid the 
sunshine of prosperity. His ample possessions com- 
prise 560 acres of land on section 14, and his home- 
stead, with its appurtenances, forms one of the most 
attractive features of the landscape. He makes a 
spet^ialty of stock-raising, and his fat herds comprise 
some of the finest animals in Southern Kansas. 

The Empire State has furnished Sedgwick County 
with ni;iny enterprising men, and within its confines 
our subject first opened his eyes to the light, having 
l)een born in Onondaga County, July 28, 18.32. 
His father, Alvin Clark, was born in Connecticut, 
and his mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Jane 
M. Spencer, was born in Onondaga County. N. Y. 
The paternal grandfather, Bcamont Clark, Jr., was 
the sou of Beamont Clark, Sr., who was the son of 
Nathaniel Clark, and the latter was the son of Maj. 
John Clark. This last-named gentleman, who was 
of English birth and parentage, crossed the Atlantic 
about I6;J6 in company with the colony which 
sailed under the patronage of three English 
Lords, namely : Say, Seal and Brook, who estab- 
lished a colony on the west bank of the Connecticut 
River, near its confluence witli Long Island Sound. 
When assuming the dignity of a town the place was 
called Saybrook after two of the aforesaid Lords. 

Tlie personal history of Maj. John, Nathaniel and 
Beamont Clark, Sr., has been lost to their (josterity. 
Beamont Clark, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Saybrook, in November, 17G2. He 
learned the trade of shi[) carpenter, and during the 
Revolutionary War was drafted into the army. He 
subsequently became a sea Captain, coasting from 
Boston to New Orleans, but made his home in Say- 
brook, where he was married and where his son 
Alvin, the father of our subject, was born, Nov. 
1 3, 1 798. Grandfather Clark became very wealthy, 
and Alvin received all the advantages which money 
could i)rocuro. Ho was highly educated, becoming 
familiar witli the dead languages and the higher 
mathematics. He labored very little during his 
youth and e.arly manhood, excepting during the 
haying season, as the grass when cut h.ad to be rap- 



t 



'' :,u 



SEinaVK K CULMY. 



iillv rcinovwl from the flolcl in order to escn|M> the 
ti"l<'. Thi'ii all hiiiiil.H jiiiiHMl tlie ft)rfc of hny- 
iiinkem, evory nble-l)iHlie<l iiitiii win» could iimke 
hitn.ielf ii.Hofiil U'inj; prcssoil iiilu the service. 

drunilfnlher C'Inrk wils luutK-iiiteil in |mrliier»hi|) 
with n lirolher-iii-Jnu' in the c-oti-stin;; triult', nml lliey 
fiillowvd the M'li niternntely, one reinninin;,' iit home 
«vhile the other innde tlie liip. Tlie lirotlier-in-lnw 
on hiit last voyii;;e it i.s stipixKieil went down with 
the ship, whieh left C'iiarle«lon, S. C, luid with its 
carj'o nnd erew wiia never nflerwiinl lieurd from. 
The ve.sM'l re[)rfSented the j;reiiter part of the 
weidlli of lieninont Clark, .)r., .'ind tlins the j.'ntnd- 
fatlier of our .suhjecl lieeanie liankrupl, even beint; 
oblifjeil to f,'ive up his lioniestead in Saybrook. 

Alvin Clark by the misfortune of his father wa.s 
thus suddenly thrown u|Hin his own resources, lie 
was then but nineteen years old and immediately 
einifjrated to .Syracuse, N. V., where he engaged in 
leaching for .-i lime but .subseipiently invested the 
little means he posse.vsed in the salt busini^sii in 
company with .-i partner. Owing to the rascality 
of the latter he lost what little he ha<l, and sulise- 
ipiently became the employe of his brother, who had 
nls4) in the meantime made his way to Syracuse and 
cngageil in the lumber trade. The sail business of 
Alvin necessiuiteii the use of a great many barrels 
and the falher also li.ad removed to this point and 
started up a coojier shop. This latter proved quite 
profitable. Alvin after losing his properly then 
learned the cooper's trade, at which he succeeded, 
and in due time found himself u|Hin his feet again. 

The father of our subject after becoming a resi- 
dent of .Syracuse was united in marriage with Miss 
I'olly Hiley, on the i!7lli of November, IH-J-J. This 
marriage resulUil in the birth of three children, two 
of whom are still living. Mrs. Helen M. Francisco, 
the oMesl half-sister of our subject, is a resident of 
Warren, .lo Daviess C»>., 111., nnd the mother of ten 
children. The other half-sister, .Mrs. Mary Pifer, 
is a resident of Syracuse, N. Y., ami has no chil- 
dren. 'I'he mother died at her home in .Syracu.se, 

N. Y the lOth of April, I«2m. Alvin Clark 

was inarrie<l the second time, .June 2M, l«i!1, to 
Mrs. .lane .\I. (Spencer) Hair, and of llii.s marriage 
there were born four children, of whom our subject 
was the second in order of birth. 



William L. Clark, the eldest l>rothcr of uur sub- 
ject, was born Aug. H. 1K30, married .Miss .liilia 
.lackson, of Tabor. Iowa, and came to his death on 
the l.'llli of March. 1 H.I", by the falling of a tree u|Min 
him at his home in Talior, Iowa; he left one child. 
Lucy .1., born Oct. lin, 1K34, became the wife of 
Harvey Austin, and died at her home in Tabor. 
Iowa, Aug. 20, 1 H7 1, lonviiigsix children. Chancy 
I-., born .May 17. IHSH, married Miss Kllen S. Ly- 
m.nii, and lives at I'abor, Iowa; they have four 
children. 

In IH,! t Heamont Clark. Jr.. left New York .Slate 
and Mioved to the vicinity of (irass I,akc, .Mich., 
where he eiigagetl in farming, until by the accu- 
mulation of years he w:is obliged lo abandon active 
labor. Ills death occurred on the 2d of October. 
IN.">7. Ilisson Alvin. the falher of our subjt'ct, 
moved to (irass Lake. .Mich., in \HM;, when Orson 
IJ. of our sketch was between Ihrec and four years 
of age. They were comparatively wiihoiil means, 
and the falher, leaving his family on a farm, em- 
ployeil himself at whatever he could find to do to 
increa.se the income, some of the lime teaching and 
once receiving the appointment of Inspector of the 
.State I'enilentiary ;it a fair salary. lie also served 
as County Cimimissioner and was Ihe means of pre- 
venting the county being swimlled in the building 
of a j:iil. lie served ;is .luslice of the Peace thir- 
teen years, and in l.s.'iO took the census of .lackson 
Coimly. 

.Mrs. .lane .M. Clark, the mother of our subject, 
departed this life at (!rass Lake, Mich., on the 23d 
of .luly, ISO I. Alvin Clark was the liiird time 
married, on the 7lh of ,Ianuary, 1M('(2. Of this 
latter union there were no chililren. The father of 
our subject about 1803 sold his farm and removed 
lo the village of (Jra.ss Lake, and from there a year 
later to (Jalesburg, Mich., where he purchased an 
inleresl in a llouring-mill. This he o|K-rated about 
two years, then sold out and removeil to Warren, 
III., where his de.-ilh oc<-urred on the 2nili of .binu- 
ary. 1^7.'). 

Oi-son It. Clark made the most of his op|M>rluuilies 
during his boyhoo<l and early youth in .bickson 
County, .Mich., and received a teacher's certillcale 
upon leaving the district scIiimiI. Me subsequently 
attended an acudumy two terms, but not caring to 



■» M^^ 



1l-4»- 



•i^i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



643 



follow the profession of a teacher made his way to 
Fremont County, Iowa, where he entered 200 acres 
of land, paying to the Government $1.25 per acre 
in money which he had himself earned. Eight 
months later he returned to INIichigan, where he w.as 
employed for a time as a farm laborer and finally 
rented the old homestead. To this he brought a 
bride in the early part of 1859, having been mar- 
ried January 27, at Gr.TSS Lake, to Miss Abbie K. 
Judson. The young people continued in Michigan 
about eighteen months, then removed to their own 
farm in Tabor, Iowa, where our subject engaged 
successfully in agriculture and stock-raising, and 
invested his surplus capital in additional land 
until he became the owner of 040 acres. 

Mr. Clark eventually lost his entire property hj- 
unfortunate dealings in stock and b3^ signing notes 
for friends. He came to Kansas in October, 1875, 
and started anew on rented land in Delano Town- 
ship, upon which he operated five years with the 
privilege of bu3'iug, and which he now owns. This 
venture proved ver^- successful, and he once more 
became the owner of a whole section, eighty acres 
of which he has since sold at the good round sum 
of $250 per acre. His farm ranks second to none 
in Delano Township, and is situated in the out- 
skirts of Wichita, the "Wonder of the West," a city 
which for its age contains a greater number of 
inhabitants than an^" other west of the Mississippi. 
The homestead of our subject, a view of which we 
give, is noticeable for its neat and substantial build- 
ings, and his live stock includes graded Short-horn 
cattle and Percheron horses. 

Mrs. Abbie E. Clark, the wife of our subject, was 
born April 30, 1841, in Oneida County, N. Y., and 
is the daughter -of Charles and Louise (Noreott) 
Judson, who were natives of Westmoreland, N. Y., 
and Lee, Mass. Her father was the youngest of 
four children, and was born Dec. 2, 1810. The 
mother was born June 10, 1817. They were mar- 
ried in Westmoreland, on the 24th of June, 1835. 
Mr. Judson was a farmer by occupation, and re- 
moved to Michigan in 1851. He carried on farming 
in Jackson County a number of years, but with his 
excellent wife is now living retired in the city of 
Detroit. Their family- included six children, four 
r living, namely: Clarinda, born April 15, 1830; 



Henrietta. July 10, 1839; Abbie E., Mrs. Clark; 
Mary Kirtland, born April 7, 1843; Henry Clay, 
Jan. 20, 1845; Julia Gridley, Aug. 31, 1847, .and 
Charles Kirtland, March 1, 1859. They are resi- 
dents mostly of Michigan. 

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Clark, Noadiah 
Judson, was born in Woodbury, Conn., Oct. 18, 
1703, and served as a Captain in the War of 1812. 
It is also believed that he carried a musket in the 
Revolutionary War. He was married, on the 14lh 
of February, 1800, in Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., 
to Miss Clarinda Kirtland, who was born in .Sa^'- 
brook, Conn., Sept. 10, 1773. Grandfather Judson 
de|)arted this life in Verona, N. Y., Oct. 2, 1857. 
His wife Clarinda had preceded him to the silent 
land, her death taking place in Westmoreland, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., on the 3d of July, 1843. 

Mr. and Mrs. Orson B. Clark became the parents 
of seven children. Their eldest, a daughter, Etta 
M., was born in Iowa, June 19, 1802, and became 
the wife of Alvin lies, who is engaged in railroad- 
ing at Et. Dodge, Kan.; the}' have no children. 
Charles A. w.is born Jan. 9, 1804; Albert B., Sept. 
9, 1805; Sarah L., born March 29, 1807, married 
Judson Shreve ; Orson B., Jr., was born Jan 9, 1873 ; 
Abbie J., April 7, 1875, and Cora II., July 8, 1877. 
The father of Mr. Clark was a stanch member of 
the old Whig part}-, and Orson B., in consonance 
with his early teachings, alliliates with the Repub- 
licans. He cast his first I'residential vote for John 
C. Fremont. He has served for the last three years 
as Township Treasurer, and nothing pleases him 
better than to note the rapid growth and develop- 
ment of Sedgwick County. 



iht^ ARKUS SCHAEFER is among the promi- 
/// i\\ '1'^"'' '*'"' leading German citizens of Attica 
I 1^ Township, and is one of the largest land- 
91 holilers in Sedgwick Count}', as he has a 

farm of 1,105 acres of highly fertile arable land. 
Ilis residence, which stands upon section 9, is one 
of the best and handsomest in the locality, and is 
surrounded by neat, large and substJintial barns 
and other out-buildings. He is a native of Prussia, 



t 



ii 



-4»- 



:>44 



sKlXiWKK COrNTV 



n 



<it'riii...... A|>ril U, l-... i .- ilio M>ii of 

Anton !in<l CiilluM-ini' ( Npn<l») SclmcftT, wImi :iic 
iilso ntitiM-.-< of tlint i-<iiiiitry. 

(hir .siilijj'fl wns n-nroil ii|><(n n fsirin in llic FalliiT- 
IhmiI, iinil riH'i'ivi'il Imt n liniili'ii cclncMtion ii' his 
Voiilh, iisoirfiunxliiMfi't iliil not pcrmil of his atlrml- 
in;; M'h«)ol n-jfiihtrly. Onntlriinin;: tlic ii^^t' of niim- 
hood, Ijki- iill of till- I'm.-siaii youth, hi- .Hi'ivnl 
(ioMU- two yt'iirs in tin- !irniy, .'iftor whicli he if- 
tnrnc'il to iif^riciillui-nl |inrsuit!i. iliivin;,' nttnincd 
the i»j;e of thiit^'-six in iiis native l-ind, iiml finding' 
that lie h.'ul not i)ccunMii:iti'il nmch of this wdrhTs 
pxxls, lus it is fxtrtMnely ditlifiill to raise one's con- 
dition in tliat oppressed eountry. he <-aine to 
Ainerien to seek heneatli tlie folds of the stars anil 
.striiM'.s n home hetter suit4'il to hi> mind. The lirsl 
three years of his life in this country were sjK'nt in 
the Suite of .Michi<^aii, hut in 1 ^*.").') he removed 
to Dakota County, Minn., where he pre-empti'd 
1()0 .'icriM of l.'ind, and coinmencoil makini; a farm 
on the virj^iii soil of the North Stjir >>tale. lie 
made his home in the latter pl.'ice until 1>7I. 
when he sold out all his pro|>erty there, and 
nii)^rated with the ijfreat Mood of people who were 
lhron!;;ini{ to Kansas. On cuinin^c 'if'^' 1'^' 1""'- 
chiised his present farm, on which he has phu'ed all 
its present iinprovemonts. until to-day it is one of 
the hesl in the county. 

The suliject of our sketch was married, in .lanu.'iry, 
is.'i.'i, to Mi» Catherine Duffeii, liul there were no 
children to Mess this union, his wife dyin^ Aiil'. I, 
\X~2. His seconil niarriaj;e took pla<-e .Ian. 'iJ, 
IKT.'l, at which time he led to the marria^'e alLar 
.Miss .loanna Drexselus, a native of (iermany, who 
liecame the mother of two c-hihlren: Tonie, who 
w.M.s horn in Minnesot:i, Nov. 11,1 S7.'!, and Matthew, 
in Keliriiary, |M7f., in Kansas. Once more he wa.s 
lierefl hy ileatli of his heloved companion, .she 
dyiuf; .Inn. h, 1H«(), and upon the 22d of .lanuary, 
IHH4, he enl<'red into a m.itrimonial alliance with 
.Mi-s. Mary Smiu"»cli, /«v> Scisher^;. The laily of 
his choice is a milive of the Knipire of Austria, ami 
was liorn Ail^;. '.», 1 H:t;l. When shi- w:i.s about six- 
teen years of a;je she was united in marria;;e with 
\'incent .Smarsch, to whom she bore some (Ifteen 
children, oidy five of whom are now livinf;, as fol- 
lows: Kosa, the wife of I'jiiil Warner. !i resident 



of Wiehi;.. .:.. . , _ ... .;>.... . ....i.>lii|i. 

this county; .Mary, Mrs. William I'alk, n resident 
of Wichitji; Katie, who uinrried .lolin Simun, and 
makes her home in Cnioii Township; niid Tonic, a 
fanner of .'sherman 'I'ownship, this eount^'. 

Our suliject and his wife are Itoth sincere anil 
consislent memlicrsof the Koninn Catholic Church, 
lioth of them having' ni.-idu their confirmation vows 
when they were twelve ye;irs of n^v. In his poli- 
tics .Mr. Scli;iefer is ti sUinch l)cni<K;rat, and adheres 
to the principles formidated by that part^'. He is 
entirely a self-made man, beinjjf the only architect 
of Ins fortunes. Industry, enerjjy and economy 
.•ii-e his cardinal virtues, and have brou<;ht a nn-rited 
success l<i iTown his efforts. The genial, i;enerous 
and sociable ch.-iracler of both himself and wife 
have endeared them to all with whom they have 
come ill contact, anil they merit and receive in the 
hi'.;licsl di'i^ree the res|K'Cl and confidence of the 
community in which they live. 



ip^ KN.I.V.MI.N M.W .MAN. Amon^' the (irom. 

Vjif incut agriculliirist.s and pioneer i-itizens of 
/lJJ\]l| .Sedgwick County, who have ;issi»ted so 
%^y materially in the developiiienl of Wichita 
:iiiil the surrounding country, is Mr. Newman, a 
rcsideiil on sei-lioii 7, Keclii Township, lie was 
l.orn in Itiiciiie County, Wis., March .Ut, 1K.<}7, 
wliilc thai .Slate wius under Territorial jioveriimeiit. 
lie was the second child of his p.'irents, (Jeorge and 
riiielie (Smilh) Newman, who were natives of the 
Kiiipire Slate. 

The father of our subject was a. son of Shtibcl 
Newman; the mollier's name was Dibble; both 
were natives of New York. The •^niiidfather 
of our subject wius a veteran of the War of l.sr.'-l.'i, 
and for a second wife mnrried a sister of Col. 
ISackus, of the regular army, who held the post 
at Detroit .at the breaking out of the last war with 
Knglainl. and whose father wius killed at the battle 
of Sackett's Harbor. The father of our subject 
was engaged in farming in New York, and remov- 
ing to Ohio in lH.'t2, wiui one of the pioneers of the 
portion of the Buckeye St:ile where he settled. In 
IM.'Jil he again removed, this lime to the TerriLory 



-♦-•-^ 









SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



545 



of Wisconsin, where he was among the first settlers. 
Two years later lie settled in Cook County, III., 
where he remained until 1880. when he came to 
Kansas and settled in Kechi Township, section 8. 
He purchased 160 acres of improved land in that 
place, and 240 acres of railroad land on section 17, 
which was totally unimproved. He brought tiie 
property to a higli state of culture, and tiiere made 
his residence fov some time and then sold out, and 
is now living in Valley Center Township, this 
county. His excellent wife, the mother of ()ur 
subject, died in 180 1, and Mr. Newman was .-igain 
married in 1 865. 

The subject of this sketch received ills education 
in the district schools of Illinois and was earl}' 
initiated into farm labor. He remained at home, 
assisting his father in carrying on the labors on the 
familj- homestead, until Aug. 14, 1862, when, being 
filled with patriotism and a love of country, he en- 
listed in Company G, 88th Illinois Infantry, whicii 
was familiarly know as the 2d Chicago Board of 
Trade Regiment. He was mustered into the United 
States service at Chicago, and with the gallant 
regiment to which he was attached, participated in 
many battles and skirmishes which occurred in the 
Southwest, among which the principal were those 
at Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Franklin 
and N.ashville. After having been activelj' cng.iged 
in the entire campaigns of the Arm}' of the Cum- 
berland, he was honorably discharged at Nashville, 
Tenn., June 9, 1865, returned to Illinois and, like 
Cincinnatus, to his work of tilling the soil. 

The subject of this biography was married in 
New York, Sept. 29, 1868, to Miss Mary .]. Wight- 
man, a native of the Empire St;>te, born May 9 
1842, and the adopted child of the family of C. 1). 
and Sophia (Ishara) Wightnian, who were also 
natives of New York. After his marriage Mr. New- 
man settled on a farm in Illinois, but a year after 
removed to Wichita, driving his team all the way 
from Chicago, and was on the road some five 
weeks. On his .arrival in the former city in 1870, 
he found it but a small place, which at that day 
gave but little promise of so soon developing into 
the large and magnificent city whicli it is at pres- 
ent. He was eng.aged in teaming in the town for a 
number of j'ears. and during the first year of his 



residence here erected the lirst (hvelling on Law- 
rence avenue. In 188.5 he purchrused eighty acres 
of improved Land on section 7, to which he removed 
and commenced its cultivation. The f.arm is pleas- 
antly situated on the Little Arkansas River, which 
affords an amjjly supply of water for all stock pur- 
poses .and for irrigation. The iui|)rovements upon 
his place are of a comfortable and substantial char- 
acter, and it is well stocked with good horses and 
high-grade Durham cattle. 

To Mr. and Sirs. Newman have been born a 
family of four children, as follows: Wightman, who 
died at the age of eight years, Jan. 18, 1877; Emma 
L., William R. and Benjamin R.aymond. The lat- 
tei' thiee ai'e at home with their parents, and in 
attendance at the district school. Our subject is a 
Republican in his polities, and takes an active part 
in the local campaigns and work of that party. He 
is at present serving as School Director, and while 
a resident of Wichita filled the ollice of Street 
Commissioner f(>r two years. As a relic of the 
late war, he has in his possession a rebel flag whicli 
belonged to Gen. Hardee's corps, upon which is 
l)ainted the names of the battles of Shiloli, Perry- 
ville, Murfreesboro, Ringgold Gap and Chicka- 
mauga. 



JAMES FARROW, who is numbered among 
the early settlers of Grant Township, has 
assisted materially in the development of its 
agricultural resources, and is one of its most 
prosperous farmers and stock-raisers, giving especial 
attention to the latter industry. His land is finely 
improved, and he handles good grades of horses, 
cattle and swine, exhibiting some of the best speci- 
mens of these to be found in the northern part of 
the county. In the meantime, while tilling the soil 
and looking after his personal interests, he has also 
contributed his quota to the general welfare of the 
people around him, assisting in the establishment of 
schools, of whicli he has been a Director in his dis- 
trict for a number of 3'ears. He iissisted in organ- 
izing the district, and was instrumental in securing 
the present creditable school building. He keeps 
himself well posted upon current events, and occu- 
pies a good position both socially and financialh' 



T^ 



t 



■^•i 



-L. 



i4r, 



SKOnwiCK COUNTY. 



ninoii^ his nciRhlMirs. He ist n Democmt of pro- 
iiiiiiiK'tMl vir\v.«, (till cliorishos n hoiillliy CDiiifinpl 
fur tlic <>tllco-sopk<T. mill \ms fhoM'ii to iii.'ikc liin)- 
.solf iHoftll ill his own (|iii)'tMnil iinolitnisivc in:uiiier 
as n priv.'iU' citizi-ii. 

Mr. Farrnw first o|iencil his iiifftiil oyt's in Lick- 
ing C'diiiily, Ohio, his hirth Inking pince Dec. I, 
ix:t2. Iltf iviLs the rldcsl i-hiltl of liis parents, whose 
nnion oonstitntcd tlie second murri.-Lgc of each, nnd 
«vhose united families comprised seven chihiren. 
The father, William I'arrow liy name, was a native 
of New .Jersey, and the mother, who in lier girllmod 
w!is .Miss Susan Larimore, was horn in Virjjinia. 
William Farrow u|>on leavinjj liis native Slate 
located in Lickiiii; (.'onnly, Ohio, whence he emi- 
•jraloil a few years later to Illinois, where he 
settled anionj^ the early pioneers of Tazewell 
County. There lie also carried on <l;iirying in con- 
nection with farming, and died in the spring of 
ISCH, when ai)out sixty j-ears of :ige. The mother 
survived her hnshand ten years, her death taking 
place at the old homestead in 1878. 

.lames Farrow received simply the advantages of 
a comnion-sch(»ol education, and was content with 
the employments of a farmer'.s life, lie grew to 
manho<nl in Tazew-ell County, 111., anil w.as there 
married, April .">, 18.5.'), to Miss Charlotte llanison, 
who was horn in Tazewell County. III., .June 11, 
1m;u;, and was the seventh of the fourteen children 
who cf>mprised the family of .lames and Christina 
(I'epers) llanison. natives res|)ectively of Ohio and 
Maryland. The paternal grandpareiiLs, .loliii and 
Kiii'iiiila llanison, were natives of Ohio, and on her 
mother's side the grandparents of Mrs. Farrow were 
Frederick and Deliorah I'epers, natives f>f Mary- 
land. Both families removed to the Buckeye SUitc 
during its early settlement. 

Our snhjecl, after his marriage, located on a farm 
In Tazewell County, III., where he remained several 
years, and then removeil to a farm in McLean 
County, where he continued until coming to this 
StJite. lie made his advent into this county in 
March, IhTi'i, and purcha.xeil a quarter of section lU, 
in Oiaiit Township, to which he has since given his 
time and attention, and transformed it rrom an un- 
cultivated tract into fine and fertile (lelils, enclosed 
with tteautifiil hedge fencing, and emiiellished with 



good buildings. His live stock includea ^^mmI 
grades of liors«\H, cattle and I'lihiud-China swine. 

To our sulijecl .and his wife tlieif h;ive been 
liorii seven children, of whom one, a little daugh- 
ter, I^iiii-a, dicci wlienaliout two years of .-ige. The 
six surviving were named res|>ectively : William 
Allen, Mary Caroline, Charles .S., Lilly F.., .lames 
Filwiii and Benjamin Franklin. William A. is an em- 
ploye of the KansiLs City A- St. .Joseph Itailroad, and 
is located ill Kansas City: Mary ('., Mrs. IlatHeM, 
is a resident of Wichita. The others remain at 
home with their parents the two younger fttt4'nding 
the district .■school. Lilly Iv was a student for some 
time of the High School at Wichita. 

The Farrow farm is finely located ahoiil five 
miles from Valley Center, and is the object of ad- 
miration by the traveler passing through this sec- 
tion of country. 



ELISIIA IH(JNS, a jiioneerof Sedgwick Coun- 
ty, is an estimable citizen of Kagle Town- 
ship, where he is engaged in farming and 
stock-raising on section 4. By his energetic and 
|iersistent labors he has redeemed a good farm from 
the wild jirairie land of the Arkansas Uiver Valley, 
and in doing this he has also materially assisted in 
developing .Sedgwick County, and has added to its 
prosperity, lie is a native of Warwickshire, Va\- 
gland, and was born March 8, 1 8;!lt. The pai-ents 
of our subject were .lohn and .lohanna (^'an) Irons, 
natives of Kiigland. His father was reared as a 
farmer, and in his native country was what is there 
known as a f;iriii bailiff, one who has charge of an- 
other's place. He was an estimable, honest man, 
and with his worthy wife, was a member of the sect 
called I'lyinouth Brethren, and was a preacher and 
an expounder of the (!ospel to his fellow-members 
for many years while he remained a resident of Kn- 
glanil. He and his wife came to the I'nited Stales 
in ISC'.l, and located in Benton County, Iowa, 
where they lived until they came to make their 
home with their son Klisha in this county during 
the last years of their lives. The father died Sept. 
I :t, 1871, aged sixty-two, and now lies iieacefully 
sleeping his last sleep in the little cemetery on his 



•►■.-4« 



t 



♦-•-^ 




SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



ii7 



son's farm. The mother died July 7, 1887, aged 
sixty-three, and is resting in Pleasant ^■alley Ceme- 
tery, in Eagle Towiisiiij). To them were liorn seven 
sons and three daughters, namely: William, Jona- 
than, Elislia, Edward, Jane and Thomas (twins). 
John, Sarah, Ann and Samuel. Sarah died at sev- 
enteen years of age; Jonathan when nineteen, .-md 
William when twenty -seven ; Thomas died in in- 
fancy ; Jane was married in Ililmorton, Warwick- 
shire, England, to Thomas Musson. They came in 
June, 1883, to the United States, first locating in 
Eagle Township, and living there until 1886, when 
she went to Wichita to keep house for Mr. Uiffen- 
liaugh, and w.as thus engaged until her death, which 
occurred in April, 1887. She was the mother of 
three daughters — Katie, Annie and Alice. Katie 
married Jacob Auxhurst, a real-estate agent of 
Wichita. 

Elisha Irons, of this sketch, remained at home with 
his parents until he was twenty-one, sometimes 
working out, and finally apprenticing himself to 
learn the shoemaker's tr.adc, serving for two years; 
the succeeding two years he engaged in it for 
himself. He then entered the British marine serv- 
ice as a gunner, and was thus engaged for six 
and one-half years, four years being spent at the 
Australian station. He was then incapacitated for 
further service, and retired with a pension, which he 
continued to receive while he remained a citizen 
of Old England. 

After he left the marine service our subject was 
married. May 10, 1867, to Miss Susanna, daughter 
of Joseph and jMary Williams, and soon after came 
with his newly-made wife to the United States, locat- 
ing first in Benton County, Iowa, where he engaged 
in farming until 1870. In the fall of that year he 
decided to come to Kansas, and when he arrived in 
this State he took up a homestead claim on the 
northeast quarter of section 4, and since that time 
he lias been actively engaged in tilling the soil and 
in raising stock, generally keeping about fifty head 
of cross-graded cattle, for which he finds a good 
market when he desires to sell them. He has erected 
comfortable buildings, and has everything in a good 
condition. 

The wife of our subject, who had crossed the 
waters with him from the old country, and had 



faithfullj' shared with him the trials of a pioneer 
life in a newly settled region, departed this life 
April .'), 1876, at the age of thirty -six, and now 
lies in the little cemetery on the farm, not far from 
the home which she assisted in building up. 

Mr. Irons was a second time married, Nov. 27, 
187(!, to Miss Charlottes. Burrill, a native of Bos- 
ton, Mass. When she was very young her parents 
moved to Delaware County, Iowa, and there she 
grew to womanhood. Her parents are still living 
in that county, and her father is engaged in farm- 
ing and carpentering. Mrs. Irons has made our 
subject an excellent wife, being wise in counsel and 
helpful in action. 

Mr. Irons has tiiken a conspicuous pjirt in the 
man.agement of township .affairs, and has held vari- 
ous local oflices, showing sound judgment and good 
administnitive abilities in his manner of discharg- 
ing his duties to the public. In polities he is de- 
voted to the interests of the Republican part3'. In 
religion he is an esteemed member of the Congre- 
gational Church, of Sedgwick, H.arvey County. 



ylLLIAM II. DWIGHT, M. D., w.as the 
second physician to locate in Mt. Hope, and 
is now the oldest in practice. He has a 
pleasant residence just outside the city limits. He 
is wide-awake and ever ready to promote the inter- 
ests of the community in which he lives. What- 
ever he undertakes he pushes through with char.ac- 
teristic energy and tact, and his hand is felt in 
every important movement, be it political or a public 
enteri)rise. Although still comparatively a N'oung 
man, he has achieved a brilliant success in his pro- 
fession, and has a large practice. He comes of 
honorable Puritan ancestry; the first of his name, 
John Dwight, who came to America, fled from his 
native countrj' in 1634 to avoid religious persecu- 
tion, and settled in Dedham, Mass., where he could 
worship (iod after his own heart. NotJible among 
his descendants of to-day is President Dwight, of 
Yale College. 

The father of our subject, Harrison Dwight, a 
farmer by occupation, was born in New York, 
April 16, 1817. He there grew to manhood and 



-4^ 






■•»-•-♦ 



^KIX^WKK CorN'IV 



Ut >>f livliJHIiilli aiiil MhIS v-'^'i''-°<''"0 i C <'lig>Uili, 

llif InlU-r a native of Soollaml. The C'oiifjdoii 
r-tinily wiTv friiiii l(n<k>ii, (ItTiiiany, wjieiico lliuy 
fiiiij.'raU'<l to Kii){luii<l, ami fntrii lliort- caiiie to tlie 
I'niU-tl Stiitcs many years apt. 'riieir itaiightfr, 
till- niuther tif «>iii- suliji-f-t, wius burn in Wasliinjjtnn 
('•.niily. N. Y., Marili '>. \s->\. IniniiMlialely afU-r 
marriage Mr. ami .Mr^. Dwi-^lit mnvcd lu In^'liani 
Ciiiinty, Mieh., where lie had previously |>iirciia.>ii-i| 
iaml. In IHoH In- »<>1<I his proiierty there, ami after 
l>a>>in;j a ffw miMitlis in New York retnrnetl to 
.Michigan ami ioeateil in Jack)*(>n County, where he 
cleareil a valualile farm from the forest; it contiiincrl 
ft half-section of land. In 18<<4 he removed with 
his family to t'ortlan<l County, N. Y., and there 
|>a.v>eil the remaimlcr of his life, lie was a man of 
rare I'uerjjy and sUihiiity, a line ty|«- of the manly 
men hardened liy the slrujrgie that has formed our 
National character, amlholh in Michigan and in his 
native Stiitc of New York he to<ik an active i):irt in 
pulilic affairs, and held the olllce of Justice of the 
I'eace. In |)olitics he was a strong Abolitionist, 
ami gave his earnest support to that party. The 
mother of our subject, a woman of good mental en- 
diiwments, who heartily sympathized with her hus- 
band in \n- advanced views, after his death came 
to Kansjis in 1H«:{. and made her homo with her 
son until her death, Dec. 27, lS8t;. 

Our subject wiis an only child, lie was born in 
Ingham County, Mich., Oct. 'JM, l(S.i2, during thn 
brief residence of his |Mirents in that county, lie 
w!Ls afterward educated in the public schools and 
academy of Cortland County. N. Y., attt-nding school 
winters and working on the farm in the summer, 
thus earning money enough to ])artly clothe himself 
and |my his ex|>enses at sch(»ol. At the age of 

twenty he taught school cme term, and then ( i- 

menced to read medicine with Dr. 'I'houiiLs Dwighl. 
of I'reston, N. Y., as preceptor, who was a distant 
relative, lie subsequently entered the College of 
Physicians and .Surgeons, .Symcuse I'niversity, in 
Ot'tober, I h7:{, and after pursuing a thorough and 
exhaustive course of stutly wa.s grailuat4-d from 
lliat institution in IHTC. After that he traveled for 
awhile, visiting the Centennial Kxposilion at I'liila- 
delphia and taking an extended lour in the South. 



..f hi.t profes- 
sion al lutluii, Madinuii Co., N. v., whence he re- 
moved til IJeaver .Meadow, remaining there until 
187 "J. 

|)r. I) wight w;i3 married to his amiable and a<-- 
complished wife, formerly Miss Frances A. (Irnves, 
Sept. 22, 1«7.'). She is an only daughter, and 
the eldest of the children Iwjrn to \\'ebster and 
Ik'tsy (Marsh) (inives, natives of New York. .She 
was burn in Cortland County, N. Y., April 27, 1857. 
Iler father was a blacksmith, l>ut subse<piently be- 
came a genenil agent f«»r Howe's .Sewing .Machine. 
He died in the SUite of New York. Oct. 7, 1887, at 
the .age of fifty-four. Mis widow is now living in 
Norwich, N. Y. Four children were born to her 
and her hiisb:ind, a* follows: Dell, a wholeside 
music dealer in Norwich, N. Y.; Willie, a dealer in 
sewing machines and a partner in the national 
View Com|tany; Lucius lives at home with his 
mother; Mrs. Dwight, the ehlest child and only 
daughter. Her union with our subject has been 
blessed by the birth of one daughter, Lottie Belle. 

Dr. Dwight foinnl his prospects were not very 
encouraging in Beaver Meadow, N. Y., ami in 
April, 187'.i, he started westward in search of a more 
promising location. He st<_>p|K?d a short time in 
Mi-ssouri, but the munth of May, 1879, found him 
at Mt. HoiK". He looked over adjacent territory, 
but found uo other place that suited him better in 
every respect than this town, .-uid decided to locate 
here, and on the Ith of .June, 1 879, estjd)lished him- 
.self in his profession at this point. He has steadily 
gained the eonfldence of the [Woplc in this and ad- 
jacent localities, and now ranks among the leading 
physicians of Sedgwick County. He is a member 
of the Kansas Southeastern Medical S<K-iely. an<l is 
ideiilifieil with several social organizations. He is 
a Uoyal Arch Mason, and Inis been M.isler of Frientl- 
ship Lodge No. 108, A. F. &. A. -M., at Haven, 
Reno County, still retaining his mcmliei-ship in that 
organization, and is one of the active workers in 
the fr.alernity. He also belongs to the K. of 1'., 
at Mt. Hope. When the Doctor came here the 
town wits in its infancy, not having been organized, 
and he afterward became one of its incor|K>r!itors. 
lie is a leader among the Uepublicans of this county, 
and is usually a tlelcgale to the |)ulilical conven- 



a-f*- 



"TS.^, 



l i 



^f 




T 

^ 



^- \ 







^^ 



4l-4»- 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



551 



tioiis ; in 1 886 be was a delegate to the State Conven- 
tion. He is very much interested in educational 
affairs, and is doing good work as a member of the 
School Board. He is also Notary Public. Although 
our subject takes such a prominent part in public 
affairs, the demands of his professional and other 
i)usiness, for he represents two insurance companies, 
will not admit of his holding |)ulili(' oflice other 
than the positions mentioned. 



'NDREW J. COOK, one of the honored 
pioneers of Sedgwick County, came to this 
State in 1870, and pre-empted 1 GO acres 
of land on section 14 in Wichita Town- 
ship. He has been particularly fortunate in his 
investments, and sold all his land but thirty-seven 
acres at a verj' high price, investing the proceeds in 
dwelling-houses in the center of the citj'. He carried 
on agriculture for a few years, but is now retired 
from active labor, and confines his attention to 
the investment of his capital and the collection of 
rents. 

Our subject, a genuine New Englander, was born 
among the hills of Berkshire County, Mass., on the 
17th of October, 1819. His parents, James and 
Lucy (Tolnian) Cook, were also natives of the 
Ba}' State, the father a marble-cutter, and one of 
the finest workmen in the State at that time. He 
accumulated a fine property, and then took a i)art- 
ner into his business, whose rascality involved the 
entire loss of the property of Mr. Cook. His last 
years were spent in Massachusetts. His death, how- 
ever, took place in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1827. The 
mother survived her husband a few 3'ears, when 
she too passed away, dying in Erie Count}', N. Y. 
She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian 
Church. The parental household included nine 
children, namely: Franklin, George, Aretia Erne- 
line, Lewis, P^liza A., Henr}', Andrew J., our sub- 
ject, and Perry (twins), and Charles. Andrew, in 
common with his brothers, lived on the farm and 
attended the common school, completing his studies 
in an institution near the city of Buffalo, N. Y. 
When eighteen years of age he emigrated to Ohio, 



Hh-O- 



in company with an elder brother, locating in Clarke 
County, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and 
followed tliis for some j-ears. Later he invented 
the first grain harvester ever brought to the notice 
of the public, and which was known as the Atlantic 
Grain Kiiker. This patent was issued Nov. 20, 
1846. He was, however, swindled out of his let- 
ters patent through the rascality of one Morgan, of 
New York Sfcitc, who is probably now enjoying the 
fruits of his ingenuity. Some time after he in- 
vented the first harvester to carry the binders. 
Mr. Cook also invented the Ledger Plates or Mower 
Guards. The proceeds of this, which would have 
been enormous, he was swindled out of by his 
attorney at Washington. These are still in use 
throughout the countr}-. He also invented the 
patent Dredge and Freight Boat, and the Electric 
Telegraph to run on railroad trains, with results 
similar to those before mentioned, and which is a 
story too often repeated in the annals of invention 
— other men having, in the majority of cases, 
reaped the pi'ofits of the brain which brought to 
the world its most useful machinery. 

Mr. Cook has just been granted a patent by the 
Department at AVashington for a rotary steam 
engine, wliich he will name the Monarch of the 
World. He is now experimenting on this impor- 
tant invention. 

Mr. Cook, while a resident of Ohio and when 
about twenty -seven years of age, was united in 
marriage, Nov. 24, 1846, with Miss Ann E. Ste- 
phens, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, and 
is the daughter of Dr. Robert E. Stephens, of 
Harrisburg, Pa., a man of fine education and a 
graduate of one of the Philadelphia colleges. He 
was born in Pennsylvania, in 1796, and after com- 
pleting his medical studies emigrated to Greene 
County, Ohio, where he practiced for a number of 
years, and where he died when thirty-nine years of 
age. His mother was a descendant of the famous 
Elder family, well known throughout Penns}-lvania 
as among its earliest settlers. The mother of Sirs. 
Cook was in her girlhood Miss Rhoda W. Cor}', 
who was born April 11,1 806, in Clarke County, Ohio, 
and was the daughter of Elnathau and Hannah (Jen- 
nings) Corj', who were of English and German 
ancestry respective!}-. She was married to Dr. Ste- 
••* 



I 

i 



-4^ 



5S2 



SRDCWIC'K forNFY, 



pliens Ort. I.'), 1824, and llii\v Vw'oaine tho imrfiiti* 
of ihri'C chililren — Klnatliuii M.. Ann K. .•iiid llini- 
iiali M. 

.Mi>. St^-ithi'iis, nftcr llir donlli of lirr liiisliainl. 
«n* iiKirricil, in isa;t. t<> Mr. Diiviil (.'rosj*, n inill- 
wriglit l>_v IriuU'. who \vn<t horn in Kiislorn Ohio in 
I«(t", iinil (lie<l in Ffhruary. IHH.I. Of i\m union 
tht-ri- WiTP ci^ht eliihiren liorn, Ihri-e of whom 
ilii-il in infancy. Ilnrry C. is ii n-sident of Kinpo- 
ria, Ihis SL-iIt-; SnniucI K. nnd .lani(>.s U. (twins) 
»»Tveil a» sohlicrs in th»- Union army diirin<; tlif 
hite war: the hitU-r was kilh-d at tlic Italtlo of He- 
sju'a, and Samuel is now in 'l'o|)oka. The other two 
brother?, Stephen and Tiiomiu', al.xo .-ierved in the 
I'ivil War, the latter having been n member of the 
4Uh Oliio Infantry: they are now in 'ro|H'ka. 
Miiry 1'. died at the age of twelve years. Mrs. 
Cross is still living, and has now arrived at tlie ad- 
vanced age of eighty-two years. She makes her 
home with her daughter in 'I'opeka. The maternal 
gninilfather of Mrs. Cook, David . I. Cory by name, 
was the son of the founder of the town of Finley, 
Ohio, where Daviil .1. spent liis ia.st years, and died 
there at the age of eighty -six. 

To our .Mibjecl and his wife there have been l)orn 
the following children: Helen K., Uobert S., Knima, 
William, KIn.-itlian C. and .Snniuel K. 

As one of the highly respecteil and useful citi- 
zens of this county, we take pleasure in presenting 
the [jortrait of .Mr. Cook in this volume. As a 
fitting companion picture we give by its side that 
t»f his estimalile wife. 

Vf A.MKS K. .sTKKLK. Tiie life of thi.s genlle- 
mnn, of I'ark Township, is a stiiking example 
of perseverance and industry. Ilrhas had a 
somewhat remarkable experience in his 
struggle with the w(jrld. In addition to coming tu 
this section of the country absolutely without 
means, he lost atU-r a brief residence here, by grsLss- 
hop|>ers, what little he had gathered together, and 
was forced to onumence over again. During th.nt 
jM-riofl he was forced to leave his farm, and employ 
himself ."it his trade of <'ftr|M-nler. leaving the liome- 



stoad ill' Ilia wife, in whose 

energy au'i i nui.i-'- u>- «.i~ particularly blessed. 
Mrs. .Steele while her husband wsis al>s<Mit from 
home at work, one winter ti«ik care of forty head 
of cattle and did a great deal of other heavy work 
in the storm ami cold. That seiuton, however, is 
happily pa.ssed, and both our suliject and his esti- 
mable wife are to-day enjoying the reward of their 
toils and hardships in the po.ssession of a handsome 
and comforlalile home, fn-e from wearying toil and 
anxiety. 

Mr. .Steele settled in Park Town.Nhip about I h"0, 
and homesteaded IGd acres of land which is in- 
cluded in his present farm, lie is a native of Den- 
mark and w;is i>orn Dec. 10. I.SJI. He was the 
only child of .Mr. ami Mi's. .Steele, the former of 
whom died in his native land when .lames K. was 
but an infant. The mother was marrieil a second 
time, and lives in Denmark. 

Young .Steele continued in his native Province 
until reaching manhood, being employed <ui a farni 
and serving ."in apprenticeship at the <'ar|>eiiter's 
trade. I'pon coming to the I'liited .States he spent 
a brief time in New York City, soon afterward 
making his way to LaSalle County, III., and worked 
at his trade in that vicinity and other parts of 
Northern Illinois until coming t4> this .StAtc, in 
1H70. He at that time hail no capital whatever, 
but continued :it his tratle, in connection with the 
cultivation of the land which he had homesteaded, 
until he could afford to give to the latter his entire 
time and attention. 

The progress of our subject toward .•securing a 
farm and the implements with which to openilc it — 
the buildings, machinery and stock — was slow but 
sure, and in due time he had a surplus capital which 
he wisely invested in additional land. He is now 
the owner of ."520 broad .icres which he has brought 
to a good stale of cultivation, and the homestead 
in all its appointments, presenting a.- it does the 
picture of ciunfort and plenty, is one of the most 
attractive spots in the landsca|)e of I'ark Township. 

The marriage of .lames K. .Steele and Mi.ss Anna 
.Macklcson was celebrated in Wichita. Feb. 1, 1H7I. 
Mrs. .Steele is a native of the same country as her 
husband, and came from Denmark to the I'liited 
.Stales .'done when a young lady. She hits one 



•►■-♦•- 



•^•-^ 



-ii~M- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



553 



lirother, John, liviiii;- in Colorado, but aside from 
him, is the only member of her family in America. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Steele there have been born 
three children — Harry, Ella and Dora. Mr. Steele 
votes the straight Republican ticket but takes little 
interest in politics, preferring to devote his time 
and attention to farming interests. He, however, 
is not unmindful of the good of society and the 
importance of sustaining religious and educational 
institutions. Both he and his excellent wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at 
Maize. Soon after they came to Park Township 
the first Sundaj- -school was organized in a "hay 
shanty" on the land taken up by Mr. Steele, and of 
this school he ofliciated as Superintendent for some 
time. The society was organized in the school- 
house near by. and Mr. Steele at that time identified 
himself with it. He has been a member of the 
District School Board for a period of seven 3'ears, 
and is one of the founders of Maize Academy. He 
has been a cheerful and liberal contributor botli to 
church and school, assisted in the erection of two 
ciiurciies and two parsonages and also the academy 
building. He ovvns two houses and lots in Maize, 
and is one of the Trustees of the academy. In all 
the other enterprises having for their object the 
advancement of the people and whicli tend to build 
up the reputation of his township, no man is more 
liberal in his donations or takes a more livelj' in- 
terest. 

R. HENRY C. TUCKER came to Kansas 
in the fall of 1871, and for a number of 
years was successfully engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession in Rockford Town- 
ship and vicinity. He has his residence in the 
village of Derbj^and is now practical!}' retired from 
the duties of his profession, but is running a flourish- 
ing drug-store and is also conducting a priv.atebank. 
Our subject is a native of Chester County, Pa., 
and was born Jan. 20, 1833. His parents, Jolm and 
Mary A. (McBridc) Tucker, were natives of the 
same locality, where the father carried on farming 
during his earlj- life and later removed to Tuscara- 
was County, Ohio, where his death took place in 1 856. 
John Tucker was a man of much force of character 
and served as a Lieutenant in the War of 1812-15. 



The mother is still living and a resident of Derliy, 
tliis county. The parents had been reared in the 
Quaker faith, but later identified themselves with the 
Lutheran Ciiurch. John Tucker was a Douglas 
Democrat, and stoutly maintiiined his early princi- 
ples until the close of his life. 

The children of Joiin and ISLary Tucker were: 
Henry C, our subject; Leah, Anthony W., John, 
Hannah, Mar}^ Susie and William M. Our subject 
was a little lad five years of age when his parents 
removed to Ohio, and his education was conducted 
in the common school of New Philadelphia and the 
academy at New Hagerstown, in Carroll County. 
From this latter institution he was graduated ic 
1854, and after teaching for a number of years com- 
menced reading medicine under the instruction of 
Dr. E. P. Buell,of New Philadelphia, with whom lie 
continued four years. Later he attended a course 
of lectures in the National Medical College, at 
Washington, D. C. 

Dr. Tucker began the practice of bis profession 
at Trenton, in Tuscarawas County, in ISfiO, remain- 
ing at home that year, and then removed to Uhrichs- 
ville, whence a ye.ar later he changed his residence 
to Gnadenhutten, in the same State, which remained 
his home from 1861 until 1871. In the meantime, 
during the Rebellion, he had served as Assistant 
Surgeon four months in the 161st Ohio Infantry. 
He removed from the Buckeye State to this county 
in the fall of 1871, and locating in Derby, which 
was then El Paso, gave his entire attention to his 
profession until his retirement, in 1886. 

Dr. Tucker, in April, 1886, established the privfite 
bank at Derby, which has become one of the indis- 
pensable institutions of the southeastern part of 
Sedgwick County. He is a stanch Republican 
politically, and held the oftice of Postmaster at Derby 
for a period of eight years. Dr. Tucker was married 
in Tuscaraw.as County, Ohio, on the 1st of July, 
1860, to Miss Mary J. Clark, who was born in that 
State, Sept. 30, 1835. Mrs. T. is the daughter of 
Justin and Mary (Minnich) Clark, who were natives 
of Connecticut, whence they emigrated to the West- 
ern Reserve in Ohio soon after tlieir marriage. They 
are now deceased. 

To our subject and his wife there has been born 
one child only, a daughter. Marietta, now the wife 






t 



SKI )(; WICK roiTNTY 



of K. L. li«iiUiii, n resident of Dcrliy, niiil ollUtitin^' 
iw cli'rk fur hi.H fatlicr-iii-lnw. Bolh Ihi- Dix-tor unci 
lii.s wife lire iiu'iiibem of the l*rf,Hliyterii»n Cliunli. 
Our Milijofl lii'loi);,'^ to the 'riiscaniwjw nnd Arkim- 
!<•».■* \'iilley Mi'tlii-nl AssiK-ialion-i. niul is iilson iin'ui- 
l>er of llie I'huriDnci'iiticiil As>oriulii>n of lliis Stnlo. 
Socially, li(> i.s itlciililU'il with tin* MiiMUiic fmtornity 
an.l tin- I. (). (). F. 



•^-^IIOMAS II. RANDALL. County Commis: 
f(^ tioiicr of ScdjjTwiok County, has ii heantiful 
'V^^ home amid the pleasant cnvironnioiiLs of 
Ml. Hope. lie is a pioneer t)f 1872, roniinjLt to 
this county in that year and talking np the north- 
east quarter of section iO.CJreele}' Township, under 
the provisions of the homestead net; sixt^' acres 
of that tract now form a part of the town site of 
Mt. IIo|H>. Mr. Randall was horn in Ch:impaign 
County. Ohio. Oct. 7. 1840. His grandfather. .lo- 
seph Randall, was a native of .Scotland, where he 
married. He sulisequenlly came to this country 
anil settled mi Virginia, where he reared seven sons 
and three daughters. His son, the Rev. Daniel Ran- 
<lall, the father of our suhject. when a young man 
left the parental home in \'irginia and migrated tt> 
Ohio, where lie made the acciuaintance of and mar- 
ried .lulia Fink, a daughter of Joel and Mary Fink. 
They were natives of Knglaiid and the parent-s of 
seven children, their daughter, Mrs. Randall, be- 
ing horn in I'rliana. Ohio. After marriage Dan- 
iel II. and .lulin Ran<lall settled in Ohio near her 
former home. Afterward they removed to Cl:irk 
County, 111., where Mr. Randall was acting as agent 
fur the American Hilile Six'iety. traveling in its 
iiilercst.s throughout that commonwealth. 

After a .sojourn of three years in the I'rairie 
Slate Rev. Daniel I^lndall returned with his fam- 
ily to his farm in the SUitc of Ohio, where he 
again resumed pulpit work as a regular minister in 
the .Methodist Kpi.scopal Church, preaching in the 
difTerent circuit>- of that SUtlc until the infirmities 
nf .'igc ohligeil him to give up his sacred calling, 
lie was universally beloved and esteemed, nnd 
throughout his long and successful miuislry made 
iiiany warm and l:isling friendships, and al his death 



M'VPnly-foiir. lie was sin- 
iiiiiy iiiiiuriii 'I i'\ nnmy. Mrs. Rnndnll, who had 
been a faithful syin|>athi/.er nml co-worker with her 
husband in his calling, subsequently came to Kau- 
sa.s, nnd in the home of her son Thomas H., on the 
1 8th of August. iMSfi. de|mVtcd this life. .She was 
the mother of twelve chihlren, live of whom at- 
tained nntturily, namely: Mnry I., wife of .luhn 
Jones, of Catawba. Ohio; Thomas H.; John W. is .-i 
locomotive engineer, with his home in St. Paul. 
Minn.; Isa:ic M. is a farmer of Vinccnnes, Ind.. 
near the .Slate line, with his residence on the Illi- 
nois side; Charles is a machinist, and lives in De- 
Gr.ifT, Ohio. 

Thomas IL, our subject, staid on his father's 
farm in his native SUite until he wjis twenty years 
of age, receiving in the meantime a substantial cdu- 
cnliou in the common fichools. His parents deeply 
instilled into his youthful mind those principles of 
honesty, industry and integrity which havi- since 
been his guides to a useful life and an h<lnoral^le 
career. Soon after he attained the age befiire 
mentioned the Civil W.nr broke out, and he was 
among the very first who loyally nnd bravely 
offered their services to preserve the I'uion, enlist- 
ing al the lii-sl call for trooi)s as a mendier of Com- 
))any F, 4llh Ohio Infantry, and took part in the 
lialtle <if Louisburg, \'a., also Mciidow Uluff and 
Thompson's Farm. In the fall of 1 8ri;Miis regi- 
ment was transported to Kentucky, was there 
mounted, an<l for one ye:u' kept on .xcout duty. 
The men were then dismonuled nnd went with (leii. 
Burnside to Kno.wille. whence thoy soon after 
went lo l!»kc part in the bntlle of Cund>erlnnd. At 
Str.'iwberry I'l.nin the regiment veteranized !i.s the 
8th Ohio Cavidry. then returned to Cincinnati, and 
from there was sent home on a furlough of thirty 
•lays. After its return tf> service it wsus nuistered 
in as cavalry, at Camp Division, and was then sent 
up the Kanawha River, ami thence on the famous 
Hunter raid to Lynchburg. \'a. ; one-half of tlu' 
regiment took part in the engngemenl under flen. 
Sheridan, and the other half remained at Heverly. 
Our subject was wounded in .an engngemenl at the 
Intter pince on the 1 1 III of January, 18(i.''i, nnd w:is 
disabled for three months. He was finally mus- 
tered out of service Aug. .'>, IHC.."), as Commis.sarv 



•►•-♦- 



1 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



555 



Scrijcaiil, having' servecl with honor throughout the 
entire Koliellion. Kutiirning to Ohio, and once 
more resuming the quiet life of a eitizen, lie turned 
his attention to funning, the occupation to which 
lie liad been reared, remaining there actively and 
profitably engaged in the same until his removal 
to Kansas. Here he followed agricultural pursuits 
imtil 1877, and then entered tlie hardware business, 
establishing the first store of the kind in Mt. Hope. 
His business wsis destroyed by fire on the 18th of 
December, 188G, and he did not resume, although 
he had built up a good trade. 

Mr. K^mdall soon exerted a marked influence in 
town affairs, and it was througli his exertions that 
a post-office was established at Mt. Hope, of which 
he was appointed Postmaster, serving until Janu- 
ary, 1887. He was a member of the first School 
Board of this town, and served for several years 
following. He was elected to his present position 
as County- Commissioner in 188(i, and has since 
discharged the duties of this important office with 
signal ability and faithfulness. He now holds the 
office of Vice President of the Mt. Hope Iron Com- 
l)aiiy, of which he is also the business agent. In 
politics Mr. Randall is a representative Republican, 
and can always be depended upon to do good work 
for his party; he has been a delegate to its conven- 
tions from Greeley Township ever since the town- 
ship was organized. Socially, he is prominently 
identified with various organizations. He became 
a member of the I. O. O. F. while a resident of 
Ohio, and since coming to this State has helped to 
organize the Mt. Hope Lodge, being a charter 
member, and subsequently became Noble Grand of 
that lodge; he is now a member of the Grand 
Lodge of the State; he was one of the organizers 
and a charter member of the Kniglits of Pythias, at 
Mt. Hope, and was elected First Past Chancellor of 
the Tasmania Lodge No. 120; and is also a charter 
member of the G. A. R., S. A. Gilbert Post No. 
3.'»4, and served as commander for three years. 
He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Cluirch, and 
helped to organize the first society of that denomi- 
nation in Mt. Hope, and also was active in estab- 
lishing a Sunday-school in connection with the 
church. 

Mr. Randall is quite an extensive land-uHncr, 



having 350 acres of realty outside of the limits of 
Mt. Hope, and 140 acres inside of the cor|)oration. 
This is all well improved and he has an excellent 
class of farm buildings and the finest residence in 
the town. He is largely engaged in stock-raising, 
his cattle being mostly Short-horns of a high grade, 
and he also deals in live stock. During these 
years that he has been accumulating his wealth he 
has had the able assistance .and hearty co-operation 
of an excellent wife, who has contributed her share 
to their prosperity by her judicious management of 
the domestic economy of their home ; to her he was 
united in marriage Aug. 10, 18G5, just five days after 
his return from the seat of war. Her maiden name 
W.1S Mattie J. Porter, and she was born in Clarke 
County, Ohio, Oct. (5, 1844, her parents being Ben- 
jamin and Eliza Porter. This happy union has 
been blessed bj' the birth of six children — Levi C, 
Pearl Ann, Lena B., Clara B., Anna and Charles F. 
Our subject and his wife occupj' an honorable 
position in society and enjoy to the fullest extent 
the confidence and respect of all with whom they 
associate. i\Ir. Randall is widely and favor.ably 
known in business circles as an upright, incorrupti- 
ble man, whose word is as good as a bond. 



IIILO GRIFFIN, who is interested in the 
coal and grain business at Furley, is num- 
bered among the leading men of Lincoln 
Township. There are but few public enter- 
prises in which he is not interested in some manner. 
Mr. Griffin, in addition to the business already 
mentioned, is carrying on f.arming and stock-raising 
on section 8, where he owns eighty acres of land, 
situated about one mile from the new and ambitious 
little town of Furley, which has been constituted a 
station of the Rock Island Road. Our subject, in 
addition to general agriculture is considerably in- 
terested in stock-raising, and is one of those wide- 
awake men who are always ready to take advantage 
of whatever opportunity offers in the shape of busi- 
ness or trade. 

The subject of this history, a \'ermonter, was 
born in Franklin County, that State, Dec. 25, 



■•► 






■•► B-^" 



&:,r. 



SEDGWICK COUNl V 



\X.iC,, mill tv:i!i llio nnii chiltl in tlio fiunily uf 
Willaril mill Snmli (LiiyUiii) Crilllu. wlm were iilso 
natives iif the (Irecn MotiiiUiin .stnt4>. Tlie fntlicr 
riillitwod fitrniin;; c'oii>iili>riiliIy, anil w.'u nLsn n 
nn'rhanic-. Alxml 1S.')0 ho loft Now Kn<;lanil with 
lii> family, ami sotlloil in St. Lawronro County, N. 
Y., whoro lie liinioil his atloiitioii cxcUisively U> 
fnrmin;;, ami wiiori' his death oocnrroil in IM.II. 
The mother subseiiueiitly came to this eoniily, ami 
ilieil at the home of her son I'hilo, in IHT.'i, at the 
mlvaneeil a;ro of seventy-two years. 

Yntiii;: (Jridiii pursued his early studies in the 
district schools of his native eouiity, and aciiuired 
his fn-sl lessons in ajjriciiltiire anion^ his n.-itive 
hills, lie removed with his parents to New York, 
where he remained until after the death of his 
father, and then migrated to Whiteside County, 
III., settling in lH,')i; on a farm in I'rolil Township, 
lie lahored two ye^irs singly and alone, and then 
secured for himself a life partner, being married, 
Dec. 2.'i, 1^<.'»S, to Miss Charlotte C. Lee, who was 
of Swedish liirth and parentage, horn in IISK). and 
came with her pareiit.s to the I'liited Suites when a 
young girl twelve years of age. .She w!»s the third 
in a family of live children, and her parents are 
now dead. 

.Mr. (Trillin after his marriage continued farming 
in Whiteside County until lt<t)-J, then crossed the 
Kalher of W:ilers into Webster County, Iowa. 
There he homesleaded eighty acres, and improved 
n good f.ann, which he sold in September, 1870. 
Hi'* next removal was to Woodson County, this 
.Suite, where he was engaged as a Invman. In the 
meantime he purclla^ell a trad of railroad land. 
Kightoeii months later he sold his claim and came 
to tlijs county, pre-empting in Lincoln Township, 
in March. lM7:i. eighty acres of niw prairie on sec- 
tion H. lie put up a small house with lumber which 
he h.aulcil fnim Newinn, a disUince of seventeen 
miles, ciimincnccil breaking land that year, and the 
year following planted an orehanl. In this manner 
he effocted his ini|ii'ovenieiits, and with his surplus 
cfipiUil piirchiused another eighty acres, which, how- 
ever, he subsei|ueiitly sold, still reUiining possession 
of his llrsl land. This he h'i.s brought to a good 
sUite of cultivation, and upon it crectx!il a first-class 
s*a of frame buildings. The farm is .stocked with 



high-grade Clyde and Norman horse*, Durlmin 
cattle, and I'oland-Chiim and Berkshire swine. 

The live children born to our subject and his wife 
were nnnied respectively: Charles W., Kmnia K., 
Maria A., Fredori<-k Lee and Minnie E. Charles 
W. is married, and assists his father in carrying on 
the st*ire; Kmma, Mrs. Stevenson, resides not far 
from the home of her parents; the other children 
arc attending school. Mr. (irillin, !is one of the 
earliest settlers of Lincoln Township, assisted in 
the organization of the school districts, and was in- 
slnimental in establishing the first school within its 
I limits. This was elTected in 1872, the year of his 
i arrival here, and the building put u|) in his district 
that same year, lie has been a member of the 
bo;ir<i for several years, and has alwa^'s Uiken a 
lively interest in politics, and votes the straight 
j Ucpiiblican ticket, lie and his excellent lady are 
members of the Methodist rrolesUint Church, of 
which Mr. (irillin is a Trustee, and has always been 
a liberal and cheerful contributor to its support. 
No man takes a deeper interest or greater pride 
in the moral and nnancial welfare of .Sedgwick 
County. 

I^^LIVKK Ml L\ KV, I'll. I)., City Kngincer of 
WichiUi, has atUiined marked distinction in 
his profession, and is widely known as a gen- 
tleman of scientific attaininent.s. lie is a native of 
Madison, Ind., his birth talking place there .lune 7, 
I8;!7. His grandfather, Michael .Mulvey, was born 
in Ireland, ai:d being a poor Irish lad was ajipreii- 
ticed in early life to an uncle to learn the tailor's 
trade. Later he was drafted into the British service 
in an underhand manner, but preferred leaving the 
country rather than enter the Knglish army. The 
following is his story: 

One day his uncle sent him to the niilltary b:ir- 
r.acks with a suit of clothes he had made for one of 
the olllcers stationed there. lie w.-is well known at 
heaihpijirters, and being a good singer was asked to 
sing a song to entorUiin the boys. As he sang the 
closing Words the olllcer tossed a shilling to the 
floor, which the lad picked up, supposing it to be 
in payment for his having brought the clothes or a 
reward for the song. The soldiers laughed and 



■»■ ■ ^- 



-•►-•-^ 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



557 



told him that by accepting the King's money he 
was drafted into liis service. lie at first thought it 
a joke, but was soon assured that it was a fact, and 
lie was given permission to inform his uncle, who 
told him on his return tiiat he could no longer har- 
bor him. The pluckj- youth then resolved that he 
would eniigr.ate to America rather than etiter the 
arm^' to waste his life in a service for which he had 
no taste. He bade his friends good-bye, walked to 
the nearest seaport, and embarked on a vessel bcnind 
for this country. On his arrival here he located in 
New London, Conn., %vhere he prosecuted his trade 
for some time. Later he established himself in tlic 
city of New York as a merchant tailor, eventually 
dying there. To him and Mary Mulvey, his wife, 
were l>orn five children — John, Micliael, .lames, 
Catherine and AA^illiam. 

The eldest son, John, father of our subject, was 
born in New London, Conn., in 1806, and was three 
j-ears old when his parents removed to New York, 
and there, when lie became a man, he learned his 
father's trade of merchant tailor. In 1826 he mi- 
grated to Madison, Ind., where he established him- 
self in his business. He there married Rebecca 
Collins, formerly of Brownstowii, Pa. ; she was a 
sister of the gallant Admiral Napoleon Collins, who 
captured the Confederate cruiser " Florida " in Bahia 
Bay, Brazil, during the war of the Rebellion. After 
marriage they continued to live in Madison for 
many ^-ears, Mr. Mulvey becoming a leading citi- 
zen of that city, and for nine years served with 
distinction as its Maj'or. In politics he wiis promi- 
nentlj' identified with the Democrats of Indiana. 
He was very successful in his business, and amassed 
a competence. In 1870 he removed with his wife 
to Chicago, 111., where they still reside. They are 
the parents of three children: Julius, a lawyer of 
Chicago, where he established lii?nself in 18;)4; 
Oliver; and Marj', wife of W. G. Wcstgate, a hard- 
ware merchant, of Chicago. There has been no 
death in the family, although Marj-, the youngest, 
is forty-four years old. 

Our subject received his education in Hanover 
College, Indiana, being graduated therefrom in 
1859, with the degree of B. .S. Previous to enter- 
ing college he had learned the trade of machinist. 
After graduation he worked at photography for 

-^ 



awhile. I le luis a natural aptitude for chemistry and 
kindred sciences, and was always engaged in some 
chemical work. He was also during those years 
often engaged as a surveyor. 

The marriage of our subject to Miss Margaret 
Chapman took place in 1862. She was born in 
Madison, Ind., and was a daughter of John and 
Mary A. CJhajjman. By this union three children 
have been born — Anna R., James O. :uid Flor- 
ence C. 

In 1871 Mr. Mulvey moved with his family to 
Jackson. Mich., where he became engaged as a 
dealer in hardware and galvanized iron, carrying 
on an extensive business, which he conducted ver^' 
profitably for some jxars. He finally settled up his 
affairs in that city, and in March, 1879, came with 
his wife and children to Wichita. We next hear of 
him in Colorado, where for three years he was cm- 
ployed in assaying, surveying, and also as superin- 
tendent of mines. During that time his family 
continued to live in Wichita, and there, upon his 
return, he followed ju'ivate surveying until 1885. 
In that year he was appointed to the office of City 
Engineer, and has since devoted his attention almost 
exclusively to his official duties. His quick, keen 
intellect, his superior education, training and wide 
experience, mark him as the right man to fill the im- 
portant and responsible position he now occupies. 
In 1884 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was 
conferred upon him b^' his Alma JMater, in just 
recognition of the honor lu's attainments and career 
have reflected upon the college since when a student 
within its walls, where he had been carefuUj' trained, 
he had gone forth into the world to win for himself 
a name and an honorable position among the men 
of bis profession. 

Mr. Mulvey has made judicious investments in 
real estate since coming here to live, and is now the 
owner of considerable valuable property. Our sub- 
ject is, religiously, a member of the Baptist Church; 
politicall}% he is a Democrat, and socially, he is con- 
nected with the A. O. U. W. and the A. L. of II., 
and Civil Engineers' Association. He is charac- 
terized by those who have the honor of his friend- 
ship as a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, 
always courteous and genial to those with whom he 
is associated. He and his wife occupy a distin- 



' 'I 



t 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



^iiislicil |M>AJiiiiii ill till- sofiiil oiri-les nf tliis <-oiii- 
iiiiiiiity. TlifV n-siile in tuii' of the |iiilntiikl lionies 
i>f Widiiu — mic of tlio attntctivo, coiniiiodious 
tirick ilwillinp* — which lie ercftcil in ISKo.siiuaU'd 
on one of the fincsl reaiclenfi' strceU of Iho rity. 



/if^ Al.KIl TKTKU. The valiml.lc imct of land 
\l( li "**"*■'' ^y ^'''* }<'>'"tlcni!iii lies along llu- 
^^f' Motor IJiic, from WichiUi lo Di'iby, eiii- 
briu-iiijj a ili-sU-inoc of ton niile.s. Horu lie i.< lar^jely 
i-ngagcd in the <rrt»\ving of fine stock, an iiidustrj- 
particularly adapted to a man of gtnid judgment, 
and in which our subject hn* lieeii very successful. 
As one of the pioneers of Kanssus he is regarded 
with more than ordinary interest. He came to 
this sittion of country in the spring of 1M6(J, lo- 
cating u|)on a tract of land embracing tiie present 
site of Wichita. Hi' .•assisted, on the 5th of April, 
1«70, ill laying the founilation of the first house 
erected in the city, and since that time has made 
this K>cality his home. In l«6;t he pre-empted the 
southwest quarter of section 34, and ha.s succeeded 
in building up one of the finest homesteads within 
the borders of Sedgwick County, and a view of 
which we show in this connection. Being a natural 
mechanic, much of his building Ilts been done by 
his own hands, which, while it involved but a 
moderate outlay of money, Una been effected In a 
first-claxs manner. 

Our subject, n native of \\'est Virgini:i, w!i> liorii 
in Pendleton County, Se]>t. 1 1, 183.S. His parents, 
.loliiison and li.uhel (Bland) Teter. were also 
natives of the Old Dominion, and spent tiieir entire 
lives in Pendleton County, tiie father dying in 18»2, 
aged about seventy -seven years, .'ind the mother 
.some years before her husband, in lM7o. John- 
son Teter was a fanner liy occupation, an<l carried 
on agriculture in a modest way, providing comfort- 
ably for a hirge family, the household circle having 
been com|)leled liy the birth of seventeen children. 
These were named respectively: Naomi, .Margaret, 
Caleb. .Sarah, Kiinice, Cyrus, .Jane, .Mary. Adam, 
Kli/.abetli, Loiiisu, .lohnson, Martha (who died in 
early childhood), Kve and .lob. Of these fourteen 
are living and resi<ieiit.< mostly of X'iiginia. 

Mr. Teter continued under the |i:irenutl roof until 



KNUY S.MITH, retired farmer and capitalist, 
occupies one of the liiiesl dwellings in Wich- 
ita Township, which was, completed on 
the •22<1 of November, lrt8(i, at a cost of 
♦.■l,i'()0. Adjacent to this is a commodious and 
well-built barn, tlanked by the other structures 



nearly Iwenly-lhree yenn^of age, and then st:irt< d 
out for himself, one of the first im|K)rtnnt steps be- 

I ing his marriage, which look place on the I Ith of 

I August, lK,j<;. His bride, Mis^« Hannah I). ll<K>ver. 
is n native of hisown county in West Virginia, ami 
iKirn Feb. 0, \X'M. Her |«rents, Samuel and .Mar- 
garet (Brady) Hoover, were natives of West Vir- 
ginia; the father died in Illinois, the mother in 
Wichita. The young people soon after their mar- 
riage emigrated to McLean County, III., and Mr. 
T. rented a tract of land near Old Town. He also 
piircliJised twenty acres in tliat locality, and farnuvi 

! there for a fx-riod of ten years, ami until coming to 

I this county. The family of our subject and his 
wife includes the following children: Belle, who 

I was horn in 18,57, became the wife of Irvin Rich- 
mond, and died ,Ian. !7, 18H4, leaving four (.'hil- 

I dren; Bion was born in 18.'>8, and died in infancy; 
Samuel Lincoln, who was born in 185!i, married 
.Miss Bessie Lavcrly, who died in November, IMUT, 

I leaving two children; Mary C. born in 18t;2, isthc 
wife of William S. Young, and the mother of one 
son, Hort<jn, who wiis born Feb. 25, 1885; Lola 
D., who was born in I8G4, married A. .1. Crow, and 
is the mother of two children — Mearle:ind Kugene; 
Monte, born in 1807, is attcnditig the Business Col- 
lege at Wichita; Maude G., the first white girl who 
was born within the city limits of Wii-hita, began 
life on the 8th of March, 1870; Walter M., born in 
187.3; Ollie K., in 1875, and Max in 1882. The 
brothers and sisters of Mrs. Teter were named re- 
spectively : Amanda J., Denizze C, M:u-y M., l-iarah 
E., Daniel, Andrew, Liitetia and .Samuel. 

Mr. Teter, for a time, w:is engaged in the rciil- 
estate business as a member of the firm of Crow iV 
Co., of Wichita. He and his estimable wife are 
members of the First Baptist Church of that city, 
and Mrs. T. is a strictly temperance and a wuman's 
rights woman, and a strong niission;iry worker. 
Our subject uniformly votes the Kepubliran ticket. 



>» ■ ^ 



i 



-•►■ -^* 



■•;JH:>icy^liik,^ 



?150S!r?55?Tr- 







RESIDENCE F H E N RY 5 M I T H , il 7 ^ , E , F F? I S CO A V.,W I C f i 1 T A 




p5ii?^^^i;?aBr^ii^fitfrsi^-i^-^^^ f;:i^^i?fc^,^i?>^ 






1 




f ifii/''',t?v.ri'^?<^?" V^"^ -^^'^^ '^^ " '■'■'-^^•^^tr'^\ 



RESIDENCE OF CALEB T E T E R ,5 EC. 3-^ . Wl C H ITA T0WN5HII 



•► II ^" 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



5G1 f 






necessary to the suburban homestead, a view of 
which we present in connection with this In-ief out- 
line of the owner's life. The career of Mr. Smith 
illustrates in a forcible manner the inrlustrj- and 
perseverance with which he has labored, and tiie 
good judgment which has guided him in his vari- 
ous transactions. The main points in a historj' of 
unusual interest are as follows: 

Our subject, a native of Leicestersiiirc, England, 
was born Aug. 24, 1838, and is the son of Joshua 
and Elizabeth (Chambers) Smith, who were of pure 
English ancestry and also natives of Leicestershire. 
The father was born Sept. 24, 1803, and is still 
living, a resident of Sedgwick County, this State. 
The wife and mother died in 1841 in her native 
land, leaving four children : Rebecca, who continues 
in Eugland; Emma, wh<j died in girlhood; John, 
and Henry, of our sketch. 

Joshua Smith contracted a second marriage, with 
Miss M.ary Cook, of his own county in England, and 
who still lives. They became the parents of four 
children: William, Mary M., Frederick T. and 
Emma, who are now here, with the exception of 
AVilliani, who resides in Missouri. Ilenrj' emi- 
grated to America with his father and stepmother 
in 1852, and they settled within twelve miles of the 
city of Utica, N. Y. There our subject continued 
with his father on the farm until 1854, then with 
him crossed the Mississippi, and settled near the 
embryo town of Lawrence, in this State. Henry 
and John with their father entered into a contract 
to furnish lime, brick and sand for building pur- 
poses, and our subject was thus occupied for three 
3'cars. He then changed his residence to Wabaun- 
see, where he took up claims and engaged in farm- 
ing until 1868, and in the fall of that year came to 
Wichita Township and, in company with his brother, 
located a portable sawmill on the east bank of the 
Little Arkansas River, which they operated ten 
months following with excellent results. 

Our subject now pre-empted the quarter-section 
of land which he now owns, securing his deed in 
the spring of 1870. He has a quarter-section a half- 
mile east of Oatville, and twenty-five acres adjacent 
to his residence, in addition to the ground adjoin- 
ing the cit3' cemetery, which he sells, as required, 
from §15 to !|50 per lot. Mr. Smith distinctly 



recollects the time of the John Brown and Jim 
Lane troubles, and for a whole year was almost con- 
stantly in the saddle, in readiness to defend tlic 
settlers should it become necessary. 

Mr. .Smith, while a resident of Wichita, w;i.s mar- 
ried, in September, 1871, to Miss Hattie A. Royal, 
who was born in Indiana, and died at her home in 
Wichita on the 24th of July, 1871, leaving one 
cliild, Arthur R., who is now at home. The present 
wife of our subject, to whom he was married 
July 24, 1875, was formerly Mrs. Sarah E. (Lewis) 
Skinner, who wjis born in the State of New York, 
Oct. 11, 1849. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of 
Charles C. and Eliza M. (Kent) Lewis,' natives of 
Chemung County, N. Y. They were the parents 
of eleven children: Eveline A. is the wife of E. 
Holcomb, of Ohio; Ella J. married William Pier- 
son; Sarah, Mrs. Smith, was the third child; Celia 
M., Mrs. Thomas Ilewson, died Jan. 8, 1884; Jessie 
D., Frederick S. and Clara M.; the latter is in But- 
ler County, Kan.; Oliver and Carrie died when 
about one and a half years of age. The others died 
in infancy. 

George Skinner, the first husband of Mrs. Smith, 
was a native of Oiiio, and a farmer by occupation. 
Of this marriage there were born two children — 
Ella and Victor George. Mr. Skinner belonged to 
the I. O. O. F., and died at his home in Iowa. 

To our subject and his present wife there have 
been born five children, namely: Hattie M., Grace 
L., Ilarr^' E., Florence and Ina F. Mr. Smith is 
independent in politics, and has served as Town- 
ship Treasurer, Road Supervisor .-ind School Trustee. 



;lIli()DORE OTT. This gentleman occui)ies a 
position among the real-estate men of Wich- 
ita, to which he came in 1887, and has his 
he:idquarters at No. 1,1 16 Esist Central avenue. He 
is the hero of a career of more than ordinarj' inter- 
est, and as a soldier of the Union armj' during the 
late war, can tell a tale more thrilling than anj' fic- 
tion conceived by the brain of a novelist. Of his 
war record especialh' he h:is reason to feel that few 
men have distanced him inexperience or endurance. 
Our subject is of German ancestrj^, and was born 



t 



•<• 






.SCi' 



SKDCWK K COINTY. 



ill ^ ' iiiiit.v. Wis., U> whioh his pariMiU 

r«'iiM.\iil al an oarly <laU'. 'I'lii'V wcrt' riiillip ninl 
l.oiiisji Olt. iiikI wiMil tliiTi' soiiii rifu-r liindiii;: ii|h>ii 
Aiiii-rii-nii >oil. 'riu-y wcru unlives of l'riis«iii, llip 
foriiuT horn ill IHCiO. tin- niotlieiSepl. s, IHKT.and iiro 
now (lecojuM'd. 'I'hcir fiiiniiy i-onttistod of nint- I'iiil- 
dn-n, only llircf of whom nrc now livinj;. 'I'lioo- 
dorc conliniied nt iho li<inii>sto»d in Shehoy;;!in 
I'onnly until ii yoiilli of sevi'iitet'ii. iind wji* ihfii 
one of till" fir^t to iv-pond to tlit- cnll for troops to 
|itit down ihi- Ki'hcllion. lie •■nli>^ti'd iij; a private 
in C'oiniMiny n. Ifit Wi>consin Infantry, was pro- 
united t<i Serjicant, and first saw tile smoke of hat- 
tie at Terry ville. Ky., where the re};iment lostalioiil 
half its men. lie also participated in the eiifiajje- 
nients at Nashville, Tenn., and at .Shiioh and .Miir- 
Iree.siioro, at eaeh of which pla<-e.s the 1st \Viscoii.siii 
suffered great losses. At liie Imttle of Chieka- 
inaii>;a. yoiiii^ ( »tt, tojjetlier with a laii:e portion of 
his rejiimeiit. was raptured after lieiiii; severely 
Wounded in the knee. 

Our sniijecl was now lii>t taken to a t'onfederate 
hospital, and later to Lihliy Prison at i{ielinioii<l. 
\'a., where he was eonlined three inoiilhs. 'I'he 
prison w.'is over-erowded, and our hero suffered 
greatly from the want of food, wliieh wjus very 
scanty in proportion, and of the worst possilile 
ijuaiity. lie made several attenipt.s to escape, hut 
each time was captured and eonlined with more 
rigor than liefore. lie w.as rnialiy removed to Dan- 
ville, \'a., where he wa.s imprisoned, and coiilinod 
for one month, then inan.iged to escape. Itluod 
hoiiinls were set n|Min his tmck, and he was traced 
to his refuge in a tree, and once more (•.•iplured at 
the |Mi|iit of a rille. 

Sergl. Ott W!is now sent to the dreaded slock- 

.ade at Aiidersonville, where he spent al t live 

months. This prison wjis the worst he had yet 
found, and here he suffered all that the imagin.ition 
can conceive. 'I'he drinking water was of the most 
liorrilile description, the food was foni, and the 
sights and scenes aroiinri .siirpa.ss the pen of the his- 
torian ti di'picl. Young (Ht, always considering 
the plan and means of escape, succeeded once more 
in running the gaiinllet of the guards, hut after get- 
ting two miles .away, wsls again captured. 

Our Milijeit w!is now Ijiken to C'harleslon. N. t'.. 



mid noxl to Snvnnnnh, wh. <Mintde9 

captured n steamer, anil ran >i<i»ii Uk iiver until 
they overtook the lilock.mle vessels, and were snveil. 
.SergU Ott and others were sent to St. Louis, .Mo., 
from there to Milwaukee, Wis. nnd al the hittt-r 
place received his honoralile iliscliarge. 

rpon returning to civil life, .Mr. Olt tiir I his 

attention to fanning, and later. May .'», IHiIK, wius 
united in marriage with Miss .Minnie Yanko, of 
.Shclioygaii, the daughter of .lohn ami Amelia Yanko. 
The young people commenced hnu.-ekeepiiig to- 
gollier ill Shelioyg.'in t'oiinly. Wis., on a farm, and 
contlniietl resideiiLs of the H.adger .Stnte until l^72. 
Mr. Ott then came t<i this county and purchased a 
farm in Illinois Township, emlmiciiig land now oc- 
cupied iiy the Star .school-house. He cjirried on 
fanning here until the spring of IHH". On the ;iOth 
of .M:iy of that year, he came to Wi<-liila and pur- 
ch.ased the property where he now resides. \Nilli 
admirahle forethought he invested as much as pos- 
sible ill real csUite, and is now the owner of thirty- 
two valualile city lot^, is coinuianding a handsome 
income, and has a snug hank account for the com- 
fort of his later years. 

The family of our suhject and his estimalile wife 
includes six children, namely: Willie, Lizzie, Theo- 
dore, Flora, C'laia and KIsie. The family residence 
is situated on Central avenue. No. 1,1 Hi. .Mr. Ott, 
religiously, believes in the doctrines of the .Meth- 
odist Church, and politically is a dcciilcd liepiib- 
licaii. Mi-s. ( )tt is a member of the Kvangelist 
Cliurcli. 

.lohn and Amelia Yanko, the pareiit.s of Mi>. 
Ott, were natives of (ierniany, .and arc now resi- 
dents (»f Wilson Township, .Sheboygan Co., ^^'i^. 
Mrs. Ott w.as born May 12, IW.'d, in (Jerinany, and 
conliiiiied with her parents until her marriage. Her 
brother William was one of the lirst settlers of Sedg- 
wick County, and operated the li'-st sawmill within 
it> limits. During those early days lie was the cliuin 
.and com|)anion of William ('•reiffenst«'in, who was 
then known throughout this secliim of country a.s 
"Dutch Hill," .aiiil later wrote his name with the pre- 
llx of Honorable. These two during those pioneer 
days lived together in a little log cabin near the 
ArkaiKsas River, at Wichita, where Mr. (J. kept a 
tiading-posl for the Indians. -Mr. (ireiffensleiii 






■» B-^ 



■•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



563 



I 



married, and when this event occurred Mr. Yanko 

was obliged to seeli another domicile, :is the little 
cabin would not accommodate three persons. Mr. 
Y'anko afterward died from the effects of wounds 
received from the Indians while on his way to 
Wichita, from a buffalo hunt around Medicine 
Lodge. While attempting to escape in tlie night 
he was obliged to secrete himself in a pond of 
water, which froze over during his immersion, and 
within which he was so cliiili'd that he never le- 
covered. 

\f OHN MENDKNIIALL, now of WichiUi, was 
formerly a farmer and enjoj'ed more than 
ordinary success; he is now retired from 
active labor, and in the enjoyment of all 
the comforts and man}' of the luxuries of life. 
The main points of his history are as follows: A 
native of Greene County, Ohio, our subject was 
born on the 7th of September, 1839, and is the son 
of William and iSusan (Caswell) Mendenhall, who 
were natives of the same county. The father, born 
in 1818, died in Waco Township, in this county, 
in 1881. He had in early manhood learned the 
trades of carpenter and brick-maker, which he fol- 
lowed until about 1878, and became one of the 
largest contractors of his native county. lie set his 
face westward in 1854, and removed to Poweshiek 
County, Iowa, where he lived until coming to Kan- 
sas. In 1870, coming to this county, he home- 
steaded eight}' acres of land in Payne Township, 
and brought it to an advanced state of cultivation. 
In 1877he sold out, and purchased 31.5 acres of fine 
bottomland near Wichita, in Waco Township, where 
he made his home and spent the remainder of his 
days. 

The father of our subject was a Democrat, polit- 
ically, and his religious sentiments were molded 
under the influence of the Society of Friends which 
surrounded his early years. His wife, the mother 
of our subject, was born Dec. 6, 1817, is still living, 
and makes her home with the latter in Wichita. 
She is the daughter of William and Nancy (Can- 
trell) Caswell, who were natives of Kentucky. Her 
father removed from the Blue Grass regions to 
Ohio in IblO, and died ten years later in Greene 



County. The mother was born in 1790, and sur- 
viving her husband nineteen years, died in Greene 
County, Ohio, on the 1 1th of September, 183!). 
She was a most excellent woman and a memljcr of 
the .Methodist Ki)iscopal Church. 

The parents of our subject weremarrie<l in Xenia, 
Greene Co., Ohio, on the 25th of August, 183G. 
The parental household w.as completed by the birth 
of seven children, who are recorded as follows: 
Abigail became the wife of Addison Bone, who 
died while serving as a soldier in the Union army ; 
she subsequently married Samuel II. Campbell, and 
is now living in Wichita. John, our subject, was 
the second child; Nancy died young: Andrew S. is 
a resident of Wichita; Rachel, the wife of George 
Haiiier, lives in Poweshiek County, Iowa; Elizabeth 
A., Mrs. Robert Denbtjw, is a resident of Marshall 
Count}', Iowa ; Silas II. is occupied as a brick-molder 
in Garden City, Kan. 

John Jlendenhall preceded his father in the re- 
moval to Iowa by about four mouths, and home- 
steaded eighty acres adjoining the property of the 
latter. He labored in the cultivation of the soil 
there for two years, then took up 160 acres in But- 
ler County, of which he retained ownership two 
years, then selling out, purchased 100 acres along 
the Cowskin Creek in Sedg^vick County, upon 
which he lived four years. He then rented this 
farm and removed to Il.arper County, but two years 
later^ returned, and after another two-years resi- 
dence on the Cowskin, sold out and purchased 100 
acres north of the city limits of Wichita. Two 
years later he sold this property for the snug round 
sum of ijlG,000. He subsequently invested in more 
land, and is now the owner of 855 acres in this State, 
besides valuable city property in addition to his 
home. He has held the various local offices, serv- 
ing as Township Trustee live terms in Payne and 
Waco Townshii)s, and while in Butler County was 
also Township Clerk, Trustee, and Treasurer of the 
School Board. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was married 
in Montezuma, Iowa, on the 20th of February, 
1862, was in her girlhood Miss Emily Girard, also 
a native of Greene County, Ohio, and who was born 
June 18, 1843. She is the daughter of Isaac and 
Mary M. (Wikel) Girard, natives of Virginia, and 



n 



T 



-4^ 



Mi 






SKDCW ICK COIM V 



l>uth now diH-eascd. They wore excellent Christian 
|M>(>plc null nioniitcrs of the Motliixlisl K|)isco|Nil 
Church. Tlu'lr fiiniily incluiloil fmirlvfu fliihirfu. 
u:inioly : Ltuuua K., Willitiui, Kli/nln'th, .h>*fph C., 
Isiflju-, .Inne. Chi istiiiun, riiillip NV., ( ':itln'rim', Siiniu, 
Sarah, .lohu, Kniily .•iml Stcphfii II. (»f tlux- thir- 
teen are living'. 

To Mr. iiiul Mrs. MeM<h-iih:ill tlu-re were lioru 
i-i<;lit eliihlren. nnmely : .loini A.. I.owl-i ()., Alice 
M.. Aileilierl i!.. Stephen L.. Klht-i A., .iiid two 
inf.-inLs unnnnied. .Mr. Mcndculwili tnkcs little part 
in politics of late yeai>. Iiul h.-i.-; always been :in act- 
ive Hepuhlicnn, snpportiuf; the principle.-^ of his 
party with ail tlu' force of his convie'.ions. 



■ : > :m 



> 



\i. IIK.NUV OWKNS came to Wichita in 
Novenilier, I^Ttl, heing the third plly.^ician 
to settle here. He conuneneed in .May. 
IftTl.to practice, and durinjj a period of 
eighteen years hiui hecouie one (>( the most trusted 
and valnalile men in his profession, lie hius Iravelecl 
all over this section of country liy night and (Lay, 
frecpieutly going 1 10 miles to sec a p:itient,and some- 
times not being able to reach home has laid under 
his carriage and slept at night. The country then 
had not been cleared of its wild animals, and the 
Doctor one night shot a black wolf which was fol- 
lowing him in order to appeiuse its hunger. One 
animal alone would sehiom attack .-i person, and 
this one haci probably scented the provisions which 
the Doctor carried with him, which he was in the 
habit of <loing, as he never knew when he would 
reach home. He was often away from his f:imily 
.several days at a time, anil knows all about the 
hardships and privations incident to life in a new 
country. 

Dr. Owens is a native of Kelmoiit County, Ohio, 
where he wa.s born May 27, I H2.'!. His iwirents 
were Henry and Kli/.abeth Owens, who spent many 
years before their death on a farm in Ohio. Henry 
Owens, Sr., was of Irish ilescenl, and was born on 
the (.wean while his parents were coming to Amer- 
ica. He was a man of very good business capaci- 
ties and one who had always made the most of his 
I'pporlunitie.-. He became prominent in the affairs 



of Belni' IS nin^- 

islrat*' .-ivi i:il yi :ir~, tin- |i:o.iil J household 
included seven children, of whom three only arc 
living: Isabel, of Knox County, Ohio: -lohn, of Hcl- 
mont County, Ohio, and Henry, our subject. 

Dr. Owens s|K>nt his early years in his native 
county, where he aeipiired his early education and 
took up the study of medicine under the instruction 
of Drs. Todd and McLean, of Wheeling, Va. Ik- 
was graduated from the college there and also at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving his diploma.-^ in l.H'^l. 
He conimenecd practice near his native town, but 
in the fall of I H."»<; crossed the .Missis-^ippi into 
Iowa, locating at Saylorsville, I'olk County. He 
also engaged in farming in connection with his 
practice, and renuiined there until I H70. Finding 
that he could buy to good advantiigc in Waco 
Township, this .State, he came to this section and 
took up Hid .acres of land, which now lies four 
miles from the city limits. This is nowipiile valii- 
.able, owing both to its location ami ils improve- 
ments. He makes his residence, however, in the 
city. In 1H72 he put up one of its linc.^t dwellings, 
which occupies No. 2011 Kmporia .avenue, south, 
where with his family he is now enabled to Uike 
life comparatively easy, and enjoy the society of 
his many friends. One of the most attniclivc 
features of his farm is a fine orchard which he set 
out soon after coming int<j possession of it, and ho 
also gives considerable attention to the breeding of 
live slock, making a s|K'cialty of the best grades of 
swine. 

Dr. (,)wens was married in his native State, 
in March, IH4.), to Miss Kl la, daughter of Patrick 
(irogory. Mrs. Owens wa.-* born in October, 1M2.'1, 
and received her education in the district school 
and under the careful training of her excellent p.ar- 
ents. She remained under the home roof until her 
marriage, and is the mother of eight children, two 
of whiun are deceased. Those surviving are: 
Thiunas .1.; Kli/.abeth .1., now .Mr>. Ili/er; ll.arriet 
A., Mrs. Hales; John W., Alice, and .M.iry .1., Mrs. 
Ceorgo Thompson. 

Dr. Owens, during the late war, enlisted in the 
23d Iowa Infantry, Company C, .and particip.ated 
in seventeen battles, receiving his only wound 
at ISIack Kiver. He was Hospital Steward and 



•¥-m -^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



565 



flelailed Surgeon, and saw the smoke of battle at 
Port (iibsou, Raymond, Champion Hills, Jackson, 
Black River, Vicksburg, Milliken's Bend and Black 
River Baj'ou. He was in the service two years and 
eight months, and received his honorable discliarge 
in March, 1805, at Ft. Spanish, Ala. He is now 
one of the most valued members of the G. A. R., 
and in politicks an uncompromising Republican. 

Dr. Owens, since becoming a resident of this 
county, has taken a live!}' interest in its progress 
and development, giving his encouragement and his 
more substantial support to the vaiious institutions 
calculated to build up the city of Wichita, and 
for the best good of the people. 



y'^ ILLTAM J. GILCHRIST. Prominent in 
the histor3' of Sedgwick County are the rep- 
resentative business men and enterprising 
fanners, and among them is the subject of this per- 
sonal history. Besides being engaged in the grain 
and coal business at Valley Center, he is one of the 
largest and most extensive stock-feeders of the 
township in which he lives. His home, which is a 
ver^' handsome one, is situated on section 4, Kechi 
Township, where he carries on his stock business, 
both raising cattle, and buying them for the purpose 
of feeding, using in this manner some 10,000 
bushels of corn last year. The grain and coal busi- 
ness he initiated at Vallej' Center al)Out four years 
ago. 

Mr. Gilclirist is a native of Logan Count}', III., 
having been born near the city of Lincoln, June 
24, 1847, and is the second child of his parents, 
James and Jane (Harper) Gilchrist, natives of 
Scotland. His father was a farmer in "Auid Scotia," 
who came to the United States about 1844, and 
settled in Logan County, 111. The mother of our 
subject died about the year 1856, and his father 
was again married, at Atlanta, Logan Co., III., in 
1860, to Miss K. M. Russell, a native of the Prairie 
State, who l>ecame the mother of two eliildren. 
llis father died in February-, 1871. 

Our subject was reared upon his father's farm, 
and received his education in the district schools of 
his native county. He remained at home assisting 

4* 



his father in his agricultural labors until attaining 
young manhood, wlien he conunenced farming on 
his own account in that State. In April, 1804, al- 
though but a youth seventeen years of age, he 
enlisted in Comi)any D, 145th Illinois Infantry, for 
100 days, and was mustered into service at Spring- 
field; the regiment was organized for guard and 
garrison duty to allow the veterans who were per- 
ff)rming th.at branch of the service to go to the front, 
and the scene of our subject's service was princi- 
pally in JMissonri. After remaining in the army 
for about five mouths he was mustered out, and 
honorably discharged at Springfield, Sept. 1, 18(>4, 
and returned to his home. 

Mr. Gilchrist was united in marrige with M iss Ellen 
M. Prutsman, in Logan County, III., Jan. 1, 1865. 
The lady was born in Fountain County, Ind., Jan. 
8, 1840, and is the daughter of Daniel and Smilinda 
(Sumner) Prutsman, natives of Ohio. After their 
m.ai'riage the youug couple settled upon a good 
farm of 174 acres in Logan County, which belonged 
to our subject, where they made their home until 
1 878. In that year, after selling out their property 
in the Prairie State, they immigrated to Kansas, 
and located in Sedgwick County. Mr. Gilchrist at 
once purchased 100 acres of partially improved 
land on section 4, Kechi Township, where he has 
ever since resided. He commenced improving the 
place, erecting a handsome and substantial residence, 
tasty and commodious barns, and neat out-build- 
ings, and has brought the land to a high state of 
cultivation. He is now the owner of 640 acres of 
.as good land as lies in the county, a portion of 
which he rents out, the balance suJIicing for his 
own needs. The place is well stocked witli Nor- 
man, Clyde .and Kentuckj' horses, and high-grade 
Durham cattle;. 

The subject of this sketch is not very active 
in politics, but usually votes for the candidates 
offered bj' the Rei)ublican party. He is, however, 
considerably interested in educational matters, and 
for some time allowed himself to serve in the office 
of School Director of the district in which he re- 
sides. Both he and his wife are active workers in 
the religious field, and are consistent and sincere 
members of the Christian Church, and highly' es- 
teemed and respected citizens of the community 









t 



ftCC 



^KDCWK'K roUNTY. 



nniiMi}; »vhich tlu'V live. They arc ilu- pnnnU of I 
«'ii.'lil fliililn-n.n.H rullow8: Alon/.o.l.. Alvii A., < Hive | 
.Iniio. Mclinda K., Willie ()., l{os« N.. Curl F. luul 1 
OrrillH (1. Aloiizo is iiiurrifd iiiul livos in \':illi'y ' 
(.'(■iiUt, when- 111" in in the t'niploy iif tlie rnilrond | 
(■iuii|>nny; Aivn A. is »\»> niMrrird nml is living < 
nonr \\\* piin-nts, on^jayfi'd in fnrining. 'I'lie rest of ' 
llie children nre nt home luid in nltendnnec at the j 
district school. 



II.IJAM K. HOWKUS. Tli.'.so who came 
i\ ,W|' into Kansjus dnrinf; tiie days of its early 
^^^ history were l)rave. sturdy fellows, anil full 
of enterprise. (Jiie of these, now a lending farmer 
and stock-raiser of Lincoln Township, having his 
home on section 1 t, is a native of Delaware County, 
I'a., horn Sept. HI. 1H1:1. and is the eldest of the 
family of s»'ven children of his parcnt-s, .lohn and 
Klizalicth (Savill) Ho wei-s, natives t if the Keystone 
SUite, where they have always resided. His father 
wa-s the son of .lohn and Mary (Wattci-s) Howers, 
who were also born in the same State, and the ma- 
ternal grandparenLs of our suhjeet were Kik>cIi and 
t'atherine Savill. Mr. Savill was a soldier during 
the struggle for independence and lived to th<' ripe 
old age of ninety-five years. He had a beloved 
brother who laid down his life on the shrine of 
his country's liberty, having been killed at the bat- 
tle of Long Lslaud in I77<i. 

'I'he father of our subject was a paper-maker by 
trade, in the city of I'hiladelphia, and was the de- 
soeudant of .lohn Howers and a brother who came 
from Wales and settled in the city of Brotherly 
Love. .John Howers, the granilfalher of «uir sub- 
je<'t, had two sons, one of whom went Ut sea and 
wa-s never heard of .afterward, and the other. .lohn 
Howers, Sr.. was apprenticeil to a man by the name 
of Wilcox, who was enipiged in the papcr-m.aking 
busine^s, with whom he remained until the death of 
his employer, lie continued in this trade for many 
years, until his death, wlii<-h occurred l-'eb. K!, 18.'{(>, 
when he had attained the age of forty-si.\ years. 
His wife did not long survive him. |)a.ssing to her 
rest March 2H of the same year. 

The subject of this memoir receivetl his educa- 



tion in the excellent whools of his native county, 
and in early life learner) the shoemaker's tnnle. 
Dec. !t, 1H-J;(, he was unit<-d in marriage, in Carlisle. 
Pa., with .Mi.ss llenriettn Ickes, who was born in 
Perry County, the Keystone Slate, in August. I H-ifi, 
and is the fourth child in a family of eight born to 
her |Mireiits, .lonns and Marj* (Duncan) I<-ke>, who 
were natives of the snnu' commonwealth. After 
his marriage he scttleil in Mitllin, Schuylkill Co., I'a.^ 
where he was engaged in carrying on a .shoemaking 
(>stablishmcnt for several years. Previous to this, 
however, on Uie .'Kith of .Innuary, 1h:{H. our subject 
enlisted in Company F. 1st United States Dragoons, 
and was mustered into the service at Ft. (Jibsiin 
the .1th of May following. He was engaged in 
border warfare most of the time of his service in the 
neighborhood of Ft. (libsuii an<l Cherakce, and wjls 
honorably discharged at Ft. Loveland, Jan. .'lit, 1 h4 1 . 
During the time that he was a soldier he had trav- 
ci-sed this entire country, capturing Indians in the 
vicinity of where he now lives. He had several 
close calls in action, having had some hair sheared 
from his head by a ball in one of them. 

After his discharge our subject went to Weston, 
Mo., where he remained until spring, and then re- 
turned to his native State. He m.ide his home in 
Mitllin until I 8G7, when he removed to Kiiox County, 
111., and settled in Gilson, where he was engaged in 
a shoe business and in agricultimd labor, as he 
owned a farm in that locality. Three years later 
he sold this and came to KansJis in thi- spring of 
1870, and settled in Lincoln Township in May of 
that year. At that time there was but one other 
settler in the township, and having homesteaded ICO 
acres of the raw prairie on section 14, he erected 
the second house in that sub-division of the county. 
He commenced improving the properly imme- 
diately, and has now a line farm in an excellent 
stjile of cultivation. He hauled the lumber for his 
lirst improvements from Kinporia, 100 miles distant, 
and set out a goo<l and sullicieiit orchard. His farm 
is well stocked with good graded Norman and 
Clyile horses, and fairly bred cattle. 

In his earlier days .Mr. Howers was actively en- 
gaged in the political field. He was .lustice of the 
Peace in I'eiuisylvania for ten years, and Mayor 
and Councilman of the city of Mitllin, inthatSUite. 



•►■.-4. 



T 



*► ■ <•• 



SKDOWTCK COUNTY. 



r,G7 



Since coming here, however, he does not give much 
attention to those matters, and is entirely independ- 
ent of party lines in the discharge of his elective 
franchise. He is a member of tiie Masonic fra- 
ternity', but in later years has not been actively 
connecteil with that society. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Bowers have been born a family of twelve children, 
of whom the following six are still living: Mary, 
Mrs. II. I. Merrill; Clara, tiie wife of E. A. Burden, 
of Cliicago; Samuel I., who lives in this town.sliip; 
Anna, Mi-s. James Duffy, living at Ft. Leaven- 
worth ; C. L., who has charge of the home farm ; 
and Susan II., living in Lincoln Township. 

Charles L. Bowers, the manager of his father's 
farm, was born in Juniata County, Pa., March 20, 
1 859, and came West with his father in 1 H70, and 
having been reared to a farmer's life, has operated 
tiie place ever since. He was married, in Kansas, 
Oct. 6, 1881, to Miss Lena E. Falk, a native of the 
State of Illinois, born April (5, 1865, and the 
daughter of John and Mary Falk, who were of 
(Jerman birth. They arc the parents of four chil- 
dren — Frank H., Mary II., Paul J. and Clara E. 
C. L. is at present Treasurer of the School District 
in which he resides, and is a highly esteemed citi- 
zen of the township. Our subject organized Lin- 
coln Township and named it, and cast the first vote 
that was c:ist in the township. 



\|)OHN TUCKER, proprietor of 400 acres of 
I fine land in the centr.n 



I fine land in the central part of Rockford 
^^1. Township, on sections 15 and 16, is a gentle- 
(^// man well educated and well informed, and 
formerly emploj'ed his j'ounger daj's as a teacher 
in the public schools. He was born near New 
Philadelphia, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, April 8, 1847, 
and is the son of John and JIary Ann (Hunt) 
Tucker, who were both natives of Chester County, 
Pa. 

John Tucker, .Sr., left the Keystone State during 
his earl}' manhciod and located in Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio, in its pioneer da3-s. There he began 
the building up of a good homestead, but did not 
live to carry out his plans, his decease occurring 
when he was in the prime of life, on the 19th of 



June, 1856. and when his son, John, Jr.. was a lad 
nine years of age. The mother sul)sequently mar- 
ried Mr. John Edie, who died in 1,S85. in Ohio. 
She is still living and a resident of this county. 

Mr. Tucker was but sixteen j'cars of age at the 
outbreak of the late Rebellion, but succeeded in 
being accepted as a Union soldier, and enlisting in 
the 1 2th Ohio Cavalry, served from the spring of 
1863 until the close of the war. With his com- 
rades he met the enemy at Saltville, C3'nthiana and 
Mt. Sterling, Ky., and at the latter place was taken 
prisoner l)y the troops of Morgan. After being 
exchanged he participated in otiier engagements, 
including the fight at Bristol, Tcnn., and Wythe- 
ville, W. Va. At the close of the war he was dis- 
cliarged on account of disabilities, and receiving 
his honorable discharge returned lu his old home 
in Ohio. 

Our subject, now desirous of adding to his store 
of knowledge, completed his education in the Nor- 
mal School at Lebanon, Ohio, taking the scientific 
course, lie succeeded remarkably well in his labors 
as a teacher, and occupied the position of Princi- 
pal of the High School at Uhrichsville, Ohio, and 
after coming to Kansas held a similar position at 
Wichita. While a resident of Uhrichsville, Ohio, 
he was married, Dec. 24, 1871, to Miss Melissa, 
daughter of John and Catherine (Harmon) Wardell, 
natives respectively of New Jersey and Pennsyl- 
vania. Mrs. Tucker was born on the 31st of Jan- 
uary, 1847, in Ohio, and her parents spent their 
last years in Ohio, the father dying in 1876. and 
the mother in 1885. They were the parents of 
thirteen children. 

Mrs. Tucker, like her husband, completed her 
education in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, 
taking also the scientific course, and for three years 
was engaged as a teacher in the graded schools of 
Uhrichsville, Ohio, and Wichita, Kan. They came 
to this county in 1872, and in 1873 Jlr. Tucker 
was elected County Clerk, which position he occu- 
pied four years, an<l was also County Treasurer for 
the same length of time. Politically he affiliates 
with the Republican party. Both are members in 
good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which Mr. Tucker has been a Trustee at Wichita 
almost since the time of his coming here. Their 



•»-«r^ 



-t 



-^ 






>» ■ ♦ 



SK DO WICK ( 



l)i 



four <-liililriMi were luirii n.i follows: .le,->r<ie. July 1 I. 
1>"J: Katie, Jan. 16, inTt. ; Kiiiiim. Jan. 20, I ««•_». 
nii<l Mnry, Doe. 7, 1SS7. 

Our of tlie attractive feature."* <>f tlie Iwnuliful 
farm of our subjeel is n line orcliani enibra<-inj,' 
ei^lit acre.s, whieli hn.s been planleil with elioice 
a|)|)le and |H.'ni'b trees, while tliere is an aliundanee 
of the smaller frnil*. He keeps exeellent grade.s of 
hor»e.-<. Ilioroughlircil Short-horn ejillie ami I'ojaiiil- 
( hina swine. 

ll.\ULK.S A. MATKIN, one of the .Mib.stan- 
tial liiisincs.s men of WichilJi, and represent- 
ing; some of its choicest pro|>crty, is a real 
oslatt- dealer experienced and successful, and con- 
tributes his full quotn to the tinancial projfrcss of 
Scilf^wick t'onnty. The scion of an old American 
fiiMiily of Knjriish descent, he fn>t opened his eyes to 
tiic li^'ht in (ireencaslle, Putnam Co., Ind., in 18.')4, 
and [iHssed the uneventful life of a farmer's boy 
until old enough to start in business for himself. 

The lirsl outside venture of our subject was at 
piiotogniphin^r, of which business he gained a good 
knowledge, but the constant inhaling of chemicals 
ami the unaccustomed continement resulted in ill- 
lie:dth, and he was obliged to abandon it. He next 
i-inliarked in the grocery business, where he ;iccumu- 
laled the nucleus t)f his present fortune, and in I KS4 
came to this county and invested his capital in real 
estate in the city of Wichita. lie occupies one of 
the finest homes within its limits, and in addition 
lo his own residence has built five houses, erecting 
tlie first dwelling south of the railroad on South 
To|K-ka avenue, lie hits the reputation of being a 
"■areful and reli.-ililc busine>^s ninii, and one in whom 
the community Iiels aimndant confidence. 

The imrental history of our subject is of more 
than c)rdinary interest. Mis (larents were Isaac anil 
l%lli'ii (dreenlee) .Matkiii, the former bom in Orange 
Coiinty, N. {'., about the year IMOO. He was mar- 
ried in his native State, where he had been reared 
to farming pursuit", and soon emigrated to Indiana, 
and setlleil in I'ntnani County about IH2I. He 
was one of the earliest pioneers of that section, and 
prc.i'ni|>ted land over which the Indians had not 



•► B-^*- 



yet ci-a-seti to stroll. In the erediou of his fin*l 
dwelling, a log cubiii, he wils iLssisted by them, pay- 
ing llieiii for their labor in tiirni|>s. Through fear 
of tliex', whu were not always frien<lly, he slept 
with his loadeil giin by his side, and almost literally 
■•one eye o|)en" for fear of surprisal anil attack. 

In those early days there were no towns in the 
whole Territory of Indiana — only a few settlenieiits 
w Inch could swircely be dignified even by this name. 
The fatherof our subject was obliged to go to mill to 
Cincinnati, making the long journey sometimes 
over almost impjissable roails with a four-horse 
team twice a year. For his protection he kejit a 
large kennel of dogs, having sometimes .-is many as 
eight of these animals, who were thoroughly trained 
in the duties expected of them. L'|Kiii one occa- 
sion at night he was awakened b}- their unusual 
barking at a distance, and making his way to the 
spot found a panther which they had treed. He 
tired and wounded the animal, but in the meantime 
before it died it had killed six of his dogs. .Many 
were the thrilling scenes which the olil pioneer ami 
his famil}' passed through, but it develo|»ed in 
their children the elements of courage ami eniliir- 
ance, which constituted them brave and courageous 
to meet whatever came to them in their after life. 

Isaac Matkin married for his Brst wife a lady 
who became the mother of ten children, but three 
only of whom are now living, namely: .lolin, Lizzie 
and William, and who are residents of Indiana. 
The mother died at the homestead in Indiana, and 
the father of our subject was subsequently mar- 
ried to Miss Ellen Greenlee, who was born in 
Marietta, Ohio, and of .Scotch descent. Of this 
union there were five children, of whom but two 
!ire now living — .Simpson, a resident of Wichita, and 
Charles A., of our sketch. The father finally left 
his home in the country and took up his aliode in 
Greencastle, Ind., where he s|>ent his last yeai-s and 
died about IH6I. His industrious labors !is a pio- 
neer had been rii'lily rewanled, and his e.sUite at his 
tleath was valued at ♦^lO.OOO. Heowned two farms 
in rutiiam County, Ind., and put up a business 
block and three residences in (Ireencastle. 

When the father »)f our subject einigratc<l over- 
land from North Carolina to Indiana, he had but 
one horse and a wagon with which to transport his 






r 





y 




Q:^iU-^aJ[^:£<i 



i^ 



b 



4- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



671 



hoiisehokl goods. Although a man of limited edu- 
cation, he was veiy intelligent and capable, and 
fully alive to the importance of those enterprises 
calculated to build up and advance the interests of 
a new country. He became prominent in Putnam 
County, liberal and public-spirited, a member of 
the Methodist Church and one of the Trustees of 
Asbury University. After the labors of a long and 
busy life, he looked his last upon earthly scenes in 
the spring of 1861. The mother lives in Indian- 
apolis, Ind. 

Our subject, while a resident of Indiana, was 
imited in marriage with Miss Linnie, daughter of 
Calvin and Lizzie (Miller) Albin, whose parents 
were natives of Indiana. Mrs. Matkin was born 
in October, 1857, in Indiana. Our subject and his 
wife have no children. 



,.., I.BEUT G. WALDEN, Marshal of Wieh- 
^ffili ita Fire Department, and Superintendent 
of American District Telegraph Company, 
of that city, is a cool, clear-headed, wide- 
awake man, possessing great tact for business, and 
by his pleasant and courteous treatment of those 
who come in contact with him has rendered him- 
self very popular among all classes of citizens in 
this metropolis. He was born in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, Dec. 29, 1849, and is a son of Baltzer and 
Julia A. (Streeter) Walden. His father was a ship 
builder on the Ohio River, and dealt in lumber, 
being very successful financially in his business. 
He w.as killed by the falling of a cornice from the 
Ohio Trust Company building in 1855, at which 
time several others were also killed. 

The esteemed mother of our subject now lives 
in Wichita. Of her marriage nine children were 
born, three of whom are now living: Granville M., 
a dealer in live stock in St. Louis, where he is well 
amd favornbh" known; A. G.; Edwin IJ., a mail 
carrier in Wichita. Just before the death of the 
father the family had moved across the river 
into the State of Kentucky. Our subject, who was 
at that time six years of age, attended school in 
Cincinnati. 

In 1862, although but a boy of thirteen years, 



Albert (!. left home and joined his brother Adol- 
phus I'., who was then a soldier, stationed at Milli- 
ken's Bend, Miss. Our subject remained with his 
brother's regiment, the 8th Indiana Infantry, and 
in 18G4, when it veteranized, he enlisted in its ranks 
and continued to be a member of it until the close 
of the war. He was at the battles of Champion Hills, 
Black River, siege of Vicksburg, and in many 
skirmishes. He accompanied Gen. Banks on his 
expedition and was captured by the rebels, but 
after three days was re-captured by the Union 
soldiers. He as bravely and faithfully served his 
country as many an older and more experienced 
soldier. At the beginning of the war he went with 
his mother and others of the family to live in 
Anderson, Ind., and at the close of the war he re- 
turned to S(^hool in Anderson, where he remained 
until 1868, when he entered the regular army and 
served five years as a soldier, being stationed at 
Atlanta, Ga., and other Southern points. 

Retiring from a military life our subject went to 
St. Louis and engaged in the live stock trade with 
his brother, remaining in that city until 1880. 
From there he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and assisted 
in building the city water works. He subsequently 
acted as traveling salesman for a St. Joseph house 
for four years, and during that time, in 1882, he 
came to Wichita, where, after leaving the road, he 
opened a sample room fur notions and hosiery, rep- 
resenting a Philadelphia firm. 

In October, 1886, Mr. Walden was appointed 
Chief of the AVichita Fire Department, consisting 
of four companies and sixteen paid men. Under 
his vigorous, systematic and business-like manage- 
ment it has become one of the finest and most 
effective organizations in its particular line in the 
State of Kansas. He organized the paid department 
and is its first chief. He has always taken a great 
interest in the fire departments of the various cities 
in which he has resided, and has made a careful 
study of their methods; he has also had an experi- 
ence of several years as a member of volunteer 
fire companies, so that it is evident that he is well 
fitted for the important position he now holds. 
When the fire department was organized the mem- 
bers thereof presented our subject with an elegant 
gold badge, and later with one of the finest trump- 



st trump- T 



-^- 



SKDr.WICK roUNTY. 



I 



iiiniU'. Mr. WiiMcii nlso orgnriir.ed mid in 
.'Mi|>«Tintfiiil««iit of tlu' Anioricaii District 'I'dofrmph 
Cotiipniiy, mill is iiuw ctije^np')! in putting in n firu 
iilnrni st-rvici' fur the city. Uv is « iiifiiil*r <if ilio 
ll<>nr<l of Trailo, nnd liy liis >iu-oc-s,->fnl luiaiiifss 
oprriitions liii.'" ncipiirt-il vuliinl>ic city proporly, and 
is now erecting n liJindsonu' roidi-nci'. 

'I'o till- wife wlio presides with ;;raeious h«>spilnl- 
ity over his home onr siilijeel was married Dec. »'■, 
lHH-2. Slie was formerly Miss Malvina A. Descnux, 
daii^fhter of Ivlward and Alliertine Descaiix. Her 
mother is now instructor in (lermaii in tlie Lewis 
Acftilemy. of this city. 

In politics Mr. Wiilden is active in the ranks of 
tlie liepnlilican pnrl\' : siK-ially, lie is a member of 
Warwick Lod;.e No. 4 J. K. of I'., also of I'niforni 
Rank. Wichita Division No. 2, of which he has liccti 
Commander for tliree veal's. 

The portniit of this (-nterprisinj; reproenlalivc 
citi/.en accompanies this sketch. 

r^DWAHl) I'lllLLll'.S. an enterprising mer- 
fei chant of (ireenwich Vilhige, carries on hiisi- 
/ l' — ^ iiess in lumber, stoves and general hardwjuT. 
lie is also the owner of a quarter-section of land on 
section \i), in close proximity to the village site. 
He was horn in .IefIei>on County. N. Y., Jan. ."{. 18:11. 
John I'hillips, the father of our subject, was a 
native ot New Haven, Conn., born in IKOiI, anil 
while yet a boy removed with his parent* to .Icffi'r- 
son County. N. Y. There he was reared to man- 
hood a farmer, which business he followed all his 
life. Karly in life he innrrieil Miss .Sanih M<-Coinbs, 
and settled down to agricultural life in the Kinpire 
State. In I MG.'i he rcuioved to Illinois, .'ind locating 
in Livingston County, purcha.scd .'i farm and resi<Ied 
there for ten years. At the expiration of that time 
he returned to New York State and lived with n 
son until lHK:f. when lie came lo Kansas and look 
np his ri'sideiicc with the subject of our sketch. He 
hiLS been a mcmlicr of the Methodist Kpiscopal 
Church and of the Hepublican party for many years. 
His wife was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Feb. 
■i'J, 1H((S. She wastlie mntherof Iwelvechildrcn, ten 
boys and two girls. One daughl<'r. Cordelia, hus 



pa-Hsod ;■ I ■^■.>\ - ; 

(icorge \N'., .lulm C, Kih\;inl and i.gl.nl il"!"''). 
(iustnvus C, William D., L<'wis K., Tyler D., 
I'hiiieas F.. .lasper W. nnd .Snnili. 

The subject of this sketch vius reared u|M>n his 
fjitlier's farm in the .State of New York, and re- 
ceived his education in the district schools of that 
liK-ality. He remained at luiine .assisting in the 
labors attendftiit upon agricultiinti life until Sept. 
L'.'i, lK5;t, when he was united in marriage with .Miss 
Maria L. .Skinner, when he started out to battle 
with the world for himself. They remained in his 
native Slate until .lime, lH,'),"i, and then moved to 
Port Huron, Mich., where he w.is engaged at 
shingle-making until Septcmlier. 1 Ki'.O. From that 
place they niove<l lo Chilton, Caliimel Co., Wis., 
where Mr. l'liilli|>8 purcha-seil a tract of I GO acres 
of land, which was all covered with heavy timber, 
p.'iying for it some iH> an acre. Being a man of 
indomitable energy and sturdy frame, he began at 
once the work of clearing it olT, and without any 
help whatsoever chopiiecl the timber oflf over 
seventy-live acres of it, clearing it entirely up. 
After making a farm out of this which he found a 
wilderness, he settled down for a few years to farm 
life. In IHT.'i it entereil into his mind that Kansas 
was a belter country for him than Wisconsin, and ac- 
cordingly, taking Wichita as .-i guiding sljir, started 
for this suite. He arrived in Se<lgwick County and 
located on forty acres of land near the above city, 
where he resided some years, but selling that place 
he purcha>eil the one which he now owns, and lo 
which he moved in \SH-i. Having completed a 
dwelling in the town in 1HS7, lie came to the 
village of ("irecnwicli, where he is now a resident. 

During the great Hebellion, the subject of this 
sketch withpatriolic .anlor enlisleil in Company K, 
2lsl Wisconsin Infantry, and participat«'d with that 
regiment in most of the marches, cainp.-iigu:- and 
battles of the Southwest. He was in the engage- 
ments at I'crryvillc. Stone River, the sanguinary 
contest at Chickamauga. where "all the .air seemed 
conllicting tire." at Kesaca. ami at Dallas, and 
received a severe wound while on the skirmish line 
in the latU'r contest. He .served well and valiantly, 
and wiLs mustered out and honorably dischargeil on 
; the 'Jill of .luiic, IHC"). His lirother Tyler wius a 



•►•-^ 



•^•-^ 



'**r^ 



SBDGWICK COUNTY. 



f>73 



member of the 36th Wisconsin Infantry, and Will- 
iam having enlisted in the lOth New York Heavy 
Artillery, lost a leg at the charge into the crater at 
Petersburg, Va. 

.Mr. Phillips is a stanch Republican in political 
faith, and adheres closely to the doctrines of that 
organization. He has filled the offices of Justice of 
the Peace and School Director for many years, 
although he has few aspirations for political office. 
He is a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and takes great interest in the relig- 
ious life of the community. His estimable wife 
is a native of Woodstock, Vt., born Aug. 16, 
1 833, and is the daughter of Amasa and Hannah 
(Piper) .Skinner, the latter of whom were also na- 
tives of tiie Green Mountain State. She is the 
mother of one son, Edward A., who was born in 
Jefferson County, N. Y., Dec. 2, 18.')4, and who is 
a partner in business with his father. He married 
Anna Thomas, in August, 1885, .and is a resi- 
dent of the village. Mrs. Phillips, the wife of our 
subject, draws her religious consolation from the 
same noble fount as her husband, and enters hearily 
into all his plans for religious advancement. 



JT/OHN HOHMAN. Among the sturdy and 
I stalwart citizens of Sedgwick County, whose 
|! place of birth was in the far-away German 
Jj Fatherland, and who, with the industry and 
thrift so natmal to the people of their native land, 
are rapidly progressing toward that financial condi- 
tion so much coveted by all, is the subject of this 
personal history. He is a native of He,«se, Ger- 
man}', born Oct. 20, 1837, and is the son of Nicho- 
las and Elizabeth (White) Hobman, who were also 
natives of the German Empire. His father, who 
liad learned the trade of shoemaking in his native 
land, came to the United .States when our subject 
was about five years of age, seeking beneath the 
folds of our starry banner the chance of better- 
ing his condition in life, and raising himself above 
the condition to which he was doomed in his own 
oppressed countrj'. The famih' settled in Fulton 
Count3', Pa., where the mother died, but the father 
of our subject is still living in Fulton County, in 



the Kej'stone State, having reached the advanced 
age of eighty-tliree years. Since coming to this 
land, the refuge of the poor of every nation, the 
elder Mr. Hobman has been engaged at his trade 
and in carrying on a farm, and on the latter the 
subject of our sketch was reared and received his 
training. 

Young Hohmam received his education in the 
excellent schools provided by the great common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania for the rising generation, 
and as he reached maturer years adopted the call- 
ing of farming. He remained a resident of the 
Keystone State, carrying on the labors of his chosen 
vocation among the hills and valleys of the pictur- 
esque portion of the State where he was reared, 
until 1878, when, with a natural wish to improve 
his fortunes and have more room in which to ex- 
pand his efforts, he came to Kansas and settled in 
Sedgwick County. He at first purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 26, on which his home 
now stands in E.agle Township, and shortly after- 
ward bought eighty acres more of the railroad 
company, adjoining it on section 23. Here he has 
made his home ever since, carrying on general 
farming and stock-raising. He rears quite a num- 
ber of fine graded stock and purchases others for 
the purpose of feeding them, and besides supply- 
ing the home markets, has been engaged for three 
years in shipping cattle to Kansas Citj'. Nearly all 
of the improvements upon his place, which are of 
a neat and substantial character, ai'e the work of 
his own efforts, and with a foresight peculiar to the 
German race, he has set over an acre of orchard, 
including apple, pear, cheiry and peach trees. 

Mr. Hohman was united in marriage, Oct. 1, 
1879, with Miss Harriet Swischer, a native of Ful- 
ton County. Pa., born Nov. 28, 1861, and daugh- 
ter of Dennis Waltz. She was an adopted daughter 
of Henry Swischer, her maternal grandfather, her 
father having died when she was very young. Her 
mother died in 1883. By this marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Hohman have become the parents of one 
child, Olive May, whose birth on the 23d of No- 
vember, 1886, brought joy to the household, and 
brightened the existence of both father and mother. 
In his political views our subject coincides with 
the Democratic party, and in the discharge of his 



••iT-t 



i*-< 



^KDCWKK COCNIY 



ell ciivc frniieliiM> \ ■ 

\>y th.1t orpiitizntiiiii. llf i> a "•■jii-i-teiit. ^iini-n 
iiii-iiilK>r of tlic I'liristian Union Churc-li, nn<l n 
r«-|H'i'liMl mill viiliii-il i-ilizon of the coniiniinity. 
Mi.* many virtiie.-i and |il«*aaiinl wuy$ liiive piincd 
liiiii lio.><l.s of friLMiil.t. 



» 



^N. A\ ll) 1»A\IS is :i oili/«-n of Ninnoscilh 
I j ro\vn»lii|i, n'.>ii<linjj on section ;!2, where 
^ IX^ ho i> actively c'n}j;ii;;in;j with gouil snccess 
in a^ric'tiltiiral piirstiiU;. lie was horn in 
.lackiton C"oiinty. Iml., .July 14, 1 8tH, hi.s parents 
hrin;; .lames and Nancy (Cummins) Davis. His 
father was t)f Knglish origin. To them were horn 
live ciiildren, four of whom are now living. Their 
M>ii iJriiry linively gave up liis life while lighting 
in the defense of his country in the late Civil War; 
Sarah is the wife of William Nolle. t)f Seilgwick 
County; Margaret is the wife of Newton I'art- 
riiige, of this county; .lames lives in .lack.son 
(■mnty. Iiid. 

Our suliject pa.vsed liis Ijoyhood in his native 
Suite, receiving good educational advantages antl a 
careful training from his parents, who early tjuight 
him to lie industrious, honest and frugal, if he 
Would succeed in life. He learned when quite 
young to do all kinds of farm work and performed 
his share of the daily labors, and when he grew to 
manhood he adopted the calling to which he had 
lieen re.'ired. In 187.') he decided that he could 
farm to better advantiige and more prolitaldy on 
the fresh and unbroken soil of the far-fameil Arkan- 
sas Hiver Vallej-, which but a few years before had 
licen o]>enc<l to .settlement. Accordingly he came 
to S-ilgwick County, and pre-emj)ted the southern 
(piarler of section 32 in Ninuescah Township, set- 
tling on it imnu'diately, and by dint of hard labor. 
self-<l(!nial. and an intelligent application of agri- 
rulturnl principles, he has wrested a fine farm from 
the hand of nature, and made a comfortable home 
fur his family, lie now owns 240 acres of land, 
having added eighty acres to his original purchase. 
In all his undertakings he has met with uidiounded 
-iiccess, and bids fair l<.i become one of the wealthy 
-4» 



'•wnslilp, nl: i in life 

"itli 11.' .>lli<M capital llian brains and luu-cle. 

Our subject has been twice married, lie was 
llrst wedded to .Mrs. .Melvina (FleetwiMxl ) Fiidey, 
in Indiana, in \)<i'-'J. Two children were born of 
that union: Kllle, Aug. 2'.». 1k71, and Kvu, Nov. 'J, 
Its?.'). Mrs. Davis died at her home in Imliana. 
Mr. Davis was married to .Miss Hannah Finley, 
in .lanuary, 187(1. To them were born live chil- 
dren, as follows: William. .March 7. 1877; lj«w- 
rence, Nov. 1». 187H; OtUiwa, Nov. 21, I8H0; 
.lames A., .May 'J, 1884; .b;.*sie, April 14, 188(; 
On the 2d of .May, 1887, the loved and loving 
wife, mother an<l friend fell into the sleep which 
knows no waking, and many mourned with the 
bereaved family in their loss. 

Mr. Davis thoroughly represents the pioneers of 
.Seilgwick County, .is he has aided in its develop- 
ment and has contributt^'d generously to promote 
its pros|)erity. He is a man of genuine worth, and 
enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors. 
In him the Democratic parly has one of its most 
earnest supporters. Of the comforUdile and pleas- 
ant home which ha.s been built up through his 
industry and forethought, a litho>>niphic view is 
given elsewhere in this work. 



f KNKV LATHAM, one of the subsUintia] 
ilT^ and extensive faniiei-s of \'allev Center 
^^J^ Township, and a resiilenl on section ."l, is a 

(^) native of X'irginia, having first opened his 
eyes to the light in Harrison County. Nov. 2'.'. 
1828. His parent-s. Peter and Hannah (Houston) 
Latham, were also natives of the Old Dominion. 
IVt<;r Latham, the father of the subject of our 
sketch, was born in 1801, and followed the oceu|)!i- 
tion of a farmer in his native .St^ite and in Ohio 
until his death, which look place in 1803. He was 
a highly respected cili/en, and a representative of 
the district in which he lived, ami always mani- 
fested a sincere inlcresl in all pul>lic as well ils 
local affairs. His wife was born about 1808, and 
when about eighteen years of age wjls converted 
to Christ and joined the Baptist Church, of which 
denomination she remained a member until her 



•t-* 



-4^ 



1 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



675 



death. She was called hence in 1 864 ; her husband 
liad died the previous year. They were the par- 
ents of twelve children, seven boj's and five girls, 
viz.: .lane, deceased ; Anthony; Moses and John, 
deceased; Margaret; Winnie; Henry, the subject 
(if this sketch; Sarah, David, William, James and 
Mary Ann. 

Henry Latham remained at home with his par- 
ents, assisting his father in the manual labor attend- 
ant upon an agricultural life, and imbibing the 
elements of an excellent education in the com- 
mon schools of the district. At the age of twenty- 
two j'cars he left the sheltering roof of his father's 
liouse, and worked upon a farm in the vicinity, for 
one year, by the month. At the expiration of 
that time he engaged in farming on his own ac- 
count in his native State, where he remained until 
1859. During the latter year, appreciating the ad- 
vice of Horace Greeley, he came westward and 
settled in Sangamon County, 111., where he re- 
mained for about three years. 

During the dark days that overshadowed our 
beloved country, from 1 H60 to 1865, when civil 
strife demanded such wholesale sacrifices from the 
people of Illinois, as well as other States, the pat- 
riotism of every man was appealed to. Under 
stress of the demands so urgently made for men, 
in 1862, Mr. Latham enlisted in Company G, 
1 I6tli Illinois Infantrj', and with the gallant band 
of heroes which made up this well-known regiment, 
participated in most of the marches, campaigns 
and engagements of the Armies of the Tennessee 
and Cumberland. He was at the siege and sur- 
render of Vieksburg and the engagement at Ar- 
kansas Post, which took place during the leaguer 
of the former cit^', after which he returned to the 
lines before that cit}', and participated in general 
battle. During the famous Atlanta campaign he was 
before the lines at Atlanta, having previous to this 
fought with his regiment at Resaca, Dalton, and 
been in the thick and deadly contests of Chat- 
tanooga, Jackson and College Hill. Having been 
attached to the conquering columns of Sherman's 
array, our subject was detailed as teamster, and 
drove his three span of mules and wagon through 
Georgia and Carolina with that column. On ar- 
riving .at Washington he turned over the property 



intrusted to him, was mustered out of the United 
States service, and discharged in June, 1865, .-it 
Camp Macon, 111. 

Returning from the war, Mr. Latham resumed 
life as a tiller of the soil, and remained a resident 
of Illinois until 1872, when, perceiving the ad- 
vantages of a newer country where he could ex- 
pand his efforts and court fortune to a better ben- 
efit, he came to Kans;is, and settled in Sedgwick 
Count}' on the farm where he now resides. His 
place is quite extensive, and the improvements arc 
of a most excellent character. His jesidence, 
which stands upon a part of section 3, is one of 
the best in the township and is an ornate and beau- 
tiful cottage. Since coming to this section of the 
country Mr. Latham has been quite fortunate in 
his business affairs, owing more to his energy, in- 
dustr}- and tact, than to the favors of the blind 
goddess. A large proportion of his time and ef- 
forts is expended in the breeding and raising of 
blooded stock, with most excellent results. 

October 26, 1861, Mr. Latham plighted his trotii 
at the marriage altar to Miss Maria Mahannah. His 
chosen life companion is the daughter of Benjamin 
and Hannah Mahannah, both of whom have en- 
tered into their rest. In his j'ounger days her 
father was a blacksnith by trade, but adojited 
farming as an occupation later in life. Mrs. La- 
tham is one of a family of eleven children. The 
family of the subject of this sketch consists of 
four children living, and seven who "have gone 
before." Hannah Ann. Mrs. William Sellers, is a 
resident of Union Township, this county; Mary 
Kills, Mrs George Thrush, is living on a farm in 
Eagle Township; Blanche Lilian and William H. 
are at home. Those who have entered into the 
life elysian are: Minnie P., who was born Nov. 10, 
1855, and died December 5 following; Ellen C, 
who was born Sept. 5, 1859, and died Sept. 14, 
1864; James II., born M.ay 12, 1861, died Sept. 1, 
1863; Benjamin P., born March 28, 1866, died 
July 6. 1879; and Martha J., born March 26, 1868, 
died July 6, 1879. The last two named were 
drowned in the Little Arkansas River. The two 
children had gone on a visit of two or three days, 
just previous to the Fourth of Jnlj', and were re- 
turning home in the care of a man who w.as board- 



•►•-4»- 



^^^ -4» 



.si;i)(;\\ K K C'Ol'NTY. 



iuii with tlicir jmrcnU. Coming to the banks of 
tlic river, it wh.s f(iiin<l timt tlio stri-ani wan <|iiitc 
lii;;li. owing to H storm, iiml in iMitlenvoriiig to 
cross tliey were c!i*t into tin- streiiiii, n\u\ none be- 
ing jilile t<i lii'lp them, tliey werr lost. Another 
cliild. Mil M., whosi' hirlh looi< phioe Mny '21, 
ls7l, (lii'il in Dfi'i'inlicr following; and Freddie, 
who wiLs horn May I'.*, IHKO, dird Noveniher 2.1 
of till- same vear. 

In |M>lilics, the siiliject of our sketch is a sUuich 
.•idluTcnt to the principles of the HepuMican |mrty, 
whii'h mostly approaches his convictions on public 
ipii'slions. lie and his cstimalilc wife are alt^-nd- 
aiits upon the services of (Jod at the Methodist 
Kpiscopal Church, and strive to lead liLaniele&s lives. 



-i^ 



feDCS^ 



(^IKOHCiK A. tULMOUK, cashier of the hank 
of C. C. Kobbins & Co., of Mt. Hope, is a 
worthy rcprescnUitive of agoodold New Kn- 
gland faniil.y. the members of which several genera- 
tions ago were among the early settlers of that part 
of the country', lie was born in Kenosha County, 
^^'is., April 20, 1 «•!•!, and is a son of Aimer and 
Kleanor (Bishop) (lilmore. 

The father of our subject was born in \'ermout, 
and in that beautiful State was reared to a life of 
usefulness and labor. As soon as he reached years 
of maturity he became engiigcd for himself as a 
farmer and a lumberman. When a young man he 
removed with his parents to Wisconsin, and in the 
city of Chicago was united in marriage to Miss Klea- 
nor Bishop, a native of the North of Ireland. They 
subseqncnti}' s< ttlcd on a farm in Kenosha County. 
Wis. Later, for three years, Mr. (iilmore was em- 
ployed in the lumber business in Cook County, III. 
Then he liccame a resident of Beloit, Wis., for 
awhile, and in the spring of 1 S.OH migrated from 
that city with his family' to Athens, (in., where he 
liccanie a ctjntniclor and builder. 

After the war .Mr. (iilmore moved to Atlanlji. ( ia., 
and was actively engaged in the same business until 
.Inly, IHMl, when he canu- to Kinisas with his wife, 
and they now niake their home with their son, our 
siilijcct. They are pco|>lc of exceptional integrity, 



and are held in general res| have one 

other son, Herman K.. a resident .■! Macon, Ga. 

Our subject wius twelve years <if age when his 
|mrent.s went to live in (Jeorgin, and he continued 
to make his home with them until after the war. 
He received n ginMl connnon-scluKil ctlucnlion, and 
wiLs on the eve of entering the freshman cla.ss of 
the university at Athens, (!a., but at that date the 
Civil War was in progress, and all men between the 
ages of sixteen and sixty were forced to take part, 
and our subject, though then not quite sixteen, pre- 
ferred to volunteer rather than be conserijitcd. ai.d 
in l.sG.'i he bccjime a mendier of Company il, [>i\\ 
Regiment (Jeorgia Volunteers, C. N. A. He served 
until the close of the war, when he was mustered 
out as Sergeant. The '.Hh (Jeorgia Volunteer Reg- 
iment was under <ien. Hardee, and was in front of 
.Sherman in his march to the sea. The father and 
brother of our subject were also in the service of 
the ConfedeniU' army, and at .Savannah, the night 
of the evacuation, our subject and his father, and 
<me other man, spiked the guns of three batteries. 
After the war Mr. Gihnore engaged with bis father 
in contracting and building, an<l su|ierinl«-ntled the 
erection of the (Jovernor's residence at Atlanta, 
which is still used as such. In 1x7.") he returned to 
his old home, Beloit, Wis., and was employed as a 
designer by the F. N. Davis Manufacturing Com- 
(lan^'. In 1879 he came to Kansas and purchased a 
section of land in Reno County, four miles west of 
Mt. Hoi*, and in the year 1H80 removed his fam- 
ily to the Sunflower Slate, where they have since 
resided. 

In 1878 Mr. (iilmore was married to Mre. Mc- 
Conimons, nre Thorp, a native of New York, and a 
daughter of Herman S. and Kmeline Thorp. Her 
marriage with Nathan McComnions took jjlace in 
Wisconsin. He was a dealer in horses, and took 
many trips to California, and after marriage his 
wife accomjmnied him on one of his excursions to 
that State. He ilied in the city of Rockford, ill. 
leaving an estate valued at ^Kl.diMJ. To him and 
his wife was born one daughter, Carrie, now the 
wife of T. F. Halverson, County Attorney of .Staf- 
ford County, Kan. Mrs. (Jilmore, a woman of su- 
perior business tact, is a member of the banking 
Orm of G. C. Robbins it, Co., ami is the owner of 



>» ■ <- 



■•►■ -^ 




1 



SKDGWICK COLNTV. 



480 acres of land. Her union with our subject has 
been blessed by the birth of one sou, Roy Thorp. 
Mr. Gihiiore is hcartili' lilved in this conununity, 
and his well-icnowu ability makes hiui a desirable 
man for public oflice, but he persistently resists all 
efforts of his many personal friends to induce him 
to take au active part in the administration of town 
or county affairs. He is a lirm Republican and has 
voted with tliat party ever since he attained his 
majority. He has a kindly heart, as open to all 
generous impulses as his purse is to all measures of 
public improvement and private cliarity. Both 
himself and his wife are inlluential members of the 
Congregational Church, of which he is one of the 
Trustees. 

^ . : :§^WM=^: : '- 

C. DAISY. Sedgwick County is peculiarly 
fortunate in having been settled up by intelli- 
gent and enterprising men who, from the first, 
evidently "came to stay," and at once identified 
themselves with the interests and progress of this 
section of country. They brought with them tlieir 
capital and their families, and have formed thelione 
and sinew which have, amid dangers and ditliculties, 
set in motion the car of progress and insured the pros- 
perity of one of the most valuable tracts of country 
on the Western Continent. These thoughts are in- 
voluntarily suggested in contemplating the career 
of the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Daisy represents the capitalistic branch of 
the community, being au extensive dealer in live 
stock. He came to Wichita, the scene of his pres- 
ent operations, in the fall of 1872, and commenced 
purchasing mules from Missouri, and wsis thus 
engaged for six years following. In the meantime 
he secured a tract of Government land in Illinois 
Township, this county, and, as time progressed, 
added to his real estate by the purchase of farms 
m various parts of the county, besides business lots 
in the heart of the city. His energy and enter- 
prise are the subject of general connneut, and he 
was long :igo placed in the ranks of the solid men 
of Sedgwick County. 

Our subject was born in Springfield, Ohio, Aug. 
22, 1846, and is the son of Moses and Rhoda 
(Collins) Daisy, natives of Delaware. Moses Daisy 



-^ff 



was of Knglish descent, and engaged in farming 
pursuits his entire life. The parents removed from 
their native State to Indiana in 1845, locating in 
Kosciusko County, where they spent the remain- 
der of their days. The father passed awaj- in 1871, 
and the mother in 1859. Their family included 
four children, and Osmau C, in common with his 
brothers and sisters, spent his childhood and youtii 
amid the quiet scenes of country life. 

Mr. Dais3', of this sketch, left the parental roof 
in 1863, and resolved to see something of the 
world. He crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, 
from there proceeded to Wyoming Territory, and 
after revisiting Salt Lake, went to the vicinity of 
Eui'eka, Nev. There he engaged in mining for 
a time, and, when taking up his line of march 
again, visited California, where he visited off and 
on, and then returned home. He was not content, 
however, to remain east of the Mississippi River, 
and visited California three times afterward. We 
next find him in the city of Wichita, where the 
following year he bect.me the possessor of a street 
sprinkler, and from that modest beginning made 
such an advance that he is now the owner of all 
the street sprinklers in tiie city. He runs six 
wagons, employing as many men and teams. He 
has always made it a point to live within his income, 
and prosperity' attended hira from the first. 

The Crawford Opera House at Wichita is an 
institution in which the city takes much pride, and 
was erected at a cost of 880,000. In the establish- 
ment of this enterprise Jlr. Daisy was largely 
instrumental, and is one of its largest stockholders. 
He has put up business blocks and dwelling-houses, 
and been a liberal supporter of the various enter- 
prises calculated for the general welfare. His resi- 
dence, one of the finest in the city, is located on 
South Topeka avenue. He put up on Douglas 
avenue the first cracker factory in the city, in 
1882, and started the first tannery in Kansas in 
1873, and wiiicli has since been known as the 
Southwesteru Robe Factor}', buffalo robes having 
been a specialty in the operations of the institu- 
tion. He was the fii'St to inaugurate the experi- 
ment of boring for gas, and in 1887 formed a 
corapanj' of eight, called the Wichita Mining and 
Investment Companj'. This company commenced 
*► 



-4^ 



•►■-4» 



SKI )<; WICK COUNTY, 



<i|iorntiiiK six iiiili-s ojutl i>f tin- oily liinils, hikI 
l...mi n .li-tiiiuf i>f 2.000 fe»»l. At linlf this <lis- 
Uxuct' tlipy struck miU whI«t. TIu'V nimlly iilmmlonod 
this wi'll, mill nro now sinking nimllior ten niilf.s 
fron) the city. .Mr. Daisy liius tr.ivclfil cxtensivt-ly 
over tlie \V(>stern <-<iuntry. s|>enf)iiijj nearly ten 
yejirs of his life in this niiinner. Ills line biisint-.s.-^ 
en|ineitioy in the nienntiine have ennlilerl him to 
nmke the must of whiit he liiis seen nmt heard, lie 
is 11 tine ealeulator ami a full-tleil;ite(l trafler. Polit- 
ically, he Votes the liepnMiean ticket, and s<K'ially, | 
liclongs to the A. O. V. \\. and 1. O. (). F. 

Mr. Daisy, in the spring' of 1S77. wa.s united in 
marriajje with Mi«s Kmma, daufihter of Frank W. 
.•md Kllcn (Mcdriff) Stover, natives of (.)hio, .-ind 
now of Wichit«, Kan. Their family' incluiled eight 
children, of whom five are living, and residents of 
Wichita. Mi's. Daisy wius born Aug. l."i, l.'^.IT, in 
Ohio, and came with her parents to Wichitji in 
1H"I. Mr. Stover, upon coming here, engaged in 
the real-estate liu.sine.ss. Mr. and Mrs. Daisy are 
the parents of two bright children — George Ward, 
born Feb. .3, |h79, and .Myrtle .Mosceline, Aug. '.t, 
1881. 

♦ )gM3< * 



ylLLlA.M 11. TILL is finely located on ten 
■icres of land in the southwest corner of 
^ „ section 3.5, Wichita Township, about four 
miles from Douglas avenue, and where he has a 
line residence with attractive surroundings, a view 
of which we are plea.sed to present in this volume, 
lie is now engaged in real-estate trnnsactions, and 
is numbered among the well-to-do men of Sedgwick 
County, whose industry and econumy have made 
him comparatively independent. 

The first recollections of (»ur subject are of a 
modest home in .Ie(Ters<»n County, Ind., whore he 
first opened his eyes to the light on the ;{d of Fcb- 
riuiry, IKIIK. He is the son of Thomas an<l Mary 
(Field) Tull, natives resiwetively of Kentucky and 
Indiana, the former born in (Irani County. Dee. 
i!'.i, 1H| 7, and the latter ill .lefTei-son County. Nov. 
27, 1 KIM. The father w.-w reared to farming pur- 
^iiiLs, which occupation ho followed his entire life, 
lie left the Uliie Oritss State in IHSll. and now 
makes his home with the subject of this sketch. 



The paternal grindfnther, a native of Marylaml. 
emigratod to Kentucky at an early day, and died 
there in I H2'.t. The mother of our subject was 
nlllicted with consumption, but was not eonsiderrd 
in danger until a few days before her death, which 
took place .Inly 14, IMS). She had been a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church for a |K'rio<l of twenty 
years. The children of the parental household are 
recorded as follows: Kli/.abeth wn.s born May s. 
1S40; Mary .1., .Ian. 2<;, IH12; Luvisa. Aug. II, 
IK 1.5: Thomas. .Ian. 20. l,s|7; Klisha. Feb. 2.'., 
184'J. The other three children, including a pair 
of twins, died in infancy. Arena was born .Inly 
«, I«52. 

William Tull continued with his parents in Indi- 
ana until the outbreak of the Kebellion. when he 
had reached his twont_v-9econd birthday, lie then 
enlisted in Company H, 0;td Indiana Infantry, sind 
served in the Army of the Tennessee for a |K>riod 
of three yeai-s. He was present jit the siege of 
Vicksburg, and was with (irant and Sherman on 
the Sturgis raid. He was captured by the rebels 
and confined in Andei-sonville Prison for eleven 
months. The sufferings and privations of that 
terrible time are matters of historical note. The 
youth and good constitution of our subject, how- 
ever, eiialiled him to battle successfully with these, 
anil u|>on his rele:ise he was mustered out and dis- 
charged at Camp Chase, in Ohio, in K^Cj. 

Before entering the army our subject had received 
a practical education, and ui)on returning t4> civil 
life eng.aged in general merchandising in Austin, 
Iiid., where he continued until 1875. He then sold 
out and came directly to this county, and in com- 
pany with his father, purcha.sed a quarter-section 
of land in Wichita Township, upon which he at 
once commenced operations. He invesU'd a part 
of his surplus capital resulting therefrom in a 
quarter-section of gootl land in (^lypsum Township. 

Mr. lull, in September, 1807, w.as married in his 
native county to Miss America Keach. who was 
born in .lackson County, Ind.. .Ian. 30, 181!). Mrs. 
Tull is the daughter of Alexander C. and Susan 
H. (Fislar) Keach, who were natives of Kentucky 
and Indiana ros|H'Ctively. Her father was born in 
1822, and iluring the lat«' war joined the rnion 
army and was captured by rebels, remaining a 



•*^m ■<• 



%■ 




Residence ofT. W. Fleshman ,Sec. 3. Salem Township. 




Residence of W? H .Tull,Sec.35.WichitaTownship. 



-•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



,')S1 



prisoner a short time. He died on his return home, 
nbout 186.1. His wife, who w.-is born Oct. 2, 1824, 
is still iivinfj, ;ind maiviiig lier home in Jackson 
County, Ind. Both i)arents united with tiie Method- 
ist Episcopal Church earlj' in life. Their ciiildren 
wore named respectively : Martha J. ; .John R., who 
also served in the arm3'; J^itucs K. ; America, Mrs. 
Tull; Louisa, dcce:ised; Hester A., Willie II. and 
Mary. The two last named <lied in childhood. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Tull there were born five chil- 
dren: their eldest, Alzora, died when about two 
years old ; CJarcnce, who is at home with iiis 
parents, and Willie, who died when an infant of 
four months. Arthur C. and Wilmer II. are at 
home. Clarence, the eldest son, a bright boy of 
seventeen years, suffers un<ler the affliction of total 
blindness, the effect of neuralgia and spinal dis- 
ease. 

Our subject and iiis wife are members in good 

standing of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat, 

politically, and has served in his district as Clerk of 

the Scliool Board. Socially, he is a member of the 

Masonic fraternity, .and h.as held the various oflices 

of his lodge. He also belongs to the American 

Legion of Honor, and Post No. 25, G. A. R., at 

WichiUa. 

■^^•-^xc" ^ - — ■ — »- ^ ^-^-» "^:S**"*^ 

p^HOMAS W. FLESHMAN, Treasurer of Salem 
Township, is also in connection with farming 
succe.ssfuUy engaged as a stock-dealer, in 
partnership with J. W. Starr. He is numbered 
among the active business men who are contributing 
so much to the reputation of Salem Township as a 
desirable place of residence, both in a social and 
financial point of view. A native of the Old Do- 
minion, Mr. F. was born in Bedford County, on the 
10th of August, 185.5, and is consequently now in 
the thirty-third year of his .age. He has alrejidy 
attained a good start in life, and having been en- 
dowed by nature with energ}- and good judgment 
has a fair prospect for the future. 

Of William II. Fleshman, the father of our sub- 
ject, a sketch .appears on another page in this Ai.him. 
The family' came to Kansas in 1869, and the father 
pre-empted a quarter-section of land in Sumner 
County, but later moved to this county, within 
whose limits he has since resided. Thomas W. has 



been familiar with fami |iiii-iiits since his earliest 
recollection, and received his education in the dis- 
trict school. His life during his stay in Virginia 
was spent in a comparatively uneventful manner, 
and he had attained his fourteenth 3'ear when he 
first looked upon the Father of Waters, and cross- 
ing it, took up his abode in this count3', where he 
has since remained. 

Our subject upon reaching the twenty-fouith year 
of his age, wa.s married, in Salem Townsiiip, to 
Miss Ella N. Culter, who was born in Marshall 
County, 111., March 27, 1861, .and became the wife 
of Mr. Fleshman on the 1 8th of December, 1879. 
Mrs. F. is the daughter of Robert C. and Mar}' ,1. 
Culter, who were natives of Illinois, and are now 
residents of Los Angeles Count}', Cal. They left 
Illinois in 1871, and coming to this count}' located 
on section 3, in Salem Township; the father pre- 
empted 160 acres of laud, and with his family 
lived here until in July, 1887. In that month he 
dep.arted for the Pacific Slope. Mr. C. was promi- 
nent in township affairs while a resident of this 
county, serving several terms as Justice of the 
Peace, and holding various minor offices. 

To our subject and his wife there have been Ijorn 
three children, namely: Metta A., born Oct. 30, 
1880; D.aisy N., Nov. 3, 1882: and Frederick, 
March 8, 1885. Mr. Fleshman, politicall}-, is a 
stanch Democrat, and was elected to his present 
office in November, 1887, for a term vf two 3'ears. 
He enjoys in a marked degree the confidence of his 
fellow-citizens, and with his amiable lady is a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Fleshman comes of excellent .Scotch ancestr}', 
and is one of the three living children 3'ct spared 
to her parents. Her brother, Horace M., lives m 
this county, while Alice G. still makes her home 
with her parents, and is single. 

A lithographic view is shown in this connection 
of Mr. Fleshman's residence. 



OATIIAN S. VANDEUSEN, who is located in 
the northeast corner of Rockford Township, 
on section 1, owns and operates a fine farm 
of 120 acres, and is making a specially of stock- 
raising, h.andling some of the best cattle, horses 



■^•- 



-► ■ <• 



'♦ 



-4^ 



>i;i)(;wiCK ('<ii N I ^ 



unci s«fiiu- In III- fuiiiiil ill llli^ M-i-tioii of (•(iiiiilry. i>f Ni-w York, lived in be ovit niic liimdri-d yi'Brn 
lli» lliii* rr-idt'iHi', iilijisaiilly j-itiiiiU'il in ii coiiiiimnil- nld, and »\khI their liial diy.- in the State of New 



in;; |K>silioii. inviirisildy nttraeU the attention of ilie 
IKLH.siii^' Iniveler ur^ the home of a ;;entleninii of ciij. 
tivtil<'d t;iste> ami ain|iie iiiean^, and one who has 
i'ontriliiit<-<l lii> full ijiiota (<• the luiildiii;; up of 
S«Ml;;wiek C'ount\ . 



York. Kiigeiu", our suhjeet's lirolher. makes his 
home in Wiehila. Iliit ^isl<•^, Mary C, live* in 
Nehriuska; lAivia is deeeaaeil. 

Our Miilijeet has never taken n very active inlere.-t 
in politic:), lint reserves the ri^hl of the Aiiicriean 



Our siilijeit llist o|Hiud hi> eyes in the Kmpiic eilizeii. and voti-s indO|ieudeiitly. althou^di usually 



Si;ii«'. Iii> liirlh tnkiiii; plan- in the town of Klliii;;- 
loii, {'haui.iuqu;i Co.. N. Y., on the yntli of l)e- 
eeinlier. 1 M.'Vi. Ilis |«ireiiLs. Harry and Kiinice 
(Brown) N'andeiisen. were natives of the sjune 
.Sliite iLs their son. and when the latter was Ji little 
lad six years of a^'e he was left an orphan, his father 
h:iviii;,' dii'd ill IH.'js, uiid his mother eight years 
hiter, in l.s|i;. iSeside> our sulijeel there was one 
liiiilher .Mild two >islers — Kiigeiie, .Mary and I.ovia. 
The molher of our sillijeet after the death of her 
flrsl hii>liaiid oonliaeted a second marriage. and the 
stepfather kept him iiired out to difTerenl parties 
until nearly Iwciity-oiie yeai"s of age, after which 
time he took the authority to make his own coii- 
trMci>. He made his way into the .State of Iowa, 
where he engageil on a farm, and continued two 
years. At the expiration of this time lie returned 
Kasl a.< far as Oil Cit^', I'a., and became the employe 
of hi'- uncle. Nelson Hrown, who was engaged in 
the furiiilure Inisincss, ami with whom he remained 
two vear>, and then returned to Iowa. 'I'licrc he 



'il 



allllialing with llic Itepiildicau party. Ilis excellent 
wife is a commiinicant of the ChrisliHii ('hurcli. 

;> K)nN C. WILSON, a leading menii.er of the 
I dental profession of Wichita, comes of an 
old Kentucky family i>f Scotch-Irish descent. 
Andrew Wilson, the great-grandfather of 
our suliject, was liorn in tiie North of Irelami, and 
emigrated from there to this country in early life. 
He settled in Hotetourt County, \"a., where two of 
his lirothers also settled, another lirolher settlcil in 
Ohio, and still another settled in Miuvsacluisetts. 

In I7sn Andrew Wilson moved to Kentucky with 
his family, and heenme a pioneer of that .Stale, and 
a contemporary of the famous Daiiiel Hooue. He 
settled in a part of the .Stiitc that was heavily lini- 
hered with forest trees of nil descriptions, and 
cleared a farm from that dense wilderness. Ken- 



farmed .•mother two years, and thence went into tucky w.is at that time the scene of many bloody 



.Missouri, whence, in the fall of 1S7I, he came to 
this county, where he has since remained. 

.Mr. N'aiidcusen first |)rc-eiiiptcd a ipuirtcr-sec- 
tiiin, to which he subseiiueiitly nddeil forty acres, 
the whole being wild .and unimproved laud, anil 
which he hiuH brought to a good stiite of cnltivalioii. 
While a resident of Iowa he had been married on 
the Huh of March. IhCT, to iMiss Ro.setlJi K., 
daughter of Harrison 11. and Kli/a K. (Granda) 
.Moon, who were iiative> of New York Suite. 



battles with Indians, ami was called the "dark ami 
bloody ground." The brave pioneers of that day- 
were men of slerii stuff, of great strength of 
character as well as of physique, anil were ac- 
customed to hardshi|>s from which the men of 
U>-day Would shrink. From that fearless, hardy 
stock many of the present families of Kentucky 
are descended, ami no better .•incestry can be found 
in the pages of history. 

Mr. Wilson worked in the .s.alt mines of Keii- 



.Mr-. Naudcuseii was born in Cattaraugus County, lucky near Crab Orchard, and along distance from 
March II, 1HI7, and hail one sister and two broth- his home, about two ilay.--' ride on horseback. His 
cr>, iiMiiiely : Arvilla; Kdgar A. lives in .Minnesota, lililc .son William was acenstomed t<> go on horse- 
ami Alvaro II. lives in this township. Her father back to take him home. During one of these 
is deceased; the mother now lives in Derby, this journeys the father died suddenly, and William, in 
coniily. great dislre.vs, alone in the wilderness then tilled 
Ilic gr.'uidparcnls of our siilijii-l, who Were iialive» , with hostile Indians, wils obliged to leave the body 



*► ■ ■^- 



•►-■ -4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



^^^1 



.OSS 



of his father and go twenty miles for help. His 
horee either strayed or was stolen by the Indians, 
and he had to proceed on foot. lie managed willi 
great dillieult}' to obtain help, as tiie man of whom 
he asked assistance Wiis unwilling to go throngh the 
wilderness, but learning that IMr. Wilson was a 
M:u-on he returned with the boy, and they made a 
rude codin from the trunk of a black-waliuil tree 
and buried the bod3- by the wa3'side. 

William C. Wilson, the son referred to, and one 
of the principal actors in that solemn, dramatic, 
and, perhaps, n(jt uncharacteristic pioneer scene, 
was the grandfather of our subject. lie was born 
in Virginia, in 1787, and was an infant when his 
parents removed to Kentucky, and in Montgt)niery 
County, that State, he grew -to manhood amid the 
scenes and dangers of a pioneer life. He had four 
brothers and three sisters, as follows: George, An- 
drew, Alexander, Patrick H., I'olly, Sally and Jenny ; 
their average age was seventy-seven 3'ears, and 
their combined ages amounted to .539 years. During 
the War of 1812 lots were drawn to decide who 
should go to the front and who should slay at home 
to care for the families, the lot falling on one of 
William's brothers. In the count3' in which he had 
been reared Mr. AVilson married for his first wife 
Miss Fanny Phillips, daughter of John Phillips, 
aad sister of William Phillips, editor of the West- 
ern Christian Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio, also 
author of religious works and debater with Alex- 
ander Campbell. By that marriage he had four 
children — Branock, Peter, John C. and Mary F. In 
1813 Mr. Wilson moved to Indiana, which was 
then a Territory-, and settled on a farm in JeflEerson 
County, where he fought for the ground, and which 
remained his home until his death, in 1874. He 
%vas a man of excellent character, respected and 
beloved by man}', and a devout member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. B3' his second mar- 
riage Miss Polly Schrowder, of Jefferson County, 
Ind., of German ancestry, formerly of Kentucky, 
became his wife, and bore him eight children, 
namely : Mar}', Alexander, Andrew J., Sarah, James 
II., Louis B., Patrick H., and one child who died 
young. 

John C. Wilson, the father of the subject of 
this sketch, was born In Jefferson County, Ind., in 



1815. He managed to obtain a good common- 
school education under great disadvantages, and 
afterward utilized his knowledge by becoming a 
teacher for some time. He adopted^ the calling of 
a farmer for his life-work, and in 1825 obtained a 
wife and a helpmeet in the person of Miss Anne 
Jane Reynolds, of Indiana, daughter of Simeon 
and Charity Reynolds. Tliej' had seven children 
— Simeon L., W. C, Nelson II., Sarah M., Bianock 
P., James R. and Martha. 

Mr. Wilson bought a farm In Jeffersiin County, 
Ind., and still lives there, leading the quiet life of 
a farmer. The wife of his earl_v ^-ears, who had 
devoted herself to his interests and had tenderly 
cared for their children, was taken from him, and 
Ml-. Wilson was afterward married to Mrs. Jlary 
Ross, nee McGornigle, who bore him five children, 
namely: Mary A., John C, J. R., Altamac and 
Elizabeth. His second wife, a most worth}' woman 
in all respects, departed this life, and Mr. Wilson's 
third marriage was to Mrs. M:uy A. Aln-ams, an 
excellent wife and a true helpmeet. Five children 
have been born to them, as follows: Mollie, Mattie, 
Alta, Fannie and Lottie. Mr. Wilson has been the 
father of twent}' children, fifteen of whom grew to 
maturity. They are scattered now in different 
parts of the United States. He is, at the age of 
scvent^'-threc, vigorous, hale and active, bearing 
the burden of his years with ease, and with unim- 
paired mental as well as piiysical faculties, and bids 
fair to round out a good old age. He has kept un- 
spotted his priceless inheritance of an honorable 
and virtuous character. It is said that among the 
large family of Wilsons, of which he is so noble a 
representative, that not one ever committed a 
crime, or was ever imprisoned for any offense; 
they have alwaj's been a family of good repute, and 
fair circumstances, and the principles of integrit}' 
and honesty have been taught and held s;icred b}- 
them. 

Mr. Wilson has taken a leading part in the [lublic 
:iffairs of his native count}-. In 18G1 he repre- 
sented his district in the Legislature of Indiana, 
during a special session in the exciting times of the 
Civil War. He has ably filled various township 
ollices, and has been Justice of the Peace. Hi- is a 
Royal Arch Mason, and an active member of the 



Hl-^^ 



- ► m ^' 



-4»- 



si;i)<;\\i( K (ui Ni V 



l<ii|>li»t (liiin-li: ill |H)litii-al opiiiioiiit lit- is n Demo- 
rnil, liiit tliiriii); tliv war ho wns a l{i'|iiil>lic!in iiiid 
ii<-U><l with that |Hirty, liL'iii;; a strung .riiioti man. 
lie i> belli in iiniviTsal re!*|H'<-t l>y his follow. Uiwns- 
iiii'ii. 

W. C Wilmm, lii.s soooikI son, wa» l«iirii on tiie 
olil hiinio.stoad, in isi;i. ami recciveil a oi>niiiiiiii- 
M-liiHil oiliii-atiiiii. Ill I SIU, when Alirahuni l.iiK-uIn 
made hi* tir^t call fur troops, youii^' Wilson, llion 
liiit oijihteon years of a<;e, promptly respomlod, ami 
vojiintoi'ioil as a nienibor of Company K, TJth 
Indiana Infantry, in which i-apacity ho rendered 
his I'ountry valiant and clllcient service. When he 
rotire<l from the army, on his return to .Indiana, ho 
coinmeneed to study dentistry, nnil after pmcticing 
in Ills native State for three yoai-s he went to Cali- 
fornia, in IH73. He settled in Yolo County, where 
he resided for fourteen years. In 1H70 he married 
.Miss .lane .Snodgmss, daughter of (leorgc .Snod- 
grass, »)f California, formorl}' of Indian.-i. Of this 
union three children have licen burn — May, Alice 
Myrtle and Lizzie Ktliel. Socially, .Mr. Wilson is 
a Uoyal .Aicli Mason, .'ind politically he is a Re- 
piililicaii. 

.lohn C. Wilson, the subject of this skot<'li, was 
burn in .IcfTerson County, Ind., on his father's 
homestead, in 18ii7. He received a very good 
education, and at an early age began to learn 
dental surgery of his brother, being then but six- 
loon years old. I'lider his brother's competent in- 
.-tructirdi he gained a thorough knowledge of his 
chosen profession, and first began to practice it in 
l.uogootoc, Martin Co., Ind. He finally came to 
Wichit-a aiirl o|>cned an i>(llce here, a.- he saw a 6ne 
opening for gentlemen of his profession in this 
beautiful metropolis, and the success that he has 
met has fully etpialed his expectations; he is already 
in pos.se.ssion of a good practice, and is considered 
in every respect a lino dentist and an ornament to 
his [irofession. 

The amiable and ilevoted wife, who presides so 
pleasantly over the cozy home of Dr. Wilson, wtis 
formerly MLns I'ra Lamiian, daughter of Jacob 
LAiniian, of Petersburg, Ind. One son has been 
born to them, to whom they have given the n.aine 
Walter, liutli our subject ami his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodi.'<l Kpist-opal Church, and iii 



Ihoir MK-ial and private- life show thoms«-lvos to be 
guided by Christinn principles. The I)<M-ior is an 
Odd Follow an<I a Knight of Pythias, and in |)oli. 
tics he is a linn believer in the Hepiiblicaii party, 
supporting it by all the means in his |M>wer. 



s«-- 



|/_^i:,M{V miHKKNS. While some men's lives 
}f]ii <p''''*'>' "'"' peacefully are spent within the 



^i^ inlliiences of a hoine, others meet with ad 
(!k)J ventures in the coiirst- of their life wliici 



ad- 
^. ih 

read almost like a romance. Holil ami adventur- 
ous, they penetrate into unknown lands, and moot 
unknown dangers. Among the latter cla.ss is the 
subject of this sketch. who.<e name is given at the 
head of this article. He is a prominent farmer and 
stock-raiser on section "21, Waco Township, where 
he has lived since 1><7I. A native of Hanover, 
(iormany, Mr. Bohrens was born Dec. IX, |K3l, 
and is the son of Christian and Kli/.abeth (Hor^t- 
iiiann) Uehrens. He w.os one of a family of nine 
<-hildron, born to his parent* .-is follows: Christian, 
Frederick, Klizaboth, Henry, .Mary, .lohaniia. Wil- 
lielm and Margaret. Another child, whose name 
was also Christian, died in infancy. 

The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- 
cated among the plea^uit surroundings of his (ier- 
iiian home, and lived there until 1857. At this 
time, being possessed of a roving, ailveiiturous dis- 
position, ho made his way to the nearest seaport, 
and embarked on a sailing-vessel bound for Rio 
Janeiro. In the latter city he romained some four 
months engaged at the brick aii<l stone raa.son's 
trade, but growing tired of the inactivity, he soon 
shipped on board another vessel. After a stormy 
voyage ho landed in Australia, and in a short time 
left for the gold mines of that land of the summer 
sun. While engaged here in gathering the aurifer- 
ous dust, the parly which he was with wil* several 
tiiiies attacked by the natives, and during one of 
the contests one of his (Mirty received a s|)car be- 
tween the shoulder. The staff broke off, but the 
head remained in the wound for six weeks, when it 
wiLs extracted by a doctor. After s|>cn<ling some 
time in that inhospitable country, lie set sjiil for 
Afriia, aii<l landed at the Cape of liood Hope. In 



-♦-■ -4« 



•^m-^- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•►-HI 



585 



company with several others he journe3'ecl north- 
ward, and crossing the Blue ^lonntains, entered 
Zuliiland, where lie the diamond fields. While 
engaged in search of gold, the natives being dis- 
contented witii this intrusion upon their chosen 
hunting-grounds, made continual att.icks upon tiiem, 
and they were compelled to retreat toward the 
coast, disputing the ground inch by incli witli 
their fierce and relentless enemies. 

Having enough of a country where his reception 
was entirely too warm, Mr. Behrens returned to Aus- 
tralia, and from there sailed for the Sandwicli Isl- 
ands, but after about nine months' experience of life 
in Honolulu, he returned to Australia for a short 
time. Having spent some years in the Southern 
Hemispheres, he started back to his home in the Fa- 
therland to visit his parents, but soon sought a home 
beneath the stars and stripes. Arriving in New 
York, he set out for the West, and after passing a 
short time in the cities of Cincinnati and Chicago, 
landed in Poweshiek Countj^ Iowa, but not finding 
that country suited to his mind, he removed to Col- 
C)rado, where he was engaged in mining for about 
eighteen mouths. While engaged in this place, 
delving into the bosom of mother earth for the pre- 
cious metals, the shaft of the mine caved in, and he 
was imprisoned for over thirty-six hours in the 
bowels of the earth. He received at that time in- 
ternal injuries, from which he has never fully re- 
covered. 

Mr. B.'s next venture was under the burning sun 
of Arizona, where he spent the succeeding four 3'ears 
in farming. While on a hunting expedition in that 
Territory, he was attacked by an Indian who shot 
him in the thigh, partially disabling him, and killing 
his horse. Wounded as he was, he secreted himself 
from the enemy, and when the redman had cau- 
tiously crawled up to within 100 yards of him, in 
the endeavor to get his scalp, he raised up, and fir- 
ing his rifle, shot the Indian in the forehead. He 
arrived at his farm after considerable suffering, but 
wjis no sooner able to be about than he was at- 
tacked by a number of the red marauders, who 
burned every article he had, including some ^4,000 
worth of grain, except a pair of drawers which he 
had on, and one-half of a blanket, his arms being 
also burned. Becoming discouraged with this state 



of aiiairs, he concluded to seek for a more peaceful 
latitude, and coming to Kansas, purchased 100 acres 
of land. Having concluded to settle down and 
])ass the balance of his daj's in farming, and estab- 
lish a home, on the 1st of December, 1872, he was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Eva Wolf, a daughter 
of Louis and Katherine Geis, a native of Baden, 
German}', born March 14, 1845. She was the 
widow of Frank Wolf, and the mother of five chil- 
dren, viz : Frank, Ludwig, Katherine, Adam and 
Wilhelm. After his marriage Mr. Behrens look up 
the duties of an agriculturist, and has been very 
successful from a pecuniary point of view. He car- 
ries on a system of mixed farming, giving great 
attention to the raising of stock, which he finds 
more lucrative than crops of grain alone. His land 
has been brought to a high state of cultivation, 
and with its beautiful and comfortible residence, 
commodious barns and neat out-buildings, is a model 
farm. He takes great interest in carrying on his 
business, and has accumulated by labor, industry 
and economy, a handsome propert}'. 

Mr. and Mrs. Behrens are the parents of six chil- 
dren, all of whom are natives of Sedgwick County, 
as follows: Ilenr}', born May 12, 1874, and died 
Nov. 13, 1879; Emma, born May 15, 1875; Ernest 
Walter, Nov. 16, 1876; Arnold, Feb. 10, 1878; 
Adolphus, Jan. 22. 1880; and Robert, July 24, 1882. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Behrens are membei-s of the 
German Lutheran Church, and conscientious, sin- 
cere Christian people, and in the society which sur- 
rounds them they are held in high esteem and 
beloved for their many excellent traits of heart and 
mind. In politics, the subject of our sketch is en- 
tirely independent of part}' lines, and free from 
partisanship. 



■xtacja/®^-" —¥^k^ 



^-^-a-zr-T?*. 



jf? EWIS BOYER came to Sedgwick County 
|| (©, from Tazewell County, 111., in 187',), and 
jllis^ bought 164 acres of land, a fractional quar- 
ter of section 30, Eagle Township, and was there 
successfully engaged in farming until 1883. He 
then sold that land to John and W'ill Jacobs, and 
I bought his present farm on section 25, of Nathan 



r 



-4^ 



■•-4^ 



t 



sKhCWK K Cdl MY, 



All>|mii, mil) hn!< ^iiicc pnid nltciitioii Iti pencriil 
f.-irniiii^;, to nki.sin^ corn niid to rearing <-attlc of n 
i-oiiiiiioii !<t<H-k, kocpiii^' from six to ten liend. Hi;* 
farm is very pleasnntlv lix-ntcil iind i.s nndor n j,'<.mh1 
slaU' of till!i;,'o. !!»• is a prii<-tic.'il, intolligoiit. and 
niftlio<lical farmer, pnyinj.' oarofnl attention to the 
• letails of liis luisiness, makin<; lii.s farmiii<; |>ay 
well ft)r the hlior and time expended, and steadily 
anil surely ai'ipiiriii<; tliereliy a eompctoney. 

Mr. Hoyer was l>orn in Mnskinn-nm ("onnty. < )liio, 
Dee. 27. IM.VJ. and his parents were .laeoli and 
Kaeinda (Day) Uoyer. natives respeetively of Ger- 
many and Oliio. .laeoh Hoyer's people migrated 
from (Jermany to this ronntry in an early day, 
when lie was quite young, and located in Haiti- 
more, .Mil. 'I'liey were farmers liy occupation, and 
afterward left Baltimore for Uhio to pursue their 
calling, and there spent the remainder of their lives, 
.lacot) wjus reared on his parents' farm in that .State, 
and was indnstrioiisly engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits there until his death, which occurred in 1««:{, 
he having reached the advanced ageof ninety-seven 
years, lie wjus lifty years of age when he was 
married, and he and his good wife reared a family 
of four girls and five hoys, all of whom are living, 
ii.'inii-ly; Andrew .lackson, Kllen, .liilia Ann, .lames, 
\\ illiaiii 1'.. Lewis, Luciiida, Minerva .lane and 
.I.iioli Seymore; of this family three hrothei-s and 
om- >ister arc now living in Kansas. 

The subject of this sketch was a tiright, int<'lli- 
gcnl lad and acquired a good, jiractical education 
in the common .schools. At the age of thirteen he 
left home to live with his uncle, William Boyer, in 
Tazewell County, 111., remaining with him about t<;n 
years. He was afterward employed in farming for 
himself in Illinois, and iia he was active, strong and 
willing to work, in a few years he had laid by money 
enough to esLal>lish a ^mfortable home. Accord- 
ingly, Sept. 1(1, 1H79, he married Miss Margaret 
Wilson, who was likewi.se a native of Muskingum 
County, Ohio, when- she was born on the I2lli of 
September, 1«(J1. She was one of the thirteen 
I'hildn-n. seven girls and six hoys, born to .lesse 
and iNaniy (Kink) Wilson. Iler mother died in 
Ohio ill 1MG;'», and her father in Illinois in IH74. 
The names of their children are ils follows; .lesse 
.Manuel, Solomon, Jacob K., Henry, Francis Marion, 



.las|H>r, .lolni Sherman. Christina, .Sarali. .Ieiiiii< . 
Minnie, Delia and Lavina. 

After marriage our subject and his wife came U> 
Kansas to make their home in the beautiful valley 
of the Arkansas River, where they could enjoy the 
ailvantages of the fine climate, and the wonder- 
fully productive soil. They have established them- 
selves very pleasantly here, and have won the re- 
spect and friendship of the entire community by 
their upright conduct, their diligence, and by 
numerous acts of neighborly kindness. Three chil- 
dren have been born to them — Addic May. Howard 
Leroy and .Mary .Myitle. 

.Mr. Boyer belongs to the rnioii Laborers. As 
a m.'in he is always honest in his dealings with 
otliei*s. and as a citizen heartily co-operates in any 
movement for the improvement of the t4>wnship or 
to promote its growth. 

\f)ONA.S .S. PIPKIN, a farmer and stock-raiser, 
living on section 2H, tiarden Plain Town- 
ship, where he devotes his entire attention 
to his occu|)ation, is a native of the western 
part of Tennes.see, being born in Madison County, 
March .'iO, 1831. Aslier Pipkin, grandfather of our 
subject, accompanied liy two of his brothers, crossed 
the ocean and .settled in North Carolina. One of 
his brothei-s wjts never married, and all tnices of 
the other were lost a few years after coming to 
America. A.sher Pipkin died when a comparatively 
young man, leaving seven children, namely: Lewis 
Cogdell, Klizabeth, Celia. .Tesse. Asher, .Stewart 
Cogdell and Mills. Klizabeth married .lames Brad- 
ley, of North Carolina; Celia married .loliii Sollis, 
of North Carolina. 

Lewis C. Pipkin, the father of our subject, wjia 
born ne;ir Newbern, N. C., .luly 2.'). 180.'!, and wjis 
reared on his father's homesle.'id, remaining there 
until after the death of his father, when he movi-d 
to the western part of Tennessee, whither the remain- 
ing members of the family subst-quently followed 
him. He was married in Madison County, Aug. II, 
I82H, to Marion Klizabeth Bowman, who was born 
.Ian. 17, 180'.), in Uulherford County, Tenn., being 
a daughter of .loliii and Catherine (Swingler) Bow- 



•► m-^^ 






SKIxaVICK COUNTY. 



587 



man. After mairiage he continued his agricultural 
pnrsuits in Tennessee for severiil years, on the farm 
that he originally took up in Madison Countjs hut 
sulisequently he moved to Gibson County, in the 
same State, where he died Feb. 19, 1882. To him 
and his wife Iiad been born four children, namely : 
John D., Jonas Swingler, Lewis Washington and 
Mary Luciiula. John lives on the old homestead 
in Tennessee; he is married and h.as a family of 
five children. Lewis lives in Kingman County, 
Kan. ; he is married and li.as six children. Mary died 
in infancy; John and Lewis, though strong Union 
men, served a short time in the Confederate arnij', 
the latter being in the Iiattle of Shiloh; but Jonas, 
our suljject, took a trip to Illinois during the prog- 
ress of the war to avoid being pressed into the 
Southern arnij'. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in his na- 
tive count}', where his education was attended to, 
remaining with his parents until his marriage with 
Miss Susanna Dockins, which took place Oct. 13, 
1«.')0. She was born Jan. 20, 1829, being a daugh- 
ter of Reuben and Rhoda (Ilankins) Dockins. Her 
father was born in North Carolina, April .'), 1792, 
and performed efficient service in the War of 
1812. He was married in Madison County, Tenn., 
in 1820. To him and his wife were born eight chil- 
dren, five of whom attained maturity: namely: 
Sarah, Louisa Jane, Susanna, Reuben C. and Rhoda 
Ann. Sarah married Hardy Fowler, a Methodist 
minister, and lives near Little Rock, Ark; Louise, 
now living in Tennessee, married John U. Pipkin, a 
brother of our subject, who subsequently died ; 
Susanna is the wife of our subject; Reuben C. was 
a soldier in the Confederate army, and took part in 
tlie battle of Shiloh; he died April 15, 1884. . Rhoda 
married John Foster, of Western Tennessee. 

After marriage our subject continued farming in 
his native State until 18(14, when he went to Ken- 
tucky and lf)cated in Graves County, where he 
l)Ought a farm and pursued his former occup.ation, 
remaining there until his removal to Sedgwick 
Count}-, Kan., in 187G. At that time he purchased 
the farm he now occupies, paying for the 1 60 acres 
only $G00, but by arduous labor and good man- 
.agement he has it now all improved, and has so 
increased its value that 110,000 is the minimum 



value he would place upon it. Though Mr. Pipkin 
has met with some reverses since coming to Kansas, 
having been so unfortunate as to lose one house and 
its furniture by fire, he has now reached a place 
where he feels amply rewarded for all his labors, 
and he and his worth}' wife, who has bravely toiled 
with him and for him, can now pass their declining 
years surrounded by all the comforts of life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pipkin have four children, all of 
whom were born in Tennessee, namely: Henry 
Nathan, Jonas Rudolphus, ^lary Ann Levina and 
Lue Alice. Henry, born Sept. 3, 1852, married 
Wilnioth Gillum, and lives in Kingman County, 
Kan.; tliey have two children. Jonas, born Jan. 7, 
1855, married Mollie Dawson, and lives in Kingman 
County, Kan.; they have three children living and 
two deceased. Mary, born Dec. 21, 1859, married 
Theodore D. Wykoff; they live in Garden Plain 
Township, and have three children. Lue Alice, 
born Jan. 17, 1864, married Charles Southwick: 
they live in Garden Plain Township, and have two 
children living and one deceased. 

Mr. Pipkin is an influential citiy.en of his adopted 
township, and has taken great pride in watching its 
development, aiding its growth in all ways p.)ssible 
for him, and has faithfully served its interests as 
Township Treasurer for three years. In politics 
our subject is a stanch Republican, although he cast 
his vote f(«" Stephen A. Douglas when he was a 
Presidential candidate. Mr. and Mrs. Pipkin are 
genial, pleasant people, well worthy of the high re- 
spect and esteem granted them by the entire com- 
munity in which they live, and such people as it 
gives us pleasure to represent in this biographical 
volume. 

J i) ESSE P. BOWLES cast his lot with the 
I i)ioneers of Salem Township in 1873, and 
li after the close of the late war, in which he 
1/ participated as a Union soldier. He has 
now a little more than rounded up the sura of 
threescore years, and by a life of temperance, in- 
dustry and frugality, has a snug homestead and 
something besides for a rainy day. The traveler, 
in passing through the southeastern part of Sedg- 
wick County, can scarcely fail to note the finely 
cultivated farm on section 35, in Salem Township, 



r 



t 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



wliicli bi-H.-> nlioiit il all llic cviilciK-f!< uf Imviii); 
liet'ii e!4tabli^lll>ll and cnrrii-il ftirwnrd hy a man of 
inon- limn ordinary iiiU'lli;.'cni'i' and ft)rt'llioiighl, 

Mr. Hiiwli's, a native of llu- Ulno tJrass Stale, 
Oml o|>onfd lii!« i'_v«'.s to the ii;;lil in Bourdon C'onnly 
on llie |:it|i of .tunc, isi'7. Iliighe«i and Kli/.abi-lli 
(I'ayne) I{o\vlr>, Ids lutrcnUH, were \'ir^inian.s, and 
rcmoveil from the Did Dominion to Kentucky be- 
fore their marriage. The paternal grandfather tif 
our .Hubjecl, .lesso Bowles. alt>o a Virginian by birth, 
was taken prisoner bj- the Tories during the Hevo- 
lutionary War. IliMi uncle. David Bowles, served 
in the War of 1MI2. 

Hughes Bowles, the f:ilher of our subject, was 
twice married and became the head of a family' of 
twelve children, of whom the following survive, 
namely: Anderson, of DeWilt County, III. ; Kliza- 
belh, Airs. Hall, of 'I'azewell County; David anil 
William, of I.ogjin County; Rebecca, Mi-s. Wallace, 
of Sumner County, Kan. ; and .lulia, wife of Peter 
Hawes, of Butler County, this State; the above 
being all living. Those <leceased are .Joseph, 
Walter, Henry, N'erlinda and Nellie. Jesse 1'., of 
our sketch, was the child of the second wife. :iud 
was about six years of age when his parenUi re- 
moved from Kentucky to Illinois. They located 
in DeWitt County, and were among the earliest 
pioneers. After a residence there of eleven years 
the father departed this life in the spring of IH-l.i, 
and when his son Jesse was a youth of eighteen 
years. The mother joined her husband in the other 
life the year following. They were [Mjople of the 
highi-sl moral principle, cimscienlious, truthful, 
diligent and prudent, and enjoyed in a marked 
degree the esteem and confidence of tho.so around 
them. Hughes Bowles readily adapted himself to 
the best interests of his adopted <'ounly, and con- 
tributed to the best of his .ability to the estnlilish- 
menl of the worthy institutions which form the 
ground-work of a well-regulated community. There 
wa.-* much of li:irdship and privation in the early 
dny>, times which called for courage and fortitude, 
and amid the <»ften thrilling events of that jjcriod 
the father of our sidijei-t was found ecpud to every 
emergency. While performing the arduous duties 
necessary to the o|)ening up (jf the new farm he 
olllcialeil a» one of the pioneer pre«cliei-s of the 
-M» 



Christian Church of the county, and in addition to 
the Inlnir involveil in the tilling of the soil on week 
days, employed the .Sabbath in gi^ ing spiritind in- 
struction and consolation to the |K'ople who gath- 
eivd together for miles around to listen to the 
words which fell from his ready tongue. 

Jesse I'. Bowles spent his childhood and youth 
in DeWitt County, III., and from his infant year> 
to his manhoiKl lived most of the time amid the 
wild .scenes of pioneer life. His edin'ation was 
necessarily very limited, the scluMil-houscs being 
few and far between, and in the winter .senson 
es|>ociidly, which was about the only time the farmer 
boy could give to study, were difTlcult of acces>. 
Mr. Bowles, like the majority of the young men of 
that day, began early in life to lay the foundation 
of a future home, and on the Dth of August, IH4)'>, 
soon after reaching his nineteenth birthday, secured 
a life partner in the |>cr8on uf Miss .Maria Beaviu. 
the wedding being celebrale<l at the home of the 
bride in DeWilt County, III. Mrs. Bowles, also a 
native of Kentucky, was born in Brcckcnridge 
County, Aug. 10, 1S2G, and was the daughter of 
Thomas and Nancy J. (Coojier) Beavin, natives 
respectively' of Maryland and South Carolina. 
They were reared in Kentucky, where their mar- 
riage took place, and whence they removed when 
their daughter Mary wa.s a little girl nine years 
of age to DeWitt County, III. They were among 
the earliest settlers there, where they spent the 
remainder of their days, the mother p.assing away 
in IHI I, and the father in 1847. 

The parents of Mrs. Bowles had a family of eight 
children, of whom five survive, namely: Klizabeth, 
Mi-s. Briiuer, of DeWitt County, III.; Martha, wife 
of Allen Craig, of Washington Terrritory; Belle, 
Mrs. Brown, of Colorado, and Delilah, of this 
county. Those deceased arc Nancy, William and 
Mary. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowles there have been 
born eight children: America, the eldest, is the 
wife of M. I). Canaday, of Mulv:inc, this SUite: 
Ciussandra, wife of I). 1'. Wright, of Colorado; 
Martha, wife of S. F. Field, of .Sidem Township; 
Annie, .Mrs. J. (i. Thompson, of .Salem Township: 
Andrew F., of Sumner County, and .Mollie J. .'ind 
William l)..al home. Mary is deceased. 

Mr. Bowles left Illinois in l.s7.'l,and crossing the 




v^sLA^^yj "^--"^^^^^^ 



(Ul-.pln^^flA^^^dly 



••-■-4. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



591 



Father of Watei-s with his family, purchased his 
present farm on section 35 in Salem Township. 
This embr.ices 160 acres, which he has improved 
from the raw prairie to productive fields, which 
surround neat and substantial buildings, including 
the residence, the barn and the various outhouses 
required for the shelter of stock and the storing of 
grain. Mr. Bowles is essentially a self-made man, 
being thrown upon his own resources early in life 
and having learned well in the school of experi- 
ence. Both he and his excellent wife are devoted 
members of the Christian Church, in which Mr. B. 
has officiated as Elder for the past ten years. Their 
hospitable doors have entertained both friend and 
stranger in a praiseworthy manner, and many are 
the kind deeds which have not only brightened 
their own pathway, but contributed to the comfort 
and happiness of those around them. They have 
lived in harmony for a period of over forty years, 
and present the spectacle of a calm and happy old 
age, with conscience free from reproach. 

We cannot very well pass over the period of Mr. 
Bowles' life in the army which began on the 11th 
of August, 1862, when he enlisted in Companj' B, 
lOTtli Illinois Infantry, which became a part of the 
Army of tlio Cumberland, 23d Corps. He partici- 
pated with his comrades in the battle of Knoxville, 
besides minor engagements, and went all through 
the Atlanta campaign. He met the enemy at 
Franklin, Tenn., and in the siege of Nashville, 
and after the surrender of the city, owing to rheu- 
matism, was incapacitated for active service in the 
ranks, and was subsequently emploj^cd in transpor- 
tation duty for the Government. He received his 
honorable discharge in July, 1865, and returning to 
Illinois began the career of a farmer, in which he 
has met with such signal success. 



COL. .JOHN RUSSELL, a retired fanner, living 

ein his pleasant home at No. 313 North Fern 
street, is numbered among the most honored 
citizens of AVichita. He is a worthy descendant of 
an old family of Scottish Covenanters who were 
pious followers of John Knox, and they were also 
a family of soldiers and verj' strict in their adher- 



ance to their religious principle-. .1 inn - Ku.ssell, 
the grandfather of our subject, was born in Glas- 
gow, Scotland, and his father w:is an excise officer 
of Scotlanil, and a stanch adherent of the Presbj-- 
terian Church. 

When a lad James Russell came to this country 
with one of liis brothers, and during the Revolu- 
tionary War he served as a .Sergeant under Wash- 
ington. He was badly wounded by a sabre cut in 
tlie head at the battle of Long Island, near Flush- 
ing, while carrying despatches which were taken 
from him ; he w;is allowed to live, however, as he 
was so badl^' wounded that it was not supposed that 
he could survive very long, but he recovered and 
did still further faithful service in the cause of the 
Colonists until the war was decided in their favor. 
He subsequently returned to the land of his birth, 
and there married Miss Jane Russell, of Ayrshire, 
a descendant of a common ancesUy with himself. 
They remained for man^' years residents of .Scot- 
land, but in about 1800 Mr. Russell came with his 
family to make liis home in this countrj', which he 
had so ably assisted in his younger days to gain its 
independence. Here he received from the State of 
Pennsylvania a grant of 315 acres of land in Beaver 
County, Moon Township, twenty-fiVe miles distant 
from Pittsburgh. This land was given him in con- 
sideration of his making a settlement tliere ; it was 
on the frontier, and was infested by hostile Indians. 
He remained on his farm, which he cleared from 
the heav^- timber, until his death, in 1835, at the 
advanced age of ninety-four years. He was true to 
the religion of his fathers, always being a firm Pres- 
byterian. To him and his wife were born five 
children, namely : William, James, Nathaniel, Mary 
and Sarah. 

William, the eldest son of the family above-men- 
tioned, and father of our subject, was born near 
Glasgow, Scotland, in 1789. He was bred to the 
life of a farmer in his native land. He was quite a 
young man when his father returned to settle in this 
country, but he preferred to remain in Scotland, 
chained by the bright eyes of his future bride. Miss 
Ann Dunlap, daughter of J. Dunlap. a freighter, of 
Scotland. Her mother prior to her marriage was 
a Miss Jennie McPherson, of the Highland clan of 
McPhersons, who spoke the old Gaelic tongue. To 



i 



•► ■ -4*- 



>» ■ ■4» 



SKlxiW K'K COUNTY. 



Ml. .111.1 \liv i;ii-.ll H.n- I... Ill iMiir cliililivn — I 
.Iniiic.H, Willinin. Kli/.ttlx-th niitl .loliii. Mr. Kiis^cll 
wnM nt (lilt* tiiiif a fniit-growiT, nml liiti-r I'tigii^'od 
ill till" iiien-nnliU- liusiii«'?<>i. lli- ilicd in the very 
priiiie of life from exposiirt' in n snowstoriii, lieiiig 
but tliirtj'-six yoare of age. lie wiis in every re- 
spect a j;oo(l man. | Missels injj in a marker) degree 
the worthy eharacteristies that distinguisli his mee. 
Col. John Kussell, of tlii> .>iket('h, wa.t born in 
(llasgow, .liJy IC>, 181S, ami wa.s reared in Ayr- 
shire on a farm which wil* owned by his father. 
Ilis ediK-iitioii W!ui eondueted in the schools of the 
day. anil as a youth he enlisted in the volunteer 
troops that went from (Ireat liritain to .Spain in 
ls;{.'>, sent thither by the Knglish (.Joverninont with 
the avowed piir|M>se of estfll>li.-liing Protestantism 
and of suppressing forever the Inipiisition, which had 
been abolished the year before, and, in aeeordance 
with !iii alliance foniiod with the .S|wnish Ciuecn, 
the Flench and Tortugucsc rulers, to assist in quell- 
ing the C'arlist uprising and to strengthen thctjueeii 
more lirinly in her possession of theSpanisii throne. 
Our subject did valiant service in that country for 
three year.-, and at the retirement from the army 
w.'is a noii-c(»iiniissii)ned olllcer. After his return 
to Scotland he spent but a short time in liis native 
land, liut soon emignitrd to the I'liitcd Suites and 
settled in I'liiladelpliia. Iinding einployinent as ji 
gardener. 

In IHU C'ol. Hiisscll was married to Mi.<s .Iiuie 
Allen, a native of .Scotland, and a daughter of 
Walter anil .leanettc (.Main) Allen. In 1S44 the } 
t'uloiiel moved with his family to .Moon Town- ! 
ship, where he had an interest in his gr.indfather's 
e.-Uile. He remained in that place until ix.'i 1, when | 
he again moved West with his wife and children, I 
and settled on the \'eriiiilion River, near ReadiiiL:. ' 
in Livingston ('oiinty. 111., where he liniight a farm 
and was extensively engaged in fanning fur some 
years. | 

When Tresident Lincoln made his call for .'IDD.ilOO 
men Col. Uus.sell promptly res|Hinded .•mil, with his 
previous militJiry experience, was a v:ilualile aid to 
the (iovernnienl in raising Company (', Nth Illi- 
nois Infantry, which wa.> enlisted for three yeai-s. | 
and he wa.« appointed Captain of the cumpany that 
bore the colors, lie served h illi ili-tiiictiuii lliripiigh- I 
-^m 



out the Kebellion. ainl »;i« in the tweiity-luo battle- 
that his regiment tiMik |mrt in, the princip:il of 
which were IVa Hidgo, Stone River, Chickainanea, 
Perryville, all of the engagements of the Atlanta 
campaign. Mission Ridge, .lonesboro and Franklin. 
In the latter engagement the Colonel held an im- 
portant jMisition ill Opdike's celebrated brigjide, 
which, it is claimed, .saved the day at the b.-ittle of 
Franklin. Teiiii. He was recoiiiiii<>nded for pro- 
motion by Hrig. (ion. (lordon (irnnger in lMfi2 for 
bnivery and elllcient .service on the field of battle, 
and at the battle of I'ea Riiige was ap|Hiiiited by 
(ien. Spigel to the command of three companies ami 
covered the llank of Seigel's division, anil in the 
fight of M.'irch 7. IHtJi'. he captured the Colonel of 
the 3d Loni.-iana and the Colonel of the I lili Ar- 
kansas, with a portion of their commands. 

At Stone River Col. Russell had ji liiir>eshot under 
him, and at that battle he received dcM-rved pro- 
motion from the hand of fien. .Sherman to the niiik 
of Lieutenant Colonel, and Ctdonel by brevet. At 
the expiration of his first term of service he re-en- 
listed in Tennessee for a second term of three yeai-s 
in the vetcnin corjw, the entire regiment re-enlisting 
ill one day, although those brave men were t>n very 
short rations of one ciip of meal a day. The Colonel 
was twice wounded at Chickamauga, once by a 
pistol ball in the right shoulder, which disabled his 
arm and caused it to shrink, necessitating the ainpu- 
lalioii of two fingei-s; his other injury was in his 
left side, causing his left leg to shrink, in fact he 
was almost entirely disabled, but as he had a fine 
pliysii|ne and had inherited an iron constitution 
from a vigorous ance.-try, he was enabled to ovcr- 
cimie the effects of his dangerous wounds. He was 
the oldest man in his regiment, being about forty- 
three. After the battle of Fr.inklin, Col. Rns.sell 
was apjuiinted to the coinmand of the 1st Hrigade, 
L'll Division of the Ith Army Cor|>s. 

After the war Col. Russell came to Kansas and 
bought .'too acres of land near To|K'ka. .-0111 made 
his residence there for nearly six years. He then 
.sold that pl.'ii e and bought a half-section of land. 
AfterwanI he moved to WichiUi, where he pur- 
chased a half-section of land, which in the rapid 
growth of the city ha> now become very valuable. 

To our .-ubjecl and U\> most worthv conipjininii 

»^ m-^ 



-4*- 



^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



593 



have beeu born eleven children, namely : Jennie, 
James, Anne, John, Mary, Andrew, William, Sarah, 
Samuel. Elizabeth and Sheridan. Their sons are 
all married and well established in life, with good 
farms. Wiien our subject went to the war he left 
his wife on the farm witli eleven children to care 
for. She heroically took up the burden, and offered 
her husband on the altar of their adopted country, 
and when Price made his famous raid she bravely 
dispatched her young sons, James and John, into 
tiie contest, where James was captured by the 
enemy but subsequently paroled. 

Col. Russell is a noble type of the citizen soldier, 
equally true to his country on the battle-field or in 
the peaceful surroundings of his home, and his 
family' may well feel proud of his honorable and 
manly record. In 1883 he was a member of the 
Kansas Legislature. He is a fine representative of 
the Republican party and has always been firm in 
his support of its principles. Both himself and his 
excellent wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, in which they take a great interest, and in 
their dailj* lives thej' show them.selves to be sincere 
Christians. Col. Russell is a member of Garfield 
Post, G. A. R., at Wichita. 

A fine portrait of Col. Russell is shown in this 
connection. It is made from a photograph taken 
man}' years ago, but will be recognized as both the 
valiant soldier and the enterprising citizen. 

^-^ -is^m T— = 



ENRY H. DROWN engaged in the hard- 
4l ware business on East Oak street, Wichita, 
on the 27th of September, 1887. He had 
become a resident here in December pre- 
vious, and the same month purchased a house and 
two lots at the intersection of North M.'U'ket and Oak 
streets, and has since built a store between Market 
and Main streets. He now has under way two other 
stores on Oak street, and in addition to his hard- 
ware business has been largely engaged as a dealer 
in real estate. 

Mr. Drown, a native of Ohio, was born in Seneca 
County, Sept. 29, 1839, and is the son of Solo- 
mon and Fannj' (Denis) Drown, natives of Maine. 
Solomon Drown left New England in 1 83.'), and 



subsequently became one of the most extensive 
farmers of Seneca County, Ohio. He made a spe- 
cialtj' of fine horses and attained an enviable repu- 
tation for his success as a trainer and breeder. He 
there spent the remainder of his days, his death 
taking jilace in 1857. The mother of our subject 
departed this life in Clyde, Ohio. Solomon Drown 
by a former marriage had become the father of six 
children, and his second wife, Fanny, w.as the mother 
of nine children. Of the fifteen children nine are 
living, Henry H. of our sketch being the youngest 
son. 

Mr. Drown of this history was reared at the farm 
in Seneca County, Ohio, and when twenty-three 
years of age w,as married and took up his residence 
in Green Springs, Ohio, where he was engaged ,as a 
real-estate dealer, and also purchased and sold Largely 
both wool and stock. In 1869 he crossed the Mis- 
sissippi into ISIarshall County, Iowa, where he was 
engaged in the hardware business two years. The 
results not being entirely satisfactory he returned 
to Green Springs and embarked in his old business, 
which he followed successfully until coming to 
AVichita. 

Tlie wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss 
B. H. Stephens, anfl their marriage was celebrated 
at the home of the bride in Erie County, Ohio, in 
18G3. Mrs. Drown js the daughter of Alexander 
and Jessie (Grant) Stephens, natives of Scotland. 
Mr. S. was a mechanic, and crossed the ocean when 
a young man, settling in Canada, but three years 
later returned, and was married upon his native soil 
in Dundee. Later he came with his young wife to 
America. They resided in New York City two 
years, and from there, in 1843, removed to Ohio. 
They became the parents of six children, and Mr. 
Stephens departed this life in 18C9. The mother 
resides at Green Springs, Ohio. The other children 
are all deceased, Mrs. Drown being the only sur- 
vivor of her family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Drown have three children living — 
Minnie M., Jessie G. and Elmer L. One daughter 
died July 19, 1887, at the .age of nineteen years, 
Myrtle F., the youngest. Minnie M. and Jessie are 
graduates of the Union School at Green Springs, 
Sandusky Co., Ohio, and also of the business de- 
partment of Green Springs Academy, a branch 



»» I I ^ 



n 






SEUGWICK COUNTY. 



ill lin- A'l. incii. Ml ( HMiaiul. .\| yrtio niMt WM> n 
^'niihmU.- of ihc liiion Sc-IkhiI iit (ircon Spriiijf.H, 
mill whilf liviiij; in Ohio «vii» ii iik-iiiImt of llie W. 
('. T. I'. She WHS hi^jltly inU'llinfiil iitiil aefoiii- 
|>li>lif<l, iiiid I'oiiiint'iici'il tfiu'liiii^' wliiMi !.ixU'Cii 
_vci»n> of ngi'. Miiiiiif M. Uiij^hl wlu-ii righU'cii 
Mao old, niul Jessie (J. wimii M'Vi'iileeii. Mr. and 
.Mr>. Drown are proiiiineiitly foiinccled with the 
I'nvlivleriiin tliiireh, and Mr. 11. belongs to the 

.M iiic fraternity, lie vote.s the .slraifj:ht Uepiili- 

licaii ticket. 

KTI'iK ( i lOTTO. capilidist, is n man of 
.-Iron',' and intelligent convielions and »)f 
jrood hnsiness tncl, ami by his luinicrons 

^ shrewd invcstnionLs has heeonie wealthy, 
lie is a prominent representative of the pioneers of 
^^■i(•hit^l, corning here in 1M71 and settling on the 
present site of the eity. Soon after he took np 
a Covernnient elnini of ICO acres of land, eight 
miles east of the city, and jjiirchascd HIO acres 
within the city limits. lie lias also lioiight some 
valuable lots, two on the corner of .Second and 
Main streets, two on North .Main and Water streets, 
and l.'iler fonr lots on tiie same streets, and has 
licen linying land in various part.- of the cilj- at 
dilTerent times ever since, so thai now he is among 
the most extensive realty owners in the city. lie 
lia> erected a line Imilding on the corner of Main 
and Second streets at a cost of Ji-J.'i.dOO ; it is an 
ornament to that part of the city; it is adapted to 
-tores and iifljces, .Mnd yields him a large Income. 
It i> snpplied with elevators. 

Onr sniiject was liorn in Havaria, iJec. Ml, 1h|I. 
Ills ]>an'nts were Michael and .Sophia (Kckert) 
<;ctlo, natives of Clermany. His father wa> ex- 
tfiisively engaged in farming and stock-growing, 
lie was N man of wealth and res])ectidiility, and 
lii'ld places of Inisl and honor in his native land. 
Ili« parents were Michael and Mary ( Fisher) ( ielto, 
lift -long residenLx of (;ermany. His father was an 
i-xt<-n.-<ive stock-grower and farmer, owning a large 
farm, lie was very inllnenlial in pnMic afl'airs, 
often holding Jilaces of ris])onsil>ility. 'Ilu' parents 



of the mother oi our •.iii-jcii \\>n- i mi-dan anri 
Margaret Kckert, natives of (iermany. .Mr. Kek- 
crt was an extensive manuf»<-tiirer of llonr and 
liimlier. He was held in high estt'em and often 
lillcd places of honor. 

Our stdiject attended school until bo was four- 
teen years of age. anil obtained a snbstiintial edu- 
cation. He was then apprenticed t4i learn the 
cabinet trade, and continued to work at the .same 
in his native land until IKiM. The three succeed- 
ing years he was occupied as a enbinet-maker in 
Fninee. He then resolved to try life in America, 
where he Ihoiight he could obtain better wages for 
his Work, and have a better opjiortunity for gain- 
ing a com|ietency, and in 1.S07 he crossed the ocean 
and prix-eeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where, as he 
Wiis n skilled artisan, he had no dillicnlty in rinding 
work at his trade, and remained there steailily em- 
ployed for some years. In the meantime, by 
industry and wise economy, he laid up quite a sum 
of money. In 1X71 he made a new departure, and 
another move to the West found him in Wichita, 
whither he had been attracted by its line loi-ation, 
which he foresaw wmdd one day make it an impor- 
tant city. Kver since that time he has made his 
home here, and has watched the growth of this 
metroiMilis and fostered its development by his en- 
terprise and liberality. He has Udcen an active and 
elllcient part in the municipal government and C'it.v 
Council, being Alderman, which post he held four 
years, from 1K7X to l^X'2. He wsis a stockholder 
of the State National I5ank, of Wichita, and of the 
Wichita \''illey Center Motor and Land Company. 

Our subject was married, Nov. •21, l.'^7".',to .Miss 
Therese Zimmerman, of liaden, < iermany, and a 
daughter of Kran/. A. and Hosa (Keichenbach ) 
Zimmerman, natives of Haden. His parent-s were 
Fran7. ■!. and Wallburger (i.,andman) Zimmernukn, 
natives of (Jermany. His wife was the daughter 
(.if Clement Reichenbach, a native of Baden. None 
of the elder members of the f.amily ever left their 
native land. Mrs. (Jetto has two brothers, .Inlius 
and Otto Zimmerman, residing in Wichita. 

Tin- pieiu«anl home circle of our subject and hi^ 
wife is completed by the presence of fonr daugh- 
ters, namely: .Sophia, .losie, Therese and I{o!>ji. 
Mrs. (Jetto has bi'cn ;i life-long member of the 



•►•-4^ 



i 



>■ m ^ * 



-J 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;VJ5 



Catholic Churcli. Shr i- a true Christian woman, 
and 6li:iros witli lier iiusband the respect of the 
comnmnity. Mr. Getto bears a good reputation in 
this couinuiiiity for lionorablcncss in business deal- 
ings, and is a worthj' member of society. 



^^^ORMAN CALHOUN. Many of the pio- 
ll jjj neers of this section of Kansas have served 
li\,'M> tlieir country during the dark days of the 
Rebellion, making a record honorable and glorious. 
One of these brave boys is now a farmer and stock- 
raiser of Eagle Township, and is highly respected 
as a representative pioneer of Sedgwick County. 
He was born in Jackson County, Mich., Jan. 14, 
1841, and is a son of George and Angelina (Por- 
ter) Calhoun, natives of Connecticut and New 
York. They were among the early settlers of Jack- 
son County, moving there in 1828, and taking an 
active part in its development. They were prom- 
inently connected with the Presbyterian Church, 
Mr. Calhoun having served as Deacon for many 
years. lie was highly regarded for his sterling 
worth in the conimunit}' with whose interests his 
own were identified for so many years, and his 
death in 1850 was sincerely' mourned by many to 
whom he had been a stanch friend. Shortly after 
the father's death the mother moved to Pennsyl- 
vania, and in 1857 married A. W. Haite; they are 
still living, she at the advanced age of eight3--three 
years. Our subject had two brothers and two sis- 
ters, namely: William, who died at the age of 
twenty-one; George; Julia, who died at the age of 
six years, and Sarah. Those surviving are all married 
and settled in life. George holds the office of 
Deacon of the Presi)yterian Church at Clinton, 
Mich., his fatiier's brother having held that posi- 
tion prior to his death in 1878. 

Mr. Calhoun of this sketch spent a pari of his 
boyhood in the pioneer home of his parents. He 
attended tlie district school and assi-sted on the farm 
until he w.os eighteen years old. He then visited 
his mother in Pennsylvania, staying witii her for 
nearly a year. He was in that State wjien the war 
broke out, and soon took steps to place iiimself 
among tiie brave men who were going forth to fight 



the battles of our country; he enlisted Sept. 13, 
18()1, in Companj- B, 111th Pennsylvania Infantry) 
and did faithful service until he was discharged 
three years later, Sept. 20, 1864, on account of 
being disabled by severe wounds. He served under 
Capt. Corrigan until 1 862, and was under Capt_ 
Warren the remainder of the time. Our subject 
took part in tlie skirmish at Culpeper, in the battle at 
Rappal)annock Station, in the second battle of Bull 
Run, in the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville 
and Gettysburg. In the last-mentioned battle he 
was wounded in the right leg and permanently dis- 
abled ; he was laid up in the hospital at Chestnut 
Hill for nearly a ^ear, not having the use of his 
limb at all. He was shot three different times; 
once at the battle of Rappahannock he was wounded 
in the ankle. These honorable wounds received 
while bravel}' fighting in defense of our cuuniry 
now entitle him to a pension. 

After the war Mr. Calhoun was eng.aged in the 
oil regions of Pennsylvania for about five years, 
meeting with good financial success. In 1870 he 
abandoned that business and came to Kiinsixs, and 
from Ft. Scott took the stage for Eureka, and 
thence, in company vyith an emigrant, came to 
Wichita. At that time that city did not show 
much indications of its present dimensions and im- 
portance, as there were then but a few houses 
mostly' built of logs, where now stand fine business 
blocks and beautiful dwellings. Mr. Calhoun has 
been ver}' prosperous since coming here in the early 
days of Sedgwick County, and while assisting in the 
development of its agricultural resources has mater- 
ially added to his own fortune. He owns a valua- 
ble farm of 232 acres, located on the northeast 
quarter of section 1 4, and on tlie east half of the 
southeast quarter of section 11. Besides attending 
carefully to the culture of his land he has paid 
much attention to rearing stock, keeping nearly 
fifty head of cattle, and from thirty to fifty Poland- 
China and Chester-White hogs ; these he sells readily 
to the home market. 

Mr. Calhoun was married, April 1), 1873, to Jliss 
Effle Jackson, who was born in Crawford County, 
Pa., July 8, 1849, daughter of William and Abigail 
(Pete) Jackson, natives respectively of New York 
and Pennsylvania. Mr. Jackson was ordained to 



-•► 



i 



-•-4»- 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



tlif iiiiiii.itn ill l^.l^t, uikI fulluwi-d liiit mutoiI calliii^ 
fur iiuarlv fifty years*, having n-lin-d alxnil live 
years ajjo. Tk liiin and his wife were born five 
sons and three daujjhterst: (leoi);!' (defeased), 
Charles. Kllle. Olive (deceased), Andrew, Malvina, 
.liLS|MT and Williaiu (deeeaM-d ). 

The pleasant home eirele of -Mr. and Mrs. Cal- 
houn is eoniplcleil l>y their four ehildren — Charles 
Carroll, Mercy I'-., Abliie and .le-ssie, all uf wiioni at- 
tend school. The whole family arc valued memliers 
of the .Missionary H:i|ilisl Chnich. and Mr. Calhoun 
is Chairman of the Hoard of Trustees. In jxilitics 
he is identilieil with the Hepublican party. lie is 
inllueiitial in local alTairs, and has Uikeii an active 
piirt in school mailers, having served as ."school 
Director of District No. 1 1, Kagle Township, anil 
Treasurer si.v years, and has also held the otiice of 
Trea.->urer of the same board, lie has always led an 
honest, honorable life, is always ready to extend a 
helping hand to the needy, and is held in deserv- 
edly high repute by all in the township. 



'^-w'^iTt; 



ttjhTwr- 



bered among the pioneers of .Sedgwick 
t'ount}' is the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. .Since coming here in October, 
lt<7<», and .settling uiH)n 100 acres of land. Ihe 
.H4)uthc!ist quarter of section 1 1, Park Township, he 
has made this his residence ever since, and Uhs been 
clo.sely identiflcd with its interests, and the almo.-t 
marvelous development of .Sedgwick County. Per- 
haps, in the whole history of the settlement of the 
various jiarts of our country, there is nothing so 
startlingly rapid as the development of this portion 
of Southern Kansas, and one of the prominent 
figures in its history, in its pioneer days, was .Mr. 
lielden. 

The gentleman of whom we wnU' is a native of 
Ka.-t Wlieatley. Franklin Co., Mass., and was born 
.Sept. I.'i, 1H41. His ancestors came originally from 
Wales to the rnilod States, at an early day, and 
located on the Connecticiil Kiver, purchasing the 
land on which they carried on their farming o|K'ra- 
tions from the Itrilish Oijveriimeiit. .Mr. lielden 
is the .Hon of Dr. .M. and .Indith .M. (.Marshall) 



Ik'ldcn, iMith of whom were also natives of the old 
liny .Siat.e. In IMlM hi- i-anie with his parents we.iV. 
ward, and settled in Bureau County, 111., but after 
a two-years residence the family moved to Pal- 
myra, \\"i». A few years after this they went to 
Dane County, in the s.'iine .Stale, in the neighbor- 
hood of .Madison, where his father piicticed 
medicine. The latter was quite a titlenleil man 
and very proficient in his profession, and wiis noted 
far and wide as an excellent physician. They were 
the parents of si.\ children who are living, of whom 
the subject of this sketch was the eldest. The 
others are: Nellie, the wife of .liidge K. K. Parkin- 
son, of Madi.son, Wis.; Katie, Mrs. Thomas Sodeii, 
who is living in Washington Territory; .Stephen L., 
who is a resident of Stought«in. Wis.; Carrie, de- 
ceased ; and Maud, the wife of C. E. Parish, eilitor 
of the Stoughton Courier, in the town of that name, 
in the Badger State. Dr. Behlen died .Sept. .3, I M78, 
at the age of sixty-one years, ten months and 
twenty-eight days. His death w.-us no doubt cau.sed 
liy the sudden decease of his wife, who was called 
hence .July IC, 1«7.'^, at the age of fifty-four years, 
as he was very much devoted to her. 

Samuel Beldcii was about ten years old when the 
family settled in the Badger Suite, and tiuring his 
youth he received his education in the district 
schools of Illinois and Wisconsin. At the age of 
nineteen yeai-s he commenced an apprenticeship at 
the trade of blacksniilhiiig, which business he fol- 
lowed for about four years, then took up the viK-a- 
lion of broom-making. He resided in Wisconsin 
until 1M70. when he came to Kaii.sjis as related 
above, and where he has since lived. He has been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits since his arrival 
here, and, true to the instincts of the calling he 
had followed on the other side of the Mississippi, 
he has raised scver.-il crops of broom corn, the only 
man in the county who has done so. Having this 
on hand, he occasionally keeps his hand in by 
making a quaiilily of brooms. 

The ceremony that united the deslinie> of Samuel 
Belilen and .Mi.ss .Mary Soden took place .luiie .'i, 
IMC.O. The bride is a native of Hock County, 
Wis., born .Ian. I-', 1H17, and is the daught<M' of 
Benjamin and .Sophia (Kmery) Soden. There have 
come to brighten the fireside of tlii,> family seven i 



-♦-^ 






■•►- 



U 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



•I^h 



chilflren. Harriet E. died m l>^ii. .it the age of 
thirteen years, in Wisconsin, while she was on a 
visit to her grandmother. The children living are: 
Edgar L., Minnie M., Sophia R.. Fannj* K., William 
L. and Frederick M. 

Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat, and 
takes considerable interest in politics. lie has 
frequently' served as a delegate to various conven- 
tions, and has held the oflices of Township Treas- 
urer three years, Township Clerk four 3'ears, and 
Clerk of the .School Board for twelve years. He 
is a member in good standing of Wichita Lodge 
No. 99, A. F. <fe A. M.. and is an active worker in 
the fraternity. He is also a consistent and sincere 
member of the Uuiversalist Church, and endeavors, 
by a blameless life, to set a good example to the 
rising generation. 

: — - s.y- i ji-^^^ 

"iiJOHN C. Bl'RWELL. Prominent among the 
successful farmers and extensive stock -grow- 
ers of this countj', may be named the sub- 
ject of this historical notice, whose homestead 
lies on section 9, Illinois Township, and who, by 
his enterprise and energy in the direction of his 
chosen industr}-, has given to his work a signifi- 
cance and beantj' of which few deem it capable. 
He was brought in_to the world Oct. 22, 1845. in 
Delaware County, Ohio, and is the son of John and 
Missouri (Thorpe) Burwell. 

The father of our subject was born in New 
Jersey in 1813, and was there married to his first 
wife, the mother of John C, Miss Missouri Thorpe, 
who died in 1853, having borne a family of seven 
children, as follows: David, who died in infancy; 
Amos, who married Miss Rebecca M. Rus.sell, by 
whom he had three children, and who is a stock- 
dealer in Colorado; Mary, Mrs. E. H. Warden, is 
the mother of four children, and resides in Coles 
Countj', 111., where her husband is a harness-maker; 
Moses M. T., who married Miss Isabel Goodfellow, 
is the parent of eight children, and is a stock-dealer 
at Bloomington, 111.; John C, the subject of our 
sketch; Alice, who married John Adams, and is 
now deceased; and William, who died in infancj-. 
After the death of his first wife the father of our 



hero married Miss Lucy Terhune, by whom he had 
two children, both of whom died in infancy. The 
second wife died while they were residents of Coles 
County, HI., and the father of our subject, after 
some lime, was united in marriage to Miss N. Mc- 
Crumb, who became the mother of three children : 
Frank P., whose biograph3' occurs elsewhere in the 
pages of this Album; and two who died in infancy. 

The subject of this narrative was reared upon a 
farm, his father following the vocation of an agri- 
culturist all his life, and received his education in 
the usual manner in the district schools of his native 
State and Illinois. On attaining his majority, he 
commenced his struggle upon the stage of life on 
his own account, and having, by his industry' and 
economy, acquired a home of his own, on the 16th 
of March, 1869, he was wedded, and installed as 
mistress of his house Miss Ada Annie Rohr, a 
native of Virginia. The bride was born Sept. 27, 
1849, and is the d.iughter of Joseph U. and Frances 
J. (Campbell) Rohr, natives of West Virginia and 
Virginia respectively. Her father, who was a 
wheelwright by trade, was born May IG, 1820, and 
died March 29, 1873. Her mother was born Jul}' 
6, 1820, and is a resident of Coles County, HI. 
Mrs. Burwell was the second in a family of four 
children, born to her parents as follows: Marion, 
who married Susan Allen, and is a tinner, living in 
Iowa; Ada A., Mrs. Burwell; and twins, one of 
whom died in infanc}', and the other, Willie N., 
married Snowden Sargent, and died at the age of 
twenty-seven years. 

Mr. Burwell first came to Kansas in 1877, and 
settled in Harvey County, where he made his home 
until 1883, and then returned to Illinois. In 1886, 
being in love with the fertile and productive nature 
of the soil, and the genial, salubrious climate of this 
State, he returned, in December, to Kansiis, and 
settled in Sedgwick County, on the southwest 
quarter of section 9, Illinois Township, where he 
at present resides. He has a magnificent farm of 
160 acres of land here, which is most beautifull}- 
located and highly cultivated. His buildings, which 
arc handsome and substantial, with their lovely 
surroundings, make up a view which is very pleas- 
ant to the eye of the passerb}'. Besides this farm 
he is the owner of the southeast quarter of section 



r 



•^•-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



f 



i;i. lH:i-.un 1..VMIMM1.. li.lT^.■^ ( .iiinty. this Sutc. 
1 l.'i acres of wliicli an- iiiiiliT the plow, niiil mi wliich 
tie lia.s oxcollciit l>iiilHiii)^, a guotl orclmril iiml ii 
i|iiaiitity iif small fruitji. 

To the .siibjpcl of this iiifinoir nni) his wife thert- 
liiivi- Itopn Ixirii three chiMren t<> filntlden their 
hearts nml onlivon their hiiiiie. Thriv iiainos aixl 
recoril are as folliiws: Frances M.. who was Ixirii 
Jan. |-.>, I M70, attended tlie High Sihoul uf Oakland, 
III., from which inslittilion she would have gradu- 
ated in one year, and is residing at home with her 
|jarents; Mary I'lla, who was born April '.', 1S73, 
ami Louisa (Hive, whose birth weurrcd Sept. 30, 
I SSI. The two latter arc at home, and are draw- 
ing the elenient.s of their education from the excel- 
lent district sch<K>Is provided ly ."^edgwick County 
for the risinj; generation. 

In his |Hilitic;d views Mr. ISurwell coincides with 
the Kepublican |KU'tv, and usually supports the 
tickets of that organization. He is a believer in 
the doctrine> of religion as taught by the .Method- 
ist Kpiscopal Church, while his wife seeks spiritual 
consolation with the Cumberland Presbyterian de- 
nomimition. Both of thcni united with their 
res|)ective churches in Illinois, previous to their 
immigration to this Slsite. Mr. Hurwell is one of 
Slerlgwick County's most prosperous stock farmers, 
and bears a high rank in the community as a reliable 
an<l sidistantial citizen, of a genial an<l lo\nble dis- 
l)osition. 



WILLIAM 11. SILVKKWOOI). Among the 
pioneers of .Sedgwick County, and the 
prominent ami enterprising farmers of 
Salem Township, there is perhaps none that is looked 
upon with more res|>ect than William II. Silver- 
wood. Delaware County, Ohio, was the place of 
his birth, which event look i)lace July 24, 1844. 
Tliomius aixl Sarah (Taynor) Silverwood, his par- 
ents, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio re- 
s|x;ctively. 

James .Silverw<H>d, the great-grandfallu'r of our 
-ubject, and the progenitor of the .Silverwood fnm- 
'\\\ in America, was a native of luiglund, who had 



setlle<l in Pennsylvania on t-otning to the .New 
World. Thomas and .Sandi Silverw(H»d, the|Kirenls 
of William, were among the pioneers of Ohio, ami 
settled on first coming to that portion of our coun- 
try in what is now known as Delaware County. 
From there they remov<'d to .Sanilnsky County, and 
Anally to Ottawa County, where the mother clied 
April 7, ISk4. Mr. Silvorwooil, Sr.. is still a resident 
of that part of the Huckeye .State, having attitined 
his sixty-ninth year. They wore the parents of 
eleven children, namely: William 11. , the subjcctof 
this memoir; .lohn C., a resident of Michigan; 
Charles K.. living in the latter State; Leroy and 
Thomas, residing in Ottawa County, Ohio; Obed, 
in Michigan; John W., Parker, Winfield W., Scott 
and Annie are deceased, the two latter dying in 
infancy. 

The subject of this narrative was reared to man- 
hood at his father's home in his native Slate, and 
received his edui-ation in the pioneer schotds of that 
locality. While ]ieacefnlly pursuing the vocation 
of a (isher on the lakes, the dark cloud of war, which 
had for some time lowered over our beloved coun- 
try, broke u|)on our peoph-. Patriotic men from 
all walks of life thronged to the front in res|M>nse 
to the call of the General (iovernnicnt to tlefend 
our National life. Fired by the spirit of patriot- 
ism, Mr. Silverwood enlisted Sept. 17, ISOl, in 
Company I, 41sl Ohio Infantry. The regin)ent of 
which he was a part served for awhile in the Army 
of the Ohio, but was afterward tniusferred to the 
Tennessee, and finally to the Cumberland. While in 
the first-named division .Mr. Silverwood participaloil 
in the bloody battles of .Shiloh, Perry ville, .Stone 
River and Chickamauga. At Lookout Mountain 
he was the color-bearer with the 1,300 men who 
formed the forlorn hope that followed Hooker to 
the battle "among the clouds." At Orchard Knob, 
.Mission Ridge. Huzzard's Roost. Re.saca, Peachtree 
Creek, Keiniesaw .MouutJiin, and at Chattahoochee 
River our subject bore a gallant part. 

During the entire siege of AtlaiU.i Mr. Silvir- 
wood was an active participant in most of the eii- 
g»;.a'nu'nt.s in which the flag of the 41st (Hiio led 
the van. After the fall of the latter place the regi- 
ment was allachcd to the cor|>s of fJen. Thomas, 
anil bore a prominent jiarl in the b;illles of I-'nink- 



"» ■ #> 



-•►■-^ 



»► II M* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



601 



; 



<• 



lin and N.isln illc, mul in tli. latter place was 
largely inslniiiu'iilal in lliu diifuat and destruction 
of Hood's arm}'. After this the re{>inieut was or- 
dered to Texas, where it remained until it was 
mustered out, when Mr. Silverwood returned to 
Ohio, and received his discharge at Columbus, Nov. 
27, 1865. During his term of service he met with 
many narrow escapes. At the battle of Stone River 
he was struck by a spent rifle ball which stunned 
him for a time; at Chickamauga three balls grazed 
his clothing, and in the retreat from that place to 
the lines of Chattanooga, he was wounded in the 
left side. At Mission Ridge a rifle ball slightly 
scratched the bridge of his nose, barely missing his 
head. 

After returning to his native State, and .again 
assuming his occup.ation as fisherman, Mr. Silver- 
wood was united in marriage, Jan. 6, 1867, with 
Miss S.arah A. Poskitt, a native of London, England, 
and who was born Feb. 2, 1847. The bride was a 
daughter of John and Hannah (Joyce) Poskitt, who 
were natives of Yorkshire and Essex respectively. 
Mrs. S. came to America with her parents when she 
was but two years of age. After embarking at 
London, and spending seven weeks upon the great 
deep, the family landed at Quebec, Canada, from 
which city they came directly to Ohio, and settled 
in Ei'ie County. Two j^ears later they removed to 
Ottawa County, that State, where the p.arents still 
reside. Mrs. Silverwood is the elder of two 
children born to her father and mother, her sister's 
name being Anna. Mr. Silverwood remained in 
his native State until the fall of 1871, vvhen, witli a 
view to the improvement of his fortune, he came to 
Kansas, .and settled in Sedgwick County. He pre- 
empted eighty acres of land on section 22, in Salem 
Township, which he at once commenced to improve, 
and where he resided until 1880, when he removed 
to his present home on section .35. He h.as now a 
very desirable farm of 240 acres, which is considered 
one of the best in the township. The buildings are 
of a superior character and substantial in their con- 
struction. The fields are well fenced with wire and 
hedge, and the home surroundings present a pleas- 
ing appearance to the passerby. Our subject has 
brought his land to a state of excellent tillage, and 
has lieen steadily adding improvements since locat- 



ing here. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred 
Poland-China hogs, and his sales of these bring in 
several hundred dollars yearly. 

On political questions Mr. Silverwood afliliates 
with the Democratic party. He served as School 
Director one year, and as School Treasurer six 
years. He is nothing of a politician, however, giv- 
ing most of his attention to his business, but is in 
favor of any or everything that is calculated to 
elevate the communitj" in wliich he lives. Socially, 
he belongs to Mulvane Post No. 202, G. A. R., 
and takes great interest in the meetings of "the boys 
in blue." Whatever he has accumulated in this 
world is due entirely to his own industry, energy 
and perseverance. He is a self-made man and a 
gentleman in the truest sense of the word. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Silverwood have been born six chil- 
dren: -John O., Oct. !)^ 1867; Minnie L., Oct. 18, 
1869; Harry, .Sept. 2, 1872; Annie, Aug. 24, 1874; 
Ada, Oct. 21, 1877; Willie, who w.as born Jan. 17, 
1871, died July .31 of the same j-ear. 

The picture of the attractive home of Mr. Silvtr- 
wood has been reproduced with care by our artist, 
and will be reg.arded with interest by his friends 
and neighl)ors. 



JOHN M. KERU. Some men's lives are quietlj^ 
passed in the enjoyment of their homes, while 
others are so rudelj' buffeted in the voy- 
age through life, and thej' are thrown into 
such strange company, that the history of their 
wanderings reads more like the product of a fertile 
imagination of the romancer than sober biographi'. 
Among those whose life work has been carried on 
in scenes of this character, ami whose wanderings 
have been far and wide, is the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. He is a native of Rock 
Township, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and was boiii Nov. 
2, 1831. 

The parents of Mr. Kerr, James and Mary M. 
(PvUiott) Kerr, were born, the former in New Jer- 
sey, Feb. 12. 1811, and the latter in Stark County, 
Ohio. They are now residing in Jeflferson County, 



HI-<^ 



•►•-^^ 



■^►■-4» 



>KIm;\\ it'K COUNTY. 



n 



K>., H Ill-It.' llirv Hfo »|><'iiiliiiK tlifir tli'cliiiin^ yt'iir-i, 
Ixilli linviii); |KU<M-<I llic nll<>tt<'il u<;c of iniiiikind. 
Tlu'V "ore tin- |mri-iitM of five cliililri'ii, lu* f<illii«>: 
.loliil M., the Milijcc-t of llii!< f.k(>Uli; .l:iiii«!<. » lio 
<li('<l ill infaiicv; l{(il>i>rt (.'., who ni:irrji-il Miv .liilin 
(Million. nii<l who ilii-il l-Vli. I'i, IHHH, in l.nuisviiiu, 
Kv.. iiikI Icfl n fiunily of nine cliililren : Hii'ImnI 
H.. a !>k«'l<-h <if hIioiii i?* >{ivi>n I'lsvwhtTo in this vol- 
iiiiio; anil .liiiiuv- K., who wa.x liorn Dec. 25. is.'il, 
and ilicil .Ian. I.'i, INK.S. 

In his liii_vhiMi(r> liap|i_v liays our .subject drew 
his ediiraiioii from the ilistrict si-hools of his 
native Slate, which he sii|i|iloiiieiited with one term 
at the llijjh School. In I i^.'i'J he removed l.> 
lirooks C'oiinly, \'a., where he w.-us residing at the 
time of the iircakin>; out of llie Hehellion. Beiiij^ 
inleiisclv |iatrii>tic, he cnli>ted in the Isl l.oyal 
\'ir;:inia liifaiitr.v. in the three-months service, and 
An;;. II, IftJ'i. enlisted in Company F, •-'.'illi Ohio 
Infantry, lie participated in most of the liallles 
in wliii-h his rejjimcnt was engaged. I le wa.- wounded 
liy a rille hall at the lialtle of C'ansvillc, .Hiid was 
taken prisoner, hiil was linally exchaii^iedul Charles- 
Ion. S. (.'.. and was inustercd out of the I'nited 
States service ami discliaij,'ed. .Inly 1 .'i. 1 Mdo, at 
Chester, S. C. 

.M the close of his service oiir siihject roluriied 
to \ir;;iiiia. and remained a resident of Hrooks 
County until Ihi'iH. AImiuI that time he commeiiceil 
employment on the l'ilt.slinr;ili. Cinciiinali lir St. 
Louis Kailroiid, heltcr known as the ••I'an-Haiidle." 
as conductor on the train running; from I'ittsliurgh 
to Columbus. For a short lime he was also in the 
employ of the Louisville <V; Nashville Railroad, and 
of the Terre Haute A- Alton 16iilroad. lie then 
reliirned lo Hrooks County. Va.. anil, entering inUi 
a partner-hip with his father, took n contract in the 
construction of the Chesapeake A- Ohio Railroad ; 
ul.Mo, later on, on the liig Lexington Railroad. His 
next move was to .Ml. Sterling. Ky., where he 
remained alioiil a year, after which he signed a 
c)iitractfor the conslriiclion of a |i(jrtion of the 
Cincinnati, Southern A: Chattanooga Railroad, which 
he finished after a time. About that time the 
Oovernmciit desired the c<instruclioii of a dam 
across the Wabash River at New llMrintiny, Ind.. 
ami iiur subject removed to that place, and, euler- 



ing into a contract, completed the work to tJie satis- 
fnclioii of evpryli(Mly concernerl. His next contract 
was for the construction of the water works ai 
Louisville, Ky., after finishing which he removed 
to ISrowii County, Ohio, and wbs ciigjig*-*! in 
construction <iii the line of the Narrow (Inuge 
Railroad, running fmin Cincinimti to I'ortMuouth. 
(Jriiwing tired of this he went back to Louisville, 
and took the contract to build a reservoir t4i supply 
with water the insane asylum at Anchorage, and 
finished the job in good slia|K'. His next move 
was to our sister Republic, .Mexico, where he was 
eng.-iged in contracting on the National Railroad, 
and while in that locality both he and his wife 
learned to speak the S|Miiiisli ianguiige fluently. 
Growing tired of this wandering life, he came li> 
Kansas, arriving here Oct. "JM, \Hs:\. ami settled 
down on the farm where ho ni>w resiileson the lith 
of .M:ircli following. 

.Mr. Kerr w;is united in iiuirriage, .Inly 4. I.s77, 
with .Miss Kmmu Varner, a native of I'osey County. 
Ind., born April 2fi, IM.'i.i, and the <laugliter of 
Asbury and Mary H. (I'urcell) Vainer, who were 
the parents of seven children, lus follows: Albert, 
who died in infancy; Louisa, who married George 
T. Burton, and is residing, a widow with one child, 
at New llarinony, Ind.; Charles, Willliam, \Valt<'r, 
Lawrence and Fniiiia, the latter of whom is the 
wife of the subject of this notice. Mr. and .Mrs. 
Kerr h.ave had a faiiiil}' of six children, whose 
names and natal days are .as follows: Leslie, who 
was born M.iy 1, IST.S; Mary Belle, Feb. :l, 18M : 
John, .June 5, IHH.J; Kthel, born May 12. \KS:>. iind 
died Aug. 20, IHSCi; and Mitchell, who was born 
Nov. l."i, 1880, and died December !'.• foUowing. A 
child was bom March 24. If^SS. and at the writing 
of this sketch Is uiinanied. 

The subject of our sketch li.as a very line f.-irm of 
ItiO acres of land, lying on Dry Creek, on section 
IT, Waco Township, all of which he has brought 
to a high stjite of cultivation. He is a Republican 
in politics, although not partisjiii in his feelings. 
Soci.'illy he is a member of the Odd Fellows' 
fraternity, and religiously, is in sympathy with the 
tenets of the Methodist Church. 

A view of .Mr. Kerr's homestead is irivcn in con- 
nection with this sketch. 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



003 



i 



^^EORGE BARRETT cast his l..t uith the 
III (—y early settlers of Park Townshiii in Octolier, 
^^5) 1878, and is now comfortably located on 
section 1 1. From a tract of wild prairie for which 
he paid $600, and which was eighty acres in extent, 
he commenced building his present homestead, and 
later added thirty acres, so that he has now 110 
acres, the greater part of which has been brought 
to a good state of cultivation. He makes a spe- 
cialty of stock-raising, and is numbered among the 
enterprising men of .Sedgwick County. 

Putnam County, N. Y., was the birthpljiee of 
our subject, and the date thereof Dec. 29, 1839. 
His parents, Aliijah and Lydia (Robinson) Barrett, 
•were also natives of the Empire .State, whence they 
emigrated to Wisconsin when their son George was 
a little lad five ^-ears of age. They first located in 
Rock County, sixteen miles west of Janesville, and 
were among the earliest pioneei^s of that region, ex- 
periencing the difficulties and dangers of life in a 
new settlement. The elder Barrett purchased eighty 
.icres of unim[)roved prairie, to which he subse- 
quently added until he was the owner of 500 acres, 
and established one of the finest homesteads in 
Rock County. His death took place there in De- 
cember, 1879, when he was about eighty 3'ears of 
age. 

The mother of our subject, in October, 1884, 
about five years after the death of her husband, 
came to this county' on a visit to her son George, 
and died at his residence in March, I880. The 
parental household included sixteen children, twelve 
of whom attained their majority and were married. 
George, of our sketch, is the only member of the 
family in this State. He developed into manhood 
at the homestead in Rock County, Wis., and ac- 
quired his education in the district school. 

Mr. Barrett, in 1858, accompanied by his elder 
brother, Frederick, crossed the Mississippi into 
Southern Kansas, the latter bringing with him 
$1,800 in gold, which he invested in land, now the 
site of the city of Emporia, and they, from that 
property, platted that now nourishing city. In the 
fall of 1858 they returned to AV'isconsin and resumed 
farming in Rock County. Our subject two years 
later, in 1860, took imto himself a wife and help- 
mate in the person of Miss Elizabeth, daughter of 



Benjamin and Sophia (Emery) Soden. Mrs. Bar- 
rett wiis born in Otsego County, Js. Y.. Ajiril 13, 
1842, and removed with her parents to Wisconsin 
about 1844, settling in Rock County about the 
same time the Barretts emigrated there. Mr. Soden, 
after a residence of thirty years in Rock County, 
where he had carried on farming continuously, died 
in June, 1874. The mother made her home with 
her son, in Dane County, and died in March, 1888, 
in her sevent^'-seventh 3'ear, leaving many friends 
to mourn their loss. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, after their marriage, settled 
on the farm of the father of our subject, where they 
continued to reside until 1873. Then, in order to 
give their children the advantages of better school- 
ing than the}' could obtain in the country districts, 
Mr. Barrett invested a part of his capital in a house 
and lot at Evansville, Wis., and removed there with 
his family. Subsequentlj' he assumed charge of 
the 220-acre farm of Lewis Spencer, which he man- 
aged for thi'ee years. 

In 1878, Mr. Barrett with his family and per- 
sonal eflfects started overland with teams for South- 
ern Kansas. After a journey of four weeks and 
two days the}- halted in Park Township, this county, 
where our subject at once invested in eight}' acres 
of raw prairie land, which is included in his present 
homestead. His three living children, who remain 
at home with their parents, arc Emery R., Gr.ace 
and Abijah. One son, Shejiherd, died when about 
ten years of age. 



JPOIIN KIEFNER, Ju. The subject of this 
I sketch, who is one of the most enterprising 
I young business men of Garden Plain, wjis 
1/ born in Garrett County, Md., April 6, I860, 
and is the eldest son of John and Anna C. (Leockel) 
Kiefner, natives of Germany. John Kiefner, Sr., 
was born in Bavaria, April 4, 1834, and the mother, 
a native of Hesse-Darmst.adt, first opened her eyes 
Aug. 20, 1835. 

John Kiefner, Sr., left his native country in 
1849, going directly to Baltimore, Md. While 
there he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, and 
after serving his apprenticeship migrated to Gar- 



•►Hl-^^ 



■•► ■ <• 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



I 



ri'tt ( iiiiiitN, wlicrr lie woi'koil al liU tniilo, niul cm 
tilt' I'ttli of Dccfinlicr, IH54, wa.s iiiiilf<I in innrria^e 
«itli .Mi>> Aniin ('. LotH-kd, wlm cnine to America 
Hjtli lior piironUs in IM40. Fifti-cn yrurs lat*T Mr. 
KirfntT mov»'(1 witli liis* fiimily to I'erryville. Mo., 
nliiTO lie now n-.-Jili-*. Miirinj; the yi'nr 1«W2 lie 
l)i'(.-«iiu' a ri'!>i<lenl of Kimsns, living in SnUetlia, 
(innlcii I'liiiii mill SI. .loliii, hut preferrin^r Mis- 
souri to tliis Slnti', III- returned to IVrryville in the 
fall of ISMT. riic iMircnliil liousfiiolil iiulinli'd 
sevfii rliililrt-n, iiaiiu-ly : .Miiry K.. .loliii, Jr., Samuel 
H.. .\iiim t'.. FMiiiiy U., ('Iiarlc:* K. ami Nellie C. 

■loliii Kii-fner, Jr., the siilijet-l of this sketrli, 
reeeivefl lii« ediifation in the common soIukjIs of 
I'erryville. .Mo., and at the age of eijjliloen begsiii 
llie >tii(ly tif pliarinaey in tlie ilriig-slore of'l"lionm.« 
Layton, of that place, reinainiiig two years. Sub- 
M-qiieiitly he com|ioiindeil drugs in (Jrenafla. Mis.s., 
St. I.oiiis, Mo., rniontown, Ky., Briiikloy. .Vrk., 
New Madrid, Springlield and Kansis C."ity, Mo. 
lie aUo clerked in a liry-goods store in I'erryville 
some seventeen inonllis, and attended the medic- 
inal department of the rnivcrsily of Maryland, at 
H.-iltimore, for five niunths, and during the winter 
of |.ss2-«.i. 

On the -ii'd of Novemher, l.SM-l. Mr. Kiefner 
laiiilc<l in (larden Plain, this count}-, with the 
iiiuniticent sum of ^l..'5;'> in his pocket. (Jood fort- 
une attending him, however, he secured a [xisition 
in the drug-store of Kowe A- Saur, remaining thir- 
teen months. He then invested in a quarter-section 
of land in I'ratt County, and later acquired a like 
amount in Seward County. i)u the 2Cth of iJe- 
cenihcr, IM.s.'i, he purchiised the st<K-k-in-trade of 
liis employers, pa_ving for this with one of his 
quarter-sections of land. Since that time his career 
has been steadily progressive. In business he is 
what his neighbors call a " hustler." It seems 
almost incredible that in the short sjiacc of three 
yeans he has acquired by his own skill and good 
manageinent the owner-hip of three fine (piarter- 
section- of land, li>cate<l in Sedgwick, Karber and 
S«'ward C'ounlie.s, a neat and tasteful <lwelling, and 
the stock of drugs, besides the store biiililing, where 
he is iiMially to be found attending strictly to biisi- 
nt-sA. In the estimation of his friends he is a nio.-t 
genial, courteous neighbor and an excellent cili/.en 



— Just the kin<l t4) assist in building up this beauti- 
ful, growing, prairie Stale of Kansas. 

The marriage of John Kiefner, Jr.. and .Mi» 
Nettie Uoseiibery, of .Medicine I,o<lge, Kan., took 
place on the IClh of .May, IS.^G. This lady was 
the (laughter of (>. II. and Vickej- (Craddick) 
Uosenbery, and was born in .Shelby County. III.. 
OcU 20, 1H(;2. Her death took place March 22, 
IKH7. Of this union there was one child, a son, 
born Feb. 2;'), 1HK7, and who survived his mother 
but a few months, iKissing from earth .liine 24, 
IXH7. Mr. K. was a secoiul time married. April 
4, I8MS, to .Miss Ida Walker, who was born in 
Rosamond, 111.. .May 2M. |SC1). and is the daughter 
of Dr. O. M. and Amanda (Yeager) Walker. 

Mr. Kiefner, politically, votes the stniight Ke- 
publicnn ticket, and has held the olliceof Town>hip 
Clerk for over two years. The fact that he is in 
the mi<Ist of DenuK-racy, which is largely in the 
maj<>rity in tJanlcn I'l.ain Township, indicates his 
standing among his fellow-citizens. In religious 
matters he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and there, as elsewhere, is active and 
ellicient. 

yi^ HAHI.KS A. WKIHICK. No country has 
(|( ^!^ afforded greater opportunities to the po<ir 
'^^f' man than our own; it is indeed the poor 
man's country. Here an industrious, frugal man 
has a chance to accumulate wealth. .Many fail to 
do so, but the best of our population lay by some 
of their earnings, and soon find themselves in the 
possession of a handsome property. Among them 
is the gentleman whose name heads this article. 
He lives in Wii'liiui Township, and came to this 
locality in the spring of IMTs, and occiipieil himself 
at days' work for the following five years. He then 
purchased the northwest quarter of section ti, pay- 
ing therefor t-W per acre, and \\n» platted one-half 
of this area, which will in due time constitute the 
finest residence |M>rtion of the city. It lies be- 
tween the two Arkansas Rivers, with the Mot<ir 
Line running through. 

Our subject luis distinguished himself as a farmer 
and stock-grower of judgment and exiK-rience, in 
which he was trained from his boyhood up. His 



-^-m -^ 



•¥^m-4^ 



SEDfiWICK COHNTV. 



605 



earlj' home was in York County, Pa., where he wm- 
born March 22, 1852. His parents, Peter A. and 
Mary A. (Smith) "Weiriek, were als(» natives of the 
Kcj'stone State, and are residents of Wichita. 
The three children of the parental family were 
named Charles A., William J. and Gregory S. The 
two brothers of our siilgcct are living in Sedgwick 
County. 

Upon leaving his native SUite, Mr. Wcirick took 
up his residence in Maryland, where he remained 
until crossing the Mississifjpi. lie was married in 
Wichita, on the 20th of May, 1884, to Miss Emma 
II. Benton, who was born in Cass County, Mich., 
Jan. 25, I860. Mrs. Weirick is the daughter of 
George and Susan (Simpson) Benton, who were 
natives of New York and Ohio, and are now living 
in Wichita. Mr. Benton was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and came to Kansas in 1874. The ciglit chil- 
dren of the famil3' were: Levi, Eli C, Lydia. Mary, 
Richard, Orin, Emma H. and Ida M. All of 
these are living and residents of Sedgwick Count}', 
except two, Richard and Levi. Mr. and Mrs. Wei- 
rick are the parents of a son and daughter: Joseph 
Roy, born March 26, 1885, and Bertlia C, Oct. 
8, 1887. 

"^ ^-*-^- ^ 

■SIOHN SCOTT WILSON owns a snug farm of 
I eighty acres, pleasanti}' located on section 
13, Afton Township, where he has been oper- 
ating successfully since the spring of 1885. 
With the exception of a moderate legacy left b}' 
his parents, he has been the architect of his own 
fortune, and has never been afraid of putting his 
shoulder to the wheel whenever necessary. He has 
brought his land to a high state of cultivation, 
largely by the labor of his own hands, and is in 
possession of a comfortable set of farm buildings, 
to which eacii year he adds something to enhance 
the beauty and value of his property. 

It is claimed th:it tiie great-grandfather Bennett 
once owned half the land upon which the city of 
Philadelphia now stands. They are of Scotch and 
English ancestry, and were first represented in this 
country during the Colonial days. James S., the 
father of our subject, served in tlie Black Hawk 
War, and John, of this history, hiis in his possession 



ilh |".\vder-horn carried by his honored sire dur- 
ing lli;it exciting time. 

John Scott Wilson was born in Preble County, 
Ohio, on the 2d of May, 1844, and is the son of 
James S. and Nancy (Bennett) Wilson, natives of 
Ohio. James S. Wilson wiis born March I!), 1815, 
arid departed this life at his home in Preble County, 
Ohio, Dec. 19, 1845. He was a farmer and dis- 
tiller by occupation, and, as will be seen, passed 
awaj' when his son John was a child a little over 
two years of age. The mother survived her hus- 
band a period of twenty-nine years, her death tak- 
ing place in 1873, in Montgomery County, Ind. 
They were the parents of two children onl}', John 
of our sketch being the elder. His sister, Sarah 
Kllizabeth, was the wife of James Loucks, a brick 
manufacturer of Montgomery County, Ind., and died 
in 1873; she had been tlie mother of one child, who 
died in Infancy. 

Our subject, at the age of sixteen ^-ears, com- 
menced life on his own account, and was thereafter 
employed at farming until the time of his marriage, 
on the 2d of June. 1883. His wife, formerly Miss 
Dena Jackson, was born in Miami Count}-, Ind., 
Feb. 7, 1863, and is the daughter of James and 
Elizabeth (Ailshire) Jackson, natives of Virginia. 
James Jackson was born in 1821, and died at his 
home in Pratt County, 111., in 1865, when his 
daughter Dena was but two years of age. The 
mother is still living, and m.akes her home with our 
subject. She is now in the sixty-fiftli year of her 
age, having been born Nov. 20, 1823. 

To James and Elizabeth Jackson, the parents of 
Mrs. Wilson, there were born nine children, recorded 
as follows: Abram died in Miami County, Ind., 
when eleven years of age ; Elizabeth lived but three 
weeks after her birth: Cynthia Ann is the wife of 
J. G. Yargen, a miller by trade; they have five 
children, and reside in Scott County, Ind. James 
I. married Miss Sarah Capp, a farmer of Scott 
County, Ind., and they have three children living; 
five are deceased. Sadie is the wife of Isaac Bit- 
ter, a farmer of Montgomery County, Ind., and the 
mother of five children, tin-ee of whom are deceased ; 
Jacob was first mari-ied to Miss Ellen Pinkston, 
who became tiie mother of one child, and died: he 
was subsequently married to Miss Levona Baldwin; 



•^-■-4^ 



•^ 



f 



-4^ 



SKI )r; WICK COUNTY. 



tlu'V lm«i- line i-liili| ami an- living' nil ii fiinii in 
.MoiitgniniTy Ciiiintv. Iiul. Ilnnnali is tlu- wifi- nf 
.IniiH-s MilliT, n fanner of .Mniitifdinfrv t'ouiity, Iml., 
anil tlu! iiintlior of jm-vcii cliililn-n, three of wliotn 
are lU-i-eftjiei) ; Mnr^aret ilicd when seven year* of 
nfjc. 

'I'o Mr. mill -Mrs. WiUon there wore horn three 
ehihiren: Nimcy Kh/.al)eth. May "Jit. 1 «K I ; Simon 
Jncoh. Fell. •>", IKHC. ; nnd Lyclin Belle. Dec. 25, 
1KK7. They eontinueil resiilent-s of Montifoniery 
County. Iml.. until their removal to tlii.s .Stale in 
.March. 1 xH.'i. Our Milijei-t is a pciilleman in the 
prime of life, anil there is every prospect that with 
the inilustry and enterprise for which he is prover- 
liial, he will hefore many years he ahle to irradunlly 
retire from the active lalmrs of life, and spend his 
later days in the ea>e ami cmnfnrl to which he is 
justly entitled. 

K\ . (iK()K(;i:(;AV canieto.Soulhem Kaiisa.s 
in its pioneer days, and while fi^sisliiiji to 
redeem a portion of the uncultivated soil 
\vigalso lahored to incline the hearts and minds 
of the |K-ople to reli^'ious tliiiifp«. In the pursuance 
of his pious duties he traveled over a stretch of 
territory eighty miles Imiji and forty-live miles 
wide, which enihraceil twelve appuintment'>. he 
being expected at each place once in three weeks. 
Ill wide contrast to the modes of travel by the 
clergymen of the present day, these trips were 
made many times laboriously in a lumber wagon 
and frc(|ueiitly over heavy and almost impassable 
iim.l«. 

It is hardly nec'e.-sjiry to sjiy that in those days 
the salary of the itinerant wius by no means a 
munincent one, and in order ti> add to his means uf 
subsistence Mr. (iay took up a tract of land in 
Lincoln 'rownship. which he by slow degrees elimi- 
nated into a good hoinesti-ad, upon which he still 
lives, bill the operations of which are carried on 
by his son. Mr. (iay, in addition to his other labors, 
freighted goods from FloreiUM- to KIdred. and 
employed himself inces.sjintly lirsl at oiu; tiling and 
then another, in order to "get on." lie can now. 
however, look back upmi a well-spent lift-. .miiiI ciijny 



the fruit« of his toil and saciinci's. His course has 
been such as to gain him the esteom and conndencc 
uf the |>eo|>le around him. and he is |ka.Hsing his 
ileclining years in the ea.se and comfort to which he 
is so justly entitled. Ills home lies alMiut live miles 
from the village of (Ireenwirh. is plea.saiilly situated, 
and forms a pleiLsing country pictim' delightful to 
coiit«>ni plate. 

The boyhood years of Mr. flay were s|>onl in 
Huntingdon County, Pa. He was born on the site 
of Altoona. on the Pennsylvania Itjiilroad. where his 
birth took place on the Sth of .March. IHIl'.. He 
was the .second in a family of six children born to 
William and Margaret (.Schmidl) (iay, the father n 
native of Maryland, and the mother of Oerman 
extraction, her ancestors having lived along the 
banks of the classic Khiiie. The internal grand- 
father, Henry (lay. who married .Miss Hannah 
Hendricks in his early manhood, was an Knglishnian 
by birth and iwrentJigc. and emigrated to the I'nited 
States in time to carry a musket during the Revo- 
lutionary War; later he served in the War of IMi' 
as nieinber of a cavalry regiment. He wa> then 
quite well advanced in ye!ii>. and was one hundred 
and nine at the lime of his death, which look )ilacc 
in Muskingum County. Ohio, (irandmother (Jay 
wius of Irish extraction, and born in the city of 
Cork. She survived her husband a few years, and 
also died in Muskingum County. Ohio. 

The maternal grandparents of Mr. (Jay. Dr. 
Nicholas and Margaret .Schmidt, natives (..f (ler- 
many, cro.s.sed the Atlantic at an early day. and 
located in Hcdford County, Pa., where Or. Schmidt 
engjiged in the practice of his |>rofession. and where 
both s|ienl the remainder of their days. The father 
of our subject followed teaming before the day of 
railroads in Pennsylvania, being employed mostly 
among the iron furnaces. He spent his entire life 
in his native SUite,aiul died there about inri. when 
sixty-nine years old. He also had served in the 
War of lH|-_'. The luolhcr. after the death of her 
husband, removed across the Mississippi into Iowa, 
where her decea.se took place about 1S7.S. 

Our subject before leaving his native .Stiite served 
an apprenticeship as a cabinet-m.aker. and followed 
his ti-ade in Pciiiisy I vania until coming to the West. 
Ill- had received a very good edm'alinli.riimpleting 



•►Hr^ 



-^•- 






-•►Hl-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



C07 



his studies in the grader! seliools at Bellefonte. 
Soon after reaching the twontv-fifth year of his age 
he W!is united in marriage with a maiden of his own 
county', Miss Nancy Stookey. the wedding taking 
place at the home of the bride on the •2;^d of March, 
1841. Mrs. Gay was born Jan. 18, 1821, and was 
the third child of Adam and Nancj' (Ellenbarger) 
Stookey, who were also natives of the Keystone 
State. Her paternal grandparents died in Lebanon 
County, Pa., while the parents of her mother died 
in Center County. 

Jlr. and Mrs. (Jaj' after their marriage lived for 
a time in Center County, whence they removecl to 
the town of Western, and from there about 1855 to 
Illinois. In the latter State they were residents for 
about twelve j-ears, of Caledonia in Putnam Count}'. 
Their next removal was to Michigan, .and they 
settled in the little town of Lamont, near Grand 
Haven. Five 3'ears later, in the spring of 1871, 
they started out overland for Southern Kansas, be- 
ginning the journey in Maj', and arriving in this 
county in Jul}' following. 

Mr. Gay at once pitched his tent in Lincoln 
Township, and homesteaded eighty acres on section 
32. He commenced breaking the soil, and put up 
a temporary shelter for his family. He began his 
ministerial labors in Kansas, in the interests of the 
I'nited Brethren Church, in 1872, and thereafter 
traveled all over the counties of Sedgwick, Butler, 
Cowley, Sumner, Harvey and Reno. He was sta- 
tioned at different places, sometimes one year, and 
sometimes two. In the meantime he retained pos- 
session of bis land, which was operated by his son. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gay became the parents of thirteen 
children, of whom five are now living. They were 
named respectively: William, Hannah, M.argaret, 
Adam, Stookey, Martha Jane, George R., Henry, 
Bascomb, John W., Charlie, Emory and Franklin. 
The eldest son, William, was a private in Company 
K. 11th Illinois Infantry, during the late war, and 
at the battle of Pittsburg Landing on Sunday morn- 
ing, April 8, 181)2, was wounded. He was taken 
to St. Louis, and entered on the hospital books 
as an unknown |)erson, died, and was buried in 
an unknown grave: Hannah, Mrs. J. N. Cochran, 
is a resident of Wichita: Adam died at the ago of 
ten years, four months and thirteen days; Martha, 
4» 



Mrs. Walker, is a resident of Gratiot County, Mich. ; 
George R. died at the age of five years and three 
months; Henry died at the age of three years, two 
months and twenty-eight d.ays; John died aged one 
year, three months and twenty-one days; Charlie 
married Miss Fanny Loster, of Wichita, on the 3d 
of July, 1882, and is a resident of Winfield, Cow- 
ley County, this State ; he is a harness-maker by trade. 
Emory, a carpenter, married Miss Freddie Klenlz, 
on the 2d of January. 1887, and is a resident of 
Wichita; Franklin lives on the home farm. 

Mr. Gay was superannuated five years since, but 
retains his deep interest in religious matters, and is 
frequently the assistant at the local meetings. As 
one of the oldest settlers in this part of Sedgwick 
County, and one who has contributed his full share 
toward its intellectual and moral progress, he is held 
in involuntary respect. He knows all about the 
hardships and privations of life in a new country, 
and his experience forms a rich storehouse, where 
he has garnered much from his observation of 
human life, and the ways of the world. 



<S I^ILLIAM BECKER, pn)prictor of 320 .acres 
\/~J// of improved land, comprising 160 acres of 
^psfi sections 27 and 28 in Park Township, is 
numbered among the honored pioneers of Sedgwick 
County, and is one of its most substantial and 
wealthy farmers. He settled here in the spring of 
1871, and from the uncultivated soil built up a val- 
uable homestead which will remain as a monument 
of his industry and enterprise for generations to 
come. He has been particularly wise in his invest- 
ments and pos.sesses excellent business capacity, mak- 
ing the most of his opportunities, and all through 
the changes of a busy life and while laboring for 
his own interest hsis in nowise set aside the inter- 
ests and well-being of the community around him. 
He labored in common with the other intelligent 
men of Sedgwick County, who came here during the 
period of its early history to advance its interests, 
and make it a point of attraction for immigration 
and settlement. 

Northumberland County, Pa., which has given 



f 



■^^ 



SKUdWUK COUNTY. 



M> iiiaii\ iif iu« MiliM to tlic liiiililiii),' ii|> of the (^roiit 
W (.•."t wn,'* llic enrly Ininipiiif; ;;r<>iiiiil of mir Mibjot-t, 
mill wIhto In- fit>l <i|h'|umI liis cv"* <>ii tlit" i'lh of 
.lime. IMI.'l. Ili.« fiitlHT, .liniili lUnkiT, wiw Jiorn in 
llic Kliiiif rr«»viiuf of (MTiimiiy. wherf hi' wii.>* lari- 
fiilly t'tliu-nU'il i|iiriii}it hisi yoiiili nml ilcvi-loneil asa 
Id'.'irtii'iliR (ilivsicinii. lie rniuc U> l\\v I'liiU'il .Slnt«"!* 
Willi n |M>rlioii.>f (lit- IK-Ksinii nriny unit |iarlici|mU'<l 
n.s <iirgi'oii ill till' HfVoliilioiinry War. AfUT tlio 
conllitt lintl emlnl, l>_v llie l■^Ul>ii^lllIlt•lllof Colonial 
iiiilc|»oii(liMi<-r, he .soIIIimI in IVniLsyivaiiin, wlioro lie 
tli-!tl inarrii-d a Mis." CanuTon. ami liy Iht liocanu- 
till- father of sivinil ihihlrin. This laily tlied after 
:i few years, anil .laeoli Becker wn.s subsequently 
iiiarrieil lo Mis.- Klizaheth Diinniick, of Uueks 
( ounly. Her |mrents. also natives of (Jernmiiy, 
came to the I'liitcd .SUitcs impoverished, and were 
held in diimnce for their passage money, their time 
lieiiig sold for their pa,-sage to the party who would 
pay the most money for the same. In lirae they 
came into |Missession of land, which he sold for C'oii- 
tinent:il money, and on account of its depreciation 
lo>tall. The Dimmick family included .lolin, Adam, 
.lacoli, I'eter, Michael, Frederick and Klizalietli. 

.laeoh and Kli/.alieth (Oimmick) Becker were the 
parent* of ei};ht children, namely : Benjamin, Har- 
riet, .losepli. Amelia, I.oiiisa. Marj^arel, Maria and 
William. The father tlied a few months previous 
to the liirtli of William, our subject. He was the 
inventor of a famous eye salve, li}' the sale of 
which article the mother realized sullicient money 
to maintain her family comfortably. This salve 
became very popular all over the C(juntry, and is 
-till manufactured by a(lru}::f^isl in New York City. 
Mrs. Klizabeth Becker lived lo see her children 
(dinforOibly provided for, and departed this life 
April 1.'.. IH;-).',. 

William Bei'ker ac(iuired most of his educa- 
tion in the .Sabbath-school, and resi<le<l with his 
mother niilil sixteen years of age. He then engaged 
as an assistant in the building of canal-boats, and 
-iibse«|Ueiilly lejirncfl the trade of a niiuson at Sun- 
bury. I'a. In \HM, accompanied by two other 
young men, he made his way to Hollidaysburg, 
whrre he secured a position as conductor on the 
I'orlagc Railroad across the Alleghany Mountains, 
ovii wliiib the "iiffl were liMilled bv ln.rscs. In the 



•► B-*^ 



fall of that year he returned home, and in yMS 
went U> Philadelphia via the S<-huylkill Canal: in the 
Mime year, in coni|Niiiy with his brother-in-law and 
family, he started by tvanis on a westward Iripi 
making his way to Kalainay.ixi Coiinly. .Mich.' 
where he was einploye<l on a farm at ♦I2..')<l per 
month until .lanuary, 1837. 

In .January, IHIt", our subject started for the 
Black Hawk I'urchase on horseback, iu'con)|>anied 
by 'riionins .Macklevain, luid was employed at mason 
Work for a lime in that vicinity, after which he re- 
turned ea-st as far as Warsaw, HI., anil was employed 
for a time building a stune tlutiring-mill. In the 
S|)ring of lH:i8 he formed the acquaintance of .Miss 
Rebecca I'clers, to whom he became greatly attached, 
and as the natural result, the attachment being recip- 
rocated, they Were united in marriage .Jan. .'», 1812. 

Mrs. Becker was liorn in Monroe County, W. Va., 
April 3, 1818, and is the daughter of .John and 
Miirgaret ((Jarton) Peters, who removed from the 
Old Dominion to Indiana in I83.'i, and three years 
later to Warsaw, 111. After inrtrriagc Mr. and Mrs. 
B. located in Van Buren County, Iowa, where our 
subject followed his trade until 18-17. He then 
returned with his family to his native .State, and 
took up his residence in Schuylkill County, but in 
IH.'i.) returned to Iowa, lix-^iting again flrsl in \'ni\ 
Buren County, and afterward going to Wa|H-llo 
County. In the latter he followed farming until 
1871, and thence came to this county, where he has 
since remained. 

Mr. Becker, in common with the pioneers about 
him, settled upon a tract of uncultivated land, and 
wjis obliged to haul the lumber 120 miles to build his 
house. This was but a single incident in the ex- 
periences which followed during a period when 
there was required the exercise of a dauntless reso- 
lution ami energy to overcome the dilllculties in the 
path of the early .settler. As time piussed on, how- 
ever, these gradually melted away, and Mr. Becker, 
in addition to the cultivation of the land wh" ' he 
had lirst secured was enabled to increase the quantity, 
and is now the owner of 3*20 acres, all of 
is improved, and which he devotes largely to the 
raising of cattle, horses and swine. He has a taste- 
ful and sulistjuitial set of farm buildings, all the 
neces.Niiy machinery for tin successful proseci ion 





•/f Jm^ 



^l-4^ 



=^1 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



611 



of his calling, and each 3'eai- adds something to the 
beantj' and viilue of his property'. 

There came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Becker 
in due time six children, four of whom lived to 
mature yeai-s. JLargaret, now deceased, became 
tlie wife of Henry Glessner, and died at her home 
in Park Township, in Js'oveniber, 1879: Sarah 
Kllcn is the wife of William Bnrress, a phj'sician ; 
Jacob, William, Hugh and Charles P. The latter 
died at the age of thirty-three years, while on a 
visit to Wapello County, Iowa. As will be seen 
from the record, Mrs. Burress and Jacob are the 
only surviving children. Our subject, politically, 
is a soli<l Republican, and has served as School 
Director in his district. His estimable wife is a 
member in good standing of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, at Jamcsburg. 



JAMES R. SITES, attorney-at-law by profes- 
sion, but a man also fond of agricultural 
pursuits, is carrying on dairying and stock- 
raising on one of the finest farms in Sedgwick 
Couutj'. He came to this section of country in 
April, 1883, and is recognized as a valued addition 
to the communitj'. The main points of an inter- 
esting historj' are substantially as follows : 

Our subject is a native of Butler County, Ohio, 
where his birth took place Aug. 5, 1842. He is the 
son of Jacob Sites, a Virginian bj- birth, and a 
farmer by occupation. In 1839 he left the Old Do- 
minion, taking up his residence in Butler County, 
Ohio, and was not long afterward married to Miss 
Lydia Reed, a native of that county, and daughter 
of Robert and Lydia (Thomas) Reed. In 1845 
thoj' removed to Franklin County, Ind., where the 
father is still living, and having been born in 1820, 
is now in the sixty-eighth ^-ear of his age. The 
mother died in J.anuary, 1884, while on a visit to 
her son, our subject, in this county, and was sixty- 
six years of age. 

Mr. Sites w-as the eldest of the six children l)orn 
to his parents, and besides himself there are but 
three now living, namely; L^-dia H., the wife of C. 
Eggleston,of Franklin County, Ind.; George T., a 
resident of this county, and Jacob W., who lives 
^ ^— ^-^.^^_^___ 



in Wichita. James R. was but a boy when his 
parents removed from Ohio to Indiana, wliere he 
completed his education in Brookville College, from 
which he was graduated wlien twenty-live years of 
age. He entered upon the study of law under the 
instructions of Messrs. Adams & Berrj', of Brook- 
ville, and subsequenllj' took a full course .at the 
Michigan State University', at Ann Arbor. After 
being admitted to the bar he commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession at Hamilton, Ohio, where 
during a period of thirteen years he built up a lu- 
crative business, and was one of the most success- 
ful trial lawyers of that city. Frcmi there in 1883 
he came to this State, and soon afterward ])urchased 
a quarter of section 27, which was then in a virgin 
state, and besides the care of this Mr. Sites also 
has at present control of 320 acres elsewhere, which 
provides him with the facilities for dairying and 
stock-raising, and upon which he resides. He finds 
a market for his dairy products in Wichita, in 
which cit3' he also has a law office, and is enabled to 
give considerable time to his profession, while he 
emploj's men to operate his farm. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- 
ried Dec. 31, 1867, was in hergirlhood Miss Elmira, 
daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Floyd) Fow- 
ler, who was born in Franklin County, Ind., M.aj' 
31, 1848, and resided there until her marriage. 
Her father died in Union County, Ind., at the age 
of sixtj'-one 3'ears. The mother is still living there, 
and is now nearly fiftj-eight years of age, having 
been born July 15, 1830. 

The children of Jlr. and Mrs. Sites, six in num- 
ber, were named respectively : Edward M.; Martha 
A. died Feb. 15, 1888, at the age of eighteen years; 
William E. ; Jacob J., who died at the age of two 
years and seven months; George F., who died 
at the age of one year and five months; and John 
Wesley. Two of the deceased children were taken 
from the household circle within one week of each 
other in 1 875. 

Mr. Sites, politically, is a strong Republican with 
Prohibition tendencies, warmly interested in the 
success of the temperance movement and though, 
while in Ohio, he was active in politics, has declined 
becoming an office-seeker, preferring to give his 
attention to his personal interests. Both he imd 



-t 



•«(• 



-4^ 



-«► 



SI-DC UK K ('( ilNTY. 



Iii- ■ - ■ ■ ' ■ ■ ■ • ' ' i\ ■ 

niui l^iilii'> oi liuiiur. I'lu-'ro is no Hovtiun of ouiiii- 
try where jrrentcr enterprise is displnycd timn in 
iinii .'irotiix) WieliiUi. It seonist Hint the most wide- 
Hwiike men of iilnioMt every ctminiiinity «>f the nuue 
Kn.st<Tn Stiile.t linve left their c»|i| huines and fume 
here, where Ihey And flm|ile nunn t<i expnnd and 
di.>plny their nliilily in a hnsines;* way. I'ruminent 
RUHini; them standrt Mr. Sites, wliose portrait we 
present to our patrons. 

OKKN/.O AN1JKK.S()N, one of the prom- 
inent and represcnliitive men of Ohio 
Townsliip, residinjj on section 26, is one of 
the original pioneers of that portion of .Sedgwiek 
County, lie settled there in 1871, an<l has lieen a 
resiflent of the place ever since. On his arrival, 
he look up under the pre-emption act the south- 
west quarter of section "it;, Ohio Township, when 
there were but a few places that dotted the gra.ssy 
wilderness in that locality, and has heen prom- 
inently identifled with its entire historj'. He was 
largely inslniniental in the organization of the 
tuwnsiup, and has otherwise been connected with 
its development. 

The subject of our sketch made his appearance 
u|>i in the stage of life Oct. 12, 1818, beneath the 
roof of his parents, Stephen and Patience (Ran- 
dall) Anderson, in Cumberhind County. Me. His 
father and mother were also natives of the old 
I'ine Tree State, and the former was a blacksmith 
by trade. The paternal great-uncle of our subject, 
.lohn Anderson, was a soldier in the Continental 
army <luring the Revijlutionary War, and fought 
gallantly for the inde|)endence of his native land. 
Lorenzo Anderson w.is reared to manhood in his 
native SUitc, and received in his boyhood daj's but 
a limited education, not having had the facilities 
for acquiring knowledge possessed by the youth of 
the present day. Having been a reader all his life, 
he hu», however, made up for the disailvantages of 
his younger years, and is well posted on all general 
topics. At an early age he commenced learning 
the blocksinith's trade with his father, and worked 
with him some eight or t«'n years, itfU'v which he 



•►•-♦i 



I on the business for himself in the same lo- 
cality until \H:,i. In thai yeur, feeling a natural 
<lesire to seek a place in a new country, where he 
could enter ii|mi!i ngrictillnrnl pursuits with less 
drawback:" than were to be found on the sUuiy soil 
of New Kngland, he moved to Illinois and settled 
in Henry County, where he engaged in farming. 
That locality wius then but newly settled, and there 
he learned to endure the hnrdshi|i« int-iilent u|K)n 
a pioneer life, and made it his residence until com- 
ing to .Sedgwick County, in 187 1. 

While still a resident of Maine, .Mr. Anilerson 
was united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Soiile, 
the ceremony tiiking place Nov. 20. 18 11. .She be- 
came the mother of four children, jis follows: 
Edwin A., a veteran of the late Civil War. and a 
resident of Ohio Township; Herbert, deceased: 
Lorenzo I)., who is living in l)akot:i: and Kiifus.s.. 
who makes his home at Des Moines, Iowa. Hav- 
ing lost his wife. Mr. Anderson a second time en- 
tered into the bonds of matriraoii}' while in Maine, 
he wedding, .Tuly 10. 18.'i4, Miss .Mary L. Ifcindall. 
She is a native of Cumberland County, Me., born 
Ma}' .'i, 1831, and the daughter of Isjiac and Hetsey 
(Cummings) Itandall. She is of Scotch descent, 
IMirtially, her grandfather on her father's side hav- 
ing been born in Scotland. Three of her brolhei-s. 
Joseph P.. .lohn F. and Albert .1., were soldiers in 
the Federal army during the great Kcbellion, and 
performed their dut}' giillantly. By this latter 
union there have been born nine children, six of 
whom are living, as follows: .lohn; Mary; Kale, 
the wife of William 11. Roll, of Peck, Kan.; Ger- 
trude G., Lucy H. anil Charles A. The hist named 
was the first child born in Ohio Township after its 
organizjilion. The deceased children bore the names 
of .Stephen D., Lucy A. ami Frank W. 

The subject of our sketch has served as Town- 
ship Clerk for several years, and has been solicited 
to offer hiiiKself as a candidate for other im- 
portant ollices, but would not accept. When he 
settled on his farm there was not a furrow turned 
on it, and wild aiiiinnls were plentiful in the neigh- 
borhood. He has, however, by dint of energy, 
perseverance and industry, made of it a gooil. cul- 
tivated farm, and ha.s put up some very handsome 
improvements. While a resident of Munsoii Town- 



41-*- 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



613 



ship, Henry Co., 111., be filled several of the lead- 
ing towiislii|) offices for several years. He is a Re- 
publican in politics, and takes considerable interest 
in all the campaigns of that party. He is entire!}' 
a self-made man, having accumulated what prop- 
erty he has by industry and hard work, in which 
he has the full assistance of his devoted wife. His 
farm consists of 160 acres of excellent land. 

Edwin A. Anderson, the son of the subject of 
this sketch, enlisted, .Sept, 1, 1861, in Company B, 
9th Illinois Cavalry, under Col. A. ('<. Hrackett. 
The regiment to which he was attached was as- 
signed for duty to the Army of the Tennessee, and 
he participated with them in the capture of Nash- 
ville, the battles of luka, Tupelo, and many other 
of the contests in the department of the Southwest, 
including that at Eranklin, Tenu. He was in nearly 
all of the thirty or more engagements in which 
the regiment w.is present, and was captured near 
Selraa, Ala., by tien. Hood's cavalry, but the same 
evening made his escape and rejoined the Federal 
lines. While out foraging at Germantown, Tenn., 
he and three of his comrades, while eating dinner 
at a farmhouse, were captured bj' the rebels, but 
when the shades of evening settled down he and 
one other boy again escaped. He was discharged 
in November, 186.5, and came with his father to 
this county in 1871, .and pre-empted the southe.ist 
quarter of section 26, Ohio Township, where he at 
present resides. As a result of his service in the 
array he is considerably broken down in health; 
he is identified with the societj' of the G. A. R. 



V 



v., 



A. AREY, of the Arej' Furniture Com- 
pany, which is located at Nos. '2i)7 and 259 
North Main street, AVichita, is doing the 
largest business of the kind in the city. Mr. Arey 
was born in Winterport, Me., in 1850, and is the 
son of W. R. and Laura S. Arey. Our subject 
comes of an old family of Scotch descent, who were 
early settlers of this country, the Areys being early 
settlers of Maine, and were mostly seafaring peo- 
ple. The town of Winterport is sixteen miles from 
Bangor on the Penobscot River, which is one of the 



finest streams in the United States, and among the 
numerous large harbors formed by the long and 
irregular co.ist line of Maine, Penobscot Bay is one 
of the widest and safest to be found on either con- 
tinent, and one where the natives of the world 
could ride an anchor. 

The father of our subject was a well-to-do citizen 
of Winterport, and his grandfather was a sea cap- 
tain who used to tell fascin.ating stories of sea life, 
and our subject, after finishing his education in the 
public schools of his native town became enamored 
with a sailor's life, and at the age of sixteen years 
determined to go to sea. Ills father was part owner 
of the barque "L. Willis Ridge," and young Arey 
shipped as a sailor before the mast on that craft on 
a voyage to the West Indies. When but fourteen 
days out the barque was wrecked on an island, and 
the crew had a very narrow escape from death. 
The}' were finally rescued I)}' an English vessel 
which took them to Nassau, and this experience 
cured j'oung Arey of his desire for a life on the. 
sea. It becoming necessary for him to learn some 
occupation as a means of support, at the .ige of 
eighteen years our subject went to Boston and 
learned the trade of an upholsterer, remaining there 
three years. 

In 1868 Mr. Arey wont to Chicago, where he 
resided a year and a half. In 1 870, when a young 
man of twenty years, he came to Kansas and started 
a mattress factory in Topeka. While there he be- 
came acquainted with Col. Sam Wood, of Cotton- 
wood Falls, and entered into his employ in the cat- 
tle business, passing through Wichita when it was 
but an Indian trading-post, en route for Texas, and 
subsequently was engaged on one of the great cattle 
drives from Texas through Indian Territory and 
Wichita. Mr. Arey remained in that business until 
1872, when he returned to Boston, and from there 
proceeded to Dcnison, Tex., where he established 
the mattress and spring bed business, remaining 
there prosperously engaged until 1879. Thinking 
that a newer country with fewer competitors would 
prove still more lucrative, our subject determined 
to try life in Colorado for awhile, and in May, 
1880, went to Gunnison City, accompanied by his 
family. The whole distance from Denison, Tex., 
to Gunnison City, was traversed by a team, and in 



•^^ 



-♦i- 



■•►-I 



- r.u 



skim; WICK COUNTY 



pRs-sin;; tliroii;,'!! linlinn 'IVrrilorv Mr. Arov »!>!• 
iililigfil t«i ifiiiinl hi> outfll nifjhl niitl tiny to prolori 
it frmi) thifvi's anil ilt'!»|)em<liK\H. 

AfUT liciii}; a short time in (tuiiiiiHon, «iur ^iil>- 
jert iH-oaiiie !i»»iK-int4.Ml witli ('. II. Kirki-lt, formerly 
of Knii.<>.'L-< City, in tin- fiirnitiirp Imsincs.'', and nii-t 
with tintirtiial .Htici-cs!>. In IH.si' lip bou^'lil out Iu.h 
partners inU-'ri-st, aixl rotiiiMin-; lii.« Imsiness in that 
placT, he i-nlrreil into |>!irtiifp«liip with 'rurley iV 
Bowles, of AsiH?!!, in the same line of trade. Kniir 
ycarst later Mr. Arey retiirneil to Wii-hitii. a eity 
that ha<l l)een alnio!*t eiitiri'iy Liiiilt up jiince lii.s 
previi)ns vi,-it, <levelopin>4 in a marvelous manner 
from a tra<linjj-|)o?t to a thriviii:;anil |K»pulous eity 
in le.-*s than a .seore of years, lie enga{;e<l in his 
former business, anil on the 2(1 of Oetoher, 1S87, 
f"irn)e<l a i)artn'.'rship with Mr. A. .1. Spenjrel. 'I'liey 
at once n)ove<l to their present (piarters and foniided 
the Arey Furniture Company. This is a larj;e 
rsUkblishment, well stocked with furniture of ail 
kinds, ;is are also their two large warehouses. 
The}' ilo a regular installment busines.>, whieh in 
the first year amounted to ft7(j,000, with but slight 
loss on their collections, .-ind is the only mercantile 
house in the eity thus engaged. Their furniture is 
of the best fpialily, their terms ea-sy. and their stock, 
comprising all arlich-s of household furniture, car- 
|K'tii, pictures, etc., enabling many |K?ople to furnish 
their homes in a Uusty and artistic manner on the 
credit .sj'stcm, when it would lie impossible for them 
to do .HO on a c^ish basis. 

The wife of our subject belongcil to a prominent 
and well-known family of Kentucky, her maiden 
name having lieen .Sarah Harper. Ilcr father. Sam- 
uel llar|>er, was an intlui-ntial citizen of Kentucky. 
T(t them have been born two chihiren — Nellie and 
Kdward. Ow subject Uikes an active interest in 
politics, and is a sUanch l)emoerat. Socially, he is 
a member of the I. ( ). (). !•'. Mr. Arey is an in- 
telligent, keen-sighted man, of good financial abil- 
ity, nnd, althougii still a young man, has the 
advnnlage <jf many years' experience, ami n thor- 
ough knowledge of his business, lie has travelecl 
extensively throughout the United .Slates, i)Ul hiis 
a more intimate ac(|intintJince with the newer .Suites 
than with many of the Kastern .Stjites. having 
known them in all their phiu'tes. lie is a firm be- 



liever in tlie future pn>s|Mrity of Wichilji. tJiket 
great pride in its improvement, and ha" built a 
beautiful residouee nt Riverside, whieh is an orna- 
ment to the city, and rellwLs cnslit on his taste. 



.-^.^^.sr^ 



.1. SI'KN(ilCL, the genial and enterprising 
^y|. partner of Mr. Arey, of the Arey Furniture 
ComiMiny, is a native of the J'niirie State, 
having bt-en born there in 1H.')C. He is of 
Clerman and .Swi.ss ancestry. After their marriage 
his parents moved to Illinois, anil s4>ttled in Madi- 
son County. .Mr. Spengel received a g<KKj com- 
mon-school education in his native .State, which was 
further snp|)lementcd by a thorough course of 
study at the St. [^ouis High .School. When start- 
ing in life for himself, our suiiject first obtained 
emphjyment in a wholesale grot-ery house in ,St. 
Louis, and remained with the siime firm ten years, 
gradually and steadily working his way up from the 
humble iKisition of errand boy to that of liuyer and 
responsible partner. 

In IKMO Mr. SiH-ngel, wiio w:ls ambitious and 
ipiick to take ad vantage of a giMid o|>ening for busi- 
ness, removed to (.iunnison. Col., and engaged in 
the grocery business. He at once became promi- 
nently identified with the interests of tlie eity, 
politically and socially, and during his residence 
there held n)any of the city and county odlces, and 
W!LS .Secretary of the Democratic .State and Centnil 
Committee. In l.ss;) he sold out his business and 
became engaged in mining in the western |wirt of 
C'«)lorado, remaining Uktc two 3'ears, and went from 
there to Aspen, Col., where he mined for a ye.ar. 
He then decided to return east, and coming to 
Wichita bought an interest with Mr. Arey in his 
business, and has since been very successfully en- 
gaged in that line. 

Mr. .Spengel married .Miss Nellie Newcomb, .n 
most estimable young lady of Kastport, Me., and 
they occupy an im|Hjrl(tnt S)M-ial jHisition in this 
city. Politically, our subject is .a DemiKTat, ami 
socially he is a Koyal 'Arch Mason, in which order 
he ha* held the ollice of M. K. II. T. .Mr. Sp.iigel 



•►•-^ 



-•^-■-^ 



-^^ 



L. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



015 ' *• 



is a representative business man, and an important 
factor of the industrial element of Wichita, the firm 
of Are\' & Spengel being composed of two wide- 
awake, energetic business men, who deal squarely 
and liberally with their patrons, and merit the con- 
fidence of the community. 



n 



'Ti,^, KV. JOHN M. THOMPSON, a minister of 
'jLJy' the Primitive Baptist Church, and also 
ll\% engaged in farming pursuits, owns and oc- 
W^cupios a quarter-section of some of the best 
land in Valley Center Township, of which he took 
possession in 1870. He is fond of rural pursuits, 
and while taking delight in tilling the soil, finds 
equal pleasure in the cultivation of his mind. He 
has ofliciated as |)astor of the church of Vallej' 
Center about one year, his labors being marked by 
elliciency, and when not engaged in his library, 
superinlfiuls the operations of his farm, 120 acres 
of which are under a good state of cultivation. 
Mr. Thompson has a beautiful residence in which 
he resides in Valley Center, and which he is engag- 
ing his leisure time in improving and ornamenting. 

Mr. Thompson was born in Fayette County, Ind., 
Sept. 1, 1844, and comes of an excellent old famih* 
of English descent. His parents, James and Eliza- 
beth (McCarty) Thompson, were n.atives respect- 
ively of Ohio and Indiana, and his patern.al grand- 
father, Wilson Thompson, was a native of Virginia. 
The latter was a man of much force of character, 
and prominent in the affairs of his State, represent- 
ing worthily its intelligence and enterprise. Upon 
his removal to Indiana about 1833, there, as in the 
Okl Dominion, his talents were speedily recognized 
and he was called upon to represent Fa3-ette County 
in the Indiana Legislature, of which bod}' he was a 
member several years. He continued a resident 
there until his decease, which occurred in 1866. 
Mr. Thompson was a very able minister of the 
Gospel for about sixty years, highly respected and 
deiirly loved by all who knew him. 

The children of James and Elizabeth Thompson, 
the parents of our subject, consisted of five sons 
and three daughters. Of these one babe died un- 
named, and another only recently. The names 



given to the seven are: Robert W., John M., 
Amanda, Theresa, William, Charles L. and Albert. 
The two last named are now deceased. The sur- 
vivors are residents mostly of Indiana, and William 
in Colorado. James Thompson upon leaving his 
native State located in Marion Count}', Ind., where 
he is still living and holding the office of County 
Commissioner, to which he was elected in the fall of 
1886. Me, like his father before him, is also prom- 
inent in public affairs, and in 1882 wiis elected a 
member of the Legislature, serving one term. He 
olliciated as Trustee of Franklin Township ten or 
twelve years, and politically, is an uncompromising 
Democrat. 

James Thompson upon starting out for liimself 
in life chose farming as his main occupation, which 
he has followed now for a period of forty 3'ears. 
He and his excellent wife early in life united with 
what was then termed the Primitive Baptist Church, 
in the faith of which the mother continued until 
her death, nearly thirty years ago, and to which the 
father still adheres. 

The subject of tiiis history lived with his father 
first in Fayette, and then in Howard Count}', Ind., 
until twenty-two years of age, pursuing the une- 
ventful life of the farmer's boy. He was an apt 
scholar in the district school, and upon leaving 
home determined to make a more extended acquaint- 
ance with books. For this purpose he entered the 
college at Hartsville, where he took up some of the 
higher branches and improved every hour of the 
six months in which he was numbered among the 
students of that institution. He was now well fitted 
for teaching, which he pursued in IMarion County 
for a time and until his arrival in this .State. He 
subsequently taught near Valley Center three 
months, in the meantime having in view the selec- 
tion of a permanent home, and shortly afterward 
secured possession of his present farm. 

Mr. Thompson while a resident of Howard 
Co'unty, Ind., first ofliciated as a minister, in 1874, 
and after four years of p.astoral work went east as 
far as Warren County, Ohio, and was pastor of the 
Tapscott Church near the town of Franklin eight 
years. While a resident of Indiana he was united 
in marriage with Miss Laura E. Fry, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the brine on the 3d T 



•►■-4» 



61I-. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-i 



of St'pUMiiltcr. IH7.'5. .Mrs. TlKuiipsiin wiw Imrn in 
timl coiiiitv. April .'>. IH/i'J, nml i.H the (laii^litt'r <if 
I. like ftii'l !'hclK> (Aliniins) Fry, who lire still n-si- 
• IciiUs of lIo»:ii'i| fotinty, wIiiti- tlu' fiitlicr stiicccss- 
fiiUy oiH'nit«'<l 11 ;.'iMnl fiiriii. Mrs. Tlioiii|»M)n hiid 
six l>rotlier!t, live of whom nn- liviti<r, iind out- ilen>l, 
imnifil ii.x follows: .limics II.. wlu> iliod in IM7I; 
.lohii L., Woodson W.. Siiiiiiicl M.. Nonnan H. and 
Arthur \V., miuI also has two sisUTs. l.orissa J. and 
Aii!iri.-na 11. Tlii'V re.tidc in Indiana and Iowa 
re»|K'ftivi'ly. Two hrisjlit young girls now consli- 
tiilo the light of the 'I'lioinitson household: (iraoie 
Hciiiv. l)orn Oct. li, IMKl, and Stella Marie, Feb. 
17. IsMi;. 






:r>-^-. 



LHKUr S. .MAUlll.i:. Thr traveler upon 
information Itcnt will seareely fail U> note 
aujon;,' the various industries of the am- 
bitions little eity of Cheney, the lumber 
and coal business which wiis estnblished b}- the 
gentleman whose mime hca<ls this biography, in 
l»»;"i. As the agent of the well-known William 
I'ond A- t'o., the most extensive lumber dealers in 
the .Southwest, he is conserving his own interests 
and at the same time is regarded as a valueil factor 
in increasing the business of this concern. As a 
srpiare business man,agenial companion and valued 
citi/en, he is favorably known throughout this sec- 
tion. He is one of the stanch Republicans of the 
county, prominently connected with the Masonic 
and I. ( >. O. F. societies, and always pleased to be 
of .service in matters pertnining to the welfare i>f 
his community. 

The son of a farmer of modest means, Mr. M;u'- 
ble w:l» born in Steuben County, N. Y., .Ian. 2.'), 
ls>i".i. and spent his boyhood and youth in St. 
.loseph County. Mich. His father, Sidney Marble, 
wiu-i born in Herkimer County. N. V., in 17!I6, and 
spent his last years in St. .loseph Ccjunty. Mich., 
where be dep'irled hence in IM6I. In earl}' m.-in- 
hood he identilied himself with the old Whig party, 
with which be remained until its abandonment by 
the organisation of the Kepublicuns. He wius a 
well-read and well-inf<rrmcd nnin, taking a lively 
iiit<ie-l in politics, wils a nieinber of tin- Kepub- 



licnn Ccntrnl County Committee, and held the 
ollices of County Surveyor and Commiiisioner. 

Sidney Marble watt married to Miss PIicIk' HuI- 
l<H-k. who was born in New York in IMflH, and died 
May 17. Ikkw. at Denver, Col. Their first child. 
Volney. was born in New York Stnlc and died in 
infancy; Calvin, also a native of the F^mpirc .St«i«', 
married .Miss Helen Hoyles, and is the father of 
two children by his flrst wife, who dieil when :i 
young wonuin ; of his second marriage there is one 
child ; he is engaged in keeping hotel at Colon. 
Mich. William H. married Miss Nettie Boylcs, and 
died of hcmorrhngc of the lungs, in Iowa, about 
187t!; he had been employed ils a tniveling .sales- 
man for F'arwell A- Co., of Chicago, and was the 
father of two children. Albert .S.. of our sketch. 

I was the next in order of birth; Miranda was born 
in .Michigan, and married first to F,. (inives, by 

I whom she became the mother of two children; .Mr. 

I Graves, during the late war, served as a sohlier in 
the rnitinarmy a few months, and died at Duvall's 

HlufT, Ark., in \M:i. Miran<la was the sec dtime 

married, to A. Thurber, a car|H'nter by lra<le and a 
resident of Denver, Col. ; they have two children. 
Oren, born in Michigan, was married and became 
the father of one child; he estnblished himself in 
the livery business :il Lawrence. Kan., where his 
death took place April i'.i, KSH.!. 

Young M;irblc piu-sucd the quiet, uneventful life 
of a farmer's boy until a youth of nineteen years, 
when the exigencies of war changeil for a time the 
entire current of his life. Throwing aside the 
implements of husbandry he took up the sword in 
defense of his country, enlisting in Company" I, 
10th Illinois Cavalry, for a term of three years, or 
during the war. He wjis enrolled at Springfiehl. 
111., Sept. 22, i8(jl. His first serious engagement 
with the enemy was at Kane Hill, Ark., which was 
sid)sequently followed by the siege and capture of 
Little Hock, and in the meantime there were also 
various minor engagements aiul foraging expe- 
ditions which served to relieve the monotony of 
the march and the camp. He freipiently had a 
brush with guerrillas, and without exception 
marche<l into camp with his booty, anil during his 
entire army life was neither wounded nor captured. 
Ill- W!ts iimimis-ioned Second Lieiitenanl Company 



■•► ■ -4« 



•Hf^ 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;i7 '^ 



I, lOth Illinois Cavalry, March 3, 1865. After 
the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, he, with his 
comrades, received his honorable discharge, being 
mustered out at Springfield, 111., Jan. 6, 1866. 

Mr. .Marble, in the summer of 1864, while at home 
on a furlough, was married, in Sturgis, Mich., to 
]\Iiss Mary Duncan, and leaving his bride with her 
parents in that State soon afterward joined his regi- 
ment at Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. M. remained in 
Michigan, where her husband joined her upon being 
transformed from a soldier to a civilian, and thej' 
commenced life together in 1866. They became 
the jiarents of two children, one of whom died in 
infanc3% and the other, Thomas S., who was born 
Feb. 24, 1868, continues with his father. Mrs. 
Mary Marble met her death by drowning on the 
4th of July, 1870. The circumstances attending 
this nielanchol}' event were as follows: Mr. Marble 
had attached his team to a two-seated buggy, and 
with his wife and child and a hired man started for 
the citj' of Lawrence, Kan., following a train of 
vehicles before him. Upon coming to the Wauka- 
rousa River, although Mr. Marble had his doubts 
about the safety of attempting to cross, as the cur- 
rent was strong and deep, he was assured that there 
was no danger, as other teams had jiassed over just 
.ahead of him. As soon, however, as the horses 
reached deep water they lost their foothold and 
went down, together with the buggy, which rolled 
over upon all within it. Mr. Marble succeeded in 
saving his child, but although exerting himself to 
the utmost was powerless to save the mother, who 
was drowned almost before his eyes. The team 
was also drowned, but the hired man succeeded in 
reaching the shore. The body of Mrs. Marble was 
recovered the same day fifteen miles below the 
scene of the accident. 

On the nth of May, 1873, .Air. Marble was 
united in marriage to his second wife, formerly Miss 
Alice, daughter of John R. and Martha A. Gott, 
natives respectively of Indiana and Connecticut. 
Mr. G. is a miller by occupation, is still living, and 
with his excellent wife, a resident of Linn County, 
this State. The eldest of their nine children, 
Lorinda Isabella, was born Aug. 8. 1853, and died 
in infanc}' ; Alice J., Mrs. Marble, was born Fel). 23, 
1855; Lucinda E., born April 8, 1857, and who 



-<•■ 



died Oct. 5, 1875, was the wife of Robert Thomas, 
of Washington, who was the son of Alfred Thomas, 
Examiner of Patents at Washington, D. C. ; Mari- 
etta was born Jan. 27, 1859, and married Charles 
Darren, a farmer of Linn County, Kan., by whom 
she has become the mother of one child ; John K., 
born Jan. 6, 1861, died when about fourteen years 
of age; Henry J., born Nov. 4, 1863, is farming in 
Linn County; Minnie M., born in 1860; Azu- 
bia A., March 7, 1869, and William T., Dec. 25, 
1871. These four are at home with their parents. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of one 
child only, a daughter, Nellie, who was born May 
20, 1875, and as may be supposed is the light of 
the household. She possesses rare musical talent, 
and is a fine performer on the piano and organ. 
During their four years' residence in Cheney Mr. 
and Mrs. Marble have gathered artmnd them num- 
bers of friends composed of the best people of the 
town, and by whom they are held in universal 
respect. 



LHill R. WATT, a representative farmer and 
stock-raiser of Ninnescah Township, is act- 
ively engaged in his profitable occupation 
on his homestead, on the southeast quarter 
of section 9, where his energetic labors in develop- 
ing the raw prairie into a well cultivated, i)roductive 
farm, have met with due reward. 

A native of Mifllin Countj', Pa., Mr. Watt wiis 
born July 18, 1852, being a son of Andrew and 
S.arah (Rudey) AVatt, both natives of that State. 
Hugh AVatt, his paternal grandfatlier, was a native 
of Ireland, who emigrated to America sometime 
previous to the opening of this century and settled 
in Pennsylvania. His maternal grandparents were 
born in German3', and also came to this country in 
the latter part of the eighteenth century. To the 
l)arents of our subject were born five children, four 
of whom are now living, namely: Maggie, Hugh 
R., Bessie R. and John. Maggie is the wife of 
William Likely, of Illinois Township, this county; 
Bessie married O. R. Culver, of Ninnescah Town- 
ship ; John lives in Mercer County, 111. 

The subject of this sketch was early left an 
orphan, his mother dying when he was only four 

■» 



\ 









f.i' 



^KDGWICK COUNTY. 



Vfrto iilil, !(iii| his fatlu>r six yvan Intor, tliiK* lenv- 
\u'^ liiiii lit nil n^f when h(> tno.sl ni>(><l(>il tlir tt>n<lrr 
rare niiil |irotootioii uf n iiiothor's love, niul Iho 
wi^c rciitrainl ninl jiidicioiis I'tiiiiixcl of ii fiillu-r. 
lie fiiuiid H hoiiie with his |>iit«-riinl iini-k-, .Iiitnes 
Walt, ill C'eiit»T ('oiiiily. I'a.. witli whulii ho re- 
inaiiioil until the s|iriiii; of IH70, when n dusirc for 
in(lc|H-nilriii-f li-d him to seek a home in n Western 
Stjitc. where he tlioii^'lit the ehnnees were more fa- 
vornltle for a lalioriiiL; man to improve his eoiulitiun. 
Aeeordiiijjly he removed to Meroer County, III., 
where In- remained two years; then. ftttnict<'<l hy 
the re|K»rted fertility of the Kansas 'oil. its line 
rlimate and cheapness of land, he removed in \H~i 
to this eounty, anil in Mareli, 1H7<, pre-empted the 
laiitl wliirh lie now owns and oceiipit's. It wius then 
in Its vir<,'in state, not a furrow having liecn turned, 
liut under the good management, iK-rseveranee and 
skill of Mr. Watt, it has been transformed into a 
lieaiitifiil farm, whose well cultivated lielils, line 
orehard, and neat and eoinmodioiis liuildings hear 
lesliniony to his industry. 

.Mr. Watt was married. Dee. I'O, IMT.'i, to .Miss 
Kelle Webster, a native of Henry County, lowu, 
who was born Aug. 'J4, IH.")?. Her parents, Evan 
an<l Sarnh .1. (raliner) Webster, now living in 
.laekson County, Kan., are natives respectively of 
I'erry County and Zanesville, Ohio. Her father is 
of Knglish <lesi-ent and her mother of (ierin.-in. 
.Some of her aneestoi-s on both sides of the house 
were participants in the War of IMIi. Mr. and 
Mrs. Webster removeil from their native State to 
.Mt. I'le.a.sant, Iowa, in 1H50, and thirty years later 
to their present home in Kan.sns. To them have 
been born ten children, and the following is llie 
record of tlio.se living besides Mrs. Watt: Henri- 
olta. Flora F.. Kate, Harry C. : .loseph W. lives in 
Wyoming Territory ; Amelia married M. H. Hnice, 
of Wichita, Kan., ex-.Superintendeiit of the .Sedg- 
wick County sehool>; Henrietta is now .Mrs. l)ir- 
laiii; Flora F. is the wife of K. W. Morgan, of .l.ack- 
son County, Kan. ; Kate married Charles Hinneii, 
of .Inek.son County: Harry C. lives in .l.ackson 
County; .Samh died in infancy; Daniel died in 
Wichita, Kan., in IH«,',, uged thirty-nine years. 

Our subject is Ji prominent citi/en of the town- 
ship where he resides, and u.ses his inlliience to 



advance its welfare and to increa.MS its moral and 
intellectual st'itiis. lie has .oerved with ability In 
many of the ini|>ortiint oflices of the t«iwnship, and 
in the fall of I «"!• was elected Sheriff of this coiinlv , 
serving ami Iwing re-elwted in I Hf*l, making four 
years of ciuitinuous serviee in an oHlce which he 
niled with credit to hiiii.self and his const itueiit-. 
In politics .Mr. Watt is a true Ucpublican. heartily 
sup|H>rting the principles of that party. 

The union of .Mr. and .Mrs. Watt liiu* lieeii blessed 
with two children: Howard V., born Nov. ".t, is'C, 
and Daniel Leroy. March '.>. I 8S."(. To such |K'ople 
iLs our subject and his worthy wife are the citizens 
of Sedgwick County and the neighboring region of 
the .Stnte indebted for their present prosperity. 
These pioneers came to the county in the early days 
of its settlement, and endured the liardshi|>s and 
privations incidental to life in a newly st'ttled 
country, but by their |tatient eniitirance, persistent 
and energetic labors, they not only esUiblished their 
own prosperity, but gre.-itly aided in the develop- 
ment of the country. Socially, Mr. Watt is a mem- 
ber of the Kansas Benevolent AssiK-iation ami of 
Wichita Lo.lge,K. of H. 

A handsome lithographic view of Mr. NVatl's 
home is shown on another page. 

-^>,- -.5fe-r"> • 




a.stlkhei(;h simmkk.^^.h Mi.n-.ni.ittve 

pioneer of Sedgwick County, residing on 
section 31, Ninnescah Township, in the Nin- 
iiescah \'alley, is a native of Henrietta County, Va., 
and was born May 1,'>. \s\'.K He is the .son of 
.Samuel and Annie (Hall) Summers, the former of 
whom w:us born on the Atlantic Ocean while his 
IMireiits were on their way from Germany to the 
United StJites, and the latter in Monroe County, 
\a. 

The paternal ancestors of our subject were of 
pure Oerman stock and his mother was of Irisli- 
Knglish descent. The parents died in middle life, 
and their son Castlereigh was thus thrown u|hiu 
his own resources in his early youth, being but nine 
ycai-s old when his remaining parent, his mother, 
pas>ed away. He wils then taken into the family 
of .lacoii Hake, of liedford County, Va., with whom 



■•► ■ -4« 




:;aw r.w>«,.a^ia afeiaiaaiaa3Eaaefeasss<s^^ 



Res. of Ex-Sheriff H . R.Watt ,Sec. ^.Mennescah Township. 




■^■^t>ifc;^ifeNf.^-g^A-i;&^;a^&?j^J^ 



Residence OF E. J. Sutherland 5ec. 13. Afton Township. 







Residence ofCastelr 



^^►^1-4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



G-il 



he remained until reaching his sixteenth year. He 
then began an aj^jrenticeship to the blaelisniith 
trade nndcr Willis Bradlej', of Lynchburg, \'a., with 
whom he remainod until the year before reaching 
his ^lajorit3^ 

Young Sunnners when twenty years old began 
operating as a superintendent on the James River 
Canal, and followed this pursuit for eight years 
afterward, when he became a stock-dealer or drover, 
which he followed most of the time until making 
his wiiy to the young State of Kansas. While a 
resident of the Old Dominion he had been married, 
Dec. 1.5, 1848, to Miss Agnes J. Tinsley, who was 
a native of Bedford County, and who by her union 
with our subject became the mother of five chil- 
dren, four now living. Their eldest daughter, Luc^', 
was born Dec. 6, 1850, and was married three times 
before her death, which took place when she was 
but thirty years of age; James F. was born Sept. 
15, 1852, and is a resident of Spearfish, Dak.; Nancy 
E. was born April 30, 1854, and is now the wife of 
Bowen Smith, of Gardner City, Kan. ; Sally C, born 
March .31, 1856, is the wife of Arthur H. Simms, of 
Wyandotte, and Elisha B., who was born July 12, 
1859, is a resident of Mead Count}'. Mrs. Agnes 
Summers departed this life at her home in Alle- 
ghany Count}', Va., on the 14th of February, 1861. 

Our subject, on tlie 2d of June, 1861, contracted 
a second marriage, with Miss Mary J. Bacon, who 
was born in Ilenriettji County, \'a., May 25, 1837, 
and is the daughter of Samuel and Mary J. (Edd- 
ings) Bacon, the former deceased, and the latter a 
resident of P.arkersburg, W. \'a. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bacon were natives of Virginia .and of English 
descent. Of this marriage of our subject there is 
one child only, a daughter, Ida M., who was born 
May 6, 1868, and is the wife of Joseph Smith, of 
Gardner Cit}', this State. 

In 1868 Mr. .Summers left his native .State for 
Kansas and took up his residence first in Lancaster, 
Atchison Count}', where for two years he w.ns en- 
gaged as a contractor in the construction of railroads. 
In 1870 he came to this county and pre-empted 
160 acres of land, embracing apart of sections 27 
and 34, and which comprises a portion of the best 
bottom land along the Ninnescah River. Upon this 
not a furrow had heeu turned, and there were con- 



sequently no improvements whatever, not even a 
house. Mr. Summers in addition to his other difli- 
culties had but §20 in money upon his arrival here, 
and with true pioneer courage and perseverance he 
set about tlu^ establishment of a home, prepared to 
endure the hardships and privations common to the 
people around him. He can hardly to this day 
explain how he succeeded in pulling through, but 
tlie bare fact remains that he did so, and now enjoys 
as his reward the ownership of 120 .acres of finely 
cultivated and valuable land, with first-class farm 
buildings, live stock and machinery, and everything 
pertaining to the complete country homestead. 
With the prospect of a competence in his old .age;, 
he is sitting under his own vine and fig-tree, feeling 
that he has not lived in vain, and that he is entitled 
to the esteem and cunfldeuce of his fellow-citizens, 
which he certain!}' possesses in a marked degree. 
He is a member in good standing of the Baptist 
Church, in which he h.as lieen a Trustee since their 
edifice was erected. No man has taken a warmer 
interest in the growth and development of Ninne- 
scah Township, of which he w.as one of the organ- 
izers, and was among the first regularly elected 
Trustees, the duties of which he discharged with 
credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. 
He is a stanch Democrat politically, and has served 
as Director in his school district for many years. 

A view of Mr. Summers' handsome residence 
and surroundings is given on another page; as will 
be seen it forms a most comfortable and attractive 
home. 

ELISHA J. SUTHERLAND, a well-to-do 
farmer of Afton Township, made his first 
visit to this county in 1875, .and a few years 
later decided to locate permanently in Afton Town- 
ship, of which he has been a resident nearly four 
years. He took up a quarter-section of land, and 
each of his two sons a like amount. Then return- 
ing to Illinois they disposed of their interests there, 
and in August, 1884, put up a good house and barn 
on their new land, since which time the i)resent pro- 
prietor has given his entire attention to its im- 
provement and cultivation. The soil has yielded 
abundantly, .and Mr. Sutherland, by his enterprise 
and industry, has secured for himself a creditable 



I 



-^ 



f 



-¥' 



C22 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



|M«itioii arnon|{ the progrcwive n^iciilturisU of 
tlii!* iHiuiity. 

The early lioiiu' of oiir jiiilijfcl wiu* iu Allegheny 
C'oiinly, l*n., wlu-rt- his liirtit UK>k place on the 2.'illi 
of August. IKil. He in the sou of Johuauil Chrir<- 
lina (McCoy) Sulhcrhiuil. who were also natives of 
tlie Kcy-stonc Stjite. tlu- foruiiT horn Au<;. .'JO, 17SG, 
mill the hitter .Inn. I'.), I7KH. .lohii Sutlierland 
(lc|Hirted this life at the olil honie-ttcad in I'eoria 
County, 111.. .Sept. .10, 184.'i. The mother .lied 
there iu IH.'il. The |)nrcnL<« iu early life iileutilU-d 
thcnisclve.-i with the I'reshyterian Church, of which 
they reuiaiued faithful menihcrs duriupf life. 

The parentnl household, of our .suliject iucludetl 
nine children, luily four<if whom are living: Daniel 
was killed hy the kick of a horse when thirty-two 
years of age; Margaret dieil of cholera at Smith- 
land, Ky., when eighteen years old; Nancy died 
from the effect.-, of eating jin)Sou seed, at I'itt-sliurgh, 
Pa., when eighteen mouths old; Klisha .1.. of our 
sketch, w.as the fourth child; .lames married Miss 
Helen Rogers, is a |Kiinler hy tra.le. and is living in 
Kansas City; Milton died iu infancy; Kli/.abetli 
.l;iiie clied when twenty-twt) years old, iu Illinois; 
.M.'iry in a resident of California; Martha wa^ lii-sl 
married to a Mr. Harr, ami hecamc the mother of 
one S4»n. who is now following the sea. Mr. Harr 
died, and Mrs. B. suhsequeutly married again, and 
is living in San Francisco. 

On the 2d of August, IH."^ t, .loliii .Sutherland, with 
his family, left I'eunsylvauia for Illinois, arriving 
iu IVoria County on the "iHlh of Novemher follow- 
ing, having nuule the trip by water. Klisha .1. w:is 
then hut a lad of thirteen years, and completed his 
education iu the district schools of IVoria County, 
and under the home instruction of his excellent 
mother. This w.os during the pioneer days of Illi- 
nois, and the .Sutherland family endured in common 
with the people around them the hardshi|>s and 
priv.'itions «»f life in a new country. The winter of 
lM;t(')-:JT wiL< celebrated for its deep 8iu>w, and made 
memorable for the sufferings emlured by the people 
throughout that section. In December, l«;i<!, the 
Sutherland family lived in a log cabin just north 
of French (J rove, an<l about the IHth day of the 
month, the father with hi.s son Klisha, of our sketch, 
tlieu a lad of lifteen years, set (»ut for I'rince's Mill 



on the S|MM>n Kiver, with a wagoii-huid of shelled 
c«»m drawn by two yoke of oxen. They were 
obliged to sUiy at the mill about thirty -six hours, 
and at l(t o"cl(x.k A. .M. of the third lUy, sUarted 
home. In the meantime, under a strong south 
wind, the snow had melted nipidl^' and n steady 
niinstorm contribute*! to render the streams almost 
iin|H>ssible. on account of which they were coni|)elle<l 
to go several miles out of their w.iy in order to 
cross. In trying to make their way across a slough, 
the front wheels of the wagon drop|>ed iut4^i a hole, 
and the oxen were unable U> pull the load. 

.Mr. Sutherland and his sun, upon jumping from 
the wagon found the water three feet deep, auil 
releasing the cattle prm-eeded to unload, carry- 
ing the nie:d, which was iu bags containing three to 
four bushels eacli, about four rods to dry laud. 
Suddenly a distant roar in the northwest, au<l a 
cloud moving toward them with ap|>alling rapidity, 
warned them that something still more serious wils 
to overtake them. In the space of a few moments 
they were enveloped in a dense fog, and an awtic 
winter was up(ui them. In a few moments the water 
through which they were wading was congealed 
into ice. They coupled their chains together, and 
by l)acking their cattle some distance int<j the water 
reached the wagon tongue, and the vehicle was 
haided out. Hy the time the meal was reloaded 
the slough and prairie were covered with a sheet of 
ice, and the father remarked to his son: "We shall 

] cerljiinly in-rish here." 

The clothing of father and sou. and also the cat- 
tle, were covered with ice, and it was almost ini- 

' pos.sible, especially for the latter, to stand upon 
their feet. They managed, however, to push the 
wagon forward about as fast jis the cattle would get 
out of its way, the latter often falling and sliding 
about iu a very painful manner. In this way they 
toiled until almost exhausted, and finally rising 
u|)on the wagon, discerned iu the disUince .s(»mc hay 
st.-icks and other indicatiiuis of a human hsibitation. 
They turned the sulTeriug animals loose to lake care 
of themselves, and hastened toward the shelter. 
Tin- father wius then almost unable to mov»'. and at 
the shouts of Klisha for help, three or four men 
rushed out and carried Mr. .Sutherlaiul into the 

I house. It was estimated that there wils not le.vs 



4 



■ -4- 



•► ■ ^ 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



623 ' 



than 100 pounds of ice upon his clothing. W lim 
somewhat thawed out, Mr. Sutherland ende.avuicd 
to hire some one to go out :ind drive tiie cattle to 
the haystacks, and after much urging, ;ind a con- 
sideration of 12 in money, one young man set out, 
and by hard work succeederl in the attemi)t, al- 
though his ears were badly frozen. Father and son 
lay sleepless on the tloor that night in front of a 
roaring fire, but so thoroughly had they been chilled 
that they shivered continuously. 

In the morning, Mr. .Sutbcrl.Mid lliiiikiug that 
"mother would be uneasy," determined to start 
honu'ward. He traveled on foot ten miles, reaching 
his destination late in the afternoon more dead than 
alive, through a wind blowing from the north by 
northwest, with not a bush or anything else to afford 
a shelter. The second morning Klisha set out, the 
sun having come up brightly, to get the cattle home. 
The animals, however, would move only in response 
to continual whipping, and sometimes they were all 
down in a heap together on the ice. In the mean- 
time a pair of sharp-shod horses had conveyed the 
wagon home. The cattle were abandoned three 
and one-half miles from home, but were rescued 
the following afternoon, thin in flesh after their 
bitter experience of seven days. Toward spring 
their tails dropped off close to their bodies, and 
"Sutherland bob-tails" became an object of curiosity 
as long as they lived. The history of this exper- 
ience was written up and published several times 
afterward, and is one almost witiiout a parallel even 
in the annals of those terrible years. 

Young Sutherland continued under the parental 
roof until his marri.age, which took place on the 24th 
of September, 1851. The maiden of his choice was 
Jliss Rachel M. Keed, who wjis born in Marshall 
County, \n., April 25, 1833. Of this union there 
were nine children, recorded as follows: John A., 
born June 21, 1854, was married Dec. 2!), 1887, to 
Miss Enola Stansbury, of Brimfield, 111., and is en- 
gaged in farming at Princeville, that State; Frank 
R. was born June 23, 1857, and married Miss Mary 
Nelson; he is now employed as an adjuster and 
superintendent for an insurance company at Blooni- 
iugton. James N. was born June 2,1859, is unmar- 
ried, and in the hotel business at lilooraiugton. 111.; 
Addie Louisa was boru June 7, 1861, and married 



William Mitchell, a farmer and stock-dealer of Wa- 
hoo. Neb; Albert E., born Sept. 22, 1864, is em- 
[)loyed as clerk in a grocery store at Wichita; Ella, 
who was born Dec. 31, 18G6, is tlie wife of William 
Iloyt, a farmer near Amboy, Neb., and the mother 
of one child; Minnie F. was born Feb. 22. 1870, and 
with her brother, Edwin E., bom Aug. 28, 1872, 
resides at home with her parents. The mother of 
these children departed this life at her home in 
Illinois on the 12th of February, 1873. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Dec. 10, 1876, was formerly Mrs. Emma 
(Ratcliff) liean, who was born May 5, 1852, and is 
the daughter of Timothy and Deborah (Ratliff) 
Ratcliff, natives of South Carolina and Virginia re- 
spectively. This union resulted in the birth of four 
children, viz: Ralph, who was born Aug. 2, 1878, 
and died on the 27th of February following; Mat- 
tie Agnes was born Aug. 8, 1 880 ; Ralph, Oct. 22, 
1882; May E., May 1, 1886. Mr. Sutherland, while 
in Illinois, became identified with the M.asonic fra- 
ternity, from which he has a demit to the lodge at 
Wichita; and politically, he belongs to the "Re- 
formed" or "People's Party." 

The view of the Sutherland residence serves not 
only in assisting to embellish this volume, but is an 
illustration of the industry and thrift of the pro- 
prietor. 



^^8^ 



^i^Ll.lAII II. r>R()WN, who is such a wortliy 
1^) representative of the pioneers of Sedgwick 
Jk^ Count}-, coming here in 1870, before the 
county was organized, and becoming an important 
factor in its development, vv:is one of the founders of 
Ohio Township, and is now very pleasantly situated 
on section 27, Ninnescah Township. He is respected 
for his upright integrity of character. His life has 
been an honorable one, and is well worthy of record 
in these pages. He is a native of Mobile, Ala., 
Marcii 19, 1821, being the date of his birth, and 
William and Elizabeth (Jeffers) Brown his parents. 
His mother was a native of the United States, of 
Welsh descent. His father was born in Ireland, but 
when he was a small boy he came with his parents 
to this country, and located in the South. There he 
grew to maturity, married, and reared a large family 



- ► ■ ^« 



4 



I 



62 1 



SKDdWK K ((MNTV. 






4ir i-hililrt-ii, of nliuiii iiiir .sulijccl i.s tlir tuily kimwii 
.siirviviir. In 1 s.li' he loiiiovod willi liis fiimily to 
wliiit i* now known ilh (!rtini|y Coiinly. III., und 
x'ttlin;: !i short lli^tJ»m•t• from the lowii of Morris. 
ni:i(K- his home tlx-rt- durin;.,' the ri'niiiinin^ yc!ir> of 
nil lU'tivo mill iix-fiil lifr. ilyin;; in I .h I (. Hi.s worthy 
wifi- .mirvivt'il him iiisiiiy yoars, "lyint: in |s7.'l, in 
Wiirrt'ii County. Iowa. 

Our siihjcfl wiL>* ri-aml in his nutivi- .Siaio, rc- 
niiiiiiin;; then' until he wiu; (•i;;htccn yours old, 
rcrciviii;; in tin- mranliiii)' Imt :i limited eduralioii, 
iLs the youth of llmt diiy did not enjoy the .school 
|>rivile;.;es that are the ri;;lil of every eliild. .Some 
lime after leaviii"; the home of his liirlh he eiitereil 
the \'el<M-inary C'olle;;e at Ann Arlior, Mich., 
and waj< •graduated Iherefroni in lH|,s, havin;; re- 
ieive<l a thoroiijjh trainiiij; in his ehosen profession, 
and for thirty-five years he idjieljeed as a veterinary 
surf,'eon in eoniieetion with his oilier liusiiie.ss, lie- 
in;l in .'letive praeliee for two years in Wiehita. 
lie aet|iiired a wide re|iiil.'ttii>ii for his .skill in treal- 
inj; his diiinh |):ilients. hiil he has iu»w alianiloiie<l 
his profe.-sion. 

After le.-Lving Ann Ailior Mr. Itrown went to 
Chieaj^o, III., and reriiaiiieil there nearly a year in 
the employ of the Frink A Walker SUi'^v Coiiijiany. 
driving over a portion of the nnilc from t'hicji<,'o 
to (iaiena. III. When the compaiiy removed their 
.•.lji;,'e ltiisiiie.s>i further west he remaineil in iLs em- 
ploy some eighteen months, ilriviiiji on a part of 
the route lietween La.Sallc and Hoek Island. He 
then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged 
as .'i liiis driver for the Cim-innati Hiis Company, 
and worked for that linn and the (ihio Stiige Line 
at alternate |H'riods for four years. From Ohio he 
went to Iowa, vvhere he engaged as a sl.age driver 
for aldiul eight years. .Suliseipiently he spent a 
.-hort lime in Alaliama amid the scenes of his hoy- 
hood days, and then relurin-il to Iowa and resumed 
his old employment. 

Our sulijeet wiLs in his native .Slate when the war 
broke out, and heing given Iwenly hours to leave 
the .South, went to Iowa, where, .Inly ■>, IKGl, 
he enlisU'il in Company I{, tth Iowa Infantry. 
His regimeiil wils lir-l sent to .lefferson Har- 
nick.s, SI. Louis, where the iin-n were drilled for 
a few days preparalijry for service. They then op- 






iTaled ill .Missouri from August, IMtU, to Ftdiruary, 
!>«■>•.', principally eiigngi-*! in .scouting, having an 
occasional skirmish with tin- enemy. The entire 
de|inrliiient of the nniiy to which the regiment of 
our sniijecl was attached wits then sent to Arkansjis, 
mill there look an iiii|iorlaiil part in the linttle of 
I'ea Kidge, .March 7, Hand '.I. 1X02; his regiment 
was also among the reserves at the battle of Cotton 
I'lant, that being princiiKilly a cnvniry light, the 
infantry being liehl in reserve. He wils then or- 
ilere<l with the rest of the army to Helena, .\rk.. 
remaining there until February. ISCII. At that 
d:itc our subject entered the employ of Ihetlov- 
ernment as a scout, having been previously dis- 
charged from the Ith Iowa in November, 1H(;2, at 
Helena, Ark. At all times he displayed cool cour- 
age, sleady nerve, and a daring spirit, and reii- 
ilered good service as a detective, continuing in the 
secret service until relieved of duty in IHOii, a> 
.scoiit.s were not regularly discharged or mnslercil 
out as a soldier would be. The army was ordered 
to Mississippi, and .Mr. Urowii took part in the bat- 
tles tif Chickasaw H.-iyoii, Arkans.'is I'osl and ^■ick^- 
biirg, being present during the entire siege of that 
city, forming one of the army of investment thai 
surrounded the city |)rior to it.s surrender in .Inly, 
1mG;{. He was in the army under .Sherman in his 
famous march to the sea, and was subsequently 
present at the grand review at W.ashingtoii. Af- 
ter the war he returned to Iowa and resided there 
for some years. 

Mr. Brown wil< married, .Ian. S, ISSl'i, to Klizabelli 
Xye, who was born in Coliiinbiana County, Ohio. 
.Inly 21, 1H.J2. She is a daughter of Andrew and 
Kli/.abeth Nye, natives respectively of N<-w Kn- 
giand and I'enn.sylvania. her mother being of (!ei- 
iiian extraction. They were the |)nreiits of eiglit 
children, live of whom are now living — Abraham, 
.b'liiia, Liieetla, Samuel and Klizabeth M. Abraham 
lives in Kingman County, Kan.; .leiina is the wife 
of .1. C. (Jilson, of Michigan: Liicetta is the wife of 
Henry Whistler, of Ladrange County, Ind.; .Samuel 
.1. lives in Washington Territory. The union of 
our subject has been blessed by the birth of one 
child, .Ie.s.se .1.. born Oct. 2.".. isTl'.. 

Ill |H7() Mr. Brown migrated with his family to 
Kaiusos, and pre-empted land in the south quarter ▼ 



•^■-4«- 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



62") 



of section 31 in what is now known as Ohio Town- 
ship, being among the first to settle there. He was 
afterward one of the Commissioners wiio orgaiiizcrl 
the townsiiip, and served as Constable and Deputy 
United States .Alarshal for some eight years, during 
which time he made some important arrests, among 
them being the woul<l-be murderer of John Stewait, 
an old settler of Sedgwick County, and he is also 
said to have arrested the first horse tiiief in Sedg- 
wick County, who was turned over to the civil 
authorities and prosecuted b3'them. He honorably , 
and faithfully discharged the duties of his impor- 
tiint office to the general satisfaction of his fellow- 
citizens. 

Mr. Brown settled on his present farm in 1884. 
It is ver3' favorably located, contains UiO acres of 
good land, and it;< industrious and enterprising- 
owner reaps fine harvests from its rich, fertile soil. 
Our subject began life a poor man, but b}' his in- 
doraiUible perseverance and the able assistance of 
his devoted wife he has acquired a comfortable 
fortune, so that he and his amiable companion can 
spend their declining 3'ears in a COZ3' home, sur- 
rounded b}' all that makes life pleasant and easj', 
and in the enjoyment of the respect and confidence 
whidi they have won from their neighbors by their 
beneficent and upright lives. Mr. Brown is an hon- 
ored member of the G. A. R. Post, at Clearwater, 
Kan., and in politics is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. 

■ : > :@: < t ' 

ji^ AURICK A. BURDICK, a farmer in good 
/// \V standing in Afton Townshi]), successful as 
I li\ a tiller of the soil, and one who has been 
91 prominently' identified with local affairs, is 

the proprietor of a good farm on section 15, which 
comprises ICO acres, fairl3- improved, and a good 
set of frame buildings. Mr. Burdick is a Western 
man in every sense of the word, his native State 
being Wisconsin, where he was born in Madison, 
Jan. 16, 1852. He is consequently in the prime of 
life, and, as the result of good habits, is ampl3- fitted 
for the duties which lie before him. 

The parents of our subject were Lewis II. and 
Harriet A. (Williams) Burdick, the former a native 
of Vermont, and born in Fairfax Count3% Sept. 22, 



1806. He was a carpenter by trade, a Republican 
in politics, and a member of the Sons of Temper- 
ance. He spent his last 3'cars in Madison, Wis., and 
departed this life June 1, 1883. The mother was 
born near Binghamton, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1821, and 
resides at the homestead in Madison, Wis., being 
now quite well advanced in 3'ears. 

The parental liousehold included seven children, 
of whom the record is as follows: Charles Edgar 
w.as born Ma3' 12, 1840, and died in the city of 
Rochester, N. Y., July 26, 1847; Fidelia I), w.as 
born April 6, 1 848, and died Sept. 11,1 852, in Madi- 
son, Wis.; Frances Charlotte was born Feb. 7, 1850, 
in Madison, Wis., and died there November 14 
following; Maurice A., of our sketch, was the fourth 
child; James R. was born Sept. 3, 1854, and died a 
few hours later: EmmaK. was born Jan. 23, 1856, 
and became the wife of Simeon Moulds, a photog- 
rapher, of Baraboo, Wis. ; to them were born five 
children, one now deceased. Albert Lewis was born 
Nov. 13, 1858, makes his home with his mother, 
and occupies himself as a clerk in a dr3'-goods 
house. 

Our subject continued under the home roof until 
a 3'outh of sixteen 3'ears, acquiring a good common- 
school education, and then served an apprenticeship 
as carpenter in a sash, door and blind factor3'. 
Being now competent to provide for the wants of a 
famil3', he was united in marriage with Miss Roena 
Vangieson, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride, Feb. 14, 1875. Mrs. Burdick is the 
daughter of John C. and Rachel (Hover) Vangieson, 
the former a native of New Jerse3'. He was born 
Feb. 8, 1828, and was the son of Cornelius and Ellen 
(Lake) V.angieson, natives of Patterson, N. J., who 
spent their last 3'ears in New York. The mother 
was born Sept. 11, 1832, near Oswego, N. Y. Their 
seven chijdren are recorded as follows: Lullas Eldo- 
rett married Lonisa Blatz ; the3' have two children, 
and are living on a farm in Kiowa, this State. Li- 
vonia Arietta taught school during her girlhood 
days, and later was married to Edward Beaver, who 
carries on farming in Afton Township; jNIrs. Beaver 
died Oct. 17,1 880, leaving one child. Roena lanthe, 
the wife of our subject, was born C)ct. 20, 1858; 
Emma May is the wife of James Chamberlain, a 
farmer of Viola Township, and the3' have two chil- 



*:^ 



?^' 



t 



>:2c 



SKDCWK K COUNTY. 



• Ircn; Niuct'iit (.'hfilell iii:irrioil >!!.•<.•> Mina llo.sljurj;, 
wliii wiu* foriiierlv » tonclicr in llw piililic m'IumiIs^ 
iinti \\v in eu{in)ici\ nl cnriK'ntcr wurk in Cobvicli, 
Kiin.; Kltii Kviiline is the wife of II. (>. 'riiorn, ii 
fiiriner rcsiiliiig near Kiii;.nniiii, nnil llicy luivc two 
i-liililren; John .Mori-i;- rcnmin.s nt lioinc witli lii.H 
I>nrent8, l)cing n promising ytmng rnnn in Ihc six- 
li't'nlli year of lii.H iigo. 

Mr. and Mrx. Mnurifo A. Hnniick Imvo llircc 
chililron, nnnu'ly : Mitliel K.. horn Dec. L'l, 187;'>, in 
IVru, III.; Willinni A., born March I'-.', 1«7H, and 
.Milton A., Feb. 11. 18H0. Tlu- homestead includes 
:iniiing iUi other improvements a Que orchard, and 
.Mr. linrdick lins als«» given to the smaller fruits con- 
«iderable attention, so that the household is pro- 
vided with the luxurie.-i of the scison in this line. 
Our subject came to this county in 187(), anil was 
Welcomed as a valued accession to iti numbci's, and 
a nnm capable of tilling the various local ofUces. lie 
has olliciated as Township Trustee, Clerk, Constable 
and .School Treasurer, and .socially, belongs to (J od- 
dard Lodge No. 2<;G, I. ().(). F. lie votes the 
straight Republican ticket, and is contributing his 
full quota toward the enterprises having for their 
object the general welfare of the community. 

1/ ACKSUN BUOOKS. A residence of twelve 
years in N'alley Center Township has ren- 
dered this worthy citizen familiar to the 
@«/ majority of its ])cople, with whom he is con- 
sidered an important factor in its growth and 
development, lie is proprietor of IGd acres of 
hind on section II, where he carries on general 
fanning and stock-raising, and is each year adding 
something to the beauty and value of his home- 
stead, lie is a man who has made the most of his 
op|Kirtnnities in life, and ha.s kept his eyes open 
to what W!Ls gr)ing on in the worhl around him. 
Tlie.sc ijualities, in connection with his iiatnml in- 
dustry an<l i)ei>everaiice, have served to make him, 
wherever known, nn object of uniform regard. 

Mr. Brooks, a native of Wayne County, Ind., 
was born on the •JtJth of May. 1 h:1,'J. and is the son 
of .Jacob and Mary ( V'orhis) Brooks, who were 



ii 



•►■ -♦i 



natives res|>«"ctively of N'irginia and Ohio. They 
removed from their native Stal<> to Indiana before 
their marriage, locating in Wayne County, where 
the father engaged in agricultnnd pursuits, and 
ilepart«d this life in October. 187.). He had served 
as a .Soldier in the War of 181:;, and the mother, 
who is still living, draws a (>ension from the fiov- 
ernment. .She was born in 1802, and has conse- 
quently arrived at the advanced age of nearly 
eighty-six ye;irs, and makes her home with her 
children in Kansjus. To .Jacob and Mary Bnwiks, 
the parents of our subject, there were born three 
sons and live <langlitcrs, who were named resp«>ct- 
ivcly: Mary .lane, .lack.son, .Martha M., Thomas 
B., Irene B., A<lcline, .losephinc and Aurelius. The 
eldest daughter, Mar_v •'.. becAme the wife of 
Richard I,. Lecson and the mother of two children, 
and died in Wayne County. Ind., .June 28, 18.').'), 
when a young woman. .Martha M. is the widow of 
Archibald I'oston, who was a farmer by o<'cu|w- 
tion, and died in Indiana in 187.'$, leaving six 
children: Thomas B. married Miss Margaret Mc- 
Lane, and is engiiged in the lumber business in 
Mcpherson, this SUite; Irene B. is the wife of 
iloseph B. Dale, a retired farmer, of Newton; Ade- 
line, Mrs. Albert W. Florea, is living with her 
husband on a farm in Butler County; .Josephine 
married Jonathan Thomas, an extensive hnnber 
dealer of Topeka; Aurelius married Miss Mary 
K. Miller, and is engaged in farming near Parsons. 
Jackson Brooks, the second child of the iKtrenUil 
hou.sehold, continued under the home roof until 
twenty-three years of age, jissisting his father on 
the farm, and acquiring his education in the dis- 
trict .school. At an early age he conceived the 
worthy ambition to have a farm and home of his 
own, and conimence<l operating on lantl near the 
old homestead. In order to niore fully carry out 
his ideas of being able, while in his |)rinu', to sit 
un<Ier his own vine and flg tree, he chose to pre- 
side at the head of his d^>mcstic affairs one of the 
most estimable young ladies of his acquaintjtnce, 
Miss Sar.'ih .Jane Charman, with whom he was united 
in marriage .Sept,. .'10, 18,'<C. The young people 
commenced life together in a modest dwelling on 
a farm in Waym^ County, where they continued 
until coming to this State, in 187G. 



I 



t 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



627 



Mrs. Brooks was born in Englaiul. Dec. 8, 1837, 
and is the daughter of Arthur and Rebecca (Gar- 
ton) Charnian, who were natives of England, whence 
they emigrated to the United States in 1851, and 
located at Centreville, Ind. Mi'. Charman had fol- 
lowed farming earl^- in life, but later retired from 
active labor, and for a few j-ears prior to his death 
was engaged in the grocery trade. He passed away 
on the nth of May, 1880, at his home in Muncie, 
when quite advanced in years. The mother sur- 
vived her husband until the iOth of November, 
1887, and died at the age of eighty-two years, three 
months and twenty-nine days. Their remains rest 
side by side in the cemetery- at Anderson, Ind. 

The father of Mrs. Brooks took an active part in 
politics, and was one of the most reliable members 
of the Democratic party. In his native town in 
England he was Overseer of the Poor, and other- 
wise prominent in public affairs. Both parents 
were conscientious and upright in their lives, and 
devoted members of the Christi.au Church. Their 
family' consisted of nine sons and tin-ee daughters, 
of whom the record is as follows : Richard G. was 
born Oct. 6, 1824, and died June 21, 1883; John 
was born Sept. 19, 1827, and died Oct. 22, 1854; 
Thomas was born Sept. 8, 1829, and is now a pros- 
perous banker of Oregon City, Ore. ; James was 
born Sept. 22, 1831, and is a retired merchant of 
Muncie, Ind.; Arthur W. was born Sept. 30, 1833, 
and died in Muncie, Feb. 11, 1865; Frederick was 
born Aug. 27, 1835, and died in Oregon City, 
Dec. 23, 1868; Sarah Jane, Mrs. Brooks, was the 
seventh child; George was born April 19, 1840, 
and died upon the daj' he was one year old ; Ed- 
ward Ross C. was born April 16, 1842, and is 
engaged in the dry -goods business at Oregon City, 
Ore.; Ann was born Jan. 24, 1844, and died 
Oct. 20, 1868; Louisa was born July 11, 1846, and 
died Jan. 13, 1886: Joseph Alfred was l)oi-n Sept. 
16, 1848, and died July 28, 1875. 

Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Brooks, Josephine Lulu, who was born Dec. 10, 
1857, became the wife of Samuel M. Potter, of 
.Middletown, Ohio; Voorhees C. was born March 
19, 1860, completed his studies in the High School 
at .Sedgwick, and makes his home with his parents; 
Harvey C. also attended the High School at Sedg- 



wick one year: Carrie Dale was born Nov. 17, 1861, 
and died May 15, 1877, when an interesting maiden 
of sixteen years. 

Mr. Brooks unifornilj- supports the principles of 
the Democratic part}'. His estimable wife and him- 
self are members in good standing of the Congre- 
gational Church. 

fp , ENRY BLIN, a prominent and intluential 

if)l) farmer of Valley Center Township, was 
^S^ born in Warren County, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1826, 
^p and is the son of Christopher and Marj' 
Ann (Fry) Blin, who were natives of Ohio and 
Virginia respectively. Both of his parents have 
passed to their reward in the other world, his father 
in 1850 and his mother in 1866. 

Christopher Blin was reared to the vocation of a 
farmer, and until his death followed that line of 
business in the Buckeye State. He gave considera- 
ble attention to stock-raising, which was one secret 
of the success with which he met in his operations. 
Both he and liis wife were members of the United 
Brethren Church, and took an active part in all the 
work of that society; Mr. Blin, having the entire 
confidence of the community, held the ofiice of 
Trustee of the United Brethren Church for quite a 
number of years. He was a Republican in his 
political faith, and was a good citizen and respected 
member of the community in which he resided. 
There were born unto him twelve children, two 
boys and ten girls, whose names are as follows: 
Sophia, Julia A., Catherine, Henrj', Christopher, 
Christina, Rebecca, Rachel, Mary Ann, Susan, Har- 
riet and Nancy. Of this large familj-, however, but 
three still survive: "Henry, the subject of our 
sketch, Christopher and Rachel. 

Henry Blin, after having received his education 
in the common schools of his native count}', and 
having assisted his father in the labors attendant 
upon agricultural pursuits, remained at home until 
eighteen years of age, when he commenced and 
served an apprenticeship, until his majorit}', at the 
wagon and coach building trade. For two years 
after having worked his time he was employed as a 
journeyman by Clark Haines, the same party with 



-^^ 



C28 



4. 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



wliniii liL> liiiil )>fc-ii, iiik) then ill ('uiii|Hiiiy with this 
i-nipluVer rt'uiove<l to J^tipiii t'luiiily. t)bio. There 
lIu'V, ill partiuTship, |iiirchn>«'tl cifililv iictos of Iniid 
ftiul |iiit ii|' n snwiiiill iiiiil fsiclorv to IhmkI fclhu'S, , 
turn hulls ami i>r«|Mirc other iiinteri.ilK for Imggy niul 
\v:i}{uii iiiiikiii^', mill euiitiiiiii-il in that ciiiployinciit 
for iiliout two yi'iirs. Our siiliject then removed 
to the eoiinty seat of l^opin I'oiinty ami eiigi4,'eil 
at lii» old trade, wa^'oii-inakiii<;, for .loliii I'owers. 
where he reiiiaiiied for about one year. In eoin- 
paiiy with his lirothcr-iii-law he then moved to | 
Franklin, Warren County, in the sjime State, and ' 
the two. enlerinjf into |>artnerslii|) with .lohn Stjin- j 
ton, enj^a^'ed in the same line of luisines.'*. One 
year later the (irni was dissolved, and the liroth- 
ers-in-Iaw, renioviii';; to Sprinjihoro, resumed the 
wagon-making' l)iisiiies,s, and there they remained 
ttigether for a period of four years. At tlie expira- 
tion of that time llcnry sold out to his brother-in- 
law and remo\ed to his father's homestead and 
rented the place and coninieiieed farniinf.^. From 
there lie went to Henry County, 111., where he 1 
piirehiuscd eijiflity acres of Inml and was eiifjaged in 
tilling the soil in that locality in Annawan Town- , 
ship, from March, 1K67, until the fall of IHCl. Wliile 
in that precinct he served for one term as Trustee of 
the township and .<u< School iJirector of the district. 

The iie.xt move made by our subject wjis to Cass ' 
County, Ind., where he continued in agricultural 
jiursuiUs until the spring of 181S0, when he came to 
Kansas and settled in Sedgwick County, and i)ur- 
chased 1 '10 acres of land on section 20, in W-illey Cen- 
ter Township, where liehassince made his home. He 
lia.s done but little farming, however, in the last few 
years, having rented his pl;ice ever since he came 
to this locality, onl}' working a small piece of it 
himself. Politically, he is a member of the Repub- 
lican party and ailheres closely to the lines drawn 
by that organi/.ation. .Since coming to this place 
he lia-s won the esteem .and regard of the commun- 
ity, and sljinds high as an honorable and upright 
gentleman in the community. 

The marriage ceremony which united the des- 
tinies of Henry iiliii and .Miss Kli/abelh Watson 
took place April :•, IXM. 'J'he bride is a native 
of l.ogan ("ounty. Ohio, and was born in the year 
IX'Jl. She i- a daughter <»f I'alri'k and Altlica 



(DontMlen) Walsini. both of «bii|ii have iWKied to 
their reward beyond the dark liver, the liiolher 
dying in IH.'iO, on the same <lay that Christopher 
*l{|in, the father of our subject, ilied. ami the father 
in \H('r2. Patrick Watson was a car|tcnter by tnide, 
which he followed until his cyc« began to fail and 
he was compelled to relinquish it. lie moved to 
liellefontnine, l.ogan Co., Ohio, where he engaged 
in the hotel business, which he continued until the 
death of his wife. He then made his home with 
his children, and died in Kiehniond, Wayne Co., 
Ind. He was the parent of twelve cliildi-cn, as fol- 
lows: Alexander, ISenj.-imiii, Flizabeth, •)anu>s, 
Helen, William, Minerva, Hannah, Seth. Althea, 
.Annuel .-iinl Maria. Of this family four boys and 
two girls arc still living. Henjamin and Kli/jibeth, 
the latter the wife of Mr. IJlin, were twins. Three 
of the bo3-s, William, .Seth and Henjamin, were in 
the army during the late Kebellion. 

Mr. and .Mrs. Blin have a family of six chihiren, 
viz.: Patrick, who married Miss Mary Trissel, and 
is living in Kingman Countj', this .SUite. engjiged 
in the hardware and lumber trade: C. C., who mar- 
ried Miss Harriet Green, and is a blacksmith by 
trade; .Icssie, Mrs. William Winters; her husband is 
a fanner iiiKagle Township. Henrietta, the wife of 
Ambrose Mix, who is the proprietor of a s:iwinill 
in Arkansas; Helen, the wife of Simeon Zaring, 
a farmer in \':dlcy Center Township; and .liilia. who 
is living at home. 

J I OHN Kl'HN is a farmer and stock-raiser re- 
siding on ?cction 1 1, (iypsum Townshiji. In 
I the far-away town of Welzheim, in He-sse- 
' U.'irmstadt. Germany, beneath the roof of 
the cottage of his parent.s, Leanhart and Clara 
(Giisenhover) Kulin, was born the child .K)hn 
Kiilin, of whom this biogra]>hic!il sketch is written. 
In his boyhood days he received the education in 
his native town that every youth of that country 
obtains, and remained at home until the latter part 
of 1«.51, when he concluded that his native country 
was no place for a poor man, ami that only in free 
America could a man rise to a position of atlbience 
Mild comfort by his o«n ellorl,- and exertions. Af- 



•►•.-♦i 





^ 



I 













HI-4*- 



a 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



631 



I 

T 



ter a deliberate investigation of the subject, on the 
1 1 th of ,Iamiar3-, 1 852, he bade adieu to the Father- 
land and, taking passage on the ship "Kip Van 
Winkle," crossed the stormy Atlantic and landed in 
New York City. In that metropolis of the West- 
ern World he remained about three years, work- 
ing at the tanner's trade, and there, April 23, 1854, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Katrina Hugen- 
berger, a native of Rhein Palz, Bavaria, born Feb. 
18, 1835. Her mother, Mrs. Clara (Sever) Bugen- 
berger, died when Jlrs. Kiihn was about four years 
of age, and she came to the United States with her 
father in 1852, on the same vessel and at the 
same time as did our subject. Her father, Fred- 
erick Bugeuberger, died in Sandusk}', Ohio, in 
1858. 

After his marriage the subject of this sketcli and 
his wife came westward, and for a year were resi- 
dents of Kane Count)', III., but at the expiration 
of that period removed to Matamora, Woodford 
Countj', in the same State, where our subject re- 
mained some fourteen years. For a time he was 
engaged in various kinds of labor, but having been 
there ab<,>ut seven years, he purchased a team and 
commenced farming. He rented a small piece of 
land, and by intensely hard work and great thrift 
and economy managed to accumulate a little cap- 
ital, and lay the foundation for his present success. 
Industry, diligence and energy of the first order, 
coupled with a frugality common to his thrifty 
countrymen, could only have succeeded so well in 
that locality. In 1870 he came to Kansas with his 
familj', and on the 18th of June of that year en- 
tered 180 acres of land, lying upon the Arkansas 
River, on section 11, Gypsum Township, where he 
iramediatel)- settled and where he is still living. He 
at once entered upon its cultivation and improve- 
ment, and has erected a handsome residence, and 
large and substantial barns and other farm build- 
ings, and been eminently successful in all his busi- 
ness operations. 

]Mr. Kuhii has laid off and platted a town site 
upon his place, which is known by the name of 
Welzheim, which bids fair to be a business center 
at some future day. He is also the owner of a fine 
clay bank of the best quality, the vein of which is 
some forty feet in depth, and a stone quarry of ex- 

"^» ^^-^— ^^^-^— ^^— — — 



cellent sandstone for building, as well as furnishing 
a pure article of sand for the manufacture of plate 
glass. Not far distant from his house, and also upon 
the land which he owns, is a beautiful mineral spring 
which is credited with having great medicinal prop- 
erties. He contemplates the erection of large glass- 
works on his property at some future time, which 
will utilize some of the resources which he has at 
his command. There are also large brick works 
located on Mr. Kuhn's farm, called the Forest City 
Brick Works. In his political atliliations he is a 
steadfast Democrat, believing th.at the principles of 
that party are the best guarantees for the preserva- 
tion of our popular form of government. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn have been born a family 
of fourteen children, as follows: Bertha; Kdmund; 
Emma, who married Gabriel Fultz; Mary; John, 
deceased; Margaret married Bearhadt Kelsch; 
John; Helen; Josephine married Jerome Jones; 
August, deceased; Katherine, Frederick, Aimie and 
Caroline. Mr. Kuhn and his family are members 
of the Roman Catholic Church, and are faithful in 
the discharge of their duties. 



ALVIN DIEHL, whose name stands promi- 
nently among the solid men and capitalists 
of Wichita, is largely interested in real-estate 
matters, and has one of the finest homes in the city, 
occupying No. 141 Lulu avenue. The dwellmg is 
a beautiful and costly structure, surrounded by 
shade trees and fine shrubbery. 

Mr. Diehl came west of the Mississippi in 1877, 
and to Wichita in 1884. He was born in Adams 
County, Md., Nov. 11, 1836, the son of Daniel and 
Mary A. (Kohler) Diehl, who were born in the 
town of Little York, Pa. Daniel Diehl was a tan- 
ner by trade, and for many years carried on a tan- 
yard, and also engaged in agriculture in Maryland, 
to which State he had removed when a young man. 
In 1852 he disposed of his interests East, and 
emigrated to Illinois, locating in Marshall County 
upon a tract of land from which he built up a fine 
farm, and where he spent the remainder of hisdaj's, 



^ 



' > r,.T: 



■-l.ltCWICK COUNTY 



Daiiii'l Diflil. the fntlur nf oiir Milijcct. u:i.< lioni 
An;;. 10. 1X07, anil ilcparlcil tlii!> lircoii tin- IKthiif 
.Miirch, ImG". Tlif inotlirr «if our siiWjpct wius born 
iilxiul 1 ISOT-OH, mill |ircci-<loil Ikt IiiisImiikI to the 
.•■iloijt land s<'vciilecii veiirs, lior di-atli tiikiiig plnce 
ill lH.'»n, at their lioiiK' in Marylaml. Thi'V »cri- 
thf piircnts of st-vcn chililren, num<-ly : Kzokii-I, 
Alfrttl . I., Calvin; Alioe, Mi>. Hrnsxfii'lil ; Mary, Mrs. 
Fiirncy; Irene, .Mrs. McKenney.aml Martlia F., who 
(lii-fl in infancy. Calvin, of onr skelcli. the thinl son, 
like lii.H lirothcrs ami sisters, was reared under the 
parental r<Kif. where he remained until twenty-four 
years of age. Then liein-; ready to estahlish a 
home of his own, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Kllen Krwin, who wiis born in Kutler County, 
I'n., Nov. IM, lH3t;. 

Mrs. Diehl is the daughter of .lohn and Mary 
(Hulls) Krwin, natives respectively of Huller and i 
York Counties, I'a.. !Uid both born in I Tit I. Her i 
gran<l|>arenls on the father's side were Archibald and I 
Kli/abetli (I'ride) Krwin. Ilur maternal grandfather 
was Henry Hutt*. The mother died at her home in ' 
Marshall County, III., on the 17th of December, i 
1 M7.3. .lohn Krwin survived his wife nearly five years, 
and piissed away on the 4th of .June, 1H7.S. Of the I 
houschohl circle, including seven children, but five 
are living, namely: Matilda, Mrs. Bracken: Maria. 
-Mrs. Cnihnm ; Robert S., Charles 15.. and Kllen, Mre. 
Diehl. Mr. Krwin wils the son of a f:irnier, and 
during his younger years also employed himself at 
this pursuit. Later hclcained the car|)enter's trade, 
which he followed the remainder of his life. He 
was s good man and an esteemed citi/.<'n, and served 
in the War of 1K12. The |)arent* left Pennsylvania 
in IK.OI, and si'ttled in Marshall County, III., where 
Ihey spent their last years. 

The marriage of Mr. and .Mrs. Diehl took place 
at Henry, .Marshall Co., III., and soon afterward 
they settled ttu a farm in Woodford County, where 
M. 1). occupicil himself three years. Then return- 
ing to Marshall County, they lived thereon a farm i 
two years, and .Mr. I), employed himself at farming 
one year. In 1K0« our subject lea-sed 410 jicrcs of 
land in Champaign County, where he labored dili- 
;,'ently, breaking the soil, planting hedge fence, and 
improving it gcnendly. l'\mu his removal from 
this farm, he located on a farm in Ford County, 



•►•-4- 



where they lived until I h77, whence they crossed 
the Mississippi int«> this .State. 

Mr. Diehl u|>on his arrival in this county pur- 
cha.Hed 240 acres of land of the Santa Fe Kailrond 
Com|)!iny, in Kechi Township. 'l"hey hail made the 
jounu'y from Illinois overland, with an outfit of 
two teams, and witc twenty-four days on the road. 
Tmvcling after the manner of the early pioneers, 
they can)|>ed and cooked by the wayside, and after 
locating u|)on their unimproved farm lived for a 
time in their wagon. Their first dwelling was a 
"Kansjis stable," in which they lived about two 
months until a more convenient dwelling could be 
erected. 

rpun this farm Mr. Diehl labored for a period of 
seven years, eflfccting many iinprovemi-nt?. plant- 
ing hedge, orchard and shade trees, and building 
up the most desirable homestead, u|i<.in which he 
lived until his removal to Wichita. With a portion 
of the proceeds of the sjilo of this property he pur- 
chased an acre of land on First street, where he 
built a residence, and then traded for property on 
Douglas avenue. There also he put up annther 
residence which he occupied two and oiie-halfyears. 
then sold out and purchaseii the present beautifid 
home of the family. 

In 1M86 Mr. Diehl pre-empted in Kiowa County, 
KIO acres of lanil, which he improveii with a house 
.'ind other necessary farm buildings, enclosed with 
good fencing, and cultivated the greater |K>rtion of 
the soil. Mr. D. gives his time and attention U^ hi.s 
real-estate interests, and, the necessity for arduous 
labor tijiving passed by, is taking life easy in the 
most sensible manner. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Diehl there have been born 
three children. Their eldest, n son. M. Kllsworth, 
studied for the ministry in the college at Kvans- 
ton, 111.; he is now preaching on the Conway 
Springs Circuit, in Sedgwick and Sunnier Counties. 
He is a young man ol great promise, and after leav- 
ing the district school entered the Normal School 
at Ft. .Scott, from which he was gi-.-idujiled in .lune. 
IKHO, after a two-years course. Cpon going into 
Kit)wa County with his father, he pre-empted a 
qiuirter-section of land, p;irt of which he improved. 
While atteniling the Nornud School he employed 
his vacations in teaching, and for a term of nine 



i 



41-^*- 



■•►-II-4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



633 



i 



months was the assistant of Prof. Chidester, of the 
Oswego High School. In September, 1887, he en- 
tered Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, 111. 
Miss Ada J. Diehl became the wife of T. N. 
Baker, now a resident of Wichita, and is the mother 
of two children — Bertha E. and Bessie K. Charles 
E., the younger son of our subject, continues at 
home with his parents. 

Mr. Uiclil, political!}', votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, and with his wife and children, is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he ofliciates as Class-Leader and Steward. 

As representative of the best people of Sedg- 
wick Count}', we take pleasure in presenting the 
portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. Diehl, which we do 
in this connection. 



■SIOHN BUFFINGTON. one of the numerous 

I self-made men who are prominently identi- 

II tied with the farming and stock-raising in- 
^&)j terests of this county, resides in Ninnescah 
Township. There he possesses a valuable fann on 
sections 17 and '20, on which he has resided since 
18S1. He was born April 8, 1832, in Adams 
Countj', III., and Asa and Elizabeth (Hume) Buf- 
fmgton were his parents. To them were born four 
children, of whom three are now living, as follows: 
John; James, of California, and Abraham, of Gra- 
ham Count}', Kan. 

The subject of this sketch was left an orphan 
when quite young, by the death of his father and 
mother, the former dying when he was a child of 
six years, and the latter four years later; by this 
bereavement he was left at the age of ten without 
the guidance and watchful care of his natural 
guardians. He was then taken charge of by his 
cousin, Solomon Nighswanger, of Pike County, III., 
with whom he made his home until he attained his 
majority. He grew to manhood in his native 
county, receiving such rude educational advantages 
as were afforded by its early schools. In 1851 he 
removed with Mr. Nighswanger to Marshall, lU., 
and there resided for some years. lie was a young 
man of good habits, endowed with much strength 
and vigor, inheriting from his worthy parents those 



characteristics of industry, frugality and stability, 
that have been important aids to him in overcom- 
ing every obstacle in the pathway to success that 
he has encountered since he started out in the world 
a poor man, with no other weapons, to fight life's 
battles by himself. In a few years he had gathered 
together a suflicicnt sum of money to enable him to 
establish a home of his own, and to the woman. 
Miss Cynthia Sellers, whom he invited to share its 
comforts, he was united in marriage in June, 1857, 
in Marshall County, III. She was born Jiuie 7, 
1837, in Pike County, III., and w;is a daughter of 
Howell and Margaret (Conner) Sellers, who were 
natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. 
Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, 
and died when she was quite young. 

After marriage our subject and his wife con- 
tinned to reside in their native State, making their 
home in Stark, INIarshall County, for many years. 
There they endured the struggles and trials that 
fall to the lot of young people just starting in life 
together, who have their own way to make in the 
world, and in bravely facing them, conquered them 
by hard work, close economy and wise manage- 
ment, established their home on a sure foundation, 
and became moderately prosperous. There four 
children were born to them, three of whom are liv- 
ing, namely : Ida, Elizabeth and Charles. Elizabeth 
is the wife of George B. Withrow. of Ninnescah 
Township; they have one child. 

In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Buffington decided to leave 
the place where they had dwelt over thirty years, 
around which many pleasant associations clustered, 
.and where they had made many warm friendships, 
and take up tlieir .abode in K.ansas. Accordingly 
they came to Sedgwick County, and in Ninnescah 
Township Mr. Buffington |)urchased their present 
place of residence. This property comprises a good 
house, ample out-buildings, and 280 acres of highly 
fertile land, which, with the assistance of his de- 
voted wife, our suliject has succeeded in placing 
among tlie most valuable and best man.aged farms 
in this township noted for its fine farms. They are 
now in their declining years, but owing to their 
early labors they can now take life leisurely, and 
enjoy the many comforts of their well-earned home. 
They are people of good social standing in this 



•^l 



f.34 



-^ 



SEDCWICK COUNTY 



cunnnunity, nii'l Mr*. HiilliiitJtoii i« a vnliu<l iiieni- 
biToftho liji|ili.st C'liiinh. In iM.litic.i Mr. Uiitlliij,'- 
loii fnvon* till' ni'inocnilic |i;irly "illi his cnnlinl 
supiMirt. 

<^ — ■ '-*■ 

El. III! .MAll'lN. .i wfll-t....!.. fnriiuT ami 
Miwli-^'rowir, residing ou .Hfitioii 4, I'ay'"^ 
Tiiwiiship, is one i«f llic pioneers of 1«72, 
HMil lm.s eontril>uU><l his !<hare to the fjrowtli and de- 
velopinont of Ihi.s |mrt of the eounty of Sedgwick. 
lie waslxirn Aug. 20. 1 H3«. in Kentueky. I lis parents 
were Daniel and Amelia (Carter) Maupin, natives of 
KentiU'k^'. The former was l)(>rn in Warren Conn- 
tv, .Inn. 14, 1H14. .and wa.s twice married. It is 
not known who his first wife was. The mother of 
onr snhject, to whom he wa.s married .Iniie 9, 1H.3G, 
was iiorn in Warren C'onnty, March li">, 1817. She 
is living in Shelby County, Mo., and i.s :i devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcoi>n! Church. To 
her and her husband were born fifteen children, 
seven of whom are now deecaseil, a.s follows: Mary 
Frances, Ksther Col v in, Daniel and .lames Carter, 
and three who dieil in infanc}' unnamed. Those 
living are naniccl .loel, Elihu, Simon I'eler, .lohn 
A., Walter .lasper, William Davis Trice, Kli7.al)elli 
and .Sarah Kllen. 

Mr. Maupin, the father. wa»occu])ied principally 
;ls a farmer, but he was very ingenious and handled 
t<)<>!s with great facility. He was equally good at 
carpentering, ina.soiiry, making shoes, or in any 
trade that he might apply himself to. lie made all 
the shoes for himself and family. In IH41 he left 
hi.-t old Kentucky home, and with his family migrated 
to Missouri, an<l, locating in Macon County, lived 
there for eight years. Thence he went to .Shelby 
County, and there made his home during the re- 
maining years of his life, his <leath occurring in 
October. lH(;;i. In politics he was an old-line 
Whig, and during the war waa a Democnit. For 
many yents he was a faithful member of the Cum- 
berland IVesbyterian Church. 

The subject of this sketch was the second child 
in orfler of birth born Uj his (inrents, and was very 
young when they moved to Missouri, and there he 
grew- to manhood, lie was educated in the cuin- 



•► • -4^ 



mon schiHilsof that .Stale, and in the heidthy labors 
of the farm he develoix-d strength and vigor. On 
the .Sd <Iny of .Inly, IHtll, in Putnam County, he 
look unt«i himself a wife, who ha.s since been to 
him a true helpmeet, nobly sharing with him the 
hardships of their pioneer life and encouraging him 
to persevere in his work. Her maiden name was 
Kli/abeth Forbes, and her paix-nt.s were David and 
Martha (Uichardson) Forbes; to them were born 
ten ehihlren, of whom but one is deail — lohn W., 
M.argaret S., William K. (deceased), .lames II., 
Hannah K.. Flizabelh. IMiebc, Itichel, Melinda H. 
and Sarah M. Mr. Forbes was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and was also a licensed preacher. He 
anil his wife were for sevenil years connected with 
the Methtxlist Episcopal Church, and he often 
occupied its i)ulpit. They Anally joined the I'nited 
Hrethren Church, and he took an active |)art in its 
proceedings, often expounding it.s doctrines to the 
|>eoplc who gathereil together to listen to his preach- 
ing. Mrs. Forbes is still a faithful member of that 
church. Mr. P'orbes is n<iw deceaseil. 

Our subject and his wife first settled on a farm 
in Mi.ssouri. Finally Mr. Maupin concluded that 
the pros|»eets to gain a good living by fanning 
were much more encouraging in Kaii.s.is than in 
Missouri. Accordingly, he ilisi»>sed of his pro|>erty 
in that .SUte, and on the Htli of .luly, 1MT2, came 
to this StAti- and located near his present farm. He 
purchased a homestead claim of an earlier settler, 
and afterward took up .-i homestead claim in his 
own name. Then commenced for him and his 
family all the vicissitutles of a pioneer life. The 
removal here and the money that he afterward [mid 
out exhausted his means, and he had to begin anew 
the uphill work of getting a com|)etency. He sold 
n pair of woolen socks for seventy-five cents, and 
with that money he bought a load of wood in the 
timber fourteen miles distant, one-half of which he 
afterward sold in Wichit-a, fifteen miles away, re- 
ceiving therefor ♦2..')(>. and with this money he 
started in life with renewed zeal. He continued 
selling wood in the city all of the following winter, 
drawing it twenty-eight miles every day through 
all the storms that were then so prevalent in Kan- 
gas. None but a stindy man of an iron constitu- 
tion could have endured all the hardships that he 

— ■> m-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



635 



I 



encountered before success came to him. The sub- 
sistence of the family was procured by the sale of 
butter made from the miliv of five cows. Mr. 
Maupin now owns 160 acres of land, four miles 
distant from Greenwich; it is finely located and 
commands a view of Greenwich, and also of Ben- 
ton, in Butler County. There is a beautiful grove, 
containing four acres, which would furnish an 
ample supply of wood for the family if it were 
needed ; and he also has a young peach and apple 
orchard. Everything about his place shows his 
care and wise management. 

The union of our subject has been blessed by 
the birth of six children, namely: Daniel Ilarvej", 
James Walter, John Logan, Willie David, Lydia 
Frances and Oscar Stanley. Daniel and Oscar are 
dead. 

Mr. Maupin has been active in securing educa- 
tional privileges to the youth of this township, and 
in 1873 assisted in the organization of School Dis- 
trict No. 20. He vvas elected Justice of the Peace, 
but did not qualify, as his private duties demanded 
all his attention. Politically, he is a true Repub- 
lican. Our subject is endowed with remarkably 
keen eyesight, and can read the finest print witliout 
the aid of glasses, though he is nearly liftj' years 
of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maupin are conscientious members 
of the United Brethren Church, and have been for 
twentj'-five years. They are true Christian jiefjple; 
generous to a fault, charitable to those in need, and 
having the happy faculty of making the stranger 
feel at home in their [)leasant dwelling. 



i 



J^ ON ATHAN WILSON. There have been but 
I few places even in this enterprising country 
I where greater interest has been taken in real- 
' estate business than in Kansas during the 
last two decades. The most notable place in this 
remarkable commonwealth is Wichita, the wonder 
of the (lay. One of the enterprising men engaged 
here in the real-esUite business is Jonathan Wilson. 
He is a native of Indiana, having been born in 
I r Switzerland County, that State, May 19, 183^. His 



father, Benjamin Wilson, was born in Kentucky, 
May 20, 1803, and died Aug. 16, 1885, on the 
homestead in Indiana that his father, Benjamin Wil- 
son, Sr., entered from the Government, having lived 
there more than eighty consecutive years. He was 
a very young child when his father took up the 
land, and as he grew old enough and strong enough, 
he assisted in clearing that 150-acre tract of land. 
The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, 
was Matilda Neal, also a native of Kentucky, born 
Aug. 14, 1811. She survived her husband, and 
still lives on the old homestead. This excellent old 
lady is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, her husband having also joined that church 
during the latter part of his life. The children 
born of their union were Wesley W., Lewis, George 
W., Jonathan, Perry, Eliza, Melville, Elias, Nathan 
and Ezra. George was a Methodist minister; 
he is now deceased. Nathan studied medicine; he 
is now a practicing physician of the old school, liv- 
ing in Milton, Ind. E'/.va. lives in California. 

The subject of this sketch was united in the holy 
bonds of matrimony, May 5, 1861, by Rev. Isaac 
Turner, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
Elizabeth V. Randall. She was born in Indiana, 
Jan. 26. 1840, being the daughter of George and 
Rhoda (Ewbank) Randall. Mr. Randall was born 
and reared in England, where he studied theology 
and became a Methodist minister, and in early life 
was a.«sociated with Peter C.artwright. Subsequently 
he became a farmer, and accumulated considerable 
property before his death, which took place on the 
home farm, four miles from Aurora, Ind. He was 
always a prominent and influential man in the 
church, and was a hard worker, whether in the pul- 
pit or in the harvest field. His wife was also a 
splendid worker in the church, and never gave it 
up during her life, spending her years in doing 
good wherever and whenever she could. Her death 
occurred in Indiana. Dec. 3, 1859, some years be- 
fore her husband's. They were the parents of 
eight children, namely : John E., George P., Will- 
iam, Thomas and Richard (twins), Mary A., Re- 
becca J. and Elizabeth V. AVilliam is a physician. 
Mr. Wilson received a common-school education, 
and. passed his early years at homo, where he re- 
ceived a practical education in the art of tilling the 



-<*■ 



•> m^^ 



f 

i ... 



SKDtiWICK COUNTY 



soil. .Siiliiw.>(|iifiitl,V he |>UR'lm.»o<l Ho ucn-s nf Inml 
i>f hin fnlluT. I>iit nflor (Ivi- yt'nrs of |)o;v!><'>,sioii miIiI 
il Hiiil lioii;;ht 100 acres ill I )ei\rliorii Coiiiitv, wIutc 
lie liveil foiirU'oii years. In l^KJ Mr. Wilson eiiiiie 
to KniiMi.H, niiii liK-ntiii^ in Fonl C luiiily, proved up 
II cliiiiii. mill reiiiiiiiUMi there eii;liteeii inoiithii. In 
I.HH7 he lioii{;lit the resideiiee he now occupies, the 
lot on which it is siinaletl li.-iviii;; ii froiilJi^c of 
sixty (eel. Our siiliject also owns sevenii lots t)n 
.Mea«l street, lie.-ides liein^J the possessor of .'J20 
acres of land in Kord I'oiinty, nearly hulf of which 
is under cultivation, lie is profitiibly cntriiyed in 
real-estate s|wculiitioiis, and fjreatiy aids the liusi- 
iiess interests of tiie ciuuiunnity and liie develop- 
nicnl of this lienntiful metropolis of the Arkansas 
\'alley, liy liriiiu'in;; hcfore the public its!ulvnnljij,'es 
ill the nintter of location, railway facilities, water 
privile;;es, fertility of soil, and salubrity of climate. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Wilson have four chililreii — Hhoda 
H.. Ilciirv L.. I^indall and Tillie. Rhoda is ii clerk 
in a dry- j;;oods store, n position she h:isheld the past 
eighteen months; Meiiry is linie-keoper with IJraccy 
Bros., niilroad contractors, of Sniina. Kan. ; Ilandall 
is tele;;raph operator, huvin-j been i)ronioted from 
ollice boy. 

Our subject .-ind lii> wife have been members of 
the .Metho<list Ki)iscopal Church for twenty-six 
years, and in their daily lives exein[ilify the teach- 
inj,'s of Christianity. Tlioiij;li new-comers in this 
city, thoy have identilied themselves with its well- 
fare, and have made many friends among the intel- 
ligent and hospitable citizens of the place. In 
(Rtlitics .Mr. Wilson is » straight Uopublican. 



f OSKl'lirs I TZ. It is quite iiiteioting to 
observe, in noting the various members of a 
community, how the^' were gathered lt»- 
' gethcr from dilTerenl Slates and localities, 
and how well usually they combine to form nn 
intelligent ami prosperous community. The sub- 
ject of this history is a native of the far Knslern 
.suite <jf .Maryland, where he lirst opened his i-yes 
to the light ill Carroll County, on the .'ith of .Inly, 
I m;!.'). lie is the offspring of .Michael and Susan 
( Viiieliiig; I't/, who Were of < ieriiian ancestry, anti 



the father a fanner nil his life. Michael Ctz »|ieiit 
his days upon his native soil till |K.'t7,tlieii came tt> 
Indiana, and clieil when sixty-three years of ,'ige. 
The mother is still living, hnving arrived at the 
.advanced age of eighty -two years on the i.'itli of 
December, l«x7, and makes her home with her son, 
our subject. 

The parents of our siilijecl i<leiitilied themselves 
with the .Methodist Kpis<'opal Church early in life^ 
of which the father was a member for a |)eriod of 
thirty years, and in the faith of which the mother 
remains firmly established, and is now connected 
with the .s<K-iety at .Sedgwick City. They left the 
Slate of Maryland in IH.'iT.and took up their abode 
in Clinton County, Ind., where the mother remained 
with her oldest son until ISK.'J, and then came tf> 
this I'ounty. Joseplius, when twenty-one years of 
age, stjirted out for himself, and cominenecd farm- 
ing on a tract of land not far from the homestt-'ad, 
in Clinton County. The yejir preceding he was 
uiiiled in marriage with .Miss I'liebe .lane Hall, the 
wedding Uikiiig place at the luiinc of the briile, on 
the 1st of November. 1 «.'>,'». Mi-s. I'tz is the daugh- 
ter of .lohn and Jane ( Frazier) Hall, natives respect- 
ively of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and who 
spent their last years in Carroll County, ln<l., both 
having died when their daughter I'hebe J. was a 
small girl. Her father was a farmer by occupation, 
and both parents were members of the Methodist 
KpiscoiMil Church. -Mrs. Utz was born Oct. is, 
1H3,S, in Huller County, Ohio, :iii<l is the only sur- 
vivor of the eight children comprising the jiarenUtl 
hou.sehold. Of her union with our subject there 
have been born ten children. Their eldest daugh- 
ter, Mary Belle, is the wife of F. C. Jenkins, who is 
on the night police force at Wichita; Kdward (i. 
married Miss Anna l-'ry, and is farming in Fagle 
Township, this county; Sanih Florence, Mrs. .loseph 
Fry, is living with her husband on a farm in llodg- 
inan County, this State; William Sherman and lila 
lire at home with their [Mirents. The decea.sed are 
Laiirinda .lane, F^innia, Friiesl, Anna and .Sanford. 

Mr. L'tz, after the outbreak of the l.ate Kebellion, 
enlisted on the 3d of .March, 1st;.'., in Company V, 
l."iUli Indiana Infantry, and remained in the service 
until August 10 of that year, ami there being no 
further need of his services he was mustered out 



-•► ■ -4* 



•► 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



037 



4 



near Winchester, Va. During this brief campaign 
he was elected First Corporal. With the exception 
of a week spent in the hospital and the malarial 
fever later, he esciiped unharmed. He is a straight 
Republican, politically, and a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, in which he occupies the 
odice of Steward. 



A. WILLIAMS, of the firm of K. A. Will- 
iams lb Bro., proprietors of the Fourth 
Avenue ri.aning Mill, No. 202 Fourth av- 
enue. These enterprising gentlemen are conduct- 
ing their business very successfully, and by their 
energj-, shrewdness and honorable dealings have 
placed it upon a solid basis among the important 
manufacturing industries of Wichita. This mill is 
devoted to the manuf.icture of odd sizes of sashes 
and doors, windows and door frames, moldings, 
wood columns, brackets, etc. The firm do all 
kinds of finisli work and home decorations, doing 
their work as well and ;is cheaply as any firm in the 
citj'. F. A. Williams, of this sketch, was born in 
the State of New York, Feb. 13, 1848. His parents 
were F. H. and Cynthia (Linman) Willi.ams. 

Our subject was but a child when his parents 
moved to Illinois, and there, when a school boy of 
sixteen, he dropped his studies and enlisted in Com- 
panj' H. 138th Illinois Infantrj', in the j'ear 1864, 
actuated by the patriotic desire to aid the cause of 
the Union, and for six months, in camp and on the 
field, he did faithful and gallant service as a soldier 
in the Federal army. On his return to his home 
after his experience at the seat of war the lad re- 
sumed his studies in the public schools, and secured 
a good education. He then turned his natural 
liking for mechanical pursuits to a practical use, 
and entered his father's planing-mill, remaining 
employed there until 1870, and bj- his intelligent 
application to his work gaining a thorough knowl- 
edge of it, even to its minutest detail. In that 
year Mr. Williams left the home of his youth and 
early manhood to seek a broader field of labor in 
Kansas. lie settled in Olathe, where he became 
engaged as a contractor, being thus employed for 
some ycai-s with considerable profit. 

In 1874 Mr. Williams returned to Illinois, and 
<> 



resumed his old employment in the planing-mill 
business, which he conducted successfully the en- 
suing ten years. While a resident of this State Mr. 
Williams had been very favorably impressed with 
its man}' natural advantages, and even after his re- 
turn to Illinois h.ad watched with keen interest its 
marvelous growth during the decade that elapsed 
since his residence there, at which time Sedgwick 
County had but begun to be settled, it not having 
been organized until after he first took up his resi- 
dence in Olathe. He now resolved to make his 
home in Kansas a second time, and profit again by 
its many fine openings for men of business and 
Uilent. Accordingly he came to WichiUi, where he 
again entered into business as a contractor, continu- 
ing thus engaged until 188(5. In that year, in com- 
pany vvith his brother and the members of the 
Southwest Pump Company, he built the Fourth 
Avenue Planing Mill, which they now jointly' oc- 
cupy. They are conducting a very large and pros- 
perous business, employing from fiftecu to twenty 
men continuously. This firm is alw.i3's prompt and 
ready in meeting its monetary obligations, and its 
credit stands high in financial ciicles. 






ILLIAM T. HALL, a resident of Mt. Hope, 
is the owner of a fine farm in Greele}' Town- 
ship, the operations of which he carefully 
superintends, and which is largely devoted to stock- 
raising. He ships annually large numbers of cattle 
to the Eastern markets, and feeds cattle both in the 
town and at his farm. He has been an important 
factor in the development of the agricultural re- 
sources of this county, to which he came in the 
spring of 1877, and is numbered among its most 
enterprising and public-spirited citizens. 

A native of Missouri, our subject was born Nov. 
20, 1854, and is the son of Thomas D. and Telitha 
E. (Weir) Hall, of Tennessee. Thomas Hall, a 
farmer by occupation, and also engaged in mer- 
cantile business, was born Jan. 7, 1806, and left his 
native State in 1841, for Missouri. There he car- 
ried on farming and merchandising in Humausville, 
until after the outbreak of the late Civil War, and 






■►■-4» 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



n'liioveil ill IMfiJUi Illiiioi!*. WliPii tlic t-unflicl was 
<'iiiIimI lie rctunuMl to MiMiniri, ami <lit>il there in 

'riie fntlier of our .sulijrcl nii.^ a mitn of more Ihnii 
onliimry iibility, iiml while in Mis^sonri wn> .Iiitttiee 
of the Pence, .Iiul;;c of the County Court, nixi <m'- 
i-n|iieil other positions of trust iiiiil rc<i|ion.Hiliilily. 
He «•«.•< well eilucHleil, iiiid foilowi'i] teiiehin;^ con- 
si<lernl>ly ill his imtive Still*', lie iil.*o UiUf^lit'one 
Itrni tif sch<Kil in MisMoiiri. Ili.s wife, Telitlia, was 
liorii Si'pt. I, IHl.'l, iind their niiirringe took pince 
.Inly '.".I, ls:il. Mi>. Ihill is8lill liviii<,'. nn<l |>nii.sing 
her ileciiiiiii;tr yt'iirs at the home of our subject, who 
i.s niiiiistering to her wants with true filinl alTectioii. 
Slio has been iin invalid for some years, on ueconiit 
of .1 fall wliich dislix-atcd her hi]), and moves nronnd 
l)y the aid of crutches. 

The {larciilal family included eleven children, 
ei^rlit of whom are liviiij;, and are residents mostly 
of Kansas. One son. Aml)rose, is in Mexico o| crat- 
ing a stuck ranch near Las N'egas, which he owns in 
company with our subject; Jefferson M. is married 
anti engaged in the livery business at Colorado 
Springs. 'I'he other children of the family were 
named respectively: Charlotte A., now Mrs. Mcln- 
tire, of Windsor, Mo.; Jeflferson M.; Josciiliine B., 
Mrs. ,1. H. Wells, of Missouri; Susan P., the wife of 
K. T. Huston, of (Ireeley Township; .lohn L. and 
Hugh S. also reside in Greeley Township. 



.^^IIO.MAS (J. .lA.MKS, .lit. In the great and 
//^S\, fertile West are some extensive farmers, 
^^/ men who bring to their calling rare business 
skill and excellent judgment. Some of the most 
enterprising of the.se may be found in Kansas. 
Uaiiking .•iiiiong these is T. (!. .lames, .Jr., who is 
one of the most prominent young men of Sedgwick 
County, lie owns and operates HSO acres of land 
in Aftoii Township, h.-iving his residence on section 
.'(. Ofthisliut eighty .-icres are under cultivation, 
the lialaiice beiii;.' devoted to stock-raising, lie has 
a line herd of cattle, embracing about 'J(M) head, be- 
sides large numbers of horses and hogs, in the care 
of which is ex|*eiided annually hundreds of dollars, 
and the proceeds of which yield a line income. 



This extensive tract of land is admirably wat«Tetl 
liy a never-failing spring, and supplied with giHHl 
buildings which are flttt'd up with all the <-onven- 
ieiices rc(piire<] in the line of business to which it is 
devotod. It embraces one mile of the well-known 
(iarden Plain, and for fertility of Miil niid natural 
advantages is ii<it exceeded l>y anything of the 
kind in Southern Kansas. The honii>st«-ad pro|N-r 
with its surroundings, a view of which will be found 
in c'onnection with this sketfh, forms a most pleas- 
ant picture in the lanfl.sca|H' of Sedgwick County. 

Mr. .lames is a Mississippian by birth and the son 
of Thomas G. and .lane K. (Koolc) .lames, natives 
res|)ectively of Mis-issippi and Alabama, lie wjis 
born in Yazoo County, Dec. '2K, ISIJI, the county 
of which his father was also a native, lie is now- 
residing in Tallahatcliec County. There he carries 
on a cotton plantjition and also merchandising to a 
considerable extent, dealing in genenil merch.-indise. 
lie is a lively Democrat. |>olilically, and with his 
estimable wife, .-i nieniberof the .Methodist Hpis<'t>- 
pal Church .South. Of the seven children born to 
them, but two are living — Mary S. and the subject 
of this sketch. Mary became the wife of Casa 
Collier, anil the mother of six children; her husband 
wius the manager of his father-in-law's plantation, 
and died in Mississippi in November, 1887. George 
Foote .lames died in his native Suit*- in 1877, anil 
Edwin K., in_1882: three children of the family 
died in infancy. 

The subject of this sket<'h is flnoly educated, hav- 
ing pursued his studies at the Kmery School in 
West Virginia, the Trinity High .School in Alabama, 
and the State University of Mississijipi, taking after- 
ward a commercial course in the college at Mem- 
phis. Tenn. While in Alaltaina he formed the 
acquaintance of Miss Memrie A. .Marks, and the 
mutual attachment which ensued resulted in their 
marriage on the 2lM of December, 188.''>. Mrs. .lames 
was burn in .Morgan County, Ala., .luly 28, IKiIS. 
and is the daughter of Kcv. .lohn S. and Sarah 
(Hurt) Marks, natives res|K'ctively of Tennessee 
and Alabama. Her father was a minister of the 
Methodist Kpiscopal Church, the scene of his labors 
being for many years in the city o( Trinity. The 
|iarental hoiisehold included eight children. Their 
eldest son, .1. .McFerrcn, is Puslniaster at Decatur, 



■•►■ 



•►11-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



641 



Ala.; Sarah B. is the wife of J. F. Halsey, a eom- 
mevei.il traveler, who has his headquarters at Trin- 
ity; the}' have one child livino; and two dece.-ised. 
Memric A., Mrs. James, was tlic third child: Ca-sar 
E., E. Strattie, Luej' A., Jennie 15. and Kobert re- 
main under the j)areiital roof in their native State. 
Mr. and Mrs. James have one child, a bright little 
boy, Tiionias C, who was born Nov. 30, I88G. 



^ A.MES C. McCOMB, a member of the firm 
of McComb Bros., manufacturers and deal- 
ers in saddles, saddlery and hardware, in 
Wichita, is one of the pioneers of that city, 
as he is also of Sedgwicii Count}-. Mr. McComb 
first came to this city July 5, 1870, but did not 
then locate. At that time Wichita had but oOO 
inhabitants, and one can realize how wonderful 
and rapid has been the growth of the city since 
then, when it is stated that it now contains a 
population of over 3.5,000 inhabitants. He came 
iiere to make his permanent residence in 1871, and 
having met witli great success in business, has with 
public spirit and generosity contributed largely to 
the sujjport of the various enterprises for the de- 
velopment of tiie cit3'. 

After coming iiere in 1870 Mr. McComb went 
out onto Cowskin Creek, and took up a claim of 
160 acres of rich prairie land, and built a log cabin, 
14x14, in whicli he lived until the next spring. In 
the meantime he commenced the improvement of 
his land; he broke twenty acres of it, and set out 
forest trees. There were but few settlers near him 
at that time; J. O. Smith, who had a claim near his, 
shared with him his cabin while he remained on Jiis 
raiu'li. A part of the winter lie devoted to hunt- 
ing wolves and buffaloes in company with Frank 
Dunkin and John Hobler. In 1871 he returned to 
the city, and commenced to work in the harness 
business for C. M. Garrison, in whose emploj- he 
remained for about four years. Then he, his 
brother John and Mr. T. F. Smith formed a partner- 
ship in the saddler}' and harness business, under 
the firm name of Smith & McComb Bros. They con- 
tinued thus for three years, and were very success- 
ful in that enterprise. Then tiie McComb Bros. 



bought Mr. Smith's share in the business, and 
have since continued it under the present style. 
They are enterprising and energetic, and iiave 
established a flourishing trade, keeping one man 
on the road ail the time, and emjilo^ing as many 
as twenty-four men in their manufactory the most 
of the time. 

Mr. McComb is a native of Allegheny City, 
P.a., and the date of his l)irth w:is Oct. 21, 1847. 
He is the son of Thomas and Martlia J. (DeArnian) 
McComb, n.atives of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Tiie 
former was a contractor and builder in his younger 
days, and afterward engaged in the milling liuslness 
in Jefferson County, Ohio. He finally sold out 
there and removed to Rockport, Spencer Co., Ind., 
and was there engaged in the groceiy business for 
some time, and tlien turned his attention to farm- 
ing. He afterward engaged in a mercantile busi- 
ness in Midway, the same county. In 1876 he 
disposed of his various interests in Indiana, and 
came to Sedgwick County, Kan., where he lived in 
retirement from the active duties of life, and died 
in August, 1886. His wife died in February, 1861. 
They were worthy people of high standing, and de- 
voted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
They had a family of nine children, six of whom 
are living, namely : Nannie, Sarah, James C, Mar- 
garet, Rebecca and John. Nannie is Mrs. Parr, of 
Spencer County, Ind.; Sarah is Mrs. Ebriglit. of 
Sedgwick County, Kan; M.argaret is Mrs. Giles, 
and Rebecca is Mrs. Dunham, both of Sedgwick 
(bounty. 

James C, of this biography, sjient the days of 
his boyhood in school and in his father's store, and 
was thus engaged when the war broke out, and, 
though he was but a bo}' of fourteen years, he 
patriotically determined to take a part in the war 
and do what he could for his countiy. Accord- 
ingly, he enlisted in the oSd Indiana Regiment 
as a company musician, and for three years and 
eight months served faithfull}- in that cap.acity. 
Afterward he returned to Indiana and went to 
Spencer County, the town of Rockport, where he 
purchased two teams and engaged in hauling coal 
for the following year. He then resolved to try 
' his fortunes in the West. He spent that winter in 
Nebraska City, Neb., and going thence to Kans.as 



1 

I 



'4* 






^a 



sKi»<;\Ni< \\ 



\ 1 'I 



Cilv, shortly iifU-r went to Twin Sprinjfs. in Miami 
Ctinntv, wliiTo he nin.Ht<TCii llie dotjiils nf liiit pres- 
ont l>nsin(>>s. lie :tflerwiiril went to \V«-.lriilin. in 
.Mont;j*iinery County, ninl Inter to I'lirker. in the 
same eonnty. It was from the latter point that he 
eame l«> \Vieliit:i, as altove mentioned. 

Mr. .MfC'onib »:u- married to Miss Ida Neaves, 
daughter of 'I'lioinxs Nejive.s. of .Midway. Ind., in 
IxT.'i. Konr children have lieeii horn of this nuion, 
namely: Harry, liny. Florenee and Krnesl. They 
have a pleasant and cozy home at No. 2"J."> North 
Waco street, where they dispense it.s hospiUilities to 
numerous fi lends, amon*; whom they are held in 
high est^-ein. 

Mr. MeC'omli is a Republican in politics, and is 
a prominent member of the (J. A. K. lie is widely 
known in busim-ss circles as a man of undoubted 
integrity, conducting his interests with ability and 
a strict regani to details. 



ILLIA.M M. HIUNS. who occupies a line 
/ and well-improved farm in Park Township, 
^^ is numbered among its well-to-do f.-irmers, 
who from a small be<rinnin(,' has built up one of the 
most valuable homestcjids within its bunlers. The 
residence and its surroundings, a view of which is 
given on another page, are highly creditable to the 
proprietor and indicate him to be a man of indus- 
try and energy, who has kept his eyes open to what 
is going on in the world around him. and at'ailed 
himself of the most approved methods of carrying 
on agriculture and sto<'k-raising. 

Like nmny of the men who have contributed to 
the development of the rich resources of Southern 
Kansa.s, .Mr. Burns is a native of the Keystone 
.Stat<', having been born in \'enango t'ouiity, on the 
llthof May, l>':tl. His father, .lames burns, w.is 
n native of N'irginia, whence he migmtcd when a 
young nmn to Pennsylvania, and locating near the 
city of Harrisburg met anil married .Miss Mary 
.McC'une, who was of .Scotch birth and parentage. 
I'he mother of our subject crossed the Atlantic 
with her parents in early youth, and wils the off- 
spring of agooilold family, ami had three brothers 
who were ministers of the Presbvterian Church. 



.lames Burns, when his s<in William .M, was hut 
a chilli three years of ago, rcMilved to cross the 
.Mississippi and seek his home in the more western 
country. He located in Van Buren County, Iowa, 
of which he wius one of the earliest pioneers, built 
up a giXHl homestead from the uneultivati>d land, 
and died at a ri|>c old age, in IK74. The mother, 
who wiLH born in IKO.'i, is still living.aml makes her 
home with her d.aughter in WaLsonville, C"al. The 
parenlid household included nine children, eight of 
whom liveil to mature years. Thomas died in 
Diamond Springs. Cal.. about 1884; Ale.\ died at 
Ottumwa, Iowa, in ImTI; N:incy became the wife of 
Ls sunder lioot, and is living in Washington County, 
this Slate; .Margaret die<l at the age of fifteen years, 
in Iowa; William .M.. of our sketch, ivas the sixth 
in order of birth; .M.ary, Mrs. Owen Tiitlle, is a 
resident of Watsonville. Cal.; .Miles .1. is travel- 
ing agent for the Paris Insurance Company, and 
makes his home at Ottumwa, Iowa; .lohn W. is 
farming in \'an Buren County, that .State; Stephen 
M., iliiring the late war, enlisted in the ."Id Iowa 
Cavalry, and died in the service. 

The subject of this sketch wsis reared to man- 
hood in \'an Buren C'ounty, Iowa, attending the 
common schools during the winter terms, and 
assisting his father on the farm during the sejusons 
of sowing and reaping. In 1852 he accompanied 
his elder brothers, Thomas and Alex, to California, 
making the journey across the plains with ox-teams, 
and being ninety-six days on the road from (.nnalia 
to Hangtown. He remained on the PaciQc SIojm? 
for a period <»f twelve y<'ars, engaged mostly in 
mining, and wa.s fairly successful. During this time 
he traveled over the larger portion of tlie North- 
west, visiting Oregon, Wajshington Territory and 
British America. In December. 18(i.S, he retniced 
his steps eastward, and sought his old haunts in 
Van Buren County. Iowa, arriving there in .I.anu- 
ary. l.stM. 

.Mr. Burns had some lime previously purchased 
land in Wan Buren County, which he sold in Octo- 
ber. |8(;:), and removed to another Ir.act of which 
he was the possessor, near the city of Ottumwa. 
In October, IHOII. he was also united in marriage 
with Miss Klla WiMidriiff, who wivs born in Beiitons- 
porl, Iowa, and who only remained the companion 



i 



•►Hh-^*- 



:ii^i-i. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



643 ' ' 



of her husband a few short months, passing away 
on the 20th of Marcli, 1870. This sad bereave- 
ment induced our subject to change iiis location 
once more and depart from tiie scenes of his late 
happiness and also iiis sorrow. He accordingly sold 
out, and coming to Hutler County, this .State, pre- 
empted a tract of land near Augusta, upon which 
he resided until 1875. The spring of that j'ear, 
resolved upon once more ciiangiiig his residence, 
he came to this county and settled upon the land 
which comprises his present farm. Upon this he 
has eflfected a great change, reducing the soil to a 
thorough state of cultivation and putting up a 
good set of frame buildings. He keeps good grades 
of live stock, operates vvith the most approved 
farm machinery, and in all respects illustrates the 
intelligent and progressive agriculturist. 

The present wife of our subject, with whom he 
was united in marriage Oct. 20, 1881, was formerly 
Miss Isabel E. Howard, who w;is born in Christian 
County, Mo., April 15, 1857. Mrs. Burns is the 
daughter of Henry and Martha (Moore) Howard, 
who were natives of Kentucky, and are now in 
.Sedgwick County. Our subject and his wife have 
no children. Mr. B., politically, votes with the 
Republican jiartj', and is a Royal Arch ]\Iason of 
good standing, belonging to the Blue Lodge, at 
Wichita. 

likS K'^- HELEN MARIAN VALENTINE, nee 
Briggs, residing upon section 6, in Attica 
Township, is the subject of this historical 
sketch. .She is a lady of large business 
capacity and marked intelligence, and is distin- 
guished in the records of Sedgwick Count3' for her 
straightforward and womanly course, no less than 
for the tact and cnergj- she li.as employed in her 
business affairs since her husband's death. 

Mrs. \'alentine was born in the town of Sheldon, 
Wyoming Co., N. Y., Dec. 19, 1835, and is the 
daughter of Wheaton A. and Fanny (Barber) 
Briggs. Her father was :i native of Rhode Island, 
born in 1790, and removed from his native State 
to Vermont, with his parents, while a mere child. 
He w!is reared upon a farm in the Green Mountain 
' .State, and moved to what was known as the llol- 



land Purchase, a part of which is now Wyoming 
Count}', when about twenty-one j'ears of age. Ills 
wife was born in Connecticut, in 1794, and was 
taken by her parents l.o the Empire State when 
about twelve years of age. She was united in 
marriage witli Wheaton Briggs when she w:is about 
sixteen yeai's old, when her husband settled upon 
(iovernment land in Wyoming County, and in that 
locality reared a large family, of fifteen children, of 
whom the subject of this sketch was the twelfth. 
The names of the others are as follows: L^'maii, 
Eunice, Alta, Antha, Orson, Jason, .Sally, Adelia, 
Fanny, Aliva, Merritt, D wight, Harriet and Pliny. 

The subject of this sketch received the benefits 
of a common-school education in her girlhood, and 
was united in marriage at the age of nineteen. May 
30, 1855, vvith .John G. Valentine, a native of New 
York, born March 12, 1830. About a year subse- 
quent to the marriage Mr. Valentine and his wife 
removed to Green Lake County, Wis., where he 
followed the double occupation of farming and 
school-teaching, he having received a most excel- 
lent education in his youth. In 1865 the family 
removed to Wiiiteside County, 111., where Mr. 
Valentine taught in the public school, and gave 
private music lessons, until 1872. In the latter 
year Mr. and Mrs. Valentine, with their little 
family, came to Kans-is, and locating in Sedgwick 
County, her husband pre-empted the present home- 
stead of 160 acres on section 6, where they settled 
in August of that year. After coming to this .State, 
the husband of the subject of this notice devoted 
the most of his time to agriculture, teaching only 
one term. He improved the farm and brought it 
to an excellent state of cultivation, and was prom- 
inently identified with the development of this 
portion of St)Utliern Kansas. He was a member of 
the Baptist Church, a sincere and Christian gentle- 
man, and was called to his heavenl}- home Dec. 14, 
1877. His widow and her family had the wannest 
sympathy of a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances, who all appreciated the inestimable worth of 
the noble man who had been taken from them. 
Throughout his life he had been a strong adherent 
of the Republican party, and a firm believer in the 
progressive nature of that organization. 

Since the death of her husband Mrs. \'alentine 

■ » 



t 



<M4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



^i- 



Imx'arricMl <>ii tlit- liusiiie.v< of tlic liiiiiic>lfii(l, ii>si!t((>il 
li_v licT chililri'ii, nnd liiks stit-rciMlrd in ilunii)ii!«trii(- 
ing the fiict thiit n woidhii i^< wfll ((iiiilint-d In carry 
on n farm ^llc•c«^•^fllll^ . Nlic nii-riu<< and nrcivcs 
llu- warniciil n-s|K-cl nnil estfcni of llie whole foni- 
nitiniU', and is nuii-li liclovt-il liy cviTyoni- with 
whom »lu' conic'8 in ronlacl for horgentlf way? and 
p-nial manner. Shu is Ihe niolhcr of ten children, 
of whom the following is a record: .lay, who was 
horn Dec. L'O, |H;')('(, in New York, is married and 
lives in Finney Connly, Kan.; Nellie, horn June 1 1, 
lK,"i7, in Wisconsin, niarrieil Irin Smith, and lives in 
Kingman County, Kan.; Ada, horn April 1 1, lK;'i;i, in 
Wisconsin, married ,1. W. I.alloniadieii, anil lives 
in Pennsylvania; (luy, born Nov. G, IHlKl, died ir. 
infancy; Stiiidey, horn Jan. "iti, IXG2, died in child- 
hixid: I<l:i, horn .Inly HO, IHC-I. married William 
Holloway. and died Nov. 20, I HK I ; ( I rant, whose 
hirlh lo»ik place Dec. IG, IStiG; Marian, horn Nov. 
•>-J, IHCH; Antha, Nov. 30, 1870; and Georgia, May 
•21. isTI. 

A II.LAKI) F. HUOWN. The sidicnt poinUs 
in the life of this intelligent and enler- 
fc prising farmer of Grant Township, who is 
extensively cngageil in niising slock on his 
farm on section 7, are as follows: lie came to Kan- 
.sa.s in the spring of lH7.J,and having purchased IfiO 
acres of railro:id land, then raw prairie, where he 
now lives, litiilt a house, which is the main jtart of 
his present residence. He brought out his family 
in the fall of the same year and made a permanent 
settlement, and at once commenced imjjroving his 
farm, which is excellent arable land, and which he 
ha- brought to a high state of cultivation. The 
projKTty is well improved at the present and thor- 
oughly stoi-ked with goo<l grade Norman horses, 
thoroughbred Sliort-horn and Ilolstein-Friesian 
CRttle, anil full-ldo.id I'oliind-China hogs. 

i'lic -nbjecl of our sketch wa.s the second child 
in a family of three born to his parents, David K. 
and .Mary M. (Fuller) Urown, and is a native of 
•St. Lawrence County. N. Y. His birth look place 
Jan. l.'l, |H,")ii. Ili.s parents were also natives of 
the sjinic county, an uncle of our subject h:iving 



been the flrsl child born in I'arishville. in that we- 
tion of the Kmpirc SiaVo. The |taternal grand- 
parcnls of him of whom we write were Luke and 
Anna ( L<H-kw(M>iI ) Hrown, natives of \'ermont, who 
had come from their native State U> New Y'ork at 
an early day, among the pioneers of St. Jjiwrence 
County. Ilis m:iti>rnal grandparent*, Levi and 
Nancy Fidlor, were also natives of the fJreen 
.Mountikin Stale, and settled in New Y'ork in pio- 
neer days. 

The father of our subject was engaged in farm- 
ing for some years, and then moving to l'ot»dam 
in the sjune Slate. cnt<'red int^j the mercantile busi- 
ness, in which he is at present engage(L litith he 
and his esliniabic wife are still residents of the last- 
named city. Millard F. Urown was reared to the 
occupation of a farmer, and received his edncAtion 
in the district schools of his native county. After 
an apprenticeship on his father's farm, he com- 
menced life for himself by engaging in agricultural 
pursuits in the Kmpire .Stjite. May IC, l!S71, he 
was united in marriage at Potsdam, with Miss 
Wealllm H. 1 licks, who was born in St. Uiwrenoe 
County, N. W, March 23, 1ISI;>. The bride was 
the second in a family of three children born to 
her |MU'ents, Jackson anil .Sophronia (Banuister) 
Hicks, both of whom were natives of the Kmpiic 
.State. Her iMilern.iJ grandparents were John and 
■Sallie (Uugg) Hicks, natives of \'ermont, the former 
of whom was a soldier during the War of I812-K"», 
and in his latter years was the recipient of a pen- 
sion from the Government. Her grani||)arenls on 
her mother's sitle were .SU'warl and Patience Han- 
uisler, the latter of whom wa.s the second wife of 
her husband. Stewart Itannister was also a |)en- 
sioncr of the War of 1S12, having served his time 
during that contest. Mrs. Hrown's mother died in 
1M7I, but her f;ither is still a resilient of Potsdam, 
N. Y. 

After his m:irri;igc, the subject of our sketch 
entered a llouring-mill at Potsdam, where he spent 
some two years in learning the trade of a miller, 
but at the expiration of thai lime returned to farm 
pursuits. He c^ime to Kansas in the spring of 187.'t, 
as nH-ntioiied above, and has since made this his 
home. A iiepublican in politics, he gives hut little 
attention to the party work, simply availing him- 



■•►•-^ 



'►-»-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



645 



self of his elective franchise. The only public 
offices for which he has any aspirations are those 
connected with the educational system of the town- 
ship. He has been very instrumental in the orjjani- 
zation of some of the school districts, and has held 
the position of member of the School Board for 
some nine or ten 3'ears. To him and his wife have 
been born a family of five children, viz: Fred M., 
Mary .S., Robert L. ; Edith C, who died at the age 
of two years and eight months, on the 13th of Feb- 
ruary, 1875; and Jean .J., who died Oct. 14, 1874, 
at the .age of three months. The children living 
are all at home, and in attendance upon the school 
of their home district. 

^ #^ ^ 



^ EWIS ZISSEL. This gentleman worthily 
I (©) illustrates the commonly accepted view of 
IM^^ the character of the enterprising German 
citizen, who made his w.ay into the Western country 
at a time when strong hands and stout hearts were 
most needed, and putting his shoulder to the wheel 
gave a decided impetus to the car of progress and 
assisted in the development of one of the richest 
sections of the Southwest. A native of Badenburg. 
Prussia, he was boni on the 1st of April, 1851, and 
is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Zipp) Zissel, 
who up to this time have spent their entire lives in 
their native country. They were also of German 
birth and parent.nge, devoted members of the 
Lutheran Church, and the father a tanner bj' 
occupation. 

Time and distance with some men serve but to 
increase their interest in their childhood associations, 
and often give them cause to regret that the}' had 
not more thoroughly acquainted themselves with 
the record of their ancestors. Mr. Zissel, in recalling 
the members of his father's household, brings lo mind 
the fact that the home circle included six children, 
the eldest of whom was a daughter named Eliza- 
beth. She, like the others, grew to years of ma- 
turity on her native soil, and was married to a Mr. 
Crumb, a shoemaker b}- trade, and they now, with 
their two children, reside at the old homestead. 
Lewis, of our sketch, was the second born ; Jacob 
came to America, where he spent six years, then 



returned to his native land, was married, and there 
he still remains; Katrina, continuing in her native 
Germany, is married and the mother of two chil- 
dren; Amy is married and the mother of one child ; 
John, unmarried, is a soldier in the standing army 
of Germany. 

It will thus be seen that Mr. Zissel is the only 
member of his family in this country. He was an 
enterprising, ambitious boy, and after receiving the 
usual thorough education accorded the German 
youths in school, set sail for the United States when 
a lad of fifteen j-ears. After a short sojourn in the 
city of New York, he made his way to Lagrange 
County, Ind., where he was employed as a farm 
laborer several years, and with genuine German 
thrift and industry succeeded in accunuilating a 
snug sum of money which he invested in land, and 
engaged in the cultivation of this until the spring 
of 1881. He had, in the meantime, formed matri- 
monial ties, being married, on the 27th of February, 
1879, to Miss Polly Schweitzer, the wedding tak- 
ing place at the home of the bride's sistci', in Van 
Buren, Lagrange Co., Ind. 

Mrs. Zissel is a native of Pennsylvania and was 
born in Erie County, March 2(5, 1858. Her par- 
ents, Gotlieb and Fredricka (Rieme) .Schweitzer, 
were natives of the little Kingdom of Wurlcniberg, 
whence the}' emigrated al)out 1854 to the United 
States, and settled first in Pennsylvania. From there 
they removed to Indiana, where the mother died on 
the 1st of January, 1863, and where the father is 
still living and engaged in farming. Mr. Schweit- 
zer is an intelligent man and takes .an interest in all 
matters pertaining to his adopted country, with 
whose affairs he has full}' acquainted himself, and is 
one of the most reliable memliers of the Republican 
party. 

To the i)arents of Mrs. Zissel there were born 
nine children, the eldest of whom was a son. Chris- 
tian, who married Miss Mary Callahan, and they 
with their three children reside on a farm in La- 
grange County, Ind. ; Margaret is the wife of Amos 
T. Bickel, who is a blacksmith by trade; they have 
five children, and are living in Tennessee. Lucinda 
married Frank Cook, a well-to-do farmer residing 
near Elkhart, Ind.; Polly, Mrs. Zissel, was the next 
in order of birth; Susan is the wife of Homer Moul- 



♦-■Ir-^^ 



:?!*^^ 



•^-■-♦i- 



tur 



^KDGWKK COUNTY. 



t 



toll, n |*^l>^|>l■r(tll^ fariiifr i>|M'rt«tiii)j on IiiikI iii-iir 
K.K.l.-Uiwii. Ohio, nml the nmthor of one chilil : 
t'lirolini', .Mrs. Alhort I'lolti. UfUU-s with hir hii.t- 
Imiid ill Liuin. Iiid.: ( hnrlis i« fnrniinj; in Tortajji' 
(oiinty, Ohio; .hnnio iimi .Minnie arc with their 
fiither nt Limn, liiil. 

iiotlieli S<'hweit7.(T hml been previously nmrricd 
in (.ierrnnny. niid thns* hceaiiie the |inrenl of the 
• hihlren re<or<leil ni* follows: llnrliani is the wifrof 
Phillip Spnicr. a farmer of Ln^rrnnjje County. Inil., 
iiml the mother of four eliililren; Annie i« the wife 
of Henry Weiss. an<l they with their three chililreu 
live on n farm in Lajfrniifje County, Ind. ; Mary 
married Cnsjier Weiss, n lilncksmith by tnide, anil 
became the mother of five children, one now liv- 
iiif;; they are residents of Van liiiren. Ind. (lollieb 
married Miss Olive Kil|Mitrick, who became the 
mother of two children and dicil while a young 
Woman; his second wife was Miss Amanda Troyer, 
who is the mother of one child ; they li\T on a farm 
in Michigan. 

Our subject ami his wife have one child only, a 
bright little girl. Annie, who was horn Oct. 21. 1hh4. 
The farm comprises eighty acres of thoroughly 
cullival«'d land, with giKxl buildings, a tlourishing 
orchard and various kinds of small fruit. Mr. '/,. 
is still a ytxiiig man, and is making good headway 
toward the building up of a homestead and the 
accumulation of ji coin](etcncy. Me meddles very 
little with jMilitical matters, but supports the Repub- 
lican |)arty. and is a member in good stiimling of 
the Lutheran Chuich. Mrs. Zissel differs somewhat 
from her husband in religious matters, being a 
devoted Methodist. 

jr^UKDKKK K WINI)p;ULIN, after traveling 
jt>^' through the greater portion of the West, 
/I, " visiting Color.'ido, New AJexico, L'tidi, Idaho, 
anci Montana and Wyoming Territories, came to 
the conclusion that there were few .sections of the 
country more desirable than Southern Kansas, and 
accordingly t<Kik up his residenci' in .Salem Town- 
ship, of which he has now been a resident since 
IM'I. In the fall of that year he pre-cmplerl a 



tract of wil'l prairie. u|miii which n furrow had not 
y«'t been turned, niid at once commemecl it.n im- 
provement and eiillivntion, with the results which 
the |mssing traveler now behohls with an admiring 
eye. 

The W inderlin homestcftd compris4-s IfiO acres of 
land on section li'l, and is conspicuous for its com- 
modious and substnntiiJ buildings, the choice as- 
sortment of live sto<k. the orcliard of fine apples 
and the various other fruit and shade trees which 
serve not only to embi-llish the premises, but also 
add greatly to the value of the pro|)erty. As a 
represenlnlive of the thrifty (Jermnn farmer, the 
work of Mr. Wiiiderlin is recognized as bearing 
fine comiMirison with that of his neighbors. 

The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 2, 1x42, 
and is consequently in the prime of life. His 
IHirents, (icorge and .Mary A. Wiiiderlin, were al.so 
of German birth and ancestry, and emigrated t*> 
the I'nited Slates with their family when their sou 
Frederick was a little lad six years of age. They 
setlle<l in Montgomery County. Ohio, whence they 
shortly afterward removed to Washington County. 
Wis., where the mother (lassed from earth in the 
summer of IH.'i". The father, in the meantime, 
had been seized with the California gold fever, and 
about 1HI9 started for the Pacific S|o|h'. and wsis 
never afterward heard from. 

In the parcnt-al family of our subject there were 
but two children — Frederick, of our sketch, and his 
brother Paul, who died when about twelve years 
old. Freilerick. by the loss of his jjarent*, was 
thrown upon his own resources when a youth of 
sixteen years, and tw«) years laf«r made his way to 
the Territories of Colorado and .Montana, where he 
wtirked in the mines several years, and was also 
occupied !isa CU)Vernment teamster. r|K>n i-elurn- 
ing from the West he w.-is united in marriage, on 
the 12lh of .Iiine. 1X7;), to Miss .Mary Hoylaii, who 
wiLs bom in Worcester County, Ma.ss.. .luly 21, 
IS.OS, and came West with her parents when a 
young lady, in 1 m7!I. 

.Mrs. Wiiiderlin is the daughter of .Limes and 
Catherine (Woods) Boylan. of Salem Township, 
ami by her union with our subject has liccoinc the 
mother of four chihlreii. namely: Mary A., born 
Dec. .SI, ISMO; .lames, March 2. 1HM2; .liilia A.. 



•►■^-^ 



-•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



r.47 



} 



Feb. 19, 1884; Frederick J., Feb. 28, 1886. The 
first-named only lived a few vveoks, hor death taking 
place Jan. 15, 1881. 

Mr. and Mrs. Winderlin began life together in 
their modest home in .Salem Township, and by tlieir 
•united efforts have accumulated a snug sum for a 
rainy d.ay, and built up a homestead to which their 
descendants will in the future point with pride. 
The farm buildings are of tirst-class description, 
and the various modern improvements of the day 
have been introduced for the prosecution of agri- 
culture in the most thorough and skillful manner. 
The farm is provided with costl}' machinery, in- 
cluding a fine windmill, which serves to distribute 
water for the use of stock and where it is otherwise 
most needed. 

Mr. Winderlin, the greater part of whose life has 
been spent in the country of his adoption, is thor- 
oughly imbued with Republican principles, and 
uniformly votes for their perpetuation. The par- 
ents of his estimable wife were natives of Ireland, 
and to them were born a family of seven children, 
sis of whom are living, namelj' : Mary E. (Mrs. W.), 
Patrick, Simon, Catherine, Julia and Rosanna. Mr. 
and Mrs. Boylan came to this countrj- several years 
ago, and are now numbered among the esteemed 
citizens of Salem Township. Mr. B. is a farmer by 
occup.ation, and owns a comfortable homestead, 
where he and his excellent wife are spending their 
declining years, surrounded by friends and the filial 
care of their children. They were reared in the 
faith of the Catholic Church, to which they still 
loyally adhere, and with which our subject and his 
wife are also identified. 



EDWARD P. THOMPSON. Among the agri- 
culturists of this county who have attained 
success from a financial point of view, is the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is 
one of the largest land-owners and most progressive 
and energetic farmers and stock-raisers in this 
section of country, and is a complete master of the 
calling which he is following. His sterling integrity 
and honorable, upright manhood, full}' entitle him 



to the ))osition which he holds in the estimation of 
the i)oople of the community. 

Mr. Thompson, wlio resides on section 18, Kechi 
Township, was born in that portion of Mifflin 
County, Pa., which is now known as Juniata County, 
May 24, 1817, and is the eldest in a family of ten 
children of his parents, William and t^harlotte 
Chambers (Patterson) Thompson, who were also 
natives of the Keystone State. The family from 
which he sprang have alw.ays occupied an important 
pl.ace in the liistory of Pennsylvania, and greatly 
assisted in the development of tliat portion of the 
country. William Thompson, the grandfather of 
our subject, was one of the noble band of heroes 
who made up the Continental army during the 
Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles 
of Brandywine, Gerniantown, Yorktown, and many 
others during that conflict. Mr. Thompson has in 
his possession as a relic a commission dated May 31, 
177.'), appointing William Thompson Lieutenant in 
the Provincial army. A great-uncle of our sub- 
ject, Isaac Thompson, who was also a soldier in 
the Continental army, was with Gen. Montgomery 
on his march into Canada, and was with that un- 
fortunate General when he was killed before (Quebec. 
George Patterson, the maternal grandfather of our 
subject, was one of the earliest settlers in the Jun- 
iata Valley, in what is now Juniata County, and 
was engaged in the hostilities with the Indians 
which preceded the Revolution. He was a com- 
missioned otiicer during the French and Indian 
War, in the Colonial troops, raised to support the 
claims of George III. Mr. Chambers, the founder 
of Chambersburg, Pa., and William Allen, the 
original proprietor of Allentown, in the same State, 
were both uncles t)f the motlicr of the subject of 
til is sketch. 

William Thompson, the father of the gentleman 
of whom this sketch is written, was eng.aged both 
in the farming and mercantile business in Pennsyl- 
vania until liis death, which occurred on the old 
homestead in Juniata County, in 1834, when he was 
but forty-nine years of age. His excellent wife sur- 
vived him many j'ears, and died in Lancaster 
County, in the same State, in 1863, at the .-xge of 
sixtj'-nine years. 

Mr. Thompson, of whom we write, was reared in 



•4^ 



H 



•►-■-4^ 



fi4s 



-L 



SF.DCW ICK COUNTY. 



tlio ruiinlv <if his birlli, :uiil rct-oivrd his pniiiurv 
t'lliK-ntioii in the ili.-trict m-IiooIs of thnt l<K'iility, 
wliich was !<ti|i|)lfiiu>iit«'<l with n |mrli:il cdiinte ill 
I'oliiinliin Collo'ic, Now York. Ilf rfffivod in liis 
youth n training on the fttrni nml in his fnther's 
sltiri'. nmi \vn* uonni-i-tctl fur a short liniL- with the 
milling' hiisiness. At the i-xpinition of hi.s follcgintc 
coursf ho roturned to his homo, nnd onlorod tlio 
storo of hi» fatlior, in the vilhij;o of 'i"hi>nipsoiitt>wn, 
which w-n> sittiiitoil on tho ohi hoinostciul. lie 
roiniiinotl there nhout three or fonr years, and wliile 
.'k resident <>f that phiee, on Mareli 4, 18:)'.), was 
nnited in niarria-^e with Miss Matilda Snyder, a 
native of Milton, Northiinilierland Co., Pa., born 
cut. I.t. 1H2I, and daughter of .lohn and Kliznlicth 
(Kredcrieks) Snyder, also natives of the Keystone 
SUiU'. 

Aftor his marriage our suhject removed to 
S«-huylkill County, in the same couimonweallh, 
where for altout a year ho wiui eng.iged in ereeting 
buildings and selling them, and then returned to 
the family home,stend, whore ho remained four 
yeai>. 1 1 is no.\t removal w:is to Oakland Mills, a 
village in his native eounty. where he followed 
milling, merchandising and farming for about twelve 
years, and then moved liack to Schuylkill County, 
where he was employed in the mercantile business 
for about ten years. Philadelphia was the next 
scene of his labors, and f<»rthe space of two years 
he was actively connccled with the commercial in- 
terests of that great city. With ji natural desire to 
expand his efforts, he, in November, \x{>S, came 
west to the State of Kansas, and settled in To|>eka, 
where his f.-imily made their home until 1H74. On 
the 2:id of .Iiine, 1 HOi), however, Mr. Thompson 
I'ame t<> .Sedgwick County, and purchased '.HJO acres 
of college .script land, which had been located by 
the Lawroiu-es of lioston, Mass. This property was 
in one body, and situated along tho Little Arkan- 
sas Uiver, in Keclii Township, lie commenced the 
improvement of the land in the s|)ring of 1.H70, liv- 
ing at first in ii caltin which ho oroctod at that 
time. 

Our subject has added to his original purchase 
until ho is now the owner of I,0H; acres of lino, 
arable land, 200 of which he has broughl to an ox- 
coilent cciiiditioii of culture, the rest remaining in 



pasture. The place i> well stocked with go«Hl 
horses and high-gnulo Durham nii<l (inlloway cattle, 
be giving the greater pro|M)rtion of his nlteiition t4i 
st4K-k-raisiiig. When he came t4) Seilgwick County 
it was an apjiarently uninhabited waste, and all the 
supplies were hauloil to this li>cality by Wnux from 
To|K'kn or Leavenworth, as it was at leiusl I (10 
miles to the nearest railroad. At that time this 
county was yet a |H)rtionof liutlcr Count}', and our 
subject was one of the prime movers in the organi- 
zation of this political sub-division of Kansas, lie 
had been several times through the .State previous 
to his removal here, the first lime in IH.SH, when he 
cro.ssod the northenstorn portion of it into Nebraska, 
in comjiany with three Indians. At that time (Jen. 
Sumner was a Captain in the regular army, anti lo- 
cated at Ft. Leavenworth. On his h>cation in 
.Sedgwick County he entered into tho cattle busi- 
ness, as he had an extensive range, starting with 
some GOO head of sttick, and regrets that he did 
not procure more at that time. 

In his political views our subject coincides with 
the principles of the Republican party, and takes an 
active part in the local cam|migns of that organi/a- 
tion. lie has tilled the position of Township Trus- 
tee from the lime of the establishment of Keehi 
Townshij) until the present year. To him and his 
wife have been born a family of four children, of 
whom the following three are still living: Cora, 
Josephine and Matilda. 



K. .1. K. ol.DlIAM, of the llrm of Oldham 
) iV tlraham, physicians and surgeons, who 
^ have their ollice at No. •J24 Kast Douglas 
avenue. WichiUi. The tident and culture 
of these gentlemen have gained them an honorable 
position in tho medical profession and they enjoy 
an extensive practice. 

Dr. Oldham was born in New Albany, Floj'd 
Co.. Iiiil., Nov. G, IK47, and is a son of Nathan 
(!. juid Annie (Bottorff) Oldham, natives respect- 
ively of Maryland and Indiana. His grandfather, 
Nathan Oldham, was a life-long resident of Mary- 
land, his forefathers coming from Kngland to that 
Stale. His father left his native SLalo when a young 



•►■.-♦i 



i 



n 










3 






41-4^ 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



r,:,i 



man, and proceeded to New Albany, Ind., of which 
city he remained an honored resident until his 
death, of eiiolera, in 1849. He was an extensive 
leather manufacturer, and w.ns well and favorablj- 
known as an enterprising and able business man. 
Tiic rcsi)octed mother of our subject is now living 
at Charlestown, Ind., and is sixty-six 3-carsold. .She 
has three children : William K., of Carroll County, 
Mo., where he is engaged in farming; Mrs. Jane 
iS'ickles, of Clark County, Ind.; and the subject 
of this sketch. Mrs. Oldham's parents, William and 
Mary (Lynam) Bottorff, are natives of the States of 
I'ennsylvauia and Kentucky. They are now living 
at the advanced ages, respectively, of ninety-two 
and ninety years. They moved to Camp Point, 
Adams Co., 111., Mhere they are now living in re- 
tirement from the cares of life; he was formerly- a 
fanner. They are worthy descendants of Pennsyl- 
vania and Kentucky families. 

The subject of this biography was deprived of a 
father's care at a very early age. His boyhood 
days were passed on a farm, and during those 3'ears 
he gained the foundation of his education at Bar- 
nett Academj', Charlestown, Ind. He afterward 
entered the State University at Bloom ington, re- 
maining a student within its walls until 1 867. After 
leaving college he started out in life as a teacher, 
as so many men now eminent in various professions 
have done. He continued to exercise that calling 
in his native State for five years. He then entered 
upon his medical studies at The Medical College of 
Ohio, at Cincinnati, and after a few j-ears of 
hard study was graduated from that institution with 
an honorable record in 1875. He opened an oflice 
at Charlestown, Ind., and began his career as a pli}'- 
sician, and by close ap|)lication to his professional 
duties gradually built up a good parctice and 
gained for himself a good local reputation for skill 
and successful treatment of diflicult cases. 

In 1871), while a resident of C'hailestown, Ind., Dr. 
Oldham was married to Miss Ida L. Hess, a native 
of Henry Count}', Ind., and a daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. Milton Hess, natives of Virginia. Of this 
union two childnn have been Ihuu — Warren 11. and 
Gordon C. 

In 188i Dr. Ol.liiam left his native State and 
came with his family to Wichita, .and 1ms ever since 



been in active practice here. In 1887 he took his 
friend. Dr. Grah.am, into partnership with him, and 
they have since labored together, building up a 
large practice. They are graduates of the same 
college and studied at the same medical sciiool, and 
lived in the same neighborhood together. Their 
lives are devoted to the demands of their profession, 
and they are still close students in their leisure 
hours. 

Our subject takes a conspicuous part in educational 
matters in this city. He is one of the Directors of 
Garfield University, was one of its organizers (a 
charter member), and is Secretary of the Executive 
Connnittee. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternit.y; in politics he is a Republican. The Doc- 
tor and his amiable wife are devoted to the interests 
of the Christian Church, of which they are members. 
They have an elegant anil pleasant home at Js'o. 
202 East Central avenue. 



'^^^^ > 



'^^HOMAS L. MYERS, who is one of the sturdy 
l(^^, l)ioneers of 1877, cast his lot with the early 
^^^y settlers of Sedgwick County when it was 
taking the first steps toward the important position 
it to-day occupies. His first purchase was forty 
.acres of land located two miles north of the city of 
Wichita, where he began farming and feeding cat- 
tle, and in due time added eighty acres to his pos- 
sessions. In the meantime he sold a tract of land 
of which he was the possessor in Kingman County, 
and for which he received the munificent sum of 
^33,000, and five months later disposed of his 
80-acre purchase for $51,000. His property now 
comprises ten acres of valuable land on the Arkan- 
.sas River, where he has a fine residence, and is 
spending his declining years in ease and comfort .-us 
a retired farmer and capitalist. 

Our subject was born in Greene County, I'n.. 
Nov. 1, 1828, and is the son of John C. and Eliza- 
beth (Ekleberry) Mj'ers, who were also natives of 
the Keystone SUitc. John C. Myers was born in 
1804, and departed this life in Woodforil County. 
III., in 1801. He fanned during the years of his 



<► II ^ 



L-^:* 



•►■ -4*- 



•I iM.w |( K COUNTY. 



larlv iiiiiiilicMiil III ill- niitivi' ciniiitv, "liniif lie ri'- 

vf<|, ill ls;ii. Ill A»lilnti<l ('iiiiiity, Oliio, wlipro 

III' t'liilmrkfil ill ^'ciicrMl iiu-nliniKli.Hiiit;. r|Hiii Uia 
n-iiiiiviil to llliiioiit lie n^niii I'li^nged in llie iiii'r- 
laiiiili- liii>iiii-!i.'«. mill w!us wi-ll known fi.r many miles 
.'irniinil. 'I'lie iniitlicr tvik^i burn in Ixo.'l, unil Mir- 
\iveil her lin.sliniKl for n [terioil of twenty-three 
years, (luring wliieli .she remained a widow. She 
|i;isM'd away nt the homestead in \Vi«>ilford County. 
111., in l)eeenil>er, 18K4. They were liolli nieniliei- 
<>r the Melliodiiit K|>ls('o|Hil Cliiireli, and the family 
iiieluded .seven eliildren, four .sons and throe daugh- 
t('i>, namely: <Iame.s M., Th(imn.s L., Mnrin mid 
lli'iiry (twins), Snuiantha and .Sniina (twins), and 
Wii.-iiii .">., who is now at Wiehita, is one of the 
survivors of the lliird |>air of twins. 

.Mr. .Myei-s, of our sketch, was the second child of 
his parents, with whom he remained until twenty- 
eij{lil years of .'ine. He was first married to Miss 
ll.-irriet \'au;,diaii, of .Medina County, Ohio, and 
they Itecaiiie the |Kireiits of two sons — Charles W. 
:iiid Kugcne L. Mrs. Harriet Myers died at her 
Imiiie in Ashland County, Ohio, April t, \H,t'.>. Our 
-iiliji-ct was married the second time, .Inly -I, \H(>(), 
to .Miss Candace A. Sallnian. who wjls liorn in Cort- 
land County, N. Y., Oct. IC, 1H:56. This lady is 
the dan<{liter of Henry and Polly (Carpenter) .Salt- 
man, who were natives of New Yoik Slate, the 
f:ither horn in I K07, and the mother in 1K13. The 
latter died when .seventy-four yeare of age, an<l 
her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at 
I'anola. III., on the Ith of .Inly, 18H7. The father 
is still liviiiy and a resident of Panola, Woodford 
Co., III. : he is a hale and hearty old gentleman, and 
served as As.sessor of his township in the spring of 
1Km7. The |>arental lious<-hold included eight chil- 
dren, namely: fieorgc W., Charles A., Candace A., 
Sanford B., Anna M., Altner ('., Nicholius II. and 
Alil.ic I,. 

I'll our sulijrct and his present wife there have 
lieen horn live children, namely : Alice (1., the wife 
of Charles Snyder, of Peoria, III.; Bird, Lewis L., 
.Mary ]■'.. and Clarence ,\. Mr. Myers idciitifled 
liiiii<i-lf with the .Ma.sonic fraternity in lls.'iO, mid liiui 
lillril the various olllces of his lodge. Politically, 
111- siippnrts the principles of the Democratic party. 

Ill tliio volume may lie foiinil tlu' |Hirlralt.s of 



many of the liesl i-itizens of the county, iniluiliiig 
pioneers, active liusine.ss men and those retired ; nom- 
among this large iiuiiil>er is more deserving lhi« 
<listiiiciiiin than Mr. an<! Mrs. Myers, whose por- 
trait." We give ill this connection. 

UILLIAM 1). \\()(>I)tnN(.. This hi.iioii.l 
pioneer of .S?dgwick County was one of 
y_, ^ those honie-.s4'ekers of eleven y«-an< ago 
who beheld with admiration one of the tiiiest garden 
spolii of the West, and recogni/ed in the .soil the 
materials from which conid be built up with com- 
paratively little effort a commontvealth .s4'eon<l to 
none in the I'nited States, lie wits |>artieularly 
susceptible to the fact that lieit; was :i country 
which deservcfl to be settled up by an energetic 
and intelligent class of |)eople. He had himself 
been born mid reared in the wealthy and popnlons 
.State of Ohio, whose sons were almost inv;iriably 
imbiieil with the spirit of enterprise calcnhited to 
build up, upon a similar soil, the instilnlions which 
had made his native .state one of the most prosper- 
ou.> of those lying east of the Mississippi. 

Mr. Wooflriug is the scion of an e.veelleiit old 
family, his parentis having been .loliii and II:iiin:ili 
(Isley) Woodring, the former a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the latter of Tennessee. They settled in 
Preble'C'ounty, Ohio, soon ;ifler their marriage, where 
the father carried on fanning, and where the mother 
dep:uted this life about 1X.-|7. The father is stili 
living at the old homestead, and is now arrived ;it 
the advanced age of eighty-eight yeai-s. The par- 
ental household included seven children, of whom 
tlu' following survive: Catherine, the wife of Henry 
(,)iler, of Carroll County, Ind.; Willi;iiii I)., our 
subject: Klizabeth, the wife of licorge Wysong, of 
White County. In<l. ; Ilminali, the wife of Henry 
Folick, of Preble County, Ohio. The deceased are 
.loseph, .lacob jind Margai«'t. His gnindfather 
Isley lived to be one hundred and ten years old, 
and wa.s married the .second lime at the age of 
eighty years to a young girl eighteen years old. 
Mr.s. Woodring's gi':iiidfalher was the fjither of 
twenty-one boys and three girls, born to him by 
two wives, and tln'\ all yiew to matiirilv. 



■<•■ 



■*► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



653 



Tlie paternal ancestors of our subject were of 
Oerman descent, and his grandfather, Jolin AVood- 
riiig, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War 
ligliliiig against tiic British during the struggle of 
tlie Colonics for indei)ondcnco. lie began his mili- 
tary career at llie early age of seventeen, and con- 
tinued in the ranks for a period of six years, and 
until the close of the war. Upon the outbreak of 
llic troubles of 1812, he re-entered tiic service, and 
after the Britishers had been whipped the second 
time, settled in Preble County, Ohio, among tlie 
pioneers of 1 820. lie there spent the remainder 
of bis days, and died at the age of fourscore and 
ten veal's. 

Our subject has in his possession a SliarpV rilie 
which was carried by Grandfather Woodring when 
he was serving as a Revolutionary, soldier, and 
which it is believed caused many a Britisher to bite 
the dust. As maj' be supposed it is preserved in 
the family as a priceless relic, and is still in service- 
able condition and frequently used by the sons of 
our subject in their pursuit of game. It carries a 
half-ounce ball and is very accurate in its aim. 
This old firearm is probably the only one of its 
kind in Sedgwick Count}-, and the very da}' upon 
which the biographer "interviewed" it, illustrated 
the manner in which it had retained its usefulness 
b}' sending four '•bulls-e3-es" directly to the point 
at which they were aimed. The family have also 
in their possession an old rocking-chair that has 
been in the familj' for generations. 

William D. Woodring was rearetl to manhood in 
the Buckc^-e State, having been born Oct. 1 1, 182G, 
and was favored with the advantnges only of a 
limited education, picking up his bocjk knowledge 
principall}' in the pioneer school, which was con- 
ducted but a few weeks during the winter season. 
The balance of the j'ear his time was employed, in 
common with his brothers, as the assistant of the 
father in building up the homestead. He was mar- 
ried after reaching the twenty-sixth year of his 
age, on the 4th of July, 1852, to Miss Barbara 
Shock, also a native of Preble County, and who 
was born Oct. G, 1828. JIis. Woodring is the 
daughter of Daniel and Sophia (Crowl) Shock, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
1 f Nirginia. Tiiey moved to Preble County after 



their marriage and during its early settlement, be- 
ginning life in a cabin in tlie wilderness, when the 
father was obliged to cut away the trees with his 
ax in order to provide a shelter for his family. 
Tlie nialernal grandfather of Mrs. W., Jacob Crowl 
b}' name, served as a soldier all through the Revo- 
lutionary War, fighting sturdily for truth and jus- 
tice. After the conflict had ended he settled in 
Montgomery Count}', Ohio, where he spent bis last 
days. Magdalena Crowl, his wife, lived to be 
ninety-six years old. 

To the parents of Mrs. Woodring there were born 
eight children, of whom tlie following survive: 
Catherine, the wife of Frederick Ockleman, of Darke 
County, Ohio; Barbara, of our sketch; Luciiida,tlic 
wife of John Brubaker. of Ohio; Sophia. Mrs. Kli.as 
IIufT, of Carroll County, Ind., and Aaron, of How- 
ard County, Ind. The deceased are: Susan, ^lary, 
Elizabeth and Jacob. Of the nine children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Woodring seven are living, 
namely: Mary, the wife of Jeremiah Il.aynes, of 
Pratt County, this State; John, Daniel, Cornelius 
and Edward, of Salcin Township; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
William Taylor, of Stafford County, this State, and 
Aaron, at home. George A. and Amos died in in- 
fancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woodring after their marriage 
continued to live in Ohio until 18.')'.i, when he 
moved to Indiana, where he remained until the 
spring of 1877, and then came with their family to 
this county, locating on their present farm. The 
land at that time was in an uncultivated state, no 
improvements whatever having been made, and 
they first began housekeeping in an unpretentious 
dwelling. Providence smiled upon their labors, 
and their Iiomestcad now includes 240 acres of as 
fertile land as is to be found on the southern line 
of Sedgwick County. The buildings are tsisteful 
and substantial, and around them are all the evi- 
dences of civilization, a fine orchard with the 
smaller fruit trees, convenient out-buildings, and a 
choice assortment of live stock. The farm macliin- 
ery is of the most approved iiattern, and the smil- 
ing fields give evidence of the thoroughness and 
skill with which they have been cultivated. 

As neighbors, friends and citizens, our subject 
and his estimable lady are held in the highest 



'^m 



-^^ 



>^I;I>G\V1CK COUNTY. 



H';.'.UMJ. Itiiili !iri- iiioinlit'r- uf llir (•triiiiiii H:i|>ti!>l 
C'liiirch, ill uhicli Mr. W. Im.s lii>l<l llio (itlicc of 
Di'ncoii fur n iiiiiiiIkm' of yi-ais ami is flill .-icrviiij; 
ill tli:il <'n|i;irit_v. Tliey nrc piL-iiting cjiiictly down 
llio .-itiiisi'l hill of liff. enjoying llu' ••f-lcrni iiiid con- 
ll(K"iK-»'of ihfir ncij,'hliors nml tlic iifTiMlion of their 
chililreii niu) frieiid;). The p:tterniil f:iniid father of 
Mr^. Woodring also >orved iis a Hovoliitionarv 
soldier, and was llie son of .Incob t'rowl. 

•loliii II. WiMidriiig, the eldest son of our siilijeet, 
w:us horn in I'relde t'oiinlv, Ohio, March 21, 1 ft.'i,'), 
.'iiid wa.s inarrii'd, Feb. i.'i, \»XG, to Miss Kttie 
.Moorehead, daiigliler of Henry and Klizabcth 
.Moorehead, of Pratt County, this .SUite. Tiicj- 
have one son, Ha/il II., who was liorn April 22, 
1S»7. John II. owns 1(!0 acres tif good land on 
section 20. in .S;ileni Township, and politically, is a 
sUanch Democrat. Daniel m.-irried .Mary Naiighler, 
May 2.'>, 1HS7; Kd ward married Miss Mary Kllen 
Little, March I'.t, 1 KHO ; they have two boys- 
William A. and .lolm Henry. 

-^ ^^^ V- 



^f,()IIN C. M.FARLAND. The WicliiUi Fonn- 
dry and .Machine Shop, which w.as iiiaiigii- 
r.'iled by the father of the subject of this 
sketch, has become one of the important 
inihistries of the city, and a leading factor in its 
industrial interest*. Mr. McFarlaiul, who is now 
cariyiiig it on, is but little over thirty years of age, 
.•inrl for a genllemnn who has not yet reached the 
piiiiic of life, has cerUiinly distinguished himself. 

Our subject was born in Lexington, Mo., .June 
2H, 1H.')8, aii<l after coinpletiiig a cominon-school 
education learned the machinist's trade of his father, 
Kobert .McFarland, who served u life-long appren- 
ticeship at the business. Hefore coming to the 
West he lia<l been superintendent of a large foundry 
ill N<'W York City and Cincinnati, and when lii-st 
crossing the Mississipjii tilled the same position in 
St. Louis. In Cincinnati he wils connected with 
the stove and plow nianiifactory of Hitchcock, .biy 
\ IJeardsley, who controlled one of the leading 
industries of this kind in the <jiieen City. 

Tlie father of our subject, in IH77, cnme to 
\\ iciiil.'i and e^t;lll|i>lled tile ni.-icliiiie-sliiip ami 



•►• -4- 



foiimlry which is now o|).intcd by his sun. while 
the father is living eoin|iaratively retired from 
active labor. The latter has been a man proniinent 
in the community wherever he Inus iiiikU- his home, 
is a sUincli Democrat |K)litically, but during the 
ilays of the liebellion was a firm supjiorter tif the 
I'nioii. When Col. Miillignn was stationed in Lex- 

ingt Mo., for the defense of the city against the 

rebels, Mr. .McFarl.-im) proffered hisserviees in cast- 
ing the shot with which the trotips were cquip|ied, 
and which offer was glatlly accepted. Before the 
war was over he eiilistc<I as a rnion soldier in 
Company A, 1 Itli Missouri Inf.antry, being some 
of the time under (ien. ricas^iiiton, and was In the 
fort at Lexington when it was captured by (Jen. 
Price. At the foundry in Lexington he had just 
stjirlcd to cast a thirteeii-inch gun when the rebels 
captured the town, and they were obliged to leave 
and go lo llie fort. 

The .McFarl.-iiid family is of Scutch-Irish ances- 
try, .iml the paternal grcat-gniiid father of our sub- 
ject, who was a native of SeotlamI, crossed the 
Atlantic, and settled in New York City during the 
|)eriud of its early history. There he married, and 
reared a family, and among his sons was Kobert, the 
grandfather of uiir subject, who was born in 1798. 
The records show him to have been a youth of 
unusual promise, and by his own efforts he be<-anie 
highly educated, his t^istes leading him into the 
medical profession. He was a practicing physician 
during the cholera scourge in New York City about 
l.s;)2, but a few yeais later gradually abandoned 
his profession and engaged in merchandising in 
Hergen, N. .1. He was a great lover of history. 
clieiiiistrv,aiid the arts and sciences, of which he ob- 
t.-iiiied an admiralile knowledge. He was a man of 
high moral principle, and as a citi/.eii greatly re- 
spcclcil in his conimunity. He died in New .bTsey 
in 1.SI7. 

The wife of Kobert .McFarland was .Miss Kliza- 
bcth Cuiiltce. a native of Heigen. N. .1., whose par- 
ents were of Oerm.an ancestry but burn in Canada. 
Her father was a large land-owner in the Dominion 
and a man uf wealth. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland 
became the parents iif nine children, only live of 
whom arc living. Willi.-iin is coniiect«'d with an iron 
foundry in Trenton, N. .1.. where he has a fine 

• — -•► 



■^^M^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



(Jo.") 



liropert.y ; tlie others arc Roliert, the fatlier of our 
subject, and Benilmnl, a resilient of Qniney, 111., 
and also an iron niolder. AValtor has cliargc of the 
(Jovernmcnt works in New York Citj'; he was edu- 
cated at West Point, and served in the late war, 
being placed in charge of Fts. Philip and Jackson 
below New Orleans, where he was stationed when 
these were captured by the rebels. He also had 
charge of the survej'ing department of the Panama 
Canal during the administration of Gen. Grant. 
He obtained an enviable reputation as a military 
engineer, was given ttie title of Colonel, and held 
many important positions under the Government. 
James is in the engineering department of harbors 
and rivers, as a clerk in the employment of the Gov- 
ernment. All five of the brothers served through 
the late war and were strong Union men. 

Robert McFarland was born in New I'ork City, 
and began his apprenticeship at the foundry busi- 
ness at the early age of twelve years. He became 
a first-class machinist, working in the same shop 
with John H. Roach, the famous ship-builder,- who 
is recentlj' deceased. In the year 1847 he visited the 
New England States, and the following year pro- 
ceeded westward, traveling through Pennsylvania, 
Illinois and Michigan, taking in the Mackinaw 
Straits, visiting the Indians, and making the entire 
trip on horseb.ack. He then went south to New 
Orleans and Galveston, Tex., an<l upon his return 
East took charge first of the Washington Iron Works 
in Pennsylvania. He next located in Philadelphia, 
where he was emploj'ed four j-ears in a stove 
foundry, and then worked successively in Cincin- 
nati, St. Louis and Lexington, Mo. In the latter 
place he established in business as we have already 
indicated. 

In l.S.')l Robert McFarland was married to Miss 
Olive Edwards, and thej' became the parents of 
three sons — Robert, John G., of our sketch, and 
William. During the Rebellion and afterward Mrs. 
McFarland fully sympathized with the Union senti- 
ments of her husband, and opened a negro school in 
the basement of her house in Lexington. This it 
is hardly neeessarj' to say was carried on under 
man.v dilliculties, and at one time, when the bush- 
whackers threatened to burn the town, the father 
was obliged to fly for his life, but the mother, prob- 



ably on account of her sex, seemed to be exempt 
from the animositj' of the rebel element. It may 
easily be imagined with what delight the Union 
residents of the city welcomed the United States 
troops when they entered. Mr. McFarland could 
now return, but was obliged to go armed, while his 
wife went on with her pious labors, and had about 
sixty-nine day scholars and twent3'-four evening 
scholars. The colored pupils learned eiisily and 
paid their tuition promi)tly, and their honesty was 
illustrated in the fact that during the whole period 
of her labors as a teacher Mrs. McFarland lost 
only seventy-five cents by the delinquency of a 
scholar. Guns were frequently discharged under 
the windows and open threats were made, but the 
brave woman persevered, resolved not to .-ibandon 
her good work unless life itself were really in dan- 
ger. One old gentleman, an ex-slaveholder and 
bitterly opposed to the school, entertained the pop- 
ular idea that the colored people possessed but little 
intellect, and would only be able to receive a cer- 
tain amount of instruction. He had a cane with a 
hook on the end of it, and one day as a negro girl 
was passing near the school be reached out and 
hooked her around the ankle with the cane, and said 
"Bets, can you spell baker." The girl made little 
repl3', but repeated the matter to her teacher, who 
instructed her the next time he asked her to spell 
baker to reply, "Yes, sir, f-o-o-1, baker." The oppor- 
tunity soon occu'rcd, and the laugh on the ()ld gen- 
tleman could be lieard for blocks around. 

Mrs. McFarland continued her school for three 
3'ears, and was instrumental in teaching at least 300 
colored people to read and write. She was assisted 
in her expenses by a donation from some person 
unknown in Switzerland, who sent her at one time 
!J600 in gold. The father of our subject has in his 
possession an iron shackle whii-Ii he cut from the 
ankle of a fugitive slave. It weighs four [xjunds 
and was secured by a heav}' chain. After the war 
many of the Southern jieople who had been at 
cnmit}' with Mr. McFarland and his family changed 
their tactics and abandoned their (p[)positi()n to the 
colored school. 

The parents of our subject located in Wichita in 
1.^71, the father having little capital, and thusljeing 
armed onl}' with his indomitable will and the 



"^T^ 



-•►-■-4» 



•►•-♦i- 



m:ii(;\vi( K cui ni v 



■•► 






kiiii»U'il;;i' i>f Ills Iniilc. Ill- (In-l t'iii|ilii.Vi'<l IiiiiimU 
with n tcnin nml llircc Ixiyg for $l..'i(l jior <l!iy, niid 
ulicii r>tnl>li!i|iiiiK lii-t fotitidry linil mily the crinlfst 
l-iuU Mild ii|i|)linnc-0{i, iiiiikin;; iniiiiy of llifin liiiiiscif, 
jinl wn.H oflfii olili;;eil l<> wnil for ilnys licoiuisf Ik- 
I'oiild not olilaii) liiiiil)cr. His fln<l Iniildiiiu' »'ns a 
fmiiu- slructurv, Idx-M fi-t'l. which lie iti-cUmI for 
('T.'i. lie wns detvriiiiiii'd to kut'|i out of doht, niid 
lir»l used nii old horsi- for |)owit, mid which he 
rciitol. lie made a fiinmi-c of >t4iiie nml hrick with 
the aid of n cuuplc of hoj^shencls, and with these 
rude facilities fn.shioncd his llrst en.stin;;>. lie \\as 
three pictures of his foundry during as many staijes 
of its existenee. and the present extensive plant 
forms a strikin<; eontnist to the lirsl estalilishiiient. 
He is now the owner of real csUUc valued at 
tt.'iO.nOO. 

The wife of .lolm (i. McKarland was formerl}' 
Miss Helle Uoush, of Louisville, Ky., ilau;;hter of 
Klislia anil Knuna (\Viekei>liniii ) l{oti>h. The 
mother of Mrs. McKarland lives in l.os Aiifrcles, C'nI. 
Mr. McFarlantl and wife have two children, viz: 
Hazel Kirk and Frank. In polilio he votes the 
Kepnblicnn ticket. 

.lohnd. McKarland, of our sketch, purchased the 
foumlry of his father in IHtsC, and haviiif,'- a thor- 
ough knowledge of the business, there is every 
pros|K'ct that he will he able to o|K.Tate it with its 
old-time success. He has already necuniulated a 
good property, .•uid in the shop gives cinploynient 
to five men ordinarily and sonietiiiics iu the busy 
>easoiis to ten. 



y^ IIAKI.K> .M. 1 VKKKLL, one of the earliest 
[li . selllei-s of Salem Township, is a resident on 
\^^' .-ection 21, where he carries on agrieultnnil 
pursuit.-. He w.-L- born amid the hills and valleys 
of Berkshire t'ounly, Mavs., May •>', IHil, and is 
.•I .son of 'I'rneinan and Amelia Tyrrell, both of 
whom were also natives of the ohl IJay SUite. His 
remote ancestry were Knglish, aiul among the Colo- 
nists who first settled on the stormy and rock-bound 
con-sts of New Kngland. His maternal grandfather, 
.lohn Morse, served as a solilier in the Kritish Colo- 
nial army, during the Krench and Indian War, 



wlucli l:i>ted from IT.'i.'i to I7<i|. His service ex- 
tended overu t*'riii of seven years. A study of the 
genealogienl table of the Morw; family shows that 
this .Mors*' was an niieestor of Samuel .Morm-, the 
inventor of the telegraph. Triieman 'I'yrrell. the 
father of our subject, was enrolled in the I'liited 
.Slates Army during the contest with (Ireat ItriL-tin 
in 1M2-1.J, ami remained for a short lime in the 
|)erformaiiee of active duty. 

When C'harlos M. Tyrrell was some fourteen 
yeai-s of age his parents removed to Western New 
Vork, and settled within the limits of what is now 
known as Wyoming County, which was at that time 
an old settled country. In this s|Mit he was reared 
to inanhoixl, assisting his father in the labor of the 
farm an<l receiving his first instructions in farming. 
He was fairly etliicnted, ns most New Knglaiiders 
are, and having always been a iKTsislcnt reader, 
has acquired a large amount of inforniiition and is 
well versed in the current topics of the day. On 
the '.Itli of September, l.s.')"i, while still a resident of 
Wyoming County, he was joined iu in.-irriage with 
Miss Klizftbctli Kcrri>. who was born in that county, 
.Ian. M, 1H.'!2. She was the daughter of .lames C. 
niirl Alida Kerris, who were of Dutch descent, and 
were among the earliest pioneei-s of that section of 
the Kmpire State. Hy this marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Tyrrell were the pari'iits of three children: Frank; 
.lames and Charles, the two latter deceased. .Ian. 
I It, IHl'ii, Mr. Tyrrell was bereft of his wife, who 
dcp;irte<l to "•the cli:imbers in the silent halls of 
death," le:tving bchiml her a bereaved husband and 
:i large circle of niourning friends and relatives. 

Having been seized with a desire to see the great 
\\'est, of which he had licarcl so much, iu Ih.'iH the 
subject of our sketch left his native home and re- 
moving to Minnesota, made his residence for sev- 
eral ycjirs in Hennepin County, on the site of what 
is now the business portion of Minnea|Kilis. Dur- 
ing the famous Indian outbreak which took place 
in 1 «(■.;!, Mr. Tyrrell held the position of clerk with 
the Chief < Quartermaster of the e.\pe<lition under 
(leii. Alfred .Sully, who moved with a column ag:iiii.-t 
the merciless Sioux Indians, :ind followeil them as 
far west as the Missouri Kiver. In the fall of !«() I 
our subject returned to Western New York, where 
he remained about a year, and subseqi tly .-pent 



■<^ 



-•► ■ -^ 



^l 



-4^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



657 ' ^ 



iiliout eighteen months in tlic oil regions of Can- 
ada. Returning to the .States, he settled in Mar- 
shall Conntj', 111., but after a residence in tiiat 
locality of several years, came to Sedgwick County, 
Kan., in 1871, and took up under the pre-emption 
act, the southwest quarter of section 21, in what is 
now known iis Salem Township. lie at once settled 
on this phice, which was of course in a state of prim- 
itive wildness, and commenced making improve- 
ments. Like all pioneers he was .compelled to lead 
quite a rough life. For the first seven j-ears of his 
residence in this portion of the county, he and his 
son Frank kept bachelor's hall, the father doing 
the housekeeping and cooking and the sdii attend- 
ing to the out-door work. 

During the year 1.871 the first election in the 
township was held at a little log cabin, belonging 
to Mr. Tyrrell, and located on his farm. At this 
time the township, which was just being organized, 
embraced what is now Ohio, Salem and Waco, and 
w.as known by the latter name. Mr. Tyrrell was 
elected the first Justice of the Peace for his part 
of the township, and served in that office for the 
ten successive years to the great satisfaction of all 
concerned. He finally declined a re-election to the 
office, and it was said at the time of his surrender- 
ing it, that he had been continuously the long- 
est in tiiat office of any ijei-son in the county. He 
has alw.'iys taken a deep interest and an active part 
in the development of Salem Township, and spares 
no pains to enhance its interests. He married the 
secon<l couple ever united in the township, attended 
the second funeral, and helped erect the first school- 
house. In politics he is a Democrat and adheres 
strictly to the principles and tenets of that organi- 
zation. 



0~ ORNKLIUS M. VKEKLAND, an aged and 
esteemed resident of Salem Township and a 
native of New Jersey, is comfortably lo- 

(•ated on section 5. His early home was near the 
seashore in Hudson County, N. J., where he was 
burn on the 5th of June, 1816. 

Our subject is the son of Michael and Lettie 
(Ontsvater) Vreeland, who were also natives of 
New Jersey, and whose ancestors crossed the At- 



lantic from Holland during the Colonial days. Tlic 
records would indicate that several male members 
of the family participated in tlie Revolutionary 
War and assisted the Colonists in Ihoir struggle 
for independence. Later they took u|> arms in 
the War of 1812. 

Mr. Vreeland was reared to manhood in his 
native State, where he received but a limited edu- 
cation, and at the age of fourteen or fifteen years, 
becoming impatient of the monotony of his life, 
engaged on a sailing-vessel and followed the water 
thereafter for a period of prob.ably eighteen years. 
From cabin boj' he arose to the position of Cap- 
tain, and for three years was commander of the 
sailing-vessel "Caution," which ran on the Hudson 
River from New York to Albany. He became 
thoroughlj' acquainted with the duties of a sailor's 
life aiMl proved an able commander, well liked by 
his subordinates. 

While following the water Jlr. N'reclaud miide 
occasional visits to his childhood's home, and upon 
one of these occiisions was united in marriage with 
an associate of his childhood. Miss Susan .Salter, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
on the 7th of September, 1839. Mrs. V. was also 
a native of New Jersey, and was born Sept. 1, 1823. 
Her parents were Paul and Elizabeth (Cuberley) 
Salter, natives of New Jersey, whose ancestry were 
Hollanders. Paul Salter did valiant service in the 
War of 1812. He was the head of a family of 
children, only four of whom are now living, namely : 
John, of New Jersej-; .Sarah, Mrs. James Worden, 
of Sumner Countj'. this State; Mary A., the wife of 
John Worden, of the .same county, and Susan, Mrs. 
Vreeland. The latter by her union with our subject 
is the mother of eight children, namely: Tennis, of 
Wichita; Michael, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; David and 
Jacob, of Salem Township, this county; John, of 
Nebraska; Clara, Mrs. Addison Brandow, of Wich- 
ita; Grant and Fnuik, of Gypsum Township, this 
county. 

Mr. Vreeland about IS lit decided to quit the 
water, and located in Warren County, Ohio, where 
he engaged in farming nearly two years, and thence 
removed to Warren County-, III., where he followed 
the same pursuit until the fall of 1871. Then 
crossing the Father of Waters into this count}' he 



•►•-^*- 



■•► 



.sKI)(;WI('K COUNTY. 



t 



- 1 1 ■. iih iIk- oaiiif 

nctivity nml iii<lii>try which lind innrkctt lii!< fumuT 
lifi'. on;;n>;«Ml vigorously in njjricultiiml |iuti<iiils 
aiiil was roiimrkiilily .•«iictT.s>fii|. He is* now the 
i(wni"i- of 4.'{0 ncrcs of flmii-o Innd, and his nccuniii- 
hitions nro thi' rt-^iill of Wxa t»wn indn.-itry, ns he 
lio^.'an life di-|>endenl n|Min his own resources. Ilis 
tliiely improved fnrni, with iU handsome and suli- 
sU-inlial liuil<lin<;s, will remain years hen<'e as n 
sLandin"; monument Ui hi.t iK-rscvcmnce, and his 
name will he held in kindly remembrance l)y the 
people among whom he has lived, and l>y his up- 
rii,'lil and honorable course has jiroved an example 
wiirlhy of imitation. 

(lur suliject ami his faithful jMirlner aic now well 
ailvauced iu \ ears and have rcjtson to feci that 
their lives have not been six-nt in vain. They have 
emieavored Ut exercise the kindly spirit of charity 
and benevolence, to do good as they have oppor- 
tunity, and |iroved the friends and sympathizers of 
those less fortunate. Our subject iu e.-irly man- 
hiMxl was a Whig politically, but u|H)n the aban- 
donment of the fild party cordially endorsed the 
Kepublican principles, which he has since sustained. 
Me passed through the trials and dillicnlties of 
pioneer life, laboring with the men around him in 
the building up of n homestead, and contributed 
his full quota toward the progress and <levelop- 
mcnl of his adopted county. 



^l 



U. F. II. VAN K.\TUN, one of llic le:uling 
physicians and surgeons of Clearwater, is 
a gentleman now iu the ])rirnc of life and 
following a career of usefulness, having 
thoroughly fitted himself for the duties of a most 
responsible |H)sition. lie wjis born on the other side 
of the Mis.>is,sippi, in .lacksonville, III., Oct. 10, 
\H'M, and commenced the study of me<licinc u|Mm 
reaching his m.-ijority. Since th.-it time he has 
given his entire attention to the duties of his 
chost^n profes,sion with most satisfactory results, 
both t'l himself and his |iatrons. 

The Kingdom of Holland, which hius given to 
the world one of its hardiest races of ]K>ople, shel- 
tered the paternal ancestors of our sulpje<t, while 



his motlier'n fioople sprang from the Seoli-li High- 
lands, -lu-sepli and Catherine ( Abbott) \'an Katoii, 
his parent.s, were natives of Oliio. Ilis internal 
great-grandfather, who crossed the Atlantic at lui 
early day, h»caleil in North Carolina, where he 
spent the balance of his life, leaving f<ir his children 
the venture which made them pioneers of the Muck- 
eye .State. 

Dr. Van Kat^m was reared to nutnhood in his 
native county, an<i. after completing a scientilic 
course in the college at .lacksonville, entered u|>ou 
the study of mc<licine under the instruction of Dr. 
lliggins, of Griggsville, with whom he remained 
three years, and iu the meantime attended lectures 
in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. lie 
was graduated from that institution in iN.'jK, and 
commenced pmi'tice in the town of N'irginia, the 
county seat of Cass C<iunty. III., where he remained 
until the outbreak of the late Civil War. 

In November, 1S(>2, there lieing little prospect 
of a cessation of hostilities between the North au'l 
South, Dr. Van Katon identilied himself with the 
.Sth Missouri Cavalry as .\s.sistant .Surgeon, and 
later was promoted to fidl .Surgeon of the regiment, 
with whose fortunes he continued until the clo.se of 
the war, and until he received his honorable dis- 
charge and was mustered out. The 8th Missouri 
was continuously under Ore most of the time from 
the bushwhackers of the .Southwest. 

Wiien he was at liberty to re-open an olllce. Dr. 
Van Katon locattd in CarrolUon, Gri-ene Co.. III., 
where he followed the praclii-e of his profession 
until coming to Kansas in 1870. In this .SU»te he 
fu-st located iu Saline County, where he continued 
until the spring of 1881, then changed his residence 
to Clearwater, since which time he has been en- 
gaged in building u]> a good business, anil h.as be- 
come popular both as a physician and citizen. 

The wife of our subject; to whom he w.as married 
in St. Louis. Mo., im the 2«th of March, 1 «.">'.», was 
formerly Miss Hannah A. Cavanaugh, a native of 
Philadelphia, I'a.. and who w.-is horn April 2, I8:i.'i. 
Mrs. Van Katon is the daughter of Dr. Thomas 
H. an<l KeUecca (Speeb) Cavanaugh, at that time 
residents of St. Louis. Her father was horn in 
Princeton, N. .1., and the mother was a native of 
Chester County, Pa. Her jKitcrual ancestors were 



■•►•-^ 




RESIDENCE OF CHAR LE5 P . LYO N , S EC . 13 , WACO T P 






m: 




RESIDENCE OF J . W. STAR R , 5 EC . 4, 5 A L E M TP 










RESIDENCE OF F. A . WOO LF , 5 E C .1 , I LLI NOIS T P. 



Hl-*- 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



iU) 1 



of Irish and Oennnii descent, and on llie motlicr's 
side represented the Scotch and Swedish nationali- 
ties. Tlioy were the parents of seven children, of 
w'lioin six are living. Thom.is H. C'avanaugli, a 
brother of Mrs. Van Eaton, was Secretar}- of State 
in Kansas for two terms. Her maternal gi'and- 
father, .Samuel Speer, w.as a soldier in the War of 
1812, and her father w.as a successful ph3'sici!in of 
many years' standing. 

To our subject and his wife there have been 
born two children only — Lulu B., May 1.5, 18(30, 
and Frank H., Sept. 12, 18G2. The former is the 
wife of W. A. Lang, of Clearwater, and the latter 
is engaged .as clerk at Wichita. The Doctor is a 
Republican, politically, and the present Commander 
of Post No. 3.5(>, at Clearwater. He and his estimable 
wife are popular in society, .and numbered among 
the intelligent and refined people of their com- 
munity. His property includes a good farm in 
Saline Count}', besides real estate in the village of 
Clearwater. He stands high among the medical 
fraternity of Sedgwick County, and is a member 
of the Southwest Medical Asssociation of Kansas. 

J JOHN S. NORRIS. Among the progressive 
I and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of 
I Sedgwick County there are very few who 
' are the peer of the subject of this biograph- 
ical sketch. His residence is situated on section 22, 
Lincoln Township, where he is engaged principally 
in the stock business. He buys from 100 to 12.5 
. head of cattle at a time, and after fattening them 
ships them to market and disposes of them, and in 
this line of business is prospering to a remarkable 
degree. He is a native of Edgar County, 111., 
where he was born Nov. 1, 18,56, and the j'ounger 
of a family of two children born to his parents, 
■Jnnios and Easter (Barrett) Norris, natives of En- 
gland .and Indiana, who emigrated to America in 
1832, and settled in Edgar Count}-, 111. 

Joseph and Mary (Harden) Norris, the p.-itcrnal 
grandparents of our subject, were natives of En- 
gland, where the former carried the staff of Con- 
sUililc for nine years. He was a member of the 
Engli>h militia at the beginning of the present 



century, when Englnnd was alarmed about an in- 
vasion of French troops. Edward and Margaret 
Cox, the maternal grandparents of our subject, 
were natives of Tennessee, who removed from that 
.State to Indiana at an early da}', where the grand- 
mother died. The grandfather came to Illinois 
with the father of our subject, and died while a 
resident of th.at State, in 1868, at the .advanced age 
of seventy-four years. The parents of the gentle- 
man of whom we write were among the pioneers of 
that portion of Eastern Illinois where they settled, 
and his father having purchased some Government 
land in that locality, lived there for some forty 
years. In 1876 he came to Kansas and settled in 
this county, where he has remained ever since. 
The mother of our subject died in Illinois in 18.58, 
and his father married again, and with his wife 
is still living on the homestead. 

The subject of this biographical notice received 
his education in the district schools in his native 
State in his boyhood days, and was reared upon a 
farm. In his early manhood he commenced agri- 
cultural pursuits for himself, in that .State, where 
he remained until 1876, when he came to Kansas 
and settled in Lincoln Township, on section 11, 
where he purchased 160 acres of land of the rail- 
road company. This was at that time original 
prairie, covered with an abundant growth of sun- 
flowers and weeds, but he <at once commenced his 
improvements of breaking the tough sod, and the 
following year erected a house. This property he 
still owns and has brought it to a good state 
of cultivation, and it is all excellent and well 
in)pr6ved. In 1877 the father of our subject 
purchased 160 acres of land on section 22, which 
w;is partially improved, having a small house upon 
it and some of it broken. In company with his 
father our subject commenced improving this 
property, erecting a good residence, a subsUxntial 
and commodious cattle b.arn, and a neat and safe 
horse barn, and otherwise adding to the value of 
the property. They now own jointly 320 acres of 
land, which is well stocked with some excellent 
high-gr.ade Norman-Percheron horses, half and 
three-quarter Red Durham cattle and full-blooded 
Poland-China hogs. 

Mr. Norris is not very active in [xililics. but 



- ► ■ M* 



>► ■ -4* 



w H K ( I 'I N rv 



ii-ii:tlly VoU-n uitli till* |{c|iiililii->tii luiiU.aiKl lia> 
Ill-Id lh»- ulllfo of S*-Ikh)I TrensiirtT fitr llin-c or 
ft>iir toriii!^, iiiid i> llu- |)iT,H«>iit 'r«>wii»lii|> ■rrcimunT. 
Wlii-n III' »ftt It'll ill l.iiiriiln 'rtiwiir>lii|i it was I'liliri-lv 
a iK'w i-< XI II try, not a »i'll-ini|irovi'il farm within it« 
lioiinilnrio!), niiil Imt for ii (v\v ^|lirals of .vmokc 
from till' M-nltercil cnliim' of llit' M'ttloiiii'iit, which 
(lolli'il the weeily wnct*", it would linvc been 
llioii;;ht entirely uninlmliited. lie lias, however, 
lived to sec it grow up to its present pros|>erity, 
and wnlehed the developiiienl of Seilgwiek t'oiiiity, 
until lo-dny it is one of the liri^htest jewels in the 
diadem uf our nolile Stale. 

Mr. Norris wns iinilrd in mnrriaye i^i .^edj,'wii'k 
C oiiiily, Knn.. Mareli J I. I«7X, with Mis.s C'orric 
Itaker, who wns bom in Edgnr County, III., .Iiine 
:.".i. 1 H(;;{. and is the daughter of W. P. and Kli/.nbeth 
(Kidd) R'iker, nntives of Illinois. Both of her 
parents died when she wns quite a small child, and 
she was reared by .lames Norri.-. Her jjranil parents 
ii|Kiii her father's side were William and Klizabeth, 
natives of 'reniiessee, and upon her mother's side 
M'illiam and Klizabeth, who were born in \'irginia. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Norris there have been born a 
family of live children, who bear the following 
names: Mlla Kola, .lames Williamson, (George 
l'!il» ill. .loliii CJvdi'aricI (lien. 



lO 



U.VNIv r. HlKWKi.L. There are nuiiiei- 
oiis line farms in this county \>liicli will 
i\ ~ compare favorably with any others in the 
M.ate as reganls prodiietion and also as to the iin- 
provemeiils which have been made u|m>ii them. 
Many of these places are owned by men compara- 
tively young in years, who sUirted in the world 
with but little more than an unlimited amount of 
energy ami iH-rseveranei'. and who nre succeeding 
to .-III eniincnt degree in building ii]) n comfurtnble 
home upon the Kaiisiis plains. As n representative 
of this class of agriculturists, great plensiirc is 
l;ikeii in presenting the name of the subject of this 
notice, who is living on .-ection H, in Illinois 'I'own- 

ship. 

Mr. Knrwcll uiaclc his advent into this world 
Dec. :i\, IH69, in Kilgar County, III., .it the liumc 



"•^ 



of hi.1 parents, .loliii and llaiinali (.McCriimb) Itiir- 
well. .SkeU'lies of the latter apiK'nr el.sewhere in 
the pages of this Ai.iUM, for which the render is 
referreil to the biogmphy of .lohn C. liurwell. Our 
subject received the elements of a most excellent 
education in his early years, lH>th in the ilistriel 
schools ami in the High School of his native 
county, and was reared beneath the pnternni riKif. 
surroniideil by all the sweet inlluences of home and 
a mother's love. After two visits |»aid to the Sl;ite 
of Kansas in his boyluK»d. in ISO", IH70. nnd in 
1S77, when a young man of eighteen, he again 
came to Kansas, to Harvey County, and in 
.Inly, 1«78, repeated the action, ami in IHSl came 
to .Sedgwick County, from his Illinois home, and 
has remained n resident of this locality ever since. 
In .Septoniber of that year he commenced farming 
on his own acccoiint, although he was then but .n 
yoiing man of twenty-two yeni-s of age. 

The hero of our personal narrative was married 
in the bright springtime of his youth, .June lii, 
IISSI, to Miss Ida H. Herry, a native of Coles 
County, 111., born April 27, \M\, nnd dniightcr of 
William nnd Ann (H.iller) Herry. A biogiapliical 
sketch of her parents is given in the history of 
Odcll Herry, in the pages of this volume, to whidi 
the reader is referred. Mr. Hurwell and his young 
bride settlei) down upon their fnrm in Illinois 
Town.ship, ami commenced the duties of life with 
bold and happy hearts. Success lins crowned most 
of his efforts, and the angels of love and happiness 
abide around the fireside of his comfortable nnd 
beloved home. His residence is neat and siilist-'intial, 
with most beautiful snrronndings, and upon his 
farm of \*>0 acres he has set out an orchniil of 
young and thrifty trees, including many mulberries, 
and his garden in proper season ovcillows with 
small fruit. 

The hearts of oiir subject and his wife have been 
gladdened by the birlh of four children, :iiid their 
linppy house resounds with the pattering feet of 
joyous chihireii. The mimes of the little ones, and 
their nntnl days, arc as follows: Charles W., who 
was born March 'M), 1 SH> ; Frank Clifford, whose 
birth occurred Nov. /», I.S8;5; .loliii Amos, who 
made his advent Sept. K. ISS."., and Mary KlIaKttJi, 
who was brought into this world Oct. -.'.l, l.S(S7. 



•►■-^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



J 



Tlieii- mother, who is llic ineaiiialion of all iloracs- 
tic virliics, is rearing tlie little folks iiiuler the 
liappiest auspiees, and willi the foiulest c-aic, re- 
inenihciing tlie old adage, that '"As the twig is 
bent, so the tree's inclined." 

Tolitically, Mr. Burwell is an adherent to the 
principles of Jeffcrsonian Ueniocrac}-, and alliiougli 
not an olliee-seeker, he has lieen induee<l to serve 
as a member of the .Seliool Board for one year. lie 
is an intelligent, energetic and industrious citizen, 
and bids fair to take a very prominent i)lace in the 
community in which he lives. Both he and his 
estimable wife preserve the warmest esteem of the 
entire neigliborhood for their many admirable vir- 
tues, and for their genial manners. 

SAMUKL M. Sl'EKH. Among the more 
prominent farmers of Attica Township is 
the subject of this biograi)hy, whose name 
stands high on the militar3' records of the 
last war, as well as in the annals of Sedgwick 
County. B}' perseverance and industry in this 
locality he has gained a foothold in the world. He 
is a self-made man, having reached his present pros- 
perous condition by his continual struggles from 
youth up to the present writing. 

Our subject, who is engaged in farming and 
stock-raising on section 25, is the son of Josepii 
and Anna (Masters) Specr, and was born in Frank- 
lin County, Ind., Feb. 4, 1843. A sketcii of his 
fatlier appears elsewhere in the pages of this Ai.htm. 
Our subject was reared upon a farm, hisfathci- hav- 
ing always followed that vocation, and received in 
his youth the elements of an excellent education. 
AVhile quietly assisting his father in carrying on the 
homestead in his native State, the Civil War broke 
Out, and Samuel, filled with patriotic ardor, enlisted 
in Comp.any F, 18th Indiana Infantry, with whom 
he served a little over four years, having veteran- 
ized in 18G4. He participated with the gallant 
regiment to which he was attached in some twenty- 
three regular engagements, among the i)rincipal of 
wiiich were the battles of Port Gibson; Jackson. 
Miss.; Black River Bridge, Champion Hills; the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, during which he 



was under lire sixty-eight days out of the eighty ; 
and battles of Perryville. Winchester, Fisher's Hill 
and Cedar Creek. In the latter engagement he w.as 
taken prisoner by the Confederate forces, and spent 
some eight months in the horrible prisons of Libby 
and Saulsbury, N. C. On the 2-2d of February, 
18(5;"), he was paroled by the rebels, and allowed l<> 
return home, where he lay at death's door for sev- 
eral months with the typhus fever. He received 
an honorable discharge from the service, which 
bears the date of June 27, 1865. 

In the fall of 1865 the subject of this memoir 
removed to Woodford County, III., where he was 
employed for a time at farm labor by the month, 
after which he rented a farm and commenced agri- 
cultural pursuits on his own account. This he fol- 
lowed for some seven years, by which means he 
accumulated some capital and got a start in the 
world. In the fall of 1872 he came to Kansas and 
settled in Sedgwick County, and after having passed 
the winter here in preparing a home, returned to 
Indiana, where, on the 18th of February, 187:3, he 
was united in marriage with ISIiss Maggie Stout, a 
native of Decatur County, Ind., born Feb. 28, 
1847. His wife is a daughter of David and Sarah 
Jane (Thompson) Stout, the former of whom was 
born in Kentucky in 1798, and died in 18G7; tlie 
latter, a native of Indiana, was born in 1833, and 
is stiil living in her native State. 

Immediately after his marriage our subject 
brought his young bride to his present home, where 
he has luiilt a handsome and subst^mtial house, 
surrounded by neat and eomfortaltlc out-buildings. 
He lost his crops during the cver-to-be-remem- 
bered grasshopper period of 1874, and the succeed- 
ing years, but notwithstanding that, has, by dint 
of energy and hidustry, achieved a m.agnilicent 
success in this county. He has a large and fertile 
farm <jf 160 acres of land, on which is an unfailing 
supply of water, a good orchard, and everything 
that tends to make life pleasant. He also h.as eighty 
.•icrcs in Barber County, and 510 in Reno County. 
He gives great attention to stock, and has a large 
number of horses an<l cattle and hogs upon the 
place. 

Mr. Speer is a strong adherent to the i>rinciples 
of the Republican party, and cast his first Fresi- 
— — — ^ •► 



!i 



■*►■-* 



66 1 



SKDCWICK COUNTY 



4 



ill-llllMi li.nmi i<ii I . >. >..:iMi III i-'.^. Ill- has 1I«J 

•U-sirc for |Hilili<-nl prefiTincnt, Imviiig slwulfBhll^' 
refused U) iilliiw hi.t iiiiiiu' l<i In- ii»c<l iuh ii ciilxlidiiU^ 
fur iiiiv ollitc. llolli III' iukI his wifi- arc {ji-ninl 
ami lii»|iilaliU- |mm>|>1i', nii<l I'V llii'ir |>li'iu«i!iiil ways 
liMVi- ;;irnl!y I'lnlenreil llii'inselvcs to llic i-nlirc 

iH'ijjIil'orl il. Tlii'V liavi" i>iic iliilil, a lirijjht nnd 

iiilillij;iiil liiiv, KusM-ll I'., wliu was i>oni .IiiIv 23, 

is::.. 

-: ■ • f> 

ll!I.(ir. I.KWIS is aiiollicr of WiiliiLis 
jlj raiiitnlisls. one who i-anic here by acciilent 
aiul sUiiil by ilesijjn. In 1)SH"2, along in the 
siiiiuner, is recorded his first ap|)cnranfe in 
Wii-hiui. He cnnie on a visit, thinking to remain a 
niontli or so and return to New York whence he 
t-anu'. Hut tiie place had attracted him; from at- 
traction it became interesting enough to induce liiin, 
like many others, to .seek a lionie here. 

About 6,000 inhabitants were all the town could 
muster at that ilalc. It has grown some meantime, 
more even than Mr. Lewis thought it would in so 
short a time. Here he thought was the place to 
stnrl a commercial college, and on Main street, in 
UiisscHs Hall, tlic work w.xs begun. lie conducted the 
in.--titution eighteen months, but the result not be- 
ing entirely satisfactory, the Kansas National Bank 
found employment f<ir him as a book-kee|x>r. He 
held that position about two yeai-s. While engaged 
there he made some investments in the norlh part 
of the city and on College Hill. He was gritty and 
bought about 900 lots, some of wjiich he has sold. 
Others he holds, having faith in the future as well 
as in Wichitft. His origin.-d number was I 10,5 North 
Market street: he built that property- and now 
occupies a fine residence on Itrooklyii Heights, some 
two and one-half miles east of the rily, on Central 
.■iveiiue. 

'rrumbull ( oiinly, Ohio, Mr. Lewis delights to 
ivfer to as the place of his birth, the date of which 
was Keb. 2H. IHJi;. He is the .son of Cary and 
Kinily (Leavilt) Lewi.-, natives res|K?ctively of Con- 
necticut and Ohio. An ox-cart was the conveyance 
and an elder brother the pilot who steered it, that 
biDughl the f;ither from Connecticut to Oliio when 



he wiw oi... ;,.,.,. ; .._. . , Litlier Imviiig 

died in Connecticut prior to their starting out to 
the West. They settled in N'icnna, Trumlinll County ; 
the father afterward settled in llowland, in the 
.same county, where, as mentioned, the son we are 
8|K-]iking of \vas;ifierward born. The elder brother, 
I.,anibert, after bringing his little brother to Ohio, 
reared him and taught him to farm. He became 
an extensive farmer, having many men under his 
control. His father's name was Beach, the mother'> 
Diana (Wheeler) Lewis. They were natives of 
Huntington and Soiithbiiry, Conn. They, too, were 
farinei-s. 

The grandfather of our subject was Beach I..ewis, 
Sr., and the grandmother, Hiith Bennett. They 
were likewise fanners. His parent.- were Sevignion 
and Bathsheba (Burroughs) Lewis, of Huntington, 
Conn., also farmers. Again, his father was named 
Kdmuiid, a Colonel, a farmer and surveyor. His 
mother, Hannah (Beach) Lewis, of .Stratford, Conn. 
Again, his father's name was Benjamin, his mother's 
Hannah (Curtis) Lewis, of Stratford. His father's 
name was Kdniund, his mother's name Mary Lewis. 
The former came from Kngland in iri:)4,on the ship 
"Klizabeth" with the Sherman family'. He settled 
at Watertown, Mass., in 1G38, flimlly removing to 
Lynn, Mass., where he reared his family. 

Kmily Leavilfs father was named .lolin, a native 
probably of Coimecliciit, engaged in farming. 
Oaiy, the father of V. C. Lewis, was a wealthy 
man at one time, but like many others, met with 
reverses in mercantile and farm operations in Ohio. 
That determined him to come west to Iowa. He 
settled in Lee County, that Slate, about 1840. He 
farmed -lOO .•icies of land there for about eight 
years, at the end of which he moved to Ft. Dcs 
Moines and bought some properly, remaining there 
one year, then returned to Leo County to a place 
called Montrose. He remained in Montrose till 
his death, in IXfi.'); his wife ilied there the ye.-ir 
liefore. Their children were five in number, three 
of whom are now- living — 1*. C, .lelTerson .]. .•iiid 
Daniel. 

The subject of this biograpliiral review wtis 
brought up a farmer and remained at home till his 
majority. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and 
engaged in book-keeping for tivi' years. In l«.'i.j 



4 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



6Go 



he went to Boston and pursued the same vocation 
for a wholesale boot and shoe house two years. 
From there he went to New York Cit}' and engaged 
in the manufacture of hoop skirts, continuing until 
the war closed. Life insurance then interested liini, 
and he took charge of a department in that line for 
fivcj'ears. The coal business then had attractions 
for him and he embarked in that in 1875, closing 
in 1879. Ilis health failed him and the Western 
air promised recuperation and a new country that 
diversion so essential to recovery. 

September Ki, 1872, the records say Mr. P. C. 
Lewis and Miss Phebe A. Gardner were made man 
and wife. Her parents were named Lyman and Mary 
A. (Smith) Gardner, New Jcrseyans, the fatlu'r a 
tailor in early life but a farmer now. Nine chil- 
dren are the mimber credited to them — Phebe A., 
Ida 0., Isaac B., Susie, Samuel IL, David M., Irv- 
ing, Josephine and JIary K. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
have two children — William G. and Lillian. He 
is a Democrat in politics, and one of the solid men 
of the city. 



T N(jLE 11. HECK. This gentleman is accredited 
Ij with the ownership of one of the best farms in 
l\ Greeley Township, amply watered by the Ar- 
kansas Kiver, which runs through a portion of it, 
and along the banks of which graze the well-kept 
live stock, the raising of which he makes a spe- 
cialty. Mr. Heck improved this farm from a tract 
of uncultivated land, and has now in process of con- 
struction a handsome biick residence, the only one 
built of this material outside of the city of Wichita. 
The oilier farm buildings and the machinery are 
fully in keejiing witii the enterprise of the pro- 
prietor. 

Mr. Heck, a native of the Buckeye State, was 
born in Clarke Count}', Sept. 31, 183"2. His parents, 
Frederick and Nancj' (Danner) Heck, were natives 
of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio 
during its pioneer days, where the father wjis exten- 
sively engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser, and 
where, with his excellent wife, he passed his declin- 
ing years, and died Feb. 23, 1878, aged eighty- 
four years, nine months and four d.ays. Both were 
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The 



mother died in 1862. Of their children, nine in 
ntunber, but four are living. Martin Luther, the 
youngest brother of our suliject, settled in Colorado, 
was elected Sheriff of Durango, and in an attempt 
to arrest a desperado was shot five or six times, 
from the effects of which he died three days later, 
in Ai)ril, I88(!. 

Mr. Heck spent his boyhood and youth amid the 
rural scenes of Clarke County, Ohio, and remained 
in that vicinity until twenty-six 3'ears of age, con- 
tinuing most of the time under the parental roof. 
J>ater he moved to the vicinity of Terre Haute, 
Ind., and purchasing 921 acres of land, commenced 
farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale. 
During the subsequent flooding of that section of 
country' by heavy rains, he lost in stock and the 
damage to his lands from $50,000 to ii60,000 and 
ihen, discouraged, left that section of country for 
Colorado Springs. There he engaged in freighting 
goods from the Springs to Leadville, and during 
that time passed the hardest part of his life, being 
among a rough population and in a countrj- but 
half civilized. 

In 1879, deciding upon another change of loca- 
tion, Mr. Heck came to Southern Kansas and located 
on his present farm of 140 acres, which he purchased 
for $6.50 per acre. Here he has been uniformly 
prosperous, and is reaping his reward for the toils 
and tribulations of the past. Sharing in these has 
been his faithful wife, who in her girlhood was Miss 
Catherine Keplinger, and to whom he was united 
in marriage on the 7th of July, 1857. She was born 
in Greene County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1838. Her par- 
ents, Peter and Mary Ann (Stough) Keplinger, 
were natives of Pennsjdvania, where the fatlier fol- 
lowed farming during his early manhood and re- 
moved later to Greene County, Ohio. He departed 
this life Feb. 13, 1875. The mother is still living 
in Ohio. They identified themselves with the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church when young. They were the 
parents of seven children, but four of whom are liv- 
ing, and residents of Ohio mostly. The tin-ee chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Heck are recorded as follows: 
Emma was born June 27, 1858, and married John 
F. Rogers, a prosperous grain dealer, of Areola, III.; 
Ida wiis born March 15, 1862, and married (ieorge 
C. Uobins, a banker and a dealer in real estate, grain, 



♦-■.-4^ 



:?^r#-^ 



I 



■•*-»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



>l<Kk, i-l<'., lit Mt. II. .|n'; l.to WHS Ixirii March l«. 
I H(;.'i, nixl ilii'il in inrancv. Mr. mid .Mrs. Ilook oru 
iiR>iiil>fn» III •'imhI stiiiiiliiij^ of the ('on^'repitiuniil 
Cliurcli, nt Mt. I1u|h>. 

.Mr. II., (lurliij; llie l.ilo war, was <lniflo<I into llio 
:inny. lint hired a (iiiloliliilv at a co.Ht of 411,000. 
lie scrvi'd, howi'ver, for a liiiii' in llio Oiiio SU\lv 
Militia during .Morgaii'.s raid in the MUithcrii part 
of that .State, lie i> a stanrli Deinoc-rat, |Hililically, 
Imt in voling ri-sfrvcs the right of an inde|)Ciideiit 
American citi/en to su|)|>ort the man whom he con - 
-idors he.sl iiiialiTied to serve the intcre.sLs of the 
|H'ii|ilc. lie was .n^-sisted when sUirting out forhini- 
M'if in life liy his father, who had acciiiniil:il«.'<l a 
tint' iiro|K'rly. 



<^jr^lloM.VS lULLANTlNK, wiio wa.s born in 
ijf^^L\ Delaware County. N. Y., .Inly 4, 1.S2.'), is 
^^^ niiinhered ninoiig the most skillful and en- 
terprising fannei-saiid stock-raisers of (Jmiit Town- 
.-hip. lie comes of excellent .Scotch ancestry, his 
father having been born in the lowlands, in the 
-oiiilieastern part of Scotland, whence he emigrated 
«lieii a yoiing man in about ISOO, and settled in 
Delaware County, N. Y. Orandmothcr f!r:int came 
to this country from Scotland even prior to that 
•late. The former was very enterprising and indus- 
trious, and carried on a large business as a miller, 
distiller and farmer, the store for the sale of his 
wares being situated on his land, lie spent the 
reiiiainder of his life in the Empire .Suite, resting 
from his earthly labors about 18.31). 

I)avid Hallantine, the father of our subject, after 
coining to .\nierica was married to Miss Anna 
( Irani, a native of Albjiu}', N. Y., and whose parents 
came from the Scottish Highlands. Of this union 
there were born ten children, seven of whom arc 
living, and residents mostly of Wisconsin and New 
^'I'lk. 'I'he father came to his death by drowning 
ill till' l)claware Kiver while attempting to cross the 
slreain with a team of horses in l(<3'.». The wife 
and mother had died some years before. 

TluHiias liallantine became familiar with fnrni 
piii-siiits early in life, .•iiid also assisted liis father in 
the distillery and the iiiill. I |i>>ii learliiiig his 



majority he determined to see soinetliiiig more of 
the world, and emigrating to the .southwestern part 
of Wisconsin settletl in Urniit County, where he 
followed farming until coming to this county, in 
l«7ll. lie was there married, on the 13th of Feb- 
ruary, 1S,'(4, to Miss .l.aiie Adam, who was born in 
Lal'ortc, Ind.. Oct. 4. 1 «;J.j. Iler father, Kzra Adam, 
was a native of Windlmiii, Vt., and married Miss 
Margaret Dnitoii, who was of Knglish birth and 
parentage. Our subject and his wife commenced 
life together on a farm in fJrant County, Wis., and 
upon crossing the .Mississippi Mr. 1{. at once sccureil 
|>os.sessioii of his [ireseiit farm by trading with his 
brother for another piece of property, and has siin-e 
operated successfully, making a s|iccially of fine 
stock, including graded Norman horses and Short- 
horn cattle. 

Mr. Hallantine lakes little inteix-st in jxilitics. but 
uniformly votes the stniighl Kepubli<-an ticket. He 
has steadily avoided becoming an olllee-holder. pre- 
ferring to coi.fiiie his laboi> to his farm, and his at- 
tention to the comfort of his family. 

Of the seven children born to .Mr. and .Mis. 
Hallantine six are living, namely: Mary Ann, 
George, Robert, David, Gi-ant and l.illis. .Mary is 
the wife of .James .Smith, who is fanning near the 
Hallantine homestead; Holiert, David and (iniiit 
arc also married, and residents of Grant Township; 
the other children are at home with their parents; 
.lanel died when an interesting young lady twenty- 
two veal's of age, on the 1 Itli of .laniiarv. issl. 

Li^^IKiMAS WOOD.MAN, proprietor of one of 
j//SN, the finest tracts of land in I'ark Township. 
'^^^' comprising 2W acres, fertile and well culli- 
valed, makes a specialty of stock-growing and i> 
iiuinbcre<l among those who have contributed 
largel}' to the growth and prosjierity <if this section. 
He is a native of Devonshire, Kngland, was born 
Aug. 12, 185«. and is the .s<ui of .lohn and Gnu-e 
(Moore) Woodman, who were also of Knglish birth 
and pareiiUige. 

Our sul)je<'t conimenced early in life the career 
of industry which has been one of his most proin- 
iiiciit iliMiacli'iistics, .■iml by rc:i-<iii of which he is 



•► »-«^ 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



667 



to-day numbered among the well-to-do citizens of 
Sedgwick Cuimty. His :icqimiiit:uice willi fainiing 
pursuits began when he was a lad of nine years, and 
lie continued tilling llie soil of his native shire until 
emigrating to Canada, in 1869. There he was 
located at Thornhill Station, whence he removed 
eighteen months later to the States, and located 
near the city of Jacksonville, 111. Here he secured 
a piece of ground and employed himself .as a gar- 
dener with good success for a i)eriod of eight years. 
His next removal was to Waverly, in the same 
SUito, where he changed his employment and en- 
gaged in Initchering until 18.S3, when he crossed 
the Father of Waters, and located upon his |>resent 
farm. 

Mr. Woodman had previously visited Southern 
Kansas, and purchased land from his brother Will- 
iam, who had preceded him. Thomas was still a 
single man when arriving here, and three j'ears later 
met his fate in the person of Miss Laura Dui)y, 
with whom he was united in marriage In February, 
1887. Mrs. Woodman was born in Illinois, April 
20, 1871, and is the daughter of Milton and Kate 
(Wolf) Dupy, natives of Illinois, but now of Sedg- 
wick County. Mr. Woodman upon becoming a 
naturalized American citizen, identified himself 
with the Republican party, hut reserves to himself 
the right to vote independently', aiming to support 
the men whom he considers best rpialilied for odice. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to a 
lodge in Jacksonville, 111. 

IDNEY C. SU.AIMERS came to the eastern 
s.^ part of this county in October, 1874, and 
)) purchased a quarter-section of land in Min- 
neha Township at ^4.35 per acre. Since 
that time he has been a continuous resident here, 
giving his attention to the cultivation of the soil, 
and building up one of the most desirable home- 
steads in Sedgwick County. His proi)crty lies on 
section 7, and with the exception of six acres as- 
signed !is right of way to the 'Frisco Railroad, Mr. 
Summers owns 240 acres in Minneha, and 160 acres 
in Park Township, all of which he has brought to a 
high slate of cultivation. His first purchase is now 



valued at J75 per acre, and considering the price 
which he paid it is hardly necessary to state that he 
has been diligent in all those things tending to en- 
hance its value. 

Mr. Summers was horn and reai-ed on a farm in 
Iredell County, N. C, first opening his eyes to the 
light Feb. 4, 1844. His parents, Hiram and Nancy 
Summers, were also natives of that State, and spent 
their last years there, where they passed from earth, 
at the ages of sixty and forty years respectively. 
Young Summers was reared to farming pursuits, and 
left his native State in 18C4 for Illinois. From 
there, eleven years later, he migrated to Kansas, 
and has since made his home in this county. In 
addition to general farming he is now extensively 
eng:iged in stock-raising, dealing mostl3' in horses 
and hogs. 

Upon the outbreak of the late war young Sum- 
mers enlisted in a South Carolina regiment, and 
afterward served in the navy at Charleston for a 
term of eighteen months. He was present at the 
bombardment of Ft. Sumter, and was subsequently 
taken prisoner by the troops of Gen. Sherman, .and 
sent to New York, remaining a prisoner of war 
three months, and until released at the close of the 
conflict by the United States Govcrnnrent. He 
remains loyal to the principles in which he was 
reared, and still holds to the belief that the South 
was justifiable in the prosecution of the war against 
the North. His father was a man of property, and 
a slaveholder. Mr. Summers has in his possession 
a large roll of Confederate ^20 bills, dated .at 
Richmond, Va., Feb. 17, 1864, which now, after a 
lapse of twenty-four years, are in a good stale of 
preservation. 

Mr. Summers not long after the close of the war 
took up his residence in Henry County, III., .and 
on the 27th of September, 1865, in that county 
was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Young, 
who was born in Scotland, July 3, 1847, and came 
with her parents to the United States when a chilil. 
They located first in Ogle County, whence they 
removed to Princeton, and subsequently to Henry 
County, where they live in the enjoyment of good 
health. 

Mr. an<l Mrs. Summers are the |)arcnts of nine 
children. Their eldest, Mary N., w:is born Aug. 



'1r 



-4^ 



>r.|)t;\vi( K COUNTY. 



1 1., l-^i'.; \\ 1111:1111 il!iiTi><>ii, .Maicli I','. |M.:i; .luimv- 
Friiiikliii, Aii^. '22, \Kll; Jtiliii C'liti^'iiiiiii, Mny I, 
1N7-I: Mng>;i«' C. nnd Alice .1. (twins), Mnreh H, 
l«77; Hirnni, Mnrcli II, 1m7S; Annii', Dec. IH, 
IKHI ; Malii-1 (;raic. Doc. 13, 1 MK.') ; luul Hcrtic, who 
w:ia iK.rn Nov. 4, IKHO, a,u\ ilicd Fcli. I, |H8I. 
Miiry N. was iimrricil, .Iiiiic 2'J, IHH.j, to .1. ||. 
Ilarpstrit, a |iro>|n'ioii,s fnriiu-r of MIiiik-Iiii Town- 
>lii|>, who o|HTutcs oil section 1, near the Siiininers' 
hoiiu'slcad. The cliihlren have ail been well edii- 
catcil. and |>i'esciit a bright ami intellectual ^'roiip 
of which the |uii-eiiU< may well be pniiK). 

'I'lie residence of .Mr. Siiiniiier.s was erected in 
ls7'i, and both it and the barn are neat nnd sub- 
>t.Hntial >triictiires, fully in keepiiij^ with the enter- 
prise and thrift which have also bron<;ht about many 
other siibsUiiilial improvement's upon the place. 
Not the leiLst among them is a thrifty yoiin-j or- 
chard, which is already yieldiiii,' handsome returns to 
the hand which planted it, and, as m.iy be supposed, 
is the object of his especial care. Mr. .Simimcrs 
several years ago was seriously injured by a horse 
falling u|H>ii him, and since that time has been able 
to perform but little hard labor. lie has been the 
Assessor of his district for four consecutive years, 
and ill ))olitics i> decidedly' Democratic. 



^]VAili<.K II. MITTS, of Wichita, was engaged 
'l| e^ during llu- earlier years of his life in agri- 

^^41 enltnral pursiiils. but is now retired from 
active labor, and occupies a picasjtnl home at No. 
I.'i0;'i McCormick aveiino. He has traveled over a 
large portion of the western country, worked in the 
mines of Idaho for ^.'1 per da}', and paid ^IK |ier 
week ft>r his board. His exia-riences have been 
varied and interesliiig, and he is a man who has 
kept his eyes open to what was going on around him 
in the world, and availed himself of all the sources 
of general iiiformatioii. 

Our subject is the offspring of an old American 
family, of Knglish origin, who setlU'il in Kentucky 
at an early day. His father, .lames .Milt>. was liorn 
in that St.ile, whence he emigr.'itecl when a young 
man lo Simgamon Coiinty. III., and was ihere mar- 



ried to .Miss Martha, daughter oi deorgc MofUtt, 

of the latU-r .Suite. Of this union there were born 

I nine cliihlren. namely: .lames M., Margaret, Snnih ; 

(leorge H., tuir subject; Mary K., Frank, Os«-ar, 

I Osberl anil .Mattic. 

.lames Milts in the latter |«irl of the thirties left 

his Illinois home, and crossing the .Missi.ssippi iiitt> 

Henry County, Iowa, took up a section of lainl near 

j the embryo town of .Mt, Pleasant. Althongh a man 

of iron coiistilntion he broke himself down by hard 

work, clearing the heavy timber from his land, from 

the effects of whieli ho suffered for many years 

I before his decease. He was i>erniitted, however, to 

! reach his threescore years and ten, passing away in 

I the spring of |K,s4upon the homestead which he 

I had laljored so iiidiistrioiisly to build up. He ac- 

cumiilateil :t line property, and was an upright and 

honest man, thoroughly res|>ected by all who knew 

him. I'olitically, he .'illiliated with the Democratic 

party, and in religious views w.-is a .Methoilist. 

The mother died at her home in Iowa, in IHd.l. 

George II. Mitts, our subject, was born at the 
old homestead in Henrj' County, Iowa, .Inly IK, 
1841. He reccive<l but a limited education, and 
earlj' in life became familiar with the labors of the 
liioneer, and the later regular pursuit of agriculture. 
At the age of twenty-two years he was united in 
marriage with Miss Lydia H. Ogg, w-ho died eight- 
een months .'ifter her wedding. Mr. Mitts had 
rented a farm in Henry County, Iowa, and Feb. 4, 
1 SG!), contracted a .second marriage, with .Mis-s Het- 
tie, daughter of .lohii and .Sarah ( Bush) .McCormick. 
(A full history of her parents is given in a skett-li 
of her brother, Nicholas .McCormick.) A year later, 
in 1870, they came to this Stjite, and settled on a 
farm of ICO acres, the ground of which is iioiv in- 
cluded within the city limits of West Wi<-hila. 
Here Mr. jVIitts o|>eiated .about two years, then sold 
out and removed to another farm .seven miles south- 
west of the city, near the Cowskin, wlii<-h he pur- 
chased. Later he moved back to Henry Coiinly, 
Iowa, but iigain returned to Kansas, and settled on 
a farm south of Wichita, and remained there two 
yeai-s, then went to Barber Count}', where he Uirried 
for a time, then entered H'lO acres of land in King- 
man County, where he remained until his last 
removal lo Wiehila, which w.as in I'Vbriiarv. 1S,S7. 



•►■.-^ 




^ 



^ 



^ 







?■ 



4 



v^ 
1 



t. 



•►Hh-^^ 



A 



SliDGWICK COUNTY. 



C71 



'\ 



He still owns his farm in Barber County. Five 
cliiklren have been born to him and Iiis excellent 
wife, and were named respeetivel}' : Willie, Ida 
May, Mabel M. and Nellie II. One child died in 
infancy unnamed. The eldest is nearly nineteen 
years of .age, and the youngest four. In politics 
.Mr. Mitts is a Democrat, and both lie and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcoi>al C'iiuicli. 



W)ILLIAM McCRACKKN, the leading nur- 
sery man of the State of Kansas, has one 
of the finest fruit farms within its limits. 
This comprises 200 acres of highly cultivated land, 
eligiblj' located on Chisholm Creek, section 22. in 
Grant Township. His elegant residence, flanked by 
a fine barn and other well-appointed buildings, is 
the adrair.ation of the country around, and the en- 
tire homestead with its appurtenances stands as a 
silent monument to the perseverance and industry' 
of the proprietor. Among the many views of resi- 
dences and farm homesteads presented in this vol- 
ume, none speaks in higher terms of [iraise of its 
owner than the splendid double-page view of Mr. 
McCracken's propert}'. It tells, in unmistakable 
terms, of his rare business enterprise, of his unceas- 
ing labor, close attention, and broad and liberal 
views. 

Mr. McCraeken is the offspring of a fine old 
Pennsylvania family, and w.os born in Allegheny 
County, that State, on the IGth of March. 182(). 
His father, Robert McCraeken, also a native of the 
Keystone State, was married in early manhood to 
Miss Catherine McGregor, and the}' became the 
parents of ten children, of whom AVilliam, our sub- 
ject, was the sixth in order of birth. His paternal 
grandparents, Alexander and Mary (Marsha) Mc- 
Craeken, were natives of Ireland, and crossed the 
Atlantic in their youth, locating iu Pi!nns3-lvauia, 
where the}- spent the remainder of their (Lays. 

Robert JlcCraeken after his marri.agc carried on 
farming in Pennsylvania until 1854, and then, 
when p.ast the meridian of life, changed his resi- 
dence to Fulton County, 111., where he settled among 



the pioneers of that section and lived until quite 
well stricken in years. He finally crossed the Mis- 
sissippi and, coming to the home of his son in this 
count}-, here spent his last days, passing away in 
the summer of 1881, after having reached the .ad- 
vanced age of ninety-three years. The wife and 
mother had deiiarted hence over thirty' years before, 
her death taking pl.ace at the old homestead in 
Pennsylvania in 1850. Six of their children are 
Still living, and residents mostly of Kansas. 

The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
mostly after the manner of farmers' sons, and at an 
early period in his life he became interested in 
fruit-growing, to which he devoted himself to a 
considerable extent, both in Peinisylvania and Illi- 
nois. In this he h.as now had an experience of 
fifty years, and m.ay be pardoned for the belief that 
he has a [)rctty good understanding of the busi- 
ness. He left Illinois in the fall of 1872, and 
coming to this county purchased the whole of sec- 
tion 1 1 in Grant Township, this tract being then an 
unbroken |)rairie. He homesteaded an additional 
quarter-section, five acres of which h.ad been broken 
b}' the i>lowshare, and the year following had 
turned the sod upon the balance, besides going 
thro\igli the same process on IGO acres of his first 
purchase. 

Mr. McCraeken for several years previous to 
settling iu this State had watched the development 
of its soil and climate, and had been impressed 
with the belief that as a fruit-growing section it 
could scarcely be excelled in the Southwest, and it 
was with this end in view that he located here. 
The first year he set out about 25,000 trees, and 
the second year a like number. To his great dis- 
appointment and loss nearly .all of these were de- 
stroyed by the "grasshopper raid of 1874,"' but. 
without spending any time bewailing his misfort- 
une, he as soon as possible replanted, and h.as 
now one of the finest fruit and nursery farms iu 
Southern Kansas. He challenges anj- man to show 
a finer area devoted to the same purpose, or to ex- 
hibit a greater variety of fruit. Among the almost 
numberless specimens are those which ripen in suc- 
cession from the middle of M.ay to the middle of 
November. For these he has a ready market, his 
shipments being mostly- to Wichita and Newton. 
•► 



•►■-4^ 



WICK COUNTY, 



Mr. .\lc( iMi-hiM ii:i- nil" .)■"■ ;iin« •■, . r niilll 

iiixlcr n gotMl !iUlf i>r i-iillivnlioii mid. licHiilos \m 
l><»N->ps'<i<iiis in (Irani Ti>wiitlii|>, lin.- ri-nc-lioil over 
mill SlnlTiiril C'lmnly. nnil mljni-cnl U> llii- town of 
.Mnxvillc Im-i lOO iurc!< pliinted with :lu,000 trees, 
wliicli niinilter it is liis inlcntiuii to inereitsc this 
presint j«'!»r ( M>*><). He also owns forty acres 
nenr the town of Kingmnn, in Kinj^ninn County, a 
|)art of wiiirli at least In- will devote to his favorite 
industry, lie has l)een very liberal as a eili/.en in 
the eni'oiiraj^enient of all worthy enterprises, and 
assisted in liuildiii^ the three ehurch edifices of 
(ininl Towii>liip, besides givin<^ his sulislantial as- 
sistiiiK-e to the sup|Hirt and inaiiiU'iianec of the 
soeielie.-. 

.Mr. McCracken. while a resilient of his native 
.SL'ite, w!is there married, in Butler County, .June 
2, ix'tli, to Miss M.'ii-y IJiidsay, who is alioul the 
sniiie a^'e as her hiisliand, having hcen born .Inly 
IH. lH-.i<;. Mi-s. MeCracken is a native of Ireland, 
whence she eniigrnted to America with her parents 
when a young child. Her father, William Lind- 
say, and his wife, known in her girlhoo<l jis Miss 
Sarah Alexander, were also of Irish birth ami 
paieiiUige, and after coming to the I'liited SUUes 
settled in Pennsylvania, and in Hiiller County in 
IHSI. 

The McCracken residence, at the time of itjs 
erei'tion nine years ago. w.-is considered the liiiest 
in the county, Jind there are now but very few 
which will compare with it. It is surmounted hy 
a fine observatory, from which may be obtained an 
extensive view of the surrounding eoiinlry n dozen 
nlile^< in cucli direction. In connection with his 
fruit-growing interests, Mr. .McCracken <il)ici:ites 
as Postmaster at Sunnydale, and also conducts a 
store of general merchandise, which is located on 
the farm and in the building from which thclinited 
.State-i mail of this section is distributed. The 
Methodist Kpiscopal Church building adjacent is 
one «if the objects of his solicitous e.are; ami of the 
society, which wils establi.-lied in 1««I, Mrs. McC. 
is nil active and I'onsisti'iit member. 

It is worthy of mention, which also largely ex- 
plains .Mr. McC.V eiithiisiasin in beluilf of Kan.sas, 
tli:it he has traveled exiensively over the I'nited 
St:itei to liiid H:iler, >oil anil ib^iiable climate 



conibiiic<l, and, in his Judgment fouml nothing 
eipial to that of the Arkansas River \'alley in 
Kansas. 

The ]>ortraits of Mr. and Mrs. McCracken ap|M'ar 
on an adjoining page, and will be welcunu'il by .-i 
host of friends. 



OIIN M( ll(»l.As \Vi;rri:UII(il.l>. an edu- 
cated farmer, and master of the French, 
(ierinau and Kiiglish lan;;tiages. is pronii- 
fj nent among the pros|>erous agriciiltiirisLs of 
Park Towiishi(i, where he settled in March, 187;i, 
having purchased ITiO acres on section 11. He is a 
self-made man in all that the term implies, and 
one who, deprived of the advantages of education 
in his youth, has made the most of his time and 
opportunities, .•md devoted each leisure hour to the 
ai'(|uisitio!i of useful knowledge. 

Our subject was born March 20. 1M"J2, in what 
was then the French Province of Alsjice, but which 
during the Franco-Prussian War became a de|)end- 
ency of the (ieriiian Kmpire. His parents. Chris- 
tian and Sophia (Oreiinear) Wettt-rhold, natives of 
the same Province, when their .son John N. was 
about twenty-four years of ago, bade adieu to their 
n.ative land, and einigraled to America, settling in 
Krie County, N. Y. There the father engaged in 
fanning, but only lived four ycjirs. until \X,>0^ 
The mother followed her husband in IH.')!!; they 
were about seventy- three ye.Mis of age at the time 
of their decease. 

The parenUil household of our subject included 
five children, four of whom came to this country at 
the same lime. Christian resi<les at Sus|H'nsion 
Hridge, N. Y.; Henry died onOrand Island, in the 
Niagara Kiver, leaving a family; Sophia became 
the wife of Charles (Inrdiier. and died in Krie 
County, N. Y.\ Catherine, the wife of Philip 
Heaver, still resides there: .loliu N.. of our sket<-h, 
was the youngest son. 

Mr. Welterhold w.ns thrown upon his own re- 
sources early in life, with a limited ediieation, hav- 
ing been obliged to Work from his boyhood. When 
seventeen years oM he made his w.ay to the city of 
Pari^, where he loiiteniplated enga;;iug !Ls a laborer. 



•►•-4« 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



673 '^1 



Tlie French capital, however, was wholl}' unsuited 
til his tastes, and repairing to his native Piuviiice, 
he engaged as a shepherd, which occupation lie fol- 
lowed for the next five years. At the expiration 
of this time he entered the French army to serve 
with the cavalry, and was released by the Qovern- 
incnt after five and one-half j-cars' service. He re- 
ceived his discharge in .Janu.ary, 18.")0, and in 
Fehruary following set sail for New York, landing 
tlicre in the early part of April. He soon after- 
ward joined his father's family in Erie County, and 
shortly after left there and engaged as a farm 
laborer in Niagara County, for eighteen months, at 
¥G per niontii. 

In the locality above mentioned our subject made 
the acquaintance of Miss Elizabetli Neubeaur, wlio 
became his wife In the fall of 1852. IMrs. Wetter- 
hold, like her luisband, was born in the Province of 
Alsace, Oct. 10, 1828, and came with her brother 
Philipp to the United States wlien a j'oung lad}-. 
He is now a resident of Linn Count}', Iowa. Their 
parents, Philipp and Catherine Neubeaur, remained 
in tlieir native land, and are now deceased. 

Our subject and his wife, after their marriage, 
settled on a rented farm In Erie Count}', whence 
the}' not long afterward removed to Ni.igara 
County, and continued In the Empire .State until 
1SG.5. In the summer of that year, Mr. W. resolved 
to seek a future home in the West, and made his 
way to Linn County, Iowa, but the climate there 
being too severe, he determined to go further 
south, to Schuyler County, Mo., where lie followed 
teaming two years. His next removal was to a 
tract of land in Grundy County, where he followed 
farming for a time, and then took up his residence 
in LaF.ayette County, where lie lemnined until 
1879. 

Mr. Wetterhold came to this county In the spring 
of the year above mentioned, and operated on 
rented land until the spring of 1884. Then, hav- 
ing i)urehased his present farm, he settled upon it, 
and the improvements which the traveler now be- 
holils with an admiring eye are the result of his 
industry and good management. He cultivates a 
quarter-section of land, and has erected a fine resi- 
dence, with the other necessary buildings for the 
convenient prosecution of his calling, and now, be- 



sides gener.al agriculture, is carrying on stock- 
raising quite extensively, dealing mostly in cattle 
and swine. 

To our subject and his wife there have been i)orn 
seven children, namely: .lulla, the wife of Thom.i> 
Hrown, of Keclii To\vnshi(); Nicholas, a resident if 
Cass County, Mo.; Caroline, at home; Wllllani, 
farming for himself in Eagle Township; George. 
Frank and Charles, at home with their parents. 
Mr. and Mrs. W. were reared in the faith of the 
Lutheran Church, to which they still adliere, and. 
our subject, pdlitlcally, is an uncompromising 
Democrat. 



■•► * j o , - 



M. LANE, proprietor of the Douglas Ave- 
nue House, located on the southwest corner 
of Water and Douglas avenue, Wichita, Is 
one of the large landed proprietors of this portion 
of Kansas. By his enterprise and business abilit\ 
lie has greatly assisted in the devc!oi)nient of Wich- 
ita. He was born in Monroe County. N. Y., .Sept. 1 , 
1834, and was the son of John L. and Aurill:i 
(Hicks) Lane, natives respectively of Massachusetts 
and \'crniont. Tlie former, when a boy, removed 
witli his parents, Timothy and Rebecca (.Abbott) 
Lane, to New York, where his fatiier took up Gov- 
ernment land on tlie site of tlie present city of 
Rochester. He built a log house, and made his 
home there for many years, his death occurring at 
the age of eighty-nine in Victor, near Rochester. 
He came of a very long-lived race, and his brother'.- 
son, a Revolutionary soldier, attained the remark- 
able age of one hundred and thirteen years. 

John L. Lane, father of the subject, was an ex- 
tensive farmer and dairyman. iSL-my years after 
marriage he moved with his family from New York 
to Michigan, and settling in Clinton County in 
1855, there made his home until death. To him 
and Ills wife were born thirteen children, four cil 
whom are now living, namely: James H., 'J'. IVL. 
John M. and Vanrcnsler H. James H. resuh's in 
Cattaraugus County, N. Y. 

T. M. Lane, of this sketch, when four years of 
age went to live with a distant relative, with whom 
he remained until ten years of age. One of the 
souvenirs of this jieriod of his life Is a silver dollar 
— ^ •► 



■ -«■ 



t- 

T 

fn. 



li. 



■DAnner* bavc aimetdi u^ ibem m*DV v»nn (iK^Kb. 



r. 



W. HA I 



J 



Uit tliirtv, sjilj aivl nirM-t| <lav«, aii«l was Ui* oolj n*ar l»iKlori. 



rufoarsul, 
' 1 1. mkI. with bu excvlk-nt 



•^ •-#• 



*-»-<• 



f 



-♦-4« 



SE0<;WI( K COLNTY. 



t 



i 



wife, is still living on a farm in Afton TownsLip, 
whose nffairs he still atten<is to with mach uf bis 
old-time energy. The mother was bom Nov. 13. 
1834. Their wedding t<X)k pbce in Illinois, and 
they first settled in Peoria Connty, 111., and came 
to Kansas in the fall of 1 886. 

The children of the parental family, nine in nam- 
ber. were bom as follows : Charles B., Sept. 8. 1 854 ; 
the birth of George W., oor subject, has already 
been given, he being the second son : Sarah .J. was 
bom April 2.5. 18.58; John W., Nov. 25. I860; Ida 
J.. March 15. 1863; Isaac Me.. March 3, 1864; 
D«:>ra 31., Feb. 19. 1867: Minnie C, Dec. 2, 1869; 
Frank E., Jan. 3, 1873; Bertha L., Oct. 18, 1875. 
The first-bom dietl in infancy. Sarah J. is the wife 
of Walter Hopkins, a boot and shoe dealer of Peoria 
Connty, III., and the mother of five children; John 
W. died in Peoria County when two years old. and 
Ida J. in infancy; Isaac married Miss Ida Patton, 
and is a fanner of Logan Township. Peoria Co.. 111. 
The younger children are at home with their parents, 
pnrsning their studies in the common sch<x>l. 

Mr. Harvey, when twenty years of age, left the 
parental roof and commenced for himself as a farm 
laborer. After a year thus employed, he rented 
land, upon which he worked and made his home 
with his parents. The year following, on the 10th 
of Janaar}", 1878, he w.ns united in marriage with 
Miss JIary Ann, danghtcr of James and Mary 
( Bearce) Wiuterbottom. Mrs. Harvey was bom in 
Fnlton Connty, IlL, Jan. 10, 1857. Her father was 
of English birth and parentage, and a farmer by 
occupation. The mother was bom in Illinois. 
The}- came to Kansas in 1 884, and are now resi- 
dents of Anderson Connty. Mary A. was the eldest 
of their six children. Her brother. Joseph Will- 
i.im, w.is bora -July 4, 1859, and died at his home 
in December. 1887, when a little over twenty -eigiit 
years old: Sarah is the wife of George Ashley, a 
farmer of Linn County, this State, and the mother 
of one child : Ida Florence died in infancy; Alice 
Ethel married Milo Wheeler, and lives in Linn 
Connty, Kan.; and John Harvey is at home with 
his parents. 

The five children bom to oor subject and his 
wife are recorded as follows: Grace Lnella was 
bom in Peoria Connty, HL, Aug. 19. 1879; James 



Calvio, bom Sept. 12, I-- i infancy; 

Charles Allen, bom Dec. ::■■. i-'-i. 'lied in this 
county, Oct. 27, lf'87; Cora Ethel w.is born at the 
present homestead of her [nrcnts, Jan. 5, 1884, and 
Chester. March 15, 1885. 

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Harvc}-, Eli 
H. Bearce by name, was bom in Hartford, Conn., 
Feb. 14, 1792, and married, on the 1 9th of March, 
1816, Miss Sarah Austin, who was bom in Penfield. 
N. Y., July 5, 1795. They were of English and 
Welsh descent, respectively, and emigrated to Illi- 
nois in 1820, where Mr. Bearce engage<i in farming. 
Their family consisted of three sons and four daugh- 
ters. The names and children of these are given as 
follows: Hannah has five sons and four daughters: 
Orson, five sons and seven daughters ; Lucinda, three 
sons and seven daughters ; Maria, three sons and 
two daughters ; Homer, five sons and three daugh- 
ters; Franklin, five sons and two daughters, and 
Mary, two sons and three daughters. 

James Winterbottom, the father of Mrs. Harvey, 
and of English ancestry, was bom July 18, 1828, in 
Cheshire, whence he emigrated in his youth, set- 
tling in Illinois in 1840, and on the 12th of '>Iarch, 
1856. was married to Miss Mary Bearce. Their 
children are recorded as follows, all being bom 
near Cuba, III.: Mary Ann was bom .Jan. 10, 1357; 
Joseph W., July 4, 1858; Sadie M.. Sept. 5. 1860; 
Allie E., Jan. 26. 1867, and .John H., July 12. 1«70. 
The parents and all the children crossed the Missis- 
sippi, and located in Anderson County, Kan., on 
the 1st of September, 1884. 

The farm and buildings of Mr. Harvey are highly 
creditable to his skill and industry, the former be- 
ing under a good state of cultivation, 100 acres de- 
vote<l to grain, and the balance in pasture. He h.is 
a fine young orch.ird, and a goodly assortment of 
choice fruit trees. A few more years will make the 
pnjpcrty one of the most desirable homesteads in 
Afton Township. 



J~ OHN S. STEVENS came to Kans-ns in 1871, 
I and for five years thereafter was l<:icatefl in 
' Chautauqua Connty. In 1877 he opened up 
' a grocery store in the city of Wicliita. and 
after an unprofitable experience of six months. 



^^ 



■•-4« 



si:i)(;\VKK COUNTY. 



T 



t.mk ii|i ;> i-lMJiii <>i\ tlic N(irtii KiPik nf ilic Niiiiio- 
M-nh, i>ii sootiiHi (■> ill Cmixl River Township, where 
lie h:i!« >ii»rc o|>en»teil sm-cesxfiilly iiiiil iiiiill up n 
;,'iiimI home, ilis fnriii i» well wittereil, iiikI siipplie<l 
njlli neat mill siilisliiiitiiil ImiMiii^s, while in cun- 
meliiiii with {•eneriil n]L;ri<-iillure he jiive.s eonsidcrii- 
lilc !ittciit:on lo the hreeiliny of ;;rii(lc(l 8t<K-k. 

I)iitehe!».s County. N. Y.. wiis the early home of 
• lur sul>jcet. and liis liirlli look plncc Nov. I'J, lrtl2, 
at tlie modest home of his ptirciits. lie is the son 
of .Vkerly and Liicinda (li-ichelder) Stevens, who, 
two years after the birth of .John S., left the Kni- 
pire Slate ami settled in Krie County, Pa. Nine 
ye:irs later the mother died, and .lohn S. returned 
to his native Stale, areompanied by an uncle, lie 
lived with his nnele in Cattaraugus Country about 
«ine and one-half years, at the expiration of which 
time the uncle chatiL'eii his residence to Winnebafjo 
County. II!. Our subject receiveil a common-school 
education, and at the age of seventeen made his way 
lo Wisconsin, about which time there was an urgent 
call for troops to assist in putting down the Rebel- 
lion. 

Young .'^tevens now enlisted as a I'niun soldier 
in a Wisconsin regiment, but was subscquentlj- 
a.-.-'igued to the "Jd Illinois Light ArtillerA", liiscom- 
p.-my being commanded by Capt. .lohn C. Phillips. 
.Mr. Stevens served three j'e.ars anil three monlhs, 
in the meantime being twice captured by the 
rebels, the first time at Harper's Ferry. He was at 
once paroled, an<l exchanged about four months 
afterward. .Subsequently he saw much hard fighting, 
ami w.as the second time captured, at Rogcrsville. 
Tenn.. and kept a prisoner nt Hellc Isle four and 
one-half months. He was confined in Pemberlon's 
tobacco warehouse a few days, and from there sent 
to Andersonville, where he wa.s confined si.x months, 
then sent lo Charleston. .S. C, where he and others 
w<Te sUitioiied to receive the shells of I'nion gun- 
boats. I'rom llierc he went to Florence, .S. C., 
where he continued a prisoner three months longer. 
'I'his latter place Mr. Stevens sUites was fully equal 
in hardship and suffering to any of the others, and 
u|H)n one occasion In- passe<l several days without 
any food. He then ate cornmenl anrl cow jiens, 
a couple of s|M>onsful furnished each day. He 
finally was released at the exchange of the first 



1(1,000 prisoners, and was deUiiUd to Anna|«'li«. 
Md., where he obUiined n furlough and made a 
visit lo his home in Illinois. I'lMm rejoining his 
reginu'ul the boys were detailed to .»st. Louis, where 
•Mr. .Stevens was pbice<l in charge of a number nf 
men, and assigned to Com|inuy H of the s-inn' 
regiment. Their next move was t4> Clarksvillc. 
Tenn., where our subject remained on duty until 
his term of enlistment had expired. Ijton one 
occasion a horse was shot by his side, and anotlKT 
shot under him. which fell on his leg bruising it so 
that he has never recovereil from the effect^, and 
rendering it one and one-half inches larger than 
the other. He is evidently entitled lo a pension, 
but ha.s thus far been unable lo secure one on ac- 
count of lack of sullicienl evidence. 

Mr. Stevens was mustered out of service on the 
Cth of June, ll^ii.'), and continued in Illinois until 
1871. when he took up his residence in this Stale. 
On the .'Jd of November, 1H72. he was united in 
marriage with Miss .Sarah Italdwin. who was born 
in Clinton Comity, Iowa, Nov. 17, 18.'i.'). .Mr-. 
.Stevens is the daughter of Wesson and Eliza 
(Nickeson) Hahlwin. n.atives respectively of New- 
York and Canaila. They removed to Iowa about 
IHIH, and are now living in Wiishington Territory. 
.Mr. and Mi's. Stevens have two chihlren: Rcrtie C., 
born Sept. 21, 187C, and Bessie G., April 10, |,s.s3. 
Our subject votes the straight Republican ticket, 
and has served .is Consl«blc one t<'nn. 



^r OSKI'II (i. y\< C(»V. king of the Texas cattle 
I Iraile of this locality, and at present locate<l 
^^^11 at Wichitii, came to this city in l.'iSl.aml 
l^W/ accumulated the nucleus of his present fort- 
une in the real-estate business. Naturally ener- 
getic and of more than ordinary business capacities, 
he has been extremely fortunate in his labt>rs and 
his investments, and seems es|K'cially ailapteil to 
the business which he iU)W follows. 

Sangamon Counlj', 111., was the early trampin;: 
ground of our subject, and there his birth took 
place (U) the 2lsl of Deceinbcr, IH.'17. His parents, 
Uavid and Mary (Kirkpalrick) McCoy, were na- 
tives res|>ectively of \irginia and Kenlucky. the \ r 



-4^ 



SEDGVVJCK COUNTY. 






1 ' 



fjitlier born in 1790, and the mother u few years 
hiter. David McCoy followed farming all liis life, 
and leaving the t)ld Dominion at an early age, was 
counted among the pioneer settlers of Sangamon 
County, III., to which lie removed in 1815. He 
was very successful in his labors, becoming weaitliy, 
and died in the city of Springfield about ISC'J. 
The mother passed away in 184G. Of their eleven 
children three died in infancy, two unnamed be- 
sides a son John. The otbere were Owen, Hugh, 
Polly A., Nancy, Thomas, William, James, Richard, 
and Joseph G., of our sketch. Of these five arc 
living, two residing in Kansas, one in Illinois, one 
in Oregon, and the other in Washington Territory. 

Our subject spent his bt)yhood and youth in the 
I'rairie State, and when twenty-four years of .age 
was married there, Oct. 22, 18G1, to Miss Sarah 
Kpler. ]\Irs. McCoy was born in Cass County, 111., 
Jan. 1 G, 1 8.'}7, and is the daughter of Jacob and 
Mary A. (Beggs) Epler, natives of Indiana. Her 
father, who carried on farming during the years of 
his active life, was born in 1803 and is still living, 
having reached the advanced age of eighty-five 
years. He makes his home in the cit}' of Jackson- 
ville. The mother was born in January, 1802, 
and also lived to a rijje old age, her death taking 
place at her home in Pleasant I'lains, HI., in 1884. 
.She was a most excellent Christian lady and a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were 
the parents of five children — Jolni T., Anna, Sarah, 
Jennie and Stephen A. D. 

Mr. McCoy was the youngest child of his par- 
ents, and after completing his studies in the district 
school attended Knox College two years. He eni- 
liaikcd in the cattle business in 18G1 in Illinois, and 
also carried on farming. In 18G7 he conceived 
the project of cstiiblishing a shipping depot some- 
where in the West for Texas cattle, and selected 
Abilene, Dickinson County, this State. Here he 
purchased GOO .acres of land which embraced the 
county seat of that county, and surveyed a cattle 
trad from Abilene to the Indian Territory, and the 
route of transportation for large herds. He also 
made arrangements for the watering of the animals 
at stated jx'riods, and founded the town of New- 
ton. Tliey crossed the Arkansas River near the site 
of the present city of Wichita, and struck their first 



^^ 



railroad station at Abilene. From July to Janu- 
ary, 1878, the transactions included 2,500 car- 
loads of cattle. The following 3'ear exhibited a 
much larger number. In 18G9 Mr. McCoy took 
up his residence at .Vbilene, where he continued 
until 1S73, then disposed of his property there and 
removed to Kansas Citj'. 

Our subject was in Kansas City during the stru<'-- 
gle of 1873, which established that point as the 
leading cattle market of the West He operated in 
that locality for a period of seven years, and then 
invested a portion of his capital in the meat prod- 
uct, and in the prosecution of this traveled all over 
the southwestern part of the United States. In 
order to learn something of the magnitude of the 
business carried on in this section of the country, 
he availed himself of all the statistics pertainin" 
thereto, obtaining the number of head of cattle, 
sheep and hogs in the Southwest, from which he 
compiled a very readable work entitled '-History 
of the Cattle Business of the West and .Southwest" 

JMr. McCoy, in 1881, w.as employed by the Chero- 
kee Nation as agent for the collection of revenue 
on their outlying lands, and in the pursuance of 
this located in Wichita. He served .as Mayor of 
Abilene during his residence there, and the fa- 
mous Wild Bill who was killed at the Black Hills 
in the seventies w.-us bis City Marshal. Our sub- 
ject is the fatlier of seven children, namely: Owen, 
Troy, Mar}^ E., David B., Florence L., Eugene Jl. 
and Ada. The latter died at the age of ten months, 
and two others, Owen and Troy, pas.scd away in 
infancy. Mr. McCo}' and his family are mendjcrs 
and regular attendants of the Presbyterian Church. 
Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and politi- 
cally, is a Democrat* of the (irst water. 



ellARLES W. NORTON. Among the young 
men of Sedgwick County who have selected 
agriculture as their vocation in life, and 
who, judging from present indications, are bound 
to realize their most sanguine anticipations, is the 
subject of this biographical notice, who is residing 
on section 7, Rockford Township. Mr. Norton is a 
native of Clintcni Countj-, Mo., born .Sept. 11, 1859, 
and is the son of Charles A. and EIraira (Holmes) 



t 



<^ 



■►■-4. 



I I x; WICK COUNTY. 



.\i>rl<in, a history of wluitu . 'kvc in 

tll<- lUlgeS of tllJ!) VollllDf. 

'I'lie Milijcfl of oiir itkfU'h wns ronroil tn iiiniiluKMt 
ill liis nnlivo foiinly, nii'l r»-i't'iv»'(l liis filiicatioii at 
tin- coiiiiiiiin scIkkiIs of that locality, lie i-oiii- 
iiuMiccil early in life U> a^-isl his father in the lahors 
iiiciilent to the |inniiiil of ajjriciillnre, and thus re- 
ceived a home training that has been invaUialile to 
liiin in later years, lie remained beneath the par- 
ciil^d rooftree until attaining his majority, and tlien 
caiiie to K:insn», arriving in Sedgwick County .Ian. 
•_'•-'. IS.HO. For alioiit two years he was engaged in 
r.'irining on his own account upon a tract of land 
which he had rented, anil was then married. The 
icrcinony which united the destinies of our subject 
.•unl Miss Fanny l,aw was duly solcmni/.cd .Ian. 22, 
\^X2. The bride was a native of Miami County, 
Kan., born on the I'Cth of March. I8C('., and i.s the 
daughter of Albert and Kli/.a (Keith) Law, natives 
of West Virginia. 

For the three years succeeding his marriage Mr. 
Norton carried on fanning operations in connection 
with his father-in-law, but in 188} purchased 100 
acres of land on section 7, Rockford Township, 
where he now makes his home. lie has all the land 
under a most excellent slate of tillage. He is pay- 
ing a large amount of attention to stock interests, 
giving a preference to grailed .Short-horn cattle. 
One si)an of mules, of which he is the owner, took 
the premium at the fair at Louisville, Ky., in 1^S,■). 
In M.'jy, 1887, he made a trip to Color.ido, and was 
engaged for about two months at Leadville, but 
not liking the country, returned to his home in this 
county. Keinenibering the .advice of liishop Tay- 
lor, that "A man to secure a contented spirit should 
mc!isure his desires by his fortunes, not his fortune 
liV his desires," .Mr. Norton is s.atis(ieil to settle 
down upon his farm, !ind await the slow but sure 
gains attendant on the vocation in which he is suc- 
ceeding so well. 

.Mrs. Norton, who is a highly intelligent .•lud in- 
tellectual lady, receiven .a portion of her education 
in the ordinary district .-iehools of this .Slat*', which 
was then siipplcmcntcd by an attendjince at the 
High School, of Wichita. To her and Mr. Norton 
there li:is been born one child, sent to bless their 
hoiisehol'l and to cheer their home. Ilis name is 



Lee Amos, and his birth Irxik plnw .June 1, 18S7. In 
his|>olitieal views .Mr. Norttm coincides with the plat- 
forms formidated by the Itepublienn party, nlthongh 
he takes little interest in politics outride of his duty in 
attending to his elective frnnehise. He has a strong 
preference for the domestic joys of his own fireside, 
and an attendance upon the interests of his busi- 
ness, and would not willingly surrender the |>eacc 
and ipiietne.ss of his happy lot for the turmoil and 
care of political wrangling. Although a young 
man, ho is rapidly growing into the esteem and re- 
s|)ect of his neighbors, and bids fair, in the near 
future, to assuuic a prominent and intliiential |><)'<i. 
lion in the communitv. 



L'^r^HKUDUHKSCll.MlDT. The subject of this 
t(('^\\ '''*''""y '* ""•■ *'' I''*' prominent citizens of 
V^i^ (ioddard, and the owner and proprietor of the 
Tremont House of that place. He is a native of 
the Duchy of Nassau, (iermanj-, born Dec. 11, 
18 1-2, jind the son of Loiiis and Mary .Schmidt, na- 
tives of that portion of the (lerman Kmpire. 

Our subject in his childhood lived in that beauti- 
ful laud of his birth, not many miles distant from 
the classic watei-s of the River Rhine, and imbibed 
the lirst elements of his education beneath the genial 
skies of the (Jerman Fatherland. At the age of 
nine years he came to America with his [larents .'ind 
their f.amily, who crossed the stormy breast of the 
wild Atlantic in search of the fortune denied to 
them upon their native soil, which is over-run by a 
despotic military government. On reaching this 
country they came westward ftiul settled in Ma- 
coupin County, III., where his father has resided 
ever since on a farm. The mother of the family 
died in the year 18G(>. They were the parents of 
six chil.lren. of whom the following is a record: 
Louis came to America with his parents in 18.'il; 
he is married, is a mason by trade, and lives in Illi- 
nois. Ferdinaml is married, and h:is a family of 
four children, and is a farmer near Carlinville, III.; 
the next child is Theodore, the subject of this 
sketch; IVter made his home with his parents up to 
the time of his death, which took place in January, 
18HG; Charles is now at home on the family home- 



n 




^.."^-^ 




/,lL FkUII i .m ,•., ; HUt'LRl Y or WlLLIAf 




Cracken, Sec.22.GrantTp.,SedgwickCo.,Kan. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 



t;83 






sU-ad, in Illinois; Callicrinc is nianicd, lias a 
familj' of three children, and is livinjr upon a farm 
in Maconpin County, III. 

The siibjcct of our sketch finished his education 
in the district scliools of the county in the Prairie 
State where his parents had settled, and lent his 
assistance toward carrying on the farm of his father 
in his earlier manhood. He remained at homo thus 
engaged until he was past twenty-two years of 
.age, and Feb. .5, 1865, was united in marriage with 
Miss Emma Sidway, a native of Studbridgeshire, 
England, born July ',), 1848, and the d.aiighter of 
John and Sebra .Sidway, who were natives also of 
Albion. She came to America in 18.52, with her 
parents, who settled in Macoupin Count}', 111., on 
a farm where they both died, her father in 1871. 
and her mother in 1853. Of Iier brothers and sis- 
ters, there is preserved the following record : 
Thomas, who is married, and is engaged in farm- 
ing near St. Charles, Winona Co., Minn.; Jennie, 
who married Fred Frisby, who is ft member of the 
police force of St. Louis; Samuel, who is married, and 
is the editor of the Dyersburg Gazette, in the town 
of that name in Tennessee: and one child who died 
in infancy. The suljject of this history remained a 
resident of the State of Illinois until 1872, when 
he came to Kansas, and located near .St. Mark, this 
count}', homesteading !i claim of IGO acres, which 
he proved up on, and finally sold, and purchased an 
improved farm of IGO .acres on the Cowskin Creek, 
and paid for the same some * 1.500. For a period 
covering some five years he remained upon the lat- 
ter place, engaged in farmingand stock-raising, and 
then disiiosing of his property, returned to the 
neighborhood of St. Mark, buying eighty acres 
of land in that vicinity, and was engaged in tilling 
the soil there for two more years. At the expira- 
tion of that time, having sold the place, he removed 
to Goddard, and purchasing some lots, erected 
the Tremont House, and furnished the hotel through- 
out in an excellent manner. He leased the prop- 
erty to J. Turner, who oi)erated it for about six- 
teen niontlis, at the end of which time Mr. .Schmidt 
took i)ossession of it, and has since that time been 
acting the part of mine host. The interests and 
comfort of his guests are the great objects that he 
is striving for, and no more genial and pleasant 



landlord can lie fdiiiid in :i wide range of country. 
The house is well filled n|), is convenient and com- 
fortable, and the cuisine is unexcei)tional(le. He 
derives a consideridile revenue from land-seekers, 
who come to this portion of country in search of 
homes, but draws a large patronage from the coni- 
innnity who surround the village, and who make 
that place their model town. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt there have been born 
a family of nine children, viz : Theodore, William 
.Stephen, Henry, Annie, Thomas, Samuel, Elsie, 
Blanche and Guj'. Theodore AV. was born May 
23, 1866, and died at the age of fifteen months, in 
Illinois; William Stephen was born M.-xy 7, 1886, 
and departed this life Aug. 18, 188G; Henrj' was 
born Aug. 14, 1870, and is remaining at home and 
in attendance upon the district school of that place; 
Annie was born Ma\' 2, 1872, and w.is called to the 
land bej'ond the grave Aug. 1!), 1872, in Illinois; 
Thom.as died in Kans.as; S.amuel, the date of 
whose birth was Jan. 5, 187G, was born on I he 
Cowskin Creek, in Kansas, and is now at home wilh 
his parents; Elsie, who w.is born May 23, 1881, 
died at St. Mark, Aug. 21, 1881; Blanche, who is 
.at home, was born Dec. 27, 1882; and Guy, May 
27, 1887. 

The subject of our sketch is a Democrat, puliti- 
cally, and a stanch adherent to the principles foruni- 
lated by Thomas Jefferson, the founder <jf that 
party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic 
Chuicli, having been reared in that faith from early 
childhood. His wife is a Protestant, a member of 
the Presb^'terian Church, and a most estimable, 
hospitable and noble woman. 



I^.OBERT HUTCHI.SON, one of the wealthy 
|Lii7 and retired farmers of Sedgwick County, 
l^\ iind now a resident of AVichita, came west 
^^of the Mississippi in 1881, and making 
AVichita his objective )K)int, has since continued his 
residence here. In 1887 he put up a fine brick resi- 
dence at a cost of over i!!6,000, and in due time be- 
came an extensive property holder. The gre;itcr 
part of his life has been occupied in agricultin.al 
pursuits, and his specialty was stock-growing, in 



-•► 



•^-•-4*- 



I* 



■*►■-" 



t;«4 



«<i:i»<;\vi(K coiiNTV. 



which iiidiistn' he met with niun iliuii onliuai^ -i. 
cess. His prcM-nt home (xnipics No. 2,(»0.'i Norlli 
Ijiwrciicc i«Vfiiiic, .tml is iioticenlilo fmiii Iho iii- 
<li(-:iliiiiit> of l«ith comfort niiil hixiiiy whirh illu>- 
triitc the rcliiied tiintcs niul Hiiiplc ini'iiiis of tho pro- 
priclor. 

Our Miliject wjis horn in F;iMttc County, in the 
south wiritern corner of rennsylvanin. Sept. 14, 
IH1.-|, nnil is the -son of Holiertnnil M.-irj^arel (Love) 
Hutchison, who were nntivcs of the s.inie St«te. 
The father wiis a farmer l>y «K-cnpntion, nnil cmi- 
;;mte<l to Wayne t'ounty. Ohio, in IM40. He locnlcd 
in that coiinty, where he carriC)! on .iffricnltnre 
.•18 l)rfore, ami where he died sixteen years later, in 
IH.iO. Tiie mother .survived licr husband but six 
years, her lU-ath also taking place in Ohio, in 18G2. 
Hoth parents were nainbers of the OlrUSchool I'res- 
byterian Church. Their sons and daughters arc 
recorded jus follows: Hugh ilied some yeai-s ago; 
.Mary, .Mrs. .laiob His.s, is also deceased; James is 
a resident of his native county in Pennsylvania; 
.John lives on tiie old homcsU-ad there; Robert, of 
our sketch, was the fourth child; tlic others were 
Joseph and William. 

Mr. Hutchison wjus a yonng man twenty-two 
years of age when he left his native .St;Ue, and re- 
moved to Ohio with his father's family. He re- 
mained Lhere until coming to Kansas, in 1881. He 
»:is married in Wayne County, Ohio, on the 12lh 
of July, IMI.i, to Miss Catherine Hreni/.er, who Wius 
born in Cinnbcrland County, I'a., Sept. K), ls->o. 

^ , j , ^ ^^ J 



lAMKS W. HINTON, of Wi(-hita, found 
fanning less congenial than speculating, and 
accordingly ch.-inged his occupation from 
\\^^ that of the former to the latternanicd busi- 
iiess. June II, 1822, the record says he tii-st saw 
the light, and IJedford Conn^y, I'.a., was the place 
of his birth. William and .Mary (Clark) Hinton 
were the father and mollicr of .lames. Tlicy were 
u.ilivesof M.'irylaudaud I'cnusylvaniji. respeclively. 
The father died in 1 m;!7. He is .sai.l to have been 
.1 hard worker, farmer and miller in one, anti in- 
dustry was a virtue with him. The mother lived till 
1^*02, and left earth life near Neosho Fail.-, Kan. 



She reniHJiKMl a widow nfter her hushitnd's dcmioe. 
The MetJKHlist Kpi.-ico|Hd Church found n ready 
response in her heart. Kight children blessed their 
union. Kliuibelh is now Uie widow of a .Mr. 
Bishop; Julia joined her fortunes with .Mr. Ayers. 
of Iowa: Margaret east her lot in life with Mr. 
Smith, of California: Snndi is another daughter; 
William is d«'a<l ; Lorenzo I), is married. 

James, of whom we are writing particularly, was 
tho second chiUl of the family. Miss Fanny .Self, 
of Missouri, is his life imrtncr. Their marriage 
was duly solcmni/.ed in 18.">8. She is n daughter 
of .Mr. .Stewart .Self, reputed to be :i prominent 
man of Marion County, in that State. 

Our subject has traveled no little in the Western 
Stiites. He set out for Ohio in the year 18|,'(, and 
stopiK-d one year in Milwaukee. Wis., then went 
to Chicago, prospecting for a series of days. Not 
satisfied there, he struck out for the (lalena lead 
mines, where he stop|H'd for a time. .St. I'aid, 
Minn., then made a home for him a year. That 
country' proving too cold, lie found a more 
gonial clinic in Missouri and Te.xas for two years, 
but the lumber business of St. I'nul offered indiice- 
meiit-s enough to him to stand the rigor of a cold 
climate again, so he returned, and with Nel.soii, 
Loouiis iV Co., erected a good s:iwniill and remained 
there live years. 

Hannibal, .Mo., seemed to need Mr. 11. 's ctTorls 
ill a liiiiiber-yai'd. and he responded t<^> the call. Ho 
.•icted for agent for :i time, then bought the biisi- 
iioss jiiid continued until 1871. He then htcated 
ill Kansas, bought 100 acres of land and sold it at 
cost. He invested in Wichita city lots and "struck 
it;" four acres of such land at ^1,000 a lot being 
a bonan/.a to any man. He ha> a nice residence 
and eight lot.s of land therewith. 

Two children blessed the marriage of our subject. 
One of the daughters, Liz/.ie. found in Fi'aiik 
.Smith, now Postmaster of the city, the one of .all 
most suited to her liking for a husband — :i native 
of the IJiickeye Slate and a representative Western 
man; Myrtie, the other daughter, is unmarried at 
this writing. The mother died in 187 I in the city 
of WichiUi. She w.as born .Inly -JO, 18.J.'). .She 
was identilied with the ISaptist |iersua.sion, was a 
worthv Cliri.stiau, a kind mother and a loviiiu; wife. 



•^11-^ 



-•►-■-^ 



s?:dgwick county. 



6ii5 



The Doinoi-rntic parl^', wlieii it primouiiccs for pro- 
hiliitiun, meets the political views of James W. 
Iliiiton, and the S\ve(Ienl)or^ian Clmrcli comes 
nearest his views of reliijions (hit v. 



OEWTON A. STKKNS, a leading citizen of 
Colwich, where he is engaged in the drug 
business, is one of the pioneers of Sedg- 
wick County, having come here in the 3'ear 1871, 
when he look up, under the homestead act, the 
northwest quarter of section 4 of Union Township, 
and has since been identified in various ways with 
the development of tiiat townshi)), and with the 
town of Colwich. 

Mr. Sterns is a worth}' descendant of good New 
England ancesUy and is himself a native of Lake 
Count}-, Ohio, where lie was born Jan. 9, 1852. 
His father, Ziba Sterns, also a native of that county, 
was born and has always made his home on the 
same farm which became the birthplace of his chil- 
dren. His father, Abijah Sterns, was born in Bos- 
ton, Mass., and there conducted the business of a 
merchant for several years until his removal to 
Lake County, Ohio, as one of the earl}' pioneers 
who opened up that county for settlement. He 
cleared a farm in the forest, and there he and his 
good wife spent the remaining years of their wed- 
ded life. 

The father of our subject is a prosperous farmer, 
still residing in the home of his birth. The maiden 
name of his wife was Eliza Emmerson. llor death 
occurred in their home in 18G8, she having been a 
live-long resident of Lake County. As a devoted 
wife, a true mother, and a kind neighbor, her mem- 
ory is cherished in the hearts of many. Three 
children were born of that union — Lyman, Foster 
and Newton. Lyman is a wholesale produce dealer 
in Bradford, McLean Co., Pa.; Foster lives on the 
homestead in Ohio. 

Our subject is the youngest of the family. He 
received a judicious training from his parents, who 
also gave him the Ijenefit of a good education, both 
ill tiie public schools and at an academy in his native 
ciiimly, and ho was thus well fitted for the life of 
a practical business man. At the age of sixteen he 



entered the mercantile calling .as a clerk, serving in 
that cap.acity for one year. He then adopted the 
profession of a te.acher, for which he was well 
adapted by education and temperament, continuing 
in that vocation until 1871. In the siiring of that 
year he gave up teaching, and came to Kansius to 
assist in the development of its great agricultural 
resources and to secure a share of the wealth 
stored up in its alluvial soil. Li Butler County he 
fell in with Mr. C. F. Hyde, who has since become 
a leading citizen of Southern Kansas, and with him 
came to Sedgwick County in search of a suitable 
location. They took up adjoining farms in Union 
Township, and soon after Mr. Hyde returned to 
his home in Missouri to harvest his crops, leaving 
Mr. Sterns in charge of his property and of the 
small store he had established. He shipped him 
more goods from Missouri, and later returned and 
resumed the inanagenient of his store. During the 
absence of his friend our subject had caused a house 
to be erected on Mr. Hyde's land, and when that 
gentleman returned he took his quarters with him, 
and continued to board with him for twelve years, 
engaged as a clerk in his store, employing his leisure 
hours to improve his own land. 

In 1883 our subject married and established a 
home of his own. His wife, whose maiden iiainc 
was Margie Packard, is the daughter of Henry and 
Mary (Jones) Packard, of Colwich. Mrs. Sterns 
was born in Vinton County, Ohio, May 13, 18C2. 
To her and her husband has been born one son, 
Irwin. After marriage they made their home on a 
farm in Union Township until 1886, and then re- 
moved to Colwich, that Mr. Sterns might manage 
more advantageously his drug business, which he 
had established the spring before. He still owns 
his farm, which is now very valuable, and has 
yielded rich harvests under his good management. 

During his residence in Kansas Mr. Sterns has 
been an important factor in advancing the cause 
of education in this part of the country. In 1871 
he resumed his early profession as teacher, and 
opened the first school ever established in Union 
Township, teaching the summer, fall and winter 
terms, and also taught in the years 187.5 and 1870. 
He is an able instructor, and his services were 
highly appreciated both by parents and jiupils. In 



- ► ■ ^» 



i 



-Kln;\\ |( K cor N IV. 



|>:irt,\. IK' liit-N Uikcii a jiroiiiiiifiil |>iti I in juiKlit' 
:itTiiii>, iilwiiy'* li'inliii'^' lii.i iiilliicMico tn |ir(>iiii>tc tlic 
l'»-!<'. li>lerf>U c»f till' cuiniiuiiiiU' wIuto he n'sidos. 
Ill- \vn«i 'riiivii!>lii|i Clei'k for m'VithI ycai-!*, :uiil Jus- 
lire of ihc IViu'c for two ycnr>. His |>ers<iiiii| iii- 
t«';;rity. IhiIIi in piiMic niiil priviite life, is of the 
liiiiiu'sl unlrr. Ill' is pihIowuiI with n ck'nr, wcll- 
l>:i'.!ni(-('il iiit<-lk-ct, shar|>oiU'(l liy ;\ mhiikI odiicnlion 
ami ki'on |Ki\vei's of ohscrvnlinii. In sociiil cirrlos 
lie Miiil Ills wife orciipy n promini'iit |)i»itioii. 



'7—lli>.\IA-> .1. WdKrillNti T(»N,!i rL^i.Uiit of 
//j-\ \ ;illi'y C'tnU-'r, when- hu is enyayi-il in vnr- 

V y I \ ill-; oil a iiifal-inaikel, came lo Sc(lj,'wick 

( uiiiity III Noveiiilier, is.st;, from Spink County, 
l):ik.. wheiv In- had been cnj;a^'f(l in fanning; for 
alionl "vc yi-nrs. On locating wliorc Ir- now lives 
lie purchased Ills present business, and has the lead- 
iii<: t'stalilishiiient in that line in the town. 

Mr. Wortiiiiigloii isa native of Frederick County, 
Md.. horn Sept. K. 1 >S40, and is the son of Ciiarles 
and Ann K. (Hart) Worthiiigtor., both of whom 
«eic natives of Maryland. His father, Charles 
Worlhington, had received the benefits of a col- 
lej^iate education, and was also a jjjraduate of a law 
eolleye. and practiced at the bar all his life. He 
>|K-iit some twenty-five yeai-s in the active duties 
of his profession in Lo;,'an County, 111., whither he 
had moved, but returned to Maryland, where he 
died in November. IStJ;), at the age of scvenlv 
years. At the time of his de;ith he wits atlendiii" 
a law case in liallimore, Md., an<l died of lieait 
disea.se after only a short sickness. His wife fol- 
lowed him in dealli in Jtine, IfS/fi. The}- were the 
parents of eleven children, st«ven boys and four 
;4irls, whose names were as follows: \V;ilter; Charles, 
deceased; Henry C 'l'liom:is J., .lames K.. l-jigene, 
•-.•iinuci v., Sandi C. .Mollie, (iiacie and Klvira, 
llie two latter deceased. 

The siiliject of this narrative rem.-iiiied at home 
uith his parent", part of the time in .Marylan<|, and 
part at Atlanta. Logan Co., III., receiving in his 
liiiyliood days the elements of an excellent eiliica- 
li'«ii. Afl<-r leaving home he apprenticec] himself 



. .Mill! I ill the liousc nnd 8iirii-|viinting ImdL*, 
and .served out his time. F<ir eighteen year> he fol- 
lowed that business in Logan County. bute<Mieeiv. 
iiig tliat tliti lif«- of a tiller of the soil was more 
independent .and lucrative, lie emigrnted to .Spink 

j County. Dak., where he took up under homestead 
and pre-empti<ui laws a tract of .'12(1 acres of lanil. 

' on which he live<l some five years. Ue|iorUi of 
the greater friiitfillness of the .State of Kansas be- 
ing brought to his notice, he removed U) Sedgwick 

' County, after having rentetl his farm in I)akot.-i. 
which he still owns. He has on this latter place :\ 
goo<l house, and comfortable barns and thrifty 
groves of trees. About !G.") .acres of it are broken 

' and under cultivation. 

I While quietly living an inmate of his father's 

j house, the storm t)f civil war broke over our be- 
love<l country, and in re^sponse to the call of ihe 
(Jeneral tiovernment for men. Mr. Worthingloii 
enlisted in April, IHOl, in Company K. "tli Illinois 
Infantry. This gallant regiment was the first one 

I raised in the .State, and wa,s mustered into the serv- 

I ice of the United States nt Cairo, III.,. Inly 2."). I KCl. 

I and wiLS under the command of Col. .lohn Cook. 

I Capt. Ksterbrook was the Captain of the company 
to which our subject was attached. With this 

I heroic regiment our subject particii»ated in many 
of the battles in Missouri. Kentucky- and Tennessee, 
among which were Ft. Donelson. where so many of 

I them Laid down their lives on thcaltarof their couii- 

I try; Shiloli, where they were a part of the iinforlii- 
iiatc division of (ien. W. H. L. Wallace, the latter 

; of whom W!us one of the slain; Corinth, where the 

I regiment distinguished itself, and was thanked in 

I the general orders; and on many another stricken 
fielcL After about fifteen months' serviia*, the siiii- 
ject of our sketch was mustereil out of the service, 
at Cairo, III., and dischargoci in August, \s(',-j. and 
returned to his home in Illinios. 

The marriage ceremony which united the destin- 
ies of Mr. Worthingloii and Miss Hallie L. We.st- 
fall look place .Iiino (>, IHGI. The bride was a 
native of Indiana, and the daughter of ,lcib aiul 
Ilosanna (Sumner) Westfall, who were the parenls 
of but one other child. Miranda, who was the elder. 
Iler father died aliout Is.'cS, but her mother still 
survives, and makes her home with Miranda in the 



HK-^ 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



••► 



687 



State of Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Wortbing- 
ton were horn six ciiililren, as follows: Rosa Ella, 
\\illiani, Kniily, Fieil, tieo and Deana. Rosa E. 
is liie wife of I). II. R<'eder, a inerciiant of Minne- 
apolis, Minn., and the mother of one fluid. Dean: 
she was married Nov. 8, 1883. The rest of the 
children are single. Jlrs. Worthington died Jan. 
2 1, 1888. Her death w.as not only greatly mourned 
by her family, to which she was so greatly attjiched, 
but by the whole conununity. .She was a consist- 
ent member of the Christian Church, and an active 
worker in the religious circles of the town. 

As a Democrat in politics, Mr. AVorthington t:ikes 
great interest in all political questions, although not 
an aspirant for political preferment. He is a highly 
respected and esteemed citizen of the place, and as 
a merchant bears the reputation of an honest, up- 
right and trustworth.y man. His gentlemanly de- 
|)ortment and genial manners are gaining him hosts 
of friends, and ra[)idly increasing his business. He 
is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and fully 
lives up to the precepts inculcated by the order. 



^?^IDEON ST. DENIS, a leading farmer and 
If (— , stock-grower of Jlinneha Township, came to 
^^^ this county after having served .as a soldier 
in the Union army, and pre-empted a quarter of 
section 15, which is now included in his present 
farm. His family joined him here in 1871, and 
since that time he has given his close attention to 
the building up of a homestead which is the ad- 
miration of all the country- around. The fine 
dwelling, which was put up in 1886, is Hanked by 
suitable barns and outhouses, and the land iias all 
l)een brought to a good state of cultivation. The 
grasshoppers worked much damage in 1874, all the 
people of that region suffering more or less by the 
scourge, but in the main the career of Mr. St. 
Denis in Kansas has l)ecn remarkably prosperous. 

Our subject was born in Franklin County, N.Y., 
Sept. 8, 1838, and is the sou of Duncan and Ade- 
laide (Furnia) St. Denis, who were of I"'rench 
descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
[,ewis St. Denis, crossed the Atlantic from France 
and spent his last years in the Kinpire State. Diui- 



can St. Denis dei)arted this life at New York in 
1840. The mother is still living and resides in 
Canada, having married for her second husband 
Mr. R. Parisian, a Frenchman by birth and parent- 
age, and by whom she became the mother of seven 
children. Of her fust marriage there were born 
two children only, Julius, and (!ideon, of our 
sketch. 

IMr. .St. Denis after the outljreak of the late 
Rebellion enlisted, in the spring of 18G2, in the 92d 
New York Infantry, for three ye:u's or during the 
war.- His regiment was assigned to the Army of 
the Potomac, and he participated with his com- 
rades in .all the general engagements of that division, 
being under Gen. Burnside. They marched from 
Suffolk to Newbern, N. C, where they were de- 
tailed to build a fort, and remained thirteen 
months. Cm- subject in the meantime had been 
promoted Corporal and participated in the (irst 
heavy fight at Cold Harbor in 18G4. This liattle 
lasted thirteen days, during which time the Union 
army lost 7,000 men. From there they went to 
Petersburg, where they remained until the 24th of 
July, when Mr. St. Denis, with others, received 
his honorable disch;irge and was sent home. Sub- 
sequently he was made a custom house officer in 
coimection with the Cunard line of Steamers, which 
position he held until the following year, when he 
purchased a farm of sixty-six acres in I<"ranklin 
County, N. Y., where he operated four years and 
until coming to this State. 

Mr. St. Denis was married, July 2, 18.')8, in his 
native count}', to Miss Caroline Harlow, who w;is 
also born there, Aug. 23, 1835. Her parents, Thomas 
and Elizabeth (Heap) Barlow, were n.atives of 
lingland, where they were married, and came to 
America about 1830. The}' spent their last years 
in New York State, and p.assed to their long home 
some time since. Their ten children were named 
respectively: John, Ann, liliza, William, Mary, 
Samuel, James, Charles, Caroline and Elizabeth. 
The mother was a most excellent lad}-, and a mem- 
ber in good standing of the lipiscopal Church. 

Mrs. St. Denis is highly educated, and completed 
her studies at F't. Covington Academj-, from which 
she was graduated and subsef|uently followed the 
profession of :i tcaihcr six years, having for two 



^m^^ 



two y 



•►■-4»- 



r. > s 



■•*-•- 



SEDf.UKK CoINTY. 



>• M' (lovcrnropnt sellout for the r>i 

i-ntimi III liiiliiiii!>, iiioiil of whom wen- linlf-)irf<>(l>. 
Ill i\\i» field of liilior Mi-s. St. Dfiiis was rfinarka- 
lily Mici-cssfiil, K"V''riiiiifr by kiiiilno!i.> iii!!tcii<l of 
the nxl. The little girls nml the ^lll!kll hoys wt-re 
|i.'irtii-iiliirly ntUu-lied to her, nml every eveiiiiii; niul 
iiioriiiiig wnited for the kisj* with whieh she wel- 
ronieil niid pHrleil from tiicm. Tlu-v iliflered emi- 
siilernhly froin white ehililreii in their aptitude for 
ienriiin*;, litit n course of kindness and imtienec 
■;jreatly improved their orijfiiial condition. Thoniiis 
liiirliiw, the father of .Mrs. St. Denis, w.'is n man of 
more th:ui ordinary ahility, haviii<r n ^oo<l kiiowl- 
edi;o of hiisiness methods. lie w.is mostly occu- 
pied at merchandising during his lifetime, of which 
he made a success. The |)!irentnl fniniiy included 
ten children, of whom eight are still living and 
mostly residents of New York. 

Our subject at an early iige was invested with 
rcs|)onsiliilities behmging to older persons, and since 
a lad twelve years of !ige has earned his own living. 
After becoming permanently settled in this county 
he determined to see something more of the West- 
ern llemisi)here. and first visited the lilack Hills, 
wheix- he hunted for gold three months with indifTer- 
ont success. In l.SHI he went into New Mexico 
upon the sjime errand, and was there quite successful 
in his labors, and continued in that region until .May, 
1M87. He worked in the mines five months and then 
set up a soda-water manufactory, which proved a 
very profitable unilertaking, and in which he w.is en- 
gaged four years. I'pon selling out he engaged in 
general merchandising a ye:ir, then opened a meat- 
market and saloon. After dis]X)sing of these pro- 
jects he returned to Sedgwick County, where he 
was cordially greeted by his old friends, and con- 
cluded that, after all, it w.xs about lui <lesinible a 
place .-IS he could lind. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. .St. Denis arc the parents of three 
children, of whom the record is jis follows: l{u- 
dolph was born June I'.), IK.jl), anil died on the 2d 
of .May. IHK7, at his home in .Sedgwick County ; 
TlioiniLH, born .Ian. 9, iHijl, married Mi.ss Lucy 
Kowlry; he is now at Wichita. Minnie, born Feb. 
•Jl, 1H(J2, is the wife of .1. H. Higgins. of St. Joe, 
.Mo. Itudolph w.-is a niodvl yoiiii^ man, possessing 
a most .adminible ilisposition, wius kin<l-hearl4-d and 



ienitcof others, and his dcatli wns greatly felt, 
not only in the family but by the community nt 
large. Mr. St, Denis is a sUinch Kepublican, |K>liti- 
eally, and h.-ts «K-cnpicd VHrious |>usiti(ins in his 
township, including thos«- of Tru-tee and Assessor, 
and is a man who>e opinions arc held in :,'cneral 



reslK'ct. 






•^■.-4- 



(^^l .Ms \. IIA.NKIN.SON. There are few men 
;/''/S\^ more worthy of representation in a work of 
^^Jf' this kind than the subject of this biography, 
who is passing the later years of his life on a eoin- 
forlaiile homestead in Delano Township, the land 
Oil which he commenced o|ierating in the spring of 
1«7."). His h:is been a long and busy career, rich 
with experience, and in which he has established 
himself in the esteem and confidence of all who 
know him. His family history is of more than 
ordinary interest, the main points of which are as 
follows : 

The father of fiur subject, Lewis Ford Ilankin- 
son, was born in New Jersey, Sept. .I, 17'.»2. and 
died at his home in Jerseyville, III., on the i'.itli of 
Janiiar}-, 1HH7. At the death of (leorge Washing- 
ton, in 1799, i)ublic funeral servict'S were held all 
over the land in the same manner that the coun- 
try recently mourned the death of (Jen. Grant. 
Mr. Hankinsoi) was then a lad a little over seven 
years of age, and marched with the proeessiiiii of 
children into the church at Manala|inn, Monmouth 
Co., N. J., ill military order, each decorated with a 
white rosette. In IHKJ he was a married man and 
worked by the year for a salary of >00. .Slavery 
then existed in New Jersey, and he remembered lo 
the day of his death the history of an event whi<-h 
at the time caused great excitement. A slave had 
been promised his freedom if lie would set fire to a 
large hotel at Long Branch, which was heavily in- 
sured for the occasion. .Suspicion w.is nt once 
aroused, and detectives succeeded in securing a 
confessi<m from the slave, who was sent to the peni- 
tentiary for life. The insurance money was never 
p.'iid, it is hardly neeessaiy to say. 

The commerce of the country was then carried 
on in wiiling-vcssels, bef<»re the day of steamboats 



-•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



G89 



and before railroads had been thoiightof. Middle- 
town Point was the principal shipping point for 
Monmouth Coiint}\ Sloops were there loaded 
with produce and sent to New York City, whence 
the^' returned laden with merchandise, and con- 
sumed a full week in making the round trip, a 
distance of less than fort}' miles. 

In 1817 Lewis Ford Ilankinson left New Jcrsej^ 
for the great West. He settled first in Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio, and battled with the hardships known 
only to pioneers. He frequently afterward related 
his adventures as evidence of the hard times and 
credit system then prevailing, and how at onetime 
having lost a horse, and being compelled to pur- 
chase another, he would only promise to raise the 
sum of ti30 required at the end of two years. In 
1819 he was so poor he could not even pay his 
taxes, which amounted to forty cents. This was in 
wide contrast to his later i^oiulition in life, as he 
became very wealthy. 

The father of our subject removed from Tuscar- 
awas to I'reble County, Ohio, and from there, in 
1840, to Illinois. He selected his location in the 
eastern part of Jersey Countj', purchasing his land 
from the State Bank of Illinois, at Alton. There 
he spent the remainder of his days, becoming widely 
and favorably known throughout Jersey County. 
His labors were eventuall}' crowned with success, 
and he became independent, having built up a fine 
homestead by the exercise of his own industry and 
perseverance, and secured a competency upon 
which to live in ease and comfort during his declin- 
ing years. He was a patriarch after the manner of 
Bible da^-s, his descendants being twelve children, 
fifty-three grandchildren, forty-one great-grand- 
children and four great-great-grandchildren, 110 
persons in all. 

The father of our subject was married in his 
native county to Miss Eleanor Foreman, a native 
of New Jersey, who died in Illinois in 18GG. Thej' 
were the parents of twelve children, and our sub- 
ject, Tunis v., was born in Butler County, Ohio, 
Dec. 18, 1823. He was reared on the farm, and in 
common with his brothers and sisters received but 
a limited education. He was naturally bright and 
observing, however, and in keeping his e>'es open 
to what was going on artiund him acquired a use- 

^1 



ful fund of information. At an early age he 
developed unusual talent as a m.athematician and is 
remarkably accurate in his accounts. 

The family removed from Tuscarawas to Piebic 
Count}', Ohio, where they remained about nine 
years, then took up their residence in Uarke Count}-. 
Tunis V. was seventeen years old when they went 
to Illinois. He subsequently shared in the excite- 
ment all over the country, during the "log cabin 
and hard cider campaign," and remcndjcrs how the 
fortunes of his father advanced step by step until 
the first primitive dwelling was abandoned for a 
handsome modern structure on the old farm, and 
the hardships and privations which they endured 
in those e.arlier years were gradually passed by and 
w'cre remembered only in the light of contrast with 
the more iirosjjerous days. 

When Mr. Hankinson was twenty-three years of 
age his father put him onto a quarter-section of 
land and told him if he would pay for it he might 
have it. In 1849, however, the young man was 
seized with the California gold fever, and in com- 
pany with seven others crossed the plains with ox- 
teams, starting in the month of March and landing 
in the city of Sacramento in August following. 
Our subject went into the mines, where he worked 
three years and accumul.ated $4,000. AVith this 
he embarked in the cattle trade and lost the whole 
of it. He then tried farming on the Pacific Sloi)e, 
with inisatisfact()ry results, and in 185G returned 
to Illinois but little better off tli.an when he sUirted. 

The intention of Mr. Hankinson had been to 
merely make a visit to the Prairie State and then 
return to California. AYith this end in view he 
persuaded some friends to go back with him, and 
settling in California engaged in sheep-raising and 
other occupations until 1874. A part of that year 
and the next he spent in Illinois, and in the sum- 
mer of 1875 came to .Southern Kansas. Soon after 
his arrival here he purchased the southeast quarter 
of section 9, in Delano Township, of which lie h.as 
since retained possession and to which he has added 
a like amount, so that he now has 320 acres, all 
under cultivation, with modern improvements, 
plenty of water, a choice assortment of live stock, 
and all the other appurtenances neceesary for the con- 
venience and com foit of the ((luiplcte counli-y home. 



I 



<• 



:?!^^*^ 



t 



a 



fi'.'o 



SKDCWK K CoINIV 



'i'lii' wife of our siihjccl, to whom lie wn» iimr- 
rioil oil till- hill of Mny, IHTlt. wiis in lii-r <;irlli(MMl 
Mi.v< Miiry Fiilloii, tliv iliiiiglitcr of 'I'lioinns iiiiil 
.Miirtliii llloy<l) Fulton, who nro liolli living in 
li'cliiiiil, whi'te Mi-M. llankin.xon »ns horn on the 
I. nil of .Inly, I^*.')!. Shi- ciiiiii- to the rniloil SUtos 
in IsTK, iiloiii', mill i.- imw tin- mother of two cliil- 
(IriMi: Klo.'inor, horn April 3, ISf^i, iiml Miirtlia, 
Muri-li 2\, \»Hl. Mr. Ilankin^on is n lU'imblicnii 
in iM.litics, to wliii-li, however, he gives liul little 
time ntxl attention, his fnriniii'r niiil »toek-raisiii^ 
inlere.»t> furiii»hiiign!l the lin^ineivs to wliieh he can 
eoiivenieiitly nttcnil. Itoth lie and hi:< estimalilc 
wife I'lijov the frieii(l.s|ii|i anil nci|iiaintaiiee of a 
l:iif,'e nuinlier of the hest ix-oiilr of Delano Town- 
ship anil vieinity. 

\\ IDS. I'KNC'K, who is .Superintemlenl of 
11 S'hools of .Sedgwick County, and a re.si. 
,JI^ dent of Wichita, is a native of .Stark Coun- 
ty, Ohio, where he was horn .Ian. 0, 1K.J2. 
His father, .Samuel N. I'dice, was horn in I'cnnsvl- 
vftiiia in 1821, and moved with his parents to Ohio 
when thirteen years of age. When old enough to 
decide upon an occupation, lie chose that of fann- 
ing, lie w.is twice married ; the maiden name of 
his lirsl wife was Hannah Serher, a ii.-itive of Ohio. 
Of that union two children arc now living: David 
S.. and Kli/.a A., wife of W. K. Sheffer, editor of 
the Angola Ilernlil, .Sieuheii County, Ind. Mrs. 
Pence died in 1H58. For his second wife, Mr. 
Pence married Miss Kliza .Simmons, hy whom he 
1i;ls >ix children, all living, namely: Maggie IJ., 
.lohii. Id:i, William, Fnimn and Krviii. In I Ml.'! 
Mr. Pence di.«posed of his proiKMty in Ohio, and re- 
moved with his family to Nolile County, Ind., and 
purclia.sed a farm in Ligonicr, where he lia.> since 
resided. 

The siilijccl of this sketch wius reared on a fMiin. 
Idit having the misfortune, when only two years 
old, to fall in the lire and injure himself .so seri- 
ously iLs to result in the loss of all his lingers, anil 
the toes of his rigiit fool, more ttteiiliim was paid 
III his educ:itio|i than iniglil have Ihtii iiiidri' other 
iiri-nnistaiier>. He wius a ililigeiit, aniliilious pupil, 



•►■-4^ 



and when he removed with the familv to Indiana, 
was admitted to the High .School, of Ligmiier, where, 
among other studies, he took lessons in |KMiiiiniisliip 
of Prof. W. H. Hiinlettc. and was nwnrdeil the first 
pri/.e ill a class of ninety-si.\ com|>etitor!«. 

After leaving the High .Schotd, our suhject con- 
tinued his studies in the Northwestern Ohio Norni:d 
I'niversity, where he remained five years, and was 
graduatcil in l.sTO. On entering the univei-sity 
Mr. Pence had hut ^l/i in his |iocket, and to pay his 
tuition and hoard, would, during vacations and 
.S;iturdays, sell hooks and charts, or work in the 
harvest field, driving the harvester or mrrying 
hiiiidles of grain, receiving the same wages as the 
othei-s. When school was in session he li;id charge 
of the hook-keeping department and mathcmalics, 
and tJiught penmanship. After completing his edii- 
cjition, I'rof. Pence took charge of the Ada Ciiioii 
Schools, having seven departments, he being chosen 
from the fifteen applicants for the |Hisition. At the 
end of the year the authorities were so pleased with 
his good maicigemcnt and its results that they 
oflfered to increase his salary ^10 a month if he 
would continue his good work, but having received 
a more liberal tilTcr from Prof. IJ. F. Niesz. of the 
Kentland school, Newton County, Ind., as A.ssistanl 
Professor of the Indiana Normal .School, he accepted 
it and remained as instructor in the Normal .School 
two years. He was then appointed .Su|K-rintendenl 
of the Newton County schools, to fill an unexpired 
term, which he completed, and was iigain :ippointed 
to the .same position for the following year. Mr. 
Pence then accepted a ixjsition in the commercial 
department of the Business College at Denver, Col. 
Three months later, Hoppings, the proprietor of 
that institution, failed, and our subject relumed to 
Indiana, where he look charge of the lower gnim- 
mar schools at Angola, meeting with such marked 
success that he was promoted the following year 
to the High .School. After teaching five months, 
.Mr. Pence resigned his |Kisition in that scluiol to 
ciitt'r a jxihlishing house in Chicago. 

Ill lMM-1 Prof. Pence came lo Wichita, and was 
employed by the Hoard of Kdiication as s]K'cial 
teacher of |>eiimaiiship in the city schools. After 
serving in that capacity two and one-half yc:irs, he 
was elcrted County .Superintendent of .Si'lmols, a 





: 'i^M 



1^ 





1I-4*- 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



G03 



position for whicli he is eminentlj' qualified by his 
taleiiU), superior eclucation, and many years' ex- 
perience as an instrnctor. Mr. Pence ta,i<es an act- 
ive part in all questions rel.iting to educational 
matters in tiie count}' and .State, and is devoting his 
life to studying and utilizing the best methods of 
education advocated by the prominent educators 
of the country'. Mr. I'encc takes a prominent part 
ill religious matters in this city, and is Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school of the Central Cin-is- 
tian Church. 

Our subject was married, In 1887, to Miss Dora 
A. Il.ays, formerly Principal of the Second Ward 
school of AViehita. As people of marked intellect- 
u;d ability- and decided force of character, Mi', and 
Mrs. I'ence .occupy' a distinguished position in 
social circles, and their pleasant home is the resort 
of the cultivated and the refined of the cit^'. 

Prof. Pence is noted for his beautiful and elegant 
chirography, and in i)lain writing cannot be sur- 
passed by anj' one west of the Mississippi. He has 
taken the first premium for plain .and ornamental 
writing at the Sedgwick County Fair, and aLso the 
first premium for penmanship at the State Fair in 
Ohio, and, although he has no fingers, he can 
write the Lord's Pr.ayer on a space the size of a 
gold dollar, each word being so legible that it can 
be re.ad by the naked eye. Mr. Pence takes a warm 
interest in ])ul)lic affairs, and uniformlj' casts his 
vote with the Republican party. He is identified 
with tlip Odd Follows, and is a Knight of Pythias. 

ILLIAM P. STKM, contractor anrl builder, 
is one of the leading men in his line of 
business in Wichita. He is a pioneer of 
that cit3' as he came here as early as 1870, and has 
since been closely identified with its building inter- 
ests. From 1873 to 1877 he built nearly all of the 
Iniildings of any imi)ortance that were erected in 
this city; among the more prominent of these are 
the New York Corner and Occidentsil Hotel, Citi- 
zens' Hank l)uilding. Temple Hlock on Main street, 
the Odd Fellows' Hall being in this building, the S. 
L. Davis residence, the old Zirnnierly building, 
' ' Inness A' Ross building, .Stackman Ituilding, F.ckart 



<fc .Scott's, the Elliott building, also J. R. Mead's 
residence, the Episcopal Church, and many others. 
Thus it will be seen that monuments to his ability 
as a builder .are to be seen on every hand in tills 
enterprising city. 

Mr. Stem comes of an old (Jcrinan family who 
have been residents of this coiintiy for several gen- 
erations. John Stem, the father of our subject, was 
born in Pennsylvania. When in mi<ldle age he 
removed to Ohio, and there engaged in business as 
a contractor and builder. He married .Sarah Arm- 
strong, in Cookstown, Pa., by whom he had nine chil- 
dren. Of this number seven are now living. 

William P. Stem, the subject of this biography, 
was born in Cadiz, Ohio, .Sept. 2, 1841. His boy- 
hood and youth were passed in his native State, 
where he acquired a substantial education in the 
public schools, and also a good knowledge of his 
father's business b}' the time he was sixteen years 
of .age. He had great mechanical ability and he 
gave five j'ears of his time to perfecting himself in 
his business of contractor and builder. s[)cnding 
two and one-half years at Ft. Wayne, Ind., and later 
the same number of years in Cincinnati; this earl^- 
training has since been of great .advantage to him, 
and has made him a skilled and an experienced 
builder. After gaining a thorough knowledge of 
his work, Mr. Stem went to Van Wert, Ohio, where 
he followed his calling for one year. In 18C(i he 
came to Kans.as, and in Topeka occupied the re- 
sponsible position of foreman for Mr. Kullak. He 
superiulciided the building of the court-house and 
jail in the capital city, and at .Saline, Kan., superin- 
tended the erection of like buildings, and at Vola, 
Kan., he erected the buildings for the King IJridge 
works. He subsequently built a large school-house 
at Burlingame, Kan. In 1870 he came to Wichita, 
and here, bj' his persistent energy, strict attention 
to his work, honorable dealings, and wise manage- 
ment, he has become a wealthy and inlluential citi- 
zen, of high standing in business and social circles. 
He owns a fine residence at No. 935 South Lawrence 
avenue, a business block on the corner of Lawrence 
avenue and William street, which is one of the fin- 
est in the city, and other valuable property in the 
city. 

On the 22(1 of October, l.s7(;, Mr. Stem married 

■ •^ 



Hl-N 



-^^^ 



sl.I>i;\\ ICK COUNTY 



?^ 



Miv. |)i>r:i (;r<>r;»f, <if 'i'ii|u>ka, Knii., iiiid lo tlicMii 
Imvo Im'cii iMirii l»o rliildrtMi — AHktI iiiul Kilim. 
Mr>. Stem \>i ii ;;iftcil :irti-<l uf iiinri' tliiiii ortliiiriiy 
t.'ilfiil. iiixl \\a>' |Kkiiilccl ni.'Uiy flue iiicliirc:', imUiMc 
:iiniin'4 tlifiii l>i-iii<; ii i-nltle m-ciic wliii-li iit fiiillifiil 
mill ri';ili>li<'. Slio Ims rccpivi-i) iiistriu'tioiis from 
till' licsl iiiliril.s ill llir ooiiiilrv, ami lins rei-i'iilly 
l.ciMi ill (li'vi'liitiil. Ohio, i'ii;:n),'iMl ill llu> sillily of 
luT art. 

Ill jMilitio Mr. SU-iii is n Iti'piililiciiii. lie is 
proiiiiiiriilly ooniH'cleil willi various s<K'iiil orgjiiii- 
witioiis, siiili us the ( >ilil Fellows, .Society of liiileil 
Workmen, ami tlieOiil .Settlers" or','!iiii/iitioii. lie 
lias lielil llie olli. e of I'.ist liraiul in the I. ( ). C). I'., 
ami of I'ast Master Workman in the I'niteil Work- 
men. 

In |)resenlin<; the portrnilsof many of liie ieailiiif; 
men of St'ili;niek County, none more thoroii-jlily 
ri'iuesentsany spi'i-ial line of lilisiiicss than .Mr. .Stem 
ili.es his. lie is furthermore a lii;;lily resiK'cleil 
i-ilizeii. As a filliiiifrompanion pii-liire \vej;ivelhe 
portrait of his estimable wife. 

^^^^^-^ 

A\ II) HAUNKS. Oneof the active, promi- 
nent ami enterprisiiiff citizens of (iraiil 
'I'owiiship is David Uarnes, who is ipiite 
extensively eii;^xgecl in faniiin;^ ami stock- 
raisiiif; on section lit. His parents, David W. and 
T.-ipliMtlia ( llriish) Barnes, were natives of .Mas.sji. 
(•Iiiisett> and I'ennsylvania resiM-ctively. The former 
was one of the pioneers of Illinois, having come to 
where I'eoria now stands in 181.'!, when the place 
w!is known na Ft. Clark. lie engaged in .agricult- 
nre, and remaired a n'sident of the I'rairie .Slate 
until his death, which occurred in 1M71. His estim- 
able wife preceded him lo that mystic land that lies 
beyond the grave about three yeai-s. 

David Hariies was born in Fulton County, 111., 
.Iiily l.s, lK:til, and w:i.s the fourth child born to his 
parent.-, who had seven children. He wjis reared 
upon the parenUal farm, and received his education 
in the excellent district schools of his native .Stjite. 
He remained at home a.ssisling his father until his 
inarriau'c, which took pl.ace in .March. l.^C.I, :it 
wliich time he led to the alUr .Marv Wil>on, who 



wn.s born in |{o<-kbridge County, \ii., .Sept. |.'>, 
IS2li. .She was the seronil in n family of six chil- 
dren born to her parents. Moses and .Martha (Wiii- 
negar) Wilson, both of whom were al-o natives 
of the Old Dominion. Afti r their marriage the 
poiiplo settled on a farm in Illinois, where they 
made their home iiiilil coining to Kansas, in ISTI. 
On his arrival in S-dgwick Coiinly .Mr. Ilariie^ piir- 
chiLM-d ino acres of railroad land on section .'tl, in 
(iranl Township, on which he settled, and oom- 
inciiced improving, but in IS7'.) sold it. and bought 
lllll acres of prairie on section !!>, to which he 
moved the following year, and where he now 
resides. The whole fpiarler-seetion is brought under 
cultivation, and lo the uses of civili/.ed man, and is 
one of the liiiest farms in this |Kirtion of the town- 
ship. His ini|iroveineiits are all of a good and snb- 
slaiitial character, and Ihorouglily fitted for the uses 
to which he puis lliein. lie is giving large attention 
to the rearing of stock, priiicijuilly graded dnift 
horses, .and high-grade .Short-liorn cattle. 

Mr. and Mrs. IJarncs' family coiisisls of live chil- 
dren: Zcrelda, Mrs. II. C. .Smith, who is a resident 
of \alley Center: Mary; Minnie, Mi-s.C W. Morris, 
who is living on a farm near by; Kva, and Abiicr, 
who is still attending .•school. In politics Mr. Hririies 
votes with the Republican party, but is not an 
a(-tive [Mililician. Although no :L-pirant for public 
olllce, lie still has held llic positions of Hoad Over- 
seer and School Director for a number of ye.ars. 
Mrs. IJarnes is a member of the Methodist lOpisco- 
pal Churi-li.and is :i most estimable, kind and char- 
itable Christian woman. 



f 



II.I.IAM A. I'Ol-K.oneof the most prosper- 
oils business men of Wichit.a,and numbered 
'''^' among its liberal-minded and public-spirited 
citizens, li.as for some years been engaged in the 
re.al-estatc business, in which he has achieved .an 
enviable reputation. He crosse<l the Mississippi in 
the spring of 1871, and took up .a claim of 100 ai-res 
two ycai-s later in \'iola Township, this county, 
which he improved, and from it opened up one of 
the most beailtiriil homesteads of this section. lb' 






-•^m^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



695 



brought ninety' acres to a good state of cultivation, 
put up a neat and substantial residence, set out 
fruit and sbade trees, and in this manner rendered 
the properly quite valuable. He onh' remained 
upon it three j-ears, however, tiien coming into 
Wichita engaged first in the ice business, to wlii<'h 
he siibsequontlj- added beer, and tinis operated un- 
til the si)ringof 1887. Since that time he has been 
engaged in the buying and selling of real estate, and 
aside from the farm alreadj' spoken of h.ns a half- 
interest in a quarter-section six miles north of the 
cit}', .anil a like amount in the southwest part of 
the count}'. He put up, in 1885, a fine brick block 
on Douglas avenue, and h.as other gronr^d within the 
corporation which he probablj' will, in due time, 
embellish in a like manner. He commenced in a 
modest manner upon coming to this part of the 
country, his first occupation being as bar-tender for 
his father, and in 1872 opened a saloon for himself, 
which he operated eight months, then abandoned 
and turned his attention to his real-estate interests. 

Our sulijcct was born in St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 22 
18.') I, and is the son of William RI. and Jennettc 
(McKechnie) Polk, natives respectively of Keu- 
tneky and Scotland. William M. Polk possessed 
business qu.alities of no ordinary- character, and is 
now living retired upon a competencj' .at his pleas- 
ant home in AVicliita, and is sevent}- -seven j'ears of 
age. The mother died in St. Louis when quite 
a young woman, in 1853, and when her son William 
w.as scarcely more than an infant. The parental 
household included eight children, of whom five 
are living and four residents of K.ansas. 

The younger years of Mr. Polk were spent on a 
farm, and when twent3'-two j-ears of .age he was 
married to Miss Mar}' Smarsh, the wedding being 
celebrated at the home of the groom, Sept. 17, 1873. 
Mrs. Polk is the daughter of Vincent A. and Mary A. 
Smarsh, natives of Kurope. They came to Penn- 
sylvania in 1854, and thence a few \-ears later took 
u]) their abode in Tennessee, thence came to this 
county, settling in Union Township in 1871. Mr. 
Smarsh took up a quarter-section of land, .and car- 
ried on farming until resting from his earthi}' Labors. 
His death took place in 1882. Five children of the 
family are now living, and residents of Kans.as. 
Mr. and Mrs. P. have no children. Our subject 



votes the straight Democratic ticket, and takes a 
lively interest in the growth and development of 
his adopted county. He is in the enjoyment of a 
handsome income, and contributes liberally to the 
various enterprises tending to the public welfare. 



DWIN W. ENOS, photogr.apher, is one of the 

E|)roprietors of the Wichita Art Gallery, and 
one of the most successful members of bis 
profession in the West. He is of mingled Welsh 
and English descent, although the family from which 
he springs long .ago settled in America. His grand- 
father, Orange Enos, was born, bred and married 
in New York, and there reared a family of seven 
children, and there finally closed his eyes in death, 
having rounded out a useful and honorable life of 
eight3'-eight years. His son, Solomon C, father of 
our subject, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., 
and when he arrived at a suitable age he learned the 
printer's trade. In 1837 he left his native State to 
take up his .abode in AVisconsin, and became asso- 
ciate editor of the Milwaukee Commercial Adver- 
tiser. At that time Milwaukee was nothing but an 
Indian trading-post, with no indications of its pres- 
ent size and importance. 

In 1839 Mr. Enos married Miss Sjdvia Edwards, 
of Jefferson County, N. Y., and to him and his de- 
voted and amiable companion three children have 
been born, namely: Sylvia, Mary E. and E<lwin W. 
Two j'cars subsequent to his removal to Wisconsin, 
Mr. Enos purchased a farm near Milwaukee and 
turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil, 
and is still living on the old homestead, which by 
his care and labor is now numbered among the finest 
farms in the vicinity of the Cream C'ilj'. He is now 
seventj'-one 3'e.ars old, and is held in universal es- 
teem and honor for his sterling integrity' and blame- 
less life. He has been from carl}' youth a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political 
views h:is always sided with the Democrats. 

Edwin W. Enos was born in ftlilwaukee, April 
20, 1840. He received a partial college education 
at Lawrence University', Appleton, Wis., and then 
utilized his knowledge in the calling of a teacher, 
following that profession for nearly five 3'cai's with 



•► ■ -4^ 



-•*-< 



•^l•:I><i\\ ICK COUNTY 



ninrkeil siic(i>!«. lie Ihpii nl>niii)<>iu-<l timl pursuit livi> StaU* until twenty ycnni Imtl rolled over his 
mill ri-tiiriifil i.» iho city of his liirth, wlicro hi- lieml, when he onnie to Kaiisn.s nnil |iurthiu<ing tin- 
•■iigu-jeil in till- linkery i-oiiiinix'>ion Imsint'vs, which ' farm wlii>re In- nt pri'scnl live!<. took ii|> hi!>rc!«i<lfni'i>. 



Ill- conilnrteil .m-vcnii yriir* witli «»ti>.fiu'lory flnnn- 
cinl rc.«nlL-i. In I HCi; he married .Mi*>. Tamar K. 
rarisii, of .Milwaukee, and lo Ihoiu luis ln-en liorn a 
son whoni iju-y nsinifd (Jeor;,'*' I,. Mr. Kiios finally 
rlo-od out his lin^iness in Milwaukee and opened a 
{■roker business in SI. I.ouis, which he conducted 
III lh.it city from 1871' till 1«77. In the latter 
year he turned his attcMitioii to photo^jniphy, nnil 
after liaviii;; acipiind a thorough knowledfreof that 
art in all its ileUiils.opciieil a studio in his native city 
from isxn to INH.'i. He represents on the road the 
photographic supply house of II. A. Hyatt, of St. 
Louis. .Mo. 

In issi our siiliject came to Wichita anil opened 
Uie Wichita ArtCJallcry, which was the first line and 
complete esl.alilishmciil of the kind in the city; it is 
finely equipped with the liest inslriiinent^ used in 
photography, consisting of ten iiislriinients, one of 
the largest for life-size work costing ^.")()(). His 
Work is of a >ii|>erior order, and he now u,ses the 
lu'oinide procc>s which makes a perfect photogrnph. 
lli> moldings and fr:imcs arc greatly admired for 
licaiily and variety, and he carric.o the largest slock 
ill the Wist, supplying other houses. .Mrs. A. U. 
Siernlierg i« a.'^sociated with him in the ownership 
of the art gallery, and also is the joint owner with 
him of ten city lots situated in a dcsiialilc pail of 
Wichita. 

.Mr. l-jios may truly lie considered a representa- 
tive man ; he li:u a fine character, his motives are 
governed liy elevateil tastes and aims, and he stands 
well with his fellowmcii. lie is frank and open 
ill the expression of his opinions, is a sUiiich advo- 
cate of temperance, and in politics is a sound Ke- 
pnlilican. 



David Taylor, the father of the siilijed of this 
sketch, oi'cupie.i a very prominent olllce in Wiscoii- 
sill, filling the exalted |)osition of AsMK-iate .lustice 
of the Supreme Court of that .Stale for the Inst ten 
years. He is a native of .Schoharie County. N. Y . 
and wa-s horn March 11, 1S|S. After receiving .-i 
primary idiication in the district scIkk»Is and the 
Schoharie Academy, he attended I'nion College 
anil wiLs gradnated in IKI1. Iminediati-ly after 
graduating he coinmenced the study of law at 
Ctthleskill, .Schoharie Co., N. Y. He liius conliniied 
in the practice of his profession ever since. He 
went to Wisconsin in IX in and Iwati'd in Shelioy- 
gaii County, and later removed first to Fond dii 
Lac and then to Dane Coniity. where he now resides. 
He was largely in.-trumeiital in the work of revising 
the statutes of the Suite of \N'iscoii.siii, of IH.'i.s .iml 
l«7M, and for some eleven years, while a resident 
of Slielioygan County, Judge of the Circuit Court. 
Ho was married, Oct. .11, IHJK, .-it Convis, in Cal- 
houn County. Mich., to Miss Mary K. Callender, a 
native of Livingston County, N. Y.. who was Imrii 
.Sept. 1.1. 1S-2K. To them was given a family of 
eleven children, seven of whom arc living, as fol- 
lows: John C in the freight ile|iartmcnt of the 
St. Louis, Wichita A- Western liailroad, at Chicago; 
William .S., the subject of this sketch; Mury K., of 
the New I'higland Conservatory at lioston ; Jerry 
D.. a graduate of the Law .St'hool, Madison, Wis., 
and in practice at Saiilt .Sle Marie, Mich. ; David . I., 
attending the Chicago Dental (ollcge; .Mice and 
Alma, at home. 

William .S. Taylor owns Klo acres of land and 

cmilrols IMO more lielonging to others of his fjimily. 

About 200 acres of this have been brought to a 

high state of cultivation throiigh his a»-tivity. energy 

and business tact. The residence, barns, shed-, 

cribs, elo., are of a very substantial and baiidsoiiK' 

quality. The whole (1 10 acres are under fence, 

>f the most prominent and leading 3'oung [ either hedge or wire. He possesses a young, though 

W^ farmers of .Minneha Township, owns . a large 1 thriving orchard, and two streams of living water 

farm on M'ctioii •-' I, where he is engaged in gijiiii .•mil ! and two windmills, insure a constant and never 

stiM'k raising. He is a native of Sheboygan County, i ceiLsiiig supply of that clemeiil so neccs^jiry in llic 

W")"., bi>rii .May II, I «.'«!•. He remained in lii» iia- I raising of stock. He gives great attention to the 



^-hr 



^-fw- 



-7-"r 



,>ILLIAM S. TAYLOlt, who is probably one 



-«^B-4« 



-L. 



fSKDGWlCK COUNTY. 



CUT 



'A 



-t 



rearing of fine horses, graded cattle, I'oland-Cliina 

liogs, etc., and is very succes.sfiil in his businc^is 
operations. Ho is a young man yet, and possessing 
more tlian onlinary ability and a better education 
than coniuion, lie, no doubt, will take a high place 
in this country before his life of usefuhiess is over. 

Sir. Taylor and Miss Clara G. Trevclan were 
joined in marriage Dec. 31, 1884, at Fond du Lac, 
Wis., in which city the latter was born April 1, 
1859. She is the daughter of John and Mary 
(Galsworthj-) Trevelan, who were natives of Kn- 
gland, and who came to this country many j^ears 
ago. Her father is the oldest living pioneer in 
Kond du Lac Count}', Wis. He followed farming 
in his 3-ounger daj's, and by use of the abilities he 
possessed, and great energy and force of character, 
accumulated an easy competence. He is now living 
ill the count}' of his adoption, retired from most of 
tiic scenes of active life, and simpl}' manages his 
own investments. His wife died in Februarj', 1875. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Trevelan were members of the 
Kpiscopal Church. They were married in England 
previous to coming to this country, and were the 
parents of nine children, as follows: Elizabeth, 
Daniel, Julia, Ella, John, Emma, William, Etta and 
Clara. The last-named is Mrs. William Taylor, the 
wife of tiic subject of thissketcii. Mr. Taylor luisonc 
child, a sun, born l-'eb. 19, 1888. 



v^RLAiS'DO G. JACOBS. The subject of this 
I jj history, a man of more than ordinary intclli- 
^^g^ gcnce and business capacity, owns a large 
tract of land in Valley Center, and is prominent 
among the agricultural interests of Sedgwick Coun- 
ty, contributing largely to its reputation by build- 
ing n|) one of the most desirable homesteads within 
its borders. He is in the prime of life, and the 
midst of his usefulness, admired and esteemed by 
his friends and neighbors, and enjoying, as he de- 
serves, a generous portion of this world's goods. 

Like :i large proportion of the go-ahead men of 
Sedgwick County, our subject is a native of the 
Empire Slate, and his birth took place on the 14th 
of March, 1844. His parents, Joseph C. and Mar- 
garet (Courtwright) Jacobs, were natives of New 



York, and are now both deceased, the niuthcr ilyiiig 
in Wisconsin in 1870, and the father in Iowa, in 
Sei)lend)er, 1S7(). The paternal grandfather of Mr. 
Jacobs wasa native of Newfoundland, and s|)enl his 
last years in New York. The children of .Iosi'i)li ('. 
.and Margaret Jacobs, eight in number, were named 
respecti vel}' : Cornelius V., Eleanor, Nelson, Stephen. 
Lyman and Orlando (our subject and Levi T. be- 
ing the youngest living of the family). The three 
deceased are Stephen, Nelson and Thebe. Corne- 
lius V. is married and living in Wichita; Eleanor is 
the wife of John T. Hoover, who is married and 
practicing law in Dakota; he has one child, a son, 
named Nelson. L3'man is teaching school in San- 
diago County, Cal., and his brother Taylor is en- 
g.'iged in mining in that State; Stephen died in New 
York State when a little lad eight years of age; 
Nelson, during the late Rebellion enlisted as a sol- 
dier in the Union army, and about the time of the 
battle of Petersburg, when going from his tent to a 
spring after water, was laid low by rebel sharp- 
shooters, and died in hospital; his remains now fill 
a soldier's grave near the place of his death. Phcbe 
died in Wisconsin wiicii about twenty-four years of 
.age. 

The father of our subject carried on farming in 
Wisconsin about sixteen j^ears, then crossed the 
Mississippi into Bassctt, Iowa, where he s|)cnt his 
last days. He was a zealous Republican, politically, 
and a conscientious member of the Baptist Church. 
He gave to his children the best advantages in his 
power, Orlando G. of our sketch being i)crmitteil 
to attend the Albion Academy two years, and thus 
litting himself for a teacher, which profession he 
followed during the winter season for several years. 
The balance of the 3'ear he assisted in the labors of 
the farm, and remained with his father until reach- 
ing his majority. Afterward he began cultivating 
a tract of land for himself, and cc>ntinucd in Wis- 
consin three years, coming in the fall of 1870 to 
this countj', arriving here on the 29th of .Sei)teni- 
ber. 

Mr. Jacobs first homestcaded eighty acres, later 
pre-empted another eighty acres, and subsequently 
purchased another quarter-section. He has brought 
the whole 320 acres to a good state of cultivation, 
put up a tasteful and sidistantial residence and 



r.'.i- 



-•► 



skim; WICK ((M'NrY 



ouiiiiiiiMlioiis lisirii, mill niMfil frmii tiiiu- to tiiiio the 
vnri(iii> liiiil(lin<;!t rcqiiiri'il for the ;;fi)criil piir|M>scH 
of r:iriiiiii<; mid «l<j«'k-rni.Hiii^. lit- ffi'tls niiiiiinlly 
from llftv to sovcnty-Ilvo luad of cuttle, mi<l |i><> 
ho;,'"*. The home !iurrc>uii»lin;{» are erciliU'iMe to the 
|)ro|iriet4>r, everylliiiij; lieiii^; kepi in ;;o<m1 omIit. 
mid nt nil |><>inl.H iiidieatiiig the !iii|H>i' virion of aii 
iiitelli>.'eiit mid eiiter|>risiii{» iiiiiii. 

Mr. .Iiii-ob> for the pjLsl two or three years, in 
addition to his extensive farming intere>ts, has en- 
irajjeil eonsideraliiy in tlie loan and real-estate; liiisi- 
iicss, liavin;: his olliee on Tliird street, in \'alley 
(enter, lie takes a lively interest in local alT.-iirs, 
:ind iitiifornily supports the Hepniiliean |):irly. lie 
wa> cleeted t'oniity ('oiniiiissioner in I s7,'), and has 
>erved two terms as Township Ti nstee, hesides (ill- 
in;: other iiii|Hirtanl positions in the cuiin.sels of his 
fellow-townsmen. 

The marriage of Orlando (J. .laeolis :inil Miss 
Cora Tiisler, a native of Dane County. Wis., was 
celelirateil at the home of the hriilc there on the 7tli 
of April, 1.H70. Mrs. .lacohs was horn Dec. .SO, 
1)S-I7, and is the daughter of William and Sarvina 
(.SlooHire) Tusler. Her father is now deceased, 
jMissiiig away in 1HH4. when sixty-six years of age, 
in Wisconsin. The mother is still living, and a resi- 
dent of Wisconsin, and is now sixty -.seven years of 
age. Mrs. J.'icolis wjis their oldest child. The other 
live were Corydon. Kmily, Klinore, Klsieand ()t>sie. 
KIsie tlied when an infant of eight months. The 
other children are all living and nuirried. Two are 
resifleiits of Minneapolis, Minn.; the oldest brother 
and youngest sister arc in Wisconsin. To our sub- 
ject mid his wife there was born one child, a son. 
KImo I.,eon, who died when one year old. 



■ : ii^W^^i 



<* 



ll,l,l.\M I'. GILCHRIST, owner aixl man- 
V/aV// "K''!' "f !' livery slalile at Ml. Hope, is one 
\y^ of the solid and siibslmitial business men 
of this town. He w.-is born in I'nion County, Ky., 
Nov. 1 H, I «l".l. His father, Charles C. P. ( '• ilchrist, 
w:isanativeof Herkeley County, \'a. When .-i young 
man he migrrtte<l to I'nirjn County, Ky., where he 
married Miss Alary C. Morrison, like himself n 
native <jf Berkeley County, \a. After marriage 



they s«'ttled down in Kentucky, and he was there 
engngeil in agricultural pursuits, with good result-, 
until his death, Oct. I.'.. 1H|S, jil the age of forty- 
eight; his wife survived him ten years, dying in 
Ncivenibcr, 1«.»H, at the age of lifty-six. They 
were useful and honorable citizens of the com- 
munily in which they lived. 'I'lieir married lift- 
was blesseil by the birth of eight children, of whom 
all attained maturity, with the exception of one 
son, who died at the age of seventeen. Their 
record is as follows: James M.dicd in 18C3; Itobert 
dieil in ixl.S; William 1'.; Ann C., de«-ensed ; .Sam- 
uel was killeil at New Hope, (Jn., while .serving as 
a soldier in the late Civil War; Mary II. died in 
October. 1.S.S7; Charles lives in I'loriila; White is 
a farmer .and dealer in live stock in Kentucky. 

Our subject w:us rearecl on a farm, .'iiid n-ceived 
his lirst lesson in agriculture from his f.alher, who 
was a practical, capable farmer. Ho grew up to be 
vigorous and strong, and afTorded his father great 
help in his work. After the death of his iMircnU 
he still continued to live in his native .State for 
.sevenil 3"ears, engaging in his chosen call iiig. While 
there he took an active |Mirl in local iiflfairs an<l 
servo! as .lusticc of the I'eace for some time. In 
187 I, convinced thai he could do still better farm- 
ing on the rich soil of Kans;is, he came here ami 
purchased 100 acres in this county, which he de- 
veloped into a tine farm, erected substsiiilial build- 
ings, and olherwi.se greatly increjLsed itjj original 
value. He conlinncd to manage it some years, 
when he sold it, and siibsefpiently turned his atten- 
tion to cattle-raising. In April, lS8."i, he moved 
into the village of Mt. Ho|X! :ind established him- 
self in the livery business, which he has since 
carried on with good tinaiicial success. He owns 
valuable town property, and he and his family have 
one of the pleasiuitest homes in the town. 

Our subject was married in his native .State, 
Feb. 22. IS.12. to Rebecca K. Wallace, a native 
of Kentucky. After a ple.isant wedded life of eleven 
years' duration, the faithful and devote<l wife 
and mother p.i.sscd to eternal icst. Feb. 1.3, |H(;;!, 
leaving four children — Robert, William, Mary K. 
and Rebecca. Mr. (Jilchrist's second in.-irriage took 
place .Ian. 22, !.'<(■>.'), to Lucretia Ilobbs. of .leflferson 
County, Ky. Of this union eight children have 



i 



■*►■-♦ 



Hl-^*- 



SKUGWICK COUNTY. 



6!»9 



*^h 



been born, seven of whom are now living, as fol- 
lows: Charles H., James 1$., Ella, Scoll K., Minnie 
B., JIattie and Virgic. 

In politics our subject is a leading Democrat of 
this place; socially he is a member of ]Mt. Hope 
Lodge No. 2:i0, I. O. O. h\, and religiously he and 
his amiable wife are esteemed members of the Con- 
gregational Church. They are frank, open-hearted, 
hospitable people, and have made many warm 
friends since taking up their residence in this State. 

inAWS, IIKURON it CO., of the Wichita 
r''^\ Klevator and Zeplij'r Mills, and grain and 
^\^ commission merchants, have their head- 
(^^ quartei-s at the intersection of First and 
Fifteenth avenues, Wichita, where they command a 
large proportion of the business in their line. Mr. 
llawn, the senior member of the firm, is a native of 
Medina County, Ohio, and was born Feb. 15,1842. 
It will thus be seen that he is a gentleman now in 
the prime of life, [assessing excellent business 
capacities, and h.as gained for himself a good posi- 
tion, socially and financiallj', among the prominent 
men of Sedgwick County. lie I'eceived a common- 
school education, and early in life learned the busi- 
ness of milling. 

Mr. Ilawn, when a youth of nineteen years, hav- 
ing already- crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, en- 
listed in Companj' F, 3d Iowa Infantry, for the 
three-months service, but was finally mustered in 
for three years. He was under the command of 
(Jen. Grant in the Western armj', and participated 
in the battles of .Sliiloh, Corinth and Jackson, being 
also present at the siege of Vicksbm'g, .and meet- 
ing the rebels in various other minor engagements. 
lie was twice wounded, once at .Shiloh and once at 
I'llue Mills Landing. These wounds, however, were 
not serious, and he fortunately escajoed cajjture by 
the rebels, and at the close of the war was mustered 
out in comparatively good condition, and ready for 
the future business of life. 

Vciung llawn, after leaving the service, engaged 
in the milling business at Edgewood, III., thence 
went to Missouri, of which State he was a resident 



-^^ 



until coming to Wichita in the spring of 1 884, where 
he as.sociated himself in partnership with G. II. 
Humble, and they conducted the Zephyr Mills, 
which were then mostly em|)loyed in grinding feed, 
the elevator being since added. In January, IS.ss, 
Mr. Ilawn having retired from the former partner- 
ship, became the partner of Mr. Ilerron, and they 
are now running the Wichita elevator and Zei)hyr 
Mills elevator, and as wholesale grain and coal 
merchants are building up an extensive and jjrofit- 
able trade. Their transactions are mostly in the 
South and Southwest, and the^- ship as far as New 
Mexico and Arizona, and also through the Southern 
States. They have also received many orders from 
Floi'ida. 

Patrick Ilerron was born in Ireland, in 1812, and 
came with his mother to this country- when a bo}' 
five years of age. They located first in Louisville, 
Ky., where young Ilerron received a common- 
school education, and learned the tr.ade of cop[)er- 
smith. This he followed nine years in that city 
and Jeffersonville, Ind. In 18G9 he embarked in 
the grocery tr.ade at Jeffersonville, where he con- 
tinued until selling out, intending to settle in 
Southern Kansas, which ho did in June, 1887. 

Both the above-named gentlemen are well-known 
and enterprising business men of this most remark- 
able city. They have contributed largely toward 
its growth and prosperity, and have gained for 
Wichita substantial recognition, especially in their 
line. 

iOBERT E. RYAN, editor of the Sunday 
Groirler, Wichita, the records s,a3- was born at 
'm^ Milltown, Ind., on the 4th d.ay of Febrnar}', 
te'1844. He attended the common schools of 
the county until 1860, then was graduated at St. 
Mary's College, Marion Count}', K3'. School- 
teaching in Indiana then engaged his energies for a 
short time, but being of a patriotic turn of mind, 
he enlisted in the 38th Indiana Volunteers, and 
went on Sherman's " famous march to the sea." 
When Gen. Johnston surrendered the rebel flag to 
Union hands he thought it time to repair to the city 
of Washington and receive an honorable discharge, 
which he did. He then returned to his native 



f 



-4^ 
701 1 



•► ■ -4« 



<l IH.U |( K (111 N 1 V 



i 



lie.illi .'iihI Ik'^mii to >tn<lv liii'illrinr, Hliil :itt<'iii|i'i| 
iiKMlicnl locliircH nt Lotiiitvilic, Kv., in ISO'.) niiil 
1S70. Till- sillily |)lfasf<l liim, Imt to tlic prnclicc 
lie wa-i iivcrst'. 

Mr. Kynn !<lriu-k j<>iirii:ilj.Mii iioxl, >Ur'.iii^ the 
Ih-iii'HTut nt Lenvt'inviirth, liiil. lit' iitlorwunl 
Wi'iil loC'liiviT|«irt, Ky.,nii<l blurted llio Traiin'ri/it, 
;uiil lliorc III- lieciiino llio i'i>rre.-|)oiitlenl of the Loiii.-- 
vilK' O'lirier-Jounial. It i.s j^nilifyinK to know 
lli:it IhiiIi ilio nliovc |iii|icr!< wen- |iros|K!roiis. In 
IsT I he went 141 InilinrmiMiii.s and ilid oiliiorini work 
on tlie Sxtiinla;/ llrralil for tlio well-known (Jeorgc 
('. Iliirdin-;, in an aeeeplnble inanner to its niaim;;c- 
nu'iit. From there he went to Louisville, Ivy., and 
followed his joiiriiulistic work for twelve years, 
prini-i|i:illy in the way of writing; s|>eei!il article!* ft)r 
leading' joiirn.als throiijjiioiit the eoiintry, over the 
iimii ill /ilumi- of "Roland Rivers." l)uriii<; tliiii 
time he had ehaijje of the I'le.ss Deiiartinenl of the 
Louisville Kxpositiun for seven coiiseeiitive years. 

In .Mareli, IHHT, .Mr. Ryan came to Wichita, and 
at once tiK)k a proininenl position in the profes.sion 
to which he is so devotedly attached. lie is a 
writer of iiiuisnal ahilily, and is so recognized by 
.all wlio read his |iriidiictio!is. 

- — * ~^'vv^^5i-< ; ja=^ -wv^ -■ — — 

K. .1. II. lORDVCi;. of the linn of I'ordyce 
\y A N'aii Nuys, physicians and surgeons. 
^ Wichita, witii their otllcc in (Jetto Block, 
«-orner Main and .Sccon<l .street*, is a young 
man of superior altaiiiincnts ami ciiltnrc, and is 
well lilted hy many years of study for the practice 
of his profession. He come.s of good slock of 
miiitjled .Scotch and Scolch-Irisli blood. He was 
born in I'lilnain County, liid., on the I Itii of .Iiilv, 
I H.').!. and is the .son of .losepli 15. and Rebecca 
(Klliott) I'ordyce, natives of Ohio, and both of 
."scotch and .Votcli- Irish parents. His father's par- 
enl> were William and Riiama (Buck) Kordyce, 
natives of Aberdeenshire, .S-otlaiid, where they 
followed the occupation of farming until their 
emigration to Nova Scotia, whence they nnnlly 
came to the I'nited State.i, and .settled in Ohio. 
From there they removed to Hooiie County, Ind., 
a few years before death, his death oc( urriiig in 



IM'.I. .-Hid hers ill ls7). Tlicy lia<l a family of ten 
children, of whom the following is the r»-cord : Nel- 
son, I'atieiice, (leorge, Asa, .le.sn*', Mary, .Sanih. 
.Joseph, Malviiin and Amos: the latter three are de- 
ceived. Patience is now Mi>. Wyiiier; Mary i> 
Mrs. McKnight; Sarah is now Mrs. .McI)onal<l; 
Malvina is Mrs. Bone. 

.lo.seph. the father of onr subject, was reared on 
n farm. When twenty years of age he turned his 
attention to the manufacture of fanning-inills, and 
followixl that liiisiiiess with great success for fif- 
teen years. .Subsequently he purchased a large 
farm in rntiiam County, Ind.. to which he reinoved 
with his family, and there engaged extensively in 
farming and rearing horses, cattle and mules, ami 
buying and .selling stiK'k on a large scale. During 
the war he supplied the (lovernmeiil with llioiis. 
aiids of horses and mules f«ir use in the army. He 
was .associated with various banking eom-eriis. and 
wa« one of the solid, wealthy iiieii of Imliaiia. lb- 
was a man of decided character and great ability, 
and during his many years' residence in Indi.-uia 
always took a prominent )>art in public affairs, nml 
was a member of the State Legislature fi>r the years 
IS.iM and IH.'ill. He was a warm i>ersoiial friend of 
O. 1'. .Morton, the great War (lovernor of Indiana. 
He an<l his wife were inlliiential members of the 
I'resbylerian Church, of which he had been an 
Khlcr for m.iiiy yeai-s. His death, Feb. 17, IMS.!, 
was .1 blow to the conimnnity where he had made 
his home for so long a time, ami to whose citi- 
zens he had become endeared by many acta of 
kindnes.s. His wife makes her home in Rusvell- 
ville, Ind. .She is seventy years old. To her hearty 
synipatliy and co-o|K^r!ition her husband waii greatly 
indebted for his ((opiilarity and succc^.s. Their 
union was blc-sscd by the birth of six cliiUiren, of 
whom the following is the record: William A., 
.lolin N., .lames C.. ICIizabeth. .L II. and Annie: 
the three latter are <leceased ; Klizabelh is now Mrs. 
Ashby. 

The suliject of our sketch s|K?nt his iioyhooil days 
in attendance at school, and in a.ssisting in the farm 
labors. As he grew to manhood he was often 
sent away from home to transact lnisiiu'ss for his 
father, and linally w.-us sent otT to c-ompiete his edu- 
cation. In I ■''70 he coiiimeiiced the study of medi- 



■*►■ -^ 



►HI-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



703 



cine in Wavcland willi his present partner. In 
1877-78-79 he altcndecl tiie Oliio Medical College 
at Cincinnati, where he attained high rank for 
superior scholarship. After graduation he com- 
menced the practice of his profession at Uussellville, 
ill his native State, remaining there until 188G. In 
the meantime he further prepared himself for his 
calling I)}' taking a course at the College of Pliy- 
sicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, and was gradu- 
ated from that institution in March, 1884. There 
are few physicians in the State who are better 
prepared for their life-work than our subject. He 
is a prominent member of various medical societies, 
nameh" : The Putnam County Medical Society; 
Indiana State Medical Society; the Tri-Statc Medi- 
cal Society, and American Medical Association; 
and, in tliis city belongs to the Wichita Medical 
Society. 

Dr. Fordj'cc was married to Miss Lucy Allen, of 
Greeiicastle, Ind., in 1881. She is the daughter of 
Joseph and Sarah (Allen) Allen, natives of Ken- 
tucky. Of this union three children have ])een 
born — Maggie, Donald A. and Jose[)li 15. 

The Doctor and his wife came to Wichita in 1886 
with their family, to make their home in this beauti- 
ful city. They have already won an assured posi- 
tion in the highest social circles in this community, 
and their cozy home at No. 326 Burr avenue is the 
center of true refinement and genial hospitality, 
riicv are both connected with the Presbyterian 
Church. In politics the Doctor is a Republican. 



c 



-WW^^S^^I^rt-^ 



IIKISTIAN P. Sill fklbkr(;kr. 



The 



subject of this sketch stands second to none 

among the well-to-do fanners of Afton 

Township, whose record it has been deemed wise to 
preserve in this manner for the perusal of the com- 
ing generation. As a judicious tiller of the soil he 
h.as met with success, and as a man and a citizen 
holds a good position among his neighbors. His 
life has been one of unabated industrj', and his 
politics combine those sentiments which are most 
nearly' in sympath}' with the laboring classes. Re- 
ligiously, he holds to the faith of the Methodist 
Church, of which he and his wife are members, and 



possesses a large shai-e of the benevolence which 
induces him to take an active interest in that which 
is going on around him, and which most nearly 
affects the welfare of his comniunily. 

The first recollections of our subject arc of .a 
modest home in Franklin County, Pa., where he 
first opened his eyes to the light on the 5tli of 
November, 1848. His parents, John A. and RIary 
Jane (Bowman) Shufelborger, were also natives of 
the Keystone Stiite, where the f.atlier followed farm- 
ing, and by his honest life and sound religious prin- 
ciples, gained the good-will and esteem of all who 
knew him. He was an active member of the Metli- 
odist Church, and accumulated a good property. 
The mother was also a Methodist in religious belief. 
When their son, our subject, wiis a youth of sixteen 
years, his parents determined upon a removal to 
Ohio, and repaired to that State with a i)ortion of 
their family. Christian P., however, remained in 
his native county until the \-ear following, when he 
joined his parents in the Buckeye State. There the 
father, .as before, carried on farming, and with his 
estimalile wife, spent the remainder of his d.ays. 

The children of John A. and Mary Jane Shufcl- 
berger, eight in number, are recorded as follows: 
Jacob, the eldest, is a boatman, and a resident of 
New York City; Isabelle is the wife of Benjamin 
L.ayman, of Ohio, and the mother of several chil- 
dren; John Weslej' married Miss Sylvia Molliersill, 
and is farming in Iowa; they have three children. 
Christian P. was the fourth child of the parental 
family; Rebecca died young; Margaret is the wife 
of Edward Plummer, a printer by trade, and the 
mother of two children; they reside in Wichita. 
Ida was married to Delarm Thorp, a carpenter b}- 
trade, and they with their three children are resi- 
dents of Richland County, Ohio; Elmer is unmar- 
ried, and makes his home with his brother in Iowa, 
where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. 
The children all received a good common-school 
education, and as citizens, are as solid and reliable 
as were their parents before them. 

After joining his father's family in Ohio, our 
subject continued working his father's land until 
reaching his majority, and soon afterward staile<l 
out for hiin.self. One of the first important stc()s 
toward the establishment of a home of his own was 

'. •^ 



1 ' 

1 






^l•:I>|;\\ K K rniNiv 






liis iiinrrjn>;e, whitli t<M>k pLue on Hit' li'lli uf Aii- 
;,u»l, IS73, hi.- briili' hcing Miss Mnry Moiiscr, wlm 
»:•!« Iiurii ill IiKliaiiH, Aiii;. 7, IH,'));, niul iil tlie time 
I'f their weildiiijj wiu*a resident of Tii/.ewell Coiirty, 
III. Mr. .Sliiifell>er;;i'r liiul iiiinle the :u'<)uiiiiiLiiiu-e 
I'f his wife before leftving Ohio, ^-he «ii.« the 
il:iiij;liter of Dniiiel iiiKJ Miir.v (Hiiraere) Moiiser, 
natives of \'ii-<i;iniR, but now lesiileiil.s of C'aliforniii. 
Ml. .MoiiMT is n very iiilelli;,'ent man, a member 
III ;;<>o(l stan<liii<,' of the Baptist t'hiiivh, a Kepiib- 
liean in |>olities. ami stoodiiii;!! in the order of Sons 
of 'lVin|>oniiii'e. Their family eonsisteil of ten chil- 
dren, three now U'iiijj deecajed and the olhers 
mostly married, with families of their own. .lane 
i;ii/abeth is tlic wife of .loim A. Howinan. a well- 
tii-ilo farmer of \'iida 'I'owiiship, and the mother of 
livi> cliililreii: Sarah. Mrs. Kdwjird O'lJricii. resides 
in llanford, ('a!., where her hnsbainl carries on a 
li:ikerv. and liiey have ;i family of seven children: 
Silas married .Mis.* Annie .Martin, and carries on a 
farm ne;ir Los Angeles. C'al. ; they have one child. 
Nancy married, lives in California, and 1i.hs one 
iliild: Lydia i'. the widow of William Drennan; she 
li\cs in llanford, C'nI., and has three children. 
.Mary, the wife of our siiliject, \Yas the sixth in order 
i"f birth; C'hrislina is married, and lives in Califor- 
nia; .S.amiicl is unmarried, anil carrying on farming 
lor himself on the l*acilicSIo|K'; Amanda and .lohn 
died in Indiana when young children. 

Mr. anil Mrs. Shufelberger commenced life to- 
u'cthcr on a farm in Woodford County, III., where 
iliey remained until the spring of 1.S7.J. Our sub- 
ject then crossed the Mississippi, and I'oming to this 
lonnty stopped about three months in Wicliil;i, 
:ind then took up his aliode in Union Township, 
"hence he removed to his present location in the 
spring of jHjs.-,. His farm includes eighty acres of 
fertile land under a good stale of cullivalion, much 
of it encloM-d with beaiilifnl hedge fences and sev- 
rnd aires devoted to the growing of fruit. He has 
•i nourishing apple orchard, besides peach trees and 
llie smaller fiiiils, to which he gives careful atten- 
tion, and which furnishes not only a luxury to the 
lainily, but several wagon-loads to the market «';ich 
yi-ar. lie and his estimable lady have laljorcd in- 
diislrionitl^' together, and their union hits been 
blessed by the advent, of six children, namely: 



Kliner ]., born Sept. JO. Im74; HIaiiche, Nov. I.I, 
IM7r.; Craee. Dec. l.'i, I87K; Morris K., April I.'., 
l««l ; Vernon A., Oct, 7, l8K4.aiid Archie WalUr. 
Dec. -.'.l. lt<Kt;. The elder ones atUMH I the district 
school, and the f.amily group is one of which any 
man might well be proud. 



rj^llADDKlS C. M. LAl'OIII.IN. The gen- 
Y»i^\\ '''^'"""' whose name stands at the head of 
^V^^ this sketch is one of the pioneers of Niiiiie- 
scah 'l\>wnship, who, l>y developing ngiH>d farm from 
the wild pniirie land, has materially aided in iUs 
growth, lie is meeting with a well-deserved suc- 
cess in his c:illing, and his fine, well-<irdered f:iriii. 
which is plea.santly situated on section 17, with its 
carefully ciiltnred lields, its neat buildings, and all 
their surroundings, ileiiote the skillful maimgement. 
industry, and well-directed hibors of the owner. 

Our subject is of remote .Scotch- Irish ancestry, 
and he, a |)ionecr of the ])re.sent generation, is a 
worthy descendanl of a pioneer of an earlier day 
and of a much older .SUite. that of l'enn.sylv:iiiia, 
the part of that commonwealth in nliicli his ances- 
tor settled then being considered in the extreme 
West. .Mr. .McLaughlin probably inherited from 
that sturdy progenitor those traits of st^ibility and 
shrewd foresight which have been such im|>ortaiit 
f:ictors in shaping his career. lie is a native of 
Mercer County. I'ji., the date of his birth la-iiiu' 
Nov :i.», It<.'i0. His p:ireiits were Levi and M.'iry 
(Moore) McLaughlin (see sketch of his fatlnr, 
Levi McL:iiighliii, in another part of this work for 
p:irent.al history). Our subject was scarcely four 
years of age when his parents reinoved from the 
place of his birth to .Mercer County, III., and there lie 
grew to mauhiiod, receiving the usual edueational 
advantJiges :ifToriled by the schools of that d:iy in 
that .St^ite. He was active, industrious and c:ipalile, 
so niueh so th:it when he w:is twenty-three years of 
age he had secured sncli a good start in life that ln' 
w;is enabled to invite the lady of his choice, .Mis- 
Kuth I'eters, to share its pleasures and trials with 
him, and on the Isl of October, 1X74, they were 
united in marriage. 

In thai year .Mr. .McLaughlin came to Seilgwick 
County, Kan., having decided that he could better 



■*►■-♦ 



i 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



70o ' » 



his condition financiallj' by so doing, as he had been 
vQvy much impressed with the varied agricultural 
resources of the Stite, particularly of Sedgwick 
County. Here he selected a fine location on the 
northeast quarter of section 17, Ninnescah Town- 
shii>, which in every way ?net his requirements, and 
it has ever since remained in his possession. Then 
it was in its natural state, but by persistent and 
energetic labor he has brought it into a good 
condition of culture, so that it compares very 
favorably with other fine farms in this locality. 
He has erected a comfortable dwelling-house and 
other necessary farm buildings, and is well supplied 
with machinery for the successful cultivation of his 
land. Ilis label's on his fiirm iiave generally' been 
amply rewarded by abundant harvests, from the 
sale of which he has derived a comfortable income. 

Mr. McLaughlin's wife is a judicious manager in 
domestic affairs, and to her he owes no small share 
of their present prosperity. To them have been 
born three children, namely: Ralph, born Aug. 3, 
187.^); Miles O., Oct. lU. 1878; Herbert, July 7, 
1886. 

Our subject takes an intelligent and earnest in- 
terest in public affairs, and is active in promoting 
every scheme that will in an}' way benefit the town. 
For a number of years he has served as Clerk of 
the School Board in District No. 108, and has been 
an important factor in securing the present excel- 
lent school sj'steni that obtains in Is'innescali Town- 
ship. He is eminentl}' worthy of the trust and high 
regard in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. 
Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin are both earnest Chris- 
tians, being members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



i 



BENEZtm E. MITCHELL made his way to 
|-j the 3-oung State of Kansas in 1871, locating 
V — ^ first in Eranklin County. Thence he re- 
moved to this county five years later, and since 
187(i h.as been closely identified with its business 
ami agricultural interests. Upon first coming here 
he homeste.adcil the northeast quarter of section 29, 
in \"\o\:\ Township, which he still occupies, and 
where ho h.as built up one of the most desirable 
homesteads in that localitj'. While struggling with 

-«• 



the 4irimitivc soil ."nul bringing about the improve- 
ments which he has reason to view with satisfac- 
tion, he also watched with the deepest interest the 
growth and develoi)nient of Southern Kansas, and 
in the establishment of one of its most valuable 
farms, has contributed his quota to its progress and 
prosperitj'. 

Logan County, Ohio, was the early tramping 
ground of our subject, and where his birth took 
place on the 23d of August, 1841. His |)arents, 
John and Mary Ann (Graham) Mitchell, were na- 
tives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, 
and settled in the Buckeye State before their mar- 
riage. Their union was celebrated in the town of 
Reynoldsburg, that State, and they continued resi-, 
dents of that locality until the death of the fallur 
which occurred in 1861. 

Our subject, a youth of twenty years at the time 
of his fatiier's death, left Ohio in 1805 for DeKalb 
County, HI., and settled near the town of Sand- 
wich, to which place he w;u5 accompanied by his 
mother and her family, and where she still resides. 
The seven children of the parental household arc 
recorded as follows: Sarah Ann died when about 
twenty-three years old; Oliver is a resident of 
Franklin County, this State; Nancy G., Mrs. John 
Burt, continues a resident of Ohio; Ebenezcr E., of 
our sketch, was the fourth in order of birth; Hiram 
and Caroline died when about twenty-one and fif- 
teen years of age respectively; William 15. is a resi- 
dent of Waterman, HI. 

Young Mitchell spent his early life after the m:ui- 
ner common to farmers' boys, studying at the 
district school and making himself useful about the 
farm. Later, and after the removal to Illinois, he 
entered Monmouth College in Warren Count}', 
where he pursued a full course of study and devel- 
oped into a teacher. This profession he followed 
successfully in Illinois, and taught three terms after 
coming to this State. Just before this latter re- 
moval he was married, March 28, 1871, to Miss 
Sarah E., daughter of Joseph and Mariah P. More, 
who w.as born in New York State, and died at lier 
home in Viola Township, this county, in October, 
1880. This sad bereavement left three children 
motherless, namely: Wallace M., Elzie Ray and 
Ebenezer I., the latter of whom is now deceased. 



■•►Hl^* 



f 



■*► 



;or. 



si;ii(;uKK ((HMV 



Aflor lln- lUalli of lijs wifi- Mr. Milclitll ivliimod 
to Illiiiois, .'iml Miixle lijslioini' with his lirulluT while 
he (K-ni|>ic(l hiiiisi'lf iis u ck-rk in n ;;iMicral store at 
\Vat»Tinaii. In the fall of IHSI In- tonlr:ictc-<l a 
second niarriajjo, wiiii Miss Sarah IUmut, whu was 
liorn ill \Vashiii;;lon C'oiinly. N. Y., Si-|>t. I.'i. 1K|H. 
Mr. .Mili'lii'll now rfsnincil fariiiiii;; in Iliiiinis until his 
iviiuival to Kansiis. Ilo has very little to do with 
|iiilili(- affairs, but is interested in u|>h(>ldiii>; the 
|)rinei|>|ps of llie Itepubliean parly, lie wasTown- 
>lii|i Clerk alone lime, and after the estal>lishnient 
of liie |H>st-ollIee at reotone, in X'ioia Townsliip, in 
1S77, was appointed I'ostinaster, which olllcc he 
held linlil the ineotiiiii<; of the Oeinoeralie admin- 
islnilion. In coiincclioii with the olljce he also 
i-arried on a small grocery. Keliyioiisly, he is a 
I'liited I'lesliyleriaii an<l has hcen an KIdcr in this 
cliiircii for some years, lie has a good orchard on 
his farm, which jailer i> devoted to the raising of 
grain and stoi'k. 

0\\ . hoVl.l-;. dealer in real esUitc in the city 
of ^Vil•hit!l. is a native of Hrown Comity, 
111., and was born Jnnc I, l.s."» I. lie is a son 

of .lohn and Irene (Mills) Doyle, who were natives 
of \irginia and t)iiio respectively. 

.lojin Doyle, the father «>f the subject of this 
sketch, was a mcrchaiit, and came to Illinois at an 
early ilay, si-Uliiig in Hrown County. He is now a 
resident of (.^uincy. 111. The mother died in I.S7J. 
'I'liey were the parents of ten children, of whom 
C. W. was the seventh. The subject of our sketch 
resided under the paternal rooftree and spent his 
early years in attending school, receiving the elc- 
iiienLs of an excellent education. lie was engaged 
for a lime in the stove and tinware business, until 
he was tweiily-two yeai-s old, when, feeling that busi- 
ness in the older Slates was too much overdone, he 
I. moved to Lincoln, Neb., where for about three 
\ear» lie was engaged in operating n grocery store, 
lie llnnlfv sold out his business in the capital city 
of Nebraska, and came to Wichita, arriving here 
on the -.'.I of .Inly. IHM4. Kntering into the hard- 
ware busiiies.s, he took n position among the le:id- 
iiig merchnnls of Ihe city, but six inoiilhs later 



dis|ios<Ml of Ihe concern, since which time he has 
been s|)ecnlating in real eslittc and city pro|K?rly. 

The ceremony which united the destinies of Miss 
I.iulora .lennings anil C. W. Doyle took place Feb. 
I I, 1>>7M. The lady of his choice is n duiighU-r «if 
A. L. and .lane (Crowder) .1eiining!i. llie father a 
native of Kentucky and the inother of Virginia. The 
latter named caiue to Illinois in a very early day, 
and were among the pioneers of Cole.s Connty, in 
that Stale, where they engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. They were the parents of one child, .Mrs. 
Doyle. She was bom in Coles County, III., Nov. 
20, 18()0, and ii resident of l^uincy. III., at the 
time of her marriage. She is the mother of one 
sou, Ii:i, born in (^nincy. III., March 2.s, ls7'.i. 

Mrs. Doyle is an accomplished and ediicaled 
lady, of considerable repiit.-ition in literary mailers. 
Having always been a hard-working student, bent 
on improvement in an ednealioiial way, she mani- 
fested, at an early age, great talent and ability. 
Uefore she was twelve years of .ige she hail written 
considerable poetry, of a high grade of excellence. 
She has been a large contributor to many of the 
papers and periodicals of the country, among the 
principal of which are: The Clin'.slinn Eramji'list, 
of St. Louis; the Hiiinlai/ Optic, of linincy. III.; 
the Wichita EikjIi-. the Neir liejni/tlir, and the 
Mnititur Maijnziiii'. of Kansas City. .She hius just 
liiiislied and published a novel, founded upon fael«, 
cntilled "Kdiia l':iilisle," a work containing about 
100 [lages, which li;u> .•dready received most f.-ivor- 
able criticism and high leslinuuiials from some of 
the leading incii of the Sljite of Kansas. Chancellor 
Kverest, of (larHeld rniversily. sjiys: "I have 
read with considerable care the recent book, en- 
titled "Kdiia Carlisle," by Mrs. C. W. DoyU', of 
Wichita, Kan. It is a tein|H;raiice story, founded 
upon fads, and told in a very iin|ireteiilions but 
eflfective iiianncr." K. K. Lavvrcnce, President of 
the West .Side National Hank. s;iys: "I have read 
carefully the book written by Mrs. Doyle, called 
" Kdiia Carlisle," and can heartily recoiiimeiid it as 
a Work of great interest, ami calculated to leave a 
good impression on the reader." .1. II. Carrison. 
editor of the Chrinlian Ei'amji'tisl, of St. Louis, 
and rresident of the Hoard of Foreign .Missions, 
writes: "I have just llnished n thorough reading 



•►•-^^ 



i 



-•►■ -4« 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



707 



of the book. I must express my high appreciation 
of the work. It is a capital story, well told." The 
volume bears the following dedication: "To my 
beloved brother, James M. Jennings, this story is 
affectionately dedicated bj' the author, in mem- 
ory of the happ3' da3's of our childhood when 
we plaj'cd among the scenes iierein described, and 
cnjiiyed a personal acquaintance with some of the 
char.acters 6f this story.'' 

"Edna Carlisle" is written in a very simple style, 
and bears the impress of great genius. Not only 
are the characters life-like and palpable to the 
reader, l)ut the language is beautiful and not 
strained. The story deals with the experience of a 
heroine with whom the reader is apt to fall in love. 
Many of the best literary nn'nds of the country 
boar testimony to its worth, and letters of con- 
gratulation and welcome to tiic new author are 
numerous. 

Mr. and Mrs. Doyle ;ire consistent members of 
the Christian Church, and lead exemplary lives. 
They believe that precept should be accompanied 
by pr.actice, especially in religious matters. In 
politics Mr. Doyle is entirely independent of party 
lines, being one of those men "Who their duties 
know, liut know their rights, and knowing them 
dare maintain them." 

^ AMK.S BLAIR DOBBIN, one of the well-to- 
do and prosperous farmers of Viola Town- 
ship, resiiling on section 34, is one of those 
men who thoroughlj^ understands the busi- 
ness which he is pursuing, and is rapidly progressing 
toward a state of ample competence. He is the 
architect of his own fortune, having started in life 
with but little capital beyond his own industry and 
a laudaljle ambition to rise in the world. 

The. subject of whom we write is a native of De 
K.alb County, III., born Oct. 13, 1847, and is the 
son of David M. and Mary Jane (French) Dobbin. 
When he was but an infant he h.ad the misfortune 
to lose his mother, but as his father subsequently 
married, he was brought up in the family. He re- 
ceived his education in the common schools of his 



native county, and was given the training necessary 
to a successful pursuit of agriculture upon his 
father's farm, and remained at home engaged in 
helping to carry on the labors upon the homestead, 
until he had attained the age of twenty -seven j-ears. 
Tiiiidjing it was about time that he had established 
a home of his own, and surrounded his domestic 
hearth with family- ties, on the 'iOth of December, 
1X74, he was united in marri.age with Miss .Sarah L. 
Carr, who w:is born in Washington County,, N. Y., 
Jan. G, 1851, and is the daughter of W^illiam and 
Elizabeth (Armstrong) Carr, both <jf whom were 
natives of the same county' and Slate. Her i)arents 
were reared among the picturesque hills of that 
portion of the Empire State, and Mr. Carr in early 
life adopted the calling of seaman, which lie fol- 
lowed until his marriage, when he gave up his life 
up<m the ocean, and settled down upon a farm in 
his native county. Growing tired of tilling the 
rocky soil of that part of the country, in ISAO 
Mr. Carr, with his family, removed to DeKalb 
County, 111., where, purchasing a farm, he resumed 
his agricultural pursuits. His wife died there in 
1880, since which time he has made his home with 
his children. 

To Mr. an<l Mrs. Carr there were born a family" 
of four children, of whom .Sarah Lucretia, the eldest 
one, is now Mrs. Dobbin. The others are George 
II., Robert A. and Mary R., the latter of whom is 
the wife of David Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbin 
are the parents of five children, who have been 
granted to brighten their lives, and double their en- 
joyment. Their names are: Marg.aret Pearl, Will- 
iam David, Mary Agnes, Arthur Blair and Alice. 
In his political alliliations, Mr. Dobbin was formerly 
a Rcpid)lican, but now supports the Prohibition 
party, and has served in the oflicc of Township 
Treasurer for some time. lie is an Elder of the 
United Presbyterian Church, and an exemplary 
Christian member of that communion. 

Our subject is the owner of a fertile and pro- 
ductive farm of 280 acres of land, which he has 
brought to its present highly cultivated state by 
the exercise of great industr^s perseverance and ex- 
cellent management. His improvements are of a 
substantial character, and everything about the 
pl.ice denotes prosperity and thrift. He has been 



•► ■ M*- 



u 



?08 



sKIn.w II 



c|uitc |>ri>iiiiiieiitly iilontifli-il witli tlu' intiTt'sU of 
thf rotiiiniinilv in wliidi he livi-<«, itml iir^iisU'd iiin- 
Urinllv ill the ili'VcUi|iiiit'nl of this |H>rti(in of Ihf 
county. lU' I't'iirs a hif;)' rlinniclor for stt-rlin}; in- 
tf^frity, nn<l his chiirily townril the iinfoi tuii:it«- is 
unhoiinileil. 

■ t> ■■■ : (g): ■■ r: t . 

I A.MKS T. IIANMNi;. proprietor of llio 
K.-ins^is Stfjitn l.amiilry, is :i prnrticnl. woll- 
filncatoil Minn of sound judgment and <;ood 
liusincss tJilents, «hicl« have made him [ire- 
emiiicntly sucressful in the nianajjcniPiit of liis 
present enterprise. Mr. Ilannin<; is n UHlive of 
Seotlaiid and was horn in the town of Kiininniock, 
Ayrshire, .July 1.^ IS 14. At the ajfc of seven- 
teen our suliject h-ft his native lanil and crossed 
the waters U> Canada, where, to complete liis educa- 
tion, he enrolled himself as a student in the famous 
I'niversity at Toronto the year succeeilin^ his arri- 
val in America, and was <Tr.^duat<■d tiierefrom in 
l«r.l, havin;: attained hiirii rank as a sciii.lar. After 
leaving college he eanie to the .Stales, and eng-iged 
in real-estate liusiness until the summer of 1873, 
when he connected himself with the iMeriden Cut- 
lery Com|)any, of .Meriden. Conn., and was for thir- 
teen years the Western ngent of that company, 
with headquarters in Chicago and St. Louis. In 
IHM.Ihe hecanic interested in K>ins.ns and bought a 
cattle ranch near Cioddard, of which he is still the 
owner, and under his care it has become one of (he 
most valuable ranches for rearing cattle in that 
township; lie devotes it principally to raising Short- 
horn-. 

In iM.si". Mr. Ilanning nioveil into Wichita, liecanie 
interested in the real-esUitc bii-iness, and is now the 
owner of vabuible projiorly here, including the lot 
and building of the Kansas Slc.ani L;iundry. 'llic 
enterprise in which he is at present engaged w.as 
llrst slJirted by Mrs. Ilanning, a woman of great 
•'nergy of character and superior cap.'d)ilities, who 
is an Albany ( N. Y.) lady, and is perfectly familiar 
with the laundry business in all its iletails. She 
met with siicli good success and the business in- 
cre.aH4'rl to such pro|M>rtions that she h.-inded over 
its man.agemenl to .Mr. Ilanning. It is one of the 
most extensively patronized laundries in WichiUi, 



and is c'lpalile of turning out a large amount uf line 
work, and is justly fanied for the superior manner 
in which the clothes are Innmlered, being thoroughly 
eleanse<l by the steam washers, the laundry being 
fitted out with the Ih'sI Troy machinery. Among 
other niachines is a Minnea|iulis neck-band ironer, 
which irons the neck-bands of shirts in a far su|N'r- 
ior nniuner to lh<)se done by hand and saves the 
help of two girls. Their business consists largely 
in doing up gentlemen's collars and cuffs. .Mr. 
Ilanning is about t<) erect a hirge addition in brick 
to his laundry t4i accommodate the large ami con- 
sLantly increasing business, which is now esUiblished 
on .'i linn Ij.-isis and is very prolitalile, so that he is 
rapidly acfpiiring a fortune: the laundry |ilant is 
worth at least *I2,(IOO. 

Mr. Ilanning is a man of superior education 
slaixls well in the social world and in linancial cir- 
cles, has a fine reput:\tion for using systematic 
methods and good business principles, and his credit 
is unrpiestioned. 



JOHN C. MAH.sllALL, who is carrying on 
the joint occupations of farming, stock-rais- 
ing and blacksmithingon section .'?(>, (Jreeley 
Township, is an Ohio man by birth, in which 
SUxtc he began life on the 3d of November, \s-2:>. 
lie came to this count}' in the spring of 1h80. and, 
as his htuuestead indicates, has maile good use of 
his time and opportunity. 

The |)nrcnts of our subject, Hugh and Kliz.abelh 
( Pitts) Mai-shall, were natives of Kentucky, where 
the father labored mostly in a stone rpiarry and w;is 
at the head of . a fannly of eleven children. Itoth 
parents are dccci-scd. Hugh Marshall was an hon- 
est, h.aril- working men, and with his excellent wife, a 
member in good standing of the Christian Church. 
They left the Hluc Ctnuss regions at an early day .and 
settled in I'reble County, Ohio, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. 

All the .sons of the parental househohl of our 
subject, with the exi-eption of the latter, served as 
soliliers in the I'nion army. Of the.se children, 
KniK-h, M.-irgari't, Milton K., It.achel and Martin. are 
deceased. Milton, wliili- in the army was struck on 



•► ■ -4»- 



•4* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1 



the head by the bursting of a shell, which destroyed 

his hearing, and about 1882 or 1883, owing to iiis 
deiifness, was killed \>\ the curs while walking on 
the railroad track in the State of Michioan. Enoch 
also lost his hearing bj' an explosion while blasting 
rock, and he too was killed, like his brother, by the 
cars in Ohio. Isaac is a resident of Reno County, 
this State. 

Mr. Marshall was reared as a faiincr's boy in his na- 
tive count}', and continticd a nieniberof his father's 
household until twenty j'ears of ago. He came to 
Illinois with the fatnil}' in 18.57, and engaged as a 
blacksmith several j-ears in the town of Carlisle. 
Hefore leaving the Buckeye State he wjis united in 
marriage with a maiden of his own county. Miss 
Ann iM. Knapp, the wedding taking place at the 
home of the bride, in the spring of 185G. This 
lady became the mother of three children — John C, 
Joshua V. and Lucretia. The first-mentioned is a 
blacksmith by trade, and a resident of Mt. Hope, 
this county. The others are deceased. The mother 
died at her home in Carlisle, in May, 18(12. 

Our subject, in 18G7, contracted a second mar- 
riage, with Miss Ema Hatch, in September, 18G7. 
Mrs. F^mn Marshall was born Feb. 22, 1845, in Jef- 
ferson County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Ben- 
jamin V. and Lydia 1'. (Eaton) Hatch, who were 
natives of Vermont and the parents of eight chil- 
dren, namely: Abbie Jane, Charles, Ellen, Francis 
L., Isaac, Sylvester E., Laura Enuiia and Mary E. 
Of these but four are living. Benjamin Hatch was 
a resident of Canada during the insurrection there, 
by re:ison of which he lost all his property. He 
subsequently followed merchandising in Ohio and 
Illinois, and died in Carlisle, about 18;)!. The 
mother is now a resident of Missouri. Both were 
members in good standing of the Baptist Church, 
and the father belonged to the I. O. O. F. Mrs. 
Hatch is descended from an excellent old Quaker 
family, who fii"St came over in the "M.ayflower," and 
has in her possession a shovel and tongs and other 
relics brought over at that time, and which are 
believed to have belonged to Ann Austin, of historic 
fame. Both Mrs. Hatch and her husband were well 
educated, the foimer completing her studies in an 
excellent school in New Bedford, Mass. 

Joseph Hatch died about 1881. He became a 



resident of Detroit and was for some time the 

Inspector of flour at that point. Charles, previous 
to the outbreak of the Rebellion, was a merchant 
of Baton Rouge, and joined the rebel arm}', in which 
he became a (Jeneral, was captured by the Union 
troops and taken to Columbus, Ohio, where he was 
subsetiuently exchanged. It is supposed that he 
then returned South, but he has never since been 
heard from b}- his family. 

Mr. Marshall located on his present farm of eighty 
acres in 1880, where he has effected all the improve- 
ments which to-day are the admiration of the pass- 
ing tr.-ivi'lcr. The fields are enclosed with handsome 
hedge and wire fencing, and the buildings are neat 
and subsUuitial. His family includes his excellent 
wife and three children, the latter named respect- 
ively : Hugh B., Maude and David C. Mrs. M. is 
a member in good standing of the Christian Church. 
Our subject, politically, votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket. Sociallj', he is devoted to the interests 
of the I. O. O. F., with which he became identified 
in 1855. 

R. H. O. BURLEIGH, deceased, was one 
of the leading business men of Wichita, 
and one of her wealthiest citizens. He 
was widely known and honored, and in his 
death .Sedgwick County, whose interests he had so 
much advanced by his enterpri.se, has lost aval u.able 
citizen. His integrity of ch.-vracter, unbounded 
benevolence, and never-failing courtesy, made him 
beloved by all who had the honor of his acquaint- 
ance. 

Dr. Burleigh was born in Exeter, N. II., Sept. 29, 
1 82G ; he was the son of Nathaniel .and Mary J. 
(Odiorne) Burleigh, natives respectively of New 
Hampshire and Boston, JIass., and of English de- 
scent. His father purchased land in what is now 
Bangor, Me., and became wealth}-. The subject of 
this sketch remained under the sheltering roof of 
his parents' home until he was fifteen years old. 
At that early age he started out to learn the prac- 
tical lessons of life by a personal contact with the 
world, being a very ambitious and high-spirited 
3()Utli. For awhile he was engaged in trading and 
trallicing; subsequently he went to Ohio and com- 
menced the study of medicine at the Eclectic 



-t 



■ -4^ 
' 7.0 



SKIM ; WICK COUNTY. 



.Molicnl I'olli-^c, ill C'iiu-iiinnti. AfttT receiving 
liiit ili|iliiiiiii lie (irnc'tico)! Iiis priifriKtioii in (Miio, 
nu><-liii<.; Willi niui-li siioceivx. He nnnlly w«-nt tu 
(Ifiu'soo, III., mill for .mmiio twoiily yi'nrs wim nii 
nctivc |>rn<-titii>iier in lliiit city. s|K-iiiliii<; lii^ yiiin- 
iiK'n* in Inivi'l; lie wii.s niiui liir^ri'ly eii-xJifjeil in 
till- ni!iiiiirai'tiir<> of nii'ilicinr, nn<l sent oiil U-ains 
tliriiii-'li the niiintry for the s.-ili> of llic sanio. lie 
ntiikeil well as ft iiliysirian, ami a> a luisincss man 
liail few superiors in llie rily. 

In 1H7I Dr. Hiirl>-iL;li left (ieneseo and came lo 
Waterville, Kan., attmi-tefl to it liy its lienlllifiil 
i-liniate ami its re|iutalioi) as a rapiilly •jrowing 
ami eiiler|)iisiiijj; city, lie eslj»l)li>lie<l himself in 
his |irofe.ssioii liciv anil eoiitiiincil to praelice alioiit 
two years, and then reiiioveil lo Cliic.-i^'o. in IS78 
he went to Ncliraska to improve some land of which 
lie w:ls the owner. After a residence of two years 
ill that .suate he returned with his family to Kansas, 
and made his home in the northern pari of the cit}* 
of Wichita, and since that lime, up U> the date ttf 
hi> death, was actively engaged in Iniyiiig and sell- 
ing real esljite and in promoting the gniwth of the 
city by the erection of liuildings in various part^* 
of it. He Imilt a large tenement house on the 
coriKTof Fourth avenue and Tenth street, at a cost 
of *|M,()()0; it is five stories in height, JO.xl.") feel, 
niailc of lirick, with thirty -six rooms conveniently 
arraiiged for four families, lie built another brick 
bliK-k for a hospital, which is five stories in height, 
4t>x.">i) feel, and conliiins forty rooms; he also had a 
Mat in process of erection <in .Main street, and owned 
u good deal of valiinlile land in the city. He con- 
tributi-d largely lo various enU-rpriscs for advanc- 
ing the iiusiiiess interesLs of Wichita, giving !i<l,000 
toward |)urcliasing the sit4' of, and erection of the 
packing-house. Dr. Burleigh also diil much to ad- 
vance the religions and moral welfare of this eom- 
miinily, and he ami his wife were proininent and 
iiilliieiitial members of the Haplisl Church; it is due 
to their generosity, in great p.nl, that the .society 
to which they belonged is now worshiping in one 
of the neatest and most Uisly church edifices in the 
cily. He gave several thousand dollars toward its 
erection, and his wife furnished th<- carpets, seats, 
and other paraphernalia; ili^ known as the Kmporia 
Avenue Itnptist Church, and is on the corner of 



Kiii|>orin nveiitie mid Tenth street, mid i.- built of 
lirick. Their ilaiighter I.illie became n member of 
the Haplisl Church when but six years of age, l>eiiig 
then Ihe youngest inember of that deiioinination in 
the I'liited Slates. 

Dr. Burleigh's ilealli occurred very suddenly on 
Dee. .'II, IHS7. We gather from the Xeir /{pimhliiftn 
and /)nil>i luiijle, of Wicliit:i, that the cause of his 
death was aiHiplexy, bronghl on by excitement ami 
Worry over the serious illness of his beloved 
wife. He was tenderly caring for her, when he was 
overcome by emotion, having just expresseil the 
fear that she w:is dying, fell lo the floor in an nn- 
coiiscioiis eondilionniid died in a few minntes. On 
the following Sunday impressive fnnenil .s<'rvices 
were held over his remains at the North Kiii|>oria 
Avenue IViplist Church. Our subject had bi-eii tlirite 
married. Mrs. Minnie Cowley, of Cloml County, 
Kan., is a child of his first marriage. Mr.<. Helen 
H. Carlton, of Sedgwick Coniity, of the second. In 
1S77 he w:-.s married lo Miss Molly I,. Lent, of 
Nebr.aska, who followed her husband to the belter 
world three weeks after his departure. To IIk-iu 
were born five children, namely: Lillie 1'., I.oii C., 
Krnesl K., and twins of recent birth. 

Dr. Burleigh w.as a sUanch advwate of the policy 
pursued by the Republican parly. The whole eiiy 
mourns with the bcreaveil family for the loss of 
this noble-hearted and generous man. We cannot 
think that such an honorable life can C4ime lo 
naught, but we reverently believe that he has now 
entered "upon broader fielils of action and duly, 
where nobler struggles shall tjisk the strength and 
more precious crowns award the victor, where the 
hofies and dreams of earth shall be turned to sight, 
and the broken circles of life be rounded lo the 
perfect orb." 

wOll.N \\. IIAHUlSON. Among the many 
I pioiieei"s of this county who came here to 
l| engage in stock-raising, none has met with 
(^5^ a more .tssnred success than the gentleman 
whose name sUaiids at the head of this sketch. 
He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, .Ian. 10, 
IH.'i.l. His parents were William and C:illierinc 
(BecrafI) Harrison, iialives of Marvlaml. in which 



•^■-4" 



■•►•-4« 




^ 




^ 






•► II <• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



713 ik 



Slate they were reared and married. They after- 
ward left the place of their nativity and made their 
home in Morgan Count}-, Ohio, whore t\w father 
was actively- enfiaged in farming, and there both he 
and his wife spent their last days. 

To the parents of our subject were born seven 
sons and six daugliters, he being the twelfth child in 
order of birth and youngest son. lie was reared 
on a farm, aud received a carefnl training from his 
parents. During his boyhood the great Civil War 
broke out; though but a small child he became 
greatly* interested, and in 18G5 the patriotic boy 
enlisted in Company H, 160th Ohio Regiment, and 
served four months. At the age of fourteen our 
subject commenced the study of dentistry with an 
uncle who was a dental surgeon. After he had 
obtained a thorough knowledge of his profession he 
commenced to practice it in his native county, with 
his office at McConuelsville, but working at many 
smaller towns within a radius of twenty-five miles. 
lie became a ver}^ skillful practitioner, and contin- 
ued very profitably employed in his profession in 
his native county until 1871. In that year he re- 
solved to come to Kansas and turn his attention to 
farming on its alluvial soil. He took a leisurely, 
pleasant journey aeros.' the country, and on his 
arrival here he took up the northeast quarter of 
section 3, Union Township, securing his laud under 
the provision of the homestead law; this was before 
the county of Sedgwick was organized. 

Since his residence here Mr. Harrison has dealt 
extensivel}' in live stock, bu3-ing cattle in Southern 
Kansas and Indian Territory, aud has built up a 
large and profitable trade in that line. He has also 
speculated in grain considerably, and has always been 
in business alone. He is the owner of 3C0 acres of 
land, situated in one of the most fertile regions of 
the West, and all of it in a highly improved con- 
dition. After coming here he practiced dentistrj' 
to some extent, and made the plates for the first 
artificial teeth ever constructed in Sedgwick County. 
He has contiibuted to the building enterprises in 
this town by the erection of the Commercial Hotel, 
in which he still retains a half-interest. 

Mr. Harrison was married, April 6, 1870, to Miss 
Mary Tedrow, daughter of Michael and Sarah 
Tedrow, and, like himself, a native of Morgan 



County, Ohio. Of their union three children have 
been born — Sylvester, Arthur and .Jasper. 

Mr. Harrison has .achieved his success b}' unre- 
mitting toil, directed by sound business principles, 
lie has acemnnlated all his [jroperty since coming 
to Kansas. !is at lh;it date he had not money enough 
to |)ay for a team but had to pay for it on time, 
lie is :m intelligent man and an independent 
thinker, and in (lolitics does not confine himself to 
anj- party, but votes for the best men and measures. 
He takes an active interest in public affairs and has 
rendered elficient service in local oHices. 



AVJl) U. ALLKX, a well-to-do and highly 
respected citizen of Wichita, is one of the 
earliest settlers of Sedgwick C<Minty. He 
is a native of Caledonia County, \t., and 
made his first appearance upon the scenes of this 
life March 10,1818. lie is the son of Noah an<l 
Olive (Hice) Allen, b<jth of whom were l)oru 
among the granite hills of New Hampshire. 

Noah Allen, the father of our subject, was a 
builder and contractor, putting up the brick and 
stone work and doing the plastering of many edi- 
fices in his immediate vicinity. He was the |)arent 
of nine children, eight of whom are living, as fol- 
lows: Abel, who married Annie S[)aulding, and is a 
i-esident of Dakota; Lutheria, Mrs. Pearce, of Lyn- 
don, Vt. ; Matilda, Mrs. Badger, of East Hurke, Vt. ; 
Harriet, Mrs. Egelston, of the same place; Maria, 
Mrs. Howe, of IJrattleboro, Vt. ; David R., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Olive, Mrs. A. W. Ilawkings, 
living in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Clara, Mrs. Par- 
sons, who resides in New Hampshire. Noah Allen, 
short!}' after his marriage, removed into the wilder- 
ness where now stands Brownington, \'t., lint which 
at that time was an almost interminable forest. 
Sweeping aw.iy in leafy arches to the Canadian line 
the woods covered all the intervening land. Within 
their depths lurked the hungry wolf, the predatory 
bear and their no less savage congener, the wild 
Indian. There in the thinly settled community he 
built his cal)in and insUdled his wife, and then pre- 



•#► ■ -4^ 



7U 



sKI»<;\\ l< K ( (ilMY, 



r 



|i;ir«M| lo how oul, liUTally, » farm niiioii}; Ihv iik'II- 
:inli!i i.f till- fun-'i.. A.H ail iuciiloiit of tin- liff 
«lii«li lIu'V w»Tc ciilU'il u|>"ii l>. Ii'.id ill Hint >«■- 
. lii.U'.l >|)<>l, it i?* n-laU-fl thai diiriii- tin- War of 
I s|-J, wlifii iIk- fulhiT of the family wa.s alisoiit 
from his hoiiu- ii|>oii Ixisiiics.-, the iiioilicr allowed 
thf lire Ui ;.'i> out. 'VUifsv wirr tlit- «hu> whi'ii 
liuiftr malclics were not yvi, ami Hint ami slecl 
»«•!«• llif only milhoil of niakiii;; a Ihinic. Not hc- 
iii^' alilr to iiM- llii'sc >\u' w.is at n loss to know what 
lo <lo, as till' iicaivst m-iulihor was some tliri'c mih'.s 
■ listanl. For tlircf days slii- and htr llircf litlli- 
(hildii-n lived ii|>on theise and milk, Itul ^'rowinjr 
despenile one evenin;:. after the children ha<l ^'one 
tolled. she left them alone and made the trip lo the 
M-ltlei's hoiiM.and letiirned with the lire lieforclhe 
ihildien awoke in the morning. Live coals in lh()se 
days were carried in a pan from house lo house. 

Ueared amirl such scenes, among the hills and 
vallcvs of the old (lieen Mountain Sln\c. David K. 
.Mien there l.reallied in a spirit of imlependence 
and freed4im so common to Ihe children of stern 
.New Kngland, ami with which he is so largely en- 
dowed. He remained at home bcnealli the roof of 
his parciiLs' col. altcinling such schools jis Ihc lime 
and country afforded until he had reacheil Ihe age 
of lifleeii years. Turning his hack .-it that lime 
upon his lioyhood's home, -like the liinl that 
haves its iie:.l with keen regret," he journeyed Ui 
Worcester. M.ass., where for the succeeding four 
vc.-irs he was employed in a hotel. Wishing to 
m.'ike a change he sought in Springfield, .Mass., to 
heller his fortune, and engaging ilia similar cstali- 

lishnienl, r< lined until he had completed his 

twcnty-foiirlh year. Alionl that lime he was inar- 
riid to Miss ICmelinc lligclow, ami for a short time 
Ihcrcaflcr liolh he and his wife were employed in 
a house of piililic enlertainineiil. Having a family 
now upon his hands he concluded to make an effort 
.•il farming, .and sought in ihi- State of \ Crnionl a 
field of operation, lie continued ti. lill the >oil in 
Ihe (Jrccii Miiuntjiiii Stale until 1 «,',!, when the 
tide of emigralioii having set westward, he was in- 
duced to seek a heltermcnt of his fortune in Illinois. 

After a year spent iii Cook (' ty and another in 

Mrll.niy County, in that Stale, lie leiiiovcd to 
(iranl Coiiiily. \\ i"., where he look up a farm and 



resniin'ti his ngrienlliiml pur8uiu. There lie re- 
mained, ipiielly pursuing Ihe oven U'Uor of his way. 
until I«7(». whi-n he again fell the pioneer spirit 
moving him. Aeconlingly in that year he tr.ins- 
|H>rU><l himself and family to Kansas, arriving in 
.Sedgwick (.'ounly in .lime of llial year, lie and 
his children at once took up (Jill acres of Covern- 
nient land in Ihe mirlliern p;irt of \alley Center 
Township. 

Having no house in which lo -heller his family, 
and llieie lieing luil few .si-tilers in the county and 
no advantjiges for gelling the wheri'withal lo luiild 
a housi', .Mr. Allen dug into the ground a space 
some Sxld feet in dimensions, and abonl six 
feet deep. I'lacing llirec logs on each siile of the 
hole he put |Mi|es across the lop and covered il 
over with hay to form a roof. More hay was 
placed upon the iKior. or grounil. on which they 
spread their lilanket^i to make them a l«ed upon 
which lo sleep. Often while reclining upon their 
couch and ctmrling "the ilrowsy god" they could 
feel snakes creeping and crawling Ihrongli the hay 
that was underneath them. Having no stove he 
excavated a hole outside of his house *Jx;t feel in 
size, lint shallow, and on e.ach end of il drove down 
a crolched slick, and on these a |>ole wjis laid across 
to suspenil the pots and kettles in which their food 
was cooked. The first year the family simply 
liroke hedgerow.- on the pl.ace, and the -second year 
prejiarcd some fifteen acres of land for eiillivalion. 
Not raising much these two years they w-ere called 
upon to endure many lianlships and privations. :in<l 
want was no sti:ingei at their door. .Many limes 
he hardly knew where the next meal would conn- 
from. 

Hut another year lirought a l)ett«r fate. As .Mr. 
Allen began to g.ather more of this wurld's goods 
he creeled .a comforl.able dwelling-house .and all 
the nccessaiy out-buildings lo carry on the opera- 
tions of a farm. There he remained until |x77. 
' but in Ihc f:dl of that year moved into the village 
of Sedgwick, in which he spent the winter. With 
the dawn of spring lie c-anie lo Wichita, and |>ur- 
chased a residciu-c near the corner of Lawrence 
anil Oak street-, but only lived there .about seven 
nniiilhs. Kcidiiig il nccessaiy lo engage in some 
business he rented a place on Hoiiglas avenue and 



•► • -♦^ 



-^^m-^ 



1 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



ri5 



opened a restaurant, whicli gave him eraplo3'ment 
for three years. For tlie improvement of iiisgrow- 
iiii^ prospects he then purchased a house on Market 
street, where he and estimable family icept board- 
ers and rented apartments for the four years fol- 
k>wing. About that time he commenced liie 
erection of the edifice where he now resides. No. 
'20i)~ Waco street, wiiicii he finislied at a cost of 
over ^0,000. Wiiile this was in the course of com- 
pletion he lived for about six months on the cor- 
ner of Pattie and Prince streets. 

When he moved to his present place of abode 
our subject purchased the twenty-five acres of 
ground that surrounded it, which he has since 
laid out in city lots, under the name of the New 
England Addition to Wichita. Most of this he has 
sold, reserving six lots for his own use. In politics 
ho is a Republican and a stanch and sincere patriot. 
His solid worth and energy of character have 
niade him man3' friends in the community and no 
enemies. As a representative man of the county 
and an old pioneer he stands i)re-eminent, and his 
public-spiritcdness and charity are ])iovei'bial. lie 
is always willing to assist in every benevolent en- 
terprise, and from his door the poor and oppressed 
arc never turned awaj-. Well has the poet sung 
'•Kind hearts are more than coronets. 'Tis only 
noble to be good." 

The marriage ceremony which united the desti- 
nies of David R. Allen and Miss Emeline IJigelow 
took place upon the 1 Ith of January, 184;5. She is 
the daughter of John and IIephziI)ali (Barnes) 
Bigelow, both of whom were natites of Massachu- 
setts. Her father was a farmer and had a family 
of nine children, only two of whom are now living 
— Joiin J. and Mrs. D. R. Allen. The latter's 
grand|)arents on her mother's side were Lovel and 
Rebecca (Eager) Barnes, natives of England. Her 
paternal grandi)arents were William and Catherine 
(Stowe) Bigelow, who were also natives of "wliite- 
cliffed Albion," who had left their sea-girt island 
home, and come to Amei'ica, settling in Marl- 
boro, M.'iss. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents 
of three children, as follows: Rufus J., a sketch 
of whom is given in the pages of this Album; Ly- 
man I!., who married Kate Reyer, of this county', 
in 187;t, and is the father of three children — R:ilph, 



Pearl and Oscar; Eliza, Mrs. P. Canida, the 
mother of five children — Charles, Rosa, David, Ed- 
gar and (irace. and a child by a former marriage, 
Eva. 

Mr. and Mrs. Allen arc both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Clinrch. Accompanying lliis ' 
sketch we present their portraits. 



!HILO M. IIERRON is the junior member of 
I) the firm of Herron it Son, which represents 
the livery, feed and sale stable interests of 
Goddard, in which (lc[)arlment of business 
they are the leading men. Mr. Herron is an ener- 
getic man of sound princi|)Ies anil good judgment , 
and, from a capital of ^500 left him from Ids f.ather's 
'estate, has accumulated a fine property', and laid 
up something for a rainy daj-. In addition to his 
town interests he has a fertile farm of eighty acies, 
with moderate improvements, including a substan- 
tial set of frame buildings, a good orchard and the 
sra.aller fruits, and stocked with good grades of 
cattle and swine. He keejjs himself well posted on 
current events, and is wide-awake and industrious, 
and occupys a good social position among the suc- 
cessful business men of Goddard and vicinity. 

Mr. Herron was born in the town of Conquest, 
N. v., April 27, 1827, and is the son of Philo and 
Lucy (Aldridge) Herron, natives respectively of 
New York State and New Ham[)shire. Philo Her- 
ron was born April 5, 180.'^), and departed this life 
at his home in Van Buren County, Mich., Jan. 20, 
1875. The jiarental household included eight chil- 
dren. The eldest, Bets}', is the widcjw of Rev. 
Harrison M^-ers, a minister of the Baptist Churcl , 
and the mother of ten children, three of whom are 
deceased; Philo M., our subject, was the second 
born; Edward married Miss Elizabeth Shourman, 
who died in Ynw Buren County, Mich., and left 
four children; Harvey, a farmer of the latter-named 
county, married Miss .Mary Clark, and they arc the 
parents of three children; Calvin died in \'an Buren 
Count}', Mich., when a lad nine years of age: Asli- 
bell, who is farming in the State of Michigan, mar- 
ried Miss Elnora Myers, and they are the |)arents 
of two sons; Amariah died when eighteen months 



-4^ 



. I> 



-•^U-4« 



«I.|h;\v1CK COUM V 



iil>l; Liii V .Iniu- iimirii-il O. S. Itiowii, a iiKcliiiiiic 
of N'nii niiri-ii Ciiuiilv. Mirli., nixl i^ the inollicr nf 
llii««' «liil.lri-ii. 

Ymiii;; llt-rroi), wlieii twciily-oiii' yi'iirs nf ajjo, 
(■iiiniiK'iic-ftl on liis own ni'cuiiiit. ftii|il<i_viii^ liiiiiMrIf 
at farm liiliur, niul .Inly -I,! HIM, wu.h nnit«'<l in innr- 
iia;,'«' willi Mis.1 l,_v<liu Ann Itiil^^ixxl, wlio wns lu>rn 
in 'M-ncM-e ('(innlv, N. Y...Iiini' C, 1 H.'iO, nnd is llic 
<laiigli(i>i° iif licnjiiniin iiml Mnrpin-l ( I'ickli-) lii<l- 
;,'<n><l, who uUo wtTc nalives of llio Knipirc SUito. 
riio ftitlii-r (lii-il inrnrly niimliooil, nnd the niollier in 
1 Mill, :ii ih<- m;,'o of st'Vcnty-lwo yi'.'ns, having been 
liorn in IT'.i". Slic was a nionilici' in fitKid .sUmiling 
of llic Mt'thodisl Kpiscopal Church. The parcntiil 
hi>n-(<-liol<l ini'hnh'il tliivo rliihlren, of whom the 
»'lili'>t, ]{i-njamlii ]•'.., married Miss Ann Wier, and 
is farming in (iranl County, Wis. ; they arc tlie 
|i:u'ent^ of nine children, ei^hl living, one liavin<r 

■ lied from injuries received from heing thrown 
from a wagon. Sarah is the widow of Ahel Hums, 
who w!is one of the wealthy fai-iners of \'an Hurcn 
County, .Mieh.,and the jirincipal stockholder in the 
ISaiik of Almena; of iheir nine childnMi, three 
daughters are deceased. IJy a former marriage the 
mother of .Mi>. llerron had two children: Caroline, 
.Mrs. lloliirook: and UeLsy, .Mr.s. Lyman A>liley, of 
I'ralt Center, this MaU>. Mr. .Mains, the father of 
lhe.M>, ilied in (icncsee County, N. V. Of the second 
marriage of the mother of Mrs. llerron, to a Mr. 
Kelts, there were horn five children: The eldest, 
( lari—a, married Mr. Kieenian, and liecime the 
mother of eight children; .Margaret is the wife of 
l.yman Alcott, of New York, .and the mother of 
ten children; .M.ary is the widow of Dennis Wheeler, 
and lives in Illinois, ami is the mother of live chil- 
dren; I'hilip, a farmer hy occupation, nnuried .Miss 
Kllen Wier. .and lioth are ileceased ; Kve w.as lirsl 
m:irried to l);ivid Hathaway, liy whom she became 
the mother of three children, and aft<'r his death 
-he niarrieil Cyrenu> Hrown, and l)ec;inie the niother 
of one child. .Mr. lirown also died, and she is now 
Ihe wife of .Mr. I.athrop, a retired farmer of Crant 
( ounly. Wis. 

To Mr. and .Mrs. llerron there were horn nine 

■ liildreii, of whom the record is as follows: Nancv 
»:isl.orn()cl. I'd. IKIK. and married to S. I!. Wilcox, 
.March -ill. |M<;7: she died in \:ui Hurcn Counlv, 



Mich., .Iiily •-', 1SM7. ISenjamin l-'ranklin was horn 
.March .'l, IS.>|, and died in \Narren Township, 
\ an Huren Co.. .Mich., Sept. 2«, ISiU',; .Marganl 
.Meli.ssa was horn Nov. 7, I«.'>1', and hceame the 
wife of .S. L. .Stnrks, a miller by trade, and now a 
resident of Morgan County, Col., where Ihoy are 
e8Ud)lJshing a claim ; they have one e|ii|i|. .Inmes 
II. was born .Ian. I)'>, IH.*i7, and was married to 
Mi.s> Cora Holes, who ilied in IMKI ; he wils subse- 
fjuently inarrie<I to Miss Minnie Hrooks, and they 
have two children — M.argarct ami .lohn ; they arc 
living on a farm in Herrien County, .Mich. Harvey 
was born .Ian. C, |S.')'.I, and died in .Michigan in 
September, lst;7; Oren C. w:us horn May H. IStM, 
and is a partner in the livery business with his 
father; Lucy K. w:is born Oct. 28, lMr.3, and is the 
wife of Cornelius Smith, wh<i is fanning in I'niou 
Town>hip; they liavu three chihiren — Muyd and 
Florence (twins), and Kiank. Leonard A. was born 
Dee. Hi, lK(i7, and is at home with his parents; 
Chloe was born .luly id. 1 .h7(>, ami died when two 
and one-lialf months old. 

.Mr. llerron landed in Harlon County, Kan., on 
the 17th of March, I S7l). and live years later 
changed his resi<lence to this county, lie is a strong 
Republican politically, with I'rohibition principles, 
and .Mrs. llerron is a member in good st^mding of 
the Haplist Church. 



lASrKR S. .IKWKTT. a leading and inlbi. 

I enlial mendier of the .'igricultural comniu- 
nily of \'alley C<'nler Township, resides upon 
section III, where he owns a fine farm of 

acres. He came U< .Sedgwick County in May. 
lH7(i. and loc:ited on the pl.acc where he has ever 
since remaineil. All the impriivements ;ire the work 
of his own hands, and relied great credit upon him. 
His buildings are of a l.and.soine and subst:iuti:il 
character, and the surroundings of his residence 
are extremely beantifid. Like many other of the 
settlers on this prairie waste, he has set out a goodly 
number of trees, which Jidd materially to the appear- 
ance of the property and enhance its value. He is 
extensively engaged in ^'ener:d farming and -luck- 



•► • -4^ 



-•^-■i-^ 



-t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



717 



^y- 



raising, givinji; eonsiilerahic lUUiii ion lo the rearing 
of I'oland-Cliina hogs, of whirh he !<eeps on iiand 
nearly a luintlred iiead. 

Mr. Jcwett is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, 
his advent liaving taiien place March 12, 1838. 
His parents, Barzilla and Rebecca (Todd) Jewett, 
natives of New Hampshire and Peniisjivania re- 
si)ectivel\', were born, the father Ang. 1, 178!), 
and the mother April 28, 1800. Tiie^- nerc mar- 
ried at Stcubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, March 
11, 1820, and for some time he was employed as 
foreman in the foundry- at that place. lie re- 
moved from there to Meigs Connty, where he re- 
sided some eighteen years, acting as Justice of the 
Peace fifteen. At the expiration of that time he 
removed to LaSalle County, III., where he made 
his home until overtaken by death, which occurred 
Jan. 7, 1870, when he had attained the age of 
eighty years, five months and six days. His wife 
survived him until Keb. 8, 1876, when she departed 
this life, at tlie advancx;d age of seventy-five 
years, nine months and ten daj's. Mr. Jewett, 
Sr., followed farming from the time he removed 
to Meigs Connty, .and w.as a leading and promin- 
ent citizen of both Ohio and Illinois. He was a 
delegate to the General Presbytery which met at 
W.ashington, from his own chiu'ch, he being a mem- 
ber and Klder in the Presbyteiian Church a great 
man}' years. He was a Republican in politics, a 
stanch adherent to the principles of tiiat l)arty, and 
manifested a great interest in all public and local 
affairs. Death came to him while he was still a 
hale and hearty man, although he had long passed 
the allotted years of man. He was the parent of 
eight chihlren, six boys and two girls, .as follows: 
Kdward Lewis, William Todd, Kliza Jane, Decatur 
.Sc(;tt, Arthur Wellington, Jasper .Siiorah, Otis Gil- 
man and Josephine. Kli/.a J., Otis a'lid Josephine 
are deceased. 

Tiie subject of our skctcli received his education 
:it his bo3-hood's home in Ohio, and lent his assist- 
ance to his father in carrying on the labors on the 
farm. He remained at home with his parents, tak- 
ing charge and managing the place in later years, 
until lie was thirty-seven ^-ears of .age, living single 
all that time. In 187G he removed from Illinois 
to the State of Kansas, and settled as mentioned 



«^^ 



above, and has continued a resident of this county 
ever since. Having esL-iblished a home of his own 
upon these Western plains, it became necessary, to 
enhance the juys of his domestic hearth, to seek a 
life companion, and he wooed and won the affec- 
tions of Miss Louisa A. Furnish. The wedding 
ceremony which united their lives was duly solemn- 
ized Dee. 1, 1880. The lady of his choice was a 
native of Grant Count}-, Ind., born in the year 
I8G1, and was a daughter of Marion and Lizzie 
(Carpenter) Kurnish, who were also natives of the 
Hoosier State. Her parents came to Kansas in 
1879, and settled in Sedgwick Coutit}', where her 
father is still living. Her mother died in Decem- 
ber, 1887, while still comparatively ayoung woman. 
On the 13tli of July, 1887, Mr. Jewett was called 
upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who departed 
this life at the age of twenty-three years, eight 
months and sixteen d.ays, and was buried in Pleas- 
ant Valley Cemcterj', Eagle Township, leaving two 
children, both boj's: Arthur Lewis, the cider child, 
was born Oct. 22, 1881, and Loonanl E. Ray, the 
younger, July 1, 1885. 

In his politics our subject is a straight and 
stanch .adherent to the principles formulated in the 
platforms of the Republican i)arty, and in the exer- 
cise of his elective franchise almost invariably' sup- 
ports the candidates offered by that oi'ganization. 
He is a leading and representative man of Valley 
Center Township, and merits and receives the 
warmest confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 



<ff AMES F. BRADSHAW. This gentleman, 
who spent his early manhood in active busi- 
ness, and mainl}' in agricultural i)ursuits, is 
now livinsj retired on a fine farm on section 
2, Gypsum Township. His property' embraced 320 
acres of land, which is valuefl at ^300 per acre. 
His favorite emploj'ment has been that of a stock- 
raiser, and Kentucky Short-horns his favorite breed 
of cattle. During his i)almv days he took pride in 
exhibiting some of the best animals to be foinid in 
tlie southern part of the comity. A man of great 
energy and more than ordinary business ea()acity, 
his success in life h.as been largely due to his own 



A- 



■#»■ 



si; I )i; WICK COUNTY. 



riT<irl.'< mill till- viiiiiil jiiil^iiu'iil li\ nliicli he Iim.s 
Ufcii I'lutliloil to iiinko \U!<i> iiive.-^liiifiit.s iiiul litko 
■,'<mmI nilvniiln;ii' ">f his rfboiirccn. 

'riu' Milijoi'l (if tdir skoU-li, n unlive of llic Itliie 
liia.-H Stale, WHS liorii in Knth Coiititv, .Inly l<i, 
ls-JI.!iiiil is the Hon of .lames timl Miuv (S|)riill) 
l'.i:nl<li:iw,iil.«o nntives of Keiiliieky,iiii<l the mother 
lioin in .Mont;;omery founty, near .Mt. Sterling. 
On the nmtenial side of the honse Mr. U. is of 
l')n;;lisli tleseenl, while his father traced hisaueestry 
lo Irehiml. The latter, n native of N'irginia, rc- 
iMoVeil from theOlij Dominion nt an early day, nnil 
«ell]eil in Halli County, Ky., where he was married 
:uiil where tlie most of his children were 'K)rn. 
.lames ISradshaw, a j;ood man in every sense of the 
Word, never identilled him.seif with any relifrions 
denomination. )mt his wife. Mary, was a .Methoilisl 
in reli;;ious lielief and liy meml>er>lii|). 

•lames !•'. I{ra"l>liaw is essentially a self-made 
m:in. his e.arly adv.Miitages htivinji lieen exceed injjiy 
liinit<'d. lie Continued under the p.-uenUd roof 
until reachini; lii- majority, and aliont that time his 
father jKissed awa}', leavinj; .lames in charjjc of the 
larj^e family, lie remained with his widowed 
mother until her death, which took place two years 
after the decease of her hitshantl, an<I l>y which 
bereavement eleven children were left orphans. 
■riif>e were named respectively: .lulin A., Andrew, 
Minerva, I'olly \V., .lames F., of onr sketch, Harri- 
son. Sarah, .lane, Lavina, .Joseph an<l Drusilla. Of 
lhe>e. five .-ire now livin;,'. 

Youn;; Hradshaw continued in his native SUite 
until ni'arly twenty-six years of n;;e. and on the 
Nth of March. 1H|7, was united in marriage with 
.Mi->s .Mar;;arcl Halls, a maiden of his own county, 
whose liiitli look plai'e in !«•_'."<, on the anniversjiry 
of the liirlh of tin- l-'athi'r of onr country, viz : Fcli- 
ruary 'JJ. The wedilin;^ took place at the residence 
of C. \V. Kails, Hev. (lillierl Cordon omciatiiiir. 
Mrs. Itradsliaw is the d.-inuhter of (;e(jr;;e W. and 
Matlie (Thompson) Kails, and is full cousin lo the 
deceased Nice President. Tlionias A. Hendricks, of 
Indiana, her mother and the molhi>r of Mr. Hen- 
dricks havin;; lieen own sisters. Tln' K.-dls family 
«ere from Vir;;inia, and of Welsh and Kn;;li!ili 
ancestry. The mother of .Mis. Hradshaw w.-is a 
niemlH-r of the old Calvanintie Church, .and the 



parenlal hoiiseliold included llfteen children, namely : 
Caleb, Kli/.alH'th, .SiiNin, l.ydia II.. Daniel, N'alen- 
line .S., Nancy A., .Margaret, Mary .1.. tJeorj.'e W., 
Nathaniel 1'.. William K., David I).. .Martha K. and 
ItichanI F. 

To .Mr. ami Mr>. ISradshaw there were born ei^^ht 
chililren, of whom the reciutl is il» follows: .lames 
T., the eldest, died in infjiiu-y; .Mary K. beeaiiie 
the wife of .laeob A. Triimbo, and ilied in Clay 
County, .Mo., in !«h.1; David K. married .Miss L. O. 
Limpkin, and is a resident of Sedj,'wick County; 
Nathaniel married Missi Molly Fowl, and 'lie<l May 
t'l, IH'n, ill .Sedgwick County; fJcorgc A., of Wich- 
ita, married Miss Adeline (iibbon, and Matlie 
K. is the wifeof Crant Hatfield, also of Wichita. 

Mr. ami Mi-s. ISr.adshaw came to this Slate in 
November, 1H7.'>, anil located on their present farm. 
This includes some of the finest bottom land in 
(iypsuni Township. This Mr. Hradshaw built uji 
from a comparatively nncultivated tnict. reiiovatt'd 
the old buildings and put up new ones, and has 
distinguished himself in all res|K'<-ts as one of the 
firsl-class agriculturists of .Sonlhern Kansjis. He is 
a stanch Demoeral, dyed in the wool, and the family 
arc all meinbcrsof the Methodist Kpiscopal Church. 

^YJOSIAH .M. UALSTON, .Ii!.. the scion of an 
excellent old family of Irish and .Scotch de- 
scent, and among the early pioneers of .Mi- 
Donoiigh County. 111., was liorn ihere on the 
Htli of September, 1H|7. :ind is now one of the lead- 
ing farmers of Grand Kiver Townslii|i. He has a 
fine tract of fertile land which has been thoroughly 
cultivated and which yields in abundance the rich 
crops of Southern Kan,s;is. As a citizen .•nid a 
member of society he enjoys the esteem and I'on- 
lideiice of the people around him. 

The parents of our subject. .losiali M.. .Sr., ami 
Koxy (Smith) Ralston, were natives res|K'ctively 
of Kentucky and \iigiiiia. .losiah M. Halston, Sr., 
was born Oct. !>, IHO'J, and departed this life at the 
residence of his son Wesley, in .laspcr County. .Mo., 
at the age of sixty-eight years, one month and 
twenty -seven days, Dec. C, 1877. A local paper of 
thai date has Ihis lo SJiv of this most excellent man : 



Hh-^ 



■•►■ -4« 



■^^ 



,f 



■*►•-♦ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



"Mr. Ralston was a most worthy member of the 

Motliodist E|)i,sc(>p:il Chinch for fortj' yours, a lib- 
oral sui)[)orlcr of the public scliouls, and of all 
other hiiulable enterprises. The last two years of 
his life were especially devoted to religion. He 
die<l as lie lived, in the faith of the Son of God. 
A large and intieh alTected concourse of people fol- 
lowed him to his last resting-place." 

Tlic father of our subject left Kentucky wiien 
nineteen years of age. and located in Springfield, 
111. He was married in Sangamon County. He 
served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and 
subsequently- owned a large extent of land in both 
Sangamon and iMcDonough Counties. Jlrs. Koxy 
Ralston, the mother, died July 4, 1882. 

Tlie parental household included ten children, of 
uhoni one, William, died in infancy, and eight are 
still living. Wesley during the Civil War was a 
Sergeant in an Illinois regiment; he is now married, 
and the father of ten children, and lives at Carthage, 
^Iii. James H. served two years as a Union soldier, 
being then discharged on account of disability, 
and now receives a pension ; he is married, and 
makes his home in Missouri; he has no children. 
Nancy is the wife of Stephen E. Roberts, of Han- 
cock County, III., and the mother of seven children, 
two deceased ; Harriet, Mrs. Jack Duncan, died 
leaving no issue; Josiah 31., of our sketch, w.as the 
sixth child; Elza C, a resident of Neosho, Kan., is 
a conductor on the Frisco Railroad, and the father 
of two children; Mary, Mrs. Thomas C. IIt)od, is a 
resident of Joplin, Mo., and has seven children; 
Samuel B., a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington 
it (iuinc3' Railroad, is married, has two children, 
and makes his home at Ottumwa, Iowa; Nathan H., 
the father of three children, lives in Carthage, Mo. 

Mr. Ralston became familiar with farm life dur- 
ing his boyhood, and acquired his education in the 
common school. He w.as little more than a lad at 
the outbreak of the Rebellion, and was obliged to 
restrain his inborn ptitriotisni until in July, 18C4, 
and then before he was seventeen years old en- 
listed in an Illinois regiment. He went with the 
troops of Gen. Sherman from Atlanta to the sea 
serving under the immediate command of Capt. 
Michael McGinty, in the 12tli Regiment, which had 
at its head Col. VanSeller, now of Paris, 111. In 



less than a year the Confederates surrendered, and 
our hero received his honorable discharge on the 
10th of August, ISO."). 

Young Ralston returned to his father's farm u()on 
leaving the army, where lie remained a ^'ear, then 
engaged as a traveling salesman for E. C. Kellogg, 
of Rome, N. Y., handling .an automatic stock-pump. 
He now made his head(piarters at I'lymoutli, III., 
where he continued to stop at intervals until his 
marriage. This event occurred in (Juincy, 111., on 
the 2ltli of September, 1808, the maiden of his 
clioice being Miss Helen R. Ilolton, who was born 
in Rutland County, V't., Oct. 28, 1851. After his 
marriage Mr. Ralston farmed in Illinois until 187G, 
then crossed the Mississippi into ,Tas[)er County, 
Mo., and pureh.ased eighty .acres of land in Union 
Township, where he lived four years. In the mean- 
time he was elected County Assessor by the Repub- 
lican party, and served two years. In the spring 
of 1883 he came to this count}' and purchased the 
quarter-section of land which comprises his present 
homestead. Like his father before him he is a man 
of strict integrity, and i)olitically, one of the most 
reliable adherents of the Republican [jarty, and a 
member of the County Central Committee. 

The seven children of oiw subject and his wife 
were born as fcjllows: Minnie E., Jan. 2, 1S70, in 
Illinois; Centurins Ilolton, July 2G, 1871; Arthur 
L., M.arch 7, 1874; Grace A., Dec. 13, 187G; (Ira 
May, June 29, 1878, and J.ay M., April 1, 188G. 
An infant son, born on tlie lOtli of March, 1883, 
died a few weeks later. Mrs. Ralston, a lady greatly 
esteemed in her connnunity, was reared a Meth- 
odist, and still adheres loyally' to the doctrines of 
that church. 

The parents of Mrs. Ralston, Lines T. and 
Lucinda (Allen) Holton, were natives of Rutland 
County, Vt., the father born Eeb. 20, 1817, and 
the mother Oct. 5, 1817. They emigrated to Illi- 
nois about 1855, when their daughter, the wife of 
our subject, was a child four years of .age, and were 
classed among the most wortli_v ])ioneers of that 
section. At the time of their removal their family 
consisted of two children, Helen R. being the elder. 
Her sister, Nanc}' E., died when three years of .age; 
Wallace L., a resident of Jasp^'r County, Mo., is 
married and the father of three children ; Emily, 



l^h 



"<•■ 



sKDGWICK COUM Y. 



«|ioli\r» at ri\ iiHiiitli, 111 , i> tlic A ifc i>r Williaii) U'fii Irani!, :iiii| cliosc St>il;^«ick (oiiiitv a> lli«- 
I). KiiUtoii, n iioplifw i)( our .siilijccl. Mr. Iloltoii iiii>.hI (lf»imliU> |mrt of the country in nliicli to lo- 



■ iii-il iic:ir I'lyiiioiitli, III., on tin- )Uli of NovfinliiT, 
1m;,s. 'I'lii- inothor is still livinj;. n)nkin<,' Ikt lioint- 
with her (Iaii;;lit4-r nt I'lynioiith. 

.V\ ll> AI.LKY.u worthy aii.| h.MiMnd np- 
ri'MMiliitivo of till- I'nrly pioneers of Sedg- 
wick County, i> a true type of llieenoifri-tie, 
li.Tfily itnd eonni-ieons men who aelivcly 
:is.>ii>te(I in liie development of this wonderful 
re^'ion. Me eiime here when the county was first 
i>r;i:ini/ed. The deer .-ind ImlTalo iiad not tlien lied 
liefore the advancin<; .-iteps of civiliz.ition. hut were 
■•till roamiui; in the lieautifnl valley of the Arkan- 
sas. Wichita wa.* then but a small hamlet of twen- 
ty-five haliitntions, and adjoining towns have all aliility have brought him unmeasured success, n^ is 
been built up under his observation. In this rapid denoted by his residence ami ample farm building!^, 
developuicnl Mr. Alley lia.s taken an important part, which are an ornanient to the township, his fine 
anil by his sagacity ami foresight, while contributing blooded cattle, horses and hogs, which compare 
to the welfare of his ailopted .St:ite, has been enabled favorably with the best in this part of the county; 
to accumulate a very comfort.-ible fortune, although his beautiful orchards and gardens, where he niises 
he lia.s but attJtiued middle age. He owns one the smaller fruits in abundance, nn<l the anninil in- 
of the richest and most jiroductivc farnis in the come that he derives from other stiiplc product.s of 
valley of the Arkansjis River, li.'us built a fine resi- Kansas, 
deuce an<l barn, and employs all the modern ma- 
chinery for Conducting agricultural pursuits. 

.Mr. Alley w;ls born in Mercer County, .Mo., Nov. 
17, IMI.'i, and is the son of Thomas and (Jedida 
((ilo^hen) Alley. Ili.s mother, who was widely 
e-teemed for her gre;it worth, died in IXC>.">. His 
father is an esteemed citizen of .Saline County, this 



cale. Accordingly, he ^Inrted on f(H>t for Wiehitn 
with ft .satchel, n gun and a revolver. At night 
he built a lire on the bank of Chisholm Creek and 
camped out, a.s he couM fin<) no habitation to shel- 
ter him. The next morning he resumed his walk, 
anil calling at a house about five miles from Wichita 
he managed to get .some breakfast, lie arrived at 
Derby with but ^5 in his |)ocket, and there .secured 
Work at driving a team for .lohn Allisi^m, anil .after 
working for him for awhile, in accordance with his 
intentions when he came to the county, pre-empted 
from the ( lovcrument section 30, liockford Town- 
ship, town 2".'. range 2 east, where he now resides 
and has since added b}' purchase eighty acres more 
to his land. With characteristic energy he at once 
set about its improvement, and his diligence and 



()ursid>ject is very fund of thcih.ase, is an c.\|K'rt 
in the use of the rifie, anil has journeyed into other 
Slates and Terilories on long hunting ex|HMlitions. 
In IH72 he went on a buffalo hunt near Dodge 
City, and in three weeks killed '.Wo of those ani- 
mals. In his hunting tour in Colorado in l-^^TS 
he was gone .about three months, meeting with good 
state, where he has made his home since IMd;!, and sport and having a most enjoyable trip, in company 



is prolitalily engaged in farming. 

Our subject received the benefits of a good com- 
mon. school education in his native county, .and 
was olherwi-e well fitted for the battle of life. In 

I Hi;.'t he came from his 1 le in .Missouri with his 

father and M-ttled with him on his farm in S.-dine 
Conntv, and engaged with him in its management. 



with .Mr. Robert Hunter. In IK7.'» he went with 
James Harnes to Texas for the same purpose, being 
gone on that expedition about five months, and h.as 
m.'ide several excursions since that time into Indian 
Territory to hunt deer and ant«'lo|)c. While he 
was there in |Hf<t! an attempt wa.s made by the 
I'liilvcl Stjiles troops to lake him pri.soncr for 



Afterward he wils employ<>d by the Covernment trespassing in the Territory; he showed his gun 

HI freighting from Vt. Leavenworth to Ft. Dodge, and escaped capture, but his paitn.T, less fortunate, 

and intervening points, continuing thus engaged wsis taken to l*«md Creek, hold in durance vile for 

for eight years. At the end of that time he decided three days, and then .allowed logo, 
to turn his attention to the calling to which he had .Mr. Alley w.is married, Oct, •■, l.s7,',, to .Miss 






■•►•-^ 



t^ 



•► I I » 



SKDfJWICK COUNTY. 



723 



4 



• ► ■ ,j <« : 



Mary E. Hanicb. a native of Boone County, Mo. 
Mr:;. Alloy was born Jan. 31, 1856, ami is the 
(langlitcrtif Thomas and Elizabeth (Hunter) Harnes. 
She received a liberal common-school education in 
her native county, is in every way well fitted for 
her position, and has been an active factor in secur- 
ing tlie material prosperity which siie and her hus- 
band now enjoy. Of their union five children 
have been born, namely : Louis James, Aug. 10, 
187C,; Milo B., Jan. 14, 1878; Lillie I'earl, who was 
born Nov. 8, 1879, died Ai)ril 7, 1883; Thomas V. 
was born June 28, 1882 ; Mamie Lee, M.iy 1 5, 1 8.H4, 
and Uick,Aug. 16, 1886. 

Socially, our subject is a member of the L O. O. 
F., of the Encampment, and of the Sons of ^'eterans. 
He is not an active politician, but quietly votes as 
his sentiments and beliefs dictate with the Demo- 
cratic part}'. The handsome lithographic view 
shown elsewhere of Mr. Alley's residence, indicates 
the manner in which he hivs employed a good por- 
tion of his time, and that he is a man who gives 
due attention to iiis home and his famil}'. 

— ^>> o*o.-(5y^.A^..o«o. -V— 

^T^tv OBERT GLASS, a representative farmer, and 
'VfJy proprietor of the Glass Nurseries, resides on 
lAVw. section 10 of Union Township, where he h.-is 
Vf'Qlarge landed interests, and has been enjiasred 
in farming and rearing stock since 1882. lie is a 
man whose sound common sense and vigorous, able 
management of his affairs have been important 
factors in leading him to wealth, and willi his un- 
doubted integrity of cliaracter have given liini an 
honorable position among his fellowmen. 

Mr. Glass was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, 
June 29, 1824. His father, Thomas Ghiss, was 
born near Pittsburgh, I'a., in 1787, and was the son 
of a Rcvolutionar}' soldier. Thom.as Glass moved 
to Ohio when a j'oung man, and there married Re- 
becca Stover. She was born in Harrison County, 
that State, in 1793. During most of tlieir mar- 
ried life they lived in Ohio, where Mr. Glass owned 
a valuable farm of 200 acres, and carried on agri- 
culluie. In 1849 he made a trip to Illinois and 
purchased a large tract of land in Grundy County. 
In 18.52 he removed with his family to that county, 



but instead of settling on his own land lie bought 
an improved farm of 160 .acres, and in their new 
home both he and his wife died in 1853. Of their 
union thirteen children had been born, of whom 
seven boj's and one girl grew to maturity. There 
arc five now living, of wliom our subject is the 
eldest. The others are Andrew J., Thomas. Sum- 
ner and George. The last two live in Idaho Ter- 
ritory, as does also Andrew, his home being near the 
town of Lewiston. Thomas resides near Dwight, 111. 
INIr. Glass gave each of his children a farm in that 
State. 

Our subject was bred to the life of a farmei.and 
received from his good parents many a lesson in 
thrift and honesty which have been his guiding 
principles through life. He acquired his etiucation 
in the subscrijjtion schools of the day, attending 
from twenty to fifty days annually. He grew to be 
an active and ambitious young man, and early es- 
tablished a home of his own. He was married, Nov. 
12, 1846, to Miss Mary Little, daughter of Francis 
and Rebecca (McDonald) Little. Her father was 
born in the North of Ireland in 1799, and when a 
lad of eleven j'cars c.'ime to the United States with 
his parents. He learned stone-cutting, .ilso engaged 
in merchandising, and for many years dealt in 
cattle; he is still living, at an advanced .age, in 
Guernsey' Count}', Ohio. Mrs. Little was born in 
Muskingum County, Ohio, and was of Scotch par- 
entage. She died in 1876. There were eight children 
born to her and her husband, all of whom are liv- 
ing, and all were [)resent at a family reunion in 
their father's home in March, 1887. It is a re- 
markable fact, which shows both parents and chil- 
dren to be endowed with unusual physical vigor, 
that there never w.as a death in the family or a 
doctor called until the final illness of the mother. 

After marriage Mr. Glass resided on a portion of 
his father's farm for awhile, removing therefrom in 
the si)ring of 1849 with his family to Grundy 
County, III., and locating on the quarter-section of 
land which his father h.ad given him. They trav- 
eled in teams, crossing but one railway on the jour- 
ney. He improved his land to a ver}' high state 
of cultivation, and in 1865 it had so increased in 
value that he was enabled to sell it for -^t.OOO. 
After tliat he purchased the farm adjoining, which 



•^•-4- 



li 



•►■-4* 



7.M 



si:i>(;\vi( K (Di Niv 



^l 



I <>ii(:iiiic-il :;;tii m-rvs, |iiiyiii^ for it ^l.tOO, iiiid IIutu 
i'i'>iik-il until \t<S2. Ill tlio nieniitinic he Imd iti- 
iifii.M.><l il.s m-ii'ngr lu :>S(I lu-res, niul its value so 
lli:il when he sohl it it euinniaiuled i^M :iii iieie. 
I>f>iili's innimging his fiiriiiin^; interests ho woikrd 
in the eoiil mines for eifjhl years, from IHf'-i until 
|m70. 

In lHH-2 Ml. Clfbts <lis|H.secl <>f his |iri>|H-rly in 
Illinois, :iikI iinmedintely started for Kansas, at- 
tiaetod hither hy the line elimate and the rielmcss 
of the soil. He settled here on the Kst of March, 
on land he had |nir.li;ised in 1SS| for *-.',(;.'iO. lie 
now owns a valiiaMe farm of XOO acres, all more or 
less im|iroved. ami yielding fine crops, lie is jtar- 
tieiilarly interested in raising cattle and hogs, and 
h:i> met with line success in that line. 

.Mr. and Mrs. (Ilass Inne had nine children, three 
of whom ilied in infancy, and two sons, (Jeorge L. 
and Charles \\'.. diecl when young men. The names 
of those living are Helieica. Thomas K., Kobert L. 
and William M. Kebecca is the wife of Henry Trilli- 
|Mic, of Kiowa County. K.-in. .She was previously 
married to Charles Halm, a native of I'mssia. 
During their married life they lived in Cordon, 111. 
Theii-s proved to lie an iinha)>py marriage, and wjis 
dissolved liy divorce. C)iie child was born of their 
union. Robert Kdwin (!liu>s, who is being reared by 
his grandparenis, ,Mr. and Mrs. fJlass. 

In iK)litics .Mr. (;ia.ss is a strong Republican. 
While a citizen of Illinois he was ipiite active in 
public affaii-s, and held the ollices of A.sscs>ur and 
• histico of the I'cacc. He is .-ui e.-irnest worker in 
the Methodist Church, of which he became a mcm- 
|p«r when liflccn ye.-irs old. He li;is served as 
Trustee. .Steward, Class-Leailer and Sunday -school 
Superintendent. He and his wife are justly noted 
for their bcucvolcnce and I'or their many deeds of 
neighborly kindness. 

Mr. Class is never so well salislled as when 
developing -ome niw project. In the spring of 
l>s,s 1,,., in company with his son William .M., es- 
tablished the nurs*-ries, and there is every lejusou to 
suppose thai this venture will prove equally siic- 
I > ■-sful with the others. Twenty acres were planted 
I'l a rare .telection of choice slock, and an atldilion 
lo this will be made each year. It is the purpose 
of the proprietors of this industry to build up and 



maintain in Sedgwick County a iiurs4-ry of which it 
will be proud .and one thnl will beiielil the eiitir>' 
.Southwest. Not a SUile in the I'nion liius e<piale<l 
the Wonderful growth mid progn'ss of Kansas. 
Almost every branch of business 1ms been pushed 
to its fullest extent, and while a Stale grows in 
power, wealth and knowledge, she nt the same tiiiii' 
must beautify her hills, her valleys ami her homes. 

The once broad prairies of K;insas are fjLst be- 
coming groves of shade and ornamental trees, an<l 
these grand results have been accomplished in the 
face tif much opposition. Kiuslern nurseries have 
.shipped carload after carload of stock, and the 
Ivan.s;is man has paid the Hnslern |>rice. How much 
belter will it be when a home country can siijiply 
the ilemauds of a home tradi'. 'J"he slock raiseil in 
the rich Arkansas ^'alley will 1h' belter adapted to 
the .soil of Kansas than that raised on the hillsides 
of the M iridic and Ka.stern StsUes. Mr. (Uass will 
make .i specialty of all the hardiest varieties, both 
of fruit an<l ornamental trees, and will introduce 
new varieties as soon as proved w«)rlliy of growing. 

The elevating inllucncc of trees has been so 
thoroughly recognized that in many places the 
public schools set apart a d.-iy each ye.ar for plant- 
ing, thus te.iching the young the value of this 
important duty. Nothing proves a higher rceoin- 
meiKlalion either to town or country than the enl- 
livalion of trees, which are the sure evidence of 
eiilighlenmeiil .and civilization. Mr. Cl:i.ss proposes 
In this manner to be numbered .•iinong the bene- 
factors of Ihi' d.'iy. A view of his home surround- 
ings will be an object of interest lo those who value 
this work, and we accordingly submit them as care- 
fully sketchc<l by our artist. 



-^■1 C'H'.ST CHANTZ, a native of the now 
( @Vl'| | rrussian Province of llolstein. was born 
I*. .Ian. I I'l. l^l^^ when this grand division be- 
longed lo Denmark, and consecpiently con- 
siders himself a Dane. He left hi- native country 
in his youth, and coming to the --land of great pos- 
sibilities," has realized llie promises which it has 
always held out to the hand of iiuliistry, and is now 
one of the well-to-do fanner citizens of I'ark Town- 




-•►•-4» 



41-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



725 



ship. His in'opcrty lies on section 7, and embraces 
I;in(l wliieli he lias brought to a good state of cul- 
ti\:iti(m, and upon which lie has erected a good set 
of I'lainc buildings. I?}' tlie men of iiis county 
.^Ir. (u'unt is ranlied as a siiiilful farmer and a 
praiseworthy citizen, and is creditably filling his 
niche in the building uj) and the progress of Park 
Township. 

Our subject was born Jan. 16, 1810, and is the 
son of August and Helena Grant/,, the mother now 
a resident of Moline, 111., and the father deceased. 
Tiie parents of our subject emigrated io America 
when August was in the eleventh year of his age, 
locating first in Davenport. Iowa, thence removing 
to LeClaire, in the same Slate, and from there to 
Moline, III., where the boy remained with his 
mother until reaching his majority'. He was early in 
life t;uight those habits of industry and self-reliance 
which have contributed so largely to his later success. 
The father died the year after coming to this coun- 
try, and our subject when thirteen years old began 
learning the butcher's trade, which he followed, with 
the exception of the time spent in the army, until 
coming to this State. 

Mr. Gran tz. in Septeinlier, 1S61, enlisted as a 
Union soldier in Company K, 2d Iowa Cavalry, in 
which he served out his time, and re-enlisted in the 
fall of 18G;3 with the same regiment as a Commis- 
s:iry Sergeant, which position he held until the close 
of the war. He was in the field during the progress 
of some of itsjnost important battles, was at luka, 
Corinth and Nashville, and with his comrades met 
the enemj' in various other minor engagements and 
skirmishes. He received his honorable discharge in 
September, 1805, and returning to his old haunts in 
Rock Island County, 111., was married on the 20th 
of November following to Miss Charlotte Wand- 
schneider, a native of the Grand Duchy of .Alcck- 
lenburg. and born Oct. 21, 1842. 

Mrs. Grantz is the daughter of Ferdinand and 
Sophia Wandschneider, the latter of whom died 
when her daughter Charlotte was an infant. In 
1850. when eight j'ears of age, she came with her 
father and other members of the familj- to the 
United States. They made their way directl}' to 
l)aveni)ort, Iowa, where the3' resided about six 
years, thence removed to LeClaire, that State, and 



finally to Rock Island Cf)Mnty, 111. In the latter 
county Mrs. G. was reared to womanhood, receiv- 
ing a limited education, and assisting in all needfid 
household duties. She continued with her father 
until her marriage, the wedding ceremony being 
performed under the home roof. 

The children of our subject and his wife, four in 
number, were born as follows: Helena, Oct. 1(>, 
18(;G; Ida L., Aug. 8, 1808; Mary, Jan. 7, 1871, 
and Hugo A.. Oct. IC, 1881. Mr. Grantz came to 
this countj' with his family in 1875, first locating in 
Wichita, where he conducted a meat-market. With 
genuine German industry and prudence, he has 
amassed a good proiierty, being now the owner of 
320 acres of fertile land, from which, by the a-ssist- 
ance of his estimable and devoted wife, he has built 
up a homestead second to none in this section of 
country. 

Mr. and Mrs. G. are members in good standing 
of the Lutheran Church, and number their friends 
by the score in the land of their adoption. Our 
subject, as an old soldier, belongs to the G. A. R. 
at Clearwater, in this State, and uniforml3' votes the 
Democratic ticket. He maj' be jjroperl}' classed 
among the self-made men of Southern Kansas, who, 
by the exercise of their own industry and persever- 
ance, have not only gained for themselves a iiome 
and a competence, but have materially assisted in 
the progress and development of the country' 
aroiuid llicni. 



KVI M(LAl'GHLIN, an e.arly settler of 
|@ Sedgwick County, who is identified with the 
gricultural interests of Ninnescah Town- 
ship, owning and occupying a farm on section 18, 
is well worthy of representation in these pages. He 
was born in Mercer County, Pa., March 7, 1821, 
and his parents were Henry and Jane McLaughlin, 
descendants of a sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestr}'. 
Margaret Potter, his maternal grandmother, was a 
niece of Gen. Potter, a famous Revolutionary' sol- 
dier. 

The earliest members of the Mcl/uighlin family 
known to have come to America from their island 
home across the waters are three brothers and a sister, 



Hh-^ 



*► ■ ^1 



t 



SKI>i;\\ l< K (•(•INIV 



-} 



wliii I'liiiijrnlfil 1(1 tills i-ixiiitry tunanl iIk' cIoso of 
llio liLHl ci'iitiiiy. One of the lirolhcrs niid the sislci- 
m-IIKmI III 'rniiiiltiiil ('oiii)ty, Ohio, timl l\w rcmtiln- 
iiij; Itrotliors iimilf llicir home in Mt'n-i-r t'omily, 
I'n., iiikI thiiit hccniiio pioiici-rs of tiinl |i:ii't of tlie 
SUilf, which wn* llu-n sciirc-ciy iiiliahiti-ij, lu'liij^ for 
ihe most part a dense wjlilenic^s, uiiil w:uh rc^'iipled 
an lieliij; the " Far West" l>y tiiose In (in- exstorn 
|i:irt <vf tlu" otiuntry. 'I'lif fatlicr of oiir snlijisl 
MSslsifil Ills fallior in siiliiliiiiii: tlic forests nrouiiil 
their new home, liravely cii<liirin^ tlu- hardsliips of 
life on the frontier, and there reared a family of 
lenehildren (nine of wiiom survive) to lives of use- 
fulness. The following' Is their reeord : .(ohn L.. 
of .Mereer Comity, III.; Samuel I'., deceased; Levi; 
Daviil. of Henry Comity, 111.; .James l{.. of Mercer 
County, III.; .\llen II.. of Sac County, Iowa: Silas.S., 
of Henry Comity, Jll. ; Marf;.iiet .1.. now wife of 
S. |{. .\Io4ire, of .Sedjjfwick Comity, Kan.; Henjainin 
W.. of Comanche County, Kan., aii<l |)r. .losiali H., 
of Clearwater, Kan. 

Our sul)jcel was reared to manhood amid tiie 
rude .scenes of n pioneer life, for even in his earij' 
day tlio country was not very far advanced from 
its primitive condition, as it look inaiiy years to 
transform the wilderness to smiling farms .'ukI llour- 
isliiiig village.s. Indeed our siilijeet m.ay almost he 
considereil a pioneer of two different SUiles and of 
two generations, as in his younger days he .assisted 
in clearing a farm from the forests of Western 
I'ennsylv.ania. and in his l.iler years came to this 
county and improved a f:irni from the wild prairies 
of K.'insas. In his old home- he witnessed niaiiv 
-cenes peculiar to those stirring pioneer days, .-iiid 
look part in many .a log-rolling and house-raising 
of ihesiilistiiilial log structures that were charaeter- 
i^til• of tin- linies ami pl.ire. He can give us an 
inU-resting !iccounl of life in that part of the country 
in his younger days, of Ihi' many wondirfiil changes 
that he witnessed, nml can also tell V4iy graphically 
ahout his scKlemenl in his Weslern home when the 
comity was in its infancy, and of the marvelous 
progress it hi- since niailc He received such an 
cflncation as could lie olitaiiic.l in the primitive 
«'-h<iols of his native county, and was early inured 
to hard work, which, as he had a sound coiistitii- 
lion, develo|ied in him strength an>l muscle. He 



adopted llie calling of car|H-nler and joiner, which 
hefolloweil at difTercnl iK'rio<lsfor lliirty-five years, 
and he also learned the cahinet-iiiaker's trade, pur- 
suing it for a short time. During these years In- 
owned a farm, liut previous to the year I8"»| he 
was not himself actively engaged in farming. 

In .Inly, IHIC. Mr. .McLaughlin married .Miss 
.Mary M. Moore, a native of .Mercer County, I'a., 
where she w.as horn Sept. il. IH-Ji'i. .She has heen 
to him a true wife and helpmate, and has been an 
important factor in securing their present pros- 
perity. To them have heen honi twelve ehildn-n, 
of whom eleven are now living: Florence A., Ame- 
lia, Thaddeiis (>. (of whom see sketch on aimlher 
|)age of this work), Kli/.aheth M.. Margar«a II.; 
.]usiali H., of .Sumner County. Kan.; Lnrancy .M., 
deceased; Thurwrdilsdon .1. ; William, of Wichita; 
Minnie. Laura K. and .James A. Florence is the 
wife of W. II. (Jray.of Wichita; Amelia is the wife 
of David Smock, of Niuiiescah Township; Kli7--ibetli 
is the wife of O. W. Klliott, of Wicliitii; Margaret 
is the wife of .1. U. .Snyder, of Ninnescali Township; 
Laura is the wife of Thomas Speer. of Wichita. 

In Ifi.'il Mr. McLaughlin moved with his family 
to Mercer County, III., and there resided, engaged 
in f;iriiiing, the succeeding twenty ye.-irs. In 1X71 
he niaile another iiKJVe still further west, and coming 
U> this StJite, pre-empted the northeast quarter of 
section 18, Ninnescali Township, on which he moved 
in the spring of l.s7.'). ami has since made his per- 
manent home here. When he first settled on his 
hind there were jtractically no imiirovcments. luit 
since then, by industry and judicious managcnicul, 
he has <leveloped a line farm, which is not siir- 
p.-Lssed for fertility and productiveness anywhere in 
this region, it being rated among the most valuable 
in Sedgwick Comity. He has .-idded 110 acres to 
his original purchase, and now has a clear title to 
.300 acres of land, on which he has erected a 
comfortable home and ample farm buildings. He 
has a good apple and peach orch:ird, covering live 
acres of groiiml. 

While thus actively engaged in adiling to his own 
wealth, Mr. .McLaughlin has at the same time ma- 
leri.'illy aided the nnancial pros|H'rity of .Seilgwick 
County and advanced its development. He has 
watched iLs growth with pride ami satisfaction from 



•►-W-4* 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



I'll i \ 



r 



its primitive condition to its lucxiit state of opu- 
lence, with its flourishing cities, splendid farms, and 
all the other evidences of an advanced civilization 
which astonisli the eyes of the beholder, if he be 
unacquainted with the local history of this county, 
when he is informed that this great i)rogrcss has all 
taken place within the last twenty years, that be- 
fore that time there was scarcely a trace of civilized 
man on these broad prairies, this wonderful growth 
licing a lasting tribute to the self-denials and un- 
daunted energj- of the noble pioneers who founded 
the various towns and cities of this county. Many 
<if these early settlers, like our subject, are still liv- 
ing among us, and are actively assisting in the 
further development of this region. 

Ml-, and IVIrs. McLaughlin arc worthy members 
of the Metlnjdist Episcoi)al Church. He has ably 
served as Justice of the Veace for four years; he is 
prominently' identified with the Masonic Societ}', 
and in politics is a true Itepublican. He and his 
wife, surrounded by loving kindred and friends, are 
now Hearing the last milestone that marks the end 
of life's journey. Their record has been an honorable 
one, their years have been fruitful with deeds of 
usefulness and kindness, with malice toward none 
and friendliness toward all who. have come under 
their intluence, and they have gained the respect 
an<I liuiKir of the whole community. 

ON. THOMAS L. DIXON, .Iiulge of the 
Police Court, of Wichita, is a prominent and 
highl}' res[)ected citizen of this metropolis. 
H5^, He is a native of Jackson County, Ala., 
where he was born March 10, 1 .S.30. Hobert Dixon, 
the grandfather of our subject, was born in Penn- 
sylvain'a, his ancestors having been among the 
original settlers of that State. He served in the 
Revolutionary War. 

Thomas J. Dixon, the father of our subject, was 
born in the town of Little York, Pa. His early 
life was spent in the Keystone State, but he went 
from there to Knoxville, Tenn., when a ^-oung man, 
where he married Sarah (Jreen, who was born in 
Virginia, near the city of Richmond. Her father 



was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serv- 
ing under Gen. Lee. Both of her parents lived to 
an advanced .age. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon remained 
in Knoxville several years, but after the birth ui 
their third child removed to Park Springs, Ala, re- 
maining there some time, and, in the meantime, 
three more little ones had been added to the home 
circle. In 18.31 they moved to ]Morgan Coinit^-, 
111., where thej' settled on a farm near Jackson- 
ville. 

Mr. Dixon carried on farming successfully for 
awhile, but finally sold his farm, and in connection 
with Dr. Gillette, of J.acksonville, established the 
first steam distillery of Morgan County. Not satisfied 
with that business, however, he removed, in 1S3(;, 
to Hancock County, in the same SUite, where he 
bought a farm, and for a few years eng.aged in till- 
ing the soil, being one of the pioneers of that 
county. Disposing of his farm he became engaged 
in the hotel business in Dallas Cit}', the same 
county', where he successfully satisfied the wants of 
the traveling public until his death in May, 1861. 
He was a genial, kind-hearted man, and a popular 
ho.sl; he readily won friends wherever he lived; 
nor was he lacking in the sterner stuff which made 
his progenitors stanch and patriotic citizens, as he 
fought valiantly in the War of 1812, and also in 
the Black Hawk War. His wife survived him, 
(lying at the age of eighty-four 3ears, and they are 
now sleeping peacefully side by side in their quiet 
graves in the cemeter}- at Dallas Cit3\ To them 
had been born nine children, all of whom grew up 
and married. The following is their record: 
Samuel, who is engaged in mining in California; 
James M., who died in Hancock Countj^ 111., leav- 
ing three children; Nancy, wife of Thora:is Noland, 
of Hancock County, 111.; Mary A., wife of Benja- 
min Lionberger, of LaCrosse, 111.; Hattie, wife of 
R. G. Gitting, of Gitting's Mound, Hancock Co., 
111.; Thom.asL. ; Lucretia, wife of Joseph Creigh- 
ton, a contractor and builder, of Creston, Iowa; M. 
B., a farmer at Grand Island, Cal. ; Susanna, wife 
of AV. E. Sn^'dcr, a railroad man of Dakota. 

The subject of this biographical notice was only 
one year old when his parents removed to the 
Prairie State. He received hi.s early education in 
the custom.ary log school-house of pioneer days in 



-t 






•«»• 



I 



SEDGWK 



ll.iiuiKk County, ami ill tlu' fall of 1 H,*)7 fiit*rc'«l 
llir lJii<iiit'.*>» CiilU'jfc of ItiirlingUm, l<>\vn. wlu-re lie 
tiMik n |):irt of n ('<iiir>«- in the cumiiu-roiiii <li-pai'l- 
iiifiit. AfttT Ifiiviiig collogo he Iriivrli'il for three 
veiir>, >elliiig [wteiil right- in the Soiilhern Sliite.s. 
Siil>!»e(|nently (nir Milijccl wsi.'* a|>|Hiiiit('il Deputy 
SlierilT, the first one in llaneoek County, whieli 
olll'-e he niletl twelve years, serving ns .Instiee of 
the I'eaee for four of thos*- years, and aftenvanl he 
serveil as I'oliei- .Instiee for four years in Dallas 
City. In Oetuber, l.ss.1, .liulgc Dixon niovci) to 
llates County. Mo., where he w.-u eng.iged for a 
year ns an auctioneer. From there he removed to 
the thriving city of Wichita, ami heing poor in 
pui-se, secured work in a lirickyard for one season. 
He then engaged with Hyde A- .Strong, taking 
charge of their real esL-ito, grading their streets, 
setting out vineyards, trees, and making other im- 
provements. In April. |.hs7. our sulijeet was 
elected to his present olllce, wliich he is creditaMy 
filling; his decisions are marked l)^' fairness and 
imp.-irtiality, being well calcul.ated to serve the ends 
of justice. 

The union of Judge Dixon with AHss Alline A. 
Hendee t<Mik place in Novemlicr, \Hii\. She W!is 
|j(»rii near Waterbury, Conn., and is of French an- 
cestry, being a daughter of 11. H. and Sophronia 
(Snow) Heiidee. To them have been born nine 
chililren, five of whom died in infancy, and one son, 
Harry, w.-is killed in a cyclone at D;illas City, 111., 
in .luly. IKH.'i. The dnlilren living are: Charles; 
Sandi Frances, the wife of .lohn Sharp, of AVicliitsi; 
and Chauncey A. 

( )ur subject w:us a rc-idcnt of Hiuicock County, 
III., iluring the .Mormon troubles, when he served as 
:i nu'inbcr of Capt. Logan's company, and saw 
.bi-cpli Smith fall after receiving lwo>hol>,Ms he al- 
(empteil to leap from the window of the cell in 
which he was conlineil. Politically, the .Imlge allll- 
i:ilei1 with the Democratic party until 1KH4, when 
he lieeame connected with the I'nion Laboi parly, 
:ind has since lieen actively engaged in organizing 
the labor eleineiit. In l-"ebruary, |H,s7, he was ap- 
jMiinted as a delegate lo represent Seilgwick County 
at a convention of the I'nion Lidmreis, when the 
platform of (hat parly w:i- <bariecl .oid adopted, 
.ludge Dixon was alxi ( li.'iirniau of the Centr.'d 



; ( "I \ IV. 

CummiLU'e of his Congre.vional di-trict until he 
wiui elceti^l t<t his pre.sent otiiee, when he resigned, 
not having time to ntleml to it- dulii-s. 

.Soei.ally, our subject is a niendx-r of tlie Improved 
Order of Ke.l Men, and of the Knights of Labor, 
holding the ino>t im|M>rtant orllces in each order. 
After this honorable recoril it is scarcely necessarv 
to aild that .Judge Dixon holds a high place in the 
oleem of hi> fellow-townsmen, whose confidence 
he enjoy- to a marked degree. 






J,()SK1'II T. HAMMKK.S an..i.l-limeag^icult- 
l urisl of large ex|>erience, and a suecessfid 
stock-raiser of the earlier clays, is now num- 
bered imiong the elderly residents of Clear- 
water, by whose people he is held in that reverence 
and resjiect Uicilly .Mcccu-ded those whose lives have 
been distinguishetl by integrity .and usefulness. 

A native of the old reliable State of Pennsylva- 
nia. Mr. Hammers was born March Id, l.'^l L in 
(ireene County, at the modest homesle.ad of his 
parents, .loseph and Klizabelh (Hanna) Hammers, 
who were also natives of the Keystone .State. On 
the father's sicle, the famdy comes from a long line 
of excellent Oerman ancestry, while the mother's 
people were originally from Wales. 

The subject of this history was reared to man- 
hood in his native Stiite, where he became familiar 
with farming pursuits and receiveil a limited educa- 
tion, enjoying advantages far inferior to those of 
the pre.scnt generation. When twenty-two years 
of .age he established tlomeslic ties of his own, by 
his marriage, on the 21st of April, js.'to, with Miss 
Phcbe T. Kvans, who was also born in (Ireene 
County. Dee. I H, l,si!». Mi-s. H:nniners was mar- 
ried in the s!\me house where she was born, and is 
the daughter of Oeorge and Lydia (Hrice) Kvans, 
the former of Welsh anil Knglish descent and the 
latter of pure Welsh .ancestry. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject. Peter 
Hammers by name, was .a soldier in the Kevohi- 
tionary War. and (Grandfather Robert Hanna, on 
the mother'.- siile. .also assisted the Colonists in 



•►■-4« 



■•►•-4» 



M- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



»» ■ ^ 



r29 



their struggle for independence b}- shouldering his 
musket and fighting until this was accomplished. 
'I'iie llaninicrs family were a long-lived race. The 
parental liouschohl of our suhject included seven 
children, all of whom grow to matnre years; but 
three arc now living: Mrs. Elizabeth Hartley, of 
Taylor County, Iowa; .losepli T., of our sketch, and 
Samuel, of Ohio Township, this connty. 

Mr. llanuners left his native State in the spring 
of 1850. and halted in Woodford County, III., 
among the pioneers, with whom he resided until 
the spring of 1875, settling on a tract of jtrairie 
land, which he brought to a good state of cultiva- 
tion, and where he effected many improvements. 
Upon crossing the Mississippi in the year men- 
tioned he took up his residence in this county-, 
where he has since remained and fulfilled all the 
obligations of an honest man and a good citizen, 
tilling the soil, .assisting in the progress and devel- 
opment of his township, and being recognized by 
his fellow-citizens as a valued accession to tlieir 
midst. 

Our subject wliilc in Illinois served as Justice of 
the Peace in Woodford County, and here has been 
Trustee of Ninnescah Township, and one of the 
most prominent members of the Baptist Church. 
He is a Republican, politically, and stands up fur 
his principles with all the natural strength and de- 
cision of his character. Socially he; is identified 
with the Masonic fraternity. His operations .as a 
dealer and shipper of live stock commenced in 
1884. He is the head of the firm of J. T. Il.am- 
mers & Sons, who conduct the onl3- meat-market 
of Clearwater, and he is also interested in the liv- 
ery stable there, besides overseeing the operations 
of nearly a full section of land, which is mostly' in 
a good stfite of cultivation and forms a rich range 
for his herds of cattle. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Il.'immers there were born nine 
childien, five of whom are living, namely: George, 
of Sunuier Count3-, this Slate; Mary H., the wife 
<if P. II. Tompkins, of Clearwater ; .losoph B. ; Phebe, 
the wife of Isaac L. Skinner, and Benjamin B., all 
residents of Clearwater. The wife and mother de- 
parted this life on the 22d of J:inuary, 1885, after 
iiaving been the faithful and affectionate compan- 
ion of her husband fur a jjeriod of nearly fifty 



years. Her name is held in tender remembrance 
by her family and a large circle of friends. 

Benjamin B. Hammers, the youngest son of onr 
subject, is manager and |)art proprietor of the livery 
.stable at Clearwater. He w:i.s born in Woodford 
County, III., in 1850, .and came with his father In 
this county in 1875. He had been married in hi- 
native State, Feb. 9, 1871, to Miss Rosa Brown, 
who is a native of Ohio, and w.os born June I. 
1851. Slie w.as reared in McLean Count3', III., tn 
which her parents, Elijah and Rebecca Brown, had 
removed soon after her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Hammers have four children — Pearl B., Wil- 
lie, Francis M. and Jay T. They are membei's in 
good standing of the Baptist Church. Benjamin 
Hammers, iwlitically, is a solid Repuldican, a young 
man of much intelligence and force of charac'ter, 
and a nieinbcr of the \'iliage Council of ('leaiwat<!i-. 



LBERT E. JOHNSTON, one of the solid 
w£M "^cn of Valley' Center Township, owns 160 
acres of choice land in the above-named 
township, .also 240 acres in Kechi Town- 
ship, besides six lots in the village, and since the 
time of his coming here h.as been a leader in those 
matters pertaining to the developmentand |)rogress 
of this section of the county. Ho is an Ohio man 
by birth, and possesses in a marked manner the 
qualities usually attributed to the individu.als who 
first opened their eyes in the Buckeye .State. The 
birth of Mr. Johnston took place in Harrison 
County', near Cadiz, on the 4th of March, 1838. 
His paternal ancestors were of Irish descent and his 
father, John H. Johnston, was born in Ireland, 
whence he emigrated with his parents when quite 
j'oung. Thej' located first in the Dominion of 
C'anada in the vicinit_v of Quebec, and also lived 
near IVIontreal for a time, where the father carried 
on a large manuf.'icturing business in woolen and 
cotton cloths, he having learned the trade of a 
weaver in his native isle. Subsequently- he removed 
to Philadelphia, and from there, a few j-ears later, 
to Hancock Count}', Ohio, where he .■d)andoncil the 
shuttle for the iniplenients of husbanrby and where 



r*^»- 



7:11 • 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



he >tiU livi-ji, having now nrriviMl iit tlic iiilvftiici'il 
iij^'c of •M.-veiity-six yojin*. 'I'lif inotlit'r slill reiimiiis 
lh«' fiiillifiil |>arliicr of lier hii^lijind. ninl i^ soveiity- 
fiiiir yo!irs olil. Tlii-y mto llic |«iri'iiLs of olfvcii oliil- 
ilri'ii, U'li of wlioiii were iiaiiUMi roMiMH-tivrly : Willi:ilii, 
Kol..rl. /MIhtI i;., Thoin.-i.-. II.. K.IimoikI, Oilrmilo, 
.loliii II., M:ttilil!i, Aincli:i :)iiil Ml-Msmi. Out- linbe 
• licil iiiiiiaiiuvl. 

|{ol«ll .loliii-toii, nu rider liiolliei of oiir siiliji'cl. 
ciili^teil (liiiinj; llii- laU- war in tiio 2il Illinois Cav- 
alry. an<l served in tiie I'nion army until llie Mir- 
render of tlie ('onfedernte Henend, then ro-enlistcd 
in the regtdar army, and was killed near Ft. Donel- 
>on,in IHC.S. Willinn), the rn-st-liorn, died in infancy; 
Kilw.anl was marrie<l and ber.-ime the father <>f three 
< liiMren, and wa.-ikiile(l by a runaway team in Ilaii- 
cuek County, Ohio, about IH.s."); his widow sur- 
vives, and is still a resident of llaneoek County. 

Albert K. Johnston conuneneed the bailie of life 
for himself at the age of seventeen yeai-s. Up to 
this lime he had assisted his father on the farm, 
and attended school when pos-sible in the winter 
season. Upon leaving his native State he crossed 
Indiana into Illinois, and engaged in farming on 
rented lanil in Logan County unlil after the lirsl 
call for troops to assist in putting down the Rebel- 
lion. In August, ISGI, he enlisted in the lOOth 
Illinois Infantry, which w.as assigned to the 7lh 
I'.rigade and 7tli Army Corps, with which he fought, 
iM.'iri'hed ami bivouacked until llie close of the 
stnitigle, in IHi;,'). lie entered the ranks as a pri- 
vate. |K'rforn)ed his duties to the best of his ability, 
.•md was content to come out with the same rank, 
and with the rellection that he had done his duty, 
and was .among the last to llee at the approach of 
danger. He met the enemy in the li;itlle« of N'ieks- 
burg. Little Uock ami rine HhifT, skirmished after 
nliels along the ^\'hitc Kiver, and fought them at 
I)ev;ill, Ark.. an<l in that State he was Hnally mus- 
tered out. 

.Mr. .lollll^loll. u|Hin laying aside the accoulrenients 
of war, made his way north into the State of Illinois, 
.'ind took up the implemenLs of husbandry in Logan 
(oiinly. Not ipiite satislied with the results of his 
labort in that locality he moved into Champaign 
County, and from there to .Sed;.Mviik Counly, in 
isTJ. Ili^ (irst purclia.se here wa.>> lilt) acres in 



Keclii Township, of which he is still the owner, ami 
where he reside<l twelve years. U|K»n leaving the 
farm he took |Mjssession of a Imudsonie home in the 
village of Valley Center, where he commenced 
dealing in resd estate and loans, and subse<piently 
purchased tin' livery busine.s- of L. Willis, who had 
establi.-hed iliere some years before, and which is 
the only institution of the kind in the town. 

The first wife of <uir sidiject, to whom he was 
married Oct. I H, lK,j7, was in her girlhood Miss 
Klizabeth Ittner, a native tif Pennsylvania, whence 
she rcmoveil with her parenUi to Ohio, and thence 
to Illinois, where her nuirriage took place. .She was 
a lady greatly esteemed by her neighbors and ac- 
quaintances, and a devoted member of the .Method- 
ist Hpiscopal Church. She departed this life at her 
home in Keclii Township in 1 M.so, leaving four 
children, Iwo.sonsand Iwodaughters — .lane. Frances, 
.liilius and Albert, all living. .lane is the wife of 
Harry Hutchinson, an ellicieiit teacher in the public 
schools of N'alley Center. The other children are 
nnmarrie<l, and make their home with their father. 

The seconil marriage of .Mr. .)ohnst(.>n wjis cele- 
braleil in the spring of l.SSl, his wife being Miss 
Lucinda H. I'awling, who was born in Ohio in 18 in. 
Of this marriage there arc no children. Mr. .lohn- 
sloii has lieeii (jiiitc prominent in township affairs, 
holding the ollice of .Instice of the I'eace in Kechi 
Township two terms, and h.os served as .Sehool Di- 
rector both there and in Valley Center. He is a 
straight Kepublican, politically, and religiously, a 
libenil. He organized the first Sund.ay-school in 
Valley Center. 



IIIIAM FKANCIS. of (;ranl Town-hip. 
V/V/ has .a most eligible location on section IS, 
}y^ there being five towns within a radius of 
thirteen miles around him, and is con.sctpiently con- 
venient to inarkel, church and school, which fad 
renders his property extreincly valuable. He owns 
ami occupies 1 (JO acres of fi'rtile land in a good 
state of cultivation, upon which he has erecleil a 
siibst^intial set of farm buildings. He Iijls .-i choice 
as.sortnient of live stock, including high-grade N<ir- 
inan horses. Short-horn cattle ami well-bn-d I'oland- 



^^ 



A 



-4*- 



,t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



733 '^ 



i 



China swine. His family consists of an aniiBble 
and intelligent wife, with three bright children, the 
latter named respectively : Franklin, Avis and Lotie, 
who are all at liome and pursuing their studies in 
the district school. In a home surrounded by all 
the comforts of life it would seem that here at least 
might be contentment and happiness. 

Mr. Francis was born in St. Lawrence County, 
N. Y., Miirch 17, 18.50, where he received his edu- 
cation, completing his studies in the .academy at 
Parishville, and in the meantime acquiring a good 
knowledge of general farming, which has been his 
employment the greater part of his life. lie is of 
excellent Welsh ancestry, his grandfather, AVilliam 
Francis, having been born in Wales, and came to 
this country in time to serve as a soldier during the 
troubles of 1812. His father, James Francis, was 
a native of the Empire State, where William Fran- 
cis had settled, married, and reared his family, 
.lames Francis continued on the farm of his father 
in .leflferson County, N. Y.,and upon reaching man- 
hood was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ste- 
vens, who was born and reared not far from the 
early home of lier husband. The latter was edu- 
cated for the ministry and became a member of the 
Northern New York Methodist Conference, labor- 
ing in the Master's vineyard upon his native soil 
until the day of his death, which occurred in 1887. 
His wife Sarah, the mother of our subject, had pre- 
ceded her husband to the silent land, her death 
occurring in 1870. Her parents were .also natives 
of New York State, where they spent their entire 
lives. 

William Francis continued aresident of his native 
County until reaching his m.ijority, and was married 
in Potsdam, on the .30th of August, 1871, to Miss 
Viola Ellis, a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., 
and who was born Aug. 1, 1847. Mrs. Francis was 
the eldest child of Franklin and Cynthia (Pelsue) 
Ellis, who, with their parents, were born in St. Law- 
rence County, N. Y , and carried on agricultural 
pursuits. Grandfather Pelsue was a soldier in the 
War of 1812, and sjjcnt his last years in St. Law- 
rence County, N. Y. 

After marriage our subject and his wife settled 
on a farm in St. Lawi-ence County, where thej' con- 
tinued with the exception of one year until their 



removal to this State. That year Mr. Francis spent 
in prospecting for a home, and found nothing which 
suited his ideas better than the general outlook in 
Sedgwick County. 

Mr. Francis located in Grant Townshiii in the 
spring of 1880, and for three years thereafter rented 
land on section ,5. In the spring of 1882 he pur- 
chased eighty .acres of wild prairie land on section 
18, upon which he at once commenced operations, 
and the year following put up his present residence. 
He has since added by degrees the various other 
buildings required for the successful carrying on of 
agriculture, the storing of grain and the shelter of 
stock. The last eighty acres were added in the 
spring of 1884, and the whole has been brought to 
a good state of cultivation. 

Our subject has not been very active in politics, 
preferring to give his time and attention to his 
family and farming interests, and quite willing to 
leave the offices to those anxious for them. He is 
not indifferent, however, to the welfare of his 
country, and believes thoroughlj' in Republican 
principles, which he uniformly su])ports by his voice 
and vote. He and his estimable wife are believers 
in the Christian religion, and contribute as their 
means will allow to religious and charitable purposes. 



OBERT L. HOUSTON came to Park Town- 
ship during its pioneer days, and in time to 
assist in the organization of its school dis- 
\'2^tricts. He is pleasantlj' located on sections 
24 and 2G, eight miles from the city of Wichita 
and four miles from Valley Center, and is one of 
the solid men of his township, owning 175 acres of 
valuable lan<l in a good state of cultivation, and is 
largely inteiested in stock-growing, handling high- 
grade Messenger horses and Durham cattle. 

East Tennessee was the early tramping ground 
of the subject of our sketch, and there he first 
opened his eyes to the light on the 24th of Decem- 
ber, 1840. He was the fourth in a family of nine, 
the offspring of George B. and Lamanda O. (Mun- 
day) Houston, natives of the same State as their 
son. The paternal grandparents, Robert and Eliz.a- 



■♦■ 



' 7S-I 



t 



SKI »; WICK CorNTY. 



Ix-tli ( Itlnckliiirri ) ll<>u!<ti>n, wore nntivps roHprot- 
iv«'l_v of N'ir^iiiiii nml Tt'iini-stice. (Jonr^cB. Hous- 
ton followfil fanning fli>t in his nntivv Slato, iniil 
altoiit IH'iii rt-nioVfil to ^f:lh.'l.Hkn I'oiMity, lown, and 
sclllifl near Oskaluosa iliiring tho pioneer (lays. 
.Subsequently lie t<H>k up liis residence in C'hiuse 
County, this Slate, where his death occ-urred in 
\>^~'J. In this latter section also he wius nn early 
.settler, anil endured, in coinnion with the |icoplc 
around him. the hiirdshi|>s and privations incident 
to that time and hK-nlily. The mother survived 
her hushand four years, ami died in l.s7(j, when 
fifty-six years old. 

Younn Houston re<'eived his education in the 
suliscription schools of Kast Tennessee, and labored 
on his father's farm until the outbreak of the Re- 
bellion, being at this time in Kansa^i. On the 1st 
of SepttMnber, 1 MC2. he enlisted in Compnnj' K, 
•Jd Kansas Cavalry, was mustered into service at 
Ft. .S<-ott, and participated in the engagement with 
the rebels at Prairie Grove, Maizeville, Poison 
.Springs, .Sidine, and several other unimportant bat- 
tles and skirmishes. At the expiration of his term 
of enlistment he received his honorable discharge 
at I>awrence, in August, 18(1.5. and W!is mustered 
out at Ft. Gibson, in the Indian Territory. 

After leaving the s<'rvice, Mr. Houston mailc his 
way first to Colorado, thence into New Mexico, and 
returned to Leavenworth, Kan., in the spring of 
IfitJtJ. He was married in Chase County, this .Slate, 
on the r>th of .March, 1.h73. to Miss .Sarah K., 
riaughter of William and .Mary (Burley) Morris, 
who was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 18.53, 
and was the second in a family of eleven children. 
The father of Mrs. Houston wils an Knglishman by 
birth and parentage, and is now decea.sed ; her 
inother is a native of New York Stjite. and is living 
in Chase County, this .Suite. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Houston settled in Park Township 
soon after their marriage, where Mr. II. had honie- 
»t4-aded 1.5.5^ acres of laixl. He coiiimenred in 
eaniest its improvement and cultivation, and sub- 
scfpicntly added to it until the farm comprised 2.55 
acres, all of which has been enclosed .■ind brought 
to a giMMl state of cultivation. To the little housi'- 
liold there have been added two children, bright 
boys: Leach L., born .Inly 28, Ik" 1, and Lonnie H., 



March L \k1x. .Mr. Houston cares very little 
about iMilitio. but believes in Republican prineiph-s, 
and to these gives his honest support. 

\ lithographic portrait of Mr. Houston i« ;.'iv. n 
a» a titting ailjunct to this brief sketch. 

<^— » ■, -^ 

^|AC()I! II. KIK ».\1»^. whose jM.rtrsit we pre- 
sent in connection with this brief sketch of 
his life, is well known throughout Afton 
Township as one of its most thorough-going 
fanners and stock-raisers. He is the owner of 160 
acres of good land, which is well watered by two 
never-failing wells, aixl among its other natund ad- 
vanUiges, has a fine grove located near its southern 
line. The land is fairly improved, and the farm 
buildings, neat and substantial, fully serve the 
various pur|H:>ses of the agriculturist and stock- 
raiser. 

(Jur subject was born in Macoupin County, 111., 
Sept. 'i'.t, IKI.'i, and is the son of Charles and Kllen 
(Cawood) Rhiuids, who were natives re8|H'Ctively 
of Kentucky and Tennessee. The father died at 
his home in Macoupin County, in April, l.'^yu, when 
about sixty years of age. The inother is still liv- 
ing, and a resident of Alton, 111. Their family 
included seven chililren, of whom two are deceased ; 
■lacob IL, of our sketch, is the eldest living. Mar- 
garet ilied in infancy : Carrie L. is the wife of 
P. (i. Rickard. who is farming in Kechi Town- 
ship, this county; they have three children. .Sandi 
died in infancy; .\marilous died at the age of six- 
teen ycai-s, in Illinois; Kdward C. was ctlucateil in 
the law school of Iowa City, ami is now a resident 
of Kast St. Louis, III.; Hettie is the wife of Charles 
.lolly, who is a teacher in the public schools of 
Pan.a. and they have four chililren. 

Mr. Rhoads wiu. but .seventeen years of age at 
the breaking out of the late Rebellion, but was 
one of the first volunteers, enlisting in Company 
H, HOth Illinois Infantry, with which he served 
three years and two months. He took part in the 
battles of Ft. DonelMm. the siege and capture of 
Vicksbiirg. went through the Atlanta i-ainpaign, 
and fought at the various battles and skirmishes 



•»-«-4* 



-ihM^ 



^i^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



735 



between. He was miisterecl out at Chattanooga, 
Tenn.. and returned unliaiini'd to the old home- 
stead in Macoupin County, 111. 

Mr. Rhoads, in laying down the musket, took up 
the implements of agriculture, and followed farm- 
ing in the vicinity of his birthplace. In the mean- 
time he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah C. 
Haynes, and they were married on the 16th of 
J.aiiuary. 1SG7. Mrs. Rhoads is the daughter of 
Joseph and Elizabeth (Berry) H.iynes, who were 
natives of Virginia, and are both now deceased. 
Their family included eight children: The eldest 
son, Elias, a blacksmith by trade, married Miss 
Sarah JIuntz, and they are residents of Nebraska; 
they have two children. Lewis married Miss Nancy 
Stone: of the five children born to him two are 
deceased; they live on a farm in Macoupin Count}', 
111. Martin married Miss Phoebe Loper, and they 
became the parents of three children, the mother 
of whom is now deceased; his second wife was 
Miss Elizabeth Kenworthy; the}' have five chil- 
dren, and are living on a farm in Macoupin County 
111. Moses died in Illinois when twenty-two years 
of age: Aaron died when a youth of sixteen years, 
in Illinois; Nancy B. is the wife of Albert Young, 
a farmer of .Macoupin County, III., and the mother 
of one child; John A. married Miss Lillie Darrah, 
and is a farmer of M.acoupin County, III., and they 
have four children. 

Mrs. Rhoads was born in Preble County, Ohio, 
Aug. 6, 1846, and of her union with our subject 
there were seven children, the record of whom is 
as follows: Duncan L. was born Aug. 8, 1868, and 
died in infancy in Illinois; Minnie A. was born 
M.ay 17, 1870, and died in Illinois at the age of 
eighteen months; Eva was born Feb. 29, 1872; 
Edward H., April .3, 1873; Jocie, Oct. 18, 1875; 
Otto, Feb. 24, 1877; Alonzo, Dec. 1, 1878; and 
Ernest, July 31, 1885; the latter died in infancy. 

Mr. Rhoads continued a resident of his native 
State until 1875, then, crossing the Mississippi 
with his family, took up his abode in this count}', 
and upon the land which he still occupies. He 
has been quite prominent in local affairs, officiating 
as Justice of the Pence three terms, and has been 
Clerk of the School District in which he resides for 
a period of nine years. He is now School District 

^ 




Treasurer, and as an ex-soldier, and a stanch Re- 
publican, politically, belongs to Tincher Post No. 
352, G. A. R., Garden Plains, Kan. His industry 
and enterprise have secured for him an enviable 
position among the enterprising and well-to-do 
farmers of Afton Township. 



!)HEODORE REDER. The subject of this 
sketch has been for some years prominent 
among the farmers and stock-raisers of Grand 
River Township, having a fine estate pleasantly 
located on section 18. Comparatively young in 
years, and having commenced in life with but small 
means, his financial position is ample evidence of the 
manner in which he has employed his time, and the 
good judgment of which he is the fortunate pos- 
sessor. He has one of the best appointed home- 
steads in his township, and on account of his strict 
integrity and high character, is numbered among its 
most valued citizens. 

A native of Cass County, Ind., our subject was 
born Dec. 25, 1857, and is the son of Daniel and 
Nancy J. (Babb) Reder, the father born in Bucyrusj 
Ohio, Jan. 13, 1833, and the mother was born in 
Cass County, Ind. The Latter died when her son 
Theodore w.is a child three years of age. Daniel 
Reder was a carpenter by trade, but also carried on 
farming and merchandising. He was three times 
married, the mother of our subject being his first 
wife, and Theodore her only child. Of the second 
marriage there were born four children, namely: 
Frances Maria, Mrs. Joseph Switzer, who died, and 
left two children; Samuel Riley, who lives in King- 
man County, this State, with his father; Loren C. 
and James Martin. Of the third marriage there 
are two children — Martha and Inez. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John 
Reder, was a practicing physician, and when his 
son Daniel was about nine years of age removed 
from Ohio to Cjiss County, Ind., where the latter 
was reared and married, and where he remained 
until after his second marriage. He hud picked up 
considerable medical knowledge from his father, 
and practiced some while also working at his trade 
of carjjenter. From Cass County he removed to 






t 



T 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



I'liliLHki ill itio iUiiiiL- SUiU;, and |iur('liiuM.-(l Inn<l 
»liic-li lie opcnited until the uiitlir).>nk of the Rebel- 
linn. Smiii lifter tiie nr»t eall fur IriHips he a8.sititeil 
in iiri^ani/ing a c(iui|i»iiy, and heeaine a nieinber «f 
the mTiIi Indiana Infantry, in which he wrved six 
ininitiis, mill wils tiieii discharged on accuiint of dis- 
uliilily. 

The father of our .subject in iMTl' left Iiuiiaim, 
and came int«> Marion County, this .State, where he 
liurcha.M^'d a half-secliun of land, and established a 
store of general merchandise. In connection with 
bis fanii and store lie also practiced medicine, and 
ofIlcial4»d as I'ostinnster. lie is a man of great 
energy and enterprise, and held the various local 
otiices. U'ing Township Trustee and Justice of the 
Peace for several years. During his residence of 
ten years in .Marion County his second wife died, 
and he was married to the third. In 1874 he dis- 
posed of his property, and removed to Kingman 
County, wln-re he also owns a half-section of laud, 
with the exception of eighty acres which lie in 
this county. lie still practices medicine to a limited 
extent .-imong his intimate acquaintances. 

Theodore Reder remained with his father until 
about Iweiity-five years (jf age, accompanying him 
in his various removals, living economically, and 
flnally investing his savings in eighty acres of land 
in Marion County, this Stiite. At the time of his 
marriage he had |iurchascd his present home, and 
had his house built ready for the reception of his 
bride, lie was wcddeil, on the 2.'jth of December, 
1«H4, to .Miss Nellie, daughter of William and 
.Mary (Bradriek) Kelley, and who was born in Lo- 
g:insi«.rl, Ind., Feb. '.t, 18(i2. The father of Mrs. 
Reder dieil when she was about six years of age. 
lie was born in Ohio, Feb. 28, 1819, and her mother 
was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 2'J, 1 .s3G ; 
she had been twice married, and is the mother of 
two children only — Mrs. Reder and her sister, 
Aiiiina. The latter waa born Aug. .5, 18,1i),and on 
the Ith of .July, 1m"m, was married to William 
Reder, a lousin of our subject; they arc now the 
imrenLs of five children, and live in Kingniaii 
County. 

(Jur subject anci his wife are the |>arciits of one 
child, a .son, Hal Crawford, who was born Dec. 1 m, 
I 8.'st;. .Mr. Reder wsis reared in Republican princi- 



ples, but both he anil his father U-loiig to the I'nion 
Labor [nirty. The hitler, in 1887. wa« the nominee 
of this parly for the St-iU- Legislature, and made 
public speeches in diflcreiit parts of this and ad- 
joining counties in lielmlf of the interests of the 
IHople who .ire not copitjilists. Our subject in 
early life was imbued with the principles of Cliris- 

, lianity. although not al present identified with any 
church organization. He is, however, a Methodist 
in belief, and of this church his excellent wife is a 
member in good standing. They are greatly es- 

[ teemed in their cunimunity, as representing the 
best ty|ie of its moral and social element. 

J'^OIIN HAIRD owns and occupies a good 
farm of liiO acres on section 10, in I'ark 
Township, which i.s mainly devoted to the 
raising of grain, cattle and lioi>cs. lie came 
to this section of country in I87ii, acc<>m|ianieil by 
.lohn y. Rice, R. Regie and .lolin Regie, making 
the journey from .lefTerson City in a wiigon, and 
all settled in this county, Mr. li. upon the land to 
which he has since given his undivided time and 
attention. 

The boyhood home of our subject w.as about 
eight miles from the town of Fir Tree, England, 
where his birth took place .June i;>, 1830. His 
father, .John Haird, Sr., w.is a native of .Scotland, .-i 
plastt-rer by trade, and both mentally :ind ])liysic.-dly 
a man who .•ittracted unusual attention, being of 
fine stiiture, over six feet tJill, and |>i>ssessiug in a 
marked degree the admirable characteristics of liis 
substantial .Scotch ancestry. The mother, formerly 
Miss Sarah Wright, and a n.-itive of Fngland, died 
soon after the arrival of the family in New York 
City, and w.-is laid to rest upon a stranger soil. The 
father subseijuently took up his residence in .St. 
I Louis, where he wos eventually married to ,Mi>. 
Klizabelh .Slack. His second wife survived him, 
and is now also deceased. 

Our subject was but a child when his parents 
emigrated to the I'liitei] States, .-ind he distinctly 
remembers how the father left his family and went 
out to look for work in the great metropolis. His 
first job was the phuttcring of a church nt Wheel- 



•► a-^- 



n 



•►-IH^ 



^U 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



737 



••Ak 



ing, W. Va., whence he proceeded later to New 
Orleans, and from there to Jackson, Miss., where he 
took a contract to plaster the Slate House at that 
point, and wiiere his death took place. Of his first 
marriiige there had been born three children, one 
of whom died in New York City, and another, 
Hannah, in Alton, 111. John, Jr., is the only sur- 
vivor of the family. 

Our subject, left an orphan when ten years of 
iige, lived with his stepmother in St. Louis until 
fourteen, and was then apprenticed to learn the 
trade of plasterer, at which he served tlirec and 
one-half years under one man. On account of his 
small stature, however, he for a time abandoned 
this, by the advice of his friends, and engaged as a 
worker in sheet iron and copper one year. At the 
expiration of this time he returned to his first 
business, which he followed in St. Louis until 18.53, 
then journe3'ed overland to California, and was 
there engaged at his trade and in mining four years. 
He then returned to St. Louis via the Isthmus, and 
proceeded thence to Alton, 111., where his brother- 
in-law was carr^-ing on an extensive business in 
bricklaying. 

Mr. Baird, however, remained but a short time 
in Alton, but repaired to Edwardsville, and assisted 
in finishing the court-house then in process of con- 
struction. Tliis completed he returned to St. Louis, 
and assisted in the plastering of several churches, 
.and when work grew scarce at that point returned 
to Alton. Here there was plenty of work but very 
little money, and Mr. Baird finall}' entered into 
partnership with a gentleman of that place, and 
operated extensively as a plasterer until the disso- 
lution of the firm, when he operated by himself. 
After another visit to St. Louis he made his way 
into Carter County, Mo., where he suffered an at- 
tack of malarial fever, returned to St. Louis, was 
afterward a resident of C'arrollton, III., for a brief 
time, and subsequently returned to his old haunts in 
Alton. Later he .igain visited C'arrollton, III., and 
assisted in plastering the Catholic Church there in 
1866. 

Mr. Baird followed his trade afterward in St. 
Louis on the Countj- Insane As^'lum, the Masonic 
Temple :md other buildings; attended the great 
fair there in the fall of 1868, and afterward worked 



on the State Mouse of .k-nVrsDU City, Mo., and in 
the .Senate Chamber, and after another visit to St. 
Clair County, made his way to Southern Kansas, 
where he h.ns since remained. 

Mr. Baird, politically, like his father before him 
was decidedly Democratic until the organization of 
the Republican party in 1856, when he felt that he 
had reason to changes his views, and has since given 
to this party his cordial support, lie is serving 
his seconcl term as Constable and has been Treas- 
urer and Director of his school district several 
5'ears. He was made a Royal Arch Mason in Alton, 
and served as Tyler of his lodge for some time. 
After coming to Kansas he transferred his creden- 
tials to Ark Lodge No. 243, at Valley Center. He 
also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry', and in 
religious matters is a member of the Episcopal 
Church. His domestic affairs are presided over by 
himself, and no man is more highly' respected in 
his community than John Baird. 



-s ' ^^ ' '^ 

kR. NEWMAN, a prosperous and honored 
citizen of Sedgwick Count}', is a speculator, 
with his place of business and residence in 

the livelj' and enterprising city of Wichita. He 
came here in June, 1885, a poor man — poor in 
everything but pluck and indomitable will power. 
He had met with serious reverses in his career as a 
business man, and when he came here had just re- 
covered from a long illness, which had resulted 
disastrously to his financial interests, and, in order 
to obtain money to start in business, he had to 
pawn some articles of value. He then commenced 
life again with renewed zeal, establishing himself 
as a dealer in realty. In this his sound judgment 
and shrewd management soon brought him success, 
and gave him an assured footing among the solid 
business men of the city. Shortly afterward he, 
with others, established a manufactory for making 
pressed brick, being the pioneers of that industrj- 
in this city, and can-ying it on under the style of 
the Valley Pressed Brick and Tile Compauj-, of 
Wichita. 

Mr. Newman was born near Buffalo, N. Y 
1839. His parents were William J. and Lydia 



lia f 

4 



•►•-^^ 



■►■-4* 



rs8 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 




(Maiizor) Ni'wiiinii. imli\e9 of <)U«oj;() County, N. 
Y. Mr. Newniiiii wiis a school loni-luT nnd iilso 
a fnriiier. To him nn<l hii* wift- wore horn three 
chihlreii, two of whom nro iio« living — L. K. nnd 
ll:iUic. Tlie father is now living' iit Sprinjivillc. 
Krie Co., N. Y. lie is ii man of koen intelloctiial 
|)owi'rs anil of hii:h integrity of clinraoter. The tlo- 
voteil niff and mother (li-|iarteil this life in 1H43. 

The yoiinyer ilays of our siibjcfl wore piwsetl as 
a r^tiiilent. anil later :us a teacher. At the a;re of 
twenly-threo years ho went to Buffalo, N. V., ami 
the foljowinj; two _voars wit-; enj.ra;;otl in tlio mor- 
oantilo business. Afterward ho wont to Oil Creek, 
IV, and there cnira^red as a uierchanl and als() 
s|)eoulaled in oil. Three years later he was burned 
out. He then re|)!iirod to Chicaj^o and re-estab- 
lished himself in the nieroanlile business. In 1868 
he removed to .Michigan, .-ind there followed the 
callini; of an artist for nine years. From there he 
went to Dayton. Ohio, and pursued the same call- 
inj^ for two years, and then engaged in it in Roch- 
ester, N. Y. lie met with unbounded success as a 
landsoa|)o photographer, crayon artist, etc. We 
copy the following article from a nun)bcr of the 
Suii'Iai/ Morning Trihute, of Rochester, N. Y., 
April 'J, 18)S2, concerning his unique and success- 
ful manner of conducting his business. 

"The .Man About Town." "A Peculiar and In- 
teresting Business and how it Originated." ".Seven 
or eight years ago .Mr. L. R. Newman, a skillful 
anil ox|KMieuced phologrHpher, warned by failing 
houltli, decided that he must have some avocation 
wlioro more out-door txerci.se could be had. Ac- 
cordingly he rigged up a light, covered, platform 
spring wagon, and equi|)|N'd it as a miniature pho- 
togniph gallery, having all the necessary plates, 
chemical.*, olc. Ilo then started out for the most 
thickly s«-ttloi| highways and took views of the 
scenery and farndiousos, with their inhabitants in 
fidl relief on the voraiidas or lawns. These the 
farmers gladly purohased, as they were photo- 
graphrd undor tlioir own vine and lig tree. He 
found this a pleas:int and lucrative business, and in 
!i short period of linio he ambitiously enlarged it, 
and put Iwenty-tivo other traveling phot^igraph 
wa;;ons. thoroughly equippod, on the road. As his 
business grew he added cojiying in crayon and oil. 



I'l this immense enterprise he employs "JOO persons. 
It extends Ui all parts of the country — Atlanta, 
<;a.. Kansas City, .Mo., and Atchisori, Kan., being 
the princi|Mil distributing |>oints, with headquar- 
ters at Rochester, N. Y. The sale of stereoscopic 
views, both foreign and American, amounts to fruni 
I'-'lOOO to .•iO,OOU |tor week. He is the largest 
manufacturer of |Hctures. views, photographs, etc., 
in the world. He hiLs had printed and flnished as 
many as 4."<,000 a week." This graphic account of Mr. 
Newman's business ils a traveling photographer, jls 
publisheil in a leading daily during the years of 
his greatest success, gives us some idea of the mag- 
nitude of his great enterprise, and of the remark- 
able business tact, foresight and energy required 
to (Hinduct it successfully for so many years. 

Bosiilos carrying on that immense business, Mr. 
Newman managed another with equid success. He 
had 2,000 acres of the best wiMided land in Cat- 
taraugus County, N. Y., on which ho erected a 
sloain sawmill and manufactured lumber which he 
sent to Chicago and to Kastern cities. He built a 
tram railroad, some six miles in length, in order to 
facilitate haiding logs, and conducted a very exten- 
sive business. At this time he had a beautiful 
home, and in everything he undertook he was pros- 
l)erous. But his health finally gave way under the 
unceasing demands of .so many and witlesprojid 
business interests, and he was utterly prostrated by 
a long fit of illness. After that there came a 
change in his affairs. There w!xs no head to his 
immense business, and soon, very soon, all he h.id 
accumulateil wjis swept away. Nothing daunted 
by this great calnmit}', our subject set out for the 
West, as soon as he was recovered sulliciently, to 
begin life anew in this great and wonderful .Suite of 
Kansiis, and by his detoruiination and enterprise 
has once more placed his feet on the road to pros- 
j>erily. In 1 881; he purcha.sed two and one-half 
acres of land on College Hill, where he built a tine 
residence, 28x.'12 feet, with a wing 12x24 feet in 
dimensions, and in that hou.-^e ho and his family 
make their home, the buildings and lot costing him 

<l5,<)U(l. 

The marriage of Mr. Newman to Miss Clara 
Cochrane, of Springville, Krio ( o., N. Y.. look 
place May 5, 1808. She is the daughter of Byron 



-•►■-^ 



t. 



I 



SEDGWICK COUMTY. 



and { ailioiiiic (Weber) Cochrane. Mr. Cochrane 
was a merchant and insurance agent. His father, 
.Samuel Cochrane, was one of the four men who 
were pioneers of Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., where 
lie engaged in farming and the hotel business. 
Mrs. Cochrane's faliier, Michael Weber, was a na- 
tive of Otsego County, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Newman have been born six children, three now 
living — Charles R., Grace I. and Clara W. 

Mr. Newman is a Republican in politics. He 
is prominently identified with the Presbyterian 
Church, of whicli bis wife and son are also mem- 
bers, he being an Elder in that society, and also 
.Secretary and Treasurer of the College Hill Sun- 
day-school. Lowell has quaintly said, "They who 
deserve eulogy do not need it." The high so- 
cial standing of Mr. Newman and his arai.ablc wife 
is a suflicient indication of their moral and upright 
conduct in all the obligations imposed on them in 
tlie varied relations of life. 



■►>-5sa-' — 



s, H- ,>-E-H« 



I.I 



i-- 



ILLH<: E. NICHOES. There is i)robably 

Mnot a finer farm in all its appointments on 
^ „ the northern line of Sedgwick County than 
the one l)eing built up by the subject of this history', 
who is a young man still, and of whom, on account 
of his enterprise and industry, gieat things are 
expected in the future. He owns and operates 320 
acres of fertile Land, the greater part of which is 
under cultivation and admirably adapted to farm- 
ing and stock-raising, in the latter of which Mr. 
Nichols is especially interested. He deals mostly 
in Short-horn cattle, usually kcepingaherd of from 
sixty to eighty head, and from fourteen to fifteen 
head of horses, besides from fiftj' to 100 head of 
Poland-China hogs. For the .accommodation of 
the stock there is an abundance of stabling, together 
with a fine barn and all the other necessary out- 
buildings. The residence is in keeping with the 
tjiste and means of the proprietor, and one of the 
most attractive features of the farm is a lieautiful 
grove of trees, three or four acres in extent. 'l"he 



whole forms a picture which invariably attracts the 
admiration of the passing traveler. 

Mr. Nichols commenced farming on his own 
account when a youth of sixteen j-ears, having Ijcen 
invested with more than ordinary responsibilities 
at that age, owing to the death of his father, which 
occurred when the latter was quite a young man, in 
1877. Subsequently he was the principal guardian 
and support of his mother and sister, and performed 
the duties devolving upon him in a most praise- 
worthj' manner. His early home was in Coshocton 
County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 20, 
1861, and of which State his i)arents were also 
natives. His father, Clarkston C. Nichols, followed 
the profession of a lawyer from the time he was a 
young man until his death, and opened his first 
office at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Thence he removed to 
Topeka, Kan., where he established the Park City 
Kansaii, which he conducted three or four 3'ears, 
then repaired to Sedgwick City, Harvej' County, and 
resumed his law practice, giving afterward to this 
his entire attention. In the meantime he was 
elected County Attorney of Harvey County, and 
from there a few years later, removed to Newton, 
in the same county, where he practiced five yeai-s, 
and then, on .account of failing health, returned to 
die among the friends of his youth in his native 
State. A part of his family returned there with 
him, but the three eldest children remained in .Sedg- 
wick City, and after the father's death were joined 
by the mother and the rest of the children and have 
since made their home here. The father of our 
subject took a livel}' interest in political affaii-s and 
did good service in the ranks of tlie Republican 
party, of whose principles he was an ardent sup- 
porter. He was fully versed in the intricacies of 
common law, was a close student and an extensive 
reader, and considered one of the most able attor- 
neys of the State. He was a gi-aduate of the Michi- 
gan State University-, and upon being admitted to 
the bar .abated in nowise his close application to 
his library. 

The mother of our sid)ject was in her girlhood Miss 
Orvilla Lakin, and born in Coshocton County, Ohio, 
Dec. 16, 1844. She is still living, making her home 
with her son Willie E. The latter is the eldest of 
six children, the others being named respectively: 



J » ■ - 



t 



:<' 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 






l^tiini l.orciwt, Sopliin Itclle, Kliiorn H., Adii nnd 
Mitmle. Sopliia is the wife of Aiiioit .1. Frv.iiwell- 
lo-clii farnier of Butler Coiiiilv, Kan., ninl tin- innther 
iif Kiie lioy. The ulhent are uiininrrieil niid live 
with the jiiihject of this sketch. 

Mr. Nichols was (ii-eply iiiiluied wiiit Kcpiililicnti 
print-iplcs liy his honoreil father, .-ind like the latter, 
uphcihls lliese with rhnraelerislie /.eal. Ilis e.xtcn- 
sive fariiiiii^ interests, however, predmle him from 
taking much part in |Militieal afTnirs, although his 
fellow-townsmen wonhl be very jjlnil to intrust him 
with a |)ortion of the inlere.sts and rcs|K)nsibilitic8 
liorUiininjf U> the welfare of the general ])ublie. He 
w.i* elected Clerk of .School District No. US, in 
1HS4, but after scrvin/ij a year resigned, feeling that 
he could not give to the ottlce the attention which 
it required. 



o-^;^ 



-^se;- 



ip^KKKMAX K. DAK IN came to Kansas in 
\—(Q) 1 >^'-i. and pre-empted 160 acres of land u])on 
J section ;i2, Rockford Township, where he 

now makes his home. He is n native of Xova 
.Scotia, boni Aug. 25, 1H2.'), nnd is the son of John 
an<l Abigail (Ilursey) Dakiii, natives of New York 
and Nova .Scotia resix'ctivel}'. His father was a 
member of the original Cjuaker society of Uneida 
County, N. Y., and was a ship-builder by trade. 
He removed to the Province of Nova Scotia about 
the close of the Revolutionary War, where he fol- 
lowe<l his trade for some time. He was twice mar- 
ried, and died in 1818, in Aroostook County, Me., 
whither he had removed about 1831. 

The subject of our sketch received hi? education, 
or the greater part of it, in the common schools of 
the old I'inc Tree SUite in liis boyhood, and in 
early life learned the cariienter's trade; this voca- 
tion he ha« followed nearly all his life, although, 
."inee coming t<> Kansait, he hiu devoted much of 
his time to agri<iilture. I'pon reaching manhood 
he was united in marriage, Dec. 2, 1852, with Mi»« 
Caroline Kstabr<M>k, a native of New llrunswick, 
nnd the daughter of Hammond and Catherine (Gla- 
zier) Kstabrook, both of whom were also born 
there. Two children were liciru of this union, but 



both died young, and two yeiir.s inter the death of 
the mother waj* c»u>e<i by a runaway l«-am. 

riM)n the breaking out of the I^■llelli<ln in IKC. 1 
.Mr. Dakin enlistvd in Company D, 1 1 th Maine 
Infantry, and partici|iat<'<l with his gallant reginuMit 
in many of the battles of the I'eninsular cani|>iiign. 
On the gory fields of Yorklown, S|K>ttsylvania 
Court-House, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, and in 
many other of the engagements during the cele- 
brated tl;uik movement through the Chickahominy 
8wam|)S to Harrison's Landing, our subject |>er- 
formed his duty in defense of our country's Hag. 
At Fair Oaks he wils captureil by the rebels, sent 
to Richmond, and incarcerated first in Libby I'rison. 
Later he was removed to .Saulsbury, N. C, and 
from there tnmsferred to Ik'lle Isle Prison, on the 
.lames River, and remained an inmate of those 
horrible places of detention for over six months. 
At the time of his exchange hunger, want and suf- 
fering had so emaciated him that he weighed but 
ninet3'-six pounds, and he was accordingly dis- 
charged and sent home. On the 18tli of August, 
1803, he re-entered the service as a recruit in Com- 
pany F, 9th Maine Infantry', which w.os then at Ulack 
Island, S. C. From the latter place he moved with 
his regiment on the famous Bermudas Hundreds 
cxpe<lition, and in the engagement of that |)lace 
was woun<led in the left arm. Subsequently, in 
the bloody contest at Cold Harbor in the fall of 
18(!4, he received another wound, this time in the 
right elbow. He continued in the service until 
April 11, 1865, when he was honorably discharged 
at the general hospital at Fairfax Court-House, 
in Virginia. 

Our sul)ject returned from the army, and again 
ti.iok up his trade in Maine, anti was there married, 
Aug. 16, 1K65, to Miss Mary W(«idcock, a native 
of Charlotte County, New Brunswick, born April 
23, 1844, and the daughter of .bjseph and .Mary 
(Merrill) Woodcock. The mother of Mrs. Dakin 
wan a native of New Brunswick, and her f.-ither of 
Maine, where the latter dieil Feb. 11, 18.sc,. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Dakin have been born three interest, 
ing children, who bear the names of Clodell ()., 
.Manil M. and Lindley .M. 

In May, I8<is, Mr. Dakin and family removed to 
DeKalb County, Mo., where our subject pursued 



■•►•-^ 



i 










Residence of K R. Dakin,Sec.32. Rockford Townshi p 




RESIDENCE OF John Westfall Valle 



r\ AN 



HI-* 



A- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



743 



•^IS! 



his trade, and remained until 1874. He then came 
to tliis county and coraiucnced farming. He had 
erected a fine residence witii other convenient and 
substantial farm buildings, and had set out two excel- 
lent orchards, but June 12, 1881, a cyclone devas- 
tated his place, destroying everything upon it. His 
house was lifted into the air and whirled about with 
fearful rapidit}', and could be seen four miles dis- 
tant, resembling a martin-box. Mrs. Dakin, who 
was in the house, was taken u|> with it and borne 
heavenward, but soon dropped to the ground. For 
many daj's she laj^ entirely unconscious and it was 
doubtful as to her recovery. To this day she insists 
that she has no admiration for cyclones, nor an}' 
desire to be a participant in any further frolics of 
that description. Mr. Dakin has rebuilt his house, 
which is a very fine and handsome one, upon the 
old foundation, which the tornado left, and has 
surrounded it again with substantial barns and out- 
buildings. 

In politics Mr. Dakin is a steadfast adherent to 
the principles formulated by the Republican party, 
although not a seeker after official position. He has 
been verj' successful in his life work, and is one 
of Sedgwick County's most prosperous citizens, and 
being endowed with many virtues and a genial, hos- 
pitable manner, receives the respect .and confidence 
of the entire community. The home surroundings 
of prominent men are always a matter of interest, 
and we accordingly are pleased in being able to 
present a view of the Dakin homestead as it ap- 
pears to the gaze of tlie admiring passerby. 

J'lOHN WESTFALL, one of the wealthy and 
prominent agriculturists of Valley Center 
I Township, has an extensive farm upon sec- 
' tion 16. Darke County, Ohio, was the place 
of his birth, which took place upon the 22d of No- 
vember, 1828. Joel and Esther (Terry) Westfall, 
his parents, were natives of the States of Virginia 
and Ohio respectively, and had a family of five 
children, two girls and three boys, viz: Jane, who 
died in 1841 ; John, the subject of our sketch; Job, 
who married and settled in Miami Count}', Ohio, 
where he is cairying on a farm, and is the father of 



seven children : Elizabeth, Mrs. Martin Hasty, re- 
siding on a farm in this State, and Absalom, who 
went to British America about 1881, and has not 
been heard from since. 

Joel Westfall, the father of liim of whom we 
write, removed to Ohio at an early day, and w.as a res- 
ident of Darke County, in that State, until his 
death, which occurred about the year 1842. He 
was a strong Democrat politically, and took an 
active part in the local councils of that portion of 
the Buckeye State. In all public enterprises, in 
all matters educational, social or religious, accruing 
to the benefit of the communit}', he was always an 
efficient worker. His wife died the same year as 
her husband. She was a sincere and active mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, and was greatly be- 
loved by all with whom she came in contact. 

John Westfall, our subject, remained beneath the 
home rooftree until the death of his parents. Being 
then but thirteen 3'eai-s of age, he was thrown upon 
his own resources and set out to battle with the 
World. For four or five years he was emplo^'cd at 
farm labor in different places in his native county, 
working by tlie month at extremely small wages, as 
was common in those days. Finally obtaining a 
piece of land in the same sub-division of the Buck- 
eye State, he carried on agriculture on his own 
account for a time, and then engaged in selling 
pumps for a firm whose manufactory was located 
at Seneca, N. Y. About 1854, following the star 
of empire, he moved westward and settled in Lo- 
gan County, III., where he purchased a farm of 120 
acres, and there made his residence for eighteen 
years, following the plow and other peaceful pur- 
suits of a farmer's life. In 1884, desiring a new 
field of operation, he followed the tide of emigra- 
tion then setting toward Kansjis. On his arrival in 
this State he made settlement in Vallej' Center 
Township, on the place where he now lives. 

Mr. Westfall h.as been twice married. His first 
wife, Miss Sarah Carnahan, a native of Ohio, and 
with whom he was united i» September, 1852, died 
in Logan County, III., in August, 1863, leaving two 
children. Adra, the elder, was born Aug. 4, 
1855, and married W. T. JIatlock, who is a na- 
tive of Illinois, and is now living in Logan County, 
that State, on a farm. Sarah B., the younger, was 



■m^^ 



m 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



^^- 

*! 



lM>rn Fel). 1 , 1 Mti.i, and iimrrioii L. C. Wiillcr, who 
wiu* lioni .luly 7. IH-18, ill Wnyiic County, Iiid. : he 
ri-siilpil ii|Min n farm in that Slate until Ih7'.', and 
during that yt-ar came In Illinnis and wiui married 
in IH77. Ill IM^s:^ll> iniivcd from Illinois to this 
county, locating in X'allcy ('outer, and enjraged in 
the lianlwnrc liusine.s.s. Ki;,'liteen iiionlhs later he 
dis|Mi.sed of his estalilishnieiil and erected the hotel 
which he ran for two yeai-s. He i> now employed 
in the 9i4>ck busiiie>-. in which he has met with mer- 
ited success. 

A .second lime .Mr. Weslf.Mll eiitcre<l into !i mar- 
riage alliance, Dec. 2.'>. ISli.'), with -Miss .Sarah 
.Skiilmore, the daughter of Nathaniel and .Martha 
(Cole) .Skidiiiore. She was a native of Darke 
County, Ohio, horn .Ian. ."), 1H2.'), and was «>ne of a 
family of tt-n children horn to her iHirents, namely : 
Anna and Plnehe, deceased; Samuel, .lulia and 
Timothy, deceased; Sanih, Mrs. Westfjill; Peter, 
Mary ; Henjamin F.. decea.sed, and Kineline. Na- 
tlmniol Skidiiiorc, the father of Mrs. Westfall, waa 
a farmer, and followed that oi/cuiwUion until called 
from his earthly labors in IB.IS. He was n strong llc- 
piihlican |K>litically, tcMik great interest in public 
affairs, and was a rcpresenUitive man of the district 
in which ho lived. His wife, who wius a most esti- 
mable woman, survived him iinlil l.sGI, when she. 
t«H>, |Kissed away. 

Mrs. Westfall, a short lime since, Feb. 27, 1888, 
joined her parents in the silent land, leaving her 
husband and many friends to mourn the loss of a 
most estimable Christian lady, whose vacant pLice 
in the home and the cuminunity it will be most 
•lilllcult to nil. Mrs. Westfall was an active mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, to which our subject 
has belonged since eighteen years of age. While a 
resident of Logan County, III., he was Elder in the 
church for al)out twelve years, and since coining to 
.Sedgwick Counly has filled the same oMice two 
years. Holh he and his estimable wife spared no 
means for the ailvancomeiil of the cause of Christ, 
eiido«voring to live up to the precepts of the Holy 
S<riptures. In his political allilialions Mr. Westfall 
is a Kepublican of the truest type, but has no aspi- 
rations for public preferment. He has been ambi- 
tious to succeed in his calling, and since coming 
to this counly luis given considerable allention to 



the breeding and raising of tine horse«, including 
( lydesflale, Knglish. Norman rercherou and Mor- 
gan slock. He \\a» on his farm three very fine 
horses, one of which is of especially high |>edigrcc, 
and is claimed U) be as fine an animal its any of the 
kind ill the county. His property embraces some 
2M) acres of highly productive land. His residence 
is beautiful and commodious, his bams are neat and 
tasty, and all the other iinproveiiienls n|M»n the plac-c 
betoker. the thrift and energy of the pr(»gressivc 
farmer. As a man, .Mr. Westfall is lookeil u|>oi: by the 
community as one whom they can trust, who "breaks 
no promise, serves no private end, who gains no 
ollice, but who has lost no friend." 

The view of the Westfall homestcail given on 
another page, speaks more forcibly than words in 
relation to the industry an<I the cultivated tastes 
of one of the most praiseworthy citizens of Valley 
Center Townshij). 



^OSKI'II W. .IONKS,of Viola Township, pre- 
empted the southwest quarter of section 20 
in the spring of 187G, antl h;is since been 
closely identified with ihe pioneers of that 
region. A native of I'arke Counly, In<l., he was 
born Nov. 18, 1841, and is the .son of Nacy Har- 
rison .lones, who wius also- a native of that SUite, 
where he was m.arricd in early irianhood to Mi.ss 
liachel 1*. Finney. 

The mother of our subject was a native of the 
same State as her husband and son, in which thej' 
continued until the spring of \M0, when they re- 
moved to Will Counly, III., where her death look 
place about I 8;)7, leaving five children. Of these 
the eldest, Oliver 1'., is a resident of Sjinta Ana, 
C;il. ; .loseph W., of our sketch, was the .scconil 
born; I'oll^" Ann Kli/.abelh, now .Mi's. I'helps, is a 
resident of Juliet, III.; I'ermelia C., .Mrs. .Swivel, is 
a resilient of Clifton, III.; .Sarah S., .Mrs. .McAfee, 
is a resident of Shclilon. 111. 

The subject of this biography was a lad eight 
yj-ars of age when he removed with his father's 
family to Illinois, where he completed a coinmon- 
scliuol education, and developeil into manhood. In 
the meantime he assistetl his father in carrying on 



■> > -» 



4 



SEDGWICK COUN'l'V. 



746 



the farm, and on the 26th of January, 1865, took 
unto himself a wife and helpnmte, Mi.ss Mary Gaw- 
throp, who was born in St. Joseph C'ount3', Midi. 
Her parents, Elijah and Christina (Miller) Gavv- 
throp, were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania 
respei-tivelj'. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, after their mar- 
riaj^e, commenced life in a manner corresponding to 
their means, and Mr. J. emi)loyed himself in culti- 
vating a tract of land in Will County. After a few 
years he wjis enabled to purchase a farm, Inil in 
1876 left the Prairie State, and coming to this 
county, settled upon the land which comprises his 
present homestead. Here he has a quarter-section 
under good cultivation, and which is mostl3' devoted 
to the raising of grain and stock. 

The household circle of our subject and his wife 
was completed by the birth of four children, of 
whom one daughter, Laura A., died at the home- 
stead in Viola Township, when an interesting 
maiden of seventeen years. The three surviving 
are Amos W., Oscar C. and Christenia B., who con- 
tinue with their parents. Jlr. Jones is a supporter 
of Republican principles, and has been somewhat 
prominent in local affairs, serving as Treasurer, 
both of the township and the School Board. He 
assisted in the organization of the Presbyterian 
Churcli, in Viola Township, in which he has been an 
Elder for many years. 

Mr. Jones, upon leaving Illinois, had but |3()0, 
and the greater portion of that was expended in the 
removal of his family". Thev have not found the 
climate entirely suited to their health, but Mr. 
Jones is of that steady and industrious disposition 
which makes him disinclined to removal unless ab- 
solutely necessary, and so he purposes to follow his 
moderate successes in Sedgwick County. 



#^ 



¥^ '^ W. HAYS, Sheriff of .Sedgwick County, 
is a prominent and influential citizen of 
Kansas. He w;is elected to his present of- 
fice in 1886, and has shown himself eminently 
(itted for the responsibilities of his position, being a 
fearless man of keen, resolute will, uncompromising 
integrity, and prompt to act. He is a native of 
I'rankliu, Morgan Co., 111., born Jan. 20, 1840, 
-^a 



and is ;i sun uf Louis uml Mary (^Lcui,^; Hays, 
natives respectively of Pittsburgh, Pa., and of 
Georgetown, Ky. His father was engaged in farm- 
ing in his native State until 1H3I, when he went to 
Illinois and became an early settler of Morgan 
County. He remained a resident of that county 
until 1871, when he again made a move to the 
West, and in the early days of Sedgwick County 
settled on Cowskin Creek, with his family. By in- 
dustry and enterprise he opened up a fine farm in 
that locality, which remained the home of himself 
and wife until death, she dying in 1873, and he in 
1876. They occupied a prominent position in that 
community, were active members of the Christian 
Church, and took a leading part in religious and 
educational matters. Three children were born of 
their marriage: Marion, Mrs. Grosh, of Wichita; 
Alice, Mrs. V. W. Cloud, who lives on the old home- 
stead ; and our subject. The family are of Scotch 
descent on the father's side, and come of an old 
Kentucky family on the mother's side. 

The subject of this sketc-h, after attaining man- 
hood, spent his younger years in traveling, was 
profitably engaged in shipping stock, and in rail- 
roading. He came to Kansas in 1871, and settled 
in Sedgwick Count}', making his home on Cowskin 
Creek, where he had land. He there built the first 
flouring-mill in theconntj-, and subsequently erected 
three mills in this county. In 1874 he founded 
and laid out the town of Haj'sville, where he owned 
a valuable ranch and built a mill, and remained 
there prosperously engaged in milling and agricult- 
ure for several years, not moving away from there 
permanently until 1885. In 1881-82, Mr. Hays 
was in Colorado, where he had a force of men en- 
gaged in the silver mines. He was quite successful 
in his mining ventures, but eventually returned to 
his home in Kansas, and in 1 885 took up his resi- 
dence in this city. He was elected to the impor- 
tant position of Sheriff of Sedgwick County in 1 8.S6, 
and has proved a very jwiJular and efficient officer. 
He has his office in the county building, and his 
residence at the jail. No. 511 North Market street. 
He has captured 578 prisoners in twenty-one months' 
service, and thirty-seven in.sane persons, twenty- 
four for other counties and States. 

Sheriff Hays was united in marriage, April 16, 



■•►Hi 



•#-a-4i 



■*► 



746 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



IXd't, U> Mi^s .Iiiliii Ciivcimiigh, <>t Frniikliii, Mor- 
pui Co.. III., a ilniigliter of T. 11. iiml Ui'Ik'ccii 
('ikvciinu(;li. Of this union flvc chihlrcn Imvo Wcu 
liiini — .Vnnic, K»U', Amy, Willinin iind l{iclmr<l. 

The Sheriff i;* « sUilwiirl lirpiiltlicnn, nml east his 
lipil vote- for Alinthitni Lincoln, lie iintl hi.s wife 
have hosU of »vnrin frienil.'*. iin>l enjoy in a marked 
ilej;n'e llie res|K>fl and eonlidence of this com- 
munity. 



K15.VV1IAN (;. HLUMKNSHINK, an intel- 
ligent and ener;;ctie farmerand .stock-raiser, 
re.-iding in Ohio Township, makes his home 
on section 1!». He is a native of Tazewell 
(.■ouiily. III., and was born .Innc 17, 18-13. His 
parents, William and Klizaheth (Knell) Rlunien- 
.shine, were horn in Alsiice, then a portion of 
France, hut now a part of the (iernian Kmpire, who 
had emigrated to America and settled in Tazewell 
C"ounty, III., where his father died, and where his 
mother is still living. He was one of a family of 
eleven children horn to his parents, seven of whom 
are living, viz: .Jc^lin, a resident of Woodfonl 
County, 111.; Philip, living in the same connty; 
.Margaret, wife of William Kiel, living in Tazewell 
County: Klizabelh, Mrs. Conrad llinnnel, who is 
living in M.i.s<jn Connty, III.: .'^eliiistian (i., the 
subject of our sketch; Catharine, the wife of Will- 
iam Wehrle, and William, who is living in Tazewell 
County. 

The jMirenLs of the gentleman of whom we write 
were among the early settlers of that portion of 
Illinriis where they liM-ated. and. like all pioneers, 
had to un<lergo the usual hardships incident to 
frontier life. In the county of his birth .Sebastian 
received his education in his boyhood at the village 
.whools, and :i.s.si-(ted his father in the labors of the 
farm on atUtining more mature years. In Decetn- 
ber. 1HG;j, he enlisti-d as a private in Company K, 
H.'>lh Illinois Infantry, and was, about two months 
liefore his discharge, transferred to Ihi! IDth Illinois 
Infantry. The company to which he was attached 
in the flrsl-nanied ri'giment, having all been sharp- 
sh<M>ters, he niw some very active .service, and par- 
ticipated in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, 
and in .Sherman's grand march lo tin.' sea, which 



terminated with the grand review in Washington. 
He wa.-< honoralily discharged from the rnileil 
Slates service in .June, 1 H(;.'>. when he retnrneil to 
Illinrtis, and again .'Lssumed agricultural pursuits. 

<)cU.)ber 10, 1807, our subject wits united in mar- 
riage with Miss Itosjinna Horn. Hy this marriagi- 
there have been born a family of eight children, 
whose names areas follows: William II., Kdward 
H., .Matilda K., Albert C, Alain, Caroline. Walter 
and Lottie. He is n member of the Cerman Kvan- 
gelical Church, and a most consistent and upright 
Christian man, carrying his religion into the every- 
daj' walks of life, and nierits and receives the re- 
spect and honor of the people of his vicinity. 

In 1878, our subject being in search of a hx-ality 
whore he could expand his efforts, have more land 
and that of .-i more fertile nature, ami enjoy a more 
salubrious climate than Illinois could offer him, 
came to Kansas. He settled at first in Hockford 
Townshi]), this county, where he made his home 
with his family until the spring of 188i*, when he 
removed to his present farm in Ohio Township on 
section I'J. He is the owner of ;!20 acres of g(HKl 
arable land, which he has brought to a high state 
of cultivation and tillage, and which is exceedingl}' 
well improved. The buildings upon the place, both 
the resiflence and the out-buildings, are of a sub- 
stantial and handsome character, so charactcri.stic 
of the people of this locality, and it is chiefly owing 
to his own industry and good management that he 
is the i)ossessor of such a fine pro|)crty. In [loli- 
tics, he is a Republican, and is in favor of any 
n)ovement which is for the beneflt of the commu- 
nity or calculated to elevate the tone of s<K'iety in 
general. Hy his neighbors he is cl.ossed among the 
leading agricidlurists of this section of Sedgwick 
County. 

kKUOY I'OSDU K, who is extensively engaged 
) in farming, stock-raising and in the <lairy 
J business, in (irant Township, is the owner 

of ICiO acres of fine arable land on section II, all 
of which is brought to a high state of cultivation, 
and improved in a superior manner. It is well 
fenced off into llclds of a convenient size, and has 
upon it a hands«iine and comfortable residence, and 



i 



-•►ii-^ 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



747 ', ' 



a neat, roomy and convenient barn. An orchard 
of nearly 500 trees, apple, peach and cherry, all of 
which are healthy and in bearing, adds uiatcrially to 
the value of the property. Mr. Fosdiciv gives a 
large share of his attention to stock, having upon 
his place a number of high-grade, Norman-Perche- 
ron horses, and Short-horn and Jcrscj' cattle, nearly' 
all of which are full-blooded, and pure-bred I'oland- 
China hogs. 

Mr. Fosdick is a native of Geauga County, Ohio, 
and was born May 13, 1835. He is the eldest in a 
family of twelve children, six boys and six girls, 
who were born to his parents, Harry and Martha 
(Francisco) Fosdick, both of whom were natives of 
New York. Ills grandparents, John and Mary 
(Swift) Fosdick, were also natives of the Empire 
State, whose ancestors came from over the sea pre- 
vious to the Revolutionary AVar. His maternal 
grandparents were John and P^lizabeth (Near) Fran- 
cisco, and were both born in the State of New 
York, descended from one of the old Holland 
Dutch colonies, which settled on the North River 
at a very early date. 

Harry Fosdick, the father of our subject, was a 
farmer for many years in the State of Ohio, and 
emigrated to Illinois in 1844, settling in McHenry 
County, near Woodstock. He purchased a tract of 
eighty acres of partly improved land, and 1 (U) acres 
from the Government, on which he made his home 
until his death, which occurred March 28, 1885, 
when he bad attained the age of seventy-five years. 
His estimable wife still survives him, and is a resi- 
dent on the old homestead, with her youngest son. 

Leroy Fosdick was reared upon his father's farm, 
and received his education in the district schools of 
Illinois and Ohio. Being early initiated into the 
labors attendant upon agricultural pursuits, he re- 
mained at home engaged in assisting his father, 
until he had attained the age of twenty-two. March 
25, 1858, he was united in marriage, in McHenry 
County, 111., with Miss Frances B. Grace, who was 
a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, born Dec. 
25, 1834. She was the eldest in a family of four 
children born to her parents, John and Catherine 
Grace, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. 
When she was but seven years of age her parents 
left their home in the old country, and crossing the 



ocean settled in Canada, where thej- remained until 
their death. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fosdick scuttled 
down in life on a farm in Illinois, where they 
remained two years, and then emigrated to Texas. 
One year later they removed to Iowa, having left 
Stephenvillc, in the Lone Star .State, on the 3d of 
July, 18G1, and arriving in Stor}' County, Iowa, in 
August following. Tlie^' drove the whole distance 
ill a wagon, spending some twelve weeks on the 
road, and during that year passed some twenty-one 
weeks under the canvas of a covered wagon, 
camping by the roadside at night. 

After his arrival in the Hawkeye State, burning 
with patriotism, Mr. Fosdick enlisted in Company 
A, 10th Iowa Infantry, and was mustered into the 
United States service for three years, at Des Moines, 
Sept. 12, 1802. He participated in most of the 
engagements in which that noble regiment to which 
he was attached carried the flag of Iowa to the 
front. At Corinth, luka, Riiymond, .Jackson, 
Champion Hill and the siege of Vicksburg, he bore 
a gallant part, and in the march of Sherman to 
the sea, was found in the ranks of his company, 
who were participants in that matchless expedition. 
After having passed through the streets of Wash- 
ington at the time of the grand review he was hon- 
orablj' discharged from the service, June 23, 18G5, 
and returned to McHenry County-, 111., whither his 
family had moved. He engaged in farming in that 
locality, and followed the business for a number of 
years. In the spring of 1871 he oarae to Kansas, 
and settling in Grant Township, took up IGO acres 
of land, where he now lives, under the homestead 
act. He put up the buildings upon it during the 
same year, hauling the lumber and other material 
from Burlington, CotTey Co., Kan., a distance of 125 
miles. For the first year after settling here he was 
engaged in freighting and in breaking up the prairie 
sod, and in otherwise improving his place, where he 
has since resided. In the last few years he has 
given much attention to the dairy business, dispos- 
ing of most of the jiroduct of twenty-five cows the 
past year. 

The subject of our memoir is a Republican po- 
litically, but is not very active as a politician, nor 
does he seek public office. His wife, a most esti- 



t 



f 



-4^ 



■^-1 



SKnr.WK K COITNTY, 



innlilo (liri.stinii woinnii, is n (■oniiiiiiiiicniit of tin- 
Mi-tliiKlisii Kpi.sropal ('hiiroli, nl Siiimyflnlp. The 
first rcIigioiKs •*crvices ever held in (Iriinl TowDKliip 
wore lit tlie residence of Mr. Kosdirk. at whirh time 
tin- Uov. Mr. AsliU-y. a Confrrepitionsil olergynmn 
from S'llffwick, olllcinted, iind for one year tliere- 
Bfter wrvioei* were lirlil at liis house as often ns 
eirc'uin.stnnces jierniilted. Although not connectoil 
with any ehurch society n» a niemhiT. Mr. Fosdick 
takes great interest and an active part in all religious 
matters, lie and hi.« fannly were among the very 
earliest .settlers in (irant Township, and have en- 
dured many of the hardships of jiioiicer life. Hav- 
ing s|M'nt much of his time on the liufTalo range 
he lia-s suffered from the inelemencj' of the weather, 
and still carries the marks of it. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Fosdick have been the parent.s of 
four children, three girls and one boy, as follows: 
Frances Luella, who died at the age of six years 
and eight months; Mary Alice, Mrs. H. C. IJnrnley, 
a resident of Chase C<»uiity, this State; Ida Grace, 
who died at the age of nine months; and William 
Arthui', who is attending school in the district where 
his liiime is located. His father intends to place at 
William's disposal all the facilities for acquiring a 
superior education, feeling convinced that he can 
leave no better heritage to his onh' son. 

IIAHLK.'^ BULL, a prominent !ind leading 



residing on section 24, is, like so many of the 
citizens of .Sedgwick County, a native of the Km- 
pire State. He first drew the breath of life April 
l.*!, IH'J", in \\'ayne County. N. Y., .-ind is a son of 
(leorge and Margaret (Cooper) Hull, liotli of whom 
were natives of Kngland. 

The parents of our subject were reared in their 
native land, where they were married, but shortly 
after that event, bidding adieu to "whitc-cliflfed Al- 
bion" came to America, and settled in the State of 
New York. When he was about six tnonths old, 
our sidiject lost his mother liy <leath, and his father, 
in iM.'t.^, with his little family n-moved to Ohio, and 
settled in .)a<-ksou County, a part of which became 
Vinton County, where Charles was reared to nuin- 



hoofi. His father made his resilience in the Huck- 
eye State until ISCii;, whenhe p.isse<l tliniugh the 
valley and shadow of <leath. 

The subject of this |>ersonal narrative received 
but a rudimentary education in a subscription 
school, the present excellent educational system of 
C)hio not having at that |)erio<I been organi/cd. 
In con.sequence of these disadvantages for actpiir- 
ing knowledge, for facilities were far more limited 
than those offered to the young (leople of to-day, 
his early education was elementary, but having 
been an extensive rea<ler. he tuus made up for the 
lack of knowledge which he should have received 
in youth, and is well informed on most subjects. 

Mr. Hidl has been twice nuirried. the first time in 
Ohio, in IS-li. when he led to the marriage altar 
Miss Delia Schreck, who bore him the following 
children: Thomas, who is a resident of Texas; 
Philip, who is living in Ohio Township, this county ; 
.Sarah, the wife of Frederick Ilaywanl, of .Missouri, 
and now decca.sed. The second time that our subject 
entered into n matrimonial alliance was in Illinois, 
on the 14th of November, IHC.O. Upon that day and 
date, he was joined for better or for worse with 
Rosa K. Bantock, a native of Kngland, born Nov. 
4, 184l>. .She is a daughter of Thomas H. and 
Mercy (Kedenhall) Hantock. both of whom were 
natives of Albion's Isle, an<l who had emigrated to 
the United States about 1«.')6, and settled in Henry 
County, III. They remained residents of that 
locality until about the close of the late Civil War, 
when they removed to Luc.-is County, Iowa, where 
they still resiile. By this last union there have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bull a family of twelve 
children, of whom the ten following are living: 
Clara, the wife of Albert Ayers, of .Sumner Ciuinty, 
this State; Kmma, Mary, \Villiani, Luc}', Charles, 
Kva, Viola, Laura, and one n»>t yet named. 

In 1856 our suliject removed from Ohio lo 
Henry County, where he remained until I8G1. 
The two years following he S|>ent in Knox County, 
in the same Slate, but in 1H73 came to Kan.sas and 
settle<l in Sumner County, where he made his home 
until IHS,"). He then came to .Sedgwick County, 
anri settled on the farm where he is living, and 
where he owns nearly a half-section of land. Be- 
sides this fine estate he |k»8SC.sscs ICO acres of land 



•► B.-^ 






SEDGAVICK COUNTY. 



749 



t= 



in Sumner County. His place is under the higiiest 
cultivation, and is considered one of the finest in 
the township. His residence, which is one of the 
handsomest and liest in this portion of Sedgwick 
County, the neat and commodious barns, and sub- 
st;intial out-buildings, are a standing monument to 
his industry, energy and business tact, ;is he is a 
self-made man in the truest sense of the word. All 
that he is the possessor of has been the result of his 
own efforts, as he started in life in comparative 
poverty, but is now in his declining years enjoy- 
ing the wealth that he has accumulated by years of 
toil, and in fond recollections of a life spent in 
deeds of usefulness and in industry'. 

In his politics, our subject is a stanch .■idliercnt 
to the principles of the Re])ubliean part}', in which 
he sees the best guarantees for the preservation of 
our National liberty. 

^^ B. PECKHAM & L. N. WHITCOMB, |)ro- 
|l| gj=, prietors of the Third street Planing-Mill, 
^^ii Wichita, and manufactuiers of the celebrated 
Whitcomb sliding window screens, all kinds of 
brackets, moldings, stairs, newel posts, balusters, 
railings, plinth blocks, corner blocks, window 
frames, door frames, sash, doors, and blinds, all kinds 
of carving: wood and ivory turners, returning bill- 
iard balls a specialty : all work is done promptly and 
satisfaction guaranteed. 

G. B. Peckham,a representative citizen of Wich- 
ita, closely* connected with its industrial interests, is 
the founder of the above-mentioned business. He 
was born in Cold water, Mich., July 18, 1819, being 
the son of Horace H. and Sophrona S. (Hayden) 
Peckham. 

The first-named gentleman of this sketch com- 
menced to acquire an e<lucation at an early age, 
attending the district schools, where he readily 
gained a good knowledge of the branches taught 
there. Removing from Michigan to Illinois, he 
learned the planing-mill business in Warren, .lo 
Uaviess County. Being very ingenious and apt in 
the use of tools, he soon became a skilled mechanic, 
and remained in that place profitably engaged for 
twenty years. In 1874, having hoard much of the 



wonderful agricultural facilities of Kansas, he de- 
cided to tr}' a farmer's life in this State, and coming 
to Sedgwick County, he pre-empted a claim in Gar- 
den Plain Township, living there for several years, 
devoting his attention to cultivating and improv- 
ing his farm. In 1 884 Mr. Peckham came to Wich- 
ita, intending to make it his permanent abiding- 
place. Two years later, forming a partnership 
with I. G. Everett, he opened a planing-mill on East 
Douglas avenue, remaining in company with him 
for one year, and carrying on a successful busi- 
ness. He then became associated with his present 
partner, Mr. Whitcomb, they at that time building 
their present mill, located at Nos. 711 and 71.'5 Third 
street. The building is large, and well equipped 
with the best improved machinery for facilitating 
their business. The firm have about ^12,000 in- 
vested in the business, which occupies an important 
position among the manufacturing establishments 
of Wichita. 

Last year the firm did a business of aliout i'^.'),- 
000, and their work is of a high order, and in de- 
mand wherever superior workmanship is desired. 
Among the ])ublic buildings of which they did the 
interior work may be mentioned Fachimer Block, 
Mossbach & Sweilzer Block. Rock Island Depot, 
and the Crawford Grand Opera House. Of the 
private residences whose interior decorations were 
supervised by them, are those of J. C. Birtler, 
Findley Ross, Rudolph Hatfield and J. D. Hutchin- 
son. These will show the excellent character of 
their work and the liigii standing of the firm. 
Mr. Peckham is an old resident of Sedgwick County, 
and well known throughout, being considered one 
of its substantial and most respected citizens. 

L. N. Whitcomb, associate member of this pros- 
perous and thriving firm, is a man in the prime of 
life, who, since becoming a resident of Wichitii, 
has built up for himself an enviable reputation 
for integrity, honesty apd straightforward business 
principles. He is a native of Indiana, his birth 
having taken place in .lennings Count}' in 1855. 
He w.as reared on a farm and his common-school 
education was further increased by a thorough 
course in the High School at Seymour, Jackson 
Co., Ind. After graduation, desiring to master 
some trade whereby he might make a successful 






4- 



750 



SKDr.WICK cor NT Y. 



living, Mr. W., whu had (j^rcat iiicchnnical ability, 
learned tlic Iradct* t>f ear|)Ciilcr ami i-abiiiPt-iniikrr, 
!wrviii(;a full fi|i|irenti('o>lii|) nl Iiidiniiit|)(>li8. Siib- 
.so<)iiiMitly, while Working for.l. U. Mc-Kl|iiitrick, imr 
siilijet't lic'cuuio siiporinU-ndLMit of the work of the 
openi liouso, of St. Louis. 

.Mr. Whilcomb iil.so su|>erintcndcd the interior 
Work of the openi hou.>(c.s of Iiidinnnpolis, .St. Louis, 
Onialiii and Denver. In ISHO he came to Wichita, 
and since that time li.-is lieen busily' and profltjibly 
enj-a^'ed. In IHH? he entered into partnership 
with .Mr. reckhnin in the extensive business which 
they are carryin;^ on so successfully. He thor- 
oughly underst^inds his business in every detail, 
and his inventive genius is of the r>reatest |>ossiblu 
assistance to him in his work, which requires a fer- 
tile brain, a clear and well-trained eye, artistic judg- 
ment, ami >kill in the use of t(K>ls. 






KTKK ZAUIN(!, a prominent representji- 
tive of the farming and stoek-niising inter- 
^ ests of Valley Center Township, possesses 
one of its model homesteads, embracing 
1 CO acres of land. Jle luis devot«d quite an area 
to fruit-growing, having a fine apple orchard, con- 
taining over sixty trees, besides a peach orchard 
and a cherry grove, the latter embracing ."idO trees. 
These he planted mostly with his own hands, and 
his fruit-growing is one of the most alliactivc fea- 
tures of his homestead. His live slock consists 
mostly of good grades of horses and cattle, and in 
this latter industry he tjikcs conmiondable pride, 
and exhibits some of the finest animals in the town- 
ship. 

The Zaring homesteail is pleasantly liKatcd on 
section K, and the resilience, which was i)ut uj) at a 
cost of ♦ 1, 2(10. compares favorably with anything 
of the kind in the neighborhood. Our subject first 
l<M-ateil on his brother's place, which comprises a 
part of stclion 21, and subsequently purchu.sed the 
well-known I'Yip farm, coniprislng I f.O acres, and 
which hi' still occupies. He has been familiar with 
the various employ luenls of farm life since a hoy, 
having been reared in the agricultural districts of 



•►■.^ 



Clinton County, Ind., where he wa« born Jan. 8, 
1852. His imrents, Kli and Catharine (Fry) Zjir- 
ing, were natives of Ohio, and a sketch of them will 
found elsewhere in this Ai.iii'm. 

Our subject continued a member of his father's 
household until twenty-two years of age, assisting 
his father on the farm, and receiving an excellent 
education. One of the most important st<-ps of his 
early manhoixl was his marriage, which occurred on 
the ."Id of June, 1875, when he was a little over 
twenty -three years old. His wife was Miss Mar- 
garet Lipp, a native of Indiana, and the daughter 
of Andrew and Margaret (DougliLs) Lipp, natives 
of the same State as their daughter, the father bom 
March 14, 1823, and the mother Nov. 7, 182'.t. 
They are both living, having now arrived at an ad- 
vanced age, and are residents of the Buckeye .State. 

Mrs. Zaring w.as the third child of her parents, 
whose family included si.x sons and four daughters. 
.She was reared in the doctrines of the United 
Brethren Church, in which her aged parents still 
retain their membership. Her father, |Militically, 
in former yeai-s a Whig, has voted with the Hepub- 
liean party since its organization. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Zaring became the parents of six 
children, namely: Winnie, Harvey O., Mabel, Bes- 
sie, John and Bertha Inez, the latter of whom died 
on the lllh of September, 1K79, when an interesting 
child of nine years; her remains were laid to rest 
in the cemetery near their old home, in Clinton 
County, Ind. Our subject, iKilitically. votes the 
straight Republican ticket, and is the Clerk of 
.School District No. I'M. He and his estimable wife 
are members in good standing of the United Breth- 
ren Church, and Mr. Z. is a member of the Parson- 
age Board. 

\W OllN LAUKIK. In the career of this gen- 
I tleman we find an excellent example for 
^.^^1 3'oung men just embarking in the field of 
(®{f/ active life, of what may be accom]>lished by 
a man beginning poor, but honest, prudent ami in- 
dustrious. A native of another hemisphere, Mr. 
Laurie was born among the Highlands of .Scotland, 
on the Ith of February, 1812, and received from a 



t 




\ 



4 



^\^ 



3i 




\ 



^ 
^ 



•► ■ ^> 



d 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



753 - ^ 



line of excellent ancestry those elements of charac- 
ter which have eommandeil the admiration of tlie 
world for hundreds of years. lie was reared to 
manhood at the parental homestead, receiving a fair 
education, and after his marriage and the birth of 
two children, not being satisfied with his condition 
or his pro.^pects in the Old World, determined to 
seek his fortune in the New. lie first set foot upon 
American soil in the cit}' of Quebec, Canada, whence 
he proceeded directly westward, crossed the Father 
of Waters, and located on a farm near the citj' lim- 
its of Wichita, this State, making permanent settle- 
ment and continuing there until the spring of 1887, 
when he sold out and took possession of his pres- 
ent farm. His property includes 320 acres of fer- 
tile land under a good state of cultivation, with 
suitable buildings and all the appurtenances of the 
model country home. 

Our subject is the son of William and Mary 
Laurie, natives of the same county as their son, and 
where the father spent his entire life engaged in 
farming pursuits, and departed hence in August, 
1879. Thej' reared a large family, of whom the fol- 
lowing survive: William, who continues in Scot- 
land; John, of our sketch; Ellen, Mrs. Creighton, 
of Wichita; Francis \V., of Salem Township; 
Henry A., of Clearwater; .Janet and Martin, of 
Kingman Countj', this State, and Thomas and 
David, in Scotland. John, our subject, after his 
marriage, was variously employed until setting sail 
for the United States. His wife in her girlhood 
was Miss Isabella R. McCracken, who was also born 
in Scotland, not far from the earh' home of her 
husband, Dec. 22, 1835. Her marriage with our 
subject took place on the 12th of June, 1866. Her 
parents, William and Margaret McCracken, were 
also born and reared in the land of the thistle. 

Mr. and Mrs. Laurie, upon taking up their resi- 
dence in this county, ex|)erienced, in common with 
their neighbors, the trials and difliculties of life in 
a new country, but they labored together with a 
mutual interest, and in due time began to reap 
their reward. To the little household there were 
added two more children, and each year witnessed 
some improvement appertaining to their homestead, 
enhancing both its beauty and value. Their eldest 
son, William J., was born April 9, 1867; Mary, 



May 15, 1870; Thomas, Feb. 8, 1874, and Robert, 
Aug. 15, 1868. The latter died Feb. 2, 1869. 

Our subject and his wife have uniformlj- given 
their encouragement to the enterprises tending to 
the general welfare of the people around them, and 
for a period of over twenty years have been identi- 
fied with the Presbyterian Church, and endeavored 
by a life of kindness and charity to set an example 
worthy of imitation. Mr. Laurie upholds the prin- 
ciples of the Republican part}'. 

IhJi RS. CYNTHIA A. FITZGERALD, one of 
/// l\\ '''"^ '"**' settlers of this county, came to 
Jf 1^ Wichita June 20, 1869, and settled on the 
^ banks of the Arkansas River, where her 

husband had pre-empted 160 acres of land. In the 
fall of that year he built a log house, 16x24, into 
which he and his family moved before it was com- 
pleted, there being neither windows, door, floor or 
chinking. The first night of their occupancy there 
arose a mild blizzard and the snow blew in, form- 
ing drifts as high as the table. Mr. Fitzgerald 
then built a dugout, in which they lived until the 
next spring, when, having completed their log 
house, they again moved into it and lived there for 
some years. Times then were very hard, there 
being little or no money here, but Mrs. Fitzgerald 
was fertile of resources. She went to the lumber- 
yard and bought the lumber, and with her husband 
and Mr. Burns, added roof, floor, doors, windows, 
and all necessary to make the log house habitable. 
It was now that Mrs. Fitzgerald's wit came to her 
I'escue. She concluded that the settlers would be 
pleased and gratified if she would give a large 
dance or public ball. This she arranged, charging 
111. 50 for each ticket, she furnishing music, supper 
and ice cream. This was the first dance in the 
Arkansas Valley. The enterprise was very profita- 
ble, 3'ielding ^52, which paid the lumber bill and 
put them out of debt. 

Mr. Fitzgerald was an industrious, hard-working 
man, and immcdiatelj' after settling here com- 
menced to cultivate his land. The first year he 
broke up a garden spot in order to raise vegetables 
for family use. The next year he improved fifteen 



T:^ 



f 



7^A 



hCWICK COUNTY. 



ncre.H. In tin- iiioiintiim- lu- fciiccil in forly nrri-s 
«tf lii> Iniul. !<|)liltin^ llic rails on Tow llonil Isl.-inil, 
sliding; llioni ncross on the ice. In nil of iiis nn- 
(lerlnkin)^ lu- hml tlie nbic oo-oiKTHtion of onrsnli- 
Ject, whose sunnd common sonsi' iiml oniMibility 
were valiinhle Hid;* to him. Tliey onpiired exten- 
sively in rnisiii^;^ stock of nil kinds in addition to 
the raising of cereals, and met with a reasonable 
amount of sncce.'i.> in their ent»'rprisos. At the time 
of Mr. FiUj:erald"s cK-ath in 18K2, they had 120 
ncre.-i of land under a jfood state of cultivatiun.and 
forty acres in piustiire. lie was an intelligent man, 
taking an active interest in public affairs, and 
served eight years as Justice of the Peace. 

C'yntlii.'i .\. Fitzgerald, the subject of this notice, 
was born in Harrison Coimty. Ind., March 10, 1820, 
being a daughter of Jacob and I'olly (Kwens) Kes- 
ner. natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ken- 
tucky. Mr. Kesner wjis a farmer and blacksmith, 
who was rearcil in his native .State. From there he 
moved to Indiana when it was a Territory, where he 
pursued his occupation, and where, at the advanced 
age of eighty-four years, he died, honore<I and re- 
s|)ectcd by his fellow-townsmen. Our subject was 
married when quite young to Mr. Beard, by whom 
she had five children, two now decejised : Margery 
married Charles Wright; she left one son at her 
death. Jacob died at the age of eighteen months. 
Those now living are: I'olly, Alice and Matilda J. 
I'olly is the wife of I'eter Butler, and their home is 
in .Sumner County ; Alice married Arthur Larkin, 
a merchant in Kllsworth, Kan.; Matilda J. married 
James McKinney, a fanner in Sedgwick County. 

After some years of widowhood Mi-s. Fitzgerald 
was .'igain married, this time to Francis Myers. 
Ill- lived fi>r seven years thereafter, antl died in 
Iowa. She took for her third husband Samuel W. 
Fitzgirald, a nativi- of Linn County, Iowa, where 
III' wius bred to a farmer's lifi-. The marriage took 
place at Cintrnl City, Col., in 18C1. lie remained 
in his native State until IKtW), when, lieing seized 
with till' mining fever so pnvahnt at that lime, he 
went to Central Cily. Col. In 1862 he engaged in 
his country's service, and reniaimd in the army 
three years, being then lumornbly discharged. Dur- 
ing one of the battles III which he was engaged he 
was wounded by a s|M-nt bull, wliieli i-ventually 



•►•-* 



h.'islened his death. After the war Mr. Fit«g<'nild 
rt>amed about for awhile, looking for a favorable 
place to locate, and finally .settled in Leavenworth, 
Kan., where he engaged in farming and managed a 
ferry-boat on the Mi.ssoiiri Hiver, remaining in that 
town three years. But he thought he could bett<-r 
his conflition by a removal to a newly settled part 
of the State, consequently in IKfiit he moved to this 
city, aj before stated. 

Mrs. Fitzgerald is an energetic and aceomplisheii 
business woman, and since ct^ming here has devoted 
her time and energies to the management and im- 
provement of her farm, having had entire charge 
of it since her husband's death. .She laboi-s a.ssid- 
uftusl}', and has demonstrati-d by her quiet but 
persistent efforts, that a woman can be as successful 
a manager in the dairy and (ui the farm as one of 
the (jpposite sex. She was the pioneer dairy w<unan 
of Wichita, being the tirst one who ever sold a pint 
of milk from a cart in this city, .-tiid also the first 
one who ever sold a pound of meat from a wagon 
in this municipality. After establishing the latter 
business, she wju- engaged for three years in tlriv- 
ing a meat cart over a regular route, when her hus- 
band took charge of it for the following two years, 
and then she again ran it for one year. Her fine 
farm is beautifully located one mile south of Doug- 
las avenue, and since n-siding on it she has spared 
neither time nor expense in beautifying or increaa- 
ingits productive qualities. .She h.asset out walnut, 
maple, box elder and cottonw'ood trees ft>r orna- 
ment and protection, and her orchard contains 
peach, pear, ])lum ami mulberry trees; and her 
garden is well supplied with grai)e and blackberry 
vines. She is now enabled to eat literally of 
the fruit produced by the labor of her own hanils. 

Mrs, FitzgeraM has laid out two additions to the 
citj' of Wichita, reserving forty aen-s for her own 
grounds. All of this she has accomplished without 
ever having to rai.sc ^1 by mortgaging any of her 
property. The house she now occupies was built 
in 1884, and is very conveniently arranged and 
tastily furnished. During the i)ast year (1887) 
she has built two houses, one on Lawrence street 
and the other on the west side of the river, so that 
now she rent,-* eleven houses, ten of which she built 
luTself. Her judicious investments and rapid in- 



i^ 



•►HI-4^ 



^1 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



755 



•► 



crease of material wealth are suggestive evidences 
that she makes excellent use of her active brain in 
carrying on her work. She gives liberally toward 
the various educational and charitable organizations 
of the city, and is much respected throughout the 
couiniunit}' for her fair business dealings and up- 
right personal character. 

We are not only pleased to present the portrait 
of this excellent and enterprising lady, but also that 
of her late husband. Both are given in connec- 
tion with this sketch. 



|(^;IERL1NCt K. STANLEY, one of the enter- 
prising real-estate dealers of Wichita, where 
he has;^ operated since the spring of 1884, is 
well known for his straightforward business meth- 
ods. He is the offspring of an old American family, 
which was represented in this country during the 
Colonial daj's by three brothers, who made their 
way from England and settled with the Virginia 
colony in 1620 before the landing of the "May- 
flower." A part of the property which thej- then 
secured is still held by their descendants in the 
Old Dominion. The family are of a long-lived race 
of excellent constitution, and were almost uni- 
formly the parents of a goodly number of children. 
It is estimated that there are now at least 10,000 
descendants from the original stock, a good many 
more than the entire population of the United 
States at the time the Stanleys made their advent 
into this country. 

The ancestors of our subject were Quakers in 
religious faith, bitterly opposed to slavery, and on 
account of its existence in Virginia removed else- 
where, and became scattered over a large proportion 
of the free States in later j'ears. The paternal 
great-grandfather of our subject, Strangman Stan- 
ley by name, a native of North Carolina, emigrated 
to Ohio while it was still a Territory, and settled 
on a tract of land near which the city of Chillicothe 
was afterward built. He was one of the earliest 
and most courageous pioneers of that section of 
country, carried on farming successfully, and there 
spent the remainder of his days. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Michael 
Stanley, spent his entire life in his native State of 



North Carolina, and died there on his farm near 
Greensboro. Among his children, thirteen in num- 
ber, Aaron, the father of our subject, was also 
born in that Stale, whence he emigrated to Henry 
County, Ind., when a young man, in 1822. He 
married a distant relative, Miss Mahala Stanh'V, 
and tliej- became the parents of seven children, of 
whom but four an' living. Michael is a residi'ut of 
Jasper County, Iowa; Vierling K., of our sketch, is 
the second eldest living; Hannah A., Mrs. Hollo- 
way, continues a resident of Indiana; Maria E. 
married a Mr. Fossett, now deceased, and she is 
living in Wichita. 

The parents of our subject spent their last yeai-s 
in Indiana, the father dying in 1882, and the 
mother in 1870. Vierling K. was born in Henry 
Count}', Ind., Julj' 28, 1833, was reared to farm 
pursuits, and received a common-school education. 
He studied, however, for a short lime at Earlliam 
College, in Richmond, Ind. hike liis father before 
him, he was reared in the princi|)les of the Quaker 
religion, to which he has since loyally adhered. He 
continued in Indiana until the summer of 1866, 
then, seized with the Western fever, crossed the 
Mississip|)i, and arrived in tliis Stale on the 22d of 
July, 1856. 

Our subject was now twenty-three }'ears of age, 
and took up his abode near the embryo city of 
Leavenworth. He arrived here about the time of 
the great excitement in regard to the slave ques- 
tion, and employed himself in teaching school dur- 
ing the winter. In the meantime, being thoroughly 
imbued with the principles which had distinguished 
his ancestors, the hatred of oppression, he assisted 
the anli-slavery people by every means in his 
power, aiding in the escape of fugitives, the re- 
lease from prison of those arrested, and sought by 
ever}' method possible to advance the cause of the 
Free- soil party. 

After remaining about three years in Leaven- 
worth, Mr. Stiuiley returned to his old haunts in 
Indiana, and engaging in merchandising, remained 
thereafter with his parents until the}' passed from 
earth. Soon afterward he returned to this State, 
and in August, 1884, took up his residence in 
Wichita and established his present business. In 
this he has been admirably successful, and as a 



■•►■ 



i 



".'ill 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



1'i 



cotiiwifulioiis iiinl |>iil)lic-.H|>irilo"l citi/.i-n tiMik iiu 
m-tive luirl in tin- orpiiiiwition of lln- ^iimktT 
t'hiinh. mill the i>Uil)li>hmi'nt of ihe .lolin Hriglil 
Iniventilv. He rmiks niiioii}? tlu- si'lf-iimiU' iiikI 
self-i'durnU'il iiii-ii of this •ioiliuii. is plen-xiii",' and 
iiiU'lliffrnt a.H n coiivirsalioimli.^t. a goml Imsini-.ss 
iniin. mid in nil re-t|)crU* liiu- proved himself !i vuliicd 
addition to the eoniniimitv. 

The wife ofoiir siilijecl, to whom ho was nmriied 
March IM, IKCI). In I'liion Countv. Iiid.. W!i.h for- 
merly Mis:' Josephine A. Talberl, who was born in 
that county. Feb. 1, 184.'>. Mrs. SUmley is the 
daughter of .labez and Mary (Cook) Talltert, who 
were native* of Indiana. The father is deceased, 
while the mother still resides in Union Connty, 
Inil. To our subject have been born three chil- 
dren: Oni K.. now Mrs. Perry McPherson. of 
Wichita; Martha K., twelve years old, remaininf,' 
with her parent.-, and .loseph 11.. live years of age. 
Mr. Stjinley anil wife, and two youngest children, 
aiv member- of the Friends' Church. Politically, he 
is a Uepublii-an. 

Ir^^ U(;AU II. .lONKS, representing the Badger 
») Lumber Company, of Kansas City, took up 
IJ^^ his residence in Clearwater in \HH^i, and 
since that time has lieen closely identilied with the 
inU-rest-s of Ninnescah Township. He hius been a 
member of tlie Council since the village wjis incor- 
|Kjrated, and is now its President. His properly 
includes a quarter-section of land in Ford County, 
and real estate in Clearwater, all of which he has 
accumulated by the exercise of his own industry 
and sound common sense. He ha.s been a man 
never afraid of putting his shoulder to the wheel — 
just such men as .Sjutherii Kansas most needed 
during the period of her early settlement. 

A native of Fremont County. Ind., our subject 
was born Aug. .'11 , IH.'j-t, uiul is consequently still ii 
young man in the mid^lof his plans and usefulness. 
His parents, .)<>»eph N.and Mary K. (Brown) , (ones, 
arc at present resident" of Ventura Count}', Cal. 
.loscpli Jones and his wife arc both natives of 
New York State, the former born in CalUiraugus 
County. Both are of \Nclsh ancestry, and the 



luiternal grandfather of our subject, Henry .tones 
by name, croxsed the Atlantic about sixty years 
ago and settled in the wilds of Cattaraugus Connty, 
N. Y., where he rearefl his family and spent the 
remainder of his life. 

In IH.I.O .loseph .tones left the Kmpire .Slate with 
his family and located in I.iving>ton County, III., 
near the t4iwn of Fairbiiry, where Kdg;ir H. sjient 
his boyluHid days and acrpiircd his ediicalion in 
the common schools. In the eighteenth year of 
his age he accompanied bis mother to California, 
the climate of which, it w.-is lio|M-d. would restore 
the declining health of the latter, and they were 
joined the following year by the father. Our sub- 
ject continued on the Pacilie Slope soine yeai-s. and 
there met his future wife, to whom he was married 
on the 3d of March. 1S7.!. This lady. Miss Bessie 
Ferguson, was born in Cedar County, Iowa. .Sept. 
9, IK.51, and is the daughter of John and Jeanetl*- 
(Fairchild) Ferguson, the mother still residing 
there; the father died at his home in 1>>SC. ||er 
father wjis one of the first six white .settlers to 
lociite ill Cedar County, .•mil endured all the hard- 
ships and privations of pioneer life. 

Mr. Jones came with his family to Cowley County, 
this .State, in 187'.>, where he engaged in farming 
about five years. He loft there in the fall of IHH-I, 
at which time ho became agent of the Badger 
Lumber Comi)any, who handle all kinds of build- 
ing material and coal. The sales at this ptiiiit 
amount probably to ♦l.5,0(iO annually. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Jones there have been liorn two chil- 
dren: Krnest H., April IG. IHTC. and Kv.a, Dec. 
4, IHa.'j. Mr. J. is a K»-|»ul(liean. politically, and 
socially, is a member nnd Treasurer of Clearwater 
Lodge No. 265. I. O. (). F. 



\|, OHN !■:. EXON, who is pleasjintly located 
about two miles south of the vill.'ige of \' al- 
ley Center, his |>ropcrty, however, lying in 
\^i)j Kochi Township. Iisus for the last four.years 
been industriously operating IGO acres of good 
land on section 7. The improvements which we 
see to-day have been effected by his industry 
and good judgment, and ho has brought the soil to 



•►•-4•- 



■«► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 

767 ' ^ 



a tiiii' state of cultivation, besides stocking the 
farm witii liigli-grade Norman liorses and Durham 
cattle. Tlie farm buildings are neat and substan- 
tial, and with their surroundings present the pic- 
ture of the complete countrj- homo, where peace 
and plentj' abound. 

Our subject, a native of Hancock County, 111., 
was born on the 23d of March, 185.5, and is the 
j'oungest of three children, the offspring of Samuel 
and Mary (Smith) Exon, the former a native of 
England and the latter of Kentucky. Samuel 
Exon emigrated to the United States in his youth, 
and settled in Hancock County, 111., where he car- 
ried on farming during the brief period of his life. 
He died in early manhood, before the birth of his 
son, our subject. The devoted wife and mother 
is still living, and resides near Reed's Station, in Jas- 
per County, Mo. Her other children are in Illinois. 
The subject of this sketch was reared to farming 
pursuits mosth' in the State of Illinois, and received 
agood education, completing his studies in the Gem 
City Business College, at Quincy, 111., from which 
he was graduated with high honors and was con- 
sidered especially expert in the knowledge of book- 
keeping. His mother had retained possession of 
the farm in Hancock County, 111., and to this he 
now returned, taking up his residence there on the 
26th of March. 1879. He operated this land until 
the spring of 1884, then sold the property, and, 
coming to this county that same year, purchased 
a quarter-section of improved land, paying for it 
the sum of ^40 per acre. He at once set about the 
improvements which are to-day viewed with admira- 
tion by the jjassing traveler, and by virtue of which 
he to-day is nunibere<l among the enterprising men 
of Ills communit3-. There is a fine orchard with a 
good barn and corn crib, and all the other out- 
buildings required for the storing of grain and the 
shelter of stock. The Motor Line p.asses through 
the farm, affording easj' access both to the city of 
■\Viohita and the village of Valley' Center. 

Mr. Exon, while in Illinois, served three 3'ears as 
Assessor in Hancock County, and one j'ear as Col- 
lector. He was married there, on the 20th of Octo- 
ber, 1881, to Miss Lucetta E. Fletcher, who was 
born in Hancock Count}', 111., Sept. 11. 1x60. Mrs. 
Exun was the second in a family of five chiiilren, 
^ 



and her parents were George W. and Lydia (Boat) 
Fletcher, also natives of Illinois, and early pioneers 
of Hancock County, 111. 

To our subject and his wife there iiave been 
born two children, George Edwin and J. Lester, 
bright little boj's of four and three years respect- 
ively. Mr. Exon h:is very little to do with politics. 
His estimable wife is a member of the Methodist 
Church, South. 

OICHOLAS M. CORMICK, well known among 
/ the solid residents of Wichita, being identi- 
5 fied with its interests since its early historj', 
is a forcible illustration of the self-made man. 
Thrown upon his own resources when but a boy, he 
successfully paddled his own canoe, and is now 
numbered among the capitalists of Southern Kan- 
sas. Starting out from the home roof when a lad 
fifteen years of age, he entered upon an apprentice- 
sliip to the blacksmith trade, at which he served 
three ^^ears and five months in Trenton, Henry Co., 
Iowa. He continued in that locality five years 
thereafter as a journeyman, under one employer, 
and then opened a shop for himself at Marshall, in 
that county. He operated this successfullj' two 
j'ears, then sold out, and was given the' position of 
mail contractor, operating from Mt. Pleasant, Henr}- 
Countj-, to Washington, the county seat of Wiish- 
ington County. 

The course of our subject had been uniformly 
successful, and now selling out, he invested his cap- 
ital in the confectionery business at Mt. Pleasant. 
A resident there two years, he then decided upon a 
change of location and occupation, and coming to 
this county, whose fertile soil and flattering pros- 
pects were already* attracting the attention of the 
enterprising emigrant, he took up a claim of 160 
iicres on Cowskin Creek, and put up a one-storj' 
frame house. He then commenced breaking the 
land, planted ornamental shade and fruit trees, and 
sold out two J'ears later, at a good figure. He now 
moved down the creek three miles further and pur- 
chased another tract of land, upon which he farmed 
four }'ears. Judging from the outlook at that time, 
he decided that he could still further improve his 



IIS 



•►•-^^ 



\ 



768 



SKI x; WICK COUNTY. 



coixlilioii flimncinlly, iinti eoiniiif; within two tniles 
i>f lh«' fjriiwiiif; city of Wioliiln, |)iirclia.*i'<| a Imlf- 
M-ction of IhikI. ii|X)ii wliifh lie i>|ior!iltMl ci>;ht yours. 
Of this IfiO n<T»>s an' now liiiil out in town lots, hav- 
ing sold this in March, IHHT.at ♦.'»00 jK-r acre. Mr. 
McC'orniick took up his residence in the city in 
l«H.'), and since that time has lieen larijely engaged 
in the |>urch:ijtc and side of real esUite. 

The jMirents of our s\diject, .lohn and Sarah 
(Hush) MrCorniick, natives of Pennsylvania, left 
the Keystone SUite. and settled amonj: the pioneers 
o( Shelliy t'oiinly, Ind., in which our subject was 
horn on the 1st of Oclolicr, 1N.'$U. His paternal 
^'ran<lp:irent<, Setli and Mar/^aret (Simmons) Mc- 
Cormii-k. were also natives of the Keystone State, 
and en'ir''n*^"' extensively in farming i)ursuits. They 
were the parents of ten children, most of whom 
spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania. William 
Bush, the maternal grandfather, was the father of 
two children. 

.lohn McCormick, the father of our subject, was 
reared on the farm, but preferred carpentering, and 
served an apprenticeship at this trade three years, 
and followed it the greater j)art of his life, although 
engaged in both merchandising and farming. He 
removed with his family to Iowa in 1840, locating 
in Henry County, where he became owner of a large 
tract of land, but at the same time operated as a 
builder and contractor. He lived to be quite ageil, 
his de;ilh Uiking place in l^T'i. The mother had 
j)receded her husband to the other life when a young 
woman, in 1 H47. IJoth parents were members of 
the Church of God. .lohn McCormick was three 
time- married, and had by his lirst wife, the mother 
of our subject, ihree children — Nicholas, .lohn and 
Hettie. Hettie is the wife of (!eorgc Mitts, and 
they are also residents of Wichita. 

Nichol.'Ls McCormick, as we have already iu- 
dicat4-d, spent lii> lioyhood under the home roof, 
and then began the career which has proved so suc- 
cessful. While .'i resident of Delano 'I'owuship, he 
olliciated a-s Clerk of hissclxxjl district, and since cast- 
ing his lirst Presidential vote for Abraham IJncoln, 
hiLH been an ardent supporter of Hepubliciin prin- 
ciples. While a resident of Henry Count3', Iowa, 
he was mnrrieil, on the 20tli of .lanuary, l«.'>M, when 
not nineteen years of age, to .Mi.ss liacliel A., daugh- 

i m 



ter of Henry H. and Lucinda (IHnes) Way, who 
were natives of Marion County. Ind. They re- 
moved to Iowa in 1M40, settling in Henry County, 
where their daughter Itaehcl was born .July .'i, 
l«4."l. Mr. Way w.isan exti-nsive farmer, a worthy 
citi/en, ami a (Quaker in religious belief. The 
mother was a Methodist, The parents s|)cnt the 
remaining years of their lives at the lumiestead in 
Henry County. 

There were born to the |iarents of Mrs. McCor- 
mick nine children, of whom but three arc living, 
namely: Nathan . I.. Rachel A. and Alvin .S. The 
two brothers are residents of Custer County, Dak. 
Her paternal grandimrents were Paul and Lovina 
(Hiatt) Way, natives of Ohio, where Grandfather 
Way carried on farming in early manhood, but 
later removed to Iowa, and died in Henry County, 
that .Suite. The mother survived her husband, and 
spent her last years in Adair County, Mo. The 
great-grandfather, .Seth Way, was also born in Ohio, 
and a farmer by occu|Mition. On the mother's side 
the grandfather, Jt)hn Hincs, married a Miss Bran- 
son; they were both natives of Ohio, and like the 
other grandparents, had large families. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have been born four 
children — Wilber H., Martha L., Gertrude M. and 
Herbert. Martha is the wife of Albert Cartwright. 
a grand.son of the famous Methodist preacher, 
Peter Cartwright: they live in Los Angeles. Cal. 
Gertrude is the wife of K. P. Hill, and also lives in 
Los Angeles, as does also the eldest son, Wilber H. ; 
Herbert m.ikes his home with his parents. The 
eldest is twenty-seven years of age, and the young- 
est fourteen. The beautiful and valuable family 
residence is locateil at No. 1 l-'i' University avenue. 
The dwelling was erected at a cost of *G,000. M rs. 
McCormick is a member of the Christian Church. 

L'T^ANOAll BICK.SON, late a nprcsentalivc 
^ farmer of Minneha Township, resided on scc- 
//^ tion -ii). He was born Oct. 23, l.Si'l, in 
W.iyne County, Ind., and was the son of Zachariah 
and Hannah (Thornburg) Beeson. His death took 
place Feb. lit, 1»»8. 

The father of our subject was born in North 



••►■ -4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



759 ' ^ 



^h 



Carolina, Sept. 15, 1790. He giew to manhood in 
his native State, and was married in 1822 to Miss 
Hannah Thornburg, a native of Guilford County, 
N. C, "ho was born Sept. 15, 1804. He was a 
gunsmith by trade, and followed the business for 
nearly thirtj- years. In 1818 he removed to Indi- 
ana and settled in Randolph County, where he 
worked at his trade until his marriage four 3'ears 
later. On the occurrence of that event he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land on Nettle Creek, in 
Wayne County, Ind.,on a part of which he erected 
a shop in which to follow up his business. He 
fitted up a water-wheel on the creek to furnish 
power for the machinery used in boring out gun 
barrels, and work of like character. In March, 
1 854, he sold out all his possessions, and removed 
to Jasper County. Ind., where he lived until 1858, 
when he was called to those "chamliers in the 
silent halls of death." 

Our subject's father was a member of the ortho- 
dox t^uaker Church in his earlier days, but for his 
opinions as to the non-existence of the " Father of 
Lies," w:;s expelled from thiit denomination. Join- 
ing the Ilicksite branch of the same church, he re- 
mained with them for many years, until the slavery 
question was agitated, when he severed his connec- 
tion with it on account of his anti-slaver}' views. 
He w!is a strong Abolitionist, and was connected 
with the famous '• underground railroad," during the 
d.ays of slavery, and assisted many of the bondmen 
to reach Canada. The mother of our subject was 
also a member of the Hicksite Quaker Church, and 
died Aug. 11,1 8G7. To these people were born 
fourteen children, as follows: Zanoah, the subject 
of this sketch; Rachel, Lucinda, Melinda, Edward, 
Kesiah, Isaac, Benjamin, Margaret, John, Jessie, 
Hannah, Leonard and Joseph. Only three survive: 
Rachel, who married Pleasant Massey for her first 
husband, and Alfred Wheaton for her second, and 
is a resident of this township; Leonard, who married 
Ann Lefler, and is a resident of Nebraska, and 
Margaret, who married John Ballard, but no longer 
lives with her husband, and makes her home in 
Nel)raska. Benjamin and Margaret were twins, as 
were Lucinda and .Melinda. 

Zanoah Beeson, the eldest of the family, was 
reared uiX)U the farm, and followed that line of life 



until he was twenty-one years old. During his boy- 
hood days he attended the common schools of the 
day, in which he received all his education. He 
had a vivid recollection of the old school-house ; it 
was a cabin built of logs, with a large fireplace in 
one end of it some six feet wide, the windows were 
sm.all, and the light was admitted through greased 
paper, which took the place of glass; and the seats 
were split logs, with wooden pegs driven into them 
for legs. On attaining his majority he commenced 
to learn the gunsmith trade with his father, and con- 
tinued in that business for nearly eight j'cars. 

About 1852 Mr. Beeson commenced the lumber 
business in the neighborhood, and was engaged in 
a sawmill for some time. Making the purchase of 
a store, he entered into the mercantile trade, which 
he followed until 1808. From that time until 1877 
he was engaged at running a sawmill, and came to 
Kansas in 1878 and settled on the present farm. 

November 14, 1844, Mr. Beeson being then 
about twenty-one years of age, was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Virena Smith, 
the daughter of Joel and Catherine (Rightsman) 
Smith, both of whom were natives of Ohio, and 
who are numbered with the dead. Mr. Smith and 
his wife were the parents of four children, viz: 
Virena, Mrs. Beeson; Nancy, decejised; one who 
died in infancy, and Jackson, a resident of Wayne 
County, Ind. 

The subject of our sketch was the parent of five 
children, one of whom, Hannah Louisa, died when 
an infant. The others are as follows: Elkanah 
R., Malinda E., Laura Rhodella, .and Lillie May. 
Malinda married Theodore V. Stoker, and is dead ; 
Laura married .Michael Reagan, and lives in Wichita; 
Lillie Maj', Mrs. William Carroll, is also an inhabit- 
ant of that city, and Elkanah R. remains at home. 

Like his father, who " remote from towns ran his 
godly race." our subject was a strong Republican 
and a stjinch temperance man. although quite in- 
dependent in his views. He was an active worker 
in all matters of reform and progress, and well 
merited the esteem in which he was held b}' the com- 
munity. He owned and occupied a well-improved 
farm of 140 acres, on which he placed a good, 
comfortable residence, and neat barns and other 
out-buildings. The place is surrounded by a well- 



i 



t 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



triiiiincd lietlge niid flno fonccs. and plcntv <»f wnU-r, 
tiiioliin'd with };yi>siini, runs in n purling stream 
tlir<)U<;h the |ir<i|K;rly, nfTiinlinjj a novfr-failinn 
supply of this needful olonient in fanning. One uf 
tin- curitisilies of the place is a salt well, wliirh has 
been Imred to the fleplh <>f 2.0K() feet while pros- 
IM'Olinjj for natiinil ^s. The water it eontains is 
sixty -eijiht per cent pure saline matter, but it is 
not at present uxd in tlie manufaeture of salt. 

Owiny Uj the [wjiee-loving tenets of till' .Soeiety 

of Friends, of which Mr. Heeson jind his forefathers 
Were meml)ei-s, it was inconsistent in him to shoulder 
a niuski't in the late Civil War. Doth he and his 
brother Leonard, however, paid JHOO apiece Uisiib- 
slituti-s, who took their places in the fall of IHG."). 



*>- 



i 



y^^, KOROK W. DA VI.S came to Grant Township 
if <^ '" '^''* ^P""'"? <^f 18«2. and hwatcd on section 

'\^^ .'to, where ho is operating ICO acres of im- 
proved land, cultivating the soil to good advantage, 
and raising high-grade Durham cattle, Norman 
horses and |)ure-bred Poland-China swine. He has 
a first-class farndiousc. a good barn, and all the 
necessary out-buildings for the shelter of stock and 
storing of gmin, and is numbered among the thrifty 
ami well-to-do citizens of the county. 

Mr. Davis wa.-* born in Wayne County, N. Y., 
.May vil, 1H2<!, an<l was the first-born son of Willard 
anil Kalhiar (Kdginglon) Davis, who were also 
natives of the Knipirc State and among the pioneer 
settlers of .Steuben and ( )nUtrio Counties. The 
family is of Danish ancestry, and the paternal grand- 
parents were favorably known among the oldest 
families of New York Stjilc. Willard Davis was 
occupied in farming pursuits until a few years licfore 
his death, and pa^^hcd his last ilays in Monroe 
CoiMity. I'he mother after the death of her lius- 
banil continued .-it the homestead for a time, and 
after the removal of her >on to the West joined him 
here, and is now a iiiemlicr of his family. 

.Mr. Davis after leaving the ilislriel school com- 
pleted his studies in .Madison University, New 
York, and iliiring the California gold excit*;ment of 
I «l'.i, crriHsed the plains and engaged in mining a 
year, then biieame inU-rest^'d in the lumber trade 



in MnriposA County, Cal. He followed the latter 
four years on the Pacific Sl«)|io, then returned to his 
native .State, and engaged in the manufaeture of 
rtour H year, after which he turned his attention 
exclusively to farming pursuits. 

Mr. Davis, at the age of twenty-eight j'ears, wa> 
married, April 12, I8.")."). to a maiden of his own 
county in New York State, .Miss .Millie Palmer, who 
w;ls born .luly 27. \H;U. She was the third chihl 
in a family of nine, the offspring of Rensselaer and 
M.'iry (Miller) Palmer, natives res|iectively of New 
York and Massachusetts. The paternal gi-and|iar- 
ents of Mrs. Davis, Nathan and Dolly (l^ainb) 
Palmer, were natives of Connecticut, and the latter 
a brother of Maj. Palmer, who distinguished him- 
self as a soldier of unusual braver}- in the War of 
1H12. On the mother's side the grandparents, 
.Jonathan and Pamelia (Lee) Miller, were natives of 
M:iss!icliusetts. Grandfather Miller left the Bay 
.State in early manhood anil settled in Wa3'ne 
County, N. Y.. during the pioneer days, when he 
was obliged to clioj) down the forest trees in order 
to obtain a jiiece of ground large enough to build 
upon. By degrees he cleared the land around his 
cabin home, opening up a good farm, which lie oc- 
cupied until liis death, on the 2.')th of December, 
1 82 1 . 

Mr. Davis uihjii returning from California, in 
ISC.*), to his native St.ale, engjiged there in farming 
until deciding upon a removal lo Kansas, and his 
subsequent movements we have already indicated 
in the building up of his present homestead. To 
this he has chielly confined his attention, having 
Very little lo do with public or political affairs, but 
votes the straight Kepublican ticket. Mrs. Davis, 
a lad}' held in high esti^em by her neighbors, is a 
member in good standingof the Methodist l^piscopal 
Church, at \'alley Center. The household circle 
wascompleti'fl by the birth of six children, of whom 
one. Bertha, diefl Nov. !•. 18(!9, when an infant of 
three months. The othei-s were named res|>ecti vely : 
W. Willis. (Jeorge U., (Jscar Palmer, Vincent and 
Kinest Lynn. W.Willis is married, and engaged 
in the drug business at Valley Center; George 
U. has charge of the restaurant at Valley Cen- 
ter; Oscar 1'. is a student at (Jarfield University, 
and the other children are pursuing their studies in 



ii^^^^AM^Ji 










,.-i,v/-,^>fa^>aBS^<^<tf^;«^^aBiaai^ 



Residence of J. George G laser, Sec. 21. Saleli , <. 



If~.^:^:-'..-. 







;-^.vj:.^^. ;..:, .j;.:.,:.iSgy:aai,aCi:^jjo,. 



Residence of JTB.Whittemore , Sec. 24. Rock ford Township 




5erT-«-r^-r-» — 



RtsiOtNcLut V..ALV1N MS.vVoRTER .Sec. 24. Park !o/vnship. 



-f 



-#^ 



^\ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



the district school one mile from the homestead. 
The fiiriii is ple.nsantlj- sitiinted one and one-half 
miles from Valley Center, which affords a conveni- 
ent grain market and esisy access to church. 



/^ IIARLES II. ALLKN is one of the enter- 
Ill prising, energetic and industrious citizens 
^^^' of Wichita, who have done so much toward 
promoting the growth of the cit3' and developing 
its various business interests. He came here June 
3, 1872, and established himself in business as a 
harness-maker. B\' his industrious application to 
his work and good management, he built up a trade, 
keeping from four to twenty men in his employ all 
the time. He is at present living in retirement on 
the proceeds of a good income. 

Mr. Allen is a native of Pennsylvania, ills birth 
occurring in Somerset County, Feb. 16, 183.5. He 
is the son of Hugh amOIartha (Hood) Allen, natives 
of Pennsylvania. The year following the birth of 
their son, our subject, they moved to LaSalle 
County, 111., and there made their home till death, 
the father actively eng.aging in his vocation as 
farmer. He was an honest man, of sound judg- 
ment, and bj' persistent toil gained a comfortable 
competency. To him and his good wife were born 
four children, two of whom are now living — Charles 
H., and Docia, now Mrs. .Spiller. 

Our subject remained in the home of his parents 
until he was ten years of age. His early educa- 
tion was obtained under difficulties, as he only 
attended school a part of three winters, and then 
had to walk two and one-half miles across bleak, 
wind-swept, snowj' prairies. At the extremely- 3^outh- 
ful age of ten years he went out into the world 
alone to commence the hard hand-to-hand conflict 
with life, which early developed in him a manly, 
self-reliant character. After leaving the shelter of 
his boyhood home he traveled over Illinois and 
Iowa, working at such employments as he could 
obtain. When sixteen years old he commenced 
driving stage and carrying the United States mail 
in Illinois. He also drove stage and carried the 
Inited States mail through Iowa for a number of 



years. F'inally he returned to Illiridis, and at 
Peoria established himself in the livery business, 
which he followed for the next three j'cars. In 1 8,'>8 
he made a new departure, and coming to Leaven- 
worth, in this State, took charge of the stage line 
on the Santa Fe Road to New Mexico. That was 
during the exciting times of the terrible struggle 
between the free State people and the pro-slaver^' 
men for the possession of tiie Territory of Kansas. 
I^eavenworth was then a city of but a veiy few 
years' growth, and presented the rough, unfinished 
appearance common to .all frontier towns. In IStil 
he gave up his position :is sujierintendent of the 
stage line, and took charge of a livery stable in 
Leavenworth until 1861. In that year he turned 
his attention to freighting across the plains to Den- 
ver and New Mexico, and was thus occupied until 
1870, when he retired from that business, having 
in the meantime made quite a sum of monej'. The 
ensuing year he managed a large stock farm, situ- 
ated six miles from Leavenworth. He then gave 
that up and came to Wichita, where he has since 
made his residence; When he first came to the 
city he bought a lot on Topeka avenue, and there 
built a house in which he lived for seven 3'ears. 
He then disposed of it very profitably, and pur- 
chased a residence on Water street, in which he re- 
mained for two years, and then removed to his 
present home. He has made several investments 
in real estate, which have resulted very advan- 
tageously. He is now the owner of some valuable 
lots in the south part of the city in Kelsch's Ad- 
dition. 

Mr. Allen was married, in ISCi.'!, lo Miss Joanna 
Glassbrook, a native of New York, and daughter of 
George and Rachel (Phillips) Glassbrook, natives 
of Maine. Sir. Glassbrook w.as a cooper, and fol- 
lowed that occupation through life. To him ami 
his wife were born three children, only two of whom 
are now living — Mrs. Allen, and Amanda, now Mrs. 
Cissne. To our subject h.as been born one child, 
Maud. 

Mr. Allen's wide experience and shrewd common 
sense have been important factors in his success as 
a business man. He has been an intelligent ob- 
server of men and events, and his life on the great 
plains w.as filled with raan^- striking incidents and 



•►Hl-^*- 



1 






r<.i 



«i:i>G\VlCK ( "I N I ^ 



<^m -4i 



dci-iii's rlmriu'ti'ri>lic 111 W islcni lilr Inr Imni the 
cfiitoo (if civili/jitioii iiiiirt- tliiiii a <)iiHrU-r of n 
cfiiliiry ago, iiikI illii.sti-iilivc nf the wiiiidorftil dc- 
vc|(*|>tii<-ul of the I'diiiilry .siiu-e thiit tiiiii-. In 
|M>lilic'.'< our !iiilijci-t is ii stjiiicli Oi-iiinrrHt. Ili' i-< 
:i IllCMIlblT of till- 1. <>. < >. K. 



m 



I OlIN .M<(()KMUK. II iftirol (.ilixoii, in 
I April, IhTii, fiinir to tliis rouiily and took 
up II (!ovcriinK>nt cliiini on the wi-st side of 
/ tlie Arkiinsii.- Itivi-r. which now lii-.s within 
iho I'ity liuiit.s of Wichitii. 'I'herc wii.-< then only 
one house in si<;lit. lie hiul .secured a i(unrter-%ec- 
lioii, and he put up a log cahin with a dirt roof and 
tliHir, which remained the hiiltiliition of himself 
nnd family nine months. Their next dwelling wils 
II frame Ituildin;,' (piitc pretentious for those days, 
liiit tlii.s al.so in due time pive wi>y to the present 
sulistiinlial structure, which is provided with the 
comfort* and luxuries of modern life. 

The e«reer of our ^uhject is not very unlike that 
of .so many others who came to .Southern Kan.sas fol- 
|iiwin<; the jieriod of its jrreatest trials. Like othei> 
lie persevcre<l amid dilliculties and dan;;ers, and 
like them is now reapin>,' the reward of a wcll- 
sjieiit life, lie has watched with the deepest inter- 
est the growth and development of .Sedgwick 
County, nnd has always put his shoulder to the 
wheel ill a.ssisting to further the enterprises whose 
oliject has heen the general welfare of the people. 
I'pon his own |)reiiiises he cnltivateil the .soil, grad- 
ually efTectiiig the iniprovemenUs which have ren- 
dered the properly valuable, setting out fruit, 
shade nnd oriinmental IrecS, and from time to time 
adding the eiiihellishinent.s which now constitute 
it one of the attractive homes in the city, llis 
labors have met with success, a.s in raising wheal and 
corn he never lost a crop. From 1 2 j trees in IftM.'i 
he gathered 40(1 bushels of apples. 

A native of Henry Coiiiity, Iowa, our subject 
was born on the -.'Mtli of February, 1H42. llis par- 
ents, .John and Sarah (Hush) McConnick, were 
natives res|>ectively cif I'ennsylvania and Indiana. 
The paternal gramlfather, S<'th McCormick, dicil 
in reriiisylvania, and Wjlliain |{U'<h, ihc mother's 



-•^ 



fallier, ilcpaiii'ii ihi" iili' at ills rioiiie III iniiiann. 
.loliii McCormick, a iiinn of .sound .oen.sv and excel- 
lent judgment, engaged eonsidenibly in inerehnn- 
(Using and farming in (*oiinection with car|>cnteriiig. 
He left his native .Statf in early life, hH-ating first 
in Indiana, whence he migrated into Henry, lown, 
about IMJO. Here betook up IGO acres of fioveni- 
meiit land, from which he improved a g(XMl farm 
and where he s|R"nt the reinnindcr of his life, his 
death taking place about 1X72. 

The mother of our subject had died in Henry 
County, Iowa, in IK47. .John .McCorinick was 
thrice married, the lattt-r lady being his second wife. 
He was the father of eight children, five now living, 
namely: Margaret and Ceorge C, by the first wife, 
and by the second, Nicholas, .lohii, and llettie, Mrs. 
Mitt*, of W'lehitJi. 

The boyhood of our subject was spent upon the 
farm, where he continued until the outbreak of the 
Keliellion. lie was among the first to respijiid to 
the call for troops for the preservation of the 
rnion, and enlisted in Com|Miny K, 1st Iowa C'nv- 
nlry. and followed the fortunes of a soldier there- 
after for a iieriod of four years and nine months 
Dining this time he was mostly engnged in picket 
and scouting duty, not seeing any regular battle, 
but at the same time exposed fully as much to dan- 
ger and hardship as the fighting soldier. He e.sea|K'd 
unharmed, and after receiving his honorable dis- 
charge returneil to his lujine in Iowa. 

Mr. McCormick two years later came to this 
Slate, and taking up his residence in Topeka, en- 
gaged in teaming and trading, and finally traveled 
(.iver the .Slate on a prospecting tour, having in view 
the establishment of a permanent home. The result 
of this venture we have already indicated at the 
beginning of this biography. After his return from 
the army Mr. McC(U'niick wius married, Nov. l.'i, 
l.sdi;, to .Miss Mary, daughter of I'erry and Kli/.a 
(Kinkaid) Klder. natives of I'ennsylvania, and the 
father a farmer by occupation. Mrs. McCormick 
was born Aug. I.s, IH44,in Westmoreland County, 
Pa. She ac(|iiired her education in the cominon 
schools and continued with her pareiiLs until her 
marriage. Her grandfathers were William Klder 
and Kobert Kinkaid. 

(Jiir subject and his wife comiiii'iiciMl life together 

■> 



i* 



Hh-*^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



7i;5 i ^ 



at their own home, where they have since \visel3' 
remained, having lost no time or money in moving 
about from one phicc to another. Tlieir household 
includes five interesting children, namely: Elfie E., 
Lnlii P., Nellie, Myrtie M. and Arthur E. The 
eldest is nineteen years of age, and the j'oungest 
ten. Mr. McCormick has been quite prominent in 
local affairs, having served at different times as a 
Director in his school district, Township Trustee, 
Tre.isurer and Clerk, lie is an earnest supporter 
of Republican principles, and has contrilmted of 
his means to the establishment of educational and 
relijrions institutions. 



\f?OIIN O. THOMPSON. Among the m.any 
sturdy' young men who came into Sedgwick 
County in an earl3' day, and became pio- 
_ neers in one of the finest sections of the great 
State of Kansas was Mr. J. G. Thompson, of Salem 
Township. He is now one of its prominent and 
enterprising citizens, and resides upon section 34. 
He first drew the breath of life beneath the roof 
of the house of his parents, Joseph O. and Mar}' A. 
(McGee) Thompson, in Jefferson County, Ohio, 
May 6,1845. 

Joseph O., the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was a native of Fayette County, Pa., and 
the descendant of John G. Thorn (json, an Irishman 
by birth, who had come to the United States and 
settled in the Keystone State many years before. 
The mother of our subject was born in Jefferson 
County, Ohio, and was also of Irish descent. While 
still a boy, in 18.")3, the gentleman whose memoir 
we are writing removed with his parents to Allen 
County, Ind., where they were among the earliest 
settlers of that region. There the family took up 
a farm, where his father died in 1882. His mother 
is still a resilient of Allen C'ounty, and is in her 
seventieth year. She was the mother of eight chil- 
dren, iis follows: Margaret A., wife of John Red- 
ding, of Eldorado Springs, Mo.; Ph<ebc J., Mrs. 
Charles Hart, of Rolling Prairie, Ind.; William M., 
a resident of Michigan: Sarah E. : Florence M., 
wife of (ieorge Spice, of Huntington, Ind. ; John 
G., the subject of this sketch, Ida B., Mrs. Z. 



Johnson, who is living in Huntington, Ind., and 
one who died in childhood. 

The subject of this memoir was reared to man's 
estiite in Indiana, and received the elements of a 
good education in the district schools of that local- 
ty. Having a laudable thirst for knowledge, he 
has, by a coui-se of extensive reading, become very 
well informed upon must subjects, and in the gen- 
eral topics of the day. From early youth he was 
engaged in farming, and while occupied in assisting 
his father in his agricultural labors, he was rudely 
awakened from his quiet dreams by the tocsin of 
war. which then broke upon our devoted country'. 
Hastening with patriotic ardor to the defense of 
his flag and country, he enlisted, Aug. 6, 18C2, in 
Company H, 75th Indiana Infantry, the Colonel 
commanding being Milton S. Robinson; Lieutenant 
Colonel, William O'Brien; Major, J. C. McColc; 
Captain, William McGinnis; First Lieutenant, 
William Wilkinson ; and Second Lieutenant, William 
Riley. The regiment was attached to the Army of 
the Cumberland, and with that body he partici- 
pated in the sanguinary contlicts at Hoover's Gap, 
Tullahoma and at Chickamauga. At the latter 
place, Sept. 19, 1863, he was severely' wounded in 
the left leg. and taken prisoner by the Confedeiate 
troops. Having been paroled upon the field, he 
was sent to Chattanooga, and on reaching the Fed- 
eral lines was placed in a hospital, where he re- 
mained for some time. On his convalescence he 
rejoined his regiment at Big Shantj', in the vicinity 
of Atlanta, Ga., and found them attached to the 
column of Gen. W. T. Sherman. At Pcachtree 
Creek and all the numerous engagements that took 
place in and around Atlanta, he bore a gallant 
part, and when their matchless leader, cutting him- 
self off from his base of supplies, traversed Georgia 
and the Carolinas, Mr. Thompson marched in the 
ranks of his regiment. After participating in the 
grand review at Washington, he was mustereil out 
of the .service, and discharged June 8, 1865. 

After the dissolution of the volunteer armies, 
Mr. Thompson, like Cincinnatus, returned to his 
home, and resumed his jigricultural labors. He 
remained in Indiana until 1871, when he came to 
Kansas, and located on section 34, where he pre- 
empted 160 acres of laud. This tract he has 



HI-<^ 



n 



•^•-4*- 






SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



bn)Ught U> a |H>rfc<-tion in i-ullivntioii thnt is a 
iihmIcI fur the iicii;hliorh<MHl. He pn-fers l<i fiilUiw 
llu' ailviiv i>f Hornco (Jrcolcy. who »n'u\ that n 
siimll farm »vell tilled was wortli lw<i lar;;i' luios 
r<>iii|mnitivcly m'),'loclfd. He has. liv iiuliistry, 
enerjiv an«l iiorseveraiice, uecuiiuilatei) I'oiisidenible 
i-apiUl, ami is miiioii^ the well-to-do farmers of the 
towii.ship. 

Keluiiary 22, I WHO, tlie iiiarri;if;e eereiiii>iiy look 
plaee whirh united the destinies of Mr. 'rhom|ison 
and Miss Annie M. liowle.s. H in wife is a daugh- 
ter of .les.-* r. and Maria V. (Bivin) Bowles, a 
sketch of whom is jjiven elsewhere in the payes of 
this Ai.Hi M. She is a native of I.o<ran County, 111., 
and was horn on the 2.">tli of Angiist, IH.'iCi. There 
Ii:ls been horn of this marriage one child. Alma K., 
whose liirth t<iok place Feb. 27, 18H1. Both Mr. 
anil .Mn*. 'i"lioni|>!jon are niembei-s of the Christian 
Church, and i-oiisislent followers of the Master. In 
(Militics, Mr. Thompson is a liepublican, but does 
not aspire to public ofllce. He is a member of 
.Mnlvane I'osl No. 20.'t, O. A. H., at Miilvane, and 
is the present Senior Vice Commander. 



IS)^ 



OIOIA.N II. I)|,\\l.\(;. a Itadiii-; and inlln- 
) enlial ;j;riicery nn-rchant of Valley Center, 
first drew the breath of life Sept. 10, \8M'<, 
beneath the roof of Elihu and Orpha (Brown) 
Dewing, his parents, in Chautanqua County, N. Y. 
His father was reared a farmer and followed that 
vocation through life. In 1«72 he came to .Sedg. 
wick County, anil settled on a farm in Kechi 
Township, where he remained until his death, which 
tiMik place Aug. C. 1«.><2. This sad event was the 
result of his falling froni a load of hay while in 
pnrsuanci- of his calling. He had a large and ex- 
tensive place at the time of his death, which he left 
to his natural lieir^. The first twenty-five years of 
his life, afl«'r attaining his nnijnrity, were |iassed in 
Chantauipia County, N. V., from which place he 
removeil to .Michigan. Three years later he re- 
moved to Walworth County, Wis., but aftcraresi- 
ili-nce in that place of about the same length of 
> ■#» 



time. renK>vcil to Kane County, 111., about forty- 
four miles from the city of Chicago. Two years 
later he eiimc to Stnlgwick County as mentioned 
above. 

Klihii Dewing was alw:iys an earnest worker in 
the interest* of the community among which he 
lived, and occupied a very prominent place in the 
opinions of his neighbors. lie was a strong Ite- 
publican in politics, seeking in that party the 
principles which he believed to be for the best 
preservation of our National life. With his estima- 
ble wife, he was a member of the l:nite<l Brethren 
Church, both of them having connected them.selves 
with that denomination in early life. A consistent 
Christian in all things, be ruled his life by the teach- 
ings of the Scriptures. His wife is still numberetl 
among the living, and makes her home with one of 
her sons in Valley Center. .She has already attained 
some six years be^-ond the allotted threescore and 
ten, and is peacefully awaiting the end that comes 
to us all. 

After boyhood and youth passed beneath his 
parent.s" roof, assisting in farm labor and in receiv- 
ing his education, at the age of nineteen years the 
subject of this sketch began the battle of life as a 
lumberman in the Woods of Michigan. After two 
seasons passed there, he went to HIkhorn, Wis., 
where he was engaged in the hotel business ftir 
about two years, and then removed to Milwaukee. 
Ill the latter citj* he w.ns employed for about two 
years .as weigher in the packing-house of I'laukintou 
A' Armour. .Succeeding this he spent two seasons 
upon the lakes, after which he came to .Sedgwick 
County, in IXTtJ. and settled in Kechi Township, 
buying eighty acres of land, on which he |)ursued 
the avocation of a fanner for about three years. 
Trading this phiee for an HO-acre tract in ( I rant 
Township, he removed there, .-ind for two years 
more followed farming. He then sold out and 
entered into the dry-goods and gnx^ery business at 
Sminydale, where he remained almut twoyeai"sand 
then sold imt to his brother, .M. W. Dewing, and 
removed to (jrcenwich, where he engaged in the 
.same line of trade. He erected the first building 
that was built of frame in that place, and carried on 
trade for about two years and then removed to Val- 
ley CenU'i". On first coining to the l.-itler place lie 



■^►-•-4« 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



767 



r 



engaged in the butcher business, but two years later 
disposed of it to T. J. Wortliingtoii, and opened 
his jjresent store, where he carries on an extensive 
business in the orocerj' line. 

In the sprinir of 18()2, on leaving the (inn of 
Plankinton <fe Armour, the subject of this sketch 
enlisted in Company A, 4th Wisconsin Infantry, 
being the (irst man in Walworth County to place 
his name upon the roll. At the expiration of his 
term of service, in Juh-, 1862, he re-enlisted, in the 
13tli Liu-ht Artillery of Wisconsin, for three years. 
The regiment was organized about that time and 
placed under the command of Col. II. E. Payne. 
He remained with this body of men until February, 
18()3, when, having been seized with a fever at Ship 
Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, Mr. Dewing received 
his honorable disciiarge for disability. He returned 
to Milwaukee, bui, soon recovering his health, again 
re-enlisted in the 13tli Wisconsin Light Artillery, 
entering the service as private and being discharged 
in July, 1865, as Sergeant. During his term of 
service he was engaged in most of the battles in 
which the Arm3' of the Southwest participated, the 
principal of which were those at Baton Rouge, La., 
Clinton and Mt. Hope. 

After receiving his discharge from the service, Mr. 
Dewing came directly to Sedgwick Count}', as men- 
tioned above. On the death of his father in 1 882, the 
family homestead passed into the possession of II. 
L. Dewing. Our subject was engaged in the mer- 
cantile trade at that time. While he was a resident 
of Kechi Township he held Dhe office of Justice of 
the Peace for two terms, and was a member of the 
School Board the whole time that he made his resi- 
dence in that portion of the county. He is a 
prominent member of the Odd Fellow fraternity, 
and of the Encampment, in which lie has filled all 
tiie chairs. He is also a member of Charles K. Warner 
Post No. 335, G. A. R. 

On the 18th of November, 1875, the subject of 
our sketch was united in marriage with Miss Anna 
Booher, who was born in Mendota, LaSalle Co., 111., 
in May, 1855. She is a daughter of Banks and 
Sarah Booher, who came to Sedgwick County about 
the year 1872. Her father is a ver}- prominent 
citizen of Payne Township, and is the father of 
nine children, of whom Jlrs. Dewing was the fourth 




in point of age. There have been born to our sub- 
ject five children, as follows: Clarence. Jaspei', 
Norman (deceased), Earl and Elva. 

In politics, Mr. Dewing is a Republican, and at 
the village election, in 1880, was chosen Constable, 
to which office he wiis re-elected in 1887, and is 
still the incumbent of that position. 

-^^^^^^ 

LBERT H. JEWETT, one of the most ex- 
tensive cattle dealers of Sedgwick County, 
operates 100 acres of land, his own prop- 
erty, and also has charge of quite an extent 
belonging to his father. Upon this altogether there 
usually ranges about 500 head of cattle, for the care 
of which there are furnished all the conveniences 
required by the modern farmer and stock-raiser. 
The Jewett residence is one of the most tasteful 
and substantial of its kind, and with its out-buildings 
forms the picture of a comforUible rural home in 
the midst of peace and plent}'. 

Our subject is a native of the Buckeye Stiite, and 

w:is born in Jefferson County on the 1 8th of May, 

1849. His parents, William and Hettie (Brown) 

Jewett, removed from Ohio to LaSalle County, III., 

when their son Albert H. was a little lad four years 

of age. The latter was there reared and educated, 

I and in 1865 removed with the family to Moultrie 

i County, 111., and thence accompanied his parents to 

\ Kansas in 1870. The first year of their residence 

in this State they spent in Johnson Count}', and the 

I following spring removed to the vicinity of Park 

City, then a very small village on the east bank of 

the Arkansas River. It was then believed that this 

would develop into a large town, and the father of 

our subject thought it wise to settle there. The 

projected railro.ad, however, like the Pharisee, passed 

by on the other side, and the prospective town 

gradually disappeared. 

Our subject about that time purchased for the 
sum of ^1,000 a claim on the southwest quarter of 
section 4, in Park Township, and in 1877 the father 
removed to Wichita, where he now resides, leaving 
to All)ert H. the management of his farm interests. 
The latter for several years was manager for the 
firm of Owen i Montgomery, of Kansas City, who 






-^^ 



Tt'S 



a 



^F, DC WICK COUNTY. 



ii|xTiit«Ml a rnncli in ilie wcstorn |)art of this StnU-, 
mill liiiil tlx'ir lii-n<I<|iiiirter!< in Itnrliniir Coiitily. 
rti<-y u-tiinlly k<'|)t n lu-nl of from 1. 000 t.. -J.tHiO 
lio«cl of cntlli'. Mr. .Ii-wclt in tlip employ of tlii.s 
llrm Iravcli-d over n liirgc |X)rlioii of tin- Woterii 
i-otintry, his o|H>nition«> exUMiiliii^' to m-arly nil the 
lilnct's within n phn^'p «if l.ooo miles where cattle 
lonhl he herded. Onr sulijett, in 1HT7, settled 
down to fiirmin); on the Innd lirsl |iMrclm.sed liy his 
father, nnd in connertion therewith carried on the 
enltivntion of his own purchase of 1(10 acres. 

The wife of onrsnliject, witii whom he was united 
in marriaj^e on the -Jtli of .Inly. 1K77. was in her 
;rirlho(Ml .Mis,- Itessie, dauj^hter of Klenzer and Ann 
(Sprin;rer) Ferjjuson, and was horn in Greene 
Comity. Ind.. Aujj. I'i, IH^A. She came with her 
parents to this Stjite in \x'l, from Iowa County, 
Iowa, where the mother had died about IMGI or 
\xi'i'2. Mr. Kerpustin is still living, and makes his 
home in Kingman County, this State. To Mr. and 
.Mrs. .1. there have been horn four children, two of 
whom died in childhood. Their son Homer w.as 
hiirn Oct. I«, ISHO, and their daughter llettie .lune 
\i>. iHMi;. They are at home with their parents*. 

Mr. .Icwett uniformly votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, but h:is all the business he can attend 
to without desiring to lake upon himself the res|>on- 
sibilities of ofllce. Socially, he is a member of the 
I. (). (). F., and is Noble Crand of Lodge No. -'iS, 
at N'alley Ci-nter. lie is als<» a member of the 
Kncampnient. 

EUNKsr A. KKl.MAN, real-csUitc agent, 
Notary rublic, conveyancer, civil engineer 
' and draughtsman, is one of the worthiest 

representatives of the business <'lenicnt of WidiitA. 
lie is a native of Michigan, and was born in Detroit 
in October, |Mli'. lie i> <if (W-rman ancestry, his 
parents having been born in (Jermany. The 
gninilfaiher of onr subject, Krnest A. Keiman, n 
native of llainnu. I'rnssin, was a soldier in the 
l'rni>ian army and had some ex|>crience worthy of 
not4'. It was he who was einployerl to drive the 
coach containing the F,m|>eror NaiMileon on his 



retreat from .Moscow, while he was |ms>ing through 
I'rus-ia from I.iegnitz to Dresden, Saxony. The 
father of our subject. Krnest O. Keiman, wa.s also 
a soldier in the Prussian army, and before coming 
to the I'nited .States wius an ext«'nsive traveler, vis- 
iting .Switzerland, France, Itolgium. and other 
countries, and while .serving as shiji's blacksmith on 
board a Prussian man-of-war he visit4-<l .Mi-xico 
and other foreign countries. He married Mi.ss 
Klizabeth Ooerlilz, and in D^.li; with her came to 
the I'nited .States and settled in Detroit, where he 
engaged in blacksmithing, remaining there severnl 
years. From there he removed to Hloomington, 
111., where his death occurred in 18(;<!. 

Krnest A. Keiman, of this sketch, was one of a 
familj- of live children born to his |iarents. He 
attended the public schof)ls of Detroit and Hloom- 
ington, receiving a good education, and learned 
afterward the trade of blacksmith and also that of 
civil enginci-r. In 1 Hf.O our subject st!irt<'d out in 
life for himself, nnil after farming for awhile ho 
enlisted in Company I), "J tth Illinois Infantry, un- 
der Col. Heckcr. He served fifteen months and 
was then honorably discharged <m account of sick- 
ness. In 18G.5 Mr. Keiman came to Kansa<i and 
w!is in the Government employ as a teamster t<t 
Salt Lake and Wyoming Territory, being absent 
nine months. During that time he was at Ft. Imt- 
amie .and engaged in several lighto* with hostile 
Sioux Indians. On the way out the wagon train 
was attacked by savages, who would circle round 
them on horseback, and Ij'ing along the sides of 
their horses to screen themselves, would dexterously 
shoot at their foes without danger of being shot 
themselves. They attempted to cut out the very 
team which onr subject was driving, and he came 
to a hand-to-hand encounter with a Sioux, who 
attacked him tomahawk in hand, inflicting a severe 
wound in tlu' heail, liul was instantly shot by .Mr. 
Keiman. The guard came to the rescue and the 
Sioux lied, six Indians having been killed and one 
wliite man, an Irishman. After this Mr. Keiman 
wiLs sent to Leavenworth, Kan., with others, in 
charge of a herd of hoi>es for the supply of (iov- 
ernment troo|>s. The animals wen' fasteiicfl to n 
long rope in leams of about fifty head, each man 
having charge of a team; part of the horses were 



•^ Wi-4^ 



t 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



709 



left at Ft. Kearney. Oiir subject has i-xperienced 
.ill forms of border life and exciting adventures, at 
one time making one of a party of seven on a tri}) 
to the Smoky Hills, on a buffalo hunt. They 
pas.sed Ft. Hayes, struck the Arkansas River at 
Great Bend, and crossing it at Rattlesnake Creek, 
found plenty of buffaloes and killed at least 200. 

Mr. Reiman returned to his home in Hlooming- 
ton, 111., in 1870, and was soon after married to 
Miss Sophia Muhl. Returning to Kansas with his 
bride he came directly to Wichita, but subsequently 
moved to Arkansas City, where he took up a 
homestead claim, which is now a part of the town 
site, and established the first grocery store of that 
place. Disposing of his property there our subject 
went to the old Salt City, now called Gauda 
Springs, and pre-empted the town .site, where he 
opened a store. At the time of the killing of 
Leonard by the Indians at Medicine Lodge in 1872, 
the majority of the settlers fled across the Arkan- 
sas River, but our subject, with his usual pluck, 
remained, and afterward assisted in organizing 
Sumner Count}'. He was elected the first Justice 
of the Peace of that county, and was appointed 
Notarj- Public. P>om 1876 until 1879 Mr. Reiman 
followed his profession of civil engineer, and sur- 
veyed and located several towns in Texas, being 
Deputy District Surveyor. He located Seymour, 
county seat of Baylor County, A])ril 2o, 1878, and 
at one time was so troubled by the Indians that he 
had to apply to the Governor of Texas for protec- 
tion. He traveled extensively through the South- 
west and made many original surveys, among 
others being that of Beaver City in No Man's Land. 
During the winter of 1879 our subject was en- 
g.aged in mining in that disputed strip of land. He 
is thoroughly acquainted with that part of the 
country lying between the Mississippi River and 
the Rocky Mountains, and has greatly aided in its 
settlement. He has taken an active interest in the 
Oklahoma Colony; was Vice President of the Paine 
Colon}% and h.as probably as intimate a knowledge 
of the development of the West as any man living. 
Great credit is due him for his indomitable perse- 
verance and enterprise, which are recognized and 
aijpreciated. In 1880 Mr. Reiman, who desired a 
permanent home in some wide-awake, progressive 



town, came to Wichita and established his present 
business. He at once took a i)rominent position 
among the intelligent and successful business men 
of the city. 

To our subject and his wife have been born six 
children, namely: Kmma, born in Arkans.as City ; 
Eddie, Lucy, Minnie, tiniest and Ida. Politicall}', 
Mr. Reiman is independent in his opinions, work- 
ing for the best men rather than any party. That 
he has made life a grand success is due to his un- 
tiring energy, aflrability, integrity and judicious 
business management. 

'iw)OSEPH BALMER, a pioneer of Ninnescah 
I Township, where he owns 240 acres of valu- 
able land, on sections 3 and 4, is actively 
^// and prosperously' engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. The present flourishing condition of this 
township, with its splendid farms, manj' comforta- 
ble dwellings, fine churches and substantial school 
buildings, is a monument to the perseverance and 
labors of the brave men who, like our subject, pa- 
tientlj' endured the trials of a pioneer life that they 
might develop the wonderful and varied resources 
of this region, and make for themselves and their 
children a pleasant home in this fruitful and goodly 
land. 

Mr. Balmer is descended from a hardy Scotch- 
Irish ancestry, and is himself a native of Ireland, 
where he was born June 17, 1851. lie is a son 
of James and Dorotlu' (Burns) Balmer, both na- 
tives of the Emerald Isle, and of Scotch descent. 
Eight children were born to them, of whom four 
are known to survive, as follows: Robert, of War- 
ren County, 111.; Nancy, Jane and Joseph. Nanc}' is 
the wife of Li ndsey Armstrong, of Warren Count}', 
111.; Jane is the wife of Joseph MacCread}', of 
Washington County, Iowa. 

When our subject was ten years of age he suf- 
fered the loss of his father, but he continued to live 
in the land of his nativity until he was nearly four- 
teen years old, when his mother, with other mem- 
bers of her family, emigrated to America; they took 
pa.ssage at Liverpool, England, on a sailing-vessel, 
and after a voyage of five weeks arrived at New 



f 



-4^ 
770 



J^ 



I I" WICK COUNTY. 



York C'ily. From i\wn- they wi-iit iliit'ctly l<i War- 
ren C'uiiiily, III.. IIhtv iiimic tlioir liutnc, itixl in lliiit 
SUilo tlif luklicnt, ill-Voted inolhfr |>n!v>te<l to the life 
Ix'yonil n few years aj;o. Our !*uliject iittained his 
ninjority in that Illinois home, receiving it substan- 
tial e<liieation in the eoninion .-eluH)!*. For the 
first t«'n years after his arrival in this country, 
when ho startcil out to make his own living, he 
workc<l l>y Ihi- n)onth on a farm, and as he was 
strong, industrious and intelligent, he received 
Very goiMl wag« s, jiveraging if'i.'i a month. For 
till- first two yc!ii-s he was employed by his brother 
Kobert. of Wancn t'<iunty, anil Ihe renuiinder of 
the time he worked for other agriculturists in the 
sjime county. 

In 1^7.') our sidijeet ambitiously determined to 
have land of his own, that he might farm for him- 
self, and as he thought that in Sedgwick County, 
Kan., he could more readily atluin prosperity in 
his chosen calling, he cnnie here and i»rc-empted 
the southeastern quarter of section -I, Ninnescah 
'I'ownship, which h.is ever since been his place of 
residence. He immediately settled here and coni- 
uieiiceil to prc|)ftre his tnicl of wild land for tillage, 
ami by ilownright hard work, vigorous and able 
management in the succeeding years, he has ini- 
proveil it to such aii extent that it is now cla.sscd 
among the most valuable farms in this locality, lie 
has added eighty acres to his original prc-em(>ti(>n 
claim, and has erectetl neat and substantial build- 
ings. 

Mr. Halnier is a man of clear judgment, i.> a 
shrewd and careful ob.server of men and evcnt,s, 
reads mui'h and keeps well informed on all matters 
of general iutiTt-st. He is independent in his views; 
in |)olitical affairs he votes :\s he thinks best without 
regard to party, .'ind a.s a citi/en is tloing his part 
ill mainljiining the present prosperity of his adojttcd 
township. 

-•siDi^' -^^'^ - • ■ I f - 

KUKI S ItAI.DWIN. of the firm of N. HahJ. 
win \ Son. photographers, with studio at 
[I\i^, No. 1IH Kii«i Douglas aveiiiio, is an artist of 
wide ex|M-rience and slamls at the hc-ad of his pro- 
fession in Wichita. His patrons include the licat 



clatvs of i>eople in this city, ami his photographs are 
a* fine ait can be pro«luce<l in nuy of the best estab- 
lishineiits uf the Fasteni eilie.s. 

.Mr. lialdwin's family is of Knglish origin. His 
father, .lesse lialdwin, was a native of North Cnro- 
lina and of Knglish descent. He married, in his 
native .suite. Miss Margaret Ucison, and in INJIO 
they moved to \\'ayne County, Ind., aiid there 
made their home near Dalton, where Mr. Itiddwin 
prosiKTously carried on his oocu|>atiou of farmer. 
He was a faithful member of the Society of Friends, 
and by the integrity of his be.-iring and his thor- 
oughly upright character merited the res|)ecl in 
which he was universally held. To him and his 
esteemed wife were born eight children, of whom 
but two sons arc now living, our subject and his 
brother Kllwood, who resides in Indiana. 

Ncreus Baldwin was born on his father's old 
homestead near Dalton, Ind., .Jan. 8, 18»(l. He 
received a very goiid education in the common 
schools of his native State. At the age of twenty 
he learned the photographer's art, and opened his 
first galleiy at F'armland, Ind. In IHC) our subject 
was married to Miss Doxta<ler; she has been to him 
a devoted companion and a wise mother to their 
children, of whom they have three — William F., 
Moscelinc, and Charles, the youngest. 

In I8(j9 Mr. Baldwin m:ide a move further west, 
and in the young anci growing city of Lawrence, 
Kan., then containinga (lopulation of 8,000 inhabit- 
ants, opened a studio and conducted a tlourishing 
business there for some yeai-s. In 1872 he decided 
to change his location, and coming to .Sedgwick 
County, established himself in I'ark City, where he 
pursued his occupation the ensui'ig two years. In 
1x7-1 he left that place for Wichita, then a small 
town of .'100 pco])lc, and opened a gallery here, 
which is now the oldest photographic establishment 
ill the city, and he may be considered a pioneer of 
his profi-ssion here. He can recall many plea.-«anl 
and interesting incitlents connected with those days, 
anil says that even then he ilid a thriving trade. 
His son Williaui F., an intelligent and talented 
young man. is now in business with him; they arc 
numbered among the best photographers in the city 
and have an extensive patronage. 

.Mr. Italdwin has, by his shrewdness and careful 



•► •^-♦■ 



■*►• 




P/L>d . (u^t^Ty-v^l^cc^ CO- /jU^-yv 



t^^yy^ay^^ 



•►Hl-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



773 ' ' 



management of his propertj', become quite wealthy, 
and owns a hirge amount of real estate valued at 
150,000. Our subject is benevolent and public- 
spirited. In politics he is conservative, but usually 
votes the Republican ticket. 

II. PALMKR, proprietor of the Union 
Meat Aliirkot, at No. 320 North Main street, 
does a business of about ^35,000 per year, 
and gives employment to four or six men, running 
two delivery wagons, and maintaining his standing 
among that class of enterprising and energetic men 
to whose industry the present cit}' of Wichita owns 
her progress and prosperity. This business has been 
conducted with ample capital and the best of judg- 
ment, and is patronized by the best people who can 
by any means gain access to it. Mr. Palmer deals 
only in domestic stock, accepting no inferior cattle 
in his yards. 

Our subject, who is of English and French de- 
scent, was born in New York City in 1852, where 
he received a common-school education, and early 
in life became familiar with the business which he 
is still prosecuting. lie is the son of Isaac II. and 
Theresa M. Palmer, natives of New York, and now 
of Paxton, 111. His father was a wealthy man, and 
owned a fine farm in Clinton County', N. Y., near 
Ft. Plattsburg on Lake Champlain. 

Our subject, in 18G9. when a youth of seventeen, 
left his native State and migrated to Paxton, 111., 
where he soon afterward set up an establishment 
with his father. This is still in operation, being 
owned bj' his father, Isaac Palmer. Our subject 
was joined by his father in this enterprise, and the 
twocontinued together until his removal to Wichita 
in 1887. 



R.S. ANNA B. NUMAN, a highly esteemed 
lady of Wichita, and a wealthy woman in 
her own right, came from Canton, Ohio, to 
this city with her husband in 1884, and 
purchased property on Topeka avenue. Later she 
added to her real estate by the purchase of her 
present residence at No. 1439 North Lawrence 



avenue, where she has a pleasant home with taste- 
ful modern surroundings. From her investment of 
13,200 in forty acres of ground, she reaped later 
the handsome sum of 110,000. Besides lier several 
handsome residences in Wichita she also has prop- 
erty in Canton, Ohio, valued at $10,000. 

Mrs. Numan was horn in Stark County, Ohio, 
April 23, 1852. Her father, William Williams, a 
native of Pennsylvania, was l)orn April 25, 1800, 
and passed away at his residence in Canton, Ohio, 
on the 25th of March, 1883, at the advanced iige 
of nearly eighty-three years. He left Penns3'lvania 
when a 3'outh of eighteen years, and settled in 
Stark County, Ohio, where he was variously em- 
ployed for a time, and then, in partnership with his 
brother George, engaged in farming and brick- 
making in the vicinity of Canton. William attended 
principally to agriculture, and George was the 
brickm.aker. This partnership was only dissolved 
by the death of George, in 1857, the brothers hav- 
ing operated amicably together for a period of over 
thirty years. During this long time never an un- 
pleasant or angry word passed between them. 

The mother of Mrs. Numan was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Pa., in 1817, and she is still living 
in Canton, Ohio; the decease of her husband oc- 
curred Jis above stated. The parental household 
included five children, namely: George E., who 
died when about seventeen years of age; Lucinda 
E., Hiram P., Benjamin W. and Anna B. The 
latter spent her childhood years and completed 
her studies in the common schools. When twenty 
j'e.ars of age she was married, Dec. 12, 1872, to 
Walter II. Numan, and the young people began 
life together in Wapello, Louisa Co., Iowa, on a 
farm. To the little household there came in due 
time two children : William H., born Jan. (!, 1875, 
and Kittie Clyde, Aug. 23, 1878. Mrs. Numan 
subsequently came to Wichita, as indicated above. 

William Williams, the father of Mrs. Numan, was 
an honest, liard-working man, .and possessed those 
qualities of character which greatly endeared him 
to his family, and gained him the esteem and confi- 
dence of all who knew him. For the last twent}-- 
five years of his life he was atllicted with deafness, 
which to a great extent prevented social converse, 
but he patiently endured this dispensation of Provi 




f 



-«^-l 



774 



SKI «; WICK COINTY. 



•IfiMH', aiul bcinj; very foiiH «»f rending wna thus 
iMmbleil to |MU'v< nway tiiiuiy lioim which ■>thl■r^vil^« 
would Imvo h»'Pii cxtrpnu'ly wonrisouip. |)urin^tlu> 
days of thf old ^^'hi^,' |Mirty ho 'was a stanch sup- 
ixirt^r of it-* principles, hut suhsoqui-ntly cast his 
lot with the DcuiiH-nicy. Kind and induljrciit in 
his family, his name is held l>y his children in t<-n- 
<i<T reniendirance. 'nic imrcnts were married on 
the 0th of September, lS,1t(, and the mother is still 
livin;; in Canton, Ohio, in ease and comfort u|Hin 
the rich con)|>etencv left her by her husband. Mr. 
Williams was remarkably fortunate in his laboi-s 
and investments, and left at his death propert}' 
v.'ihied at ♦1(10,000. A portrait of Mi-s. Nunian is 
shown in this connection. 

'i'lK) .1. TrilNKU, who is prominent among 
the farniinti; and stock-raising interests of 
Park Township, is finely located on section 
11. where he sui>erintci'ids the opei-ations of 111 
acres of lan<l, and has been prosperous in his 
labors. He is a man of excellent business capaci- 
ties, and his habits of thought and observation have 
tcniled to provi<le him with a good fund of general 
information, which has proved valuable in everv 
respect. 

Coles Countv, III., was the birthplace of our sub- 
ject, and the date thereof May 13, IH.^iit. He was 
the eldest of his parents' thr<'c children. His father, 
William W., a native of Indiana, married in early 
life Miss Hannah Sawyer, who w;ui born in Coles 
County, 111. The paternal grandparentj* were John 
ThonnuH and Catherine Turner, anrl the former a 
blacksmith by trade. On the other side of the 
house the grandparents were .lames and Ann Kliza 
(Cniwford) Sawyer, the latter being the stepmother 
of Mrs. 'I'urncr, her own mother having died wlien 
she was .'i chilli. 

William W. Turner, like his father before him, 
learned the tnnle of blacksmith, which he followed 
until his removal from his n.'itive State to Illinois. 
He then turned Ins attention chielly to farming, 
and remove<l from Illinois to Kansas in IHOf!. .set- 
tliiij^ near Haxter, in Cherokee County, where he 



was one of the original pioneers. He bemme promi- 
nent in the affairs of that section, where, in connec- 
tion with agriculture, he cnrrie<l on merchanclising, 
and established one of the first stores in Baxter 
Springs. This he subsequently sold, and oiM'ned a 
similar institution at Checo, in the same county. 
Thence he removed to .lackson County, Mo., set- 
tling near Inde|>endence. where he lived until April, 
ISlil.and then made his way to this county. Hero, 
in Park Township, he pre-empted an odd (pmrter- 
scction, which was claimed subsequently by a rail- 
way company, but which they were prevailed u|Hin 
to relinquish. He homesteaded 100 acres, which 
he brought to a good slate of cultivation, put up a 
comfortable residence and the out-buildings re- 
quired, and here s|)ent his la»t d.iys, passing away 
when nearly fifty-six j'ears of age. The faithful 
wife and mother is still living, and continues on the 
farm. 

Mr. Turner, of our sketch, pursued his education 
in the district schools of this State, mostly in Sedg- 
wick County. On the ■J.'ith of December, 1 HMO. he 
was united in marriage with Mis.s Klla Penrsfm, 
wIk) w;is a native of his own State, Illinois, and 
born in Cook County, .Sept. 13, I h62. She w.-is the 
second child in a family of seven, the off.spring of 
Calvin and Sarah Ann (Holmes) Pearson, natives 
respectively of New Hampshire and New York. 
The young people located on their present home- 
stead the second year of their marriage, .Mr. Turner 
having purchased 1 1 1 .acres, and that same year 
])Ut up the residence and inaugunited the improve- 
ments which are now a point of attraction in that 
section of the country. 

In addition to general agriculture. Mr. Turner 
is building up quite a reputation as a stock-breeder, 
ami makes a specialty of high-grade mules and 
cattle. He has been upon "the range." and has seen 
many a herd of biifTaloes and numbers of genuine 
wild Indians, who hail not yet been ilriven out by 
the advance of civili/.ation. Mr. Turner and his 
friend, Mr. C. A. Duncan, were partners in running 
the first threshing-machine brought to .Sedgwick 
County. 

Our subject, although not very active in |M)litics, 
is an earnest supporter of Itepublican politics, and 
in IMM" olllciatcd as Ho.-ul Overseer. He is serving 



•►■ -4»- 



"I 



HI-4«- 



^1 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



775 



his third j'ear as Senior Doiuini in the Masonic 
lodge, at Viiliey Center. Ills family, like that of 
his parents, includes three l)ri<jht boj's, namely: 
Alvah Lewis, William Calvin an<l Allen. The two 
former are pursuing their studies in the district 
schools, and the latter is the babj' at home. 

(1/ ORACR H. PECKIIAM. The hite Mr. 

[H^ Peckham, who died April 1, 1888, was a 
^^J^ capitalist and one of the substantial citizens 

^S) of Wichita, where, on Fairview avenue, he 
had a beautiful home. He came to Sedgwick 
County in November, 1874, and purchased 160 
acres of land three miles from Douglas avenue, and 
northwest of the city. P"orty acres of this land were 
broken, on which was a log cabin containing one 
room, 14x16 feet. He made an addition to the 
cabin of another room, 9x16 feet, and built of 
boards. That rude structure became the home of 
himself and his family on the otli of December, 
1874. He immediatel3' commenced the improve- 
ment of his farm by setting out fruit and ornamental 
trees of all kinds, and in other ways increased its 
value. In 1879 he built a house 14x22 feet, and 
one and one-half stories in height, to take the place 
of the cabin in which he and his family first lived. 
In 1883 he built a still more commodious dwelling, 
16x26 feet in dimensions and two stories in height, 
and also erected good barns. He continued gen- 
eral farming and lived on his farm for some years, 
and his labors were well repaid by the fine crops 
produced in his rich .ind fertile fields. 

In June, 1884, Mr. Peckham sold his farm to Will- 
iam J. Werick, and came into the city to establish a 
home. He purchased on South Lawrence street some 
land with an eastern frontage of 110 feet, and built 
thereon two houses, one of which became his own 
dwelling and the other he rented. After living 
there a short time he disposed of that property, 
and building a fine house on Fairview avenue, at 
No. 1702, moved into it with his family. This is 
now occupied by Mr. McLean. He staid there 
about seven months. He then had a good chance 
to sell it at a good profit and did so, and then pur- 



chased four lots on the east side of the same ave- 
nue, and built a house at No. 1714, in which he 
lived about nine months, and then sold that and 
built his late residence. He was highly prospered 
in life, and his shrewd judgment, well-known abil- 
ity and integritj- of diaracter, placed liira among 
the leading citizens of this metropolis of the Arkansas 
Valley. We are glad to be able to give a brief sketch 
of his life prior to his coming to Kansas, and also 
of his parents, from whom he inherited those quali- 
ties which were such important factors in his suc- 
cessful career. 

Caleb Peckham, the father of our subject, was 
born in Rhode Island, July 22, 1789, and was the 
son of Stephen Peckham, likewise a native of Rhode 
Island. He was married, in 1811, to Miss Hannah 
Thompson, who was born in Dutchess County, N. 
Y., March 20, 1798, and at the time of her marriage 
she was but thirteen years old. He h.id been reared 
on a farm, and when he attained his m.ijority he 
went out to work by the month as a farm laborer. 
At the time of his marriage he purchased a farm 
in Cayuga County, which he afterward sold, and 
then purchased another in the same eountj'. In 
1836 he sold his propertj' in New York and moved 
with his family to Coldwater, Mich., and became a 
pioneer of that place. He purchased 120 .acres of 
heavily timbered land, and on it built a log house 
for the shelter of his familj', and then commenced 
the herculean task of clearing away the forest trees, 
grubbing up the stumps, and draining his land to 
fit it for tillage. In 1840 he built a frame house 
and good barns. He had a very fine orchard and 
paid considerable attention to the culture of the 
smaller fruits. 

In 1853 Caleb Peckham sold his farm and re- 
tired to the village of Coldwater, where he spent 
the remainder of his life without labor and in the 
enjoj-ment of a good income. He died in 1881 at 
the advanced age of ninety-two years. His burial 
occurred on the anniversary of his birth, which 
was away back in the eighteenth century. The 
wedded life of himself and good wife was of re- 
markable duration, as the}' lived to celebrate the 
seventieth anniversary' of their wedding d.iy. He 
was drafted in the War of 1812, but provided a 
substitute, who w:is killed in his stead. He .and his 
•► 









SKI)(;\\I( K COUNTY. 



wif« joiiuMl til.- MiMIi.hIjsI Kpi-voiMil Cliurih in IH.tl, 
•ml when llic i|iii'>tii>ii of .sliivcry n^it.-(t<'<l the 
fhiiri-li, ikiiil liiiiilly (-iuislmI a ru|iliir<s llipy j< lined 
the Wf.sUTii .Milluxlisl facliuii. iiiid tlirou;,'li life 
were iiiiii>ii<r till' Iriiiliii); ini-iiiberii i>r lliat cliiircli. The 
mother i.> now liviii>; in the home in wlueli she and 
her hii>li:tnd retired many years niin in CnidwHler, 
Mich.: siie is jnsl past her ninetietii l)irtiiday. To 
her were horn ten eiiiidren, seven of whom grew 
to maturity; all of her ehildren are iiowdeeensed. 

Iloraeeil. I'eckham was born in Cay iiya County. 
N. Y., June 2H, ln->S. He was reared on a farm, 
anil received a eareful traininj^' from his good par- 
ents in habits t)f honesty and imlnstry. At the age 
of tWLMity be left the home farm in Michigan and 
went to learn the <-ar|)t'nter'9 tra<lc. On the 10th 
of CK'tober, 1 ^IM, he was married to Miss Sophro- 
nia S. Ileydon, a native of Krie County, I'a.. and 
daughter of (ieorgc and Clarinda ( Aspiuwall) Iley- 
don. lie wa.s a native of A'ermont, his wife of 
New York SUite. Mr. Heydon was engaged in tiie 
manufacture of cabinetware. In 1 «;J5 he remove<l 
with iiis family to Cohlwater, Mich., and in 1H,')4 
went from there to Warren, Jo Uaviess Co., III. 
and from there came to Sedgwick County in IMS.'J 
and has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. 
I'eekham. His wife died in IH.s."). .Sjie was a inem- 
ber of the Methodist Kpiscopal Churcli, of wiiicli 
he also is a member, having joined when lie was 
thirteen years old. 

In the spring of l«."i7 Mr. I'eckham moved with 
his family to Warren, .lo Daviess Co., III., where 
he engaged in contracting and building, employing 
a force of from twelve to fifteen men. He con- 
tinui-d in that business until his reinov.'d to Kan- 
sas. While living in Illinois he bought city lots 
and built houses on them and then sold them, thus 
making .-i good ileal of money, besides what his 
other business brought him. 

The tniion of Mr. and Mrs. I'eekh.-ini wils blessed 
by the birth of three sons an<l one daughter, namely : 
<leorge H., Ahira II., Alliert M. and Agnes L. 
fieorge lives in Wichitji; he niarrieil .Miss Klla Clark, 
and lo them were born three ehildren — William 
I)., Charles II. ami Ivlith; the mother died March 
4, IHH«. Ahira H. lives in Wichita; he married 
Mi.ss Mary I>eubler, and to them have been born 



•► ■ -4^ 



three sons — Kusm-11 11.. ( )s4^-nr H. and Cal. Albert 
lives in Wichita; he married Miss Kmnia Hobbins. 
Agnes 1.. married K. K. Fr<Kinian; they arc the |)nr- 
enls of two children — Cerlrude .S. and Alborla H. 

Mr. V. was a mendierof the Presbyterian Church. 
His widow is an intluenlial member of thai church, 
contributing liberally to it.s support, and entering 
heartily into iUs religious and charitable work. Mr. 
I'eckham w.as a prominent Mason, and in |Militics 
strongly endorseil the course of the Re]>ublican 
parly. 

/^) '^' '■""■'-'•'• "'"■ "-^'"'' f'"" l''^' M'-rehants' 
(l( r l'*"'*!'"'-'''' Transportation Company, ha> a 
^^(' pleasant ollice al No. 321 West Douglas 
avenue, Wichita. He is a native of Columbia 
County. N. Y., born in 1840. His earlier life was 
spent inacipiiring an education that shoubl in after 
life lit him for any responsible position that he 
miglil be called ujion lo occupy. After leaving 
the district schools he pursued a thorough couree 
of study at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of 
Rensselaer County, N. Y. .Soon after this iutelli- 
genl young man secured a position in a holh>w- 
ware manufactory as l)ookkceia>r for the company, 
holding thai position lwx> years. 

Wishing for higher pe<-uni!ny protlt.s our subject 
next went to Catskill. in the same Stjite. where he 
remained the succeeding two years, engaged in 
buying and shipping flagging stone to New York 
Cily. That business, though remunerative, did 
not (piitc satisfy him. Mr. Phillip then resolvei) 
to see mcue of the country, hoping to fmd ii place 
.•ind a position that would meet his requirements. 
Accor<lingly he left New York, and traveling west- 
ward, ('ros.sed the Mississippi River, and made his 
way to Chillicotlic. Mo., where he entered into a 
mercantile engagement. Two years later we hear 
of him in St. Catharine, in the same Strite. buying, 
selling and shipping tobacco leaf, and there he 
remained until IhTii. Al that time our subject 
detcrniineil to est^idilish himself in .-"ome place where 
Ik* might make a home, doing to Carthage, a 
town in Missouri, he bought land and <m it built a 
house, but having heard of the Wichita boom, 
which wiui then exciting interest, he at once rented 



»~tf 



t 



*4^ 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



his house and started with a team for this citj', ar- 
riving here in October of that j'ear. Two months 
afterward he went to Sumner County and assisted 
in its organization, being soon appointed County 
Clerk bj' Gov. Harvey. In 1871 he returned to 
AVichita, and became one of the firm of Martin, 
Phillip & Co., real-estate agents, continuing in that 
business little more than a year. 

In 1872 Mr. Phillip was elected City Treasurer, 
and for two j^ears filled that oflfice satisfactorily ; 
the following year he occupied a similar position 
among the otlicers of the County Board. In the 
meantime he had bought city property, and from 
187(> to 1878 he lived on a tract of land north of 
"Wichita, which he had previously purchased, but 
in 187i), having taken charge of the elevator of N. 
A. English, he returned to the city. The next 
j'ear our subject engaged in the forwarding and 
commission business, relinquishing it in 1881 to 
accept a jiosition with the Wells Fargo Express 
Company, opening their present office. He w.as 
also agent for the Adams Express from Nov. 1, 
1882, until July 1, 1887, acting jointly for the two 
comi)anies. He faithfully and ably discharged 
the arduous duties of his responsible position to- 
the entire satisfaction of his employers, who placed 
the fullest confidence in his unswerving integrity, 
and bj' his genial and courteous manners he be- 
came quite popular with the public. Dec. 1, 1887, 
he engaged with the Merchants' Despatch Trans- 
portiition Company. 

The fiither of our subject was Peter G. Phillip, 
a native of New York. He was a carpet manu- 
facturer, and with his father, James Phillip, also a 
native of New York, ow^ned three factories. He 
continued in that business until his death in 1847. 
The maiden name of his wife w.as Eleanor Abeel, a 
native of New York, and a daughter of Davis G. 
and Nella (Goetchivs) Abeel, both natives of New- 
York State. Her father was a Colonel in the army 
during the War of 1812. She is now living in 
Wichita with the subject of this notice, who is the 
only child that was born to her and her husband. 

Mr. Phillip, of this sketch, was married, in 1879, 
to Miss Rebecca Duff, of Illinois. She is a well 
educated and most estimable lad^-, who, after tea(!h- 
inga short time in her native State, came to Wich- 



itii and pursued the same occupation until 1878, 
when she accepted a position as teacher in an 
Indian school in Darlington, Indian Territory, hav- 
ing been em[)loyed by the Government. In 1879 
she resigned, in order to accept her present honored 
position as the presiding genius of our subject's 
hospitable home at No. lUO.'i North Market street. 
Their union has been blessed by the birth of two 
chilnren — George D. and Frank B. Politically, Mr. 
Philip is a strong Democrat, and socially, he is a 
member of the JIasonic fraternity. 



^5s)ARRIS0N SCOTT. Upon section 2;j, Kechi 
(il ,— 7 Township, lies a fine farm, the property of 
'^^4 the subject of this sketch, which, besides 
being one of the most pleasantly located homesteads 
in the township, is one of the best conducted farms 
of the locality'. Mr. Scott is a native of Ohio, 
born in Van Buren County, Sept. 12, 18.51, being 
the eldest of the three children born to David and 
.Sarah (Fuhrman) Scott. His father was a native 
of Ohio, while his mother was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, the n.itive State of her parents, William and 
Barl)ara Fuhrman; her father was a gallant soldier 
in the Black Hawk War of 1831-32. 

The father of our subject was reared to farm 
life in Ohio, and remained there engaged in that 
occupation, where he spent his entire life. The 
grandfather emigrated to Illinois, and purchased a 
farm near Secor, Woodford Count}', being among 
the early settlers of that town, and becoming act- 
ively identified with its interests. 

The subject of this sketch remaineil at home 
until arriving at the .age of fifteen yeai-s, receiving 
a good district-school education, and assisting on 
the farm. He was married at Bloomington, 111., 
March 31, 1874, to Miss Alice Keefer, who was born 
in that State, Feb. 23, 1853, being the eldest child 
born to her parents. After marri.age Mr. Scott and 
his bride settled in McLean County, and commenced 
wedded life on a farm, living there very happil}' 
for three years. Then resolving to try liis fortunes 
in the West, he moved to Sedgwick County, Kan., 
and located on a quarter-section of land in Kechi 
Township, which he had purchased in 1874. He 

■» 






f 



•►li-4* 



77M 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



coinmciK-eil iiiiprDviii}; Iho Iniid, nnd uftor bringing 
it to a g<KHl cnnclition ho oxcliiuij;»-<l it in INN.'J fur 
a farm of '.Mn iutcs on seolions 22 ami 23, nf llio 
•uinie t4iwii.slii|i. On this land wliicli ho now iK-ciipics 
bo \u\!f !4|icnt niiich labor and niunf.v. and now has it 
under a high statv of i-ullivalion, its rich and pro- 
ductive soil yioMing him abundant harvests. His 
ilwolling is neat and lusty, and his eonvonienl barn 
is tenanted with line horses of Norman breed, and 
high-grade Durham .•attle. Hesides these his live 
st<H'k embraces a large nuiul>er of Poland-China 
hogs, ilis farm, with it^ buildings, stock and ma- 
chinery, in<licates the care and supervision of a pro- 
grossivc. intelligent, thrifty farmer. 

To Mr. an<l Mrs. Scott have been born two chil- 
dren: Marcia. aged twelve years, and Harry, seven 
years old. In |>olitics Mr. .Scott takes no active 
pari, but votes the Itepubliean ticket. His upright 
and methodical business methods have made him a 
desiralile township olllcial, and he is now serving 
his second term as Town.ship Trustee. He has also 
assisted in organizing several of the school districts 
of this township. Mr. and .Mrs. Scott are consist- 
ent members of the Christian Church, and are held 
in universal esteem b}- the community. 



^f (JlIN U(;i)KN', of Wichita, comes of sub- 
stantial Knglish and German ancestry. He 
combines in his makeup the elements which 
/ constitute him an honest man and a good 
citizen, prompt to meet his obligations, and straight- 
forward in his business transactions. 

'J'honiiL- ( )gden, the father of our subject, a native 
of Kngland,lefl his native Isle when a young man, 
and after a prosperous ocean voyage made his way 
t<j Dayton, Ohio, where he took up his residence. 
There not very long afterward he was married to 
Miss Anna Holvei-.Slock, who was of (German de- 
scent, and by whom he became the father of four 
children, namely: 'i'homas, Kdwanl, .Martha and 
.lohn K. The father wa.s a carpenter and cabinet- 
maker \>y tnicie, which business he pursued in the i 
Buckeye Slate until about \H'M>. Then with his 
family he sUirted for the West, and located in Co- I 



lumbusCily, Iowa, where he resided until his death, 
which occurreil while he wa.s a yoinig man only 
thirty-two years of age. 

The subject of this biography, who lirsl o|>ened 
his eyes to the light .M.ay 7, ISI.'i, was born in Day- 
ton, Ohio, to which place his mother returned in 
184.'). about three mouths after the death of her 
husband. Subs«'rpiently, however, she moved back 
to Iowa. .lohn K. became familiar with farm life 
during his boyhood and youth, and when twenty- 
nine years old wjis married to Miss Mary A. Becb- 
tel, vvho was born .Inly !l, 1H54, in Indiana. an<l is 
the ilnughler of .lohn and Frances (Oiler) Bechtel, 
who were natives of (Germany, and are now natives 
of KausiLs. 

Our subject and his wife began life together in a 
modest home in Louisa County, Iowa, where Mr. 
O. carried on farming until l«7r>. He then came 
to this .Stale, and located firet in Harton County 
upon a tract of land, which he occupied until I8K2. 
That ye^ir he sold out, and coming to Wichita com- 
menced the business in which he has since been 
eminently successful. He owns a snug home on 
Wichita street, and is thoroughly respected by all 
who know him. His children, nine in number, were 
named resi)ectively : Alfred R. :Kmma, who died 
in infancy: tlohn E. ; Nevada, who also died in 
earliest childhood ; Frank, Maggie, Charles A.. Katie 
and Clara May. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ogden belorg to the .Seventh-Day 
Advenlists, are devout Christians, and tidvc a deep 
interest in the welfare of their church. Our subject 
materiall}' assisted in the erection of the church 
edifice which stands near his own home, and of 
which he wjis one of the building ctuiimiltee. Their 
children are being carefully trained to habits of in- 
duslrj-, and those principles which will make of 
them good citizens like their parents. They form 
a bright and interesting family group, and with 
their parents, have many friends. 

John Ik'chtel. the father of Mrs. Ogden, was born 
in (iermany, which he left when but a lad, emigrat- 
ing to America with his f:ither. The latter settled 
on a f:irm in Uiplcy County, Ind. The mother waji 
also of Cernuin birth ami parentage, and came with 
her father's fan)ily tt> this country when a young 
girl ten years of age. After her marriage she an<I 



»►■ -4* 



•^-ll-4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



her husband continued residents of Ripley County, 
Ind., for a number of years, in which place Mrs. 
Ogden spent the opening years of her life. In 
1855 the family crossed the Mississi])pi into Louisa 
County, Iowa, and were among the pioneer settlers 
of that region. Mr. Bcchtel did good service in 
subduing a goodly portion of the uncultivated soil, 
and is still living in Barton County, being now 
about sixt3' j-ears of age. The parental household 
included six children, namel}': Mary, Margaret, 
Catherine, Frank, Arthur and (Jeorge, all living. 
The mother still survives. 



^\- 



'l^^^APOLEON B. SMITH, a representative cit- 
I l/J '^'^^ "*^ Clearwater, is favorably known 
\l^M^ along the southern line of this count}', to 
which he came in the spring of 1874. A native of 
Rock Island. 111., he was born on the 'id of July, 
185.3, and is the son of John L. and Lucinda (West) 
Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but are at 
present residents of Meade County, this Slate. 

Our subject on the paternal side is of Scotch 
ancestry. John L. Smith left his native State 
about 1848, and located in Rock Island County, 
III., where be resided a number of years, and then 
took up his residence in Mercer County. He came 
with his famil}' to Meade County, Kan., about 1878, 
and engaged in stock-raising. The household in- 
cluded eleven children, of whom the following sur- 
vive, namely: Napoleon B., our subject; Sarah A., 
the wife of William T. Bristol, of Sac County, 
Iowa; Mary L., Mrs. J. B. McLaughlin, of Sac 
County; Lovina, Mrs. Henry Briggs, of Reno 
County, this State; Huldah E., Mrs. Lewis, of 
Meade County; Norah, the wife of William Mucks- 
law, of Meade County, and Freeman L., who resides 
with his parents in Jleade County. 

John L. Smith was for a number of yeare City 
Marshal of Rock Island, 111., and with his excellent 
wife, a member in good standing of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He voted the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket, and in his lati-r years is in the enjoy- 
ment of a comfortable home, having by a life of 
industry and economy accuijiulated a comi)etency. 
He hiUi also been a public-spirited and liberal citi- 



-•^ 



zen, contributing of his time and means to the vari- 
ous enterprisi'S inaugurated for the welfan^ of his 
community. 

The subject of this sketch was a lail of eleven 
years when he left his native county, and took up 
his residence with his parents in Mercer County, 
111., where he continued until the spring of 1874. 
Then crossing the Father of AVaters, he came into 
Ninnescah Township, this county, and pre-empted 
the southeast quarter of section 15, upon which he 
settled, and has now, by the exercise of industry 
and perseverance, transformed it from an unculti- 
vated tract into one of the finest farms of the 
township. As time passed on he added to his first 
purchase, and has now a half-si'ction all in one bod}'. 
He has, like his brother pioneers, endured hardships 
and privations, but feels well repaid for his toils and 
sacrifices. 

In addition to his farm property Mr. Smith is 
proprietor of the Ross Avenue Hotel, at Clearwater, 
besides other propi'rty in the village. He came to 
this count}' absolutely without means, having even 
to borrow the $2 required to file his claim, and his 
present condition, socially and financially, is a for- 
cible illustration of what may be accomplished by 
the exercise of a resolute will and good judgment. 
His course has not by any means been unnoticed 
by the people around him, whose confidence he has 
secured in a marked degree, and by whom he has 
been given the office of Trustee of Ninnescah 
Township, the duties of which he has discharged 
for a period of six years with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to his constituents. Since becoming a 
voter he has been a stanch supporter of Democratic 
principles, and has always t;iken a lively interest in 
the prosperity of his county. 

Tiie wife of our subject, to whom he was married 
in Wichita, on the 15th of March, 1879, was Miss 
Jennie E. Hart, born Feb. 20, 1859, in Berkshire 
Count}', Mass., and is the daughter of Edson S. and 
Fanny J. (Fargo) Hart, the father deceased and the 
mother now a resident of Wichita. The parents of 
Mrs. Smith were natives of New England, and the 
father of English descent. Their family included 
three children, of whom but two are living: Cora, 
the wife of George S. Freeman, of Wichita, and 
Jennie E. Mr. Hart departed this life at his home 



•►•-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



_ f 



ill H:»rls\ ill.' ill April, 1S70. .Teiniic K., aftor the 
ili'ath of hor fnllicr was taken into the h<>nu' of her 
li.itenml ^ininilfatliir. Milan Hart, nf New llnvon, 
t'linn., wh«Te she was n-areil to wnniiinhiiod. Slie 
tiiiiie to this county in 1*<7M. She is a very 
cxcfllent lady and a n)i'mlH>r in j;<mx1 slaiidin^ t>f 
till' Methodist K|>i8c<>|ml Church. 

■fo (lur siibjocl and his wife there have been burn 
four children: Cora H., .\pril 27, IMHO; Kdson L., 
Oct. l,"., IrtHl : Freeman H., Sept. «, IHM4,and Bessie 
P., March 24, 1S8G. 'I'heirsuu;; home i!> pleasantly 
ioc:it»'c|, ami forms a deli<,'hlful resort for the many 
friends who surround llieni. 

II.IJA.M .1. .M.-KKV. of the lirm of McKey 
iV John.son, hardware dealers of \aliey 
\!^'^ Center, is a native of Knox County, Ohio, 
and was born Aug. 8, IHlll. He is tlic son of 
Au'lrew and Anna (Lowr}') .McKey, both of whom 
wi-re natives of Ireland, who had come to this 
country in IHJO. Immediately on lnr)din;j; in 
America they located at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., 
Ohio, where his father carried on the business of 
siioeniaking. The latter had been bred to the trade 
of shoemaker in the old country, and followed it 
after coming to the United .Stales for ten years, 
lie died in Missouri aliout 1^71, when he had at- 
Uiined the age of fifty-six years. The mother of 
our subject survives her husband, and is making 
iier home with her son (leorge W., who is a mer- 
1 li.'iiit and banker at Ilownrd. Klk Co., Kan. They 
li.id a family of six chililren, four boys and two 
jiirls — (leorge W., Klizabelh .1., .lohn A., Anna; W. 
.1., the subject of our sketch, and Robert S., who 
dieil in infancy. 

.Mr. .McKey. of whom we write, reinaineil at 
home until he hud atUiincd his twentieth year, np 
to which time he was employed in drawing the cle- 
iiieiit- of an excellent education from the conunon 
M'liools of his native county, ami in a.ssi8ting his 
father in the labors on the farm. After leaving the 
parental roof he first engaged in farming in Mis- 
•<oiiri and Kaiisius. which vocation he followe<l for 
ulioiit twelve years, lie came to Sedgwick County 
ill I MH2. l<M-.'(ting in N'alley (fiitx-r, and coniiiieiK ol 



in the mcrcnntile busiiios. in whicli h<- is now en- 
gaged. The firm of which he is a member are the 
leading dealers in their line in the northern |iarl of 
the county, and carry the largest stock of liardware 
anywhere in this locality out«ide of the city of 
WichiU. 

On the ItHhof May. lH7n. Mr. .McKey entered 
into a matrimonial alliance with .Miss Jennie K. 
Wilcox, a native of Callaway County, Mo., and a 
ilauLrhtcr t>f Harvey and Hosa .M. (Crowson) Wil- 
cox. Her father was engaged in farming in 
Missouri, but he is now numl^ered with the dead. 
Her mother is still living, and is the parent of six 
children, of whom .Mrs. McKey was the fourth in 
order of birth. Two children have come to 
lirighten the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. McKey — 
William A. and (ieorge Robert. One daughter. 
R»)sa Belle, was given Uj Ihcm for a short lime, 
bul was called home when she was four years of 
age. 

The subject of our sketch is a Democrat in his 
|M)litical faith, but has no aspirations for public 
oflice. He is a very influential and prominent 
member of the I. O. O. I"., and is the present V. C. 
of the Subordinate l>odge, and is also a member of 
the Encampment. As a merchant he has the ct)n. 
fldence of the community, and as a man their 
utmost resjiect and esteem, and his commercial 
proliity is almost proverbial in the township. 

. s .^_4^.> ( 

JjOHN WII.LIAM.S. The ningnificent section 
I of country in Southern Kansas h.-is been de- 
veloped by some of the most stirringand en- 
' tcrprising men of this enterprising country 
and age. No spot on the globe has been more 
(piickly transformed from its native condition into 
a Itlooniing garden than this section of the St!it4' of 
Kaiisius. One of the leading spirits in this wonder- 
ful work is Mr. Williams, who resides on section 
18, Kagle Township. He is one of the most ext<'n- 
sive land-owners in this vicinity, ami one of the 
heaviest stock-niisei-s in .St-dgwick County, or even in 
the .Stjilc of Kansas. His land conipri.s«'S sections 
17 and 18. lots 1. '.',.'1 and -I on section lO.thenorth- 
e;i>l ipiarlcr of section 21, ami 'J\0 acres on section 




; 




Riverside Stock Ranch Property or John W 




ams,SecsT. 17.18. 19.&21 , EacleTp. , Sedgwick Co. Kan. 



-^^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



■*•- 



785 



4 



7, making in all 1,800 acres, the greater . part '^f ii 
l)eing in pasture and grass land. lie keeps over 
700 eattle. principally graded stock, selling some at 
the iiotne market, sometimes as man}' as 140 head, 
and shipping some to Kansas Cit}'. lie also raises 
swine of the Poland-China breed, having about 150 
at present, and he has a number of horses of a com- 
mon stock, besides owning four or five blooded 
horses. 

Mr. Williams is a native of Monmouthshire, En- 
gland, the date of his birth being April 9, 1837. 
He is the sou of John and Ann (Wallis) Will- 
iams, natives and life-long residents of England. 
His father was a farmer; he was much looked 
up to in the community where he resided, and was 
a stanch member of the Church of England. To 
him and his good wife were born three children — 
Thomas, Sarah and John. Thomas came to this 
country with our subject in 1857. landing in New 
York City, thence to Chicago, from there to Du 
Page County, 111., whence he finally went to Iowa, 
where he still resides, engaged in farming. 

The parents of our subject died when he was 
ver}' young, his mother dying when he was two 
years old, and his father shortly after. He grew to 
man's estate in his own country, and in 1857 de- 
termined to emigrate to the United States, where he 
thought he could get a better start in life. Before 
coming, however, he was united in marriage. May 
2!), 1857, to Miss Mary, daugiiter of Edward and 
Ann (Edwards) Williams. Her parents are now 
dead; they were life-long residents of England, and 
members of the Episcopal Church. They were the 
parents of four girls and one boy, namely: James, 
Ann, Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah. James and Mrs. 
Williams are the only members of the famil\- now 
living. 

A'erj' soon after marriage our subject came to 
America with his brother, leaving his wife in their 
old home. In the following year, however, he was 
enabled to send for her; she crossed the water alone, 
and they, were once more united. In March, 1873, 
they came to Kansas, and after spending two weeks 
in Wichita, Mr. Williams pre-empted the southeast 
quarter of section 18, and the}- lived there until 
September, 1875, when he took up the southwest 
quarter of section 18, under the homestead law, 



Mild iliiy Mttled there the following six years. In 
1881 they moved into their present residence on 
the northeast quarter of the same section. 

Mr. Williams started in the cattle business very 
soon after he came to Kansas, and with character- 
istic energy, enterprise and judicious management, 
has prosecuted it ever since with unbounded suc- 
cess, and has greatly added to his wealth. He 
bought his first bunch of cattle in 1874 of Hall 
Bros., and has constsintly increased his purchases 
until now he owns the large number stated in the 
first part of this article. He employs one man the 
year round, besides having the assistance of his sons 
to attend to the cattle and help in the farm work. 
He is a shrewd, careful business man, and has 
gained a wide reputation throughout the State for 
his fair and stricti}' honorable dealings. 

Five sons complete the pleasant household of our 
subject and his amiable wife, namel}': John E., 
Thomas J., William F., George G. and Charles E., all 
of whom live at home and assist their father in the 
management of his large stock farm. 

Mr. W^illiams fcikes a deep interest in promoting 
the welfare of the township and county, and often 
contributes liberally to some enterprise for the ad- 
vancement of one or both. Ho does not often Uike 
part in public affairs, although he has served as 
Treasurer of District No. 48, E.-igle Township, but 
the pressure of his immense business interests obliged 
him to resign that oflice, as he could not find time 
to attend properlj- to the duties of that position. 
He is an earnest and conscientious member of the 
Christian Church, and in politics he is a firm be- 
liever in the principles supported by the Republican 
part}'. A fine double-page view of the residence 
and farm of our subject appears elsewhere in this 
work. The artist has also sketched some of the 
splendid animals that abound on this magnificent 
place. 

* IfelLLIAM SWANEY, proprietor of a good 
\/sJ/i ^^^'^ ^^ section 26, in Gj'psum Townsliip, 
V7\y came to Kansas in September, 1 870, and 
pre-empted a quarter-section of the finest bottom 
land in the State. Upon this he has effected first- 
class improvements, having the whole under fence 



^ ■» ■ ^* 



u 



■*► 



7ht; 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



mill tir<iii;;lit U> n lii^li ftala of (-iillivaliuii. Tlie 
fnnii liiiildiii^ii will o<iiii|inre favoniMy with niiy of 
Ihi' kiiiil ill the towii>ilii|>. Mr. Swuiicy Inkos priili- 
jis i» !it<.K'k-grt)wer, ninl lia.>> iittiiiia'd an enviiililf ri-|>- 
iibitioii ii!i Ik lirci'iliT (jf IVrelieruii horses; he iiImi 
kei'|>r. .Ii-rx-y ami Short-honi cnltlf. Koiir acrc.H of 
Iniitl adjacent to the re.sideiife are devoted to a Ihie 
«;)|ile and |)each orcliard, and Mr. .Swaiiey al.-io raises 
gni|K's, the finer varieties of prunes and apricut*, 
with slrawlierries and Idackberrios. 

Our subject was horn March 11, 1H;J,'(, and is 
the son of Wiiiiain and Margaret ( Diiiincf ) Swaiiey, 
the former a native of Delaware, horn in 17'.>.'i. and 
where he learned the we.-iver's tnide, and later oper- 
nt<?<l a farm, of which he was owner, in the vicinity of 
Freeport. lie was educated at Frceport. Ohio, and 
took an active part in politics, hein^jono of the mt>st 
earnest workei-s in the Democratic parly in that 
section. In reli^^ious matters he had heeii reared 
in the Society of Friends, to the faith of which he 
closely adhereil all his life. 

The mother of our subject wius born in Nashville, 
Tenii., about 179.'». ller parents removed from 
that Stiite to Harrison County, Dliio, in its pioneer 
days, where the father entered a quarter-section of 
land, and with his excellent wife built up a good 
home, where they lived for a jwriod of twenty-five 
years and until after all their children were married. 
The mother belonjired to the Christian Church. 
Their chihlfcn were named respectively: Nancy, 
.lohn, Kliz.'i, Alexander. Rebecca, William and 
Timothy. 'I'he latter was the namesake of the 
paternal grandfather, who served as a drummer 
boy under (len. W;i.Hhin<;t(»n in the Uevoliitionary 
War. Alexander, Kliza and William arc still liv- 
iii;;, and resideiiL- of Kansas and Ohio. 

The father of our subject was called from earth 
when the latter was a little lad live years of a>;e. 
lie made his home for a short lime with a Mr. Hill 
in his native county, and subse(pienlly with Mr. 
Hartman. I'poii becomiii|i of suitiibic aye he .se- 
cured the |>osition of clerk in the dry-fjoods store 
of A. (I. Lawrence, in WiLHhin;;ton, (Jiiernsey Co., 
Ohio, with whom he remained for a period of seven 
years. Thence in IM.lii, he came to the Territory 
of KansiLs, aiirl remained in .lohnson County nine 
months, iluring which he was engaged in farming. 



Then rctupiing t<i the Buckeye .Suite he wa» for 
eighteen niontlis employed as a clerk for K. .1. Clark, 
in Washington, after which he again crossed the 
Mississippi and the plains to the Tacific .S|o|>e, and 
for three years worked in Uie mines of Calif.irnia 
with fair success. 

March 2(t, IHi'i'.', Mr. .Swaney was married in 
Senecaville, Ohio, to Mi.ss Martha .1., dunghter of 
.1. H. Andei-son, of that place. While in Califor- 
nia he hail left his wife in Ohio, and upon his return 
from the (•olden State he settled in Guernsey 
Country, Ohio, where for eight yeai-s he was super- 
intendent of a farm. At the expiration of this 
time he made his second trip lo KansL<, where he 
has since remained. Of his first marri.age there 
were born four children, nainel}' : .lohn W., Oello, 
Harri.son and Jane. Mrs. Martha .). Swaney, who 
was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, departed this life at her home in (iypsuni 
Township, on the KHli of September, 1871. Her 
parents were natives of N'irginia, the maiden name 
of her mother being Nancy Anderson. 

The present wife of Mr. Swaiiej-, formerly Miss 
.lane Paisley, and to whom he wius married on the 
20th of .lanuary, 1H72, was born in (Juernse^' 
County, Ohio, in 1H;1s, and is the third child of Rob- 
ert and Mary (McCullough) I'aisley, also natives 
of the Buckeye State. Her father had been reared 
in the (Quaker faith, to which he adhered all his life. 
About 1H70 he came to Kansas, and died in Sum- 
ner County, at the advanced age of eighty-seven 
years. The mother, who was a I'nitod Presb^'terian. 
died in Ohio, when fifty years old. Of this mar- 
riage of our subject there were born Albert, Mary, 
Robert, Frank and Fiiiily. Mrs. Swaiic}-, like her 
mother, is a I'liitcd I'rcsbytcrian in religious belief. 
In this fjiith also our subject wjis reared, but Inter 
joined the Methodists with his first wife. .Socially, 
he belongs lo the Masonic fraternity. 

Mr. Swaney, politically, votes the straight Re- 
publican ticket, and while in Ohio held the offices 
of Township Trustee and .lustice ot the Peace. 
He wius the first Treasurer of (iypsiini Township, 
this county, and also Trcjisurer of School District 
No. I, which olllce he still holds. He him given to 
his children the advantages of a good ediicnlion, 
so that they are amply fitted lo lake their places as 



■•►• -4» 



J^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



787 '^ 



good and useful members of society'. The eldest 
son, John W., wjxs married in Janujiry, 1887, to 
Miss Minnie Crawford, of Gypsum Township, and 
is engaged as a teacher in Winfield, this State. 
He has followed this profession several years, hav- 
ing been thoroughly educated for this work in the 
State Normal School, at Kinporia. lie is very suc- 
cessful in his chosen calling, to which he seems 
si)ccially .adapted. 

— -#^ ^ 



JOHN N. FLINT, proprietor of llie Avondale 
House, a first-class hotel in all its appoint- 
ments, pleasantly situated in Garden Plain, 
is a man of much experience and a good 
knowledge of business, and is conducting his pres- 
ent enterprise witl; marked success, winning popu- 
larity as a host who understands well how to cater 
to the wants of the public. 

Mr. Flint was born Oct. 22, 1821, in Rush Count}', 
Ind., and was a son of Thomas and Rachel (Fos- 
ter) Flint. His f.ather, born in the eastern part of 
Maryland, in 1799 or 1800, was a son of William 
Flint, a sailor, who died on the water. He left a 
widow and six children, all of whom were well edu- 
cated, and during some period of their careers 
taught school, some of them making their mark in 
that or other professions. 'J'heir record is as fol- 
low's: John, Dorcas, Maria, Thomas, George and 
Joseph. John, like his father, followed the sea and 
became captain of a vessel; during the War of 1812 
he died of the measles. Dorcas married William 
Davis, and lived and died in Ohio, leaving a family 
of children, all now grown to maturity' ; Maria mar- 
ried Oliver Thurston ; she also spent the greater 
portion of her life in Ohio, and there died, leaving 
a large family of children. George became a 
preacher in the Christian Church, married Nancy 
Foster, a sister of the mother of our subject, and 
at his death left seven children; Joseph settled in 
Iowa, in the practice of his profession as a physi- 
cian and sin-geon; he w.as quite a politician, held 
many public olHces and became State Senator; he 
left a family of children at his death. 

Thomas, the father of our subject, was a mere 
boy when his father dieil, and shortly after his 



mother. Temperance Flint, removed with her chil- 
dren to a farm in Ohio, and in that State he psissed 
the remainder of his boyhood days and his early 
manhood, assisting in the f.arm work. In the mean- 
time he received, with his brotliers and sisters, the 
benefits of a good education, his mother, who was 
a woman of keen intellect and marked ability. Vic- 
ing their principal instructor. After m.arriage he 
continued to live in Ohio for awhile and then re- 
moved to Indiana, whert' he bought land and made 
his home for several years, and there a part of his 
children were born. He eventually moved to Har- 
rison County, Mo., in the year 1840. He was a 
leading Democrat, a conspicuous figure in tlie ad- 
ministration of public affairs, and both in Indiana 
and Missouri held office for a long term of years. 
He wiis Countj' Judge and Justice of the Peace for 
a long time, and in Missouri he was elected County 
Circuit (;icrk, the duties of which important posi- 
tion he disfliarged with marked ability until his 
death. To him and his wife were born eleven chil- 
dren, all married except one who died j'oung, and 
four still living. The following is their record : 
Martha, Temperance, Joim, Nancy, James, George 
W., Elizabeth, Joseph, Rachel, Dorcas and Maria. 
Martha married William Selby, died in Missouri, 
and left a number of children; Temperance mar- 
ried William Allen, and died, leaving four chil- 
dren ; Nancy married James Rhodes, and at her 
death left three children; James married Frances 
Noah, and subsequently died, leaving several chil- 
dren; George lives in Missouri, is married, and 
has a number of children; Elizabeth married Ed- 
ward Mitchell; at her death she left three children. 
Joseph married, and at iiis death left several chil- 
dren; Rachel married E. D. Humphrej-; they live 
in Missouri, and are the parents of six children. 
Maria married Allen Rhoads, and lives in Oregon; 
Dorcas died in infancy. 

The early days of our subject were spent on a 
farm, and his chances for schooling were very lim- 
ited, but he managed to pick up a fair education at 
home. When twenty-one years of age he com- 
menced to le.arn the trades of bricklayer and plas- 
terer, serving an apprenticeship of four years. His 
marri.age to Miss Martha L. Hawks, daughter of 
John and Barbara Ann Hawks, took place Nov. 25, 



•► 



^ 






-4^ 



■^^-4. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



\H4~. Slu- wiLs n N'irgiiiian liy l)irt!i. llio date of 
Hint I'vcnt lieiiip Fcl>. I". IK'25. After iiiiirrinjjf 
Mr. Flint contiiuiiMl ii rcsidciilnf Missouri for ninny 
years, nnil tlii-rc nine children were boni to hininnd 
his estiennlile wife, of wlioni the foliowinj^j is the 
rcconl : Willinin M.. horn Sept. 17, 1«4H; Ceor^je 
W., horn .Miireh 21, IH.'iO; Isnnc N.. Iiorn .Inn. II. 
\h:>->: Mnrtha ,1.. horn .Inn. 13, IM.")-!; .Surah T., 
honi Au^'. 12. lH.'»r, : .loseph. iiorn April 2(1, IH.'irt; 
James .M., horn Au';. II, \M0; llowjinl F.. horn 
Feh. 20. IKU.-.; .luini .1., horn Oct. IK, \hi;h. Will- 
iam live,s' nt Wichita, is mnrrieil, an<l ha.s six chil- 
dren; George is married and lives in Kan.sius; 
Isa.ic lives in (larden I'lain; .Marin married (leorge 
W. Fallis. a farmer of (iarden I'lain; .Sarah mar- 
rieil .lames Clark: she is now dead, leaving no chil- 
dren. Joseph II. lives in Davis Count)', Mo., is 
married and h.as three children: James married 
Kditli Daniels: to them has been born one chihl. 
lie s|M'nt four years in Dakota, but is now living 
in (larden I'lain, and owns a half-interest in the 
Avondale Hotel. Howard is a telegraph operator 
in Pratt City; .lohn is a clerk in a store in (iarilen 
Plain. 

After marriage our sul>ject iliiring his long resi- 
dence in .Missouri, the most of the time in Harri- 
son County, with the exception of live years in 
(ientry County, was ailivcly and proliUibly en- 
gaged at his trade, besides managing his farm. He 
built a good many houses, s<mie in Ik-tliany. and 
in many other places. On the breaking out of the 
Kebcllion .Mr. Flint put aside all personal interests 
and am1>itions. with the patriotic determination to 
take part in the defense of his country, and, as the 
recruiting odlcers could n<»l he prevailed upon to 
enroll him among the volunteers (»f the regular 
army, he joined the Missouri Slate Militia, l)ecom- 
ing a member of the first company organized in his 
County, and ilid good service a.* a member of that 
company throughout the war, with the exception 
of a year and a half, when he was Provost Mar- 
shal, with the rank of Captain. 

In 1MM7 .Mr. Flint traded his farm in Missouri 
for his present hotel property, and removed with 
his family to tnke up his residence in (inrden Plain. 
He hns given up his other business interests, and 
hiLs retired from the active duties of life, luside 



from the maiingemenl of his hotel. He is s4-<-iiriiig 
a good class of patronage, ils he attends carefully 
to the neeih of his guests, and serves them with ap- 
l>otizing and well-cookeil food. 

Mr. an<i .Mrs. Flint are excellent |M'oph', who, 
by their unfailing kindness, benevolenc*-, and un- 
doubted integrity of character, have readily won 
their way to the trust and esteem of all in this com- 
munity. They and all the member!) of their fam- 
ily are sincere and i-arnest members of the Chris- 
tian Church. 



^^^ '■■^^'^- ° <^«^ 



' ( ISKPH Fl'HRMAN. im|)orterof tine Perclic- 
ron horses, and also largely engagcil in the 

d breeding of graded Short-horn cattle, is op- 
^J' crating on a fine tract of land on section 21. 
ill Kechi Township, where he took up his resirlence 
in the spring of is7;'i. He has ha<l a thorough 
experience in fanning pursuit'^, and the land for 
which he paid *10 per acre has. under his skillful 
manipulation, att,iiiied to the value of lifty times 
that sum — ^'■'XIO |H'r acre. 

Like many of the energetic and industrious men 
about him, Mr. Fnhrman is a product of the Key- 
stone State, and was born in York County, on 
the Gth of August, 184:5. He wns next to the 
youngest of the nine children horn to his |mrenls, 
W. W. and Barbara (Holanger) Fnhrman, who 
were also natives of Pennsylvania, together with 
the paternal grandparents, Mathias Fuhrman and 
his wife. The mother's parents William and Harb.ara 
Holanger. were natives of Oermany. and the male 
mcnibcrs of the family for several geneiiitions wore 
mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

William W. Fuhrman. the father of our subject, 
aftir fanning a few years in his native Stjite. re- 
moved to Woodford County, 111., settling, in 1H.'»2, 
among the pioneers of that region. After a resi- 
dence there of twenty-eight years, he removed, in 
IHHO, across the Mississippi to this Stflte, and 
loeat<-d ill Cowley County, where hisdcath took place 
in IHHn. The mother died in McLean County, 111., in 
1H7M. .loseph, of our sketch, following in the foot- 



I 



•►-• -♦• 










Residence of M. H. Church ,Sec 23. Salem Township. 







Residence of Joseph Fuhrmam, Sec. 21. Kechi Township. 






SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



4 

791 f 



<• 



^- 



steps of his father, after a brief period spent in the 
district sciiool, eiijraj^ed in farming in Illinois until 
after the outbreait of the Rebellion. In April, 1802, 
he enlisted as a Union soldier in Conipanj' 1), 63d 
Illinois Infantry, being mustered in at Camp Dubois, 
and contracting to ser\e three j^ears. lie was act- 
ivel3' engaged in the fight with the rebels at Black 
Water, Miss., Mission Ridge, the siege and capture 
of \'icksburg, Chattanooga and Atlanta, and from 
the latter place marched with the troops of Gen. 
Sherman to the sea. After the close of the vvar he 
was mustered out at Goldsboro, N. C. He was 
present in the grand review at Washington, and 
was also in that city upon the night of the assassi- 
nation of President Lincoln, in April, 1865. 

Upon retiring from the service Mr. Fuhrnian 
farmed for a time in Illinois. He was married in 
McLean County, that State, on the 21st of April, 
1864, while on a furlough home, to Miss Charlotte 
Goodenough, who was born in Marshall County, 
111., Sept. 26, 1839, and is the eldest child of Lewis 
and Nancy (Patton) Goodenough, natives respect- 
ive!}' of Ma.ssachu setts and Virginia. The i)iirents 
of Mrs. Fuhrnian are now deceased. 

Our subject and his wife commenced life together 
on the farm in McLean County, III., but Mr. P., in 
1874, determined upon a change of location. He 
accordingly crossed the Father of Waters, and 
coming to this county purchased eighty acres of 
railroad land on section 21, in Keehi Township, 
where he labored that year, and made provision for 
his family to join him, which they did in the spring 
of 1875. He made good use of his experience as 
an agriculturist, and was soon recognized as a 
valued addition to the community. He assisted in 
organizing several of the school districts in his 
township, and has watched the development of the 
city of Wichita from a town of 2,000 inhabitants 
to its present flourishing condition with the pride 
and satisfaction which onlj- an intelligent man can 
experience. Although not very active in politics 
he keeps himself well informed upon current events, 
and unifurml}' votes the Republican ticket. 

Some idea of the home surroundings of our sub- 
ject may be formed from the bird's-eye view of the 
dwelling and buildings .adjacent, carefully drawn 
by our artist on another page. 

4» 




jf^^ AITLAND II. CHURCH, the second oldest 
living pioneer of Salem Township, owns a 
good farm of 230 acres, finely located on 
section 23. He has, by his enterprise and 
industr}', built up one of the finest homesteads 
along the southern line of Sedgwick Count}', and on 
account of his sterling worth as a citizen, is held in 
high esteem by the people of that region. He 
came to Kansas at a time when it most needed men 
of his calibre to build it up, both socially and finan- 
cially, and right well has he discharged the respon- 
sibilities which many men would have found an 
excuse to evade. 

The birthplace of our subject was in the Province 
of Ontario, Canada, and the date thereof Ma}' 31, 
1847. He is the son of Daniel and Mary T- 
(Hawkins) Church, the former a native of New- 
York State, and now deceased, passing away at bis 
home in August, 1855. The mother was born in 
Cornwall, England, and crossed the Atlantic in her 
youthful days, locating with her parents in Stam- 
ford, Canada. Of lier marriage with Daniel Church 
there were born five children, only three of whom 
are living, namely : Fanny A., the wife of E. L. 
McComb, of Derby, Kan.; Clinton D., of Wichita, 
and Maitland H., our subject. George and Charles 
D. died in infancy. 

Mr. Church was reared to manhood in the Do- 
minion, receiving a fair English education. He 
started out in life for himself when a youth of six- 
teen yeai's, and in the spring of 1807, when twenty 
years old, crossed the Mississippi, and traveled 
through Kansas and Colorado. In 1870 he pre- 
empted a quarter-section of land in Salem Town- 
ship, which is now included in his present farm. 
lJ])on this not a furrow had been turned, and he 
endured the common lot of the pioneer settler, 
hardship, toil and privation, but in due time reaped 
his reward, .as the fertile soil responded to his 
efforts at cultivation. He wisely invested a portion 
of his surplus capital in additional land, and for 
the last few years .agriculture has been simply a 
pleasure and comfort. He has erected suitable 
buildings upon the land which he has chosen as his 
homestead, while a fine apple orchard and various 
other fruit and shade trees serve to embellish and 
add to the value of his property. 



=f 



-4* 



t 



-«•- 



792 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



'I'lii' ladv »li(> liii-H pn-.-'iiU-)! ovi-r the hoiisohuld of 
our Milijtfl, i\ui\ lirnvi'ly ^l<«Ml liy liis si<l«' in liis 
tuile nml .otru;;^'!^^, wn.s in her |^irlh<MHl Mis.s Kninin 
A. Wntt, and lM-c'«nie his wife on tin- 'J.'itli of Keb- 
ruiiry. iMT.'t. Mrs. Clinroli is n nnlivc of tlio same 
I'rovincM' in Cnnmla a^ her hiiitltand, and wius horn 
S«'pt. 14, IN.'i-l. Hit parents were Koliert E. and 
• )live II. (SjiyU) Walt, who were native.-* of Scot- 
innd and Canada resixTtively, and whose lioiisehold 
ineltided two children only, herself and her brother 
•lames K., now n prosperous farmer of Morton 
County, this SUite. Robert E. Watt, the father, 
died at his home in Canada, in August, IH.'iK. The 
mother then m.-irried Wat.M)n Fouike, by whom 
were born si.\ children — Fanny, Lester, Myron, 
Amy Belle. (Jnice nnd Mirtie; the latt<'r died in 
infancy. 

Our subject and his wife are the (larents of seven 
children, of whom but six arc living: Harry K. 
was born Feb. 2«. 1874; Kthel F., Feb. 11. 1H76; 
Lester IL, Oct. IH. IH77; .losie E.. April -27, 1879; 
lUlphL., July 12, 1882; and Charles 1).. FVb. 14, 
1884. Florence M., who was born Jan. ti, 1 ,SS6, 
died on the 2.1d of October, the same 3'ear. 

Our subject, politically, is an uncompromising 
I)emt>crat, and has served as Clerk <(f his school 
district, lie is a man of sound judgment, and one 
whose opinions are held in general respect. 

A lithographic view is shown of Mr. Church's 
residence. 

A\ 11) II. MKLLINCKH. of the firm P. S. 
II, Mellinger dc Co.. dealers in wall paper and 
paints, is a worthy and intelligent ropre- 
sentJitivc of the industrial interests of 
Wichita. Wc take pleasure in pl.-icing liefore his 
numerous friends a brief biogi-aphical sketch of 
him. lie is a descendant of an ancient (ierman 
f.'imily, an«l many of his ancestors were Mennonites, 
or members of a religious denomination who de- 
rived their name from .Mcnno Symms, a monk wlu« 
renounced the Catholic religion, and founded the 
.Mennonitc Church about the year 1 1 1 ;». from the 
styitlered bands of the North ( ierman Anid)n|)- 
tists. They weri' pei-seeuted in the old c(nintry on 



account of their religions vie»vs. and obliged to fly 
for their lives, leaving even their hou.sehold goods, 
•■ind being unable to dispose of their real estate, the 
Government eonliscatetl it. Thus much valuable 
pro|H?rty belonging rightfully to .Mennonites in this 
country liius become h>st to them; some att«>mpls 
have been made to recover the property, but no 
|)ersistent efforLs h.-ive been made. The followers 
of that religion are a very |)eaceful and industrious 
nice rif ])eople, and from the original Mennonit*'s, as 
from the I'uritans of New Kngland. have de.sc-ende<l 
a sterling class of |M'ople, who are found in many 
of the .States anil Territories from Pennsylvania to 
California. 

Jacob Mellinger, the grandfather of our subject, 
w.as a farmer in Lebanon County, Pa., which con- 
tinued his abode until death, lie married a mem- 
ber of the Arndt family, and they became the par- 
ents of live sons — William, Jacob, .lohn. .Samuel 
and iJavid. Daviil, the father of our subject, was 
born in Lebanon County, and as he grew to man- 
hood learned the carpenter's trade. He was al.so 
an excellent cabinet-maker, and made the ca.se for 
one of the tall clocks of the period, which is still in 
the possession of his son, is in a fine stJite of pres- 
ervation, and is valued highly, not only as a relic, 
but as a timepiece, which will keep good time for a 
century to come. Mr. Mellinger was industrious 
and ujjright: he wits small in sUnture, but of an iron 
constitution, with great iH»wers of endurance, and 
when an old man could walk many miles with very 
little fatigue; the simple habits of the men of those 
days, who led quiet, healthful lives, cttuld well be 
imitated by the younger generations of to-day. 
Mr. Mellinger was in religious principles a Gernnm 
Methodist, or Allbright. lie rounded out a long 
and useful life of eighty-one years. The maiden 
name of his wife was Sus;ui Iluber. who, on the ma- 
ternal side, was a descendant of the Hosier family. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mellinger became the jiarents of ten 
children, of whom the following is the record: 
William and Kli/jdieth died when quit<' small; 
.lacob died at the age of thirty; Maria married 
Jo.seph .Miller, a plasterer at .Manheim, Lanciuster 
Co., I'a. ; .Susanna married Laborious .Shiitte, a 
coach-maker of .Spring G.-irden, Lancaster Co., I'a.; 
Rebecca married .loseph .Smith, a painter in Mari 



•^il-* 



u 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



793 



M ' 



etta; Frances married Jacob Harnish, of Lancaster 
Count}'; Elizabeth married Benjamin Bletz, wiio 
was engaged in the planing-miil business at Colum- 
bia, Pa.; David; Barbara Ann married Christian 
F"ate, a tailor, of Wichita. 

David Huber Mellingcr, the subject of this biog- 
raphj', was born March 5, 1831, at Manheim, Lan- 
caster Co., Pa., in the old home tliat had been 
in the Mellinger family at least 200 yeai's. He re- 
ceived a common-school education, and could have 
been more liberally educated had he chosen, but he 
chose an active life rather than the sedentary life 
of a student and a professional man. and learned 
the carpenter's trade under the careful instruction 
of his father, with whom he worked until he was 
eighteen j-ears of age. He then a])prenticed him- 
self to his brother-in-law, Joseph Smith, for three 
years, to learn the painter's trade. He married, at 
the age of twenty-two, Miss Catherine E., daugh- 
ter of William and Rachel (McBrint) Sands, and 
to them have been born six children, namely : Anna, 
David Sutton, Helen R., Paul Sands, Jennie and 
Josie May. Anna married Henry Allison, of 
Columbia, Pa., a station agent; she is now deceased, 
leaving six children. David married Miss Lizzie 
Holmes, of West Virginia, and to them have been 
born two children; Helen married John K. Miller, 
a niolder, of Marietta. Lancaster Co., Pa.; Paul 
married Savilla Smith, of Mt. Joy, Pa., and lives in 
Wichita; to them have been born two children. 
Jennie married Sylvanus Groff, a telegra])hic oper- 
ator of Marietta, and they have one child : Josie 
lives at home with her parents. 

Mr. Mellinger, after learning his trade of painter, 
continued to work at it in Lancaster County, I'a., 
until 1 8.59, .and then removed with his famil}' to 
the South, and settled in Carroll County, Miss. 
Shortlj- after that the war broke out, and he was 
obliged to move to Louisiana, to a place forty-eight 
miles north of New Orleans, and remained there six 
months as section boss on the New Orleans, Jackson 
it Great Northern Railw.iy. After the capture of 
New Orleans by the United States forces under 
Gen. Butler, Mr. Mellinger wns appointed night 
watchman to guard the machinery and other prop- 
erty taken from New Orleans by the Confederates 
and railway oflicials. As soon as the profjerty w.os 



shipped to Jackson, Miss., Mr. Mellinger went to 
work in a shoe nianufactorj' at Hammond Station, 
remaining at that jjlace for three months. There 
his family was exposed to raids from both armies, 
and he removed to Amite Cit}', twenty- miles further 
north. He was at that time iii groat danger of be- 
ing conscripted into the Confederate army, and 
took "French leave" for New Orleans, leaving his 
family to find their way to him in that city as best 
they could. Mrs. Mellinger, with all the true cour- 
age of woman in times of gre.at danger, imme- 
diately undertook to make the journey to New 
Orleans with her children. She went first bj' rail 
to Ponchatoula, thence bj' st;ige to M.adisonville. 
From there, in order to reach her destination she 
wished to cross Lake Pontchartrain. but could not 
procure transportation, and was obliged to return to 
Madisonville. By no means discouraged by this fail- 
ure, she made a bargain with a Frenchman to take her 
and her children across the lake in a skiff for ^150. 
She paid him the money, but he landed them in an 
almost uninhabited and dangerous pl.ace in a swamp. 
Here Mrs. Mellinger was obliged to take shelter in 
a small hut surrounded by palmetto trees of im- 
mense growth, and the tangled and impenetrable 
undergrowth of the luxuriant semi-tropical forests 
of that country of thickets and swamps, of which 
the Northern reader can have but little realization. 
These "Dismal Swamps," as they are rightly called, 
abound with animal life of all kinds; alligators, poi- 
sonous snakes, reptiles and insects are among the 
terrors, and, at that time, were indeed among the 
least. On the rear of all large armies march a large 
body of tramps, bummers and hangers-on, whose 
only object is robbery and violence, and they might 
be lurking in those swamps. Apprehending these 
dangers for herself and little ones, Mrs. Mellinger 
became alarmed at the prospect of spending the 
night in such a place, and, although it was dark and 
stormy, she succeeded in inducing the Frenchman 
to tiike them in his skiflf onto the waters of the lake. 
They proceeded on their journe}', were near found- 
ering several times in their frail bark, but finally 
reached the camp of some Federal soldiers in safety, 
and were thence transported to New Orleans, where 
they had no didiculty in finding Mr. Mellinger, 
He secured a position :is watchman on board a con- 



1- 



•►■ -4»- 



'.M 



-.L 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



tr:(liiiiiil lioiil, iiikI ><> sfciirtMl frif trni)!«|H>rtntiiiii for 
liiiiiM-lf anil wifcHiitl i-liiliireii on tllt■^lli|> ".Miiliiiizo!«" 
to lUooklyi), N. Y., niul Ihoiioe prwii^dcil U> llu-ir 
I'M lioiiio ill Liiiiciister Coiiiily, I'li., "horc lliov foii- 
tiinu'il to reside uiilil lliev inovi-d to Wicliit^i, in 
Filirnnry, IHM". Mr. Mellinger then i-stnljlished 
hin)!>elf in his present business, in which he is nieetin;; 
with well-merited success. lie carries n full line of 
WidI pa|H'rs. imiiits, etc. Our subject irdieriUs in a 
marked de^'ree those virtuous chnracterislics of his 
race that ninkc hiui n j^ood citizen an<l a true man 
in every relation of life. 



AMKS L. MUOKK, one of the solid men of 
Wichita, owns ten acres of land in the west- 
ern division of the city, for two blocks of 
which he has been offered the sum of $()6,00(), 
and twenty-three acres in the southern part of the 
city, ll is believed that his property will schedule 
♦ 100,000. lie is a man of great force of character, 
ami hiLs accumulated his ])roperly by downright 
hard labor an<l the exercise of the good judgment 
an<l sound sense with which nature generously en- 
dowed him. He labored as a practical butcher for 
a number of years, and now conducts a good busi- 
ness iLs a retail and wholcside dealer in meats and 
groceries. 

Our subject is of English, Irish and .Sutch de- 
scent. His ancestors crossed the Atlantic at a very 
early time in the liisUjry of this country, and locited 
in North Carolina, where his paternal grandfather 
engaged as a farmer, anil from which Slate some of 
the brothers of the latter enlisteii and served as sol- 
diei-s in the Revolutionary War. Among his sons 
was .lonathnn, the father of our subject, who was 
born and reared in North Carolina, and there married 
Miss Sarah I'atterson, of Scotch and Welsh descent. 
To ilifm were bom thirteen rliildren, all of whom, 
with one exception, .lonallian, lived to mature 
years. .lonathan <licd when a youth of eighteen. 
They were named res|x'ctlvely : Richard, .loseph, 
Mabel, Robert, .lolin, Isani, l-)li/.abetli, Sarah, .lona- 
llian, Hannah, Kuiiici-. .lames I., (our subject) and 
William 1'. 

The parents of our subject left North Carolina 
about 1HI7, and removed to a farm which tin' father 



*.:5^ 



had purcha.Hed in Overton County, Teiui. There 
they remained until m'M, aluuit which lime the 
mother dic<l very suddiiily, and after the wagons 
were loaded for another removal to Livingston 
County, III. After the sad rit<s atlendant ujion 
this calamity were over Uie family proceeded on 
their journey. The father a few years latt-r re- 
turned to Tennessee, and was agiiin married, to Miss 
Klizabeth Wright Harp, of that State, by whom he 
became the father of three children — Thomas H., 
Tira ,1. and Amlerson F. This lady also died after 
a few years, and Mr. Moore was the third lime mar- 
ried, to Mrs. Nancy Hciithorn. 

The father of our subject, one of the earliest pio- 
neers of the Prairie .State, assisted in laying out the 
city of Pontiac, in Livingston County, and liccame 
prominent in local affairs. He held the oflice of 
Justice of the Peace, and was also County Commis- 
sioner. Politically, he was an "Abolition Demo- 
crat." A man of deep piety, he was a devout 
member of the Methodist Church, in which he 
odlciated as local preacher and exhorter. and often 
traveled a distance of twenty to thirty miles in the 
discharge of his self-imposeil duties. His projMjrly 
lay in Indian Grove Township. He became very 
successful financially, and at his death left a v.-dna- 
ble farm of 300 acres. He passed away in the 
spring of 1849, amid the regrets of a community 
who had learned to deeply respect him on account 
of his moral worth and inlegrity. His widow, after 
his death, removed to McLe.'in County. 

The subject of this history was born on his 
father's farm, in Overton County, Tenn., Feb. 3, 
1829, and received a ver}' limited education in 
Livingston Counlj', 111., as the schools of that sec- 
tion at that lime were few and far between, and 
conducted u|)ona plan far from systematic. .lames 
L. was but five years of age at the time of his 
mother's death and when the family removed to 
Illinois. He was but thirteen when his father died, 
and was then tjtkeii into the home of his elder 
brother. Roliert, with whom he remained two years 
ami then began life for himself. He worked onl 
for the people of that neighborhood until twiMily 
years of age. 

Before reaching his twenty-first year Mr. Moore, 
in May, 18-19, was married to Miss M.-ihala Hull, 



HI-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



797 ' ^ 



who wns born April 5, 1827, and is the daughter of 
William and Esther (Fowler) Bull. They were 
residents of Livingston County, 111., and are now 
dead. Of this union there were born thirteen chil- 
dren, namolj': Jlargaret E., Jonathan W., Esther 8., 
Eunice J., James M., John F. and Joseph AV. (who 
died j'oung), John A., Carrie A. (deceased), Jessie 
G., Hannah G., Mary E. and Julia; the throe latter 
are deceased. Mr. Moore, after his marriage, en- 
tered 160 acres of land in Livingston County, and 
while carrying on the cultivation of this also en- 
gaged in the butchering business. Subsequently 
he purchased and conducted the Central Hotel in 
Pontiac for eighteen months. 

In 1860, the year Abraham Lincoln was elected 
President, Mr. Moore saw him and heard him speak 
several times. After this he removed to Fairbury, 
in Livingston County, III., where he operated a 
meat-market until 18C5. His next removal was 
across the Mississippi, into Pettis Count}', Mo., 
where he engaged in the same business, in Smith- 
town, eight miles east of Sedalia. At the same 
time he also carried on a lumber-yard, engaged in 
the purchase and sale of grain, and was thereafter 
appointed MoUuy Public and Justice of the Peace. 

Mr. Moore landed in Wichita on the 16th of 
November, 187r>, and re-engaging in the meat- 
market business, continued this in connection with 
the wholesale grocer^' trade, which he still conducts. 
He is quite conservative in politics, and usuallj' 
votes the Republican ticket. He is a stanch Green- 
backer in ])rinci|)le, and firmlj- believes that the 
Government should issue the entire circulating me- 
dium, and that the National Banks should go out 
of existence as banks of issue. 



►e><i><- 



"5rS***^ 



HRISTIAN KIMMERLE, one of the re- 
business men and capitalists of Wich- 
posscssor of one of its most beautiful 
residences, which occupies No. 1204 North Market 
street. A view of this elegant structure we give 
in connection with this brief outline of the life of 
its fortunate owner. He wjis for many years one 
of the leading builders and contractor of the city, 
to which he came in 1 870, and in the fall of that 
year constructed the first brick chimney and laid 



the first solid foundation which marked the com- 
mencement of the embryo citj' destined to assume 
such importance in the future. For five years 
thereafter he was one of the first stone and brick 
contractors of the city, and in 1875 extended his 
interests to marble and stone cutting, in which he 
laid the foundation of his little fortune. 

The Empire of Germany has ver}' largely con- 
tributed the men who assisted in the development 
of the great West, and among these is our subject. 
His first recollections are of a modest home in the 
Kingdom of Wurtemberg, where he first opened 
his eyes to the light Oct. 1, 184.J. His parents, 
INlartin and Catherine (Baier) Kimmerle, were of 
pure German ancestry, and the father, a mechanic 
all his life, died when his son Christian was but 
three years of age. The mother, who was born in 
1810, is still living in her native land. They were 
members of the Lutheran Church, and reared their 
children to those habits of industry and principles 
of honor which made of them good citizens and 
respected wherever they were known. The eldest 
son, John, continues in his native Province; Cath- 
erine married Jtieob Kurtz, and is living in Wur- 
temberg; Magdalena is the wife of Jacob Schmidt, 
of Wurtemberg; John J. and George H. are in 
New Jersey and Kansas; Christian, of our sketch, 
was the youngest of the family. 

Mr. Kimmerle, when twenty years of age, began 
his apprenticeship as a stone-cutter, which he fol- 
lowed in his native German}' until 1867. When 
landing upon American soil he proceeded directly 
westward, arriving in this county in time to assist 
in the building of the State capitol. At an early 
period he was recognized by the people of this 
community as a valued accession to their midst, 
and after a laudable business career was elected 
City Treasurer in 1880, which oflice he held for a 
peiiod of five years. In 1 885 he revisited the 
Fatherland, taking with him his wife and niece, and 
remaining there through the summer. In 1887 he, 
accompanied by his two brothers and a nephew, 
crossed the Atlantic again, each time feeling re- 
freshed in mind and body, and considering that 
his money and time were well spent. 

Mr. Kimmerle, while a resident of Topeka, and 
after passing his twenty-fourth birthday, w.os united 

. . L' n . 



798 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



in iiinrringe with MisM I'nuliiiii linntiier, the wed- 
iliiig tiiking place nl llic liumc of the liride Keli. 22, 
1H70. Mrs. K.. n native of the same country »> her 
hu!«bnnii, was horn in AVurtenihcrj;, .luno 15. 1852. 
Her jMirenlit cuiigrntcd to America when she was 
quite yoiini;, and coininjfdirectly tothi.tStale located 
in Riley County, where the father <licd in 1K7H. 
He was n fanner l>y (M-cu|>atioii, and the |inrenUil 
household included six children. The mother had 
preceded her hu.shand to the silent land ten years. 
Mr. Kirunierlc. for a i>eriiHl of eight years, was the 
|Mirlner of Mr. {'harle.>i Ailanis, of Wichita, lie 
invested a |.ortion of his capital in city real estate, 
and besides his home is the owner of four stores 
here, and two in Kingman, this .'Ntate. He has 
traveled a great deal during the last twelve years, 
and while on the Pacific Slo|)e invested in some lots 
at .Sun Uiego, Cal. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kimnieric have an adopted child, 
Mary, who is a bright girl fourteen years of age. 
Mr. K. is !i member of the Lutheran Church, and 
his wife belongs to the Catholic Church. The 
former votes the straight Republican ticket, upon 
which he was elected to the City Tri'.i.suryslii|i. 
Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 



^'■^ -■ -■ ■ ^— ^-^^ ^~ ' 

S' iKORCK W. CLARK, who is now retired 
, from active business and living at ease upon 
, ^ J aciinipet<'ncy, is a native of Dauphin County, 

l':i., and WHS born on tiie 22d of February, 1 83^f. He 
receiveil a good education in the common schools, 
and when a youth of seventeen yejirs commenced 
serving an a])prenliceship at the plasterer's trade, 
at which he employed himself aftcrwanl during 
his years of active labor. For a long period he 
lived in the vicinity of Treniont, .Schuylkill Co., I'a., 
and subsecpieiitly in the city of I'itt.'^burgh. 

In 18C1, when Abraham Lincoln fii-st called for 
troops to aid in putting down the Rebellion, our 
subject, then a young man twenty-three yens of 
age, enlisted in Company F, lOih Peinisylvania In- 
fantry, in the three-months .service, and at the expi- 
ration of this term re-enlisteil, and served until the 
close of the war. He was present at many of its 
important battles, namely: Chambersburg, Martins- 



burg and Har|)«-r"s Ferry, being in a <'avalry regi- 
ment. He also imrticipaU-d in the furious sabre 
charge at Kelley's Ford, one of the most bl<MKly 
and hard-fought battles of the campaign. lie was 
promoted first to Cor|)oral, and then to S<'rgeant, 
and after the expiration of his .sectmd torm of en- 
listment entereil tin- ranks once more, this time 
in ComjMiny D, Kith Pennsylvania Cavalry, with 
which he remained until the surrender of the Con- 
federate forces. 

Sergt. Clark was frequently detailed to drill re- 
cruits, and had charge of a detachment of COO men 
from different regiments. At Petersburg he as- 
sist«i1 in selecting the forces available for the battle, 
and was delniled as Clerk at the Adjutant's head- 
quarters. He fortunately escajK'd wounds and im- 
prisonment, anil was never in the hospital. He was 
mustered out under general orders at Lynchburg, 
Va., on the 21th of July, 18()5, and received his 
honorable discharge at City Point. 

W. K. Clark, the father of our subject, was born 
in Pitt.sGeld, Mass., and married Miss HannahCamp- 
bell, of Lebanon County, Pa. This lady w.is of 
tJennan ancestry, and her people had been resi- 
dents of Pennsylvania for numy generations. Mr. 
Clark was a miner b}' occujvition and, with the ex- 
ception of a trip to Indiana with his family, con- 
tinued a resident of his native Stiite until his 
death, which occurred when he was but forty-eight 
yeare of age. He was a man of sound religious 
principles, although not a member of any church. 
He was, however, inclined to the Methodist belief. 
The three children of llie parental fanuly were 
(ieorge W., of our sketch, .Sophia K. and Ilattie 
L. The sistei-s of our subject are marrieil and 
residents of Pennsylvania. The mother died April 
!<:, 1882. 

l'|Kui the return of our subject from the army, 
he resumed his trade of |>lasterer, and while a resi- 
dent of Schuylkill. P.-i., was married. March 2. 18(;8, 
to Miss Kmnia .1., daught<!r of .losiah A. and Sally 
(Masner) .Snyiler, well-to-do people and farmers of 
Northunilnrland County, P.m. .Mrs. Clark was born 
there Oct. .10, I84.S, and by her union with our sub- 
ject became the mother of the following children: 
Allen n., William K., Ceorge W., Hattie M.. Sa.l- 
die H., Lulu (!., and W:iller, who died in infancy. 



•►• -♦^ 



»^«-4« 



t _ 



^i» ^ « ■4> 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



799 



After their maniajre Mr. and Mrs. Clark took up 
tlieir residence in Harrisburg, Pa., whence a short 
time afterward they removed to Allentown. Later 
they became residents of Philadelpiiia, and from 
there removed to the town of Lykens, in Dauphin 
County, wliore they lived until April, 1878. Mr. 
Clark then decided to seek his fortune west of the 
Mississippi, and coming to Cowley County, this 
fState, located in Winfield, where he was engaged at 
his trade until 1882. In tlie spring of tlmt year he 
came to Wichitji and purchased property, which has 
increased in value until it is now estimated to be 
worth at least is!l 0,000. 

Mr. Clark has literally earned his property by 
the sweat of his brow. As a soldier he was prompt 
and reliable, and as a citizen lie has been honor- 
able and enterprising. Socially, he belongs to the 
A. O. U. W. and the G. A. K., and in political be- 
lief is an unswerving Republican. 



JK. SAWYER. Among the substantial and 
enterprising business men of Wichita, whose 
names are scattered through the pages of 
this volume none is more worthj' of mention 
than the gentleman whose name heads this brief 
biograjjhical notice. He was born in 1831 near the 
beautiful Moosehead Lake in the State of Maine. 
His parents were Ebenezer and Elizabeth Sawyer. 
His father was of English descent; he settled in 
Northern Maine about the year 1830, and was 
activelj' and profitably engaged in farming there 
for many years. 

Our subject w;is educated in the common schools 
of his native State, and at an early age learned the 
trade of carpenter as he had a natural aptitude for 
mechanics. He was a bold, spirited lad, energetic 
and enterprising, and at the age of nineteen years 
he left his old home in the Pine Tree State, and 
started for the Golden State, and for a number of 
years his lot was cast among the hardy, brave and 
adventurous pioneers and frontiersmen of that 
State, and of other portions of the West, and he has 
seen a good deal of life and traveled in many parts 
of the country. After a sojourn of five and one- 
half years in California Mr. Sawyer left that State 

»» l i <■ 



and retraced his steps to his native State. After a 
short stay in his old home he went to Pern, III., 
where he managed a dry dock in the days when 
there was a good deal of navigation on the Illinois 
River. We next hear of him in Montana as en- 
gaged in the mining business, which he luirsued 
until 18G8, when he went to Laramie City, Wyo. 

In 1870 Mr. Sawyer again turned his face toward 
the East, but he progressed no farther tiian Kansas, 
and in the citj' of L:iwrence established himself 
in business as a contractor and Imilder. On the 
28th of December he c.ime to Wichita, where he 
has since been engaged in bridge building and con- 
tracting, and has also engaged largely in real-estate 
speculfitions. He is classed among the jHoneer 
business men of Wichita, .and his business h:is grown 
with the growth of the city, which he has mate- 
rially helped to build up. 

Mr. Sawyer was married, Dec. 5, 1868, to Miss 
Emma Ilerrick, daughter of Israel Herrick, of 
Brooklin, Me. They are the parents of two chil- 
dren : Fannie L., who married Edgar Schermer- 
horn, a hardware merchant of Kiowa, Kan., and 
Charles H., unmarried, who is in company with 
his father in the bridge building business. 

Mr. Sawyer is a prominent member of the Re- 
publican party. While a resident of Montjina he 
took an active p.art in political and public aftairs, 
and served .as Justice of the Peace when there was 
but one copy of the Revised Statutes in the Terri- 
toiy. Socially, Mr. Sawyer is a Knight of Honor. 
Our subject h.as grown wealthy, prosperous, and an 
honored citizen by the exercise of integrity, indus- 
try and intelligence. 



\f( OHN F. BOWMAN, proprietor of the Wich- 
ita Stair Factory, is operating successfully 
one of the leading industries of the city, 
turning out in a first-class manner, in ad- 
dition to his main product, all kinds of fancy 
trimmings iind scroll sawing, besides carving of the 
finest description. He employs the best talent pro- 
curable, and uses the finest woods — o.ak, walnut and 
cherry. He is in possession of the secret of pre- 
paring the wood in a manner which will i)revent 



i 



i 



-4*- 



t 



8f»n 



SKI)(;\\ If'K ("OINTY. 



•►• -4^ 



wiirpiu;;. mill Ills contra .'.cndi-tl ton. 

of the iiii|M>rUint l>iiililiii^.-> ><f Uic cit}', iiicliiiliu^ 
tli<> >Uiiro!isfs III the FecliiiinT liltK'k, the Lewis 
A<'«<li"iiiy, the Mi'tlmdist Chiircli in Wolliii^lon, tin- 
privnt*.' ri'.Hidi'iices of Mr. FlotfluT. Col. Dyi-r, Joel 
BInck, .loliii Wiillnoe, and llio.sc of iiiaiiy oilier Iciid- 
inf; iMti/ens. The lieniitifiil ^^l;lir(■IUse in the ele}n«nl 
rcsideiioe of A. W. Hitting' "jives iiniple I'videnee 
of the Uu'ito niid skill of iliis firm, also the C'liry 
llotei, wliicli is geneniliy ridinirrd liy :ill wiio have 
soon it. 

.Mr. liowmnn is .-i native of New Jersey, and was 
born June I:.', IH4I. llis iMirents were C. A. and 
Saruli liowni.'in, and he eontiiiiied witli them under 
the home roof during his ehildhuod and youth, and 
in early life learned the trade of a earpenter. Ik- 
was a youth of eighteen years upon the outbreak 
of the Ueliellioii, and Laying .-usidc his |M'i°sonal plans 
and interests, proffered his serviees to his eounlry. 
enlisting in C'omijany II, "Jd District of Columbia 
Infantry, in which he served three years and seven 
inonths. He fought at the battles of (ieltysburg 
and Antietnin.aiid in most of the other engagements 
by the Army of the I'otomae. lie escaped wounds 
and iniprisunmeiit, and at the close of the war, after 
n service of three yeai-s and seven months, reccivi-d 
his honorable discharge. I'poii his retirement from 
the army .Mr. liowman supplemented his knowledge 
of carpentering by an apprenticeship at stair-build- 
ing, for which he subsequently develo|K'd a natural 
tjilent, and is coiisiflered one of the liiiest workmen 
in this line in the .Stjite of Kansas. Of wood carv- 
ing, which liius now become verj' jMipiilar in the lin- 
ishing of niodern residences, .Mr. liowman is also 
iiHLsler, and :in a correct judge of this cla.ss of work 
CAiinot be excelled. 

John V. liowman wjus born in Kssex County, N. 
.1., as above st.-ited. and began work in Newark, that 
.Stale. He wassubse<pieiitly a resident of the cities of 
I'hiladelphin, New York and Ilnrrisbiirg. all this 
time occupied at his tnidc, and lat<?r migrated to 
Jeffersonville, Iiid., and built the stairway of the 
New Orleans A .St. hoiiis Packet Line at that 
pl.ace. This work w.'us very dilllnilt, reiiuiring ex- 
treme care, strength ami exactness, and .Mr. H. while 
engaged in its prosecution aibled greatly to his 
knowledge of the art. He is a man who keeps his 



ji around him, ami loses 

no iippuMuiiil) lii^indiini himself not niono in regard 
to matters connecU'd with his craft, but nil others 
«»f general int«'rest. 

The spring of IMH.') witnessed the advi-nt of Mr. 
liowman into the city of Wichita, where he still pur- 
sues his calling, and in IMH7 became the |>nrtnerof 
.Mr. lilackburn, whom he bought out in IHMS. He 
stands now at the head of this industry in the State, 
and being prompt and reliable lus a business man, has 
fiill^' estjiblisheil himself in the conndencc and 
esteem of the [K'ople. 



>^^HOMAS K. Sl'KKH, a very pioniineiil and 

t\ wealthy farmer, stock- miser, merchant and 
( real-cstjite dealer, of Illinois Township, is a 
native of Franklin County, Ind., where he wius bf>rii 
Nov. :iO, IHiiO. ami is the son of .b.-epli ami Annie 
(Masters) Speer. 

J<isepli Speer, the father of our siibjet-t. first 
drew the bri'ath of life in I'enii.-ylvania in iMO'.t, 
and was the son of John and Catherine (McCiine) 
Speer. His father was a native of I'ennsylvania, 
and his mother of County Antrim, Ireland. .lo.scpli 
Speer was united in inarriagi-. in May. 1 H;i7, with 
Annie Mastei-s, whose birth took pl.ace Aug. 17, 
l>si;i. Joseph was one of a f.amily of fourteen 
children, jus follows: Annie. Samuel, Joseph. Kd- 
ward, !\Iargftret, Mary, Santh, Catherine, .lane, 
Matilda, Caroline, Klii'.a, Tlnunas and William. 

The subject of our sketch was the eighth child 
of his parents, who had a family of nine children, 
as follows: .Margaret, who wa.s born March 1*2, 
lH;tH, and is .a teacher in Kansas; Mar}- Klizabeth, 
born Oct. 2,'), I8.3',l, married Clint^ui (Jenoways in 
September, lHf><.), and is the mother of three chil- 
dren, and a resident of this county; ,Iolin William, 
born Jan. '.".), I.'^ll, ni:irried Kli/abeth liaird, in 
lMf.;i, is the father of four children, and resides in 
Chat.sworth, Livingston Co., 111.; Samuel Ma.sters, 
born Feb. •!, IHI.'t, niarrieil Sarah M. Stout in Feb- 
ruary, 1H7.'J, is the parent of one child, and a resi- 
dent of this county; Christopher, born June 10, 
184.'), and died of sc;irlet fever, in September, ISI7 ; 
Catherini' Cornelia, born Nov. .'i, 1840, who inar- 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



SOI 



! 



ried Jolin Tamminy, in February, 1873, and died 
June 2, 1879, leuving lliree children, two living and 
one dead, in Champaign Countj', 111.; Matilda Jo- 
sephine, born Oct. (>, 1848, and died Sept. 7, 1879, 
of consumption; Thomas Kdward, the subject of 
our sketch; and Emma Charlotte, born Oct. 31, 
1853, at home with lier parents. 

Mr. Si)eer was reared in the county of his birth, 
and received his education in the common schools 
of that locality. lie remained at home beneath the 
parental roof until October, 18C7, when he sought in 
Woodford County, 111., to better his fortunes, and 
to encourage his efforts, and engaged at farming, 
whicli he followed until 1872. At that time, the 
tide of emigration having set toward the Golden 
Stiite of Kansas, he concluded to cast his lot in that 
favored land, and accordingly came to Sedgwick 
Couutj'. After locating here for a short time, he 
returned to his home in the Sucker State, but soon 
came back to Kansas. About this time he entered 
into a contract with the United States (government 
to furnish wood and hay to the posts in the Indian 
Territorj', and for seven succi'ssive years followed 
that line of business. At the expiration of that 
time he returned to Kansas, but has since traveled 
in the States of Iowa, Nebraska, Jlissouri and 
Texas. 

Mr. Speer is one of the large land-owners of this 
State. He has a fine farm of 240 acres of well- 
improved land in this county, .also ten .acres in one 
tract and five in another, close to the city of 
Wichita, and five lots in the city, which latter have 
a vaUie of 47,000. He is also the possessor of 
160 acres of land in Sumner Count}', 160 acres in 
Pratt County, eighty acres in Barber Count}-, and 
320 acres in Clark County, all in Kansas. These 
are all partly fenced, and are a high grade of farm- 
ing l.ind. He deals in real estate, liandling both 
city lots and outside property, and has acquired. In' 
perseverance, energy and economy, a ver}' hand- 
some fortune. He is a progressive, thorough- 
going and public-spirited citizen, and wiehls gre^at 
inlluence in the communit}' where he lives. In 
politics he gives the Republican party his cordial 
support. 

A matrimonial alliance was contracted by Mr. 
Speer, Nov. 22, 1887, in Sedgwick County, Kan., 

-<• 



at whicli time he led to the hymeucai ;u::u .Miss 
Laura McGlaughlin, who w:is born May 29, 1867, 
in Mercer County, III., and is the daughter of Levi 
and Mary (Moore) McGlaughlin, who were natives 
of Pennsylvania, and now residents of this county. 



KTIIUR SULLIVAN, the leader of the 
real-estate business in the township of Kt^chi, 
and one of its most stirring and energetic 
men, has recently laid out the new addi- 
tion to Wichitii. This is familiarly known as .Sulli- 
van's Addition, and in which a station will probably 
soon be erected at the first division of the Motor 
Line, and which will give thirty minutes between 
e."ich train, making the cit\' ea-S}' of access to the 
suburban residents. 

Our subject, a native of the Dominion of Can- 
•ada, was born in the city of Ottawa, June 28, 1816, 
and w.as the eleventh in a familj' of twelve, the off- 
spring of Thoni.as Allen .and Adeline (Rhodes) 
Sullivan, the father a native of Ireland, and the 
mother of English descent. The paternal grand- 
parents, Thomas Allen, Sr., and Adeline (Belcher) 
Sullivan, were natives of Vermont, as were .also the 
parents of the mother of our subject, Alvin and 
Adeline Rhodes. Grandfather Rhodes was a stanch 
old patriot, and engaged as a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary War. 

The father of our subject followed farming dur- 
ing his early manhood and also learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade, and for some time was eng:iged as a 
contractor in Canada. He afterward operated in 
St. Albans, Vt. Arthur, of our sketch, was reared 
to manhood in his native city, receiving his edu- 
cation in its best schools. He worked with his 
fathei- at farming for a time, and w.as also en- 
gaged in the lumber business in his native count}-. 
There also he was married to Miss Agnes S. Rori- 
sou, in Arnprior, on the 30th of March, 1870. 
Mrs. Sullivan was also born in Carlton County, 
Canada, Jan. 14, 1847, and was the seventh of thir- 
teen children who comprise the family of Hugh 
Umpstead and Annie Grinton (Grierson) Rorison, 
the former a native of Vermont and the latter of 
Scotland. The mother was brought to this coun 



i 






•#-•-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 






try wlioii a lillli" j;irl by her |i!in'iil.H. Ilcr imtcrnni 
(,'ranil|)!irciiL>. wurc Uazil hoii^jhu. iiml Miiry (l"iiip- 
iiU'inI) KoriiMm. (imiulfutlior liori^oii was mnonj; 
tliiiM- <lenoniiiiate(l ilh tlit> Ciiioii lovali.st^.aiiil fi>ii),'hl 
on till- itiili- uf the British in the Kcvoliitionnry 
War n« C'nptnin. Hi' was woumltMl in liattlcaixi rc- 
ci'ivfd a pension from tin- Knj;lish (iuvernnii'nt. He 
was the father of st'Veii rliililren. each of whom Ih-- 
came the jx)ssossor of 2t)i> acres of htnd in Canada 
as part of the |H-iision for llieir father's services, 
after liis deee.-uM'. 'I'his was given in addition to 
the money received annually. 

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Sullivan 
were natives of Scotland, an<l ( Jrandfather (iriersiin 
was a Lienlenanl in the British Navy and followed 
the fortunes of war in the Kitst. fighting along the 
Nile, and also lieing at the b;ittles of Trafalgar anil 
at Copenhagen under the famous Admiral Nelson. 
There is in |>ossession of the family a sword which 
wiLs carried l»y ( I nmd father (irierson, and the suit 
of clothing whicli lie wore upon those niemoralile 
occasions, and which, as may lie supposed, are prc- 
.scrved as priceless relics. He received from the 
Government of England a pension amounting to 
one guinea |i€r day, 

Mr. and Mr.i. .Sullivan after their m;irriage came 
directly to this county, and our subject pre-empted 
the northwest qu.'irter of section 27 in Kechi Town- 
ship. The improvement of this he commenced at 
once, and after putting up a house and barn lived 
there a short time, then purchased a quarter of 
section 2'.t, to which he subsequently removed. 
lie still owns and ha.s greatly improved the prtij)- 
erty, bringing the land to a good Ktate of cultiva- 
tion and erecting all the necessjiry buildings for 
his convenience and comfort. In addition to this 
properly he owns 1 On acres on section 2K an<l fort^- 
acres on .secliun ,'12. Twenty acres of this he 
platted, and named the Hridgewater Addition to 
Wii-hitn. This property lies two blocks from the 
Burttiii .Sio<'k Car Works, on the .Motor Line, and 
is easy of access to the city. 

The farm of Mr. .Sullivan is well stticked with 
graded Norman horses, ami is doubly valuable on 
account of its dose proximity to the Arkansas 
Kiver. lus he re<'<rives <i|,lMi(l royalty a year from 
the llydrauiic .Mills for the use of the dam which 



has been constructed here. The farm is o|H'raled 
by a leiiaiil. Mr. Sullivan came to this township 
ill time to assist in the orgaiii/ation of the scIhmiI 
districts, in which he has served as Treasurer and 
Director, and also Road ()vers<'er. The nourishing 
city of WichiU'i wiu'* then an unpretentious town, 
and not far from its limits roamed buffalo and 
other wild animals, and our subject often partiei- 
|Nited in .'I biifTalo hunt, while at the same time 
se<Miring other wild game. 

To Mr. and Mrs. .Sullivan there have been born 
three children — Anna Adeline, Uobert liorison and 
Albert Newton. Their ehlesl died when three 
months old; the others are pursuing their studies 
in the Krvin ScIkmiI in Wichita. The family also 
includes a niece of Mi-s. .Sullivan, Miss Anna (Jrier- 
soii Britt, whom they adopted anil who is now four- 
teen years of age. Our subject and his wife are both 
connected with the I'resbyteriaii Church, and 
.socially, Mr. S. belongs to the K. of 1'.. at WichiUu 
Mr. S. h.'is jilso taken an active interest in |K)litics 
and uniftirmly votes the straight Republican ticket. 
T<j men of enterprise and sound judgment like 
himself is .Sedgwick County indebteil for its pres- 
ent position as one of the most desirable localities 
of Southern Kansas. 



1 Dll.N i;. MILTNKK, dealer in real esUite, 
ollice No. 410 Kast Douglas avenue, is an 
old and honored resident of Wichit:i, and 
(^/ / occii])ies a prominent |>osition among the 
busiin'.ss men of Sedgwick County. He was born 
in Cassel, (Jermany, June 7, IH.'JG, and is the son 
of .lolin and Martha (Ross) Miltiier. They were 
honest, worthy people, enjoying the re8|)ect and 
.■ilTection of their neighbors. The father was an e.\- 
lensive farmer and followed that occu|>:ition through 
life. They were the p.-ircnts of six children, of 
wh(»m only three are now living — Adam, Henry 
and John B. Adam came to Americi in IKKi!, and 
is now engaged in farming in Ohio. 

The subject of this sketch obtained an excellent 
education in the schools of his native liuid, which ho 
attended until he was fourteen years old. He then 
remained on his father's farm and a;j.sisted him in 



^i 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



803 ' ^ 



i 



the work until he was seventeen. He then started 
out in the world for himself, and from lii.it time 
made iiis own way unassisted, never looking baek, 
but pushing steadily aliead, with all the energy and 
|)ersistcnc(' of his strong nature, to a sure success. 
When he left his old home in the Fatherland he 
turned his face toward the United .States of America 
as a country- whore his lal)ors would receive a better 
reward. He landed on these shores in 1853, and 
proceeded to Chicago, 111., and thence to Han- 
cock County, where he was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits until 1864. For several years after that 
he acted as clerk in a dry-goods house. Sub- 
sequently he entered into the mercantile business at 
Warsaw, III., and was very prosperously engaged 
in that for some time. In the fall of 1875 he dis- 
posed of his interests in that cit}' and came to 
Wichita, where he established himself as a grain 
dealer, and in the ensuing j-cars, by his active in- 
dustry and shrewd capabilitj', became one of the 
leaders in that business. He owned the Arkansas 
Valley and AVichita elevators, :uid handled millions 
of bushels of wheat .and other grain in this city and 
Southwestern Kansas. At the end of ten years he 
had built up a large fortune and retired from the 
grain trade. He then turned his attention to his 
present business, and laid out the Miltner Addition, 
containing ten acres of land, finely located in the 
southeastern part of the city. He built his present 
handsome residence, No. 931 Laura aven\ie, in 
1884. 

Mr. Miltner was man-ied, in 1857, to Miss Sophia 
Wilkic, of Hancock County, 111., daughter of Henry 
and Catherine (Coleman) AVilkie, n.atives of Ger- 
man}'. The}- emigrated to this country, and Mr. 
Wilkie was engaged in farming. Their daughter 
was born in .St. Charles, Mo. She is a woman of 
amiable character, is a worthy Christian, and a de- 
voted member of the German Methodist Episcopal 
Church. To her and her husband have been born 
four children — J. George, Henry F., Annie L. and 
Mary L. Annie is now Mrs. Findeiss; George is 
engaged in the real-est,ate business in Wichita; he 
married Miss Clara Stcinmeier, and they have one 
child, Charles. 

.Mr. Miltner is numbered among the wealthy and 
substantial citizens of Wichita, and wherever known 



is recognized as a man of sterling qualities of mind 
and heart. He is extremely public spirited, and 
h.is contributed thousands of dollars out of his 
fortune toward founding and maintaining the 
various institutions of the city. He is a true 
Christian gentleman, and since 1855 has lielonged 
to the same church of which his wife is a member. 
In politics he is an earnest supporter of the Rei)ub- 
lican party. 



VILLIAM T. McFIE, the leading represent- 
ative of the hardware trade of Clearwater, 
occupies one of its best buildings, which 
covers an area of 20.\G0 feet, and is two stories in 
height. It is located on Ross avenue, and is the 
receptacle of from 1^2,500 to *3,000 worth of stock, 
keeping in employnienl one practical tinner, who 
does all kinds of jobbing in the tinsmith line, while 
the proprietor conducts a trade aver.aging ?!lO,000 
per annum. 

The subject of this notice was born in Bath, 
Steuben Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1861, and is the son 
of William, .Sr., and .Sarah (Brundiige) McFie, who 
also arc residents of Clearwater. The elder McFie 
was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, whence he emi- 
grated to America wlien a boy, and from that time 
until reaching manhood was a resident of New 
Y'ork State. There he met and m.arried his wife, 
who was a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and 
they continued their residence in the Empire State 
until 1885. 

The parents of our subject h.ad two children 
only: William, Jr., and his sister Louise, the latter 
of whom is now the wife of Warren W. Oxx, of 
Steuben County, N. Y. William, Jr., was reared 
to manhood in his native State, where he received 
a common-school education. His experience in the 
hardware trade began when he was a youth of 
seventeen, he being employed as a clerk in the town 
of Bath, N. Y., for a number of years. He came 
to this county in the spring of 1884, ami the year 
following, on the 15th of April, w.as united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of Hon. William 
Ross, by whom he has had two children: Malcolm 



-♦- 



' ' «(I4 



SKUGWICK COUNTY. 






aiiil Mayiiunl. who wiTt- Ihmii Mnrt-h .'>, 1«8C. Mr, 
McKir. |iiiliticnlly, is rieciilcilly l)i-iiio<-nttic, niul is 
iiiiiiili('rt.'il niiiiiiif; the active and rlear-hendeil Im.si- 
iii-s^s iiifii of his town, lie i:« still a y<iiin^ iiinii, ami 
liiL-> :i fair |iros|>cct fur the future. 

<*^:>. ^Zr^ ..'(► ►. 

-^.VIKICK M. iHiNAI.h, ;i 1,:m|im- farmer 

j of Delano rowii«lii|). c-uinforUiMv loeated 

(2l, ^ on section 'J'J, llrst o|K'ne(l his eyes on the 

,' other >iile of the Atlantic in County 

l.oiith. Ir.hmd, Dee. I."., 1 h;((1. Ili^i imrcnLs, Daniel 
anci .Mary (Matthew) McDonald, were also of Irish 
liirlh and i>;nentnj;e. an<l spent their entire lives 
upon their native soil. The parental family c<»n- 
!.ist<Ml of ei-iht children, four of whom are livinj;; 
one remains in Ireland, and the others are in this 
country. 

The suhject of this history was Unely educated 
in his native land, licconiing especially proficient in 
;ieometry an<l the higher mathematics, lie left 
Ireland in IH.^l, .ahuul the time of reaching his 
majority, and first .set foot upon American soil in 
the city of New York. Thence he emigrated to 
Uoston. and remained in the Ka.st for a |H.Tiod of 
twenty years. In the meantime he engjiged at 
lM)ok-kee])ing and in the grocery business. 

Mr. McDonald iii>on coming to thi.s country was 
thrown upon his own resources, and w:us the first 
of his father's family to become the employe of 
anyone. His first severe experience in life, how- 
ever, served to make him rcli;int and independ- 
ent in character, and no tloubt has been the secret 
rd his later success. lie made his way to Southern 
Kan>a.- in llic spring of lM7l,and located in Delano 
Town^llip u|ion a partially improved tract of lanil, 
Hheri! he ha.-, since labored with most excellent re- 
sults. In addilion to general farming he has been 
(piite extensively engaged in slockr.aising. and has 
now a herd of fifty-three head of graded .Short- 
horn ;attle, besides some excellent breeds of 
horses. 

The farm of our subject comprises .120 acres of 
good iMittom land lying on the (.'owskin Kiver, and 
which is well watered and vi-ry fertile. Here he 
h.'i.- erccleil gor>d buildings and availed himself of 



T 



flrst-class farm machinery, and all the other ap- 
proved methods employed by the succes.sful agri- 
ctdturist. Among his ncighltors ami the citizens of 
the township nt large, he is considereil as a man 
whose word is as good iu> his bond. His excellent 
wife, who in her girlhoixl was Miss Mary .1. Ilodg- 
cns, is a native of the same county in Ireland as 
her husband, and was born April .'), IK.'d. .She 
came with her mother to the I'nited States in 1«.')2, 
and her marriage with .Mr. McDonald took place 
in .Ma.ssachu setts in the spring of 1K(!(). 

Mrs. .McDonald is the daughter of Uichard and 
.lane (Clark) llodgcns, and traces her ancestry 
back to Normandy in France, from which they 
subsequent!}' removed to the North of Ireland. 
Her father s|)ent his entire life in his mitive county, 
anil died there when iniddle-jiged. The mother 
died in New York City about IH71. To Mr. and 
Mrs. McDonald have been born four children, 
namely: Hose M., who died when about nine 
months old ; Winnifred, Patrick C. and Thomxs. 

Mr. McDonald upon becoming a naturalized 
American citizen first voted the Republican ticket, 
but is now an active supporter of the (Jreenback 
party. He has served as Road Overseer in his 
township two years, occupied the ollice of Trnslte 
for the same length of time, and has also been 
Assessor. He was reared in the faith of the Catho- 
lic Church, to which he loyally adheres. 



LF .STEW AUl'. llie present projierous 
^^_^ condition of this section of Kan.sius is largely 
lifm due to the class of men who came here 
g* during its earliest history. One of these, 

now a worthy representative of the farmers and 
stock-growers of Kechi Township, where he owns 
a farm on the northwest quarter of section 24. 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1H2»;, and was the only 
chilli of Adam and Lydia (Schonover) Stewart, his 
father being a successful farmer in the Keystone 
.Slate. Our sidjject left home at the age of six 
years to begin life for himself, and his first exjicr- 
icnce in the outside world was as a cabin boy on 
board of an Krie Canal boat, where he afterward 
liecame cook. Later he found work on the Ohio 



•>HI-^»' 



■•►■-^ 




..oij— Ml T " -^t O i xllMi l i i i i l i 11 1 11 am ■l» -« i m i y .i m i u li^ M — »■■>' iiii. m i»» 



^ Lwiiiii»'a»"rrf'»iM 




Res. OF 5. A-Stuckey,Sec.9. MinnehaTownship 



■Jklfl»iy.'»--.V* 



Res. or E.A. Record , Sec. 11. PayneTownship. 




TEN-MiLE-FbsT Farm , Res. of S.C.Reece,Sec.27. ATTlc^TclVYNSHtP. 



-^^ 



•►^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



807 



and Mississippi Rivers as a boathand, remaining 
thus emploj'cd for a number of years. Afterward 
he traveled for some time with a show. Then he 
applied himself to learn the blacksmith trade, and 
was actively omployed in that for a few years. .Sub- 
sequently he traveled for seventeen years in differ- 
ent lines of business. 

Our subject was married, in Ohio, to Miss Mary 
N. Massej', a native of that Slate, and settled witii 
her in Milford, Ohio, where he had charge of a 
smithy for several 3'ears. In May, 1804, his faith- 
ful and devoted wife departed this life, leaving 
one child with its father to mourn their loss. 

Mr. Stewart took an honorable part in the late 
Civil War; he enlisted in the 13Cth Ohio Infantry, 
and went into service at Camp Cliase, going thence 
to Washington, and from there to Ft. Ellsworth. 
lie w.is discharged at Washington at the expiration 
of his term of enlistment, Sept. 5, 1864, and returned 
home, but he soon after re-enlisted, in the 25th 
Ohio Veteran Infantry, Oct. 1, 1864, and served 
faithfully the following 3-ear, receiving his final 
discharge Oct. 7, 1865, at Charleston, S. C. lie 
was engaged in the battle of Honey Hill and re- 
ceived a flesh wound while bravely fighting; healso 
took part in a number of shirmishes. 

Our subject was a second time marrried, in Ohio, 
March 27, 1866, to Mrs. Clarissa L. (Downer) 
Childs, daughter of II. M. and Mary (Jones) Dow- 
ner, natives of Vermont, and the widow of Isaac 
Childs. Her former husband w.os killed at the bat- 
tle of Buzzard's Roost before Atlanta. He first 
enlisted in Company F, 1 .'Uh Ohio, for three months, 
was mustered out of service at Baines Cross Roads 
Dec. 31, 1863, and re-enlisted in the same company 
for three j'eai-s, cu' until the close of the war, and 
was pubsequentlj' killed, as before mentioned. Mrs. 
Stewart's grandfathers, Downer and Jones, took 
part in the War of 1812. 

Mr. Stewart removed witli his family to Kansas 
Nov. 6, 1871, and located on what is now section 
24, Kechi Township, taking up 160 acres of land 
under the provisions of the homestead act. The 
following spring he built a house on his land and 
has ever since resided here. He immediate!}' com- 
menced the improvement of his land, which is now 
in an admirable state of culture, and it has become 



a very valuable piece of property, owing to his 
careful tillage, the neat buildings he lias erected, 
and to its central location in a part of the country 
that has developed with marvelous rapidity, with a 
corresponding increase in the rise of values. His farm 
is well stocked with good horses and with graded 
Hereford cattle. In 1874 Mr. Stewart established 
a blacksmith-shop in AVichita, and in 1876 he kept 
a lunch counter; he did well in both enterprises and 
made money. 

To our subject and his wife eleven children iiave 
been born, namely: Dayton, Fred, Dol|)h, R.ay, 
Mary, Joe, Emma, Clara, Hi, Dyer and Bertie. 
Tluur parents have given them the inestimable ad- 
vantages of a good education, and the younger 
children are still attending school ; they all live at 
home. 

Our subject does not care to take an active part 
in politics, but he always sl^inds by the principles 
for W'hich he fought, and casts his vote with the 
Republicans every time. He and his wife are held 
in the highest respect, not only as pioneers of this 
county, but for their genuine integrity of char- 
acter. 

'^11 



tg^ LBERT J. WEAVER. One of the finest 
(^Ol and best conducted farms in Grant Town- 
It ship lies about seven miles north of the city 
of Wichita, and five and one-half miles 
from the village of Valley Center, and is familiarly 
known as the W^ caver homestead, and as the result 
of the labors of the gentleman whose name stiinds 
at the head of this sketch. His son, however, has 
principal charge of its operations, while the father 
is wisely taking life easy and only engages in labor 
or business as a recreation. 

A native of the Keystone State, Albert J. Weaver 
was born in Blair County, April 7, 1837, and w.is 
the seventh chilil of John B. and Susan R. (Delancy) 
Weaver, whose familj' included five sons and five 
daughters. Tliej- also were born in Pennsylvania, 
and si)ent their Last years in Blair County. The 
paternal grandfather, Frederick Weaver, w.as a na- 
tive of Germanj', whence he emigrated at the age 
of fourteen years, and settling in Pennsylvania, 



4 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



iiiiirricii n Miss Muriii Kfeliehougc, n native of llint 
SIhU'. \vIut«' llu'V s|K'iil llu- reiiiiiitiili-i° of their lives 
fiij{ii;;e<l in fnrinin;r |iiirsiiit.s. Tlir Deliiiioys were 
of Kri'iu-h ik's<H'nl, niiil the nint<*rn:il fjninilfjithiT 
orrveil im :i Coninioduri' in the iiiivy iliirin;^ tlic 
Ucvolutiunnry Wiir. 

The falhor of our siilijcft U'.-irneil llio triule of 
wuiivi-r (lurin;; hi!< youth, whii-li ho .■ihaiKhuuMl in 
1k:I4 for till' niori- fon!.'eni!il pursuits of ii carpt'U- 
l«?r !Unl liuililer, iind thcrcnftor followed this .'lud 
WHS niso a fontnu'lor until his death, which iK-curred 
in lUair County, I'u., in .lunc. IK.Mt, when he was 
sixty-one _veai-s old. The wife and mother sur- 
vived the husliauil for a period of thirteen years, 
her death lakin<r place in 1S7I, at the a^'e of sev- 
enty-two. 

l)ur subject received a good education in his 
native St«tc, completing his studies in the -Jtraded 
schools, and served an apprenticeship of .seven 3'cars 
ut the car|H;nl<'r traile, which he followed during 
his residence there. He was married, in ISjT, to 
a maiden of MilUin County, Miss Clara Benner, 
who was horn .Ian. '.), lH:iiS, and wius the third child 
of .lames W. and Margaret (Rupert) Henner. The 
latter were natives also of the Keystone Stjite, and 
the parents of eight children. The great-grand- 
father of Mrs. Weaver wiis Gen. Philip Benner, luie 
of the liravesl soldiers in the Rcvolutionar}' War, 
and operating prineipall}' in the Wyoming Valley. 
On her mother's side her grandparents were Philip 
and Mary Rupert. 

The subject <»f our sketch o^ntinued in his native 
.State until the outbreak of the late Civil War, and 
was among the first to offer his services as a vol- 
unteer, enlisting on the 1 .sth of April, l.sr.l, with 
the three-months men. He had gained a good 
insight into milit-iry affairs, having previously been 
a mendier of a local company, lie now cast his 
lot with Company A, .')d Pennsylvania Infantry, 
and was mustered into service at llarrisburg the 
Siinie ilay of his enlistment, lie wius first assigned 
to picket iluty around Cawkey ville Hill, at the time 
the Mitssachusetls troo|>» were attacked at Balti- 
more, .Md., and not long afterward met the enemy 
in the battle at llainesville. At the expiration of 
his term of <-nlistment he returned home, and w.is 
subneipiently employed by the Peim.'iylvunia Canal 



Company, who were engaged in the buildin 
bridges and aijueducts. 

In the meantime, there np|H'aring no pros|H'ct of 
an imme<liat4> settlement of the difliculty between 
the North and South, Mr. Weaver could not con- 
tent himself with stnying at home while others were 
litLstening to the field of conflict, and accordingly 
not only rc-enliste<l for three years, but went t4> 
work and recruited a company for the service, lie 
now became a member of Company U, 1 KHli Penn- 
sylv.'inia Infantry, the ilatc of his enlistment being 
Sept. l.s, lMi;i,and pur|iosed to continue as a sol- 
dier of the I'nion arm}' until the clo.se of the war. 

Mr. Weaver was the second time musterc<l into 
service, at llarrisburg. Ph., and soon afterward 
engaged in the battle .at Hancock, Md., and there- 
after met the rebels in thirteen engagement- ami 
skirmishes. In the meantime he captured five pris- 
oners, triumphantly marching into camp with each 
man by himself. He was the first man to scale the 
wall at the first battle of Winchester, and received a 
slight Uesh wound from a ininic ball. The expos- 
ure and harilships to which he was subjectecl brought 
on a hemorrhage of the lungs, from which he suf- 
fered considerably for a time, but he otherwise 
esciiped unharmed, and a second time was honora- 
bly discharged, at llarrisburg. Pa., ami was mustered 
out Sept. 21, 1HC4. 

Mr. Weaver now sought his old haunts in Blair 
County, Pa., where he continued as a contractor and 
builder, and put up some of tlic finest residences in 
that section of country. In 18G7 the hemorrhage 
which had troubled him while in the army broke 
out afresh, and by the advice of his physicians he 
aliandoned active labor and removed to Williams- 
burg, where, under the first administration of Presi- 
dent (irant he was appoiutc<l Poslnuuster, whii-h 
oflice he occupied three years and then tendered 
his resignation. His health being scunewhat recov- 
ered he went into West N'irginia, and was given a 
position as fcueman of the KIk River Navigation 
Compiiny, in which position heremaineil until chills 
aixl fever compelle<l him toabandon that section of 
country. He now made his way back to Williams- 
burg, Pa., and re-entered the employ of the Penn- 
sy I vaiii.a Canal Company, whii'h wjis then engaged 
in building locks in the North Br.anch Canal. He 



of 



■ ^»- 



-•^-•-4» 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



809 ' ' 



remained with tbem until near liu: .-|niii;i uf 1873, 
then engaged as a contractor and builder in Lewis- 
town. From there, in the wiTiter of 187.'»-76, he 
migrated to Philadcljihia at the time of the erection 
of the building for the Centennial Exposition, and 
was placed .as foreman over one of the departments. 
His family in the meantime remained in Lewistown. 

After the completion of his contract in Phila- 
delphia Mr. Weaver became an employe of the 
Penns\'lvania Central liailroad Company, and was 
occupied in erecting signal towers and depots until 
the fall of the3'ear, when he determined to seek the 
farther West. He had for some time been inter- 
ested in the reports coming from .Southern Kansas, 
and now making his way directly' to this county, 
took up his residence in Grant Township and con- 
tinued his trade of carpenter and builder. In June, 
1879, he went to New Mexico .as foreman for the 
Santii Fe Railroad Company in the erection of 
depots and division houses, returning in October to 
Grant Township. 

Mr. Weaver now invested a part of his capital in 
eighty acres of partially improved land on section 
15 in Grant Township, where he took up his resi- 
dence with his famil}- and hsis since remained. His 
knowledge of carpentering and building enabled 
him to erect the various structures required for his 
comfort and convenience, thus saving the expendi- 
ture of a large sum of mone}'. He has a good house 
and barn, with the various other buildings required 
by the modern agriculturist, and in addition to the 
land in this count3', has a timber claim of 1(50 acres 
in Stanton County, this State. One of the most 
noticeable features of the homestead is a good 
orchard, and the fields are enclosed with neat and 
substantial fences. 

The farm of our subject, besides having been 
brought to a good state of cultivation, is well stocked 
with high-grade Norm.an horses, Durham cattle and 
pure-bred Poland-China swine. In this department 
he takes an especial pride and exhibits some of the 
finest animals in his township. As ma}' be supposed 
his life has been an exceedingly busy one, with few 
idle hours. In addition to his own private interests 
he has given much time to local affairs, and is one 
i)f the most active workers of the Hepublican i)arty 
in his county. As a member of the State Central 



Committee he has beiu luinisted with importimt 
interests, and is frequently appointed a delegate to 
the County Conventions. There is no warmer 
friend of temperance in the State, and although not 
quite ready to identify* himself with the Prohibition 
party, he earnestly endorses their principles. The 
various enterprises calculated to do credit to Sedg- 
wick County have ever found in him an earnest 
advocate and friend, and in addition to his various 
other duties he officiates .as Secretary and Treasurer 
of the Centennial Park Association, which w.as incor- 
porated in 1876, and whose grounds are located on 
section 16, in Grant Township. ^ 

Mr. Weaver and his estimable wife are members 
in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
of which our subject is Steward and Trustee, and 
one of the most lil)eral supporters, and donated an 
acre of ground for the erection of a church eilifice. 
Soci.all}', he belongs to Charles E. Wariner Post No. 
335. G. A. R., at Valley Center. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, si.\ in 
number, were named respectively : James B., Letitia, 
Carrie M., Marietta, John A. and Charles F. Of 
these but two are living. Carrie M. is the wife of 
J. O. Mead, a well-to-do farmer of Grant Town- 
ship, and Charles F. is ojjcrating the homestead. To 
partiallj' replace tlie little ones who have been 
snatched from the household circle b^- ileath. Mr. 
and Mrs. Weaver have taken into their home a little 
girl, Maude Grover, now nine years of age, whom 
they are rearing as their own, and to whom thej* are 
performing the part of kind and affectionate parents. 
Mr. Weaver, with his characteristic industry, follows 
his trade when so inclined, and there are many 
buildings in the city of WichiUi which stand as 
monuments of his ingenuity and skill. 



J^OHN W. WINTERS. Among the y.ung 
men of Sedgwick County who have selected 
agriculture .as their vocation in life, and 
judging from their present indications are 
bound to succeed in their chosen calling, is the sub- 
ject of this biographical notice, who is a resident of 
Eagle Township, on section 23. He came toSedg- 



HI-<^ 



T 



i 



-♦ 



-•► 



sI:Im;\\ K K CdlMV. 



wick toiiiily ill llif full of I.sTl", wluii bul tifle.ii 
\i-iirM»f ii!^f.ninl fiirnbiiul thri-uyi-iirs iiimlo lii.Hluiiiio 
with lii.H lirolluT, Ownr I.. WiiiU-nt, of wlioiii ii 
.-kfU-li is givoii olsowluTC in llu- paj,'!'.* ut this Ai.iu'm. 
lie llicii ri'iniJViMl to Koiio ( imiily. in lliis SliiU'. 
whiTi- fur llircc yi'iu'slif >vn.soii;^i;;i'il in iif^ricnltiinil 
liiir>uiLs. At tlif fX|iiriilion of that iK-iiod lu' rv- 
lurni'il l»> Sedgwii-k County, .•in<l i)n tin- furni (»f his 
lirotlii-r, on section 'iti, I'lirrioil on tlie labors of his 
rhosiMi viK-alion. Kightorn nionlli.s l.-iler ho rrosscd 
ihu river, iiml renting .1. K. Brown's phice, on sec- 
tion 'JN, liv«-(l there one year. !ift»'r which he pur- 
eliiLsed tiie fiirni where lie is now liviiij; of .Iiu-oli 
Wilson, of whom he lionghl eighty aeres. Thishiis 
been his home <ver since, and here he is engaged in 
general fanning and stock-raising. 

.Mr. Winters is a native of LaSalle County, III., 
born .Sept. I. IX')'. and is the son of William and 
l.etlie ( .McDowell) Winters, both of whom were 
natives of Ohio. A sketch of his parents is given 
in connection with that of his brother Oscar, in 
.■mother place. 'I'he subject of this sketch is a self- 
made man, h.aving made all his po.ssessioiis by his 
own indu.-lry, diligence and economy, and is en- 
titled to high praise for his conimenilalilc activity, 
lie is, although young in years, one of the rejire- 
scntnlive men of the township, and occupies a high 
place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. His 
genial ni.'inners and his sturdy integrity have won 
him a host of friends, and he is highly regarded by 
all with whom he comes in contact. He is strong 
in his faith in the principles of the iiepublican party, 
and never falters in his allegiance l,o that orgaiii/.a- 
lion. Iiut, although interested to a great degree in 
.'ill local campaigns, luis no desire for the troubles, 
re.-ponsibili ties and disipiietiiig influences of jiolilical 
olliee. In 1-xi he was induced to accept the nom- 
ination for 'rreje^urcr of .'Nchool District No. II, and 
on his ele<-tion lilled that position for about n year, 
when he resigned it on removing from the <listricl. 

Having esUiblished a home of his own. .Mr. Win- 
ters was united in marriage, Nov. TJ, Ihmj, witli 
Miss Jessie Itlinii, and installed her mistress of the 
household. His chosen life companion is a n.ative 
of Warr<-n County, Ohio, born .Vpt. J, IS.'iO, and is 
the daughter of Henry and Kll/.abelh (Watj^oii) 
lilinn, natives of \'irginia and Ohio respectively. 



Her father i^ a hardy son of toil, who is engaged in 
tilling his farm in \'nlley CenliT 'rownship, in this 
county. Our subject and his wife have been 
bless«'d by the advent of two intiTCSling children, 
.May and Craig, who are the light of the lioii.sehold 
anil the joy of their parents' hearts. 



P\\ . .\ 111)1,1'! occupies IhcresiMiiisible iKisitioii 
! of Cashier and Chief Clerk uf the ."st. Louis 
, it .San Francisco Railway, of the Atclii.Miii, 

'I'opeka it SanUi Fc Railway, and of the Wichita A- 
Western R^tilway, with his olHeo at Wichita. He 
has an excellent reputation for financial sjigacity 
and executive .-ibility, attained by but few of our 
young men of the West, is held in high esteem by 
all railway ollicials and magnates, anil i:$ regarded 
a.N the right man in the right place. He is a native 
of Cleveland, Ohio, born in \si,i',, and is the son of 
Louis and Christina (Went/) Abele, natives of 
(Jerinany. They came to America in their younger 
days and .settled in Ohio. .Mr. Abele was for many 
j'cars connected with the railways in that .Stiite, 
holding various positions of res|K>nsibility .and trust, 
and became widely known as a man of intelligence, 
probity and ability. He is now living in liononible 
retirement at .Sandusky, t)hio. To him and his 
estimable wife were born four children, only 
two of whom are now living, the subject of this 
biography and his lirother Charles, a professor and 
teacher of music, formerly of Sandusky, now of 
Wichita. 

F. W. Abele followed in the fooLsU'ps of his 
father, commencing at the age of fifteen as a station 
agent and a telegraphic operator at .Sandusky, Ohio. 
He early displayed unusual tact for business, and 
his strict attention to his work, and the cHlcicnt 
manner in which he discharged his duties, gained for 
him the commendation and conndciicu of his em- 
ployers, and have resulted in his occupying high 
ollicial positions. He was at one time connected 
with the \'aiiiliilia Railway, at .Montrose. III., and 
was ill Terre Haute, Ind., two and one-half years. 
In IK7S he was offered the |Hisitio!ihe now occupies 
in this city, and reUiined it until I SHI. Subseipieiitly 
he again eiit<;red the employ of Illinois and Indiana 



-9^^- 



-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



811 



railwaj's, remaining in that piirtof the country until 
1884. He then was induced to come back to 
Wichita and resume his old oflice, wiiicli he now 
holds. He is looked upon as authoritj- on all rail- 
w;iy matters, and has an eye single to the immense 
interests entrusted to his care, allowing no detail to 
csca|)e his personal supervision. Since coming to 
this city Mr. Abele has m.ide some prolitalde invest- 
ments in real estate, and has liuill a commodious 
dwelling at No. 255 Ohio avenue. 

Mr. Abelc was married to Miss Kensilla E. 
Boutell, of Bay City, Mich., in 1879. Two chil- 
dren have been born to them, Elvaand William H. 
Mr. and Mrs. Abele have made many warm friends 
since coming to this city, their genial and courteous 
manners and other pleasant social qualities attract- 
ing to them all with whom Ihcy come in contact. 






=^ L. SMYSER. This highly respected gentle- 
man, of Kechi Township, is pa3'ing espe- 
cial attention to horticulture, and intends to 
turn his place into a fruit farm, making a specialtj' 
of grapes, and raising the finest varieties of pears, 
])lums, apricots and other fruits. Mr. Sniyser was 
born in W.ayne County, Ohio, .Sept. 28, 1849, and 
is the youngest of the seven children born to Jacob 
and Sarah (Diehl) Smyser, natives of York County, 
Pa. His paternal grandparents, Jacob and Cather- 
ine (Herman) Smyser, were likewise natives of the 
Ke3'stone State. The father of our subject w.as a 
farmer in his native State for some years after he 
had attained his majority', and subsequently moved 
to Ohio, where he is engaged in the same occupation. 
He and his wife are industrious, honest, intelligent 
people, well worthy of the respect of the people 
among whom they have lived for so many years. 
They have been fairly* prosperous in life and can 
spend their last years in comfort. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man's estate 
on his father's farm, and as soon .is old enough 
assisted in its cultivation until he was twcntj'-onc, 
gaining a good, practical knowledge of the business, 
under the wise guidance of his father. He subse- 



quently entered upon a mercantile life in his native 
Stjite, continuing in it for nine years. In the 
meantime he had married and established a home, 
his marri.ige to Miss Lydia Norton, of Ohio, taking 
place in that State, Dec. 4, 187.'5. She was born 
Sei)t. 22, 1852, and was the eighth child born to 
Bejijamin and Catherine (F^mericli) Norton, natives 
of Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandparents, Hugh 
and Elizabeth Norton, and her maternal grand- 
parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Keiscr) Emerich, 
were all natives of Pennsylvania. Her grandfather 
Emerich was engaged in the War of 1812. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Smyser were born three children, namelj': 
Edward, Cleveland and Clyde; the latter two are 
twins. PIdward is a stu<lent in a school at WichiUi, 
and the others arc at school in the home district. 
In the winter of 1877 our subject closed his busi- 
ness in Ohio, and went to Tex.a.s the following 
spring, remaining there the succeeding two years, 
engaged in the stock business, while his family 
still resided in their Ohio home. He finally' sold 
out his business interests in Texas and returned to 
his native .State, from which he removed with his 
familj' in the sjjring of 1881 to Meriden, Jefferson 
Co., Kan. There he turned his attention to the 
stock and grain business for two and one-half 
years, and then moved with his famil}' to Wichita, 
and took up his residence in the city. In January", 
1 883, he bought 1 60 acres of land on section 33, 
but he still continued to live in tlie city until the 
following year, when he moved with his wife and 
children to this place, and commenced the improve- 
ment of his land, which he has already placed in a 
high state of culture, and has built a neat, 
commodious house, a fine barn and Ciirriage-house. 
He has since platted 140 acres of his land, under 
the name of WichiUi Gardens, and sold it in two 
and one-half acre lots, and by that speculation 
made quite a sum of money. He owns eighty acres 
of land adjacent to Newton, about a mile from First 
street, and a beautiful home near Wichita, with 
grounds twenty acres in extent. His farm is well 
stocked with driving horses of the Hazard strain, 
a fine bunch of Durham cattle, and with fiftj' 
Poland-China hogs. As we have before mentioned, 
he is turning his attention to fruit-raising, to which 
the rich, friable soil of his land is peculiaily adapted, 




-4^ 



si: 



•^►hI-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



anil lip hns* nlrcmly set out orclmnU of the bost 
kiiiiU iif fruit, nii<l Una n gito<l vim.'_vi>r<l. 

Our sulijoot is a keen, prarlicnl ninii, well giftetl 
w iih iiu-nUil nnil physical vigor. In politics lie onsts 
his voU- for the eandidnteii of the Hopuhlicnn 
part)', ami, nithuugh he does not lakean active |Nirl 
in pnlilie life, he conscientiously perforins his duties 
iLs a gcKxl citizen. lie and his wife are people of 
high consideration in social circles in this com- 
munity, and are members of the I'reshylerian 
C'hnri'h. Mr. Sniyers is a mem her of the A. O. I '. \V. 



NDHKVV M. DDlCAI.L.proprieUuofovcr 
.'ton .'icres of land on secli(ni ;i(l, in <iy|isum 

'// (I 'I'owiiship, and a gentleman of ednculion 
and intelligence, who employed his earlier 
years :is a teacher in the pulilic schools, is now 
operating his large farm in a highly successful man- 
ner, and is making a specialty of the raising of (hie 
stoi'k. lie keei)s a herd of ahoiit fifty head of 
Short-horn cattle, while his lioi-ses and swine will 
compare favorably with those of his neighbors. 

Mr. McDiiugall cinie to this section of country 
ill 1m7'J, and soon afterward located upon his pres- 
ent homestead, in the condition of which he has 
effected a ilecided change. His boyhood days were 
spent in Washington County, N. Y.. where his birth 
look place on the lOih of .lanuar)', IHl.'i, and where 
he received a good education in the common 
s<'liools. There also he began teaching, at which 
employment he iK'cupied him.self in the winter sea- 
son principally, while iluriiig the months of sowing 
and reaping he made himself useful around his 
father's homestead. The latter. .loliii McDougall, 
a native of Scotlaixl. married in early manhood 
Miss M. Ilasha, and they became the parents of 
nine children, of whom our subject was the fourth 
ill order of birth. The father was .1 farmer by oc- 
cu|>ation, ami the jiarcnts are now deceased. 

Our subject continued on the farm until about 
the time of reaching his majority, and when twenty- 
seven years of age wa.s united in marriage with 
.Miv. Isabella K. .McNeal. the weilding t.-iking place 
at the home of the bride in March. 1 KIO. Mrs. 
McDoiignll was born in Washington County, N. Y., 



ill IXll.and is the daughter of Alex and Nancy 
(Murray) McNeal, who were natives of the same 
.State. She was educated in the common scIkmiIs, 
and remained under the |>arent.-il r<H>f until her 
marriage. Her union with our subject resulted in 
tJie birth of two children, one of whom ilied in in- 
fancy ; the other. Frank, is now at home. 

Mr McDougall. in 184C, made his way from the 
Kmpin- .Slat«' t<t Henderson County, III., of which 
he continued a resident until IHT,"). He then crossed 
the .Mississippi into St. Clair County. Mo., and for 
five yc.'irs o|>en»ted t>n a tract of land H'lO acres in 
extent. Thence, in 1«79. he cnnic to this count)' 
and l(K'ated upon his present homestead. He put 
the buildings in re|)air, provided himself with fii-st- 
chuis farm machinery, and is now ranked among 
the progressive men of (iy)*suni Township. I'o- 
liti<-ally. he alliliates with the Hepiiblicans. He was 
for a number of years an KIder in the I'liitcil Pres- 
byterian Church. He luis filleil the minor ollicesof 
.School District Clerk and Township Trustee, and 
takes a warm interest in the welfare of his coin- 
luunitv. 



IX. 



<^m^ 



^TSSTT 



yrlLLIAM HKNKY WILLIAM.S. who is 
successfully eng;iged as a butcher anil in 
W^ llic ineal-m.'irket business at Wichita, was 
horn in Minneapolis, Minn., in IK03, and came with 
his parents to Kansas in lsiC8. In early life he 
worked on a cattle ranch for six yeai-s, then farmed 
for Iwoyeai-s. On .July -1, IBH". considering him- 
self eipial to the cares and responsibilities of a 
famil)', he was united in marriage with Miss Ida K. 
Brooks, of Charleston, III., d.aughter of .lohn K. 
and Anna C. (Whitacre) HriKtks. and established 
his present business, in which he is nieeting with 
success. 

William Williams, Sr.. the father of our subject, 
was the son of an American family of Welsh and 
.Scotch .'uicestry, the earliest record of whom locates 
them in Tennessee. In that State William, Sr., was 
born and reared, and when a young man removed 
thence to Wisconsin, where he occupied himself for 
a lime in the lead mines at Mineral Point. There 
also he was married to Miss Kli»kbeth Duncan, of 



•^■.-^ 



•►-•-4» 






••► 



SEDG^nCK COUNTY. 



813 



Indiaua, of whom mention is made in the sketch of 
Robert Duncan, which will bo f^mnd un another 
page in this volume. 

Mr. and Mrs. Williams became the parents of five 
children, namely: Emma, Loretta, John, .James, and 
■William, of our sketch. The famil}' removed to 
Minnesota about ISoo, where thej' were among the 
earliest pioneers. The father for a time conducted 
the Cataract House, of Minneapolis, and also oper- 
ated a liverj- stable. In 18()8 he came to this State 
and purchased a farm in Sedgwick County. Two 
years later, in .January-, 1871, he became a resident 
of Wichita, and subsequent!}' held the ollice of 
Dejjut}' United States Marshal for this district. He 
was an earnest advocate of Republican principles, 
and a man who commanded respect. His death 
occurred at his home in Wichita, in 1885. The 
mother died in 1887. In politics Mr. Williams is 
a Republicin. The mother of Mrs. Williams is 
now deceased. 



^= 



=E> 



0j,EL8 MARTINSON is .imong the stalwart 
}j and substantial citizens of Dehmo Township, 
7) who are of alien birth, but who have, by 
their own unaided exertions, raised themselves 
from the state of comparative poverty in which 
they came to this country, to their present prosper- 
ous condition. He is engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising on section 1 9, and is a well-to-do 
and respected citizen of the community. He was 
born in Sweden, Oct. 16, 181^7, and is the son of 
Martin and Charity Hawkinson, both of whom were 
natives of the same country. 

Our subject in his boyhood received the educa- 
tion that is so common to the youth of his country, 
for it is a well-known fact that but few of his coun- 
trymen arc so illit(rrate as not to read or write. He 
grew to manhood in his native land, and becoming 
convinced that on that side of the ocean it w.^s 
almost impossible for a man to rise above his 
condition or to acquire a competence, he decided 
to seek in the New World, and under the protec- 
tion of the American Government, the friend of 
the iX)or man, that fortune which was denied him 



«-^ 



in his home. Accordingly, in June, 1865, he bade 
adieu to that land of the midnight sun, and em- 
barking upon what proved a temiiestuous passage 
across the Atlantic, landed in the United States. 
He at once came west to Chicago, where soon after 
his arrival, Aug. 7, 18().'), he was united in mar- 
riage with jNliss Nellie Oieson. a native of the same 
country, who was born Nov. 27, 1838, and who 
came over to this country on the same vessel as her 
future husband. Mr. Martinson remembers dis- 
tinctly that just pricr to the sailing of the ship, 
the news came of the .assassination of Lincoln, the 
martyred President, and the flight and cai)ture of 
Jefferson Davis, the President of the would-be Con- 
federacy. 

Our subject remained in Chicago until 1870, em- 
ployed as a common laborer by the day, but early 
in that year came to Kansas, and the following 
June pre-empted ICO acres of land on section 1!), 
where he is now living. lie has an excellent farm, 
lying on both sides of the Cowskin Creek, which 
affords water so necessary for stock or for raising 
grain in this country. The soil is of a heavy dark 
loam, generally, with some upland prairie, and is 
exactly suited to raise grain, stock, or small fruits. 
It is in a beautiful and healthy location, and lias 
produced .as high as seventy-eight to eighty bushels 
of corn to the acre. The distinct school is distant 
from it but half a mile, .and two churches lie 
within eas3' access. 

Mr. Martinson, politically, is a supporter of the 
principles of the Greenback party, and .also a strict 
Prohibitionist. He is a great reader, believing the 
company of good books to be truly civilizing. By 
the perusal of a number of papers he keeps himself 
well informed as to the progress of current events. 
In 1874 Mr. Martinson had the misfortune to lose 
his wife by death, since which time he has been 
living a lonelj* life on his farm, with his son, Frank 
Oscar, who w:is born in Chicago, 111., Aug. 12, 
18G9. Lulu L., his only other child, was born in 
Sedgwick County, Kan., Dec. 3, 1871, being the 
first white child born cast of the Cowskin in De- 
lano Township. Mr. Martinson is a liighlj' indus- 
trious man, and of ligid and sterling integrity, and 
his honesty of pur|)ose and upright princi|)les have 
won him the respect and confidence of everyone 



f 






RM 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



wild knows liiiii. lit' is iniikiiii; u ^rctit siiccpiwi in 
liiit t-nllinp. nn<l is nirendy woll n<lvnnre<I on tin- 
ron<l to Ihnt rotii|><-UMii-c wliicli will nfTord to Ins 
(Iprlinin;; yi'nnt the cium' nml coiiiforl i-urni'd l>y n 
long life of toil. 

II I.IAM II. STAFFOUI). This {.'cntlcmnn 
!.•. noLiiljIc u> lufing «)nf of the very enrliosl 
pii>ncfrs of .Seilgwick County, and it givesi 
us |ilca.-.ur»' to place a brief nccoiinl of his lifp ho- 
fori- tin' rt-atiiTs of Ihi;* work. He is cxteiLsively 
rn(;:i<;eil in farniin<; in Ninncseah Township, lie 
conies of An;jlo-C'eltic ancestry, his father and 
mother, who were of .Southern liirth, heiny res|)e('t- 
ively of Knf;lish ami Irish ori^,'iii. Ilis father, .lames 
Sliifforil, w;us l»>rn in .South Carolina, but when a 
hoy he moved with his parents to lli>;hland County, 
(Jhiu, and there grew to manhood; later on he 
liecaroe a resilient and an early settler of Fountain 
County, Ind., anil there he led an honored and 
useful life until his deatli, in 1 H.'if!, aged .si.xty- 
four, at which time he had accumulated cousidera- 
l)Ie property l»y his industry and frugality, and 
wa.s enaliled to leave his family in comfortjilile cir- 
cumstjinces. Ilis ainialile wife, the mother of our 
subject, survived him until 1876. Her maiden 
name was Aiuia .Siivage, and she was born in \'ir- 
ginia in 1K0((. Mr. SUifford had been twice mar- 
ried, and wa.s the father of eight children, of whom 
the following survive : Charles A., .lames M., Re- 
becca and William II. Charles lives in Wichita, 
Kan.; .James is a resident of .Sedgwick County; 
Kebeccn is the wife of Aaron Franklin, of l*;iwnee 
County, Neb. 

William II., of this ..kelch, was liorn in Fountain 
County. Ind.. Dec. ItO. lHi2. He was reared to 
manhood in his native county, receiving a prelimi- 
nary education in the district school, and in IHfA) 
entering his name on the roll of studenUs of Asbiiry 
I'nivcrsity, Creenca.stle. Ind. The following year, 
after the breaking out of the war, he and several 
of his fellow-students laid aside their studies and 
with entliusia.stic patriotism went forth to light the 
battles of their country, our subject enlisting a-s a 
private in Coni|>nny II, 72il Indiana Infantry. In 



nix nionth.s he was promoted to .Sergeant, and for 
nearly a year |iartici|Nited in the pursuit of Morgan, 
.lust before the battle of Stone Kiver he was taken 
sii'k with jaundice, .ami discharged in .lainniry, 
1K(J3, and returned to his homo in Indiana. In 
.Inly, 1 K(i3, he re-enlisted for a |>criiKl of six months, 
entering the ranks as a common soldier in Com- 
pany C, llUtli Indiana Infantry. He was stationed 
))rinci|>ally in Kentucky and Tennes-see, iM?rforming 
guard duty. He was di.schnrged in March, IKC.-l, 
having served his country with faithfulness and 
ability. 

Aftt-r the war Mr. Stafford returned to Imliana, 
and thence went to Chnm|>aign Coiuity, III., where 
he spent the succeeding two years. He then came 
to K.-in.Hjts and pre-empted a quarter of .section .'11, 
in what is now Ninnescah Township, which wius not 
organized until some time afterward. He settled 
on his laud while it was yet in its wild stat*-. before a 
furrow had been turned, .and then began the uphill 
work of in.-iking it tilliable. building up a home, and 
.securing a comiK-tencv, with no other a.s»isUnce 
than bniin and muscle, as he had but the sum of t'> 
left after securing his land, and in order to make 
both ends meet he was obliged to engage in freight- 
ing between Wichita and Fm])oria. When he first 
came here to live the buffalo roamed over the 
prairie in large herds within a few miles of his 
hiHue. and he h:Ls partici|tated in many a hunt for 
that animal. Heendured the hardships common to 
Western pioneer life, but by patient and incesw-ant 
toil he overcame them all, and his beautiful farm 
of ;}00 acres, with its broad and fertile fields, his 
comfortable dwelling and ample farm buildings, 
are all indicative of his industry and shrewd man- 
agement. Resides his pi^tsse.ssions in this township 
he owns valuable pro])erty in Wichita. 

Mr. .SljilTord had been sutliciently siicco.ssfid. and 
bad gathered together enough of this world's goods 
to warrant his marriage with the lady of his choice, 
Mi.ss Kmma A. Hoyd, on the 7th of February, I m7h. 
She was born in North Carolina, Nov. 0, 1«,^2, and 
wa.s :i daught<'r of Thomas and Margaret (.Smith) 
Hoyd, both of Southern birth. They were the 
jKirents of ten children, seven of whom are now liv- 
ing — Kmma. .liiliiis, .lohn, .lanies, .Sarah. Mary and 
Dorcas V. Kmma, . Julius and .lohn live in Wichita; 



•►■-* 



L 




-J 



jt 










4. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



817 'n 



James lives in this county; Sarah is the wife of 
Klisha R. Harrington, of Ninnescah Township; 
Mary is the wife of Dodson Watts, of Kansas; Dor- 
cas is the wife of Dr. J. M. Carson, of Taylors- 
ville, N. C. 

Mr. Stafford is pulilic-spirited :ind open-handed, 
eontril)iiting liberally in aid of all movements for 
tlic inii)rovement of the township. He is a member 
of the Miisonic Lodge at Clearwater, and in politics 
is prominently identified with the Republican party. 
He and his wife occupy a high social position among 
the residents of this commimity. 



EUGENE B. REMER. The rapid deveh 
ment and almost marvelous growth of Se( 
■ y wick County has, to a great extent, enricl 



^f^UGENE B. REMER. The rapid develop- 

Sedg- 
ty has, to a great extent, enriched 
many men by the increase in value of tlieir lands, 
assisted b}- their own industrj' and efforts in farm- 
ing. Among this class is the individual of whom 
this personal history is written. He is a leading 
farmer and stock-raiser of Attica Township, hav- 
ing his home on section 22. He was born in Steu- 
ben County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1834, and is the son 
of Adam and Content (Rowe) Remer. 

The father of our sulijcct was a native of the 
Empire Stale, born Oct. 15, 1803, and was of Ger- 
man descent. Mr. Remer well remembers his pa- 
ternal grandfather, John Remer, and also, that he 
used the language of Germany. He was killed b3' 
a runaway horse when our subject was a small boy. 
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Remer was a sol- 
dier in the British army, who came to this country 
to aid in the suppression of the Revolution, and 
was taken prisoner by the American forces. He be- 
came convinced of the righteousness of the cause 
of the Colonists, which he espoused and defended 
witii as much zeal as he had that of England pre- 
viously. At the close of the war he settled in Con- 
necticut, married, and reared a family. His daugh- 
ter, the mother of Eugene, was born in the State 
of Connecticut. 

The subject of this history was reared upon a 
farm, his father following the double occupation of 
carpenter and .igriculturist, and, although circum- 
stances were not favorable to the acquirement of 



book-learning, still he managed to obtain a fair 
common-school education. He was the mainstay 
of his father ou the farm, being the eldest son. 
When about ten years of age he removed witli 
the familj' to Lee County, 111., where they lived 
about two years, and then went to Union Grove 
Township, Whiteside County, in the same State. 
They were pioneers in that region, and there the 
mother died, in Jul}', 1847. The father took up 
Government land and opened a farm, on which 
our subject remained with his father until he was 
married. While a resident of tliis place, his sur- 
viving parent, in 1849, was married the second time, 
to Mrs. Janette (Hurlbert) Ilayues. By the first 
marriage Mr. Remer, Sr., was the father of seven 
children, as follows: Adeline, Mrs. .S. .S. Hubbart, 
living in Erie, Whiteside Co., 111.; Eugene, the sub- 
ject of this narrative; John M., a farmer of Har- 
vey County, Kan. ; Mary, wife of Warren Bent, 
living in Osborne County, tliis Stale ; Chester K., 
living near Mapleton, Iowa; Harriet, wife of Elisha 
Hubbart, who makes her home in Seattle, W. T. ; 
Charles H., wiio was a member of the 49tli Illinois 
Infanti-y, came home sick, and died iu March, 1864, 
and John M. 

John M. Remer, a member of the 4Cth Illinois 
Infantry, remained in the service over three years. 
He was a scout part of the time, and w.as with 
Grant from Donelson, until the end of his term 
of service. He enlisted Oct. 1, 1861, and went 
into camp October 16, at Dixon, 111. The regiment 
left Dixon Feb. 5. 1862; went to Camp Butler, at 
Springfield, 111. ; left Camp Butler for Ft. Donelson, 
February 12, landing at Ft. Donelson February 14, 
where the regiment was held as a reserve during the 
battle. Thence it was sent to Ft. Henry, and from 
there to Shiloh, being in tlie battle there April 6 
and 7. Mr. Remer was at the seige of Corinth, in 
the battle of Hatchie, October 5, and was wounded 
by a gunshot in the right wrist. He was also at the 
siege of Vicksburg in June and July, 1863. He 
went from there to Natchez, and for a time was in 
the Provost Marshal's oflice. From Natchez he was 
sent to New Orleans and thence b.ack to Vicksburg, 
being there transferred to the invalid corps. He 
went to St. Louis in May, 1864, and thence to Wash- 
ington, D. C. ; from there to York, Pa., and next to 



•►Hl-^^ 



'' 818 



■» ■ •<» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



Morrison, ill., whero ho larric<l iliiriii^ the I'n-si- 
(Ifiitial eltftion. AfU'rward lie ri'liinu-il U> Yurk, 
frmi) tliiTt' w.-i.s (Ict.iiloil to Hnrriitlxirg, nii'l ri'cciveil 
his honornlilo ilisclmr),'!' Dec. 1, 18(>-1. 

By the socoikI iiiHrrinsP of Aclniii HeiiiiT, tiic 
fnther of our fiil«j<'<-t, wi-ro liorn thrue c-hihlrcMi, jus 
follow^: .lulia, the (locoiL-ed wife of Daviil Smith ; 
Loriiiila, Mrs. Kdwnrd \'oiiiiiiiii, n'»i«liii;j at Strat- 
toii, N«h. ; niid riiilip, n railroad flreiiian livin;; at 
Wichita. The father wjli horn Oel. I."), IHO.l, and 
is still living in Morrison, Whit«'.>*ide Co., III. 

Wishiiifi to estnhlish a home of his own, Kuyenc 
Remer nnd Mi.ss Sarah Lewis were united in mar- 
riage, Si-|it. .'). IM.lH. The bride was the daughter 
of Mie.ijah M. and Catherine (Kmmons) Lewis, 
natives of the Knipirc State, and was born Nov. 
7, Ih:\H, in what is now Orange County, N. Y. 
Seven ehildrcn were the result of this union, one 
of whom survives, .John Henry, whose birth took 
place Sept. l.'!, lHfi.3. For a few yeai-s after his 
marriage Mr. Uemer rented land on which to pur- 
sue farming, but eventually bought 100 acres of 
land ill Illinois, to which he .-iddcd at different times 
until he had a place of 280 acres. In 1878 he 
removed to McPherson Count}-. Kan., where he 
raised two croi>s. and in .luly, 1 8H0, secured the 
home, which he sold in the spring of 1887 for 
*7,000. 

Mrs. Sarah (Lewis) Uenicr departed this life in 
March, 1877, and the marriage of our subject with 
Mrs. Mary K. Morse was solemnized .Ian. 111,1878. 
This lady is a daughter of Frcilerick L. and Hen- 
rietta (Lewis) Holley, and was born in Steuben 
County, N. Y., April 20. 18IH. To her first husband, 
Mr. Morse, she wjis married .Tan. 1, 18(;.'). One 
child, Frederick L.. born .Ian. 19, 1872, was the 
result of that union. Two children have come to 
ble.H.t the household of Mr. and Mrs. Hemer: .Sarah 
May. whose birth occurred Dec. 1, I MHO, nii<l Frances 
KiHe, born March 2, 18H(;. 

Mr. Uemer, |>oliticnlly, is inde|ien(lent, aiming to 
support j)riiiciples rather than men. What he h.-us 
nf>w of this worlil's goods has been necumulalcd 
since he <-ame to Kansas, for through sickness and 
misfortune he lust all that he hail owned in Illinois. 
Iloth he and his estimable wife ari' highly respected 
in their c«iiiimiinity and foremost in all guoil wurkg. 
■<• 



Mrs. Kemcr is a memlM-r in gixxl sliinding of tlie 
Baptist Church, and the home roof jippnrently shel- 
ters a family surrounded by all the comforts of life, 
and blessed l>y the esteem <»f many friends. 

As representative people of S<'dgwiek County, 
the portraits uf Mr. and .Mrs. Kemer are appro- 
priatcly placed in our illustrative department, and 
will be the object <if interest years hence, when 
their children es|)ecially, grown older, shall begin 
to realize the importance of the family record. 



«>4^ 



'JY^'AMKS SACKKT. who occupies an inlliien- 
tial and prominent |M>sition among the agri- 
cultural population of Illinois Township, 
h.as his homestead u|K)n section 1.1, where 
he has a farm of ."VJO acres of land. I'pon this he 
hits erected some excellent improvenieiits, and here 
he lives, surrfiunded with a fair share of the com- 
forts of this life. Ho came to Kansas to his pres- 
ent location, in 1872, and was among the pioneers 
of this section of Sedgwick County. 

Mr. .Sackel is a native of Illinois, bom in Madi- 
son County, March II, 1x37, and is the son of 
.lames and Sarah .lanette (Parker) S.ackel, natives 
of Connecticut and New York Stale res|K>ctivel3' 
His father was born in 1M04, and died in 18X4. and 
w:is by occupation a farmer, car|)i'nter and mason. 
In an e;u-|}' d.ay he removed to Illinois, where he 
' w!is married, Feb. 23, ls|(;,to the mother of our 
I subject, who died M:irch 4, 1H(J7. In his politics 
1 he was a member of the Whig parly, but in later 
years voted for the Republican camlidales. He 
was an important member of the community in 
which he lived, and held the ollloe of School Treas- 
urer in this township, .'ind being deeply pious was 
a consistent member of the Methodist Kpis<'opal 
Church, as was his wife. They were the jwrents of 
six chihlren, of whom the following is a record: 
Fnincis Marion was born Dec. .'M, 1 8.'l,'), married 
Miss M.iggic Howers, and is n farmer in Madison 
County, III., and the father of a large family; 
.lames Sjicket, the second child, is the subject of 
this sketch; Clarissa H, whose birth occurred .July 
II, I83'.i, is a resident of Boulder, Col.; Andrew, 
who was boni Feb. 22, 1811, is an express niesscii- 



•► ■ ' ^' 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



819 "\ 



gcr ill t uluraclo; Henry R., born Sept 8, 1848, is 
also lesiding in Boulder County, where he is en- 
gaged in the profession of dentistry, and is the 
husband of the lady who was formerly Miss Mary 
Glass; Frances Sarah, born Oct. 18, 1845, is the 
wife of W. W. Dee, a farmer of Sedgwick County, 
residing in Illinois Township. 

Reared upon the paternal farm, the subject of 
this history' received his education in the district 
schools of his native State, and remained at home, 
assisting his father in his agricultural labors, until 
his marriage. This interesting event occurred 
Aug. 2;'), 18()2, at which time he and Miss Mary 
Shipjien i)lighted their mutual faith at the marriage 
altar. His life companion is the daughter of Will- 
iam and Elizabeth (Endsley) Shippen, and was 
born in Wayne County, Ind., March 29, 1 839. Her 
father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born 
Jul}' 2, 1.S03, is a resident of Harper Coiintj', this 
State. He lias been twice married, the first time 
to Miss 15. Minor, who became the mother of four 
children, as follows: John, who married Rebecca 
Wood, and is tlie parent of twelve children, is a 
farmer in this St:ite; Elizabeth, who married Will- 
iam Endslej'. a farmer in Nebraska, and has afamilj' 
of seven children: William, a Methodist Episco- 
pal clergyman, residing at Butte City, Mont., and 
tlie father of two children; and Lydia Ann, Mrs. 
Washington Wils(m, the mother of three children, 
residing on a farm in Iowa; slie is now dead. After 
the death of his first wife Mr. Shippen was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, nee Endsley, 
who was a native of Ohio, born May 22, 1802; she 
was the widow of Jesse Butler, and the mother of 
two children at the time of her marriage with Mr. 
Shippen. Sarah Jane, Mrs. John Curry, living in 
Illinois, and Rachel, the deceased wife of Solomon 
Sch.aefer, who makes his home in Bond County, 
III. By this second marriage Mr. Shippen was the 
parent of the following children : Mary, the wife 
of our subject; Abraham, a member of the 1st 
Iowa Cavalry, died in the service during the late 
war; Martha, Mrs. Adolph Frida}-, is living in 
Harper County, Kan.; and David, who is living with 
his parents in the last-named count}'. 

Mr. Sacket remained in his native Stiite until 
1871, when he removed to Missouri, but twelve 



months later removed to Sedgwick County with 
his family, and pre-empted 160 acres of laud, to 
which he has added IGO since. When he settled 
here the country was extremely wild, but he has 
brought his land to the uses of civilization, set out 
a large orchard and a beautiful grove, and an 
abundance of small fruits. He carries on general 
fanning and makes a specialty of raising graded 
horses, cattle and hogs, all of the best breeds. He 
has filled several important official positions in the 
comity, having been elected Trustee of the township 
in 1874, at the time of its organization, in which 
capacity he served two years. He occupied the 
place of Township Treasurer one year. Justice of 
the Peace four 3-ears, Clerk and Treasurer of the 
school district for several terms. He is, politically, 
a member of the Republican party, but warmly 
endorses the action of the Prohibitionists, believ- 
ing that the evil of dram drinking should be sup- 
pressed by law. Both ho and his wife are sincere 
and Christian members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

To Mr. and Mrs. S:icket there liave been born a 
family of five children, whose record is as follows: 
Nettie E., who was born May 18, 18C3, andwas 
unite<l in marri.age, Nov. 18, 1886, with W. C. Dupy, 
a farmer of Scott County, this State, and is the 
mother of one child, Archie Ray, who rejoices in 
having four grandparents and six great-grandpar- 
ents still living. Martha Pearl was born May 18. 
1866, .and married Robert F. Barnett, a farmer at 
Mead Center, this SUite, June 11, 1884; William 
James, born July 1 1 , 1868; Clarence Henry, Oct. 
13, 1871 ; and Josiah Andrew, Nov. 22, 1880, are 
all at home. 



eHARLES A. DUNCAN, one of the County 
Commissioners of Sedgwick County, and a 
Union soldier during the late war, although 
still in the prime of life, has a history rich with ex- 
perience. From it he has learned much and made 
the most of his opportunities. After years of labor 
and sacrifice, he has now a good farm and a com- 
fortable home, on section 13, in Park Township, 



i 



-4*- 



-«^-l 



t 



»2rt 



SKDCWKK Cor.M Y 



when* he i* .surroiiiulcil by the cleitiniblu lhinK)> of 
life nnti enjoys the esU'rm iiikI conndeiiee of his 
iieinhlK>r». 

Tlie l>oyhoo<l of our siibji-cl w;ls .s|>eiit in lowu 
County, Wis, whore his liirth look piiici- on the 
lUth of.lune, ltS47. His luircnUt, liol>ert uixl lliichel 
((iar<)) Duncan, were natives res|>eclively of liuli- 
anii and Illinois, the former a resident of Wichita 
and the latter deceased. Charles A. w;ui but eight 
years of age when the family removed from Wis- 
c«>nsin to Sibley County, Minn., where he acquired 
his education in the common schools, and became 
thoroughly familiarized with farming pursuits. In 
1K0« Robert Dunutn resolved to seek another 
home, and coming to this Slate resided fii-st, two 
years in rotlawatomie County, and thence came to 
this county, in February, 1S70, settling in Park 
Township. 

Our subject soon after the arrival of liis f:ilher's 
family, homestcaded the northwest (juarter of sec- 
tion l.'l, in Park Township, n|x>n which he has o|)er- 
ated since that time. The first four years, in 
connection with the necessarily slow cultivation 
of the soil, he herdcil stock until he could gain a 
foothold, and then began in earnest to build up a 
homestead. When he found that he would proba- 
bly In- able to snpjwrt a family he se<'ured a wife 
and helpmate in the person of Miss Kate Ackerman, 
to whom he was married on the .'{(tth of October, 

1M71. 

Mrs. Duiiian was born in Anamosji, .lones Co., 
Iowa, Oct. 17, I85:t, and is the daughtei- of Kras- 
tus IS. and Annis (Bennett) Ackerman, who snltsc- 
fpicntly removed to Sibh-y County, .Minn., where 
she wius reared to womanhood and receiveil a coni- 
Mion-school education, and where she first nu'l her 
future husband. This union resulted in the birth 
of seven childn-n, namely : Kslella May, Kmma, 
Clara, Laura, Cliarlc.s, Robert and Lee. These arc 
all living and continue under tin- parental roof, 
making a family group which the parents may 
reiuionably regard with pride 

('|K>n the outbreak of the late Urbellion, Mr. 
I)nncan was but a lad of fourteen yi-ars. lie would 
gladly then have enlen-d the ranks but his youth 
forbade it. Although so young, he kept keen 
watch of the struggle, and on the 27111 of February, 



•^« -4« 



IKtiS, enlisted in Cum|iuny I), Inde|>cn<lent liatal- 
lion, Minnesota Cavalry, and served until the close 
of the war, being mustfred out on the 1 1th of.lune, 
IHfii'i. His regiment was nMigned to duty princi- 
pally in the Northwest Territory, an<l latterly 
among the Simix Indians, who at that time were 
making considemblo trouble on the frontier. 

.Mr. Duncan, |)olitically, vot<'8 the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket, and has held the various township 
olllces, the duties of which he has discharged intel- 
ligently and with fi<lelity. Mr. Duncan was elected 
County Commissioner in 1887, which ollice he is 
filling with credit to him.self and satisfaction to his 
constituents. The present Hoard of Commissioners 
have an unusual amount of work to attenil to ami 
great res|>onsibilitie8 resting u|Kjn them. Among 
the many improvements neccssjiry in a county 
growing so rapidly are a court-house and jail; these 
must be constructed by the present board. 

In religious matters Mr. Duncan is a I'uivcrsidist, 
and socially, a lioyal Arch Mxson. belonging to 
WichiUi Lodge No. '.19, juid Wichita Chapter. lie 
has also dealt ciuisidcrably in real csUite in tinil 
city as a member of the firm of Williams A Anit. 



bA. WILSC)N, examiner for the Lombard 
Mortgage Company, is a well-known gentle- 
man, and has been prominently identified, 
first, with l<jcal concerns, later with county affairs, 
since 1878, He is an able financier, and has greatly 
increased -his wealth since coming to Kansas, at 
which time he was worth ^1,000. Now he owns a 
fine farm of 21(1 .icres, in Lincoln Township, and 
has much valuable properly in this city and else- 
where, lie was born in Portage County, Ohio, 
Nov. 1, 183.0. His ancestors were dwellers in New 
Kngland for several generations, he being a de- 
scen<lantof those Wilsons who many years ago set- 
tled in that part of the country. His father, Austin 
Wilson, was born in Connecticut, in 17".(2. and was 
there bred to the life of a farnuM'. Afli-r becoming 
a man he migrated to Ohio, and married Mary 
Tucker, a native of N'crmont, her ancestors also be- 
ing early sel tiers of the New Kngland .Stales. This 
couple, after uuirriage, spent their entire wedded 



t 



-4^ 



^y 



SElJtnVICK COUNTY. 



821 ' y- 



life ill Portage County, sculin- ilirrc in 1818, .ind 
by liurd lab<jr won a comfortable home for tliem- 
selves ami their children, and by leading- honorable 
lives gained tiie respect of those about them. The 
father died in 1864, and the mother in 1872. Of 
their ni.arriage nine children had been born, namely : 
Kdwin, of Palmyra, Ohio, a real-estate dealer; 
Bingley, deceased; Henrietta, wife of Charles "Wil- 
son, of Warren, Ohio; Melinda, wife of JI. D. Love- 
less, of Warren, Ohio; Lucinda, deceased, was the 
wife of William Breeze, of Cleveland, Ohio; Luther 
A.; John, with the Rock Isl;ind Railway- Companj', 
lives in Wichita; Francis, deceased; Urana, wife of 
William Kirkpatrick, of Warren, Ohio. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools 
and ill the High School at Warren, Ohio, his Prin- 
cipals being at the time of his attendance there 
'Jen. J. D. Cox and M. D. Leggett. At the age of 
sixteen he left the farm and learned the trade of 
carriage-maker, serving an apprenticeship of three 
3'cars. Afterward he acquired a knowledge of car- 
pentering, and pursued that calling for some years. 
In 1S.56 he went to LaSalle County, 111., and was 
there engaged in carpentering the ensuing four 
j'eai-s. He then turned his attention to the general 
mercantile trade, at Tonica, in the same county. 

In 18G2 Mr. Wilson threw aside his business to 
take part in the war, enlisting in Companj' D, 104th 
Illinois Infantry, serving in the Commissary De- 
partment, and then was appointed as Second Lieu- 
tenant of Battery I), 1st Tennessee Light Artillery, 
which rank he held till the close of the war. He 
took part in the battle of N:ishville, and many 
minor engagements, serving his country with 
bravery and distinction. After his retirement from 
the army he returned to Tonica, where he obtained 
employment as Station Agent on the Illinois Central 
Railway, and also held the office of Postmaster for 
that town, retaining that position for thirteen j-ears. 
In 1.S76 he came to Kansas to look for a favor- 
.ible location, as he wished to take up his residence 
in this State, and in 1878 removed with his family 
to Lincoln Township, Sedgwick County, where he 
bought a farm and became prominently identified 
with the agricultural interests of that township. 
Soon his shrewdness and capability were recognized 
by his fellow-townsmen, and he was chosen to fill 



various township ofHces during his residence there. 
In I S84 Mr. Wilson was elected County Commis- 
sioner, and has since made his home in Wichita. He 
discharged the duties of that office with great honor 
to himself and to the general satisf.action of those 
whose votes had placed him in that important [)osi- 
tion. During his term of office he also represented 
the company with which he is now connected. 

While living in Illinois our subject was married, 
in 1859, to Miss Augusta M. Allen, daughter of 
Harvey Allen. She was, like himself, a native of 
Ohio, Trumbull County being the place of her birth. 
She is a sincere member of the Christian Church, 
and a zealous worker for the cause it represents. 
Of this union seven children have been born: 
Ella A. ; Hettie, wife of James W. Tear; William, 
Frank, Kittic, Marj' and Eva. 

Mr. Wilson has been a member of the I. O. O. F. 
since ISC'), has passed all the Chairs in the lodge, 
both subordinate and Encampment, and he also be- 
longs to the G. A. R. He takes an active part in 
politics, and is a worthy representative of the Re- 
publican party. 

^^^ LARK J. DKMING became a resident of 
{((^.^ Sedgwick County in 1878, and since that 
^^^' time he has given his attention principally 
to farming, although at present he is engaged as a 
dealer in coal and stone at Colwich. He has ac- 
cumulated his property since coming to Kansas, 
being now numbered among the wealthy citizens 
of this State. He was born in Saratoga County, 
N. Y., April 23, 18.51. 

John G. Deming, the father of our subject, w.as 
a native of Dutchess Count}-, N. Y., and was a 
farmer by occupation. He married Sal!}' M. Rock- 
well, also a native of that State. She died when 
our subject was but six d.a3's old, leaving four chil- 
dren — Edgar L., Orville, Melvina and Clark J. 
Edgar resides in Northville, N. Y., and is engaged 
in the mercantile business; Orville is a farmer in 
Gage Count}', Neb. ; Melvina is the wife of Enos 
Murphy, a lumberman of Saratoga County. N. Y. 
After the death of his first wife Mr. Deming mar- 



-4*- 



SKI m; WICK CUIJNTY, 



•► 



t 



rit-il .Miv» Miiry llfiiilricks, ii niiUve i>f New York, 
mill ill IMiw; iiii;.'riit<-<l willi liis rniiiily to DcKnIli 
County. III. Ilf wif* llicrt" fHiirfssfiilly iMi;,'iij;eil ii) 
liiit V(ivittii>i) for SL'veriil ycnr.t, until lii.s (leiitli in 
IMS.'). Hy lii.« -SL-cond nmrria^e he hocnnic the 
fntlu-r uf six children. 

The sulijeel of this iiketcli i)n.'<se<l ino.sl ofhi.s 
iMiyhiHiil in his niilivc ."stale, lieiiig fifteen years old 
»hi-ii he removed from there with his parents to 
Illinois. At the a;;e of seventeen he left home to 
make his own way in the world, workiiif^ as a farm 
hand in the summer sesuHons, and completing; his 
education by alleiiilaiice .-it the winter schools. One 
summer he had an ex|H-rience of life and work in 
the lumlier regions of Wi.sconsin. After complet- 
ing; his education he tniight scliool one term. He 
then decided to turn his face westward, and on 
the fertile prairies of Kansas turn his attentiun to 
the life of a farmer, to which occupation he had 
heeii hreil. Accordiii|j;ly , in .lanuary, 1M7K, he jour- 
neyed hither and purchased, with another man, a 
half-interest on KiO acres of land in I'liion Town- 
ship. This proved to he a profiUihU? investment, 
as it wiis very finely situated, was well watered, 
and had a di'cp alluvial soil, capalile of producing; 
large cro|)s. lie worked with persistent energy, 
niid Ity his skillful cultivation of the s«.iil produced 
the liest resiilt-s, and in a few yeai-s had made con- 
si<leraljle money, so that he was eiialiled to add to 
his original purchase, and is now the sole owner 
of 'J 10 acres of valuable farniing land, all improved. 
In the spring of 1)S»7 he took advanUige of .-i line 
opening to estidilish himself in the coal and stone 
trade in Colwich, and by his energy and wise man- 
agement he hiui already ])laced this enterprise on a 
firm fooling, and i> doing a fine luisiness. 

The marri.'ige of Mr. Deming with Miss Katie 
Nicholson took place in DeKalii County, 111., Feb. 
24, IW'.'j. T<j her energetic and licirty co-ojiera- 
lion he is gn-atly iii<lebtei| for their pleasant lumie. 
.She wa,s born in Lix'k|iorl, N. Y., and is the 
daughter of DavitI and Mary Nicholson, natives 
respectively of New York SUite and SI. ,Iohn, New 
llriinswick. At some |K-riod of their married life 
tliey settled in DeKalb ( oiinty. III., an<l there the 
fallier/lied. lie was a iiiillwiiglil by trade. The 
iiKilher is now living in Wichita, Kan. Of thit 



union of Mr. and .Mr>. Ileniing three children have 
been born — Mabel, Winnie and Flossie. 

Our subject is n firm Hepiiblicnii in his (Hililical 
view.H. lie is an iiilluenlial citizen, an<l takes an 
earnest interest in public affairs, and by his honest 
and cnieicnt discharge of the duties devolving 
upon him as .lustice of the I'eace and of the vari- 
ous other local offices of which he has been an in- 
cumbent, ha.s gained the ros|M-ct and confidence 
of his fellowincn. He is connected with the Mt. 
Hope Lodge No 2.JII, Ml. Ib.pe, Kan. 



^ LMOKK SHANK, a gentleman although 
young ill years, is one of the most ener- 
> getic and enterprising agriculturists of Oranl 
Township, where he operates a good farm on sec- 
tion 'Ji, and is also engaged (juite exU-nsivcly in 
stock-raising. He w.-is born in .Sjingamon County, 
III., .Inly 12, IHl'i'i, and is the thinl son in a family 
of four children, the offspring of .lackson .•mil 
Rebecca (.lohnson) Shank, also natives of Illinois. 
To that State his paternal grandfather, a native of 
I'ennsylvania, migrated at an early day, and located 
in .Sangamon County, where he was one of the 
earliest pitmecrs. 

l'|ion the mother's side Krastusaii<l Kacliel .lohn- 
son, natives of Wisconsin, came to Kansas in I«TO, 
settling in Sedgwick County. They are still living, 
and residents of Augusta. .lackson .Sh.ank followed 
farming pursuits all his life, inaugurating his laliors 
in Illinois, whence he removed jicross the Missis- 
sippi ill lrt71,and settletl fii'st in Minneha Town- 
ship, on the eastern line of this county. There he 
purchased 160 acres of Government land, while the 
mother pre-cmpteil eighty acrcis. This Mr. Shank 
improved and sold five years ago, subsequently 
t-iking up his residence at Andover. From there, 
in IH.st, he removed to the city of Wichit.-i, where 
he is now engaged in a lloiirishiiig re.'il-esUite bu:-i- 
ness. 

'I'lie subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
hood in .Sangamon County, III., making his home 

' mostly with an uncle, and received his education in 
the district school. There also he was married, 

I .Ian. iHi, IHisd, lo Miss Katie Hughes, who was born 



■•►■-4» 



•► II » 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



.S2;! 



I^h 



in .Miiskiiigiiiu County, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1868, and 
was the fourth in :i family of seven ciiildren. Her 
parents, Isaiah and Angeline (Sininis) Hughes, 
were natives of Ohio, and her grandparents on botii 
sides of the house, Caleb and Mary Hughes, and 
James and J^ucy Simins, were natives of Virginia. 
Grandfather and Grandmother Simms lived near 
the city of Springfield, in Sangamon County, 111. 

Mr. Shank after liis marriage continued farming 
a year in Illinois, and then coming to this county 
purchased a quarter of section 22, in (irant Town- 
ship, which had lieen considerably improved, and 
to the value of which he is constantly adding by 
the exercise of his natural industry and good judg- 
ment. The farm stock includes some high-grade 
cattle, Clydesdale horses, and Berkshire and Poland- 
China hogs, the proceeds of which yield a handsome 
income annually. 

Mr. Shank, in giving his close attention to his 
farming interests, has had little time to devote to 
political matters, but has studied the matter sufli- 
ciently to determine that the [jrinciples of the Re- 
publican party more nearly coincide with his views 
than those of an}' other, and accordingly gives to 
this his uniform support. The homestead is pleas- 
antl}' located about two miles from the village of 
Valley Center, and the little household hiis been 
brightened by the birth of a boy, Richard Wallace, 
who was born Nov. 1, 1886, and is now (1888) con- 
sequently over one 3'ear old. Mr. and Mrs. Shank 
have started out in life under favorable auspices, 
blessed with a fair share of this world's goods and 
hosts of frientls, who besjieak for them a prosperous 
future. 

ANIKl. J. TANGNEV, a real-estate dealer 
and capitalist of Wichita, in the prosecu- 
tion of his business has done much toward 
the building up of the city, to which he 
came in Jidy, 1.S83. He first eng.iged in the 
grocery trade on Douglas avenue, but nine months 
later sold out and est.nblislied his present business, 
in which he has been uniformly successful. 

Our subject was born in County Kerry, Ireland, 
and w;is brought by his parents, John and Eleanor 
(O'Connell) Tangney, to America when a small 



boy. They located in Canada, where the father 
carried on farming until his death, which occurred 
in 1855. The mother is living and a resident of 
the Dominion. In Ireland Joim Tangney lived as 
a tenant on the Anamore farm. The mother of 
our subject is a descendant of the world-renowned 
Daniel O'Connell, and of her marriage with John 
Tangney there were born eleven children, of whom 
si.v only are living. These are: Patrick, of Can- 
ada; Hannah, Mrs. Murphy, who lives in Canada; 
John, Michael, Jeremiah, Thomas and Daniel J. 

(Jur subject received a common-school educa- 
tion, which was begun in his native county in 
Ireland and completed in the Dominion of Canada. 
He continued at the homestead with his parents 
until reaching manhood, then started out for him- 
self,' operating first as "mine host" of a hotel at 
Fergus, Canada. He also became proprietor of a 
stage line in the county of Wellington, where he 
remained four years. In 18G7 he made his way to 
Lawrence County, Mo., where he commenced oper- 
ating iis a contractor to furnish men and material 
in the building of the St. Louis & San Francisc(j 
Railroad. He gave employment to from seventy- 
five to 100 men, and fift^' teams, and was thus occu- 
pied for a period of six 3'ears; at the same time 
he also was interested in farming. From Missouri 
he finally migrated into the State of Texas, and 
was engaged as a contractor there also in the 
building of railroads. 

After coming to Wichitii Mr. Tangne^' continued 
his vocation as railroad contractor for a time, then 
turned his attention to real estate, buying, selling 
and building, in which he has been more than or- 
dinarily successful. While a resident of Missouri 
he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Len- 
nox, of Lebanon, Laclede County, the wedding 
taking phice jxt the home of the bride, Feb. 3, 1871. 
Jlrs. Tangney is the daughter of John and Susan 
(Dodson) Lennox, natives of Missoiu'l, and the 
father is engaged in general merchandising. Mrs. 
T. was born Oct. 1, 1854, in Lebanon, Mo. Her 
paternal grandfather, John W. Lennox, was a native 
of England and closely allied to the nobility. The 
mother was the daughter of Dr. James Dodson, a 
noted ph^'sician, who spent his last years in Mis- 
souri. Her brother William is a physician and 



•*¥-m^4» 



-4^ 



SI. I x; WICK COUNTY 






^ 



siirLifoii, mill tiUt) u iniiiUUr of llic .Millii>ili>l Kpis- 
r«i|>;il t'lnin.'li, in .MisjMHiri. 1I«t iincli'. ilmi. Ilcn- 
jiiiiiin DoiliUiii, was at oiio tiiiio n UoprivsoiiUttive in 
llii- Miss<inri l<»-};islntiiri'. Ilor iinclr .Iimic- is aUo 
It pliy.sic-inn nn<l « i.'ii|iilalist <if Nevi»<lii. Mo. 'I'lii' 
Dtxl.siiiiii wcR- Inrjcely rcjiri'stMiloil in llip nifilical 
profi'iwion. Mrs. Tiiiij;ncy's niulhcr wils tin own 
cou>in to .lelTiTson Davis, of tlic .Scuilliorn Confi-d- 
iTiicy. Her jH-oplf were- of Kngli>li Jimi .Vinorican 
(Ic.Hccnt, wt-althy ami intliiential. 

Onr .subject and his i'.stinial>ie iaily arc- lielil in 
ln;;li fstctMii liy tin- pcopli' of llipir loniniunily. anil 
the ialli-r is a nu'nilier in j-ooil stamling of the 
Catholif ("liiirch. .Mr. I'anjjney, [lolilically, allil- 
ialfs with llic I Ifniocratii- p;irly. 

-rlr^llOMA.s KI)M()M)S(JN. an ohl antl well- 
,/^., known resilient of (irant Township, is ae- 
V^^' credited with havin<; iuijjroved one of the 
tinest fnrnis within its borders, lie cikine to Kan- 
sas in the siinuner of IKHO, and pnnhn.sed a section 
of jMirtly improved hind, where he has since profita- 
bly employed his time, and besides the thorough 
cultivation of the soil, repaired the old l>uildin<;^ 
and put up new. having now two residences, in one 
of which he resides with his family, and the other 
is occupied by a tenant. 

The earl}- years of our subject wt-re spent in 
Hamilton County. (Jhio, where he was born Au<,'. 
2.'i, 1X20: the father moved to Dayton, Ohio, about 
1H2G or lf(27, «vhere our subject remained until years 
of maturity, when he took up his aiiode in Clarke 
County. At Sprinj^field he conducted a tannery 
for some years, and from there cami' to this .Slate, 
in February. 18«0. 

Kdward Kdmondson. the father uf our subject, 
waa a native of Delaware, and married Mis.s Uulh 
Uichards, who w:ls born in Pennsylvania. Of the 
Iatt4-r State the uuilernal grandparents of our sub- 
ject, .lonnthan Kichards anil his wife, were also na- 
tives, of t^uaker descent. They were of that kindly 
and unobtrusive charactt-r peculiar to this |>eop|e, 
and »|>ent their entire lives enj^aged in the peaceful 
pursuit of farcning on the soil of the Keystone Slat*?. 
The piireuLs of our subject after their marriage 



first settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, and lat«r 
became rcsidenls of the city of Dayton, where .Mr. 
Kdmondson followed his trade of a Uinner and fin- 
isher, and continueil a resident of the Huckcye 
StJite until the clay of his death, which iK-curred in 
the town of Uiehmond after he had reached the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-four years. The mother had 
passed away some years previously, when sixty-five 
years old. 

Our subject Continued in his native Stjite until 
afl4-r reaching his majority, and while a resident uf 
Monlgomerj' County was united in uiiirriage, Nov. 
II, im.'), with Miss Leah K. Kvans, who was born 
in Cumberland County, I'a., .lune KI, 182.'i. .She 
was the fourth child of a family of nine, and the 
offspring of Owen and Leah (Souder) Kvans. also 
natives of the KeysUme State, whence they removed 
to Montgomery County. Ohio, settling in Dayton 
at an early jieriod in its history. Mrs. Leah Kd- 
tnondson became the mother of five children, and 
died in Springfield. Ohio, in .luue. 1H78. Their 
daughter, Florcssa C, died when three years of age. 
Another, Anna Com, is the wife of Willis Davis, who 
is a druggist at Valley Center, this county; Kdward 
Clarence is a resident of .Springfield, Ohio, and 
Arista K. nuikes his home with his father; one 
babe, named Thomas Lincoln, died in infancy. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married at Alexander, Hush Count}', this .Stale, 
March 10. 1880, was formerly Mrs. Kmily . I. .Sweet- 
land, who was born in Uichlaud County, Ohio, Aug. 
27, 1824. Her first marriage occurred .Ian. 20, 
1840, to Lymaji .Sweetland. .Mrs. Kdmondson is 
the daughter of .Samuel and Nancy (Rush) .McClure. 
The parents were natives of New York and Penn- 
sylvania respectively. Mrs. K. has one son by her 
fii-st husband, John M. Sweetland, now forty-two 
years of age, and engaged in farming and the real- 
estate business in Uush County. Mr. Kdmond.son, 
in addition to the cultivation of the soil, was largely 
engaged in the breeding of full-blooded Poland- 
China swine, while the other animals of his farm are 
of good grade and well cared for. While a resident 
of Ohio he was quite active in |M>lilics, and for four 
yeai-s during the late Kibillion was President ot 
the City Council, of Springfield. He is warmly 
interested in the temperance movement, and votes 



■•►•-^ 



-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



827 ' ' 



with the Prohibitionists. No man is more deeply 
interested in the growth and prospcritj' of Southern 
Kansas, and none more willing to contribute of his 
time and means to further its interests. Mis farm 
is pleasantly located in the southwestern part of 
Grant Township, one and one-half miles from the 
•village of A^illey Center, and the fields enclosed 
with beautiful hedge fencing, in the summer season, 
especiall}^ form a beautiful i)icture in the landscape 
of th.at section, as may re.adily be imagined bj- a 
glance at a view of the homestead on another page 
in this volume. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edinoudson coincide with the doc- 
trines of the Universalist Church, and number a 
goodly list of friends among the best people of 
Grant Township. 



!)HOMAS K. KIMKIj, an liouored pioneer of 
Ninncscah Township, residing on section 8, 
came to Sedgwick County in 1873. He then 
pre-empted the land which he now occupies, com- 
prising the northeast quarter of said section, its 
rich, fertile soil being then in its primitive condi- 
tion. The town was then sparsely populated, few 
tracts of land having been sold, and our subject has 
watched with genuine pride and satisfaction its 
gradual growth from a struggling liamlet to a 
thrifty and prosperous township, with well culti- 
vated and well stocked farms, whose substantial 
dwellings and commodious out-buildings, with their 
pleasant surroundings, indicate the. general pros- 
peritj' .and refinement of the inhabitants. 

Our subject may, in a manner, be said to have 
become a pioneer of another State in very early life, 
as he was but eight years of age when his parents 
removed to Illinois, where they became early set- 
tlers of Mercer County, and he, even at that youth- 
ful age, did his share in improving a farm, thus 
receiving a pioneer training, and well understand- 
ing the laborious toil, disadvantages and privations 
incidental to such a life before coming to this county. 
He was a native of Ohio, born in Trumbull County, 
that part now known as Portage County*, the date 
of his birth being Feb. 5, 1832. His parents, 



Henry and Anna M. (Hurst) Kirael, natives of 
Pennsylvania, were of German and Scotch descent 
respectively-. Phillip Kimel, an uncle of our sub- 
ject, wiis a gallant soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. 
and Mrs. Henry Kimel were' the parents of nine 
children, of whom the following are living: James 
W., of Iowa; Jonathan T., of Nebraska; Chauncey 
D., of Washington Territory, and our subject. 
Jonathan and Chaunccj' served in the late war. 
The names of the deceased are as follows: Isaac, 
Eliza A., Mary J., Julia, and William P.. who was 
killed in the first battle of Ft. Donelson. 

Thomas Kimel, the subject of this sketcli, was 
reared to man's estate in Mercer County, 111., where 
he lived until he came to Kansas. His educational 
advantages were such as were afforded by the 
schools of that early day in that county. While 
still a resident of Illinois he was married to Miss 
Rebecca Mounts, their union l)eing solemnized Nov. 
3, IS.OO, on the seventeenth anniversary of her birth, 
which was Nov. 3, 1842. She was born in West 
Virginia, l)eing a daughter of William and Martha 
(Galloway) Mounts, natives respectively of West 
Virginia and Pennsylvania. They removed to Mer- 
cer County, 111., with their family when Rebecca 
was fourteen years old. They were the parents of 
nine children, five of whom are living: James L., 
of Wichita; Samuel G., of Peoria, 111.; George D., 
of Nodaway County, Mo.; AVilliam and Rebecca. 
The names of those deceased are — Sarah J., Jona- 
than, Agnes S. and Indiana T. Jonathan died dur- 
ing the war from sickness contracted on Southern 
battle-fields. 

Our subject is essentially a self-made man, as 
when he started out in life he had but little means, 
but by industry, frugalitj-, wise economy, and the 
co-operation of his wife, while living in Illinois he 
m.anaged to get a good start and made some money, 
which by bis good man.agement since becoming a 
citizen of this State, in 1873, he has greatly in- 
creased. B3' incessant toil and skill he has evolved 
a fine farm from the wild prairie, on which he h.as 
erected a handsome residence, a commodious barn, 
and other convenient farm buildings. He has also 
increased the original acreage of his farm until he 
now owns 480 acres of valuable land. 

To our subject and his wife have been born ten 



^'1 



- ► ■ ^» 



4 



•^m^^ 



I* 



si:ih;\vi("k county. 



f 



cliililrfii, of whom iiiiif are living, luiiiiely : Williiiiii 
K.; Miirtlia «;., wifo of Ni>l!u>ii (icuif,'!-, <.f Wicliiui; 
.liiiiailinii .M.. 11 ti'ticlicr ill Soil^jwick t'luiiitv; llur- 
vi'V U.. Thorims K.. Miin H., Altljie M..Sniiiucl (J. 
:iii<l 'l\-iii|K<riiii('e, Oiu- ilicil iiniiniiu-il in infancy. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kiinel arc lii;;lily rc8|K'clc'tl in 
•t<H-icty aixl lill an liuiiuntlilc |>i>>itiiin in tliis cinn- 
uiiiniU'. I'oiilically, our !<iilijccl is a warm .mi|i- 
|M»ricr of llic Kc|>iilili<'aii parlv. .Mrs. Kimcl is :i 
cunsisU-iil niciiilicr of tlic .Mcliiuilisl K|iisc(i|tal 
Chiircli, at Clearwater. A iitlio<;ra|iiiie view is 
sliown on anotlier \>ni;v of .Mr. Kiniel's residence. 



JtislAII .\l >A.MI 111. is en),'age<l in tiie aj,'ri- 
I culliiral iiM|ilcinciil imsiiiess at (irecnwicli, 
I ami also deals larfjely in gniin .-ind coal, lie 
' lli-sl saw tlielijihtin his father's house on the 
I'.'lh of .lanuarv. IH-I'.t. in Hi><-kc;ustle t'ounty, 
Ky. lie is a son of .lohii C. and .Marf,'arcl A. 
(Cook ) Samuel, the former of whom was a Nortii 
Carolinian hy liirlh, and the latter a Kentiiekiaii. 

The father was born on the 7lh of Octolier. 1S1«, 
and the mother al)oiit t^-n yeai-s later. .lohii Saiii- 
, nel left his home in North Carolina when about | 
si.\tecn years of age. and look up a farm in Ken- | 
lucky in the wood.'*. He comiiienced at once the ' 
anliioiis la.sk of cleariiif; it of the limber that at ; 
thai |)erioi| covered nearly the entire -'dark and 
bliMtdy ground." Aflcr niakinga farm of ihe place, 
he made il his home until IHot, when he removed 
lo Hancock County, III., and seltled near Carthage. 
For thirteen years in thai place he was quietly I 
engaged in agricultural piirsuils, and then look up 
his line of inarch for Kansius, with the Hood of ! 
emigrants who were coining hither at that lime. 
He selected a home in Allen County, where he took 
up a homestead of |-Jll acres, and improveil il, Imt 
finally sold lliat pro|M'rly, and puri'iia.scd another 
in liourlion Couiit\, where lie an>l his wife now re- 
side 

l)uriiig the year INtJ.'J, while a resident of Han- 
cock County, .lohii C. .Sitiniiel, llie father of llie 
subject of this sketch, enlisted in Company K, 
1 If.th Illinois Infantry. .Shortly after hewius mus- 
tered into the .service he wiw deUiled for iluly | 



uiiiler the I'ltivosl Marshal, under whom he held 
the rank of Onierly. Being "in his duty prompt 
nl every call," al the close of lioslililiejthe wiut hon- 
ombly discharged from the service, and is now a 
memlH'rof W. II. Lylle Tost, (J. A. U., of Ft. Noll. 
He was the father of eight children — Robert K., 
Archie L., Winfleld .S.. ,|osiali M., .Martha F. and 
Kiltie. Two others are dead. .Martha, Mrs. I '. A. 
Coldliaugh, is a resident of I'ekin, III.; Kiltie, Mrs. 
Martin Smith, lives al Leavenworth, Kan. 

The suliject of this skeU-h was ambitious fnmi 
his 3'oulh, and when but Iwenly years of age went 
to Bourbon County, Kan., where he worked on a 
farm for about a year. While in this place, in the 
fall of ]><(!',) he married, and remained a resident 
of Bourbon County until 1 H8 1, engaged in tilling 
the land. At that time the city of Fl, .Scoll ap- 
pearing t4i him to otTer allntctioiis not found upon 
the farm, he went to lh:il city and engaged as .sales- 
man with an agricultural implement house. He 
was interested in the liusinessal thai place until the 
fall of lH,s I, when he removed lo Sedgwick County, 
and located in the village of (ireenwieh. He beg:in 
his life in this place buying grain for iJiirkey A 
St«^)iil and the (Joodlandcr Mill CVunpany, on a sal- 
ary. He still purchases grain for the lirsl-named 
nrin, and on his own acc(mnt buys and sells agricult- 
ural implementji and coal. When he began in this 
business t^mc wagon represented his sUK-k in the 
implement line, and one carloa<l of coal the limit 
of his purchase in "black diamonds." To pay for 
even these he W!ls conn)elled to borrow the money. 
Bui limes have changed with him, the country has 
grown, and he has increased with it. His business 
from so small a lieginning h:is attiiined large pro- 
portions, with a most excellent |»i'Ciiniary result to 
himself. He no longer is necessitated to borrow t4) 
pay for his sUn'k, and is growing daily niori' in.lc- 
pendent of circumstances. 

The marriage ceremony which united the two 
lives of Mr. .Samuel and .Miss Alitalia Hall, wius sol- 
emnixed Del. 7, IHtiK. The parents of the bride, 
Walter II. anil Kli^.abelh (Minock) Hall, were 
I'ennsylvanians by birth, and her father was by 
iK'iMipalion a farmer. Both of tliem have |)a.ssed 
to -'the pale chambers of death, beyond the dark 
river." The}- were Ihc parcnUi of seven children, 



-■-^ 



■•► ■-* 



HI-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-J 

82U ' ^ 



five of wboni are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 
are the parents of five eliililren: Walter J., born 
Dee. 23, 1870; Alfred A., Sept. 21, 1874; Archie 
C, May 1, 1877; Alta, Sept. IG, 187!), and Curtis 
M., Jan. 22, 1881. Mr. Samuel is a member of the 
1. O. (). F., in whose work he manifests great inter- 
est. Both he and his wife are actively connected 
with tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, are consist- 
ent and sincere Christians, and take a lively inter- 
est in any movement for the lienefit of the religious 
portion of the community. In politics Mr. Samuel 
is a stanch Republican. 



A.Ml'KL I. BOWERS, of Lincoln Township, 
i:inic to this section of country with his 
faliier's family, and located within what is 
now Lincohi Township before its organiza- 
tion. He homesteaded IGO acres of wild prairie on 
section 14 in the spring of 1870, and to this prop- 
erty has since given his special attention, building 
up a fine homestead, and making stock-raising his 
principal l)usiness. 

Mr. Bowers during the early days, and while 
gradually bringing his land to a state of cultivation, 
joined the line of freighters from Emporia to Wich- 
ita, when the latter especiallj' was an unpretentious 
town of a few adobe houses. lie was out on the 
buffalo range in the fall of 1 872, and saw thousands 
of these animals, who had not yet learned to fear the 
rifle of the white man. Their indiscriminate slaugh- 
ter since that time h:is seemed to him a cruel and 
uncalled-for proceeding. 

The subject of this biography was born in Juniata 
Countj', Central Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1851, and 
he is the fourth child of William E. and Henri- 
etta (Ickes) Bowers, who were .also natives of the 
Keystone State. Their family included seven sons 
and five daughters. Of the paternal grandparents 
a notice will be found in the sketch of W. E. Bow- 
ers on another page in this volume. William Bow- 
ers was a shoemaker by trade, lie is still living, 
and a resident of this county, having his home 
adjoining the farm of his son, our subject. The 
mother died in July, 1873. 

Mr. Bowers was reared in the town of Milllin, I'a., 
aud about 1867 made his way to Kuox County, 111. 



There at Gilson he operated the telegraph in the 
office of the Chicago, Burlington iV- C^uincy, and 
continued until the spring of 1 870, when he changed 
his residence to this county. There was not at that 
time a single dwelling in what is now Lincoln Town- 
ship, and Wichita comprised a small hamlet of adobe 
buildings. After locating upon his land, Mr. Bow- 
ers began cultivating the soil, put up a log house 
and set out a good orchard, and continued his im- 
provements until 1883, in which year the first hum- 
ble dwelling was replaced by the present handsome 
and commodious residence, llis quarter-section of 
wild land has been transformed into a series of fer- 
tile fields, and within the neatly fenced enclosures 
may be seen fine blooded Norman and Morgan 
horses, high-grade Durham and Hereford cattle, 
and pure-bred Poland-China swine. It has taken 
years to bring about this result, but Mr. Bowers 
has no reason to feel that his labors have been in 
vain. 

Our subject assisted in organizing llie school dis- 
tricts of Lincoln Township, and was the first Con- 
stable serving in this capacity before Lincoln had 
been laid off by itself as a township, and when he 
had jurisdiction over a much larger stretch of ter- 
ritory than it now comprises. He has served .as 
Road Overseer aud Clerk of his school district, and 
is one of the useful men of his community, whose 
name will be held in remembrance b^' coming gen- 
erations. He has been quite active in politics, but 
votes independently. He has tjiken great pleasure 
in watching the growth and prosperity of the south- 
western country, and is proud of the fact that he 
has been able to assist in the building uj) of one 
of the most intelligent communities of Sedgwick 
County. 

The marri.age of Samuel I. Bowers and .Miss Sarah 
E. Wallace was celebi-ated at the home of the Uev. 
George Gay, of Lincoln Township, Nov. 4, 1875. 
Mrs. Bowers was born in Putnam County, Mo., . 
Aug. 18, 1859, and was next to the youngest of the 
ten children comprising the famil}' of William and 
Martha (Jones) Wall.ace, natives respeetivel3' of 
Tennessee and Jlissouri. Mr. Wallace came with 
his family to Kans.as in 1807, settling in Bourbon 
County, where his death took place in March, 1871. 
The mother then came to her home in Lincoln . 



-► ■ ^« 



i 



sKDOWKK (I 1 N I V 



ri>wii>lii|>, iiiiil •lii'il liiTo oil tilt- .'III <>r Ati{,'ust, IHH2. 
Mrs. llow»Ts lm.t four lirotlicrs mid four -sisU-rs liv- 
iii;{. It lirollirr aiitl .tiAU-r in liiitlor (.'oiiiity. this 
Stale, mill n lirotliiT miil !<i>ti-r in Itoiirlion C'oiitity, 
mill two brotlicrji mill two >i:.l4T> in Lincoln Town- 
sliip. Kmi. Ik*r |Kitrrn:ii ^'rmiil|i:irciiLs, William siml 
Mary (Ni-sliil) Wiillarr. woro natives res|ioftivi!ly 
of Wr.sl Viri;iuia ami Iri'laml. (iniiiiliiii>tlii-r Wal- 
lace i-anii- In the riiileil Slates willi her |HirentH 
when ft eliijil three years of a;;e. The niaterniil 
•^ranilimreiils, lioliert and Martha (C'iL>h) •loiicii, 
were natives of Ohio. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Howei-s after their iiiarria','0 set- 
tU'd 1)11 the new farm of our siilijeet, where lliey have 
>inee resided. The hunscliolil eirele ineludes four 
ehildieii: .losie, horn Sept. K, 1S7(); Williain, .lime 
!.■>, 1h7H; Clam, .S'pt. 17, 187'.i, and \ictor, .lune 
I, IH.si. They are all allendiii;r >.ehoi>l in the home 
distriel. and their father inlciidii that they shall he 
;:iveii a rirst-rl;i.v« edueation. .Mr. and .Mrs. Bowers 
are nieiiiliers in {j;ooil standing of the Cumberland 
I'resliyteriaii Chiireh, .•iiid held in the highest es- 
teem l»v tlii-ir iieii;lil)ors. 



W. SITUTIIKHS. Jusliic of the Peace, isa 
well-known and resiM-i-lcd farmer and stoek- 
raiser, residing on .section 27, Illinois Town- 
shi|i. He is a native of (ireeiie County, Ohio, and 
was liorii Aug. .'), 1 H,j(>. He is the son of William 
and .liilia { l)ean) .Slrutliors, who were nativesof Vir- 
ginia and Ohio resi>eclively. Ilis f:ilher, William 
.Striithers, w!is horn M;iy 3, 11^2,0, and was liy occn- 
|Mitioii ."i nierchanl and a farmer in turn. During 
the late civil conllicl lietHeeu the .Stales, he enlisted 
in Company IJ, s;id I!linoi> Infantry, and served 
gallantly for three yejirs with that hand of heroes, 
who carried their .Slate Mag into m.any of the liard- 
fouglil battles of the war, whore, like a meteor, it 
was ever foiiuil at the front. He died .liily 7, 18.S7. 
The mother of our subject was born April 27. 
IH2'J, and .lied Oil. II. fMr,.}, afterwhich (he father 
again entered into the marriage st4ite. Thisfiecond 
lime he led to llie.-illar Miw Mary .1. I'crry, daugli- 
t4-r of Walter and Anna (Heaii) I'erry, who was 
liiirii .Ian. 12. I MU.'i, in Greene Couiily, Ohio. .She 



was one of a family of eight children, born to her 
pnrents lus follows: David, .liilia, .Mary ,1., .leanelte, 
Daniel D., .Sandi, Klir.nbeth mid .loliaiiiiii. David 
was born Nov. II, 1H3<I, and died in 1H7'.I; .hilin 
WHS born Juno 10, l.s:i:t, married William Coley 
and died in 1x71',, leaving a family of six ehildreii, 
who were called ii|k>ii in I KH4 lo mnurn their father, 
who followed her; .Mary J. is the wife of William 
Slrulhers; .leanelte was born March 20. 1«,'J7, and 
married Kbeiie/.er Curry, and aeeoinpnnied her hus- 
band to Kgypt, where they both died, leaving; one 
child; Daniel D. wius born .May 2S. IS.T.l, and mar- 
ried .Mary Keed ; he wils ji member of Compnny !•", 
.'Id Ohio Infantry, during the war, and lust n limb, 
and is now a resident of Illinois. Sarah was born 
.lune 2S, l.sil, married .losepli Gettcrny, and is a 
resident of Moliiie, III., and llic parent of Iwo 
children ; Klizabeth was born April II, IMl.'l, and 
married William Itrowii, who isrunninga newsollicc 
in Burlington, Iowa, and is the parent of three chil- 
dren : .lohannn was born . I line ID. lX4(i, and mar- 
ried William Young, a newspaper reporter in Mns- 
.'saehu.selt.s, and is the parenl of two children. 

Mr. Slrulhers is one of a family of live children 
born to his father during his first marriage, lus fol- 
lows: Clark W., the subject of this sketch; two 
iiifaiiLs unnaineil, deceased; Louisa, born Aug. 1.1, 
|.S5;5, and died .Inly 27, IH70; and Alonzo II., born 
.lune I'.), liS.jli, who married Louise Mc(iroom,aiid 
is n residenl of this township and the father of four 
children. There were seven children as the issue 
of the second marriage of William .Strnthers. as 
follows: William, who wsis born .May 3, IStlC, and 
died August l.'mf the same year; Annie Mary, born 
Oct. 20, IKG7, Ihc wife of Dr. W. II. Morehea.l, 
and ft residenl of Kansas; Olive C.. born Dec. 2.'>, 
IHG'l; Ralph, Dec. 11, 1871 ;.Iessie, born March 21, 
1871, and died Dec. 2(1, 1 87<; ; Charles, born March 
2, |87t'p; and an infant .son deceased. 

When the snbjeel of our sketch w.as but Iwoye.nrs 
of age his parents removed to the .Slate of Illinois, 
!inil locat4'il in Warren County, where he was reared 

III nianli I. He received his edticalion in the 

excellent scIiimiIs provided in llnil parlof the I'nited 
.Slates, and laid the foundation of his future eliar- 
aelcr in thai coinmonweallh. In I87.|, being in 
search of a new coiinlry in which he could improve 



-•►■-4« 



SEDGAVICK COUNTY. 



831 



his fortunes and make a start in life, he caim i.i 
Kansas, and is now the owner of a beautiful farm 
of ■240 acre;- of most excellent land. Eighty acres 
of it are in Ninncseah Township, and the balance 
in Illinois Township. All of it is most excellent 
arable land, and eight}- acres are brought under the 
plow and converted to the uses of civilized man. 

Esquire Struthcrs has held the ortices of Town- 
ship Treasurer, Town Clerk, School Director and 
School Treasurer, anil is now Justice of the Peace in 
the township. lie is in politics a Prohibitionist of the 
strictest type, being convinced that the rum fiend 
is the great destroyer of moral character and phy- 
sical being of manj- of our country's brightest 
liglits. A great reader, his researches have led him 
tt) advocate the views of the new third part}'. Me 
is honest, industrious, and thoroughly honorable 
in all the walks of life, and enjoys the esteem and 
respect of the community to a large extent. 



JAMES E. RUSSELL, the subject of this 
sketch, is engaged in the grocery business at 
No. 311 North M^in street, in the city of 
Wichita, and is one of the firm of Russell 
Bros., where they are doing a lucrative business in 
their line. 

Mr. Russell was born in the city of Philadelphia, 
Pa., Nov. 10, 1844, and when a lad nine years of 
age removed with his father's family, first to Beaver 
County, Pa., and thence, in 18.55, to Livingston 
County, III. In the latter count}' he resided until 
18G3, when they all came to Kansas, and located in 
Osage County, and in 1874 came to Sedgwick 
County, where they are still living. 

Col. .John Russell, the father of our subject, w.is 
a native of Scotland, and after becoming a resident 
of the Quaker City w;is employed as a manufact- 
urer. He married, in early manhood, Miss Jennie 
Allen, and they became the parents of eleven chil- 
dren. James E., of our sketch, received a com- 
mon-school education, and began his first lessons in 
agriculture on the .soil of his native State. After 
coming to Kansas he was united in marriage with 
Miss Ilattie A., daughter of John B. and Lizzie 
(Beaver) Jones, the wedding taking place in 18G9, 
at the home of the bride in Shawnee, this State. 



.Mrs. Russell was born in Muncie, Lycoming Co., 
I'a., Oct. 23, 1 850, and came with her parents to 
Kansas in 18G8. Her mother died in Shawnee 
County, in 1882. Tlie father is still living, and 
engiiged in farming there. Mr. and Mrs. R. have 
four children, namely: Jennie, Mary, Corena and 
Neviii. 

Mr. Russell, in 1870, purchased a stock of gen- 
eral merchandise, and was engaged in trade at Coy- 
ville for a period of four years, but since that 
time lie has devoted his attention to farming up to 
January, 1888, when he engaged in his present 
business. He is a Republican politically, and so- 
cially, a nieuiljcr of the Masonic fralornitv. 



<(AR L. WINTERS, one of the old settlers 
I if Sedgwick County, came here in the fall 

yjfj of 18G9, from LaSalle County, 111., and home- 
steaded eighty acres of land on section 2G, Eagle 
Township, where he is now making his home. At 
that time William Lockard was the only settler in 
this township, and was living on the Big Run at 
the time of our subject's advent here. 

Mr. Winters is a native of Stark County, Ohio, 
l)orn Jan. 19, 1848, and the son of William E. and 
Lutitia (McDowell) Winters, who were natives also 
of the Buckeye State. His father and mother were 
united in marriage in the year 1845, in St:irk 
County, Ohio, and the former died in October, 
1882, at the age of sixty-one years. He was a 
stanch Republican in politics, and both he and 
his wife were sincere members of the Presbyterian 
Church. The mother of our subject is still living, 
and makes her home in Colwich, this county, and, 
although sixty-one years of age, is quite .active 
and energetic. 

The subject of this personal niemoir remained 
at home with his parents until he was twenty-one 
years of age, receiving his education in the district 
schools and assisting his father in his labors, for 
that gentleman was a farmer all his life. William 
Winters enlisted in Company C, 147th Illinois In- 
fantry, in 1864, when he was about forty-five years 
of age, as a private, and came out of the service 
as Sergeant. On attaining his majority our subject. 



•►-•-4^ 



f 



•►■ -4^ 



K8i 



f 



^|•.IH'.\VI(•K COUNTY. 



«hi> IiikI liet'ii liviii;; ahoiit ri^flit yi'iirs in l.nSiille 
('■■iiiity. 111., wliitlwr \i\x |Hirriit.s liiiil inovc-i). cniiio 
til siiiiiiy Knii%<i.s in coiiiimidv nitli Ivhviii Doriiiifi^- 
loii, iiiid )ii-ttlci| in tliiit purl nf Turk Townsliip 
hIiIcIi is kniiwn jix K!ii;l«". llcir hi- l«ifalo<l, lus nliuvc 
iiK-ntionrd, nml lias ntixlo it hi.s liinne from llint 
• liktf until tlio prosint \vritin<;. His cumpnnion, 
Mr. Diirrin^'Um. remained until |k79, wlien lie re- 
iikivimI to ||ar|H'r Cmmtv, in this State. Our snl>- 
jeet is cn;.'nr;e(l in >;eneral farming and stock-raisiiifj, 
Liivin;; nuist of his attention to the hrceiJinf^ of 
Norman liorses and I'olaml-Ciiina hoi.'s. lie \ms 
>et ont a line orehard of apple, peai'h. ])ear and 
elierrv trees, and a (piantity of the smaller fruits. 
Hi' improvcnienl.s on the place are of a eomfort- 
.'itile and sub.'>tanti:d eharaetcr, an<l, although ayonn^ 
man, he i.s niakinj^ i^reat proj^re>s toward the eoni- 
pi'leney which is the f,'oaI of every man's effort. 

.Mr. Winters was united in marriage, April 22, 
I."*??, with .Miss .lennic l{iehard.>ion. a native of 
I.a.Salle County. 111., horn Oct. S, \X4'.>. an<l daugh- 
ter of William and Kuth (Terry) Itichardson, na- 
tive.-- of Pennsylvania. Her father died in .'^edg- 
wlck C>.unly, Oct. .'), I.SK.i.and her mother Oct. l», 
|Ht;i. The latter »vas horn in Ohio. She was a 
iiiemher of the Methodist Church, and the father 
'if the liaptist. They were the jiarents of hut one 
child, .lennie, wlui i> the wife of the snliject of this 
sketch. In the family of Mr. Winters' parents 
Were seven children: Mary K., Oscar I.., Samantlm 
l»., .lam.s C, A<Ia .M., .I..hn W. and .M.-iggie H. 
.\11 of them an- living and married, antl have their 
homes in Sedgwick County. Ada is the wife of J. 
K. Hrown, .a native of Pennsylvania, who was en- 
gaged in farming in Kagle 'I'ownshi]) until .hmu- 
ary. 1 .SMM, when, having heen elected to the olliee 
of Register of Deeds of the county in November 
previous, he reniovcd to Wichita. They are the 
parents of six cliihlren — Carrie, Willie, Kita. Maud. 
I.ula and Ada. .Mr. and Mrs. Winters are the 
parents of two children, lioth hoys, who have come 
to liright^-n their lives luid enhance their domestic 
joys — Karl .1. and Arthur I.. 

Mr. Winters is a reprewnt-alive man of Sedgwick 
County, and in politics alllliales with the Uepuhliciin 
party. In tin- fall of I Hm7 he was elected to the 
i.lllie of Townshiji TrusU-e, which position he i.s 



now niling. I'revioU!) Ui this he wim Clerk of the 
township fur ahoiit one 3'enr, nn<l has fliled various 
olllces on the School Itonrd for s»'veml terms. He 
is industrious, energetic and progre^ive in his na- 
tnre, and is highly esteemed and rcspectnl by all 
who know hiui. 




AIM'IN I.. SAKCKNT. senior mendier of 
the lirni of .Sargi-nt A: Holiertiion, is, with 
his partner, carrying on the leading livery 
and sale stjdtle of Wichita. A man of en- 
ergy and good judgment, and finely adapted to his 
present husine.ss, he takes )>ride in conducting it 
upon the hest-known plans. His stock and vehi- 
cles are of first-cla.ss description, and thus he enjoys 
a line |)atronage and is jHipnlar with the liest classes 
of people in the city. 

Our sniijcet is the offspring of an exeelK-nt old 
family, who have wi.sely preserved tlieir record 
through several genenitions. His great-grand- 
father, John .Sargent, a native of Ma.ssnehusetts, 
sprang from an old I'uritiin family, who settled in 
the Bay State ahout 1030 or KUO. Tlieir descend- 
ants have since heen scattered through New Kn- 
gland, where the name is a very prominent and 
familiar one. 

.lohn .Sargent was the fatlu'r of six children, 
namely: William, .lolm, .Ir., Culversou. Ann, Hetty 
anil I'atty. William, the i-hlest son, anil the grand- 
father of our sidiject, was liorn in Miissjicluisctt*, 
whence he emigrated to Ohio aliout ISOO, IcK-ating 
near the present site of the city of Cincinnati. He 
w!Ls a liricUmaker liy tr.ade, and married Mi.ss Dolly, 
daughter of .louallcin Hohertson, who settled in 
that region in l.'^O.'t. Of this marriage there were 
horn live children who lived to niaturily, namely: 
William, Lewis, Martin, .lohn and Harriet. Three 
died young. .Mr. Sjirgent prospered and accu- 
mulated a good pro|>erty, and was a man of great 
lienevolence, giving lil>erally of his means to the 
poor. He died in Cincinnati nt the age of fifty- 
four years. During his later life he was a stanch 
Uepuhlican, politically, a gentleman of ini|)ort»uee 
in his community and greatly res|K'cled. He |>os 



•►■-^ 



1.1 



i 



<^^m-M»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



833 ' 



1 



sessed in his makeup the peculiar cliaraeteristics of 
the hotter class of English people. 

The father of our subject was born in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1830. He received a coiiinmn-school edu- 
cation, and learned in earlj- life the trade of brick- 
layer. In 18r)2 he married Aliss Susan, daughter 
of William and Abbie (Williams) Nash, and they 
became the parents of six children. These were 
named respectivel}' : Albert J., Martin, George II., 
Katie G., Maude L. and Dolly M. Mr. Sargent in 
18.">7 came to Kansas with his family, and was one 
of the pioneers who settled in Leavenworth, where 
be lived until 1887. He then came to Wichita. In 
Leavenworth he had lieen engaged as a contractor, 
and superintended the erection (jf man}' of the busi- 
ness blocks there. He has always been a stanch 
Democrat, politically, and the mother is a member 
in good standing of the Baptist Church. 

The subject of this biography was born in Leav- 
enworth, this State, April 22, 18G1. His earlj' edu- 
cation was conducted in the common school and 
he learned the livery business in his youth. At 
the early age of fourteen years he began business 
for himself in Denver, Col., where he shipped two 
carloads of horses, which he subsequenti}' sold at a 
good figure. Later he went into the freighting 
business in New Mexico, and after a sojourn of two 
years in that region, returned home to Leaven- 
worth and engaged in business with his father. 
During his wanderings he engaged in the cattle 
trade in Idaho. Oregon and Montana, and has thus 
seen the larger part of the Western country. He 
established himself in business at Wichita in the 
spring of 1887, and by his promptness in meeting 
his obligiitions, and his straightforward course, is 
securing for himself a gooil position, both socially 
and financially. 

^^HARLES N. FORWARD. Upon the i.rin- 
(1(^1 ciple that a limited area of land well culti- 
^^/ vated is more desirable than a wide extent 
neglected, the subject of this sketch, since the 
spring of 1879, has given his attention main!}' to 
his snug farm of eighty acres located on section 25, 
Afton Township. This place, a view of which is 



given in this work, invariably attracts the ej'e of 
the passing traveler as one of the best a|)pointed 
homesteads in the southwestern part of this county. 
It occupies a part of section 2.5, and is largelj' de- 
voted to the raising of grain and stock. Mr. For- 
ward, as an intelligent and enterprising citizen, is 
quite prominent in local affairs, serving as School 
Director for the last seven years in his district, and 
Road Overseer for some time. Politically, he votes 
with the I'rohibitionists. 

Mr. Forward, a native of New York State, was 
born in Cayuga County, June 30. 1844, and is con- 
sequentlj' in the prime of life. He is the offspring 
of an excellent old family, and the son of (ieorge 
and S.arah (Cager) l'\»rward, natives of Susse.xshire, 
England. The father, born in 1808, departed this 
life at his home in Michigan, in September, 1884. 
He had followed farming all his days, and was nota- 
ble among his neighbors a.s a man honest in his deal- 
ings, and of the strictest integrity. There were 
thirteen children in the parental household, of whom 
the record is as follows: George was first married 
to Miss Marian Deratt, who died leaving two chil- 
dren ; his second marriage was with Miss Sarah 
Burnham ; he is now wirrying on butchering in 
Tampico, 111. Charlotte became the wife of Lewis 
Booler, and died eighteen months after her wed- 
ding; William married Miss Belle Burnham, and is 
the father of six children; he is farming in White- 
side Count}', III. Frank married Miss Harriet 
Stalker, and is occupied at f.arming in Michigan; 
Edward w.as first married to Miss Elmira Foy. who 
died not long afterward, and his second wife was 
Miss Margaret Cranthan ; Fanny is the wife of John 
Bunker, of this St:ite; Charles N. was the fifth in 
order of birth; Mary Ann is the widow of Simeon 
Baird, and the mother of five children; Sarah died 
in infancy; Lewis married Miss Stella Snbin, and 
they are the parents of six children; he is carrying 
on fiirming and stock-raising in Kingman County, 
this State. Delbert married Miss Edith Harlow, 
and they have one child ; he is farming in Clinton 
County, Mich. Two children died unnamed in in- 
fancy. 

The subject of liiis sketch received his education 
in the common schools, which he attended mostly 
during tlie winter season, his services the balance of 



■^•- 



h.l^ 



^^ 



^KDGWICK COUNTY. 



lln- yo«r Ix-inj; iitilizi-il uii the fHriii. AfU-r roni-li- 
iii^; his iimjiirily, he »KH-ii|>ie(l hiiiiM'ir nl cjiriK-nUT. 
in;; in .Mii-hij^nn, nnil scvfii vt-ars Inter was innrried, 
Sept. 10, 1M72, t<» Mivs Diilie I•"^>^s, who wn.>< horn in 
W liite:*i<le ('..unly, III.. .Inly 2, IM'>. Mrs. For- 
ward is the (laughter nf Harris and Martha (lierliii) 
Fiwjf, the former horn in New Mani|)»hire, Aii;r. 11, 
1H23. 'I'lio mother was a native of Ohio, .-md horn 
April .s. 1H'.>7. Tliey beeanie early settlers of llli- 
iiuis, lull in Isf.M moved to Mel'herson fonnty, 
Kan..antl there live n-tired from the lahore of long 
:md nsefiil lives. They arc the |>arents of eight chil- 
dren, of whom .S.-imh, the eldest, w.-us horn .Inly 14, 
IS 17; slie is now the wife of .lolin (Jrifllii. a pros- 
|H-rons farmer ami sl4iekman of Mel'herson. Kan., 
:iiiil the mother of one child. Am.-inda w.-us horn 
A|>ril 7, IH.'iO, and is the wife of Sylvesl«'r .lones, 
.who is eng.'iged in the livery business at Mel'her- 
son: the}- have three children. DcWitt married 
.Miss Leona Archer, and is employed as liook-keeper 
hy fi hardware lirm of I'ralt City; Dnlie, Mi-s. For- 
»:iril, W!is the ne.xt in order of birth: Olive was 
born Nov. •>. IH.'iG. aixl is the wife of LeHoy Hill, 
who is carrying on farming in Mel'herson County; 
they have three chililren. Fred was born Oct. 21, 
l«r. l,aiid is o|>crating a barber-shop in Hutchinson; 
Ivlward H., born in I HGCi, died in Illinois when 
aboiil two years «dd ; Rosa, born in IMGS. died the 
year following. 

.Mr. and Mrs. Forward are the parents of two 
bright children, a daiighU-r and son: Annie I'earl, 
b.irn Nov. 0, 1h7;J. and Deibert, Aug. 27. 1K7G. 
They are pursuing their studies in the district 
>(h<M>l, .'ukI it is hardly neccs-sary to say, constitute 
llir ho|)C and happiness of their |>arents. Mr. and 
Mrs. Forward are both members of the Methodist 
Kpiseo)ial Cliurch, :it (joddard, Kan. 



I-OUOK I.KJII 1. Asa representative of the 
intelligent and hardy pioneers who o|>ened 
<;^5! up Ninnescali Township for selllcnient, and 
have since taken a roiispiriioiis part in developing 
it. we are plea.sed to place in this volume a brief 
.ski-teh of the life of the g(>utlcnian who.se name 
stand" .'it the head rif this notice. 

Mr. Light wiut born in Cumberlaiid Couiily. I'a., 



Aug. 1. lH.10.nnd is a son of Henry and Klizn- 
beth (Hrennizcr) Light, natives of rennsylvaiiia, 
his father being of Oennan extniction. Ten chil- 
dren were born to his parents, of whom but one 
other survives, Mary .1., wife of .John M. Whitsoll, 
of .Sumner County, Kan. When n child our sub- 
ject removed with his parents to .lefferson County, 
I'n., and was reared in a pioneer settlement, receiv- 
ing his education in the rude log scliool-house, char- 
acteristic of the times and place. As soon as he 
was old enough he was obliged to share in the 
labors of developing the farm from the wilderness 
as his father wit^ busy at his trade of miller, and 
was obliged to have his sons do the farming. This 
early training in agriciilturnl labors doubtless mnile 
the young lad sturdy, self-reliant, and C4i|>able be- 
yond his years, and pre|iared him for a life of inde- 
l>eiidencc. 

On the 2Hth of April, l.s.O.S, our subject ttiok an 
important step in his life by his marriage with Miss 
Caroline Coy, a native of Indiana County, I'a. 
.She was born Feb. 10. 1S.3('., and is the daughter 
of .lohn and Mary (l)chavens) Coy, lioth of Oer- 
man extracti«>n. The union of Mr. and .Mrs. Light 
has been blessed by the birth of eleven chililren, 
nine of whom arc living, namely: >L'iry K.. Annie, 
William, Frank, Lucelta, liachel, Henry. Harvey 
and Charles. Mary is the wife of Henry Laurie, of 
Clearwater, Kan.; Annie is the wife of H. F. Miller, 
also of Clearwater; LucetUi is the wife of Martin 
Laurie, of Kingman County. Kaii. 

In 1H75 Mr. Light moved with his family t<i Kan- 
sas, where he could pursue his life-long occupation 
more advanUigeously than in his former home. He 
settled on his present f:irin on section ;U of Ninne- 
scali Township, and on its fertile soil energetically 
resumed once more the ta,sk of developing the land 
fr<m) its primitive condition, though under more 
jiropitious circumstances than in the forests of 
Pennsylvania. H}' dint of hard labor, |)ersever- 
aiice and wise management, he now has a farm 
which, in its neat appearance, witli its ample farm 
buildings, unsurpassed proiliictiveness, an<l all the 
other e.s.senlials of a g'Kxl farm, compares favomiily 
with others in the neighborhood. Thus his thrift, 
frugality and industry have been well rewarded by 
a substtntial home and an assure<l income, which 



lU 







^^ 



^^ 




1 

^ 

^ 



^ 



» ■ <■ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



837 ' ^ 



gives him the means of procuring all the comforts 
of life for himself and family. His wife, who is to 
him an excellent counselor and helpmate, shares 
with him the res|X!ct and esteem of the entire com- 
raunit}'. 

Mr. Light is liberal-spirited, and gives freely 
toward all worthy ohjecta. He is a Democrat in 
politics, bnt is independent in his views, and always 
votes for the man rabher than for the party. As 
Clerk of the School Board of this district, he has 
faithfully served the interests of his township. A 
lithographic view is shown on another page of this 
work, of Mr. Light's handsome farm property. 



^rif-3 ^^- 



-■m 



eA. PARSONS, a loading builder and con- 
tractor of Wichita, whose portrait we give in 
connection with the following brief outline 
of his life, came to the city in 1873, when the place 
was l)Ut an insignificant village of less than 500 in- 
habitants. He purchased two lots containing a 
little over one acre of ground, on which he 
erected a board shant}-, 12xl-t feet in size. It was 
entirely witliout lath or plaster. In this he took 
up his residence, and for four years lived in it as 
it was. He then improved it. adding largely to it, 
and from time to time has continued to do so, un- 
til now it is a very comfortable and neat dwelling. 
Since coming here he has always followed his busi- 
ness of building and contracting, and has erected 
some of the city's finest edifices, giving employ- 
ment to as high as seventy men at one time. 

Mr. Parsons is a native of SliefHeld, Mass., and 
was born Aug. 23, 1833. He is the son of Henry 
C. and Eliza (Benedict) Parsons, natives of Mas- 
sachusetts and Connecticut respectively. They 
made their home in the old Bay State until 18G4, 
when they removed to Iowa, and settled in Jones 
County, where they lived until 1882, when the 
father died, leaving a wife and three children — 
Charles A., Frank F. and Edith. The mother is 
still living in Iowa. Having been reared and edu- 
cated in the town of his birth, the subject of this 
sketch, in 1849, went to Georgetown, Ohio, and 
commenced his apprenticeship to the trade of brick 
and stone ma.-.on, as a common laborer. Giving his 



whole attention to his business, and striving to ex- 
cel, he soon acquired a considerable insight into the 
handicraft. In April, 185G, he moved to Iowa, and 
located at Anamosa, Jones County, where he fol- 
lowed his trade until 1873, when he came to Kan- 
sas. On his arrival in Wichita he found that he 
could not find work enough to keep him employed 
all the time, and during the intervals between his 
employment procured considerable sustenance from 
fish which he caught in the river. Being one of 
the old settlersof this locality, he has passed through 
most of the trials of a pioneer life. 

The Wichita of 1873-74 was not the city that it 
is to-day. Having a scattered population of some 
500 people, it was to a considerable extent filled 
with a rough element. In speaking of those early 
da^'s Mr. Parsons has remarked that it was nothing 
unusual to see a man shot upon the streets, the, 
latter being filled with cowboys, who stood with 
revolvers in their hands ready to fire on the 
slightest provocation. Notwithstanding the incon- 
veniences of a life passed among such stormy scenes, 
he has lived to see a busy and rapidly growing city 
of 40,000 inhabitants, where he found but 500 peo- 
ple. The property which he purchased for a small 
amount on coming here has rajjidly risen in value, 
and he not long since refused an offer of ^25,000 
for it. Besides his town residence, Mr. Parsons is 
.also the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres in Erie 
Township, this county, all of which is improved 
and under cultivation, and on which he has a 
tenant. 

During the trying days of our country's peril by 
the armed rebellion of several of the States, Mr. 
Parsons shouldered his musket and went to the 
front in its defense. He served three years in the 
31st Iowa, and wiis with that valiant old warrier, 
Gen. Sherman. 

Bearing in mind the Divine injunction that it is 
not well for man to dwell alone, Nov. 7, 1857, our 
subject led to the marriage altar Miss Emily Ack- 
emifti), a daughter of Enistus and Annice Acker- 
man. They were both natives of New York. The 
father was l)orn in Binghamton and the mother in 
New York City. Mrs. Emily Parsons was born in 
Binghamton, N. Y., Sept. 7, 1840, and died in 
Wichita. Kan., Dec. 17, 1877, leaving four children 



ft3ft 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



t 



— Clnrn, Cliiirh's, Miittic ami IU>rtlin — to mourn tlioir 
lo-s with hrr biTcavcd liii»linn<l. Af;aiii Mr. I'nr- 
.Hoiirt entorol the niiirrinj;i' stjitv. .Jiiiii' 14. IHKO, ho 
nn-s iiiiitPil with Miss Aiinio Williiiins. of iliitchiii- 
Min. Kono Co., Knn.. who wiis horn in Cinc-inniiti, 
Ohio, on the l.itli of .Iiinr, \s\t;. She is the dniijrh- 
liTof Lcwi.siux) .Mnry (Ohlfii) Williiinifi. the fornu-r 
!i uiitivo of \'crmont nn<l the hitter of Dhio, who 
Imil i'«.inio to Knnsii.4 in 1K7K. Mr. iuul Mrs. Will- 
iniii!« were the |inrcntsi of ei;;ht chihlren, six of whom 
iiri- now living;, viz: Annie, Mm. I'arsons; .lennic, 
Luiirii, Mi'lvin. .Minuio iinil (icorge. 

In iMililic'!', Mr. Parsons owes fealty to tiie I{e|nib- 
li<'aii party, .-ilthough not actively enfrnjjed as a 
politician. Ilo is a memhor of the Odd Fellow 
fraternity, having a present connection with Wich- 
ita Lodge No. 'J.'}. 



U.I.IAM IIODSON, a prominent real-estate 
de.'iler of Wicliitji, vvaa horn in llillshoro, 
jr'V' lli-hlanrlfo., Ohio, April 28. 181.-,. Zach- 
ariah and Tacy (StafTord) Hodson wore his father 
and mother, the former from North Carolina, and 
the latter from Randolph County, .S. ('. Zachariah 
llodson was horn in 1787, an<l dieil .Tuly l.'i, 18.'(0. 
I'lie mother, who was horn in 1781), ilied in 1829. 
They wore parent* of six children, namely: Catlio- 
riiie, .lohn, William, .lames, Carrie (1st) and Carrie 
(2d.) The tlrst of this name died, and another was 
calleil the same. 

The suliject of this sketch was reared on a farm, 
and received a fair education in the common 
schools. I'iKjn reaching manhood he left his native 
Slate, and w.as married in Newtown, Kotintain Co., 
Iiid., .Ian. 21, 18.).l. to Miss Kli/.a Atchison. Mrs. 
H. wiLs horn in .Montgomery County, Ohio, March 
.!, 182<;. and is the daughter of Kdward and l,ydia 
(lledrick) Atchison, who wore I'ennsylvanians 
hy hirth, and of (ierman extraction. Founbiin 
( ounty. Ind., continued the home of William Hod- 
son for st'voral years, and until I8.'',2. Mercer 
County, 111., then attracting him as the place for 
the growing of grain and stock, he llnally sold out 
:iud invest<Ml the proceeds in a farm there. He 
linally set out for (Jregon with his family, where he 



•► • -4*- 



n-mained five yoani. At the expiration of this time 
.Mr. Ilodson returntMl to Illinois, and lived agnin in 
Mercer County until 187<''. Thenee ho came to 
Wichitft. an<l purcha,><'d a tract of land, a jmrt of 
which lie afterward sohl. hut retained twenty-two 
acres, from which he sold four lots at the l)<M>m in 
prices, for ♦10,000. His remaining ground is a fort- 
une to any ordinary man, or will ho whenever sold 
at its present value. Miiying, selling and getting 
gain in real estnlc, has In-cn the s|«cial husiness of 
Mr. Hodson since locating in Wichita. 

Four children came to the household of fiiir sub- 
ject anil his wife, one of whom died in infancy. 
Miss Laura married Zachariah Howe; Florence 
liecame the wife of William .Stancer; .lames iiiar- 
rierl Miss Sophia Filhrick. Mr. and .Mrs. Hodson 
are proud ovi'r the fact that they have ton grand- 
children. Mi-s. II. is a most ostimahlc lady, and in 
religious helief a I'reshyterian. Our siihject is a 
Re|iul>licaii in politics, and liheral in his religious 
views. 

The .'illenlion of .Mr. Hodson was >onie time since 
.•ittracted to the gold and silver mines of Colorado, 
in which he ohUained an interest on Swan Kiver in 
.Summit County, eight years ago. He took up his 
abode in Colorado in 1841, where he remained 
three yeai-s. He has made thirty trips over the 
Uocky Range, three of them with teams, besides 
many trips to Denver in the interval. 

Mr. Hodson is deeply rooteil in the conviction 
that he h.os never defrauded his neighbor, or obtained 
any of his worldly goods wrongfully. He is libend- 
spirited, and is saitl to be kind to the |M>or. Reareil 
as a (Quaker, a kindly spirit would naturally be his 
second nature. When he came to the West, passing 
through Chicago, th.at now fiiiiious city was then in 
its sw.addling clothes. He tells of encounters with 
rattlesnakes, barefoot e.\|)oriences, breaking prairie 
in Illinois, at which he cleaned a little inone^', and 
invested it in laml in Shelby County, that .State, 
which, however, proved a |)oor investment. 

As a business man Mr. Iloi'soii hiu- been siiccesj*- 
ful. and a.s a citi/.en and the father of a fainil)', 
above reproach. He ha.s spent few idle hours dur- 
ing his long and useful life, for when his hands have 
not been employed, his fertile brain has been devis- 
ing some project which, while probably of profit to 



•►HI-*- 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



839 ' ^ 



himself, has frequently affected favoralilj' the inter- 
esU of those about him — perhaps in giving some 
man needed employment or increasing the circulat- 
ing medium and the movements of real estate. 

As one of the important factors in the building 
up and the development of the city of Wichita, 
we deem it just to present the portrait of Mr. Hod- 
son, which is given on another page in this volume. 
It can scarcely fail to be an object of interest to all 
who consider who the moving spirits are, through 
whom the advancement of a gi-eat section of the 
countrj' has been effected, and to whose efforts 
is due the present position of Wichita among the 
communities of the West. 

•i ^>t^^«^K«S*^— * 

Vf/AMES F. JOHNSON, an industrious and 
thorough farmer of Illinois Township, is en- 
gaged in i-aising grain and stock on his farm 
I on section 27. He is a native of Breckin- 
ridge County, Ky.. and made his appearance upon 
the stage of life June "20, 1842. His parents, Lind- 
sjiy and Cheney (Clarkston) Johnson, were natives, 
the father of Jlissouri, and the mother of Virginia. 

The subject of this sketch remained at home, 
assisting his father in his labors and in attending 
school, until he had attained his thirteenth year. 
At that time, in 1855, his father died and he was 
compelled to go out in the world and battle for .an 
existence, and to help support his widowed mother 
and the children at home. The family was a large 
one, there having been some thirteen children, the 
names of whom are herewith given: Mildred, de- 
ceased; Bethana, Edmund; Mina, deceased ; Hum- 
phrey; Robert, and two infants unnamed, deceased : 
James, the subject of our sketch; Lindsay, Ellen, 
M.artha, and an infant unnamed, all deceased. 

For five years James F. remained with his first 
omploj'er, but since that time has been a great 
traveler on this continent. In the course of his 
busy life he has made his home, temporarily', in Chi- 
cago and Quinc}', III.; Red Rock, Iowa; Cleveland 
and Columbus, Ohio; Martinsville and Leesburg. 
Va., and many other places. During the late Civil 
War, being filled with a strong love for the old flag, he 
ent<'red the service of the General Government, as 



a soldier in the Federal army. He was an officer 
in Company E, 27th United States Colored In- 
fantry, of Ohio, and served with them about eighteen 
months. With the regiment he served in all the 
marches and campaigns around Petersburg, in the 
battles at South Branch, Dutch Gap, Ft. HarriscMi, 
and in the siege of Petersburg itself, where so many 
of the pride and youth of our noble countr}' 
"ventured life and love and truth," and laid down 
their martyred lives as a sacrifice on the altir of 
their country. After the fall of the latter place the 
regiment was transferred to North Carolina, where 
it was hotl}' engaged at several points, among the 
most noticeable of whicli was that at Ft. Moreliead, 
at Ft. Fisher and at Goldslioro. During the many 
battles and skirmishes in which he was present and 
took .an active part, he was fortunate enough to es- 
cape almost unwounded. A slight bayonet wound 
on the forehead, and a severe contusion of the ankle 
caused by the fall of a piece of heav}' timber, were 
about his only casualties. He was mustered out of 
the service and discharged at Newbern, N. C, in 
September, 1865, and returned to Columbus, Ohio, 
where he had made his home prior to his enlist- 
ment. In 1868 he removed to Highland County, 
Ohio, where he was engaged in farming. A strong 
tide of emigration sweeping over the countrj' to- 
ward Kansas in 1 870, he came to this .*^tate and east 
his lot among the pioneers of Sedgwick County. 
He took up under the homestead act 160 acres of 
land on section 27, where he now resides. 

After a short residence in Kansas, Mr. Johnson 
returned to his home in the Buckeye State, and 
then coming back to Kans;is, commenced life as a 
farmer on the broad and fertile plains of this State, 
where he has ever since made his home. His farm 
contains some 160 acres of land, is in a high stjite 
of cultivation, and the improvements upon it are 
most excellent. He has set out a healthy and thrifty 
orchard of some 170 trees, and otherwise added to 
the value of his land. He is as yet unmarried, not 
having found his ideal of a perfect woman. In 
politics he affiliates with the Republican party, feel- 
ing that within its tenets lies the safest guide to 
our National progress. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and carries his religion 
into the daily walks of life. Honest, industrious 



-*■ 






t 



•^KDCWICK COUNTY. 



mill ciilirrly frto fiKin «Ul>t, liis iiillinMKc in tin- 
towiLshiji i-t cxlfiisivo niul well nu-ritt'd. llis f<lii- 
ratioii wxH nc-c)iiiri-il in the finiiinon !tchi><)l!i of lii.s 
native Stjito. luil liein;,' n man who rcaiN, imd n 
lovor <if iHH»i IxHiks, he Im.-" iio<|iiire<l a Uirjiv ftiiul 
of fjenenil iDfornmtioii, notwitlisLiinilin!.; the cares 
nii<l re!i|Kinsil(ililies of a iiiisv life. 



-i-ri-f^l:-: 



int^-w^^ 



('. DISIJKOW, .■(II iiiile|>enileiil fanner anil 
(K^M enpilalisl of Wichita 'I'owiisliiii, i-aine to 

'li' "ill this county in .Seplenilier, 1KH2, and in- 
vested a portion of lii$ capital inn quarter- 
section of hind, for which he pnid *2.<«00. He 
suhscquently sold I III acres of this at the round sum 
of <i200 per acre, and is now mostly interi'sled in 
town properly, having three houses in the city, five 
lot.s in I'ark I'lnce Addition, four and one-iiidf lots 
with houses at the intersection of Kcliojjg and Fanny 
streets, on the Wichita liriinch line, and eight lot-s 
on IJiK-oln street, iinother se<-tion of the addition t<i 
Wichita. His Imnie lies on section 2,'), adjacent to 
the city limit*, where in 1882 he put up a Qnc 
residence, which, with its surroundings, forms one 
of the most complete homes in that locality. 

Our suliject, a native of the IJiickcye .State, was 
horn in li^V.'. and is the son of Willis and I'riscilla 
K. ((Jaildis) Dishrow. who were also natives of C>hio. 
The father, a farmer liy occupaticjii, was horn in 
1M24, is still living, and a resi<Ient of DeWitt 
County. III. The niolher, liorii in 1H2H, continues 
the I'onipanion of her husband. The family re- 
moved from Ohio to Illinois in IKGl , when A. ('. 
wiLs a lad twelve years of age, and there tile latter 
acfpiircd a good common-schotil education, and de- 
velojH'd into manhood. He became familiar with 
agricultural piii>iiits on the farm of his father, and 
having lieen trained to habits of industry and 
economy, was amply lilted for the further duties of 
lifi'. He ha- been engaged considerably in stock- 
raising, from which he practically retireil in 1 Hh7. 

The children of the parenUil household of our 
subject are recorded n- follows: Oilie, the wife (if 
l)avid Ilobson, is living near Clinton, III.: A. C. 
wa.H the second <-hild; Henry died in boyluHxl: 
Allen and .lolin are at home. Young Disbrow at 



the age of twenty years was married. April .10, 
1K7(I, U) Mi.ss Mnry K. Allstip, who was liurn in 
DeWitt County. 111., Aug. 22, l«ia, and was a few 
mouths younger than her hiisband. Her iHireiits 
were Washington and .Margaret Allsiip. The mother 
of .Mrs. Disbrow was born near Columbus. t)hio, 
and removed to Illinois with her |>arents when n 
child nine years of age. She became the wife of 
WiLshiiigtoii Allsup on the lith of .lanuary, 1847, 
at the age of sevenlt'eii years, having been born 
.lune '.), IH'MK The father die.l .Ian. 12, |h77. .Mrs. 
A. was subsequently married to Lorenzo Ilobbs, on 
the ;Jd of .lanuary. lf<Hl,and is now a resident of 
Macon, 111. .Mr. H. is a car|K"iiter by trade. Mr. 
Allsup accumulated a fine proix-rty, which wn« 
divided among his wiilow and children. Of the 
latter but three are now living — .Mary K.. Warner 
and .Miner H. 

Our subject and his wife have no children. .Mr. 
I)., politically, was reared by his honored father in 
the Democratic faith, to which he still loyally ad- 
heres. There are now living but four of the six 
children of his parents. 



Uol'. \\. A. t Ul Sl.M!i;UUY, Professor 
of Mathematics, of Carfield l.'nivei-sity, 
'(3! 1^ Wichit.-i. He is a native of Woodford 
County. III., and w.-is born Nov. lit, 1851, 
niid is a son of .lames and .Saniantha (Hrown) 
Crusinberry, natives res|H'ctively of Ohio and Illi- 
nois. The |)atern.-tl gi-amlfather of our subject, 
William Criisiiiberrv, is .a native of Ohio, where he 
was for many years actively engaged in farming and 
building. He is now living in honorable retire- 
ment in Iowa, far advanced in years, aged eiglily- 
eighl. His son .biiiies spent the I'arly years of his 
boyhood ill the home of his birth, and wa.s a lad of 
ten years when his p:ircnts removed to Illinois. 
He was there trained to agricultural pursuits, and 
there married ami settled down in life for many 
years. His first wife, niother of our subject, died 
in their home in that State in IHfiS. .She was an 
exemplary woman, and worthy in every rcs|K'ct of 
the high regard in which she was liehl. Of her cliil- 



•► ■ -4^ 



^I 



•4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



841 



' 



Aran our subject is the onlj' survivor. Mr. Crusin- 
hi-rry's second marriage, which took place in 1858, 
was to Miss L. JI. Tucker, a native of Illinois. 
Two children have been born to them, Loonidas 
and Frank. In 186.5 Mr. Crusinbcrry moved with 
his family to Iowa, where he embarked in the busi- 
ness of contracting and building, and also managed 
his farm of 320 acres, which he purchased after 
locating in that State. He conducted his business 
very profitably for a number of 3-ears, but has now 
discontinued it and pays sole attention to his ex- 
tensive agricultural interests. 

The subject of this biography passed his early 
years in his native State, and when a lad of four- 
teen moved with his parents to Iowa, where he 
remained on tiie home farm, assisting his father in its 
management until he was twenty years old, receiv- 
ing, in the meantime, the rudiments of his education 
in the di.-itrict schools. At that age he left home 
to attend college, Lenox College, Delaware County, 
Iowa, being the institution selected as the best one 
in all respects to fit him for a profession. He re- 
mained as a student within its walls for seven 
years, and vvas graduated from the scientific course 
with an honorable record for excellent scholarship, 
in 1877. After his graduation lie continued teach- 
ing in the same college for seven years. To further 
prepare himself for his chosen calling he took a 
classical course in the Oskaloosa College, remaining 
a student there for one year. Subsequently he re- 
turned to Lenox College as one of its corps of in- 
structors, at the same time keeping up with his 
studies in classics at Oskaloosa College, from which 
he was graduated with high rank in 1881. He re- 
mained at Lenox College, at the head of the math- 
ematical department, until 188.5. when he was called 
to take charge of the public schools of Flo3'd, Floj'd 
Co., Iowa, which position he retained until .June, 
1887. He was then offered the Chair of Mathe- 
matics at Garfield Universitj', a position for which 
his talents and fine scholarly attainments eminently 
qualified him. 

Our subject has been twice married. In 1X70 he 
w.as married to Miss Mar\' B. Aitchison, a native 
of Scotland, and a daughter of James and Jeannette 
Aitchison. Two children were born of that niar- 
riiige — Mabel and Arnot. Mrs. Crusinberry died 



Jan. 18, 1878, in H^i l-ua. His second 

marriage, which took [ilace Jul}' 7. 188.5, was to 
Miss Emma L. Flude, of Ilupkinton, Iowa, daugh- 
ter of Prof. William Flude, of Lenox College. She 
died five and one-half ni(jnths after marriage. 

Prof. Crusinberry is very highly respected, not 
only for his learning, but for his irreproachable 
moral character. He is a member of the Christian 
Church; politically, he is a Republican. 



VfJAMKS H. MEKCKRhas the reputation of a 
|l strictly first-class business man, reliable and 
ll energetic, and is a citizen of whom Wichita 
^^ may be justly proud. He is the offspring of 
excellent stock of stanch German ancestry, his 
great-grandfather having come from the Father- 
land. Settling in Kentucky during the early d.-iys 
of the Blue G r:\ss regions, the latter w.is one of the 
first pioneers and a contemporaiy of Daniel Boone, 
the first white man who ever trod Kentucky soil. 

Joseph Mercer, son of the above and grandfather 
of our subject, was born in Kentucky during the lat- 
ter part of the last century, and was a relative of 
Gen. Mercer, of Revolutionary fame. Joseph mar- 
ried Miss Jennie West, of Kentucky, and carried on 
agriculture as a livelihood. His household in due 
time embraced six children, namely: James, Felix, 
Margaret, Caroline, Jennie and Alfred. Joseph 
Mercer was a typical backwoodsman and lived to 
be an old man. A short time before his death he 
could shoot a squirrel with his rifle from a tall tree. 
In the meantime he had left Kentucky and mi- 
grated to Indiana, where he assisted to clear the 
heavy timber from the ground now occupied by 
the present site of the city of Bloomington, and 
where the court-house stands. He regarded his ax 
and riile with almost paternal affection, sleeping 
with them on a shelf over his bed. Politically, he 
was an old-line Whig, and religiously, a member of 
the Baptist Church. After farming for a number 
of years, he moved into Bloomington and operated 
as a general speculator. He died at the age of sev- 
enty-eight years, retaining his faculties and strength 
to tlie last. His faithful partner survived him, liv- 






•^•-4*- 



HV> 



SKUOWiCK COUNTY. 



iiii,' iiiilil iiiiictv-lwo _v«'ai> iilil, ami ulso r«'tain<'<l i 
li<>r iiifiilnl mill |i|iy»icnl eiiildwinciiLi* to a riMimrkti- < 
li|c> (Icfjri'C. ' 

Alfrotl S. Mcrror. tlir fiillior of ••iir ^iiliject. wiw 
Imr'n ill Kpiitutk.v in IMIC, mid wiis luil >ix years 
uf n^e wlicii UikiMi by IiIm |uiri-iiU to Imlimia. lie 
<level<>|HMl into iiimiliooil, mid !<(>ii^'lit fur hi.-- wife 
iiiiKiiiK the iiiaideii!! of llinl re;;ioii Mis.-i Kli/ji llard- 
erly, who wiis born in ]H-2-J. in Iiidimin. She ««» 
born on the Millie day, April '^.K thiit (ien. (iraiit | 
wu>. The mother of <uir subject wius the daughter of 
ThoiiiH> lliirderly. who with his wife spent their 
last day.-< in Indiuim. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred S. Mer- 
cer became the piirents of nine children, six of 
whom — Williain. .Imucs. Kdward, Mnrtlm, Lucy uikI 
Iliitlie — lived to uiatnreyenrs. Tlie other three ilied 
in childhood. Mr. Mercer first followed harness- 
uinkiii);, ut which he ha<l served an ap|)rentice.s|iip, 
bill several years later engaged in genenil nierchan- 
dising. and built up a prosiK>roiis trade. In liSO'J 
he changed his residence tu Hnuil, Iiid., and did 
mercantile business there. Subsequently he retired 
from active life, and is spending his declining years 
at the home of his son, «)ur subject, in Wichita, 
lie is a strict Ueniocr.-it, politically, and a Method- 
ist in religious belief. 

James 11. Mercer, of our sket^-h, was born in 
Monroe County, Ind., April lo, 1811), and learned 
harness-making of his father. When about twenty- 
Ove years old lie was inarried, March .i, ls7l, to 
Mi>s .Sarah Kasler, who is a native v{ Indiana, and 
wiL-i born March 2, 1«.'>;1. Mrs. Mercer is the daugh- 
ter of Daniel an<l Martha (reiinington) Kaster, 
wli<» were natives of Ohio, .<ind are now deceiised. 
The four children of our subject and his wife bear 
the iianies of Alfred, Kditli, Ko9<'oe and Winnifred. 

Ill |m77 Mr. Mercer left haritess-making and en- 
gaged in tin- livery business at lini/il, Ind., but 
»uli!H>rpieiilly resumed his old biisinesji in connec- 
tion with the new venture. As a man of intelli- 
gence, energy and iiilegrily he was called to the 
various loial ollices, and remained a resident of 
that town for a |x'riod of six years. The spring of 
Imm:j found him with an eye u|miii the growing city 
of Wichita, and he delermineil lo esljiblisli in btisi- 
iies> here. This re.*ioliitioii wim not long afterward 
carried into effect, and the well-known Kmpire 



stalile is the result of his successful operations. 
This structure, which .Mr. Mercer himself erected, 
\» one of the finest of iU kind in the city, anil his 
imposing residence on Lniini avenue still further 
attests lo the reception which has been granted him 
by the people of this comniiinity. In addition to 
the :i(Tairs of his stable his transactions Imve been 
quite extensive in the buying and selling of horses, 
lie ha.s dealt considerably in real eslnt«, and has 
become owner of eleven lots and four houses within 
the city, lie dilTers with his honored father in 
politics, being a Republican, but coincides with the 
latter in religious views as a member of the Meth- 
odist Kpiscopal Church. Socially, he belongs U.> 
the Red Men and Foroters, having pjuised through 
all the Chairs. I'lTsonally and in a business sen.-»c 
he is popular among his townsmen, and considered 
a valued addition to the coinintinitv. 



\|/^ KNKV A. ALI5KK. a progressive and enter- 
prising farmer of Valley Center Township- 
residing on section 12, is a native of Kcn- 
tlall Counly, 111. The date of his nativity 
was May 10, 1JS47, and he is a son of Harrison A. 
and Kunice (Hosier) Albee, both of whom were na- 
tives of the Kiii|)ire Stale. His father was born in 
Clinton County, N. Y., and removed to Aurora, 
111., where he is still living. He was reared a far- 
mer, which liusiness he followed for many years. 
Having .•icciimulaled a good store of this world's 
goods, he has retired from an active participalion 
in business, and is living at No. 12y South Lincoln 
avenue, Auror.i. A little before the Chicago fire 
he made an inveslinent in some seventy-five shares 
of stock in the Aurora Fire Insurance Com|>any, 
which had been removed Inmi the city of his resi- 
<lence lo Chicago. In the tlery calamity that over- 
look the hitler place in 1H7I, the company was 
simply annihilated, .-md Mr. Albee was minus his 
investment. 

In iMilitics the ehler Mr. Albee is a strict Uepub- 
lican, bill no .-Lspirant for |Militical olllce. He has 
always taken great inleresl in all public affairs, and 
in infiiieiice is second to none in the locality where 
he lives. His wife is a native of Onondaga 



•►-Hl-^"- 



■•►•-4» 



t 



41-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■*►■-♦• 



843 



•Ah 



County, N. Y., and is still spared to her husband 
and fliildren. She is the mother of six children : 
Henry A., the subject of this sketch; Frank, who 
married Miss Orplia Ashley, is now living in Grand 
Island, Xeb., with his third wife; Isabelle, who mar- 
ried James P. Weatherstone, a native of Enghmd, 
and a silversmith, is a resident of LaGrange, Cook 
Co., 111.; Ahaz, who is living on a farm in (Jrand 
Island, Neb.; Willie, who is a fireman on the Chi- 
cago, Burlington <fe t^uincy Railroad, and makes his 
home at Aurora; and Ward, who died at the age of 
three years. 

The subject of this personal biography remained 
at home, assisting his father in his agricultural la- 
bors and receiving the elements of a good education, 
until he was some twenty-nine years of age. Six 
years previous to the last-mentioned time, how- 
ever, he liad purchased a threshing-machine in part- 
nership with John Titsvvorth, of Aurora, and with 
liini operated it for one season. Tlie next year he 
bouglit out the interest of liis partner and ran it for 
the tliree years succeeding. He next sold the old 
machine, and, in company with John Simons, pur- 
eliased a new one, which supplied them with work 
for two successive seasons, after which they sold 
out and dissolved the copartnership. The next 
Ave 3'ears of Henry's life were passed in the peace- 
ful pursuits of a farmer's vocation. He then re- 
moved to the cit}- of Aurora, and was employed in 
soliciting orders for agricultural implements for C. 
S. Lewis, of that place, for about six months. Af- 
ter about three or four months spent in running a 
large power-drill in the shop of J. J. Budlong & 
Co., he took in consideration the advantjiges of 
moving to Kansas. After mature deliberation, in 
February, 1883, he came to this State, and made a 
settlement in Sedgwick County. The following 
year he purchased the northeast quarter of section 
1"2. of Francis Loyd, where he at present lives. 
While a resident of the Prairie State, Mr. Albee 
was united in marriage with Miss Celia VanFleet, 
the ceremony tiking place Jan. 25, 1877. The 
bride was a native of Kendall County. III., born 
Nov. 9, 1854, and is a daughter of William K. and 
Wealthy W. (Thayer) VanFleet. Her parents 
were natives of New Y'ork and Massachusetts re- 
spectively. Her father had come West with his 



parents when he was but six years of age, and was 
reared and educated in Kendall County, III., where 
they settled among the pioneers of that region. 

In his political views Mr. Albee coincides with 
the Republican party, but has no aspirations for 
the onerous duties and vexations of political pre- 
ferment. As a leading and iufiuential citizen he 
takes great interest in the success of the tickets 
placed in the field by that party, and not only votes 
himself, but strives, to the utmost of his power, to 
induce others to see the question in the right light. 
He is highly respected and esteemed by the entire 
population of the township, and looked up to as a 
man truly honorable and upright in all things, and 
one whom they can depend upon as a friend. 

ELI F. MEADE, a gentleman of extended 
business experience, is now successful!}' oc- 
cupying his time as a speculator and com- 
mission merchant at Wichita. A native of the 
Bucke3'e State, he was born in Mt. Pleasant, Feb. 
13, 1851, and was taken b}' his parents to Kentucky 
when but two months old. There he was reared to 
manhood, receiving a practical education in the 
common schools, and at an early age engaged as a 
stock-broker and in a general commission business. 
He fed and marketed cattle and swine for many 
years, gaining a good insight into all the details of 
this business, and was also prominent in the city 
affairs of Covington, where his famil}' had located. 
He served eight years as an Alderman in the City 
Council, and was President of the Board of Health 
two years. He was on duty at the time of the 
smallpox in that place, when men of sound judg- 
ment and courage were mostly needed. Of his 
public record he may well be i)roud, as he has been 
a prominent man in the affairs connected with the 
best interests of the people since reaching his ma- 
jorit}'. He served as Colonel of the Felton Guards, 
a section of the Kentucky militia, and in his old 
home is uniforml}' dubbed with the title of "Col- 
onel." 

The parents of our subject, Eli, Sr., and Susan 
(Kinkaid) Meade, were natives respectively of Mas- 
sachusetts and A'irginia. The father, who was born 



>► ■ ^« 



f 



-i 



SKI x; WICK COUNTY. 



f 



.liiiy I. 1 >i 7. lirimrted tlifs life nt Ins liiniii' in C »>v- 
injrtiin, Kv., on llu- lltli t>f DiitiiiIht. 18/J9. Ho 
wiu n innn uf rxi-flli-iit LMliiontiiiii ami fine l(U!«ii)c$V!) 
i'ii|>jn'jlii's, mill for rimny yiiirs scrvi'd as (Jencrnl 
Sii|H>riiiUMi(lctil of llio t'oviiiplon iirul I^xington 
Mail iiikI State linrs. lie hms also af^ciit for thf 
tnnil liiii' of a liriD in Citiciiinati, Ohio, for many 
year*, anil rcfoivi'd iiiiicli praise for Ills niana^cinciit 
of the Millie. I If iKjssejt-sol all the ciiivalry of his 
ailo|>t«-<l State, heiiip a mail ueil reared and the 
offspring of a highly intelligent ami prominent 
family. SiK'ially. he (H-eiipied a prominent and re- 
s|>onsil>le |>osition in llu' Masonic fraternity, and 
religiously, wns for many years a member of the 
Methodist Kpi»eo|uil C'hureh. I'olitiealiy, he up- 
held the priiii'i|i|es of tiie Denioeiatie |>arly. 

The mother of our sultjeot was born in Morgan 
t'oiinty, Va., Feb. 2, 1K21. She is still living, and 
a resident of Wichita. Iler parents were .Samuel 
anil .Sjirali (Morris) Kinknid, and her father served 
as a soldier in the lievululioiiarv War. He s|>ent his 
laj!t years in the Old Dominion, and met an acci- 
dental death by n log rolling upon him at a house- 
raising. His wife, the maternal grandmother of 
our subject, died on the 17th of April, 1873, when 
.seventy-three years old. Their three children were 
named : .Sii.saii, .Siimuel and Mary E. To Eli, Sr., 
and Susan .Meade, the parents of our subject, there 
were born six children: Mary E., the eldest daugh- 
ter, died in childhood; Sarah died in May, 1885, 
when about forty years of age; she was highly' edu- 
cated, esiH'cially in music, and on account of her 
exceeding gentleness of dis|H>silii>n was greatly be- 
loved by lier family and a large circle of friends. 
Helen bccniiie the wife of t'hnrles Noe, a native of 
Kentucky, a |Miiiiler by trade, and a Republican in 
|>olilics, and lives in Wichita; Eli F.,of our sketch, 
wiLS the fourth in order of birth: William H, and 
• Jeorgc E. are the youngest. 

Mr. Meade, our subject, left Kentucky in the 
spring of 1887, and came directly to this .Stale, 
locating at once in the city of Wichita. Eike his 
father before him he is a strong iJemiK-rat, |H>liti- 
c.'illy, and with his wife and son, proniiiiently con- 
nected with Uie First Itaptist C'liiirch. 

I'lie wife of our subject, to whom be wits married 
ill ( iivingloii. Ky., on the ttli uf August, |87(t, wius 



in her girlhiKMl Miss .Samh .1. (. nun. ulio wa.s lH>rii 
ill M.'incliestor, England, April I'.i, I8,')2. Her 
imrenLs, Charles and Mary (Morrow) Court, were 
iHith natives of England, and rame to the Uniteil 
.Stiites at an early day. Mr. Court was born in 
ManchcsU'r in |8:J0, and de|)«rted this life at Cov- 
ington, Ky., ill .Inly, 188 1. He wa.s a ti^il-niaker 
by trade, or machinist. The mother is living in 
Covington. Ky. 

Mrs. Meade was a child eight years of age when 
she crossed the Atlantic with her parents. Her 
father, after becoming a nntundized citizen, identi- 
fied himself with the Democratic party and main- 
tained his principles with all the strength of his 
convictions. Notwithstanding he had laboreil the 
greater part of his life with his hands, he had re- 
ceived a liberal education in his youth, and was a 
classical scholar of no inconsiderable talents. To 
our subject and his wife there has been born one 
child only, a son, Charles E., who began life on the 
Mtli of August. 1871. He is now n promising 
youth not quite seventeen years of age, anil holds a 
good position as cashier in one of the leading 
stores of the city. 



<ji? AFA YETTE Sl.Ml'.M )N, lugaged in the real- 
I (^ estate business in Wichita, is one of the 
JLiii^ Directors of Oarlield I'niversity, and also of 
the West .Side National Bank, Wichita. He occu- 
pies a prominent social and business [Hisition among 
the iiilluential citizens of this county. He is a na- 
tive of Menard County, III., born Dec. 2;J, 1849. 
His paternal grandfather and his father (.lames W. 
Sim|>son) were born in Kentucky. The former, 
.losejih Simpson by name, was united in marriage. 
Feb. 2.'l, 17'.»7, with Ann Espy. Our subject's father 
Wius reared una farm, and followed agricultural pur- 
suits for several years. He was twiee married, first to 
a Miss Hathaway, of Kentucky, by whom lie had nine 
children, as follows: .lohn E., who died during the 
Mexican War; .loseph E., Katharine A., .lulia E. ; 
.lames and I'liilip, who ilied in the late war, and 
twins, who died in infancy. His si'cond wife was 
I.iicretia Watson, a native of Kentucky, who was 
the daughter of Arthur and ;:raiiilda!igliter of Kich- 



-•►■-^ 



w 



■^'p.> . -^;ys=s=™= 



■ ■.>'JJ!LJ^^WJ?^J'.- 




RESIDENCE OF LAFAYETTE 5 I M P5 N ,COR . FERN AND UNIVERSITY A VE .( WE5T51 DEJ.Wf CHJTA 

B 



^i>^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



847 ^ ^ 



ard Watson, both natives of Virginia. In 1830 the 
parents of our subject removed to Illinois, where 
Mr. Simpson, the father, engaged in farming and 
stock-raising on an extensive scale in Menard 
Count3', remaining there until his death. To him 
and his wife were born four children, of whom our 
subject is the only one living. His venerable 
mother, now seventy-seven years of age, makes her 
home with him. She is a most estimable ladj' and 
a worthy member of the Christian Church, in which 
her husband was for many years an Elder. 

The sul)ject of this sketch was reared on his 
father's farm in the Prairie .State, receiving a dis- 
trict school education, and a careful home training 
from his parents. Since attaining manhood he has 
been engaged much of the time in farming and 
stock-raising, and besides building up for himself 
a reputation as a skilled .agriculturist, has distin- 
guished himself as an able financier, a man of sound 
judgment, and a valuable member of the com- 
munity. In 1868 Mr. Simpson was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Sarah J. Combs, also of Menard 
Count}', 111., a daughter of Samuel and Margaret 
(Wilson) Combs. Mr. Combs has been dead sev- 
eral years; the mother lives in Cass County, 111., 
where she is extensively engaged in farming. 

After marriage our subject remained in his na- 
tive State several j'ears, successfully engaged in his 
chosen occupation. In 1879, wishing to profit by 
the superior advantages possessed by Kansas ius an 
agricultural State, he removed to .Sedgwick Countj' 
and settled in Wichita, where he purchased 120 
acres of land on the Little Arkansas River. After 
living there a year and a half Mr. Simpson bought 
a farm on Cowskin Creek, where he remained ten 
months before returning to the cit}" of Wichita. A 
short time after this he removed two and one-half 
miles northwest of the city, living there until Sep- 
tember, 1887, when lie again returned to Wichita, 
and moved into the beautiful residence which he 
had previously built, at a cost of upward of ^15,000, 
on the corner of Fern and University avenues. There 
oursubject and his wife are enjoying life, surrounded 
b}- their five interesting children — Eva E., Maggie 
P., James S., Kate and Lulu. One child, Julia E., born 
Jan. 31, 1885, died August 14 of the same year. 

Mr. Simpson is at present engaged in the real- 



estate business, and besides attending to that, de- 
votes much of his time to the different organiza- 
tions and enterprises in which he is interested. He 
is a Director of the West Side National Bank, a 
Director and stockholder in the Wichita Watch 
Factory, and a stockholder and "Vice-President of 
the Sedgwick Loan and Investment Company. He 
became a Director in Garfield University a short 
time after its organization, and is also one of the 
Executive Board. In politics Mr. Simpson is an 
adherent of the Republican party; socially', he is a 
member of the United Workmen. He takes a gen- 
uine interest in the welfare of his community, and 
is the cncourager of all enterprises tending to its 
moral, intellectu.al or financial .advancement, do- 
nating liberally for all improvements for his .adopted 
city. Both he and his excellent wife are valued 
members of the Christian Church, and rank among 
the representative people of one of the most popu- 
lar, cultured and enterprising cities of Kansas. 

Among the many handsome views presented in 
this Ai.ui'M may be found that of Mr. .Simpson's 
residence. This is one of the most elegant and 
richly designed dwellings in the city. A\^e can 
even Siij' more — it compares in beauty of architect- 
ural design favorably with the residences on the 
best avenues of the large cities. It is the enter- 
prising spirit of such men as Mr. .Simpson that lias 
done so much for Wichihi. 



LIN BRIGGS. Among the leading f.ar- 
I ill mers and stock-raisers of Attica Township, 
'■^ there is none better known in its history 





than the individual whose name heads this 
article. He is the oldest living settler of this sub- 
division of the county and probably the best ritlo- 
shot in Southern Kansas. He removed to K.ans.as 
in 1871, and in August of that j'ear pre-empted 
160 .acres of land, part of which he still owns. 
There vv.as one man who came to this locality some 
five days previous to Mr. Briggs, but was not able 
to slay here on account of the hardships of those 
days and the hard times of 1871-72. JMr. Briggs 
could not have st,aid himself had it not been that 
in his boyhood he had learned to trap and hunt the 



•#-•-4*- 



-•► 



SEDGWICK C'OUM V 



Kiiino that wa^ tlicii mi plcntv in tlii> iifi^'lilxirluHHl, 
hikI iiftcii while living on n dugout in \>h |ihu-c, tlio 
wii|v«-.'< thnl thiMi roiiiiicti this cuiiiitry wmild cntni- 
t<i hi> t-nliiii mill (M'cr into the wiiulovv. 

'I'hc siibjfft of this skclcli WHS lK>rn in Wyoniinj; 
C.'unty. N. Y., Manli 7, ix-ll, im<l is the Min of 
Whfiiton Allen and Fanny (IJnrber) Hri;.'^?', l>oth 
of whom were Imrn in the nei;;hliorhoofl of Hart- 
ford, C'omi. His fiitlier. whose birth t«Kik phiee in 
I T'.Ki, was tiiken to the State of \'ennont liy his 
|iaront.s when he wsf quitf a snnill btiy, anil there 
pvw- t4> niunliiKi<l. In 1H()8, when about ei;;liteen 
years of a;;e, he removed to Wyounnir County, N. 
Y., of whieli section of the country he was one of 
the first settlers, and where he was married and 
»|K'nt the remainder of his life. He wjis Captain of 
a eompany of militia during the war witli (ireat 
liritain in IKI2-I5, and was pre^^eut at the burnin<; 
of liufTalo by the Ilritish army. He was a farmer 
by oi-eii|Mttion, and followed that business the 
greater (xjrtion of his life. He was the father of 
fifteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and 
womanhixHi. The f(j|lowing is a partial list of the 
brotliers and sisters of our subject: Lyman, who 
died at the age of twenty-two; Kunice. Mi's, 
(leorge .Shepard, residing in New York State; An- 
thony; Orson, who lives in Gratiot County, Mich.; 
Althea, Mrs. Luther Hriggs, deceased; .lason. de- 
ceased; Fanny, Mrs. Honice Bump, living in Uoi-k 
County, Wis.; Aliva, the widow of L. H. I'orter, 
who died in the army, is living in Hock County, 
Wi.s. ; Helen, who married J. (i. Valentine, lives at 
.St. Mark, Kan.; Merrilt lives in Wyoming County, 
N. Y.. on the old homestead; Dwight, who wa.s 
drowned at Green IJay, Wis., when eighteen years 
old, and Harriet, Mrs. .Seth I'orter, living in Ionia 
County, .Mich. .Mr. Wheatnn Hriggs died in IHG,!. 

The subject of this personal narrative was reared 
u|Min his father's farm, and received in his youth 
Itut a liniiteil education, but having acipiired a 
haliit of reading good books, he has ma<le himself 
a Well-informed man. At the age of t4'n years he 
and a brother left their home, and from that <lay 
until the present he hius made his own way in the 
World. In the course of his wanderings he has 
traveled a great <lcal, having visiteil every SUite and 
Tiiritory in tin- Cnioii except four, and has also 



been in Mexico. In August. ImiV. n<- iiiii-<te<l in the 
'JM Michigan Infantry, where he .M-rved about a 
year, but wiis sick for nearly nine niuiiths. In IHO;i 
he re-enliste<l, in the ."td Michigan Cavalry, and 
served with that gallant band of her<M>s alniut two 
years and one-half, receiving his tlischargr .March 
10, IHOt;. He had setlleil previously to his enlist- 
ment in Michigan, from which State he came t*.) 
Kansas. It is said of him that he was one of the 
most famous hunt^-rs, both in Ionia County, Mich., 
before he left there, and in .Si>dgwick County, and 
has killed a great quantity of game in the course of 
his natural life. 

Mr. Hriggs wjis united in marriage, April 4, 18G'J, 
with Miss Hvelina M. Watkins, a native of Coal 
Creek, Ohio, born .luue 2.'>, iw.'il. and daughter of 
.lohn anil Kvelinc (.Stephens) Watkins. She wns a 
re.-ident of Ionia County, Mich., whither her |Kir- 
enls had removed in IHG.'{, at the lime of her mar- 
riage. Hy this union there have been born two 
children: Willis Henry, whose birth tiHjk place Jan. 
H, 1S74, and Robert, who wiis born Feb. Id, l«H2. 
On the r.lth of .July, 1 1S«4. Mr. Hriggs was called 
upiui the mourn the loss of his wife, who inlssciI 
aw!iy to her rest regretted by all. In his |M)liiical 
opinions, our subject is in hearty concurrence with 
the Republican party, and took an active part in 
the organization of the township, and was the first 
to till the olllce of Constable. He still Uikes great 
delight in reading, and is a highly intelligent and 
much rcs|>ected citizen of the community. 

A view of Mr. Hriggs' place is presented in this 
volume. 

A«^ TKl'llKN M. s. t A.Ml'HKLL. The subject 
" of this personal narnitive is one of the most 
successful and progressive farmers within 
the borders of Waco Township, and may 
be called one of the pioneer citizens, having pre- 
ciiipted the farm on section ;i. where he is at pres- 
ent living, in April, If<( 1. He has made his s|>ecial 
field of industry an eminent success, and is highly 
esteemed and respected by those wlu' know him 
best. 

.Mr. Campbell is a native of Pennsylvania, born 
in Heaver County, Aug. 20, \x\J, and is the .son of 



-II-4*- 



SEDGVVICK COUNTY. 



849 ' ^ 



Josiah and Rosanna (Teal) Campbell. His father, 
who was also a native of the Kej'stone State, was 
born in 1806, and followed the l)ii8iiiess of carpen- 
tering until his death, which tooit place Dec. 12. 
18.58. The mother of our subject, also a Pennsyl- 
vanian, was born Jan. 22, 1804, and died in May, 
187C. Tliej' were the parents of the following 
children: Catiierine, Elizalieth, Samuel, James 
T., John J., two who died in infancy', Stephen M. 
S., Thomas F. and Nannie A. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in his early boj'hood, and remained at iiome until 
the (loath of liis fatlier, which occurred when lie 
was about fourteen years of age, and tiien com- 
menced the battle of life for himself. After spend- 
ing about three years and a half upon a farm in tiie 
neighborhood where he was reai-ed, he began learn- 
ing the wagon and coach making trade, in Beaver 
County, Pa., and followed tliat vocation for nearly 
three years. About that time the war between the 
States broke out, and Mr. Campbell, being imbued 
with patriotism, enlisted in Company B, 4th Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, and participated with his regiment in 
most of the engagements of the Chickahominy cam- 
paign, among which were the battles of Fair Oaks, 
Seven Pines and Malvern Hills. After a service of 
about twenty months he was discharged, and re- 
turned home on account of throat disease brought 
on by ex|)osure. Eighteen months later he recov- 
ered his health, and re-enlisted in the same uompan}' 
and regiment, and served until the close of the 
war. He was actively- employed at the battles of 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Stone Creek Station, 
Farmington, Five Forks, Dinwiddle Court-IIouse, 
and in the Appomattox campaign. He has had his 
eyes filled w^ith the dust rai.sed by the explosion of 
shells, and men killed on either side of him, but 
escaped entirely untouched. 

Returning to his home, Jan. G, 18G6, Mr. Camp- 
bell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. 
Wilson. The lady of his choice was a native of 
Allegheny County, Pa., born Feb. 22, 1841, and 
died July 26, 1885. She was the mother of one 
child, Nannie M., who was born Oct. 12, 1866, and 
was called to her heaven'}' home Aug. 19, 1876. 
Oliejing the divine injunction that man should not 
live alone, .Mr. Campbell again entered into a 



matrimonial alliance, Oct. 5, 1886. The bride 
upon this occasion was Miss Annie B. McNary, a 
native of Washington County, Pa., born May 26, 
1859, and the daughter of James P. and Jane U. 
(McNary) McNary, residents of Washington Coun- 
ty', Pa. The latter were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, five of whom are still living, viz: James A., 
Annie B., John T., Ella R. and .Sarah J., and four 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Camjibell are the parents 
of one child, Annetta Pearl, whose birth occurred 
July 17, 1887. 

Mr. Campbell is the owner of 160 acres of fine 
.arable land, which he has brought to a high state of 
culture, and upon which he has put some very 
handsome and substantial improvements. The 
neatness and orderly appearance of the projjerty 
manifests to the most casual observer the thrift and 
care of the proprietor, and shows conclusively that 
he understands his business thoroughly. A view of 
his place is shown in this volume. Mr. Campbell is 
a member of the Presbyterian Church, and both he 
and his most estimable wife are sincere Christian 
jxiople. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, 
taking a great interest in the work of that organiza- 
tion, and occupies a high place in the estimation of 
the people of the township. 



JOHN (iEORGE GLASER, a representative 
and enterprising young farmer and stock- 
raiser, residing on section 21, in Salem 
Township, is a native of Clearfield Count}', 
Pa., and made his entrance upon the stage of life 
Jan. 11, 1855. His parents are John and Margaret 
(Reisch) Glaser, natives of Germany, at present 
living in Doughis County, this State. 

John Glaser and his wife were the parents of ten 
children, as follows: J. George, the subject of this 
sketch; Catherine, Mrs. John Yergler, residing in 
Salem Township; Barbara, Mrs. Joseph Kreibel, 
living in the same township; Theodore, who lives 
in Dougl.as County ; Sarah and Carrie. The bal- 
ance of the children are deceiised. Wiic-n George 
was about nine years of Jige, his parents removed to 
Kans:is, and he was reared to manhood in this State. 
He received but a rudimentary education in the 



T 



n 



•^•-4»- 



!♦ 



H&O 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



t 



iliittricl sc-liiMilit of the l<K-ality. uiiil fruiii onrly l)<)V- 
IukmI vca» rnpi^fi) in the Imnl liil>(ii> iittfiKlaiit (ui 
iiKi'icultiirnI piintiiilit. lie iviiiitiiioil iit Iiuiik- iiu>!ii 
of llie tiiin- until atuiniii;; lii> Iw-fnU-liflli year, 
nvii.stin^ liis fntluT in i-nrryin>; on n fiirui. 

Mr. c;iii*cr inul ML^ li»r)>nm Kriinu-r wpro united 
in llu- l>onfl» of nintriniony FpIi. lit, IHW). The 
liriile WHS a native of lown, horn .lime 4, 18.58, anil 
is n (laughter of Iternanl and liitrbara (llnss) 
Kninier, both of whom were iialive« of (Jerniiiny. 
Her |>arent.s had born unto tlieni a family of ten 
rhiidren, a^ follows: John, who resides in Doiigla.-. 
County, Kan.; Hernard, livin;; in the sjiine county; 
Frcderika. who is the wife of l-'ertlinand .Shendel; 
Barbara, .Mrs. (! laser; (Jeorye, who resides in Cof- 
fey County; Lewis, who is livinjj in Kielmrdson 
County, Neb., and Lena, in Douglas County, this 
.State. Three died in infiuiey. 

After his marriage Mr. (Jlaser rommeueed agri- 
cultund pursniLs on his own nccoiiut, and his battle 
with the world has resulted in .-i victory for hiiu. 
Me is the owner of eighty acres of ni(»t excellent 
arable limd, on section 2 1, which he h!l^ brought to 
a high sUile of tillage, and which, like all the soil in 
this portion of the Stiite, is remarkable for its fer- 
tility and fecundity. His improvements upon the 
j)lace are of a permanent and sub.-lantial character, 
and his surroundings, although of recent origin, are 
beginning tu a.ssuuic a beauty that will no doubt in 
time greatly enhance the value of his property. 
He is giving considerable attention to the rearing 
of stock, and has gathered around him the nucleus 
of a line herd, feeling convinced thnt in this direc- 
tion lies the road to wejilth for the average Kansas 
farmer. His industry, perseverance and enterpri.se 
make him one of Seilgwick County's representative 
men, and his untarnishetl honor and genial manners 
endear him t<i the entire coninuiuity. 

Mr. and Mrs. (ll.-iser are the parents of two chij. 
<lren: .Ie.v*e. born l)ec. ?i, IKS), and Minnie K.. 
Oct. Ill, l«8.'I. Although the young people .sUirled 
in life with comparatively but little capitid.and not- 
withstanding the fac-l that n)any so lmmp«>red have- 
not ris«n in the world, with the a.-v.istnnce of his 
estimable wife, Mr. (JL-iser has suc<-eeded in attain- 
ing qnit<' a success in business. He is practically 
what is termed a sclf-nmde nuin, )is his early ed- 



m 



uealiun was, through circumstances, much neglected. 
An extend<-d course of reading, coupled with gn-nl 
observation and thought, has, however, niised him 
t4i a position among the well-|Kist«<l men of the 
township. He is entirely inde|>endent (»f party lines 
in |Militics, his only criterion in such matters b<-ing 
whether any measure is for the benefll of the county 
in which he lives, or is calculated Ui elevate society 
at large. 

A lithographic view of Mr. (ila-ser's residence is 
shown on another page of thi> work. 

- U . - ♦"* ■ ' ' l> ^ 

II.I.IAM WILLIAM.SUN, an energetic far- 
mer and stock-raiser residing on sectiim 22, 
I'ayne Township, was born in Manchester, 
Kugland, Feb. I 'J, 1«2K. He is a sou of Willidm 
.'(ud Hiiuuah (Loomis) William.son, both natives of 
merry Knglan<l. the mother having bpt'n Ixirn in 
Derbyshire, and the father in Yorkshire. The 

, family ciinie to the I'nited .States in 1K.j2, and the 
father and mother have since ilicd and are laid 
lo rest Jit Montexunm. Iowa. The father was a 

I wholesale trader in tea at .Miiuchesler, Kugland. He 

; adhered to the tenets of the Church of Kugland, 
while his wife sought spiritual ctinsolation with the 

< Wesleynu Methodists. 

To the pan-uts of the subject of this sketch were 
born six children, viz: William, Klizabcth. Kich- 
ard Fellon. Margaret Alice, Thomas Felton and 
Anna. Richard F. was in the employ of the Kings- 
ley Mining Company, of Colorado, and died there; 

! he wa.N buried in the Gunnison Valley, in the west- 
ern part of that State. Klizabcth married twice; 
the lirst husband was Willi;un Davis, and the sec- 
ond William .Middleham; they are residents <if 
Montana Territory. .Margaret Alice .saw her ideal 
man in l-"raucis 11. Whip, ami he the lady of his 
choice in .Margaret; they were accordingly niacle 

' ni:in and wife, and chose Milwaukee, Wis., fi>r their 
home. Anna was united in marriage with William 
Delano, who is a conductor on the Chicago, Rock 
Uland A- Pacific Hailroatl, while she is acting aa 
telegraph operator at the city of their residence, 
Davenport, Iowa. 

Keturuing to the subject of our >ketch. William, 



•►-•-4« 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



851 i ' 



r 



it would be well to note that the most important 
event of his life was his marriage, May 24, 1870, to 
Mrs. Sarah Taylor, dauf^hter of Isaac and Mary 
(Wikle) Gerard. Her parents were natives of Vir- 
ginia, the "Mother of Presidents," and in that State 
her father carried on the business of farming. They 
were strong adherents of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and quite patriarchal in their character. 
They were blessed with a family of fourteen chil- 
dren, all of whom are now living except one. The 
old people have gone across the mystic river, and 
entered into that rest which is promised unto the 
faithful. 

The subject of our sketch, leaving the shores of 
"white-cliffed Albion" in 18.51, came to the United 
suites, preceding his parents by about a 3'ear. lie 
landed at the port of New York, and went from 
there to Maryland at once, which State he made 
his home for two years. At the end of that time 
he returned to New York, and from there to AVis- 
consin. For some fifteen years he w.-is engaged as 
steward on several lake vessels, but in the fall of 
1870 he came to Kansas, and located near where 
his present place now is. In a short time after this 
he purchased the quarter-section of land which he 
now occupies. Previous to coming to the United 
States, in 1849, he made a trip to the British pos- 
sessions in the East Indies, on the store ship "Sena- 
tor of Liverpool," which was carrying munitions of 
war and supplies for the troops in that countrj', as 
it was during what w.is known as the China AV.nr. 
On this ship, which was in the employ of the British 
Government, he acted as steward for the round 
trip, which took considerable time in those d.ays, 
as they were compelled to go round the Cape of 
Good Hope. 

Mrs. Williams(jn at the time of her marriage was 
the widow of .John Taylor, and was the mother of 
two daughters — .Mary Emil\' and .Sarah Jane. IMar^' 
married Lewis Sparman, and for nine 3'ears made 
her residence in Pittsburgh, Pa., but she and her hus- 
band, who is a lumber dealer, are now at home with 
her mother, until Mr. Sparman can find a business 
locality suited to his desires. Sarah Jane married 
George .J. Dedrick, a farmer living in Benton, Kan., 
and is the mother of one child, Benjamin Lewis. 
Mary E. Sparman's children's names are Willie L., 



John Howard, Sarah Elenore and Henry Edgar. 
Mr. Williamson has filled the office of Clerk of the 
School Board for some twelve years, and takes a 
deep interest in all matters pertaining to the educa- 
tional system of the township. He is an estimable 
citizen, and an honorable and upright gentleman. 
Mrs. Williamson enjoys religious consolation under 
the auspices of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church, of 
which denomination she is a consistent member. 
They are the parents of three children living; two 
have preceded them to the other shore, and are at 
rest. Tlie living bear the names of William Frank- 
lin, Edward L. and John M. Alice and one child 
unnamed are the two " Not lost, but gone before." 



(^ I^ILLIAM A. JOHNSON, a leader in the 
\/7JI/ hardware trade at A'alley Center, is one of 
V^^ the pioneers of this State, and in compan}- 
with his father-in-law, James Gray, put up the first 
frame house in Edwards County, on the south side 
of the Arkansas River. He is one who h:is always 
had abundant faith in the future of "bleeding Kan- 
sas'" and has been .active in .assisting to develop its 
resources and encour.age the immigr.ation of .an 
intelligent and enterprising class of people. He has 
been prominent in religious, educational .and politi- 
cal affairs, and in Edwards Count3' ciccupied vari- 
ous important offices, being Vice President of the 
Building and Loan Association. Chairman of the 
Board of Count}' Commissioners, Overseer of the 
Poor, Deputj' Sheriff, etc. As ma}' readil}' be 
surmised his time has been industriously occupied, 
and when not employed with his own private affairs 
he has generously given of his time and attention 
to those enterprises inaugurated for the welfare of 
the people around him. 

The firm of Johnson it McKey, of which our 
subject is the senior member, carries a large and 
well-selected stock of hardware. Mr. Johnson re- 
moved from the town of Kinsley, Edwards County, 
this State, to Valley Center, in 1887. At the former 
place he had been engaged .as a dealer in gr.ain and 
stock, giving particular .attention to the former and 
realizing therefrom handsome profits. He comes 
from a State of solid and enterprising men, havin, 



H 



-4« 



t 



Oj 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



Iktii Ixirii ill C'lmiitniiqiin ('<uml_v, N. Y., on tin- 
I ltd of April, l.s.'i-.'. IU» imreiiU. H«v. Williniii 
anil Angelinn (('hi|ininn) .Inluisiiii, wen- nl8»» natives 
of New York, the fornicr born in (ioiiosco and tin- 
lntt<'r near Kllin^'ton. Both are now living, ami 
(oiiliiiue resiilents in the virinity where they wen- 
iHirii. Uov. William .lohiisoii i.s now in the sixty- 
ninth year of liiji af;e, .•iikI the mother is sixly-flve. 
They have always lived ii|)oii a farm, where their 
son William A. was renreil niul developeil into 
inanluMHl. The father was fond of country life, 
although not regularly engaging in the laliors of 
agriculture, ami thus was well lilted to su|>eriiitend 
the tilling of the soil l»y his employes. In his na- 
tive Stale and precinct he has been pastor of his 
church, the Free-Will Baptist, for tnany yeai-s. He 
wa,s well educated in his youth and commenced 
laboring in the ministry before reaching his major- 
ity, and was ordained when twenty-one years old. 

The father of our subject, when about twenty- 
two years of age. was sent U> the Dominion of 
Canada, its a portion of the Master's vineyard in 
which it wiLs believed he could do good service, 
and where he labored for a space of two years, but 
with the exception of this brief absence from his 
childhoo<rs home has near tlie latter place spent all 
his life. The parental family included four sons 
and two daughters — .lames A., William A., Warren 
C, Almond W., Ilattie and Olive, llattie married 
Charles Mason, and is now living in Erie County, 
I'a. ; Olive was the wife of C. C. Fuller, a native of 
Vermont; the}- located in Erie Count}', where Mr. 
F. died in 1 HHO, leaving three children — Angle, 
Eilith and Myrtie. Mr. Fuller was a carpenter by 
trade and was also nt one time employed as a 
wagon manufacturer, lie served as a Tnion soldier 
three years during the lute Rebellion. James A. 
married .Mis.s Clara Uickerson, and they are living 
in Chautauqua County, N. Y.; Warren C. married 
.Miss Ida .Mcdill, and is farming in Edwards County, 
this State; AlinontI W. married .Miss Orplia bailey. 

Mr. .Johnson, of our sketch, received a good 
ela.i)sical education, and leaving home at the age of 
nineteen years enU-red the employ of .lames Oraj', 
of Erie County, l*a., with whom he remained some 
fouryears. having charge of the lumber department 
of his business, near Corry, Pa. .Subsequently Mr. 



•► ■-♦i 



.1. engaged lus a contractor in the town of Bradford 
and vicinity until about Ih7i'>-77. and then on 
account of the failing health of his wife decided to 
try a change of climatv. an<l came to this Stale. 

The marriage of William A. .lohnson and .Miss 
Eva K. (Jray took placre on the fith of August, 
1K72. in Erie County. I'a. Mrs. .1. is the daughter 
of .lames and Uoso Gray, natives of Pennsylvania 
ami New York. Our subject and his wife have 
two children: Olla, born April I. 1H7I. ami Cas- 
siiis, .lune 4, 11^7!). Both are at home with their 
parents. Mr. .lohnson, politically, is one of the 
most reliable members of the Republican parly, 
and his estimable wife is a member in good slnnd- 
ing of the Presbyterian Church, at Yales Center, 
Kan. 

,^=^ ACllAli V T. M. ( ; KKW. As a rcpioenUtive 
^ of the agricultural class, ami one who luis 
iML^ , met with good success in his inde|K>ndent 
calling, we lake pleasure in giving a brief sketch 
of the gentleman whose name ap|)ears at the head 
of this notice. He is pleassintly located on his 
homestead on section 24, I'nion Township, comjiris- 
iiig ICiO acres of tine land. He is a native of Kos- 
ciusko County, Ind.. where he was born March 
20. 1S48. 

His paternal grandparents were natives of \'ir- 
ginia, and became pioneei-s of Preble County, Ohio, 
and in that county John Mc(ircw, the father of 
our subject, was born Ma}' 12. 1812. He pa.s.<ed 
his early life in his native county, receiving a good 
education in the public schools, and an excellent 
knowledge of agriculture on the home farm. On 
altiiining manhood, he learned the trade of car- 
penter, anil also spent a few years in teaching. Hop- 
ing to benefit himself pecuniarily, he went from 
Ohio to Elkhart County, Ind., and while there mar- 
ried Eliza .1. Matthews, an Oliiimn by birth. Two 
years later they settled in Kosciusko County, Ind., 
where .Mrs. McOrew died in I K.'iti. At her death 
this excellent woman left a husband and eight chil- 
dren; one of tiie latl<'r died in childhood, but seven 
grew to maturity, namely: Sarah, Mai-shall. Phillip, 
/.. T., .loliii. Ann and Lucy. .Sarah married Lainber- 



•^I 



son Dais3'; she i> uou ditiaMil. Mnrsliiill was a 
member of Company A, 7-tth Imliaiia Infantry, 
and died while in the service; Phillip lives in 
Arkansas; he served during the Rehcllion as a mem- 
ber of Company I, 12!)tii Indiana Infantry. John 
went to Nevada several years ago, and no tidings 
of him have lieen received since 1«7H; Ann is the 
wife of George Roth, and lives near Lookout Mount- 
ain; Lucy is the wife of Joseph Henry, of Marion, 
Ind. The father of our subject was married a sec- 
ond time, taking as his wife Mrs. Catherine J. .Sjiark- 
lin, nee Platter. There were no children born of 
this union. The father is still living in Kosciusko 
County, Ind. 

Z. T. Mctirew, of whom we write, was reared on 
the home farm, and received his education in the 
common schools of his native count}'. In 18G9 he 
married Mrs. Ann E. Ulrey, nee Rolston, who was 
born in Knox County, Ohio, March 1, 184.5. Her 
parents were David and Rebecca (Workman) Rol- 
ston, with whom she came to Indiana from her na- 
tive State in 18G0. The following year, on the 
24th of February, she married Samuel Ulrey. He 
died Aug. 13, 1867, leaving her with three young 
children — Thomas F., William M. C. and Joseph E. 

After his marriage our subject followed railroad- 
ing in Indiana, being engaged as foreman in the 
repair shops until 1878, when, lured by the encour- 
aging prospects for an intelligent, energetic farmer 
on the fertile prairies of Kansas, he moved to this 
county with his family, and rented land in Delano 
Township. He was not deceived in his belief as 
to the productive qualities of the soil, but reaped 
such abundant harvests that he decided to purchase 
a farm, and in September, 1882, he bought the 
land be now owns and occupies. He hjis carried 
an agricultural pursuits in a business-like manner, 
and his highly cultivated farm, of which only one- 
half had been broken by the plough when it came 
into his possession, and the fine dwelling, good 
barns and outhouses, are indicative of his industry, 
energy and syst*>niatic management. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Mc(irew have been born six 
children, five of whom are living: Lucy (J., Hud- 
son T., Seward O., Durward (J. and Merty. One 
daughter, Stella V., died when two years old. 

Mr. McGrew is a good Republican, and stronglj' 



in favor of a protective tariff. Both he and his 
good wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and endeavor to carry out in their ilnilv lives its 
moral teachings. 






MUROSE B. WATKINS. Among the 
3-<>ung, energetic and progressive farmei"s 
of great promise, in Waco Township, is the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. 
He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising 
on section 32, where his mother has an excellent 
farm of IGO acres of productive and fertile land, 
which is well improved and on which are handsome 
and comfortable buildings. 

The subject of our sketch is a native of Logan 
County, Ky., born Nov. 19, 1859, and is the son of 
Ambrose and Mary E. (Morrow) Walkins. His 
father was born in Logan Count}', Sept. 9, 1819, 
and lived and died in the place of his nativity, de- 
parting from this world in 1879. His wife wijs 
the daughter of James and Mary Morrow, both of 
whom were natives of Kentucky, and was born 
March 10, 1826. She was one of a family of eleven 
children, born to her parents as follows : Jane A., 
Mrs. J. Miller Booth, deceased: Thom.is, who mar- 
ried Eliza LaRue, now deceased; Eliza, Mrs. Dr. 
W. Howard, a resident of Texas; Mary Elizabeth, 
Mrs. A. B. Watkins, the mother of our subject; 
James, who was married three times, and is now 
deceased ; Samuel, deceased ; William, who married 
Mary Ward, and is now deceased; Caroline, who 
died at the age of eleven j'ears; Margaret, ;^Irs. 
Thomas King, who died in Kansas: Napoleon, 
who married Marj' Small, and Crittenden. Of the 
paternal family of Mr. Ambrose Watkins, Sr.. 
there is but one child now living: Fanny, Mrs. 
Elijah Barns, a widow living with her five children 
in Kentuck}'. 

The subject of our sketch was one of a family of 
ten children, born to his parents .as follows: John, 
born June 30, 184.'j, died in infancy; Mary, born 
Oct. 31, 1848, the wife of J.ames O. Rutherford, 
residing in Wichita, the mother of two children; 

■> 



4 



•► ■ -♦^ 



«^4 



SK DO WICK COUNTY. 



KIHp, Mr*. 11. II. Ilnrri.s. I«.in Mn.v 17. IW/iO. n 
rf!.iili'nt of l)«-rli_v. wIktc Iut liii>l>aiul is .luslicc of 
the I'oniH-; lleiin' t'., born May '■!•'>. Ih.')1', who iiinr- 
rifil .Iriinir lli-riidoii, aihI is ii fanner of ihi.st'ounty: 
William K. and n twin lirotlicr, liorn Sept. 'J, lH.'i4, 
till' former of wliom died in May, l«7D, in Fnmk- 
lin Connly. Knii.. an<l the Inltor in lli^ infancy; 
.Sainin-l \V.. born Oct. 1(>, IH.'iG. who married Kllii- 
llcrndon. and is a {j;nK'cry nu'rchanl in Derby; 
Ambrose H., the snbject of our sketch; Uobert D., 
born .May 20, IKG2, who married Kdilh Sickier, and 
is a car|>cnler of Derby; ('. C, born March .">. 1SG4, 
an<l Charles I'., Nov. G, 1«07. 

The subject of this sketch was reareil beneath the 
|K>ternal roof, and acquired a very fair education 
in the district schools of his native county. On 
attaining his majority in 18MI, he started westward, 
to s<>ek on the broad and fertile plains of Kanscs a 
home for hini.self, an<l cominjj to Sedywick County, 
was struck with the quality of the land and the 
beauty of the .scenery, an<l concluded to make n 
farni within it.s boundaries. IIi- accordingly settlerl 
where he now lives. In |Kilitics ho is a Democrat, 
having more confidence in the principles of that 
|«rty than in any other, esjKJcially on Natit)n:il or 
.Stat<' issues, lie is a young man of great promise, 
and of an energetic and progressive spirit. 



i?^.^^ YLVK.STKU C. UKKCK. Among the prom- 
^^^ inent and i xtensive agriculturists of Attica 
'l°(iwnship there is probably none who en- 
joys a greater amount of esteem and re- 
spect or is more widely known than the gentleman 
whose name heads this article. I lis residence ui>on 
section 27, where he owns some .'J20 acres of fine 
land, is a model in its way and with its surround- 
ings makes up one of the prettiest views to be 
found in the county. lie is a native of Yadkin 
County, N. C, born April 17, IH-1,'). and is the son 
of Alvin and Cnice K. (Ma<-kie) Keece, both of 
whom were also natives of the Old North State. 

The father of our subject wa.s li(jrn .Ian. ^G, IHIO, 
and had learned the halter's trade in his youth from 
his father, but laU-r in life became a fanner and is 
still living in North Carolina, lie hiLs been mar- 



ried three time>. Ily the (irsl marriage there were 
three children born, <if whom we have tin- following 
account: William .wrved in the I'nion army 
during the lat<- Civil War, ami died in .lantiarv, 
1H«7, in .Missouri, leaving five.children. .lohn, who 
was also a soldier in the Fe<leml army, is living in 
Andrew County, Mo.: Columbus died at the age 
of sixteen. Hy his second marriage, .Mr. Heece, .Sr., 
was the father of six chihlron, of whom the subject 
of this sketch wius the ehlest. The others were a.s 
follows: Mary, Mrs. Henry .Shores, lives in Attica 
Township; Miles K., a resident of Afton Township; 
Milette, Mrs. .lohn (Jough, resides in North Caro- 
lina; Daniel II. and Martin I... twins, died in in- 
fancy. 

The boyhood days of our subject were s|>ent 
upon his father's farm, and while he a^ssisted in the 
labors that fell to his share, also attended .scIkhiI 
and receiveil his education in that neighborhood. 
When he wa.s about sixteen years of age he learned 
the hatter's trade of an uncle, but never followed 
the business after the expiration of his apprentice- 
ship. When he was about eighteen years of age 
he wa.s draflttd int<» the Confederate army, and 
served until in February, IHtl.i. He participated 
in nniny of the engagement« of the late Civil War, 
the principal of which was that of Petersburg, \a.. 
and came out of the service without a wound. On 
his discharge, at the close of the war, he renioveil 
to Andrew County, M*)., where he had two br<»thers 
living, anil for one of these he worked about a 
3'ear. He then rented a tnict of land and com- 
menced farming operations on his own account, and 
made his home in that locality until IM7.'), when he 
came to Kansas, and settling in .Sedgwick County, 
purchased his present home of a cousin who had 
pre-empted it. Since that time he has bought IGO 
acres more, which lie directly east of the original 
place, and thus has as fine a piece of farming prop- 
erty o-s can be found in the county. It is well im- 
])roved, having on it a good, commodious and 
handsome dwelling, neat and substantial barns and 
other out-buildings. 

With a natural desire to establish a home and 
surround himself with domestic ties, Feb. 7. IHH.'J, 
.Mr. Keece wedded Miss Alice K. Holcon)b. daughter 
«)f Lewis and l.ucetta (Flynn) llolcomb. The l.-nly of 



I 



•►■ -4»- 



i^ 



*.N 



I 




^ 



^ 
^ 

t 
^ 




Vwiti^ 




^ 



5^ 



HI-*- 



A 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



sr.7 



his thuiii.- is ;ilsu :i iiuLivu ui Vaiiiiiii County, N. 
C, and was bom Jan. 22, 18G1. By this marriage 
there have been born three children, as follows: 
Virgil A., who w.is born June 24, 1884; Melville 
W., born May 20, 1886, and Artie Leon, whose 
birth took place Dec. 24, 1887. The father of Mrs. 
Rei'ci' was twice married, but she is the second 
chilli in a family of nine born of the first marriage. 
The other children are as follows: Wiley C, who 
w.ns born Dec. 21, 1859; Mary E., whose birth 
took place April 20, 1863; Willijim L., Isabel, 
Preston, Adair, Ida and Aaron C. The last-named 
died in infancy. By the second marri.Tge of 
Mr. llolcomb there were no children. Her father 
is still living, and enjoying the declining years of 
life in his native State, North Carolina. 



JOHN E. WEAVER, who is engaged in the 
manufacture and sali- of harness, on Main 
street, in the village of Valley Center, is a 
native of Macoupin County, and was born 
April 17, 18.'>9. He is the second child in a family 
of eleven children, born to his parents, Thomas J. 
and Mar3' h\ (Bainbridge) Weaver, n.-itives of Ohio 
and Illinois respectively. 

The parents of the father of our subject were 
natives of Ohio, in which State he was reared ui)on 
his father's farm. In an earl^' day he removed to 
Illinois, and was one of the pioneers who broke the 
way for civilization into the grassj' wilderness of 
Macoupin County. He remained in the latter 
place, engaged in tilling the soil, until 1870, when 
he came to Kans.os and settled in Neosho County, 
where he is now living. 

The subject of our personal narrative w.ns also 
reared upon a farm, and received his education in 
the district school of his native State and of Kan- 
sas. On arriving at a suitable age, he commenced 
an apprenticeship at the trade of harness- making, 
which business he thoroughly- conquered. In 1882 
he came to this portion of the .State, and locating 
at Wichita followed his trade for three years, after 
which he removed to 'V'alley Center and opened his 
present place of business. In 188r. he purchased a 
good home in Grant Township, where he has ni.ade 



his lesidence ever since, lb- (•.iriit- I'lill iim- of 
everything requisite in the business, and by his 
pleasiint manners and accommodating disposition, is 
building up quite a promising trade. As a man, he 
is esteemed as upright and honorable in all things, 
and as a merchant, one of undoubted integrity and 
industr}\ 

September 16, 1886, Mr. Weaver and Mrs. Alma 
Rumberger were united in marriage. The lady in 
question is a native of Logan County, III., and was 
born Oct. 29, 1855. .She is the sixth child in a 
family of seven born to her parents, Norman and 
Margaret (C'arnahan) Sumner, both of whom were 
natives of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are the 
parents of one child, Reedie Rumberger, who w.as 
born in June, 1875. In politics it may be said 
that Mr. Weaver is a Republican, although he is 
not very active in that line. He has, however, held 
the office of member of the Council with consider- 
able credit and honor to himself. He is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife 
communes at the Christian Church. They are es- 
timable and sincere Christian people, and enjoy the 
regard and respect of a large circle of friends and 
acquaintances. Their endeavor is to so lead a 
blameless life in this world, that when thej' are 
called upon to enter into the ''life elj'sian, whose 
portals we call death," tliej' maj' be entitled to a 
pl.ace in the land promised unto the faithful. 

--S #^ <^ 



ENRV STEIN, one of the oldest settlers of 
Sedgwick County and a resident tjf Rock- 
ford Township, and whose portrait is given 
on the opposite page, is a fine representative 
of the men whose shrewd foresight and determined 
energj' opened the way for the settlement of this 
county, and who have since been active in devel- 
oping its varied resources. He came to Kans.as in 
1869, and being thus early in the field it has been 
his privilege to watch from the verj- beginning the 
settlement of this part of Kansas and the growth of 
the towns around him, and he has pl.aj'ed an im- 
portant part in town and county affairs. He wjis 
one of the Commissioners who organized Sedgwick 
County in 1870, and to him belongs the honor of 



i 






^KIx'.WK K ("OCNIV. 



•►■-41 



iiiiiniii); hi'^ ii<I<>|iUmI t<>wii!^hi|) ItiH'kfonl, from a na-k 
fiiiind in thr ArkniisA.s Kivcr Itolow liis hniiiv nixi 
o|>|K>sito tin' villii^;e of Dorliy. 

Our .•.iilijcd wn.i Ijorii in .Mccklfiiliiirf;. GiTninny, 
.Inn. 17. 1K83. nnd loft the Kntliorlnnti in IwriK, tflk- 
iii!» iMissajr** <"> tl'f stoftincr •'Hnissiu" fur America, 
liindin^ at New York {'itv. From there he went to 
\\lsronsin to try his fortune, nnd later to Missouri. 
While in the latter State he entered the army in 
1 xi'i'J, de.sirihfr to awii^t his adopted country in her 
lioiir of need. He serveil for a .short time in the 
Slate Militia, and then volunteered a.s a nieinlicr of 
the I'.ttli .N!is.souri, Col. Dye Conimniider. For his 
liravery and faitiiful service he wjus promoted First 
('or|>oral. took part in a number of important bat- 
tles. an(1 wius lin.-illy honorably discharfjed Nov. 21, 
\X{\.'i, at Mont;,'i(mery, Ala. 

In 1«C0, as before mentioned, Mr. Stein cauie to 
this State and pre-empteil a (piarter-section on sec- 
tions 1 and 2, township 29 (Kockford). nmge 1 east, 
.•ind has ever since made his home here, llis farm 
lies on the rich bottom lands of the Arkansas Hiver; 
the fertility of the .soil is unsurpassed, and the yield 
of crops immense lie h.-is since increased the acre- 
ape of his land by the purchase of twenty additicuial 
.•icre>. and has it all un<ler a high state of improve- 
ment, with the exception of a tract of fine timber 
land, lie m.ikes a specialty of raising .Jersey and 
Durham cattle, and his fine, well-kept animals are 
.iinonp the best in this part of the county; his 
handsome blooded horses command a ready sale at 
hijjh prices. 

.Mr. Stein is now on the shady side of the liill of 
life, and in tin- years to come can live in the en- 
joyment of the wealth he has pithered together by 
his persistent labors, his careful management and 
the exercise of a sound judgment. lie has never 
married, choosing a life of "single bles.s<'ilnes,s" as 
his |H.rtion. but the hospitalities of his pleasant 
home f>n the edge of the forest are shared daily by 
s<,me relative; Ihe latch-string is always on the out- 
siile. and is pulled by many of his friends, who 
often visit him to enjoy his genial and interesting 
conversation of his ex|XTiences. or to listen to his 
reminiscences of his pioneer life when this pari of the 

• ouiilry had not 1 n redeemed from the hand of 

iiiilure. Our Mubjeet is a man of strong and earm-st 



convictions, and his life record ha.s thus far been an 
honorable one. He votes with the Hepubliean party, 
and is an active advocat** of itjt principles, which he 
believes to be the true ones for Itie government of 
this great Republic. 

.SAAC T. Al'LT. I'erha|)« among the pioneers of 
this county there is no more prominent figure that 
stands out in strong relief in its annals than the 
gentleman whose name heads this article. He came 
to Sedgwick County in it.s earliest days, and in 
1K71 entered land in Park Township, where he now 
lives. Since that day he has made this his constant 
home. 

The subject f>f our sketch is a native of Co.shoc- 
ton County, Ohio, born .Sept. 24. 1«1H. and is the 
son of Andrew and Mary (Fagans) Ault. His 
father was a native of I'ennsylv.-inia and his mother 
of \'irginia. Andrew Ault wjus a car|H»nt<'r by 
traile, and removed to Ohio where be was married, 
and settled in Coshocton County, where he is still 
living. The mother of our subject died in thai 
portion of the Huckeye State in 1 s(.'<2. having at- 
tained the age of fifty-nine years. They were the 
parents of twelve children, eight of whom attained 
to yeai-s of maturity. The record is as follows: 
George, who is living in California; .Melinda, who 
married Levi Farrell, and died leaving one child: 
I Ikrbar.a, Mrs. Thomas Hetilley. who is living in 
Ohio; Kmma. the wife of Rerl 1-. Miles, of Knnsius 
City, Mo. ; Isaac T.. the subject of this sketch; 
Albert, who is deceased; Kdward L.. living in 
Newton, Kan.; and Allie. wife of Howard Shaw, of 
Mt. Hope, this State. 

Isaac Ault obtained his education in the district 
.schools of his native county, and entered upon ami 
served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker trade, 
which line of business he followed for a period of 
ten j'ears in Ohio. when, h.-iving married, he con- 
cluded to try his fortunes in the great West. The 
unsurpa.ssed fertility and genial climate of Kans.as 
seemed a great inducement to him, and he there- 
fore, in 1S71. migrated t<> this .Slate, and settled 
in I'ark Tf>wnship. At first he took up some eiglity 
acre* of land on section 12. under the homestead 



; 



-«*■ 



sF.nnwFCK COUNTY. 



859 'S 



:ift, to which he added Itiii acres more by pre- 
emption, on section 14. He made his residence 
npon the homestead for about ten yeare. clearing 
up the land an<l hrinjring it to a good state of cult- 
ure and otlierwise improving it, as he had found it 
in a state of native wildness. The Sedgwick 
County of tiiat day wjis not what it is now, as there 
were but few settlers within its limits, and these 
were scattered over its broad surface. Weeds and 
grass seemed to cover all liic land, and it took a 
stout heart to settle down in the v.ast prairie wil- 
derness. Having endured all the privations incident 
to a new settlement and a pioneer life, and having 
brought his place to the uses of civilized man he 
finally- removed at the expiration of the decade to 
the land which he had pre-empted on section 14, 
where he at present resides. On this place he has 
also brought the land under full cultivation and 
erected a good and substantial dwelling-house, with 
neat and commodious barns and other out-build- 
ings. He is giving a large share of his attention 
to the raising of stock on this farm, which em- 
braces some 240 acres, and is very successful in 
his operations. He came here with but little prop- 
erty, but b3' industry and economy has achieved 
quite a moderate competence. 

The subject of our sketch was united in mar- 
riage, Sept. .30, 1869, with IVIiss Arabella A. West- 
lake, who was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, 
May 10, 1853, and is the daughter of Samuel and 
Sarah Westlake. By this marrijige there have been 
live children — .Mamie, Charles, Albert, Roj' and 
Leota. In politics Mr. Ault is a st:incli Kepublican, 
and has held a number of the local offices of the 
township. He is a member of Wichita Lodge No. 
99, A. F. k A. M., and Wichita Caapter No. 132, 
R. A. M. 



ENOCH DODGE, prominent as an early settler 
of Sedgwick County, is actively engaged in 
business as a real-estate dealer in its metrop- 
olis, Wichita. He cartie to this city in 1870, it 
being then a small trading-post, and pre-empted 136 
acres of land on the west side of the Arkansas 
River. In the eighteen years that have elapsed 
since that time that tract of land has become very 



valu.ible, owing lo the i;ipiil and marvelous growth 
of the city of which it now forms a part. He 
built for his shelter a log house, with a roof of 
poles and dirt, and then commenced the life of a 
farmer and stock-raiser. The rich, alluvial soil of 
his farm brought him in large returns for his care, 
and his stock did well, proving a good source of 
income. In 1886 lie laid out thirty acres of land 
as an addition. He is a man of marked enterprise 
and shrewd judgment. He is very libend, spend- 
ing his money very freely in the support of the 
various institutions of the city. 

Our subject comes of sturdy New England an- 
cestry, but is himself a n.ative of the Prairie State 
of Illinois, he having been born in Crete, AV'ill 
County', in 1843. He is the son of Enoch and 
Susan (Adams) Dodge, natives of Vermont and 
New Hampshire, and of remote Scotch ancestry. 
His paternal grandfather was Illisha Dodge, of Bev- 
erly, Miiss. At some period of his life he settled in 
New Hampshire. The maternal grandparents of 
our subject were Henry and Catherine (Adams) 
Adams, natives of Vermont, where the grandfather 
was engaged in farming. 

The parents of our subject made their home in 
Crete, 111., and there carried on farming with a good 
degree of success. To them were born ten chil. 
dren: Frederic and Emeline (deceased), Catherine, 
Franklin, Caroline, Mary, Susan, John, Enoch, .Ir., 
and Almon E. Catherine is now Mrs. Little, of 
Sweetwater, Neb.; Caroline: Mary, now Mrs. Mot- 
long; Susan and .John live in Crete, III.; Almon is 
a resident of Wichita. 

Our subject remained on his father's farm until 
he was eighteen years of age, in liic meantime 
acquiring in the district school an education, and 
at home receiving a ])ractical training in the labors 
of the farm, which were beneficial to him in his 
career as a farmer and stock-grower. On the 31st 
of .July he enlisted in Company G, lOOth Illinois 
Regiment, and bravely went forth to the field of 
battle to assist in the preservation of this great 
Union, remaining at the front as a faithful soldier 
until the last battle was fought, and the Rebellion 
came to an end. He served under Gen. Thomas, 
and took part in .all the engagements of the Armj' 
of the Ciraiberland; he was honorably discharged 



i 



•^•-^ 



SCO 



SKDCWICK C'OINTY 



in Cliic.n;;)!. III., .Inly I, IM't. Ilo then rftiiriipil 
to hi^i lioiiic in Crotc, where he reinninod until the 
following _ve«r. Then he ro.solvod to try his fort- 
niie.s in Ciilifornin, and wt-nt to that Sljite by wiiy 
of Now York City anil the litthniu.'i of Panama, 
arriving at Sjin Fmncist'o May 24, l8r>C. lie con- 
tinued tnivi'iing for eighU'on months thoroiifler, 
and saw a great deal of tlie country liordering on 
the I'lieillc Coast. Finally he Joined a coni|)any 
which wius laying out a Govemnicnl trail from 
Li'wiston to Hitter Koot. He was thus employed 
for two months, and then for two and one-half 
months worked for the (Jovernmenl in putting up 
hay lit Ft. .Sully. After that e.\pcrience of frontier 
lifr he returned to Chicago in October, 1H68, The 
succeeding two years he was engaged in farming in 
Illinois. In 1870 he came to Kansas, and located 
wlu-re he now resides, and with the counigcous 
determination and faith of the true pioneer immedi- 
ately set about increasing his fortune, and at the 
same time ajssisting in the development of this 
wonderful region, which his sagacious mind rightly 
judged would, in a not distant future, become an 
agricultural and business center. 

Our subject was nuirried, in 1876, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Hughes, daughter of Samuel and Ann (.lones) 
Hughes, natives of Kentucky. She has been to 
him a wise and ready helper. They have a bc.-ititi- 
ful home at No. 1:528 West First street, which Mr. 
Doilge erected at an expense of ♦4,200; it is replete 
with the comforts and many of the lu.xuries of 
nio<lern life. Three sons complete the family 
circle — Arthur, Lee and Hay. 

Mr. Dodge is prominently identifled with the 
Republican [mrty. IJotli in business circles and in 
private life he is honored and esteemed for his up- 
right character. 

i;s. UKHKCCA liOI.K K, wi.lowof the late 
Henry Holick, of Wichita, owns an<l occu- 
pies a comfortable h<jme at No. GOl Mos- 
ley avenue, Sinilh, of which she took 
|H>siu-Aitiou in July, 1887. She isn native of Hocking 
County. (Jhio, and wan born Feb. I, I84C, at the 
rural homestead of her |>arents, .lohn and Susan 



(Hurrt'cll) F<Kster. natives res|K'ctively of (iermany 
and rennsylvania. Her father emigmted t^i Amer- 
ii-a with his |wircnU< when a lad of eleven years, 
was reared to farming pursuits, and thereafter fol- 
Kiwed agriculture all his life, most of Uie time in 
the Huckeye Slate. The |>arental household in- 
cluded fourteen children, of whom Mrs. li. was the 
si.vth in order of birth. Mr. Foster was a man 
prominent in the affairs of this county, intelligent 
and well read, and held many responsible olllces, 
among them that of I'ostmastiT, Uoadmaster and 
Constable. He departed this life in .March, Xxtt'J. 
The mother is still living in Hwking County, Ohio. 

The lady of whom this sketch is written wjis 
tniincd bj' her excellent parents to habits of in- 
dustry* and economy, and received her education 
in the conmion schools of her native county. rjMiu 
reaching womanhood she was united in marri.age 
with Henry Holick, at the home of her parents, on 
the 13tli of May, 18(jC. Mr. Uolick was born in 
Snj'der County, Pa., Feb. 3, 1844, and was the son 
of Ilenrj- and Klizabetb ((Jelwick) Holick, who were 
also natives of the Keystone .State. The father 
was a stonemason by trade, from which he devel- 
oped into a contractor, and carried on an extensive 
.'ind lucrative business, although making his home 
in the jigricultural districts. Thus Henry was reared 
u])oii a farm, where he rem;iined until after the out- 
break of the late Civil War. 

Mr. Holick nt)w, although but niiu'tecn years of 
age, proffered his services as a I'nion soldier, anil 
in the meantime having renmved to Illinois, became 
a member of Comjiany I), 4nth Illinois Infantry, 
in which he served a period of twenty-six months. 
He met the enemy in many im|H>rtant battles, ami 
was once captured by them, lull only held, how- 
ever, a short time. He endured, in common with 
thousjinds of others, hardslii|>s, privation and ex- 
posure, and, as a result of these, coiitracteil a dis- 
ease from which he was confined eighty-five <lay.- 
in a hospital, and came out a cripple for life. 

After marriage Mr. anil .Mi>. Holick settled on a 
farm in S'lieca County, 01iio,wliere they continued 
five years, and then changed their residence to Han- 
ciH'k County. Mr. Holick, in the meantiiiie, al- 
though unable to labor very much, iKiswwsed the 
dear head and good judgment required for the suc- 



•►• -4^ 



-•^■-4* 

^ 



SEDGWICK COUNT V. 



861 ' ^ 



cessfiil direction of others,' and was prospored. He 
sold out iiis property in lI.iiicoci< County in 1879, 
and coming to Wichita, purchasi-d a home on Mead 
street, and also eighty acres of land in Butler 
County. Mr. Bolick, after a brief illness, departed 
this life on the 20lh of Octoiier, 1884. Three \'ears 
later Mrs. B. sold the propert}' on Mead street, and 
took possession of her present residence. 

Tiiere came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bolick six children, who were named respect- 
ively: Catherine E., now Mrs. Frank S. JJurt, of 
Wichita; Mary A., Mrs. W. T. Henry, and the 
mother of one child, Inez I.; Flora A., Lucy M., 
William H. and Laura E. They are all living, to 
l)c the comfort and solace of their excellent mother, 
anil the four younger continue under the home 



roof. 



•*-»t»-^-3»^^ <5^- «5«s^ 



t-^h 



,^^ ASTEN SCHMHiT. The farm of this gen- 
/l(^y^ tleman, which is finely located on section 5, 
^^^ Waco Township, comprises 1 00 acres of land, 
and is conspicuous for the heautiful Cottonwood 
grove, a fine orchard of apple trees and sulistan- 
tial frame buildings. At all points around the prem- 
ises are displayed the true German thrift and enter- 
prise of the proprietor, whose childhood home is on 
the other side of the Atlantic, an<l wliose countr}'- 
men have always assisted so greatly in the develop- 
ment of tlie great West. 

Our sul)ject was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, 
on the 7th of February, 18.34, and is the son of 
John and Angal (Esterman) Schmidt, who were 
also of German birth and parentage, and are now 
deceased. Tliey spent their entire lives on their 
native soil, wliere most of their children married 
and settled. Their eldest son, William, is one of 
the most wealthy- and prosperous farmers of his na- 
tive Province, being the owner of 400 acres of land 
with all necessary appurtenances. He is the father 
of five children, who are motherless, his wife having 
died some j-ears ago. Of the second son, John, 
nothing is known exceiit that he died in Germany, 
in 1886: Henr^' is married, and continues on his 
native soil: Helena was marrie<l, .and became the 
mother of two children, one of whom came to this 
country; she and her husband are both now de- 



ceased. Catherine is married, and when last heard 
from w!is living in Illinois; MargaretUi, when last 
heard from, was still unmarried, and living in the 
old countrj' ; Christian is the j'oungest, and a brick- 
layer by occup.ation, is married and is now a resi- 
dent of Missouri; Ciisten, of our sketch, was next 
to the youngest of the family. 

Mr. Schmidt crossetl the Athmtic in 1867, and 
was married, Oct. 8, 1883, to Miss Crlolena Hulka, 
who was born in Germany, Sept. 12, 18.'J8. The 
three children of this union are: Lena, who wiis 
born Sept. 9, 1884; Louis, who was born Jul^' 17, 
188.5, and died .at tlie age of one year and twomontlis, 
and an infant unnamed, born Jan. 4, 1888. Mr. 
Schmidt, upon coming to America, took up his resi- 
dence first in Missouri, where he employed himself 
at day labor, nnd in 1871 made his way to this 
count}-, where he has labored industriously in the 
cultivation and improvement of his farm. He com- 
menced life with comparatively little means, and 
his surroundings indicate in a forcible manner to 
what good use he has put his time, .and how wise 
he has been in his investments. He is a man whose 
word can be relied upon, and whose promise is con- 
sidered as good as his bond. He has contributed 
in no small degree to the building up of Waco 
Township, of which his property is one of the chief 
ornaments. 



^s t==: 



YUUS SULF^IVAN has a pleasant residence 
in Sullivan's Addition to the city of Wichita, 
and is engaging in the real-estate business 
with signal success, with an oflice at No. 10.5 Main 
street. He was born in Ottawa, Province of On- 
tario, Canada, Aug. 10, 1848, being the youngest 
of the twelve children born to Thomas Allen and 
Adeline (Rude) Sullivan, natives respectively of 
Canada and Vermont. His paternal grandparents 
were Thomas Allen and Marj- Sullivan, and his ma- 
ternal grandparents were Dudley and Margaret 
Rude, natives of Massacthusetts and Connecticut. 
His grandfatlier Rude took part in the Revolution, 
and the brother of our subject's mother took part 
in the War of 1812. The father of our subject, a 
capalile, enterprising man, was engaged in farming, 
and also in the furniture business while he remained 



-^^ 



•► B-^* 



;i,|ii;\\ l< K ColNlY. 



n rcsulciil of Cnnndn. In 1 

iifTnir!* in the Douiinion. iinti itiiiiinii; t«i K:!!!.^;^--, 
|iH-iito<) in Ki'<-lii Township, tliiis bcinj; ii (lintii-or of 
lliis place, nixl luTi- lii.s ilvntli jthorlly nfUT oc-ciirroil 
in l)i'«-enibcr. IH/I. Ills excellent wife snrvivei* 
liitn, nl llic ndvnnccd iijje of oi>;lity-lliree, ninkin^ 
her home with n diiiightiT on section i'.K 

Cyrus Siilliwin. of llils sketch, was reared to ft 
fanner's life in his C'anadiiin home, and received n 
very pKxl edncntion in the section schools of his 
native connlry. In IH70 he cnnio directly to 
Kechi from his old iiome with his [Mirents. pre- 
empted the southwest quartiT of section 28, ami on 
its rich and fertile soil resunieil the occn|Kition to 
which he had been bred, lie |,Teally improved his 
farm, built a comfortable dwelling, and for several 
yeiirs wjis assiduously engajjed in agrictdtural pur- 
suiUs, which he found very remunerative, jind wjis 
further enabled to extend his possessions by the 
purchiLse of the northwest <iuartcr of section 28. 

Our subject returned t4< Canada in the latter part 
of 1872, in order to marry Miss Kli/abeth <^. I). 
Horison, and their union was consummated .Ian. 2, 
1873. She is the j'oungcsl of the thirteen children 
born to Hugh Tmstead and Anna ((irierson) liori- 
son, and wjis born in the Province of ()ntarii>, Can- 
ada, in IS.'i-l. Her paternal grandparents were 
mitives of \'erniont, and her maternal grandparents, 
John and Mary (irierson, were natives of ,Scotl:md, 
and her grandfather was Lieutenant in the liritish 
navy. 

After marriage Mr. .Sullivan returned with his 
bride U> his home in Kansas, on section 28, Kechi 
Township, where he followed farming the next three 
years. He liius his farm well stocked with line horses 
of the famous .Mandirino Chief strain, and nitii high- 
graile Ourham cattle. 

A few years after settling here, our subject bought 
forty acres of land in Sullivan's Ailditionto Wich- 
itji. afterward sold twenty acres for lots, and has 
since been engaged ipiite extensively in rcal-e.state 
transactions, cs|>ecially during the bust three years, 
.-ind is making a tlnancial succe.s.H of his business. 
.Mr. Sullivan came to this county when it was in its 
infancy, and many of the buildings were of a very 
ru<le construction, a strange contntxt to the costly 
and elegant structures of to-day; the lOpiscopal 



in-h Imd ft dirl-eoverc<l roof, Ashiaibcr wn« then 

Very high priced, and I'oulil be pr<MMin-d oidy at 
Kmporia, |l)(^ miles distant. .Mr. Sullivan has e\- 
erti-d his inlluence to procure gtHid edueationnl ad- 
vantages fiir the youth of this town, and lia.s in 
many other ways aided in it* progress. 

The plctuiant wedded life of our subject and his 
wife has been blessed by the birth of four children, 
of whom two are living. Alden Newton and Cyrus 
Clayton, who are atti'uding school. The names 
of the decea.sed are Albert Newton and William 
Robert. .Mr. .Sullivan has hebl the olllce of .luslice 
of the I'eace; in |>olitics he is devoted to the in- 
terests of the Itepublic.-iu party, and socially, is a 
member of the Knights of I'ythias. He and his 
wife belong to the I'resbyterian Church, and jire 
ever zealous in all good and charitable works, hold- 
ing an honiuiible place in the estimation of their 
fellow-citi/ens. 



JrAMKS \\. M. l'lli;US()N, f.'rmcrly asuccess- 
' ful Illinois farmer, but now retired from 
I active labor, took up his resilience in Wich- 
!' ila in April, 188.'>. and was joined by his 
family in the .Inly following, lie has invested a 
|x>rtion of his capitjil in two acres of ground within 
the city limits, and has three valuable lots near 
riarfield University. A nnin of intelligence and 
good business cap.icities, he Inis been successful in 
life, and by his straightforward and upright course 
gained the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. 
His comforUkbIc home is now located at No. I.'>(i7 
.South Lawrence avenue. 

The boyhood of our subject was spent in the 
Ulue tirass regions, he having been a native of 
.Muhlenberg, Ky.. where his birth tmik place on 
the 2.')th of .M.irch, \X'2i. His parent*. William 
and M.'iry ((Jale) .Mel'herson, were natives respect- 
ively of N'irginift and Indiana. The father w;i« 
born Aug. 10, 178'.), and rested from his earthly 
labors on the Ist of September, 18G2. He was a 
farnn-r by occupation, an<i possi-ssc-d much mechani- 
cal skilL He removed from the Old Dominion to 
Kentm-ky when a boy of seven years with his 
])ai'ents, where he was reared, and wius llist married 



-»-<•■ 



-•►■-4« 



-4^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



863 



^l- 



to Miss Kliziibfth Cux. Tlicy became the parents 
of live cliildreii, namely: John, who died in in- 
fancy'; Nancy, who yet lives, and is seventy years 
of age; Sarah; Jessie, who died Dec. 15, 1887; 
and Elizabeth, who lives in Iowa. 

The father of our subject was an Elder in the 
Christian Church for many j'ears, and a good man 
in the broadest sense of the term. He married his 
second wife. Miss Mary Gale, the mother of our 
subject, in Indiana. .She w.as born in that State, 
Aug. 'i;?, 1 798, and died at her home in Scott County, 
111., in 1 .S31 , leaving seven children, namely : Phebe, 
James W., JIartha, Caroline, Mary, Emil3' and 
Phebe (2d.) The latter died in August, 1887, at 
her home in Osage County, this State. 

.lames W. McPherson was reared after the manner 
of pioneer farmers' boys, acquii'ing the first rudi- 
ments of his education in a log school-house, some- 
thing after the manner of his honored sire, who 
only attended school six mouths in his life, and of 
whose handwriting our subject still carefully pre- 
serves a copy. This latter, however, is reall3' some- 
thing to be proud of, and shows his natural adapta- 
tion to the art, the letters being beautifully rounded, 
although differing from the style of the present 
day. 

Our subject developed into manhood in Scott 
County, 111., and March 20, 1 846, was married to Miss 
-Mary J. Shanklin, who was born at Br3-au Station, 
K3'., June 12, 1827, where she was reared, and 
whence her parents came to Illinois, settling in 
Scott County. Here the father died in September, 
18.33. Their children, all born in Kentuckj', were 
named respectively: Lucy J., .Samuel, Ilenriettii, 
Iludol|)hus, John, Jerome, Eli (who died in child- 
hood), Marj" J. and William. James W. assisted 
his father and brothers to clear the wild land in 
Scott County, 111., and the}' finally had a good farm 
of 150 acres. Upon leaving Scott County our sub- 
ject made his waj' to Macoupin Count}', and with 
the proceeds of the land which he had sold in the 
former purchased 202 acres in the latter, upon 
which he labored industriously, until deciding upon 
a rejnoval to Southern Kansas. Mr. McPherson 
while in Macoupin County became identified with 
the Palmyra Congregation, of which he w.os Elder 
fill- many years. He is now a Deacon of the Cliris- 



tian Church, at Wichita. His eldest son, John H., 
is a minister in this cliurch. William T. died on the 
12th of September, 1887. This son was a man of 
much force of character, most excellent princi|)lcs, 
and greatly esteemed in the community of which 
he was a member. lie also was connected with the 
Christian Church, being conductor of its choir, and 
always alive to its best interests. He left a wife 
and five children, the latter being Marietta, Her- 
man, Everette G., Edwin and Orin. Miss Lucy 
McPherson became the wife of D. W^. Solomon, of 
Palmyra, Macoupin Co., 111.; Samuel W. married 
Mi.ss Mattie Fletcher, and they live in Kingman 
Count}', Kan.; Octavia is single, and continues 
under the home roof; Mary F. is the widow of 
Thomas E. Wills, late of Joplin, Mo. ; Lowell C. is 
a resident of Pekin, 111., where he h.as charge of a 
congregation; he is a minister of much talent, and 
was graduated from Eureka College, Illinois, in 
1887. Perry married Miss Stanley, and is living in 
Wichita; Lucius and Nellie are with their parents. 
Mr. McPherson, though not taking a very active 
part in i)olitics. is a warm supporter of the Repub- 
lican party. 



-=^NDREW J. Rl'SSELL is numbered among 
i @yLj| i the representative business men of the city 
of Wichita, and is engaged in the grocery 
business, being one of the firm of Russell 
Bros., at No. 311 North Main street, where they 
are doing an extensive business in their line. The 
subject of this personal memoir is a son of Col. 
John and Jane (Allen) Russell, and was born in 
Beaver County, Pa., March 10, I808. He was but 
a year old when his parents removed to Livingston 
Count}', 111., where they resided some nine years, 
after which the familj' came to Kans.as and settled 
in Osage Count}'. In the common schools so liber- 
ally provided in this young and growing State of 
Kansas, Andrew J. received the elements of a good 
education, and was reared on a farm, surrounded 
by .nil the good influences of his home life. The fam- 
ily fin.ally removed to Wilson County, this State, and 
thence, in 1874, to this county, where our subject 
has since remained. 

On the llHh uf October, 1884, Mr. Russell led to 






•►•-4*- 



T 



HCi 



skim; WICK COINTY, 



the marringc nitar Miss Rlln Dnggctt, who was born 
in St. I^)uir<, Mo., Feb. 14, I8fi8. itnd is n «lftiijji>t<'r 
of Willintii and S;inih (Cilisoii) Dnj^grtt, »)»> wore 
also iiativex of that city. Her father wiis by pro- 
fessioi) a scIum.I teacher, and died in SI. Louis when 
liis daii);htor, Mrs. Hiism.'!!, whs but an infant. Her 
mother married nf;^iu, and is now a rc.si<lent of 
Wyoming Territory. To Mr. and Mr». Itussell there 
have bei-n l>orn two cin'Idren: (Iracie, who dioil in 
infancy, and Lee .S. 

Mr. Russell ocetipies nn important |KMition in the 
community ns an honoralile and upright citizen, 
and |Mt«»esse.s the conflilence and esteem of iiis fcl- 
low-tuwnsmen. t)f a quiet and retiring dis|)usitiun, 
remembering the proverb that "silence is golden, 
»vhile s|H'ech is silvern." never obtru.-.ive in his 
manner, he is, nevertheless, ever willing to give 
counsel and assistance to tho.se in need. In politics 
he is a Republicnn. The Russell family are coni- 
fortid)ly locjite<l on Fern avenue, in the Fifth Ward 
of the city. 



m 



HARLKS W. II.\I)I,KV. The f.-mn ..«ncd 
by this gentleman, on account of its locution 
/'' is probably one of the must valuable in 
Lincoln Township, lieing six miles from Annclly, 
two miles from Furley and eight miles from Brain- 
erd, Butler C(»unty. lie h.i.s here 166 acres of 
land, which is s|H'oially adapted to the raising of 
grain and stock, and which he has brought t<i a line 
state of cultivation, while the buildings will compare 
favorably with anything of the kind in this sec- 
tion. A view of his wcll-ap|Hjintcd place is given 
in connection with this sketch. A native of Cler- 
mont County, Ohio. .Mr. Iladley was born Oct. 12, 
IM.'JH, and was the second child of Harvey and 
.Sarah (Coo|)er) Iladley, whose family consisted of 
Ave sons and four daughters. 

Harvey Iladley was a native of New York State, 
while the mother of our subject was born in Kent, 
Kngland. The latter was brought by her parents 
to this country when a child three years of age. 
She was the daughter of Tliomius and Ann (Adams) 
Cooper, who were al.so of Knglish birth and parent- 
age, and who settled llrsl in the town of Whitney, 



N. .1., whence they subsoqucntly removed to Whit*' 
County, Ind., where the grandmother dieil altout 
IH22-2.3. Orandfathor Coo|)er after the death of 
his wife removed to Illinois, where he is said to 
have been the oldest member of the Mtuumic frater- 
nity, and was made an honorary member of Yolo 
Lodge No. HI. and WixMllawn Chapter N«». 46. 
From Illinois he made his way to California, an<l is 
believed to have been also the oldest .Ma^son in that 
State. He died there at the a<lvanced age of eighty- 
nine years. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject. .b>n«- 
than and Mary (Green) Iladley, tracecl their ances- 
try back to Germany, although (Jramlfather Hatlley 
was a native of New Y'ork State and his wife of 
Vermont. They s|>ent their last yeai-s in the latter 
place. Their son Harvey, the father of onrsubje<'t, 
was a man of much force of character and good 
education, intelligent and well informed. an<l after 
his removal to Illinois was, in 1M4(), a candiilnte for 
the .State Legislature, being defeated by onl^- one 
vote. He was then a Whig |K»liticall_v, and the 
fact that he was on the ticket of the latter party 
in a Democratic county (Bureau) speaks well for his 
popularity among the people of that section. He 
tin.'illy developed int<i a Methodist minister, and 
was stationed for two years each in Princeton, 
Knoxvillc and other places in Illinois, from which 
he emigrated to California in IH.'il, after laboring 
in the ministrj' for a jK'riod of twenty-four years. 
On the Pacific .Slo|>e he learned dentistry and prac- 
ticed for some years in that region, finally going t4i 
Washington Territory, in ISHO. There he is again 
engaged in the ministry, having a regular circuit, 
although seventy-seven years of age. The mother 
died at O.ikland, Cal., in IH83. 

Our subject completed his education in the 
graded schiK)ls of Knoxville, III., and in I S,')6 
joined his father in California and engaged in min- 
ing in Nevada and Yuba Counties. Later he em- 
barked in the harness and saddli'ry business at 
Cacheville, Yolo County, where he resided twenty- 
six years. From California he returned ea.stwar<l 
as far lus this county, in 18X7, nnd pureh.-ised the 
ipiartcr-scctioii of partly improved land where he 
has since o|ienited with the best results. He has 
built a good barn and planted nn oivhanl of 1 2U 



>^P^U m» 



•►■-4« 



i 







Yy>,Ti^,ft^-?S- 



i iljl,lj>l lt . l !l<i]rji |«l l ii r' i if<Kr 



RaiihuAu dRiubt Stc 3.-;:\^-_-^ 



if^aUa^irA^^ , 




McAOow 23. Acnes 



Co/fA> 23. Acetj. 






Oats , 3''t. Acres. 



w'^L- i a<l w J M» M w « ' j ' C'-* !" ^iAv^lj> i** > i > * wi 'i V i %j l i ' . » r[ n l M \ ' \ m m 




Residence of G .W. Long.Sec's. 2.& 3. Lincoln Township. 



Residence OF C.W. Hadley, Sec. 11. Lincoln Township. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



SCu ' ^ 



apple trees, and intends setting out 1 30 more. He 
has also an orchard of 17G peach trees, together 
with a large number of cherry trees, and if per- 
mitted to carry out iiis plans will have one of the 
most valuaMe and desiraliie homesteads in Lincoln 
Township. His barn is already the largest build- 
ing of its kind in the township. His fine stock em- 
braces good grades of Morgan and Clyde liorses. 
with high-grade Durham anrl Jersey cattle, and 
liftj'-three head of pure-bred Poland-China swine. 

Mr. Hadley, atthe outbreak of the late Rebellion, 
was a resident of Knox County, 111., and there en- 
listed as a Union soldier in the .04th Illinois In- 
fantry', but was rejected by the examining surgeon. 
Tie iiad in the meantime been married, on the 7th 
of March of that year, to Miss Maria M., daughter 
of Elkanah A. and Margaret (Elder) Moore, who 
were natives of Kentucky but are now residents of 
Knoxville, 111. Mrs. Hadley was born .June 23, 
1843, in Jefferson County, Ind., and was the 
youngest of her parents' four children. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hadley soon 
set out for California. After the birth of three 
children — Mary E., George and Charles E. — the wife 
and mother was seized with an illness from which 
she lingered three years, and was then called from 
earth, her death taking place in Yolo County, Cal., 
in Maj', 1873. The children are all living and at 
home with their father. The second marriage of 
Mr. Hadley took place in Yolo Countj', Cal., in 
November, 1873, with Miss R. Margaret Moore, a 
native of Pennsylvania, and who was born in Bed- 
ford County, Sept. 6, 1838. 

The present wife of our subject was tiie eldest of 
seven children Ijorn to her parents, Robert and 
Esther (Davis) Moore, the fathera native of County 
Antrim, Ireland, and the mother born in Pennsyl- 
v.-vnia. Her brother John, during tiie Civil War, 
enlisted as a Union soldier in the l-23d Illinois Regi- 
ment when but a j'outh of sixteen years, and was 
killed at the battle of Farmington, Tenn. Isaiah, 
who also enlisted when scarcely more than a boy, 
served three years in the Union army, and was 
subsequently murdered by the Indians at Ft. Leav- 
enworth. 

Mr. Hadlej' after coming to this county pur- 
chased, in 1876, 240 acres of school land on section 



-lh-<- 



16, which is now partly occupied by the new town 
of Furley, and which he sold last March to the 
Gold Belt Town Site Companj', receiving therefor 
a handsome sum of money. Being located con- 
veniently to the town of Brainerd he does much of 
his business there, and is also a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity there, belonging to Lodge No. 282. 
He and his excellent wife are members in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
P\irley. Of this union tiiere have been born two 
children: Robertie, Oct. 27, 1874, and John M., 
Oct. 21, 1877. Three of the five children compris- 
ing the household circle are attending school in 
the home district. 

^^EORGE W. LONG settled in Lincoln Town- 
Ill <^w? *'''P ^'"^" Harvey County was a portion of 
^^^S Sedgwick, and his first residence was the 
voting precinct for three townships. The election 
held upon the question of the division of the 
county was also carried on under his roof, and lie 
voted for the railroad bonds required for the con- 
struction of the first road to Wichita. It will thus 
be seen that he may be properly numbered among 
the pioneers of Southern Kansas, and there are 
few who can tell him anything additional about 
the hardships and difficulties of life in a new settle- 
ment. He has now one of the finest farms in Lin- 
coln Township, located about twenty-two miles 
from Wichita, affording him a convenient market 
and easy access to church and school. The new 
town of Furley is but three miles away. His 
daughter Blanche was claimed by some to liavc 
been the first white child born in Lincoln Township, 
but Mr. Long is inclined to believe she was the 
second. 

Our subject first opened his eyes to the light near 
the coast of the Atlantic, in New Jersej', March 31, 
1834, and was the second in a family of eleven 
children, seven now living, born to Isaac and Mar}* 
(Williamson) Long, natives of Cambridgeshire, 
England. The p.arents upon emigrating to this 
country settled in New Jersey, where they remained, 
however, but a few years, returning to England 
when George W. was quite young. There it is 



-► ■ ^» 



4 



•^•-4»" 



li 



SKI»(;\VI( K ( til N I V 



r.ii|>|x.«<«l liny iirr >till liviiij;. riio |iiit<>rnHl Kriiiiil- 
IKirriiU u|H>ti liolli siiK'.. were n\x>> of Kiij;lisli liirlli 
1111(1 pnrciiUip-. 

Till- fatlicr iif uiir miIijitI wits u rnriiiiT li_v oouii- 
|Kili(»ii, mid in iiiiiiliTiih' c-in-iiiii.stniit'c.s. doorjfi' 
\V. n-tiiriied lo Aiiu'rica wlii'ii !il>«iiil ten vonn* of 
tigv, iinil thercnftcr until ri'achiii^ uiiuiIkhxI whs 
mostly II ri'.siili'iit of llie State of Nuw York, wliiTi- 
lionoqiiiri'ij u i-oiiiinon-M-lioiil (•dni-ation, and lt-nrni'<i 
llif traili' of ina>on. I'lii.-. lalltT he followed in 
I'erry and ^\■yolninJ> C'ountie.s, lie.side.s in vnrion.s 
other |Miit> of the StnU'. and in the fall of 1M,'»2 
Ml out on a vi.-.il to Knfjiand. Aftvr ^ix months 
sjient with hi> parents he eaiiie hack lo the I'niU'd 
.Stales, and continued a resident of Indiana until after 
the outl>reak of the Uehellioii. In the fall of 1M(U 
he enlisted ill all Indiana re<;iinent for one year in 
a veteran re>.'inient in Company I, 4;id Indiana 
Infantry, ami was thereafter eiifjafjed mostly in 
Kuard duly at Camp Morton, lie was ninstered 
into service at Indianapolis, and receiveil his hoii- 
orahlc dis<liHrt,'e at the sJimi pl.icc on the 1 ttli of 
.liine. iMt;.'.. 

Oursuliject ill the ineaiilime lia*l lieeii married, 
Au;;. 1, lHt;-J, ill \N;ili:f5h County, Iiid., to .Miss 
Mary .Minnick, who w.i.s horn in thai State, in Wa- 
liash County, in Isi-J. Her iiarent^, .Siimnel and 
Margaret (Lair) .Minnick, were natives of I'eiiiisyl- 
vaiiia and had a family of ten children, of whom 
Mrs. Lon;; was the ninth in onler of hirth. t )f 
these four are liviiij;, and all residents of Inilian.i. 
Waliasli County, 'riie parentis are dead. 

After their mnrria;,'e .Mr. and Mrs. Lon^ scttleil 
in La;_'ro 'rowuship, \\'ahasli Co., Iiid., where lliev 
lived until comini.'lo this county in the fall of I.S71. 
.Mr. L. upon his arrival here homesteaded ICO acres 
of raw jirairie, and haiih'd t\w material for his hoii.se 
from lvm|Hiria, a distance of alioul ninety miles. 
The Idiildin;; w.-is put up that wint«T and the family 
moved in, while our suhject coinnienced the culli- 
VHlion of his land and brinj^in;.' alii^iit the improve- 
iiieiits which have now made it one of the points 
of attriK'lion in Limoln 'rowiiship. Mr. Long wius 
not in |M>we.Hsion of an overplus of capital when 
he took up his residence anioii^' the pioneers of 
Lincoln Township, :iiid in connection with his farm- 
ing opcnilioiis, whi( h progressed slowly at llrsl, wils 



omployvd in freighting gtHKis from KiniMirin, Flor- 
eiico. Cotton wood Falls mid Nowlon lo Wichita. At 
flrslonly n few days now and then could lieik'Vot«'il 
exc-lusively lo the farm. Thos*- days, however, nre 
past, and hesidcs hringiiig his lirst |M>s.sessioii lo a 
good stale of cullivnlion he added lo his real cstalc 
until he now owns a half-sectiun, and ha^ a line 
a.ssortiiioiil of live stock, including blooded horses 
and gi-aded Durham cattle, lie has always taken a 
lively interest in politicjt, and for a |ieriod of over 
thirty years has voted the straight Uepublicnu ticket, 
lie has served in his township as Treiusiirer, and 
arrived here in time Iv iissisl in the orgnni/.ation of 
the school district. In relation to this matter he nt 
one time paid a visit to the County Superinlendeiil 
at Wichita, and was at once ii|>|>ointed Clerk, ami 
called the lirst meeting which cfTecU-d the division 
of the township into «chc>ol districts. Mr. Long 
circulated the petition in regard to this desired 
olijccl, and WILS placed on the building coininitti-c 
lo erect the primitive temple of learning. No 
man has taken a ileeper interest in the educational 
ami moral welfare of the people around him, and 
he li:is cheerfully given of his time and means to 
further those enterprises which should be for the 
benefit of the coinmunity. 

'I'o our subject and his wife there have been born 
seven children, six now living: The eldest, Ellle .M., 
is the wife of .Joseph Ueeves, of Harvey County; 
(iciiige Sherman; Walter (iillespie is sojourning 
in Washington 'I'erritory; Charles, lilanche and 
Clara arc at home with their parents; Anna died at 
the age of one year. A view of Mr. Long's place 
may be found among the illustrations given in this 
volume. 



SA.MUKL UOTTS, a wealthy and iiilliieiilial 
slock-dealer, came to Wicliit:i on the 2ii 
day of Xovember, 1x72. The following 
winter he refilled on Main street, but in the 
spring of I sT.'l purchased a lot of ground on the 
river, ciMitaining .some three and lhree-(piart<'r acres, 
on whicdi he erected a hou.se in which he has ever 
since lived. This is now on the corner of .Sherman 
and Third .streets. 

Mr. Ilotts is u native of .l:icksonville, .Morgan ' * 



-•►■ -4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



869 - i 



Co., III., and was boin Dec, 19, 1829. He is a son 
of Bernard and Mar}' (Crawley) Botts, natives of 
Virginia and Kentucky respectively, who were 
pioneers of Morgan County. His father was born 
in Virginia, and is of German ancestry. Hismotlier, 
born in Kentucki', is a descendant of a Scotch-Irish 
family, who came to America at an earlj' day. 

The subject of our sketch remained at home upon 
the paternal farm until he was some fifteen years 
old, when he enti'red the eraploj' of a man by the 
name of Henry, who was in the stocky business, and 
continued with him for four years. He returned to 
his father's farm, and he and his sisters conducted 
the farm until the year 1851, when he was united 
in marriage with Miss Minerva A. Hedger, who was 
born in Anderson County, Ky., Dec. 5, 1831. She 
is the daughter of Thomas and Jennie M. (McAl- 
lister) Hedger, both of whom were natives of Ken- 
tucky. Her parents were married while residents 
of the "dark and bloody ground," and removed to 
Illinois, settling in Morgan County at a verj' early 
date. They were of English and Scotch ancestry 
respectively. 

For some four j^ears after his marriage Mr. Botts 
continued his agricultural pursuits in Morgan County 
and from there removed to Decatur County, where 
he remained some three years, following the plow. 
From there he went to Blooraington, McLean Co., 
111., and for a number of years wsis engaged in 
freighting and railroad work. He served on the 
police of that city for four ^-ears succeeding, and in 
18G1 enlisted in the 8th Illinois lufantrj', of which 
Richard Oglesby was Colonel. The regiment was 
recruited for a three-inonths service, at the expira- 
tion of which Mr. Botts was discharged, and 
returned to his home in Bloomingtou. For some 
time afterward he was engaged in running an 
oninibus line in that city, and for one summer acted 
as Deputy United States Marshal. In 1871 he was 
employed as a police oflicer at one of the coal shafts 
in the neighborhood of Bloomington, but resigned 
that position to come to Kansas. 

After his arrival in Wichita Mr. Botts took up the 
business of teaming and carrying freight into the In- 
dian Territory, which he followed for about two 
j'ears. Being appointed a police ollicer of the city, 
he served one year and was promoted to the posi- 



tion of Street Commissioner, but after one 3'ear's 
trial of the latter position, concluded to eschew 
political offices, and entered into the stock business. 
After some time spent in purchasing and selling 
cattle, he leased a ninch of 5,000 acres of land in the 
Indian Territor}', where he carries on quite an e.v- 
tensive stock business, handling both iiorses and 
cattle. Being a man of remarkable energy and con- 
siderable natural Uict, he has succeeded in this busi- 
ness in which so many men have failed, and is now 
in the enjoyment of an eiisy competence. Coming 
to this county in comparative poverty, by the sheer 
force of his will and indomitable spirit he has ac- 
cumulated considerable wealth, and shrewd invest- 
ments in real estate at an early day, by force of 
circumstance, have poui'cd into his coffers a golden 
shower. The home which he purchased for a tri- 
fling sum, on coming here, he has refused an offer for 
of 120,000. He is also the owner of some two acres 
situated on Fourteenth street, which he has just 
platted as an addition to the city. 

Mr. and Mrs. Botts are the parents of tlie follow- 
ing children: Jennie M., Mrs. Rhodes, a resi- 
dent of Bloomingtou, 111., and the mother of two 
children, Edna and Cora; Thomas B., who married 
Annie Moore and is a resident of Wichita; Samuel 
A., a member of the police force of the same city; 
Ollie L., and Mrs. Fogg, of Wichita. In politics 
Mr. Botts is a member of the Republican part}', 
although he has no political aspirations in these lat- 
ter da^'s. He is a member of the (I. A. R. Post, of 
Wichita. 



^^^ G. SULLIA'AN, farmer and stock-raiser^ 
[|| g— , living on section 29, Kechi Township, is one 
^^j( of the very earliest settlers of Sedgwick 
County, coming here in 18G9, before the organiza- 
tion of the county, and pre-empting the land he has 
since developed into a fine farm, on which he still 
resides, profiUibly engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
He w:is born in Canada, Jan. 5, 18-tO, and was the 
seventh in order of birth of the children of Thomas 
and Adaline (Rude) Sullivan, natives of Canada 
and Vermont respectively. His father was a me- 
chanic in his 3'ounger days, and later followed the 



-•►-■- 



i 






870 



SKDCWir-K roi'NTY 



fin 

lU Ih- r. hi:. inc. I ■, i.-i.|.iit . .f ( :iiim.I:i, In l>,il M. 
rriniivfil with lii.t fiiiiiily U) Kniisas, nixl liK-nloil on 
soctiim 22, Kerlii 'I'ownsliii), wIhtc lii.'< doiitli i>c- 
eiirr«'«l in tin- iiuuith <if Dtft-iiihcT the follou-injr 
your, bI tlit' ago of sooiitv-scveii. The vem-ralik' 
iiKitlirr of otir sul>joc-l is now living; nt the mlviuu-cd 
n«;c of eighly-llirer, innkiii^' hor lioino wiili lior 
(Iniightcr, Mrs. .McMnrvliy. 

Our siilijoct wns lircil to ii fuiiner's life in his 
Cnnnilinn home, receiving' ii pioil lrainin<.' from liis 
|»irt'nLs in liiiliiu of honesty anil indnstry, whiuh 
hnve since nindv his life n sncc-esjtful and an honor- 
able oni', and hi- als4» ri'ceivfd a fair cilncalion in 
the district sch<K>l. In IHC'J he left the home of 
his yonth and came directly to Kansas, and in 
Keehi Township pre-empted the ICd acres of land 
on which he still dwells. In the following' spring 
he actively commenced its improvement, and now 
has it in a line condition, so that it yields him 
liounlifnl harvests; he has it well stocke<l with good 
cattle of :i mixed breed; he ha.s ample farm build- 
ings, and a line residence which is an ornament to 
this locality. This property has increa.sed in value 
many fold since it first came into his possession, 
partly on account of his skillful management and 
the nnmerons valindile improvements he has made, 
partly on account of the greatly increased valua- 
tion of all landed eslfltes with the rapid settlement 
of the county, and also becan.se of its nearness to 
the great centers of tr.ide an<l its cjisy access to the 
city, the Motor Line passing directly by his resi- 
dence, an<l the Atchison, Topcka A: .Santa Fe IWiU 
road on the ejist lino. 

Mr. Sullivan wils married at Wichita, in Febru- 
ary, 1872, to Miss Leltie Hunt, a native of Canada, 
where she was born in 1NI7. Her parents were 
Thomas and Sarah (Needlmm) Hunt, and she was 
the fourth in order of birth of their twelve children. 
Her patcrn:d granilparents were .lohn and Lottie 
(<iehlan ) Hunt, and her maternal grandparents were 
.Samuel and Catharine Needham, natives of Ireland; 
her grandfather Needham was a soldier in the Hrit- 
ish army, and look |iarl in the battle of Waterloo, 
and afU'r coming t4i l\m country he took part in the 
War of I HI 2, and was crippled for life by an ox- 
plosion at the battle of the Winilmill, for which he 



I by the British Government. Mr 

.•iiiM Mi«. *»iiilivr»n have three children, nil of whom 
are living, namely: Thom.is A., .Maggie Klixabeth 
and William Robert They are all attending .hcIumiI, 
as their |>arents are desirous that they shall start 
in life with .-i g<Hid education. 

Mr. ami .Mrs. Sidlivan are pniminent among the 
nicndjei> of the Methodist Kpiscopid Church, and 
their daily lives show tluit they strive to live up to 
the teachings of the (ios|>el as far as in thoni lies. 
Mr. .Sidlivan is a I{epid>lican in politics; he diK-s 
not care to t«ke an active part in public life, but 
cordially supports any measure that will benefit the 
community or the Stale at largo. For a nundier 
of years he has served on the School Hoard, has 
taken a deep interest in educational niatters. and 
has used his infiiicnec to secure the present effective 
system of otlucation in Kei-hi Township. .Mr. Sul- 
livan, socially, belcjngs to the K. 4»f 1'.. at Wichita. 



f KM!V M 1 1. l.KK, Postmaster at reotone or 
|r^^ \'iolH Station, where he is also a general 
^^Jy merch.'int. is a native of Lagrange County. 

(^\ Ind., b»)rn Aug. ;50, 1H.')4, and is the son of 
Daniel and Klizabeth (Young) Miller. His father 
was born in I'onn.sylvania, but when he wjis a child 
of not more than two j'ears old his parents came 
west and settled in Lagrange County, Ind.. where 
the^' were among the earliest pioneers of that 
region. He was reared upon the farm and resided 
on the old homestead for a |)eriod of years covering 
almost half a century. He is now a n-sident of 
.Sturgis, Mich., where for a time he wsis engaged in 
the fuel biisine.ss, but owing to injuries received in 
1HH7, is now living retired from all active participa- 
tion in the cares of business. He has a tine proiK'rty in 
that cit}-, and is a highly esteemed and respected 
citizen. 

The mother of our sidiject was a native of t)hio, 
but removed with her people to Lagrange County, 
among the very first who settled in that region. 
There she was m.arried to Mr. .Miller, .and there died 
in 1H7.5, having been the mother often children, of 
whom nine are living, jls follows: Salina. wife of 
Charles Stroud, of Ijigninge County, Ind.; .Man- 



•^11-^ 



■•^-■-4« 



•►-»-^" 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



t 

-•►Hh 

871 ', ' 



freil, living in Sedgw ick Count}' ; Ilenrj', tlie sub- 
ject of this sketch; Diantha, Mrs. C. L. Lilly, .also 
of Lagrange Count}-; Mary, who is living with her 
father ; Carlton, who makes his home in this county ; 
Daniel, of Colclw.ater, Mich.; Almon, a resident of 
.Sedgwick County; Delos, living in Sturgis, Mich.; 
and Charles, who makes his home in the latter city. 
After the death of the mother of our subject, his 
father married Miss Helen Field, who became the 
mother of two children — Maud and Claude. 

The subject of this narration w.as reared upon his 
father's farm and there received a training that has 
been valuable to him in his after life. He drew his 
education from the pure sources of the district 
schools of his n.ativc county, and remained at home 
assisting in the labors incident to agricultural life 
upon the family homestead, until he was some 
twenty j'ears of age, when he removed to Branch 
County, I\Iich. He continued there, on his own 
account, his vocation of farming with a fair amount 
of success and encouragement, but in 11S78, with a 
natural desire to better his condition, he removed 
to the great and growing State of Kansas, and on 
his arrival in Sedgwick County pre-empted 160 
acres of land on section 19, Viola Township, which 
he has improved and brought to an excellent state 
of tillage. He has erected good, handsome and 
subst^mtlal buildings, and gathered around him all 
the comforts and conveniences for carrying on the 
farm and enjoj'ing life in a proper manner. He 
still manages this place in spite of his other busi- 
ness cares, .and has made a great success in this 
line. In August, 1887, he removed to the new 
village of Viola Station, where he established a 
store in which he carries a stock of general mer- 
chandise. In January, 1888, he w.as commissione<l 
as Postmaster of the ofHce at this pl.ace, which is 
known on the register of the United States Postal 
Guide as Peotone, succeeding J. T. Broomfield. 

Mr. Miller was united in marri.age, June 14, 
1875, with .Miss Mar}^ IMoore, the daughter of 
George W. and Jane (Plants) Moore, natives of 
Ohio and New Y(»rk respectively. The mother of 
our subject's wife died in St. Joseph Count}-, Mich., 
in 1878, and her father lives in Pawnee County, 
Neb., where he owns a large tract of land. Her 
parents luid but two children, herself and her brother. 



*^m^^ 



George Moore, a resident of Wichita. Her father 
by a previous marriage had a family consisting of 
four children. Mrs. Miller is a native of .St. Joseph 
County, Mich., and was born Sept. 23, 18.57. She 
is the mother of three children — Zadie, Bertha and 
Herman. 

In his political views Mr. Miller is entirely inde- 
pendent of party lines, but usually votes for the 
Repul>lican party, although in local matters he con- 
siders the man before the i)latform. AVhen he 
came to this county he had but about 1800, but by 
energy, perseverance and industry has achieved his 
present well-to-do condition. At one time he owned 
320 acres of land, but tr.aded IGO of it for the prop- 
erty he now owns at Viola Station, and li.ns now a 
farm of 1 80 acres, and is ranked among the wealthy 
and prosperous citizens of the township. 

ll R.S. BARBARA L. WILSON, who owns 
a good home in Payne Township, compris- 
ing 160 acres of land with excellent farm 
buildings, and pleasantly located on section 
14, is the widow of the late Robert L. Wilson, who 
departed this life on the 23d of June, 188.5. Mr. 
Wilson is a capable business man, and w.as the first 
Justice of the Pe.ace in P.ayne Township, serving in 
1871. He was also Postmaster of Greenwich for a 
term of eleven years, during which time the oftiee 
w.as in a small house on his farm. 

Mrs. Wilson was born in Scotland, June 5, 1828, 
and is the daughter of Robert and M.argaret (Cham- 
bers) Leitch, who were natives of Scotland, where 
they spent their entire lives. Robert Leitcii rested 
from his labors on the 15th of July, 1876, and the 
affectionate wife and mother joined her husband on 
the other side Oct. 13, 1880. Their family in- 
cluded eight children, namely: Andrew, Barbara, 
Condie, Robert, Alex, Peter, Margaret and Janet. 
Condie died when about twenty-eight years of age; 
the others are surviving, and continue on their 
native soil. The father was a machinist by trade, 
as also all his sons. 

Mrs. Wilson came to the United States when 
about twenty-five years of age. Her husliand had 




1 ' 

i 



<• 



«7; 






SEDOWICK rOT'NTY 



]'■.■ _ iir»t in I'eii: 

.•\h;iiii:i, ttluir lu' ";i.-. jnuini U\ hu- wife, ntirt lint 
Idiijj itfterwanl they retnove«i to New York Stat*, 
l<«-atiiii.' in Oran;^ County. Thfucc they n-niovefi 
twi. yi>ar> Liter t<> Cliiittni. Ohio, in the C'hi|>|>ewa 
■ oal re-jioiis. where >Ir. \Vil>on followed uiinin;; for 
n .>hort lime, ami from there removed to Clay 
County, Ind. He worked there in a coal mine, 
an<l then |>U'<he<l still further west wan 1, becoming a 
resilient of Alton, 111., where the family residecl for 
H |ierio<l of fourteen years. 

.Mr. anci Mrs. Wilson r«rae with their family to 
K:insa.s in IH70. locating first on Tayne's nineh 
until the outlines of the sections could be definitely 
:i.»certaincd. They cumi>ed on the land included in 
their pre.MMit farm for a lime, and afterward occu- 
|iie<i a dugout (luring the winter months and until 
a house could \te erected. The husband by hard 
«i>rk and |>er?<'verance succee<ling in raising enough 
Vegetables to provide the family for the season, but 
were obliged to contend with hailstorms and gras«- 
liiippers, and were often retluced to corn bread and 
water. Mr. Wilson finally succeetled in clearing a 
(iuarter-se<-ti<>n of land, through which the Ft. Scott 
liailroad now |>a.sses,and which is numbered among 
the fertile farms of the ctiunty. 

The childho<.Kl and j-outh of Mrs. Wilson were 
.-|<Mit in her native county not far from the e^irly 
linme of her husband, to whi>m she was married on 
the ITthof April. 1-><4H. Mr. W. was theson of .lami« 
and Klizabeth (Strong) Wilson, who were als<» of 
."^•otch birth and i>arent.ige, and |ia*sed to their long 
home years ago. Their family consisted of thirteen 
children, of whom Kol>ert L. was the youngest. 
After coming to Illinois and during the progn-ss of 
the late Reljellion, Mr. Wilson enlisted as a I'nion 
s<ildier in C<m)p;iny (1. t'.tUh Illinois Infantry, and 
continued in the s.Tvice alwMit twenty-two months, 
Iwiug in many liatth-s, but e.«<-aping without a wound. 
lie marched with the troops of (ien. Shemi.-m as 
far as Atlanta, when, on account of ill-health, he 
received his discharge, and was mustered out at 
Louirvillc, Ky., in IhC.I. 

To Mr. and .Mr». Wilson there were l>om seven 
children, namely: .Iam<-s lives in this township: 
Uobert is <leceased ; .lohn lives in this ^>wnship: 
Andrew and Margaret are dece-ased ; Mary is the 



Un "iff ..f 1 i.*iik h. .Vu>Uii. ;.i.a riM.!i> v. ilU her 
widowed mother on ihe farm, .Mr. A. having charge 
of its husinesti. Mrs. Wils«>n i« a consistent menr- 
l>er of the Christian Churcli, with which she idci:'!- 
fied her«*lf many years ago. Her husband ' 
to the Ittiptist Church at the time of his <l. 



^|OSKl'lI 1.. WII.KV. who is properly n»nke<I 
I as one of the self-made men of Sedgwick 
County, l>egan his career at the foot of the 
ladder in life, without other resource:- than 
bis own indomitable will and steady phxlding in- 
dustry. From a humble jKisition he has risen to 
that of one of the representative men of a more 
than ordinarily intelligent txmimunity. The greater 
part of his life has l»een s|)ent in the agricultural 
districts, and when but a boy he liecame thor- 
oughly familiar with the various employments of 
the farm. He wisely chose that for his future call- 
ing to which he w:is best adapted both by nature 
and es|)erience, and as a farmer and st<x'k-raiser 
cK-cupies an enviable |H.«ition among the progres- 
sive men of Siuthern Kansas. For the succ-es»ful 
prosecution of his calling he has a fine and well- 
:ip|Miinted farm of 160 .acres, with all the buildings 
and appurtenances required for the comfort of his 
family, and the carrying on of his business. 

Our subject was born in Vermilion County, III., 
Aug. t*, 1IS4H, and is the son of William and Sarah 
(Loroan) WiU-y, natives resj>ectively of C)hio and 
Pennsylvania. His internal ancestors were of Irish 
descent, and the mother desK-ended from the Ger- 
man. When Joseph 1,. was but one year old his [mr- 
ents removed from Vermilion to Douglas County, 
where William Wiley was among tlie early tillers 
of the soil, and where luith |iiirents spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. The father de|)artc<l this 
life in .lanuary, 1X72. The mother had precede*! 
her husband to the silent land thirteen years. 
Their family included t«'n children, five of whi^im 
survive, namely: (Jeorge, t>f Douglas County, III.; 
.Smith, «if \Nichila; Celia, the wife of .Samuel Bryan, 



•^•-<« 



T" 



SEDGAV7CK COUNTY. 



■A 

S73 I ' 



of Douglas Count}', 111.; Sarah, Mrs. Isaac Dean, of 
Waco Township, this county, and .loscpli L., our 
subject. ' 

William Wiley after the death of his first wife was ' 
married again, and there were born three children, i 
two living, nainel}': Julia, the wife of Craig Owen: i 
and Annie, Mrs. Charles Mj'ors, both of Douglas I 
Count}', III. Joseph L.was reared to manhood in 
what is now known as Douglas County, 111., receiv- 
ing his education in the common school. During 
his early manhood he spent four years in mercan- 
tile business, but in 1882 abandoned it for the 
more congenial pursuits of farm life. The lady 
who now bears his name was in her girlhood Miss 
Sarah J. Moore, and their marriage took place in 
Fiatt County, 111., Sept. 22, 1867. Mrs. AViley 
w.as born in Piatt County, III., Dec. 12, 1848, the 
daughter of Luther and Mary J. (Steward) Moore, 
who were among the earliest settlers of Piatt 
County, where the father still resides, enjoying the 
fruits of a well-spent life, and cherished by the 
affection of hosts of friends. The mother passed 
away at their home in Piatt Count}', III., in June, 
1863. Mr. Moore, during his younger years, was 
quite prominent in local affairs and contributed 
largely toward the building up and settlement of 
Piatt County, 111., by a desirable class of i)cople. He 
has been twice married, and is the father of twelve 
children, of whom six survive, namely: Allen, of 
Missouri; Isaac, of Nebraska; AV'illiam, a resident 
of Salem Township, this county; Frank, living in 
Piatt County, 111. ; Hannah, the wife of William 
Mossbarger, of Wellington, this State: Sarah J.. 
Mrs. Wiley; Emma and Harvey, in Illinois, 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wiley there have been born 
four children, namely: Mary A., Oct. 18,1809: 
Homer E., Feb. 8, 1879; Alta M., March 11, 1884; 
and one who died in infancy. Mr. Wiley came to 
Kansas with his family in 1878, and soon afterward 
located upon his present farm. This comprises a 
quarter-section, and the natui'al fertility of the soil, 
combined with the good management of its owner, is 
now the source of a fine income. Our subject has 
been particularly fortunate in his selection of a 
life partner. Mrs. Wiley having always been the 
active .issistant of her husband in his labors, and 
with him enjoys the esteem and confidence of all 



who know them. Mr. W. finds his political princi- 
ples most nearly re|)rcsented by the Democratic 
party, and accordingly gives to it his uniform sup- 
port. He has served .'is Assessor of Salem Town- 
.ship, and been prominent in those matters relating 
to its best interests. 



— ' ^^ ^ 

(^ r»^ILLIAM lllOMPSON. a retired farmer of 
aniple means, occupies a pleasant home at 
No. 2217 North Arkansas avenue, in 
Wichita. A native of Fleming County, Ky., he 
was born April 21, 1840, and is the son of Taylor 
and Sarah (Graham) Thompsiju, natives respectively 
of Virginia and Kentucky. The father was born in 
1816, and removed from his native State to Ken- 
tucky, taking up his residence in Fleming County. 
wher(! he occupied himself in farming, and where he 
still resides. He is a worthy and highly respected 
citizen, and a member in good standing of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The mother of our subject was born in 1822, and 
departed this life at her home in Fleming County, 
Ky., in 1879. She was a member of the same 
church as her husb.and, and the parent;il household 
consisted of eleven children. Of these James, Rob- 
ert, John, Mary J., Edward and Allen arc deceased, 
making six dead. Austin is a resident of Ray 
County, Mo. ; William, of our sketch, is the sixth 
child; Amanda is the wife of Foster Days; they 
live in Hancock County, 111. Alfred is a resi- 
dent of Fleming County, Ky.,and on the old home- 
stead; Belle is the wife of William Emmons; they 
live in Springfield, III. 

William Thompson spent his childhood and youth 
on the farm of his father in his native county, and 
when twenty-two years of .age, was niaiTied there to 
Miss Mary J. Lytle, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride, on the 2d of May, 1862, 
Rev. Barkesdale, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
officiating. Mrs. Thompson is a native of the same 
county as her husband, and was born April 17, 
1844. Her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Todd) 
Lytle, were also natives of the Blue Gr;iss State. 
The father was born in 180.5, and is still living, in 
the enjoyment of good health. He h.as always fol- 



•►-(I-4*- 



' ' 874 



-•► 



SKnnWICK COUNTY, 



IuwpH furroiiig and is well-to-do. II 
|ir<>iiiiiifiu'i> ill liisc-oiiiiiiiiiiity, niitl uitli In? cx'-illiiit 
wife, wliii i.H alxi jtiill »|mre<l U> eiijuy « |iii'aMiiit old 
Rj»«', is 11 iiu'iiilHTof till' Mctliodi.st K|>isfoi>nl (.'liiirfli. 
'I'lif iiiotluT »!!» lioni ill l«i;i. Of thi'ir i-li-ven 
rhildrcn llic oldi-st and tlic fiftli died in iiifaiu-y 
iiiiimiiiod. Till' olIuTs wort' Loiiimi II.. .lolm T., 
Mary .1.. rartlieiiia. Sanili K., Alien T.. Ui-boofa H., 
Martha K. ami Uobert A. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Thoni|)soii thcrt- were liorn eifjlil 
eliildreii. seven now living and one deceased. 
Koberl A. married Miss Ida L. Crane, and lives on 
a farm near Clearwater ; Mary K. is the wife of 
Zaeli II. Tryon. ninl the mother of three eliildren — 
Oilie .M.. Lora U. and Kosetta: Allen T..Saninel L. ; 
William I), died at the ajje of eight years; Charles 
H.. Londa H. and .lames N. are at home. 

Mr. Tlium|)Son in 1m7'.i left his native Stjite, and 
came to Kansas, first locating upon a tract of rented 
land in Wichita Township, where he farmed six 
years. In 1 KK.'i he pnrchiisetl thirty acres, which is 
now within the city limits. During the activity in 
real estate in IKtsT, he sold at a fair figure. He has 
now fourteen ami (jnc-half acres adjacent to the 
city limits, lie and his wife and most of his chil- 
dren belong t^) the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
together with his son-in-law, Mr. Tryon. Mr. T. in 
IHGX identifieil himself with the Masonic fraternity 
at llillsboro, Ky., and Inus held the oHice of Tyler 
in his lodge. Politically, he supports the principles 
of the Democratic party. 



ILLIA.M WARD. Doubtless the most en- 
terprising young men of the older .Slates 
have left the confines of their early homes 
to seek a new and wider field of operation. One 
of these is the gentleman of whom we now write, 
lie is now a successful agriculturist and stock-raiser | 
of Valley Center Township, residing on section 7. \ 
lie wiu* born in Crawford County, l'a.,.Inly 22, ISS."), 
an<l is the son of ,lohn and Harriet (St. John) i 
Ward, both of whom were natives of the State of 
New York. IliR parents had removed to the Key- 
stone StaU' shortly after their marriage, where they 
n-mained about eighteen years. 

The fathiT of our subject was a car|>enter by 



trade, and followed that ocou|Mition in both New 
York and Pcnnsylvianin. In IM^.'i ihey removed 
to Warren County. 111., where the father took up 
agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his 
death, which iH-currcd in iH^it. The mother of our 
subject ilied about ten years previous to her hus- 
band. They were both members of the Itaptist 
Church, and had been such for a great iiuuibcr of 
years before their death. In his politics, the elder 
Mr. Ward was a stanch Democrat, and firmly at- 
tached to the principles of that |j!irty. He wjis the 
father of six chililreii — Hiram, Kliza; Kunice, dc- 
cciised ; .Samantha, ^^'illiam and Ann, all of whom 
grew to manhood and womanhoiKl. 

The subject of this pei-sonal narrative was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Illinois, and was reared 
beneath the parental roof u|Hin a farm. In earlier 
life he :issisted his father in the labors att^-ndant 
u|)on the pursuit of iigriculture, but as he m.'itiired in 
years, he was given entire charge and management 
of the place, and carried it on for about ten years. 
When he had attained his twenty-fifth year he 
commenced farming on his own account, and has 
foUowcil that vocation through life, and bringing 
to the business experience, industry, and a large 
amount of ability, it is no wonder that .so great a 
success has attended his efforts in this direction, 
nor that he is ranked among the best practical 
farmers in the community in which he resides. 
He came to .Sedgwick County in 1885, and piir- 
ch.ised the northwest quarter of .section 7, \'allev 
Center Township, where he lives, of Mr. Shatluck, 
a hardware merchant at .Sedgwick City. He lijis 
now a fine farm of 1(>0 acres of excellent arable 
1.111(1, which, by dint of energy and good manage- 
ment, he has brought to a high sUite of tilth, and 
on which he carries on general farming and stock- 
raising. His horses, which are of good breeils, are 
well cared for, and the sixteen or eighteen head of 
cattle manifest by their sleek hiiles and plump 
condition that they are not neglected or over- 
looked. 

Having prospered to some extent, .Mr. Ward 
began to think it his duty to establish :i family 
fireside, anil on the Ifith of Novemlier, 18f.7, he 
and Miss Kmily .1. Hrowii plighted their troth al 
the marriage altar. The bride was a daughter of 



•►*,-* 




vc::>s: 








^ 




^ 



I M, WICK COUNTY. 



877 ' ^ 



i- 



Jolui iiiul Eli/.alielli (Ziiiirucnnan) Brown, niilivt's 
of ^'^iI•gillia .111(1 Pen nsy Ivan if. respectively, liotli of 
wliom have passed to their reward in the heavenly 
hind beyond tlie dark river, the father in 18G2, 
and the mother in 1873. Mrs. Ward was born in 
Hocliingliani County, Va.. in 1845. Her fatlier and 
mother were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and very estimable Christian people. Her 
father was a Democrat in politics, in which he took 
great delight, and was a representative and |)romi- 
nent man in tiie section where he lived. He was 
the father of ten children, as follows: Catharine, 
<;eorge, Sarah, Francis, Thomas, Ellen, Mary, .John, 
Emily and Joseph. Of these Joseph, Sarah .-md 
Mary are dead. 

Two children have come to gladden the hearts of 
Mr. and Mrs. Ward, and fill the cup of joy to its 
fullest extent. They .-ire: John, who was born Oct. 
11,1 868, and Mary, whose birth took place Dec. 
0, 1875. Frank Chester, born July 30, 1873, died 
in 1875. 



eHARLES A. STAFFORD, attorney -at law 
and real-estiite dealer, owns and occupies 
one of the most valuable homeste.ads of 
Wichita, and wliich comprises a part of the claim 
which he took up on first coming to this locality in 
1870. This, on account of the rise of property, has 
proved a regular bonanza and ample provision for 
a rainy day. He is the gentleman who drew up 
the petition to the Probate Judge th.at the hamlet 
of AVichita might be incorporated as a town, and he 
was appointed one of the five Trustees for its or- 
ganization, in which capacity he served two years. 

Mr. Stafford had already established himself in 
the law business at this point, and in 1872 accepted 
the office of Justice of the Peace, which he held 
fonr years. At the expiration of his term he 
returned to his regular pr.ictice, and in the mean- 
time wisely invested his spare capital in land. He 
has now one of the finest farms in the county, on 
the Kinnescah, near Clearwater, and his home, which 
is situated at No. 126 North Lawrence avenue, is 
supplied with everything required for the comfort 
and embellishment of the modern estate. 

Our subject was born in Fountain County, Inil., 



May ',), 1831, and is the son of James and Annie 
(.Savage) StjifTord, natives respectively of South 
Carolina and A'irginia. James Stafford was born 
in 1792, was a farmer by occupation, and departed 
this life at his home in Fountain County, Ind., in 
the fall of 1856. He was a m.an of much force of 
character, upright and methodical in his business 
transactions, held the various township offices, and 
was a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. The mother was born in 1800, and 
survived her husband twenty j'ears, remaining a 
widow. Her death took place at her home in 
Fountain County in 1876. She was the second 
wife of James St.afford, and the mother of seven 
children, namely: John W., Rebecca, Charles A., 
James M., Mary E., F^Iizabeth W. and William H., 
of whom four are now living. 

The first wife of James Stafford w.as in her girl- 
hood Jliss Rachel Mitchell. She died young, leav- 
ing one child, Sarah, who is now the wife of John K. 
McMillian, of LaF'ayettc, Ind. Charles A., of our 
sketch, passed his childhood and youth after the 
manner of most farmers' sons. He pursued his 
first studies in the common schools, and later at- 
tended Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind. 
After completing the Junior year he entered the 
Fowler Law School, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and 
upon leaving this institution read law in the office of 
D. W. Voorhees and E. A. Hanegan, for about three 
years. He completed his law studies in 1873, and be- 
came the partner of Mr. Voorhees, with whom he 
continued in the city of Covington three years, then 
abandoned the profession and took up his residence 
on the old homestead in F'ountain County, where he 
carried on farming until coming to this State. He 
arrived here on the 7th of June, 1870, and his sub- 
sequent course we have already indicated. 

The marriage of Charles A. Stafford and Miss 
Abiah Lawson w!is celebrated at the home of the 
bride in Covington, Ind., on the lOtli of .Se{)tem- 
ber, 1861. Mrs. Stafford was born in FounUiin 
Count}', that State, Oct. 21, 1833, and by her mar- 
riage with our subject became the mother of two 
children: Frank E., born Jan. 21, 1865; and David 
W., Feb. 18, 1868; they are now attending school 
at Wichita. Mr. .Stafford, politically, adiliates with 
the Democratic party, and socially . belongs to the 



f 



ft7K 



sKnnwicK roi'NTY. 



r 



A. F. A A. M. lie W!. 

[tonnl of TriisU>f« «if the vilhi^^f u{ W ii liita, hi; 
(•«infr»'r«'!t beinn Morj.'nii C<>x. C'lirislopln-r Pierce, 
K<l Sniitli liiitl llnrry Vnutrci*a. Tlu" |Kjrtrail of 
Mr. SUifTord is sliuwii on a prcfodiii^' page, anil 
forms a fltliii;,' ai-ioniptiniincMit to this brief sketch. 



OHKUT Dt'NCAN, aoitizon of Wichit:i. ana 
wlio-si- portrait is ^^hown in tliis connection, 

iV (hiring his earlier ami more active years dis- 
\^tinguislieil himself as "kcepinfj ahead of 
the railroail," and l»ein;r amoni; the tirst to assist in 
oixMiing up a new section of the cotintr_v. This 
pr<)ccss wius rc|)Cated several times in his career, and 
after he had accumnlatcd snilicicnt means and re- 
tired from the arduous pursuits of agriculture, he 
came, in 18«0, to the city of Wichita, and invested 
a jMirt of his money in twelve acres of land adja- 
cent to the citj' limits. This projK'rly is estimated 
to Ik' worth at least <i.30,000, rendering its owner 
independent; he has, therefore, retire*! from active 
lalM)r. and in a plejusant home at No. 800 South 
Water street, is enjoying the fruits of his early toil. 
The grandfather of this scion of the " Duncans 
of Scotland," wjis liorn among the Highlands in the 
"land of the thistle," whence he emigrated to the 
United suites at an early day, and si-lltled on the 
Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Not many years 
later he turned his face to the further West, hut 
after reaching Ohio wa.s never more heard from. It 
is supposed that he wa.-* murdered by Indians or 
some of the white desperad»>cs with which that .sec- 
ti<jn of the country wjis overrun. The now wealthy 
and {Kipulous Huckeye Stale was then an unbroken 
wilderness, im wa.s all the country west of the Allc- 
irliuny Mountains. 

Robert Duncan had left his family in I'ennsyl- 
vania, and among his sons was C'h.'irles C, the ftithcr 
of onr subject, who was born in 1800, an<l was but 
two years of age when his father left home. lie 
continued in his native Stjite until a youth of nine- 
teen vears, then engaged as a raft.-^man on the Alle- 
gheny River. Till! year I81'J found him also in 
Ohio, which had then become a Stati-. and was giv- 
ing high promi.se of itd future iiii|H(rtance. He en- 
tered a tract of (lovernment land in WiL-liin^ton 



. five miles from Marielt*, and there also 
met and married Misa Charity fiard, a native of 
Virginia, and born in 1798. This union resulted in 
the birth of seven children, namely: Mary A., 
Robert, .lulia, Klias, Kli74ibelh, Charity and Nancy. 

In IX'M the Duncan family n-inovcd to Indiana, 
and located in Haniilt<Mi County, where they lived a 
few years, then went to Illinois, and subswiuently 
to Wisconsin. The mother had in the meantime 
passed away at her home in Indiana, in .lannary. 
183'.(. Charles C. Duncan was siibseiincnlly mar- 
ried to .Miss Hlixabeth I'erie, by whom he became 
the father of four more children, namely: Fnink. 
Delnicr, Henry and R.'icliel. The father of our snl>- 
ject wa-s one of the hardiest and bnivcst of pioneers, 
and was never so conU-nted lus when on the remote 
fri>ntier. He delighted in o|icning u|) new farln^, 
and wa.s of a splendid constitution, enjoying rolnisl 
health. He prided hiin.self u|Min the dangers which 
he was called niM^n to endure, and lived t<^i a good 
old age, i)assing awjij- at his home in Sumner 
County, Kan.. Oct. 12, 188G. aged eighty-six yejirs. 

Robert Diincjin, of this sketch, was born in Wash- 
ington County, Ohio, .Ian. 8, lfi2.S, and from early 
life was f:iiiiiliar with the scenes incident *.o the life 
of :i pioneer settler. He was but a lad of eight 
vears of age when the family removed to lndi:in:i, 
and twenty when Ihey changed their residence to 
Wi.sconsiii. In the latter place he worked in the 
lead mines of Grant County, where he labored on 
his own account for a [leriod of fifteen ycai-s. At 
the .age of twenty-four, in 18-17. he was married to 
Miss Rachel Oard, who wjis born March 7, 182;i, 
in Wiushinglon County, Ohio. The |iareiils of Mrs. 
Duncan were .lolin and Amy (lard, natives of Vir- 
ginia, and of Cicrman anil Irish descent. Mr. ;inil 
Mi-s. Duncan in due lime became the jiaient* of 
seven children, namely : Cluirles A., Olive, .loliii (!., 
Warren R., Kniily. Wellington and Hyion D. They 
are all living, malTied, and rcsiileiil.s of ilii> Slate. 
On the <;ih of December, 187.'t. .Mi-s. Diiihjiii died, 
while on a visit to her brother's residence, in I'ol- 
tawaloinie County. Kan., and .Mr. Duncan, on the 
Gtli of .lune. 187,'). was married to Mrs. Rebecca 
Stevens, dailghUT of David Oard; she wius a iiieie 
of his former wife. 

In I H.1.'> Mr. Duncan reniovecl to Minnesota, :iiid 



•►• -^- 



-♦-•-♦ 



HI-4*- 



I 



SEDGAVICK COUNTY. 



879 i^ 



-1 



settlefl on a tract of land which he had purchased 
from llie Government. Twelve years later, in the 
fall of 1867, he changed his residence to PotUiwat- 
omie County, this State. He came to this county 
in 1870, and secured a tract of land in Kechi Town- 
ship before the building of a railroad through this 
section. In fact, this county was still a wilderness, 
and the site of Wichita was marked by a few un- 
important buildings. The county abounded with 
roughs and horse-thieves, who carried bowie-knives 
and revolvers, and were a terror to the settlers out- 
side of the handet already spoken of. These latter 
they seldom troubled. The hotel and church, which 
the town then boasted of, were simply stockades 
built of Cottonwood logs. 

The great "cattle drive" of Western history passed 
through Wichita in 1870-72. The first herd in- 
cluded 400,000 head of animals, and the second 
fiOO.OOO. These were driven from Texas to the 
nearest railro.ad station, at Abilene. Two years 
Liter shipping began by rail at Wichita, and that 
era marked the first step of her future importance. 
This industry gradually extended to other points, 
but Wichita has gone right on, and probably never 
felt seriously the loss of it. Mr. Duncan is one of 
the favored men who w.as permitted to watch the 
growth and development of Southern Kansas from 
first principles. lie has alwa^'s lieen a thorough be- 
liever in its possibilities, which were to be worked 
out from its splendid resources, and has assisted, as 
well as he could, in bringing it to its present posi- 
tion. Politically, he is a strong Republican, and as 
a business man and citizen above reproach. 

^jp^ICHOLAS C. SMITH is one of the early 
I jjj settlers of Ninnescah Township, where he 
[ii,^ owns a large farm and is extensively en- 
gaged in stock-raising. He is a native of Denmark, 
and was born Aug. 22, 1842. His parents, who 
were also natives of that country, were John H. 
and Anne C. (Brunn) Smith. He was an only son, 
and his parents gave him every possible advantiige 
that his native land afforded to acquire a substan- 
tial education: he became especially proficient as 
a linguist, learning to read and speak with cijiial 

^ 



facility his native tongue (the Danish), English, 
French and German. He was reared to man's es- 
tate in the home of his birth. 

In the spring of 1863, an eager desire to see 
more of the world and to gain a broader experience, 
caused Mr. Smith to take passage in a sailing-vessel 
at Hamburg for the United States of America. 
After a long ocean voyage of six weeks, he landed 
in New York City, whence he went in a short 
time to Connecticut, where he remained about nine 
months. From there he went to Chicago, III., 
where he enlisted, in June, 1864, in Company I, 
132d Illinois Infantry, and went to the front to as- 
sist in the preservation of the Union. He did 
guard duty for a short time at Columbus, Tenn., 
and was then dispatched to Paducah, Ky., where 
he performed the same service, and from there was 
sent back to Chicago, where he w:is honorably dis- 
charged in Octol)er, 1864, having .served his adopted 
country with fidelity during the term of his enlist- 
ment. Very soon after, on the 1st of November, 
he again entered the service of the Government, 
and was employed in unloading cars at Chatta- 
nooga, Temi., the following six months. 

After the close of the war our subject spent the 
summer of 1865 in Menominee, Mich., and from 
there returned once more to Chicago. Afterward 
he again went to Michigan and took up his resi- 
dence in Muskegon, where he continued to live for 
some years. Attracted by the favorable repoi'ts of 
the fine climate of Kansas, and of its fertile soil, 
capable of producing every variety of vegetation 
known to the temperate zone, he came to Sedgwick 
County in the fall of 1873. He did not at first 
settle in any particular town, but took time to look 
around him and decide upon a location which 
should seem to him most desirable in all respects. 
He was pleased with the situation of Ninnescah 
Township, and in the spring of 1874, pre-emi)ting 
the southeast quarter of section 7, imme<liately 
settled on it, and commenced its improvement. 
Then began for him those years of toil in which, 
by dint of energy and shrewd management, he has 
succeeded in bringing his land from its primitive 
state to its present high culture, wherein it may 
be considered one of the finest farms in Ninnescah 
Township. He has greatly increased it.s area, until 









-«► 



M-.lHlW |( K C'Ol'NTY. 



iitiw it comprises 320 acii ■ 

lhi> U>wii5lii|). lie pays |mrliiiil«i titUnliiiii U- 

.slofk-rai.-iiij;, owning' quit* n hcnl of liin', wfll-kcpt 

cuttle, niid liius iiia<le this liii»iiH-s.'4 exc-oe<liiigly prof- 

ital.lf. 

Our siilijoct i.H prnrtic.'illv a si-lf-iiiii<lc innii ; he is 
»fll ciuliiwcd ineiiliilly. niiil liy his own physical 
I'Xt'rtioiis lias iiiaiK- hh life a siic-cc^. lie is a 
clear, intelligent thinker, a jjreat lover of good lit- 
erature, and kee|>s himself well infornicil on tin- 
current topics of the day. Although Mr. Smith is 
of foreign birth, we have no more loyal citizen, or 
one who would more readily defend the institutions 
of this country, if thej* were menaced hy an alien 
fiK'. In politics he is deeply in sj'nipathy with the 
Uepniilican party. He is public spirited, and a 
great promoter of all schemes to advance the ma- 
terial interests of the township and county, or to 
elevat*' scwiety. 

A view of Afr. Smith's residence is shown on an- 
other page of this volume. 



ICIIAKL .Mr(;iMTY. The annals of the 
lives of some men read more like a romance 
than sober history, on account of the ad- 
venturous turn of their mind, an<l the cir- 
cumstances under which they have lived, causing 
them to roam from place to place, and remain act- 
ively engaged in a wild life. Among these is the 
gentleman whose name heails this sketch, who isen- 
gage<i in carrying on agricultural pursuits on sec- 
tion 11, Delano Township, in this county. With- 
out enlarging u|)on the facts, a plain statement of 
his life and adventures will probably be interesting 
reading. 

Mr. McCinity w.xs born about the year 1 S4n ; 
his father died while he was ipiite young. His 
niotlier'.s death took |)la<e in Illairsville, I'a., in 
\x('r2. lie received his education in Westmoreland 
County, in a country school, and aft«'rward at- 
t<'niled a High School at ISIair.Hvillc, Indiana Co., 
I'a. In IK.'iT he was offered and accepted a |)osition 
H-. lime clerk with Meagher A Co., contractors, who 
were engaged in building bridges in the SUile of 
Iowa. He was (pialiticd for this work as he had re- 



•►■ -4^ 



' eived a tnoet excellent common-school e<tucfltion. 

anil had a full knowledge of the metbo<ls of Inntk- 
kerping. When the war of the Rebellion broke 
out, in IKOl, however, he was in the Stjite of Mis- 
sissippi at work, having for a i-hort time |>ast Imi-ii 
employed as watclnnnn on several steamers on the 
Mississippi Hiver, and h.ad, in the meantime, made 
several tri|>> on the boats up the Arkansas :is far as 
Little HiK'k, the capital of the State of that name. 
At the connnencement of hostilities, not feeling any 
interest in the success of the Confederacy, he started 
for the loyal StJites of the North, but when he 
reached Memphis, Tenn., was detained, and efforts 
were made to induce him to enlist in the rebel 
army, to which he gaveasteady refusjil. lie found 
it extremely dilllcult to get out of that city, but 
fin.ally succeeded in acc(»mplishing it, and proceed- 
ing on his journey, after a few days s|ient at St. 
Louis, .'irrived at Sjjringfield, III. A short time af- 
ter his arrival there he enlisted in Company A, l>l 
Missouri Hilles. Indiana Volunteers. Capt. Daviil 
Haylcs, and his coni|>any was assigned for duty as 
the bodyguard of Oen. Nathaniel Lyons, but was 
at Kolla, Mo., when that (Jeneral wjis killed at the 
battle of Wilson's Creek. Our subject participated 
I in all the hardships and trials of a solilicr's life, and 
received some injuries in the discharge of his duties 
at Kolla and Cape (Jirardeau, .Mo., but was linally 
discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in December, 18(j.'i, 
and was in the (Quartermaster's department. 

On the cessation t>f hostilities, the subject of this 
sketch came, in March, IHfiC, to Kansas, and was 
stationed at Ft. Hiley, in the (.Quartermaster's de- 
partment. In IHOT he wjis transferred to Ft. 
Ilarkcr, where he was eni|iloyed in patrol duty for 
two years. In 18Cy he joined another expedition 
under Col. Lee, with which he went to Ft. Sill, ami 
remained connected with the Indian service of the 
(Jovernment for about ten years. In one of his 
numerous trips he had crossed this country, and 
having taken a great liking to the land in Sedgwick 
County, he hail, in 1 mT 1 or 1K72, pre-empte<l ICO 
acres of land in Delano Township, with a view to 
having a home on which to settle, should he ever 
leave the ftervice of the ( iovernnienU Aft^-r a 
|icrio(l of adventurous life, a great |Mirlion of which 
was s]>ent u|)on the frontier, and in the company 



a 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



881 



of soldiers, U-amstcrs ami Indians, in August, 1879, 
he came to Sedgwick County, and settled upon his 
place, where he commenced its cultivation, and has 
made it his home ever since. 

The parents of our subject were residents of Bed- 
ford County, Pa., but moved to Blairsville, Indiana 
County, in 184H or 1849, and from there to West- 
moreland County, where the father died about 1852, 
and the mother ten j'ears later in Blairsville. lie 
has two sisters, and often receives letters from 
them. 

While he is not a teetotaler, Mr. McCiiuity lias 
not drunk any intoxicating liquors for yeai-s, and 
never allowed whisky to get the better of him, 
but is an advocate of, and votes for Prohibition. 
He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, in 
whose doctrines and belief he was educated from au 
carl}' age, and is faithful in the performance of his 
religious duties. Asa man and a citizen he is es- 
teemed and respected by the community in which 
he lives, and enjoys the regard and confidence of 
all who know him. 



i\KNIS MAY ALL, who is residing on sec- 
tion 1 1 in Grant Township, is one of the 
Icailing farmers .and stock-raisers in that 
section of the county. He was born in Bartholo- 
mew County, Ind., April 16, 1844, and is the sec- 
ond child in a family of nine born to his parents, 
James and Mary A. (Craige) Mayall, natives of 
Maine and Ohio respectively. 

The father of our subject w.as the son of Robert 
and Mary (Bolter) Mayall, n.atives of England and 
Scotland respectively. He was a cloth-maker by 
trade, and worked at that business until his boys 
were large enough to assist in farm labor, and then, 
in 185(5, removed to Illinois and bought a farm in 
DeWitt County, where he made his residence until 
liis death, which occurre<l in 1 8(iG. He w.as one of 
the earl}' [tioneers of that portion of the Prairie 
State. His widow still survives him, and is living 
near Clinton, the county seat of DeWitt Count}'. 



They had a family of nine children, three of whom 
are living in the last-named county, and one in 
Butler County, Kan. 

Reared upon a farm, the subject of this sketch 
w.as earl}' initiated into hard work. He received 
his education at the district schools of Indiana and 
Illinois, and remained at home beneath the parental 
roof, assisting in the .agricultural labors of his father 
until the death of the latter. He then connnenced 
farming on his own account in Illinois, and after 
some changes from one county to another, during 
which he was the owner of three different farms, 
in February, 1881, he sold the place which he 
owned .at that time in Macon County and came 
to Kansas. He located in Marion County, settling 
on a farm near the town of Peabody. He [)ur- 
chascd 480 acres of land, which w;is raw prairie at 
that time, but after improving it, sold out in 1884, 
and removed to Grant Township. He at once pur- 
ch.ased the entire section 11, on which he now makes 
his home. Not having use for the entire 640 acres, 
he rents a portion of it, but is engaged to some 
extent in feeding cattle. He is the owner of a con- 
siderable number of Percheron horses and Durham 
and Hereford cattle. 

Mr. Mayall h.as l)een twice married. The first time 
he entered into an alliance at Clinton, III., Sept. 
27, 1868, with Eliz.abeth Ilofer, a native of Switzer- 
land, who w.as born in 1843. Her parents, John 
.and Elizabeth Hofer, natives of the same Confed- 
eration, came to America when she was but eight 
years of age. She was the mother of five children, 
three of whom are living, as follows: James, who 
lives near by his father; Nev.ada, who is living in 
Illinois with a grandmother; and Mary, who makes 
her home with her uncle in Illinois. Mr. Mayall 
lost his wife on the 19th of April, 1875. Oct. 2, 
187(1, he .again entered into the marriage state, this 
time with Martha Rainey, a n.ative of Antrim 
County, Ireland, born July 20, 1 849. She w.as the 
eighth child in a family of fourteen born to her 
parents, James and Sarah (Eagleson) Rainey. Her 
father was the son of William and Mattie (Green) 
Rainey, natives of the North of Ireland. Her 
mother's piirents were John and Ann (Black) Eagle- 
son, who were also born in the Emerald Isle. By 
this marriaiic llierc have been brought into the 



i 



t 



SKIn.W l( K ColM V 



wiirlil !>ix cliil I M 

Niillif nixl .loM-pliiiic — nil ul »liiiiii iirv iitlfiiiliii^ 
M'luMil, it bc-iii;; the itilcnti<iii of tlioir fntlicr to ffivc 
tlii'iii nil n giHHJ f<liicHtii>ii. 

Mr. Miiyall iillllliil*.-* witli the |{i-|iul>lii-nii p.'irty. 
.■iltlioii;;!! ho diK'!' not liiko II very lu-live interest in 
|Militio:il niHlters. While u resident of Mnrion 
Coiinly. Klin., however, he lielil the olllee of 'I'own- 
.■•lil|> TreiiMirer for sevenil yeiir;;. but hfu-* little ile- 
-ire to ius^uinc the respon.-ibilities and eiiro.s of 
I'lililie olllee. Both he nnd his wife nre eonsislent 
ineinhen* of the .Methodist K|)is(-o|ml t'hnrch, imd 
:ire ever foremost in .iny reli;;ions work. Our snh- 
jei't has been ii member of the .M:isoiiie fraternity 
for over twenty \ e:irs. 

^^ IIAKLKS .1. .Ml'. M A, .1 wide-awake and in- 
-^ tellipent citizen of Delano Township, and a 
J/J prominent farmer and stock-raiser, has his 
home upon section If. lie is a native of Kcen6 
Township. Ionia Co.. Mich., born Nov. 13, IK47, 
and is the son of Peter and -\niinda (Lane) Muma, 
both of whom were natives of Bnintford County, 
Canada. 

The |.atcrnal <jrcat-^randfather of onr subject 
W!is a n:itive of Cierinany, who came to this country 
in Colonial times, and settle<l in Virginia, and those 
who are f:imdiar with the history of our country 
know that there were no more patriotic citizens 
during the time of our struggles for indeiK'ndcnce 
than were the (icrman settlers. The great-g-raml- 
fathcr of our subject, like many others of bis coun- 
trymen, in res[Kinse to the calls of |(atriotisn), entered 
the Continental army, and participated in many of 
the battles that marked that epoch in our National 
histiiry. Jacob .Munm, the paternal grandfather of 
our subject, was born in \'irginia about 177.'). and 
after the close of the Hevolution moved with his 
father to Canada, where he was living when the 
war with Crent Hritain broke out in 1H12. .Jacob 
.Muma then came to the Cnited .States and entered 
till' American army, leaving his family in C.'inada. 
lie wiLs an active participant in the battles of 
Lnndy's Lane, when- (Jen. Winlleld S-ott laid the 
foundation of his lepulalion, and after the close of 



Mr. Muma went from Uic battlc-fleld 

on a visit to his family. While there some Itritish 
fioldiers undert<Mik to capture him, but he out- 
witti'd them, but on reaching the river found that 
his regiment, with the balance of the American 
army, ha<l recrossed it, nnd he had to borrow a 
boat to get over the stream, and on reaching this 
side turned the bont luo.se. 

In l«l(i .lacob .Muma and his son, I'eti-r .Muma. 
the latter the father of our subject, removed to 
Michigan, where the grandfather U.H>k up land with 
his army warrants. At that time not a tree had 
been cut on the place, and it lay a fKirtion of the 
Viist primeval forests that then covered the greater 
jiart of the I'cninsular State. Here they literally 
hewed out their homes and rean-d their families, 
and here our subject's father died in IfStJl. lie 
was born in 1H24, and was the father of six chil- 
dren, one of whom died when about fifteen years 
of age. The other live are still living, viz.: Adclma, 
Mrs. II. O. Wynian, living in Western Nebraska; 
Charles .1., our subject; Mary, the wife of Cleorge 
Marshall, a meat dealer in Kast .Saginaw, Mich.; 
Peter, a farmer near Pleasanton, Cal. ; and Clare 
Bell, Mrs. Clark, living in Nebraska. The name of 
the dead one wjis Rose. .Jacob .Mumn, the grand- 
father of the gentleman of whom we write, died in 
Canada in 1875, at the age of one hundred years, 
whither he had gone to live with a smi. 

The subject of this iK>rsonal narration, like many 
of the children of the pioneers of Michigan, h;id 
but few facilities for acquiring an education, but 
he made the most of those which he had, and by 
considerable industry acquired a fair amount of 
schooling. Being the eldest son, after the dojith of 
his father, he had the responsibility of sup()orting 
his mother and the family until he was eighteen 
years of age. At th.-it time he commenced life on 
his own account, and worked by the month for 
about four years, after which he commenced tm 
a -lO-acre farm which he had purchased, and 
regularly started in the vocation of a farmer, to 
which he hail been trained. He wius united in mar- 
riage. Sept. ;$, 1871, with Miss .Sarah Chapman, a 
nativi' of Humi)hrey Center, N. Y., born Nov. 2,'», 
18.') I. and daughu-r of William nnd .Mary Chap- 
man. Her ancestoi-s were of the hardy yeomanry 



-•-<► 



-•►■-♦ 



'^- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



883 ' *■ 



of Oltl England tbat settled on the rock-bound 
coasts of New Kngland in Colonial times. She has 
one sister, Alice, who married James McKay, and 
is living in Michigan. Mrs. Mnina's father wiis 
one of the ''brave boys in blue" during the great 
Rebellion, and was woundi'tl, and shortly after the 
war died from the effects thereof. Mcr mother 
married again, to Anistus Wheeler, and by the 
second marriage had four children. 

In the spring of 1872 the subject of this Ijiog- 
raphy disposed of his property in Michigan, and 
during the summer of that year purchased his 
present farm of IGO acres, on section 9, Delano 
Township, for which he paid ^465. He did not 
remove to it, however, until 1878, but has brought 
the place since that time to perfection in cultiva- 
tion, and by this means, aided by the rapid increase 
in values, has made it worth over $10,000. He is 
extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of 
Clydesdale horses, in which he is meeting with 
merited success. He is a thoroughlj' esteemed and 
respected citizen of the township, and a strict tem- 
perance man. In his politics he is entirely inde- 
pendent of party lines, and dares to follow the 
dictates of his own judgment. 

Mr. and Mrs. JIuma are the parents of two chil- 
dren, !is follows: Rose, who was born Dec. 3, 1872, 
and died in Michigan, Aug. 9, 1873; and Delia, 
who was born Dec. 2G, 1874. The latter is a bet- 
ter scholar to-daj- than were most of the teachers 
when her father went to school. In 1881) our sub- 
ject and his wife adopted a bo^', who was born 
March 21, 1886, and who has been known since 
that time as George Munia. 



LPHONSO BURNELL. I'ruminent.among 
( @yLI| i the leading farmers and prosperous citizens 
'Jflk o( .Sedgwick Count3' may be found the 
name of the gentleman of whom this sketch 
is written, who is quoted among the former as an 
inllucntial citizen and a first-class agriculturist. His 
home is situated on section 15, Rockford Township, 
where he owns 160 acres of land on the northwest 
quarter, and 160 acres, the southwest quarter of 
section 10 adjoining. He came to Kansas in 1871, 



and together with his son pre-empted the 320 acres 
where he now lives, on wliich he has matic all the 
ini|)rovcments that are found upon it to-day. 

Mr. Uurnell was born in Cummington, Mass., 
March 21, 1822, and is the son of Jason and Nancy 
(.Shaw) Buruell, both of whom were also natives 
of the old Ba}' State. His father was a native of 
Cummington, of French ancestry, and his mother was 
born in Boston, of English descent. The former 
w:us by occupation a farmer in his latter years, 
but had labored quite successfully at the wagon- 
m.aker's tr.ade previously. He was a natural genius 
in his way, like many other Yankees, and succeeded 
in almost everything that he undertook. He re- 
moved to Ohio, and thence in 1844 the family 
moved to DesMoines County, Iowa, where, March 
9, 1854, the father was called away by death. His 
wife survived liim for several j'ears, and linall}' 
passed to her rest. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in the excellent schools of his native State, and 
•made his home with his parents until his marriage, 
which took i)lace Dec. 27, 1849, at which time he 
led to the marriage altar Miss Candace P. Barbe, 
the daughter of I'cter and .Sarah (DeLaughder) 
Barbe, and born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Aug. 
30, 1827. Iler father wjis of German descent, and 
died May 12, 1854; the mother, who survived her 
husband about seven j'cars, was of German and 
French ancestry. Her father was for a long period 
engaged in the practice of medicine, but later in 
life devoted his entire attention to farming. 

After his marriage Mr. Burnell commenced farm- 
ing operations in Lee Count}-, Iowa, where he con- 
tinued for about twenty-two years. While in that 
neighborhood he was engaged principally in the 
breeding and raising of fine stock, that portion of 
the Ilawkeye State being noted for that line of 
business. In 1871 he came to Kansas, as above 
mentioned, pre-empted 160 acres of land, and en- 
tered upon its cultivation. The place at that time 
lay entirely in an uncultivated state "as new created 
as if in all the freshness of childhood," but being 
imbued w^ith a large amount of energ}', [lersever- 
ance and industry', he entered at once upon its cul- 
tivation and improvement. He has brought the 
land to a remarkable state of tillage, and set out a 



-<*■ 



-•^-■-^ 



4 



-4*- 



HH4 



SKDCWK K C'olNTY. 






niie i>rchnrd and aii nbundanoe of snmll fruit, and 
t4i-<Uy il i.tonc of Uic flnott farms in this |Mjrtii>ii 
I if llu- county. Constitlrralilo of IiIk time nn<i at- 
tention is ilevot4'<l to stock intfrfsla, nml ho ha.s n 
fini' heril of horses ami cattle, and a large Hock of 
line sheep. 

The family <>f Mr. niid .Mrs. IJiirncli comprises 
live childron, »)f wlioin the foHowinf; is a recoril : 
Alcoit J., who was horn l"el). 20, IH.'iC: Olive V., 
uhose liirth took place March 12, I H.^'.), mnrric<l 
Koliert It-imsjiy, a native of Pennsylvania, and 
livc.s in .Morton County, Kan.; .'sanford K., whose 
liirlh took place April III), IHOI, io engaged in farm- 
in;; in Morton County; Frank W., who was born 
( »ct. IC, IWG.'J, is al>o fanning in Morion County; 
and Alphiin.si l>.. the day of whose birth was March 
I'.t, IMIJH, isnl home. 

Mrs. Hurnell is an active mendier of the Meth- 
odi.st Kpiscopal Church, and by a blameless life 
-et-i an excellent ex.'imple tt) the rising generation. 
Mr. Iturncll is a straight and stanch Democrat in 
his politics, .•md in the exercise of his elective 
franchise sup|)ort8 the candidates offered by that 
party without (picstion. He hiw held several of the 
more important oHices of the township, and is a 
leacling and intluential mcmlier of the community. 



I). WKMl'lJ*:. This highly re8|)ected citi- 
zen of Wjico Township ranks among its 
% most solid and sniisiantial men. He is of 
conunanding appearance, and in his stature 
are reprcM-nted the traits of chanictcr which have 
made him a general favorite in both s«K-ial and 
lin.-incial circles. Brave-spirited and generous to a 
fault, few men number a larger circle of warm 
friends, or .stand higher among the iwople of .Sedg- 
wick County. Mis princi))al business is agriculture 
and sUx^k-growing, in which he h.'us been eminently 
successful. 

The subject of this skeU'h, a native of Hock 
County, Wis., wiis born June 7, 1818, and is the 
son of I'eler I), and Kliza (Davis) Wemplc, who 
lire now decea.Hcd. The mother paitsed away when 
l)Ut forty years of age, and when her .son, our sub- 
je«.-l. was a lad of eight years. I'eter D. Wemple 



deiMirtcd this life nt hia home in Troy, Wis., in the 

spring; of I87.'», aged sixty-two years. He ytns a 
wiigon-niaker by trade, but later in life abaniloned 
the shop for the more congenial employment of the 
farm. I'lJon reaching his majority he identifled 
himself with the oM Whig |tnrty, but u|Min il* 
abandonment cordially end«)rscd licpublican prin- 
ciples, which he .suppnrtecl until the end of his 
days. 

'I'o I'eter and ICIiza Wemple there were born 
nine chililren, three of whom are deceaM'd. Adam 
/iley was born June I, IM.'M, and U|H»n the out- 
break of the late Itebellion enlist4-d :is a I'nion 
soldier, and wjus nnule Captain of Coin|iany F, .'53d 
Wisconsin Infantry, which he accompanied to the 
.South, and died in the service at Memphis, Tenn., 
when twenty -.seven years of age. .b>hn il. was 
lioru Sept. 17, 18;ti;, and was (i ret married to Miv- 
Lizzie Chapman, by whom he became the father of 
three children, one of whom dic<l in infancy. His 
second wife was Miss Cor.1 Cannon, and they were 
the parents of six children. lie .-dso served in the 
Union army as Ca])tain of Com|Miny K, llUh Wis- 
consin Infantry, and is at present engaged ils a 
lumber dealer in Norfolk, Va. ; Anna M. was born 
Fcl). 3, 18311, an<l is the wife of .1. H. Uigmnge, by 
whom she has become the mother of three children ; 
Mr. L. is a manufacturer of carri.iges, and they 
resitle near Janesville, Wis. Klida Kveline, who 
was born Jan. 28, 1811, ni.arried Philip Livingston, 
and is the mother of four children; Mr. L. is en- 
gaged in the real-estate and loan business, at lioune, 
lowiu Daviil Duane was born June 21, 1843, and 
during the Rebellion was a Lieutenant in the naval 
service, and with eleven of his men wjis killed by a 
shell on tlie coast of South C.'irolina; Mynderc 
D., of our sketch, was the next child; Itachel 
Cecelia was born .Ian. IC, 1851, and died in infancy: 
Fmma .1., born May I), 18.^2, is the wife of W. W. 
Clifl, and the mother of two children; Mr. C. is a 
lumberman and miller by occupation, and they 
resiile in Dakota. Albert W. was born Dec. T, 
18.M, and resides in Hoone, Iowa, with his sister. 

Mynderc D. Wemple received a common-school 
education, and when a youth of seventeen years 
left the jKirental roof, and ero.ssin^ the Mi.ssissippi, 
took up his residence in Hoone County, Iowa, 




RESIDENCE OF GEORGE L IG H T, S E C . 34 ,NENN ES CA H TP 




iiisr^;^i:^-f)i ^;^r.i^;^^,^Si^i^gi&^:i 



RESIDENCE OF C . N . FO R W A R D , 5 EC . 2 5 , AFT ON TOWNSHIP 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



887 



where he assisted his brother in filling a contract 
for a quantit\^ of wood, at wiiich he was employed 
six months. He then retunicd home, but three 
months later revisited Iowa and took the express 
agency, and also the position of baggage-master at 
Moingona, which he hold eighteen months. His 
parents, in the meantime, liad removed to Virginia, 
and he returned again to the home roof, whence in 
1870 he came to Kansas, landing in Dickerson 
County on the 10th of January', that 3'ear. Buffalo 
and deer at that time roamed unrestrained over the 
plains, and young AVemple engaged in many a hunt 
of these animals. He flrst {)re-erapted 120 acres of 
land in Waco Township, the improvement and 
cultivation of which he at once commenced, and 
subsequently added to it by purchase, until he now 
has 280 acres, the greater part of which he has 
brought to a good state of cultivation. Besides the 
family residence there is a tenement house, and the 
land is largely devoted to the raising of grain and 
cattle. Of the latter Mr. Wemple buys largely 
each year, and ships to the market at Kansiis City. 
He deals extensively in stock of all kinds. . He has 
always taken an interest in all enterprises calcu- 
lated for the general welfare of the people, their 
education and enlightenment, and has served in his 
school district as Treasurer and Clerk, besides 
occupying other responsible positions in connec- 
tion with the business and social affairs of the 
county. 

Mr. Wemple, while a resident of Waco, was 
united in m.arriage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of 
William and Elizabeth (Forester) Odell, the wed- 
ding taking place at the liomeof the bride in Waco 
Township, Oct. 4, 1874. Mrs. Wemple was born 
Nov. 6, 1855, in Wayne County, Iowa, and re- 
mained with her parents until her marriage. The 
latter were natives of North Carolina, and their 
family included nine children. The eldest, James 
M., married, is the father of a family of six chil- 
dren, and is farming in Wayne Count}', Iowa; 
Amanda Jane, Mrs. A. P.arker, resides in Iowa, and 
is the mother of five children ; Sarah Emcline, Mrs. 
Robert Baxter, has four children, and resides on a 
farm in Missouri; David Franklin is farming in 
this county; Nathaniel Miller, a farmer by occupa- 
tion, is married, and the father of four children; 



Mary Elizabeth, Mrs. John Merritt, has three chil- 
dren, and resides on a farm in Wayne County, 
Iowa; Anna Maria is the wife of Joseph Julian, a 
farmer of Waco Township, this county, and tljey 
are the parents of seven children; AVilliam, a 
farmer of Waco Township, is married and the 
father of three children. 

A brother of our subject, Capt. J. II. Wemjile, 
early in life cast his lot with the cattle men of 
Kansas, and was the hero of an article published in 
1871, under the head of " Desperado Shot Down." 
Capt, Wemple, having had some cattle stolen, 
mounted his horse, and with his repeating rifle, 
which he knew how to handle, struck tiie tr.-iil of 
the thieves, and followed it until he reached the 
camp, which was situated about four miles south of 
Ft. Dodge, which is now known as Dodge City. 
Riding into camp he inquired as to the claim.-mt of 
the cattle marked with a certain brand, and learned 
that one Curley Walker, well known and feared as a 
gambler and desperado, claimed the stock. Walker 
at the time was in a gambling house in the town, 
and Capt. Wemple sent him word to come down 
and explain. The Captain was admonished that 
Walker was a dangerous man, and was advised not 
to send for him. He, however, dispatched a second 
messenger, telling Walker to " come like a man and 
keep his hands off his guns." Wlien the messenger 
found " Curley " he was playing poker, and had his 
guns hung on the wall behind his chair. 

Upon receiving word that Capt. Wemple had sent 
him this message, the desperado swore that no man 
should dare to question him, and he would meet him 
at once. Mounting his horse he rode furiously to the 
camp, and advancing within a few feetof the Ca|)tain 
drew liis horse b.ick on his haunches, and dismount- 
ing, inquired of Captain Wenqjle " what in h — I 
he wanted." The latter was sitting on a wagon- 
tongue with his rifle across his knees. He charged 
Walker with having stolen his cattle, and the latter 
reached for his gun which w.as stored conveniently 
in his belt, and fired. He missed his mark, and the 
Captiiin returned the fire, the ball killing the hoi-se. 
When the animal fell Walker got lieliind its body 
and Wemple behind the front wheels of the wagon, 
when a reg\ilar fusilade began, fifteen shots being 
exchanged. Of these the desi)erado fired seven, 



^'1 

4 



1 

■•-♦- 



H. 
i 



^Kl>i;\\ K K (iMN IV 



will 

in fr.'Ul uf Ihc I ;i|iUiiii. ;iiul ;il tin mjwuUi .-li>>l 
firetl li_v tin- IiUUt, llit- (l(>s|H-ni<l<> fi-ll, |>ierft'il in 
the lioiirl. Altlion^rh knowing timl lit- liml rcceivi-d 
lii.s ilcuth-woiiiiil, Ik- nmili' one linal etTorl lt> ilis- 
|>nt('li his cnvniv, :in<l ninkiiif; lli^ uny iiroiinil tlif 
IhkIv >>( llii' Imrse wiis »l<-|i|>in;; iu'|-(is->* llu- wiifion- 
t<in;,'no wlu-n Wis Uit- cnn^lil iiikUt it iiml In- full. 

C'npt. \Voni|>l«-, lit'li«-viii>; lliat lii» f<H' wiis only 
Irving l« ilocfivt- him, nii.-cd his ;;iin <inct' nioiv iini) 
shot lii.s n<lvcrs«ry. This >K-roni|)li.she<l, In; roik- n|> 
to Ft. I>o.|go aixl i-nli(>(l out of Ihi- i;anililing-(k>n 
the men who liiicl li(iii<;ht tliv cnttle, nnd ro<]iiirc(l 
them t4) fii) nnd divide them up iin<l pay fur some 
eight or ten head they had linleliered. lie tinally 
sold them the cattle they had slaughtered, and 
drove the rest home, and then gJive himself up to 
the comiuanding ollicer. He wa« told no oue had 
any desire to arrest or detain him for ridding the 
country of one of the most dangi-rous men in the 
West, and accordingly rode un]>roteeted to the 
nearest milroad stJition at Ft. llaye.s. lie h.nd ridden 
fast and his horse was covered with foam. He 
handed the reins to a groom an<l repaired to a 
" tjivern," as it was called in those days. Within 
a short time the streets were lilled with cowlMiys 
and others clamoring to get a sight of the man who 
hail dared to tackle the notorious C'urley Walker 
and kill him. C'apl. Wem|)le accordingly went out, 
and being hoisti-d on the shoulilers of some of the 
moll, was carried up and <iown the streets amid 
shouting and firing of guns. He is still living, and 
o|R-niting a large lumber-yard in Norfolk, \'a. 



J.> 



^ • 



C— K* 



ll(».M.\> 11. .M.COK.MHK. one of the mo.st 
enterprising representatives of the stock- 
raising interests of IJncoln Township, is 
eligibly located on section 21, about three miles 
from the new station of F'urley, where he superin- 
tends the cultivation of lOO acres of land, and has 
attained (piitc a reputation as a breeder of good 
grades of horse->, cattle nnd hogs. He came to Lin- 
coin Township in its pioneer days, and has been 



I men who I. i initt^'d 

III »:ilih Uic i:ipid growth of .SouUinii K:iii.-viis. and 
identifled themselves with its clo«esl interests. 

A native of the I'niirie Stnt**, our subject was 
born ill .Morgan County, on the 'i'.*tli of Febru- 
ary, IH-IO. There were born to his itarents, N'nlen- 
line .S. and l.unanah Uobin.»on (Abbott) .McCor- 
iiiick, tour children, of whom Thomas H. wius the 
second. His father and mother were Inith natives 
of Ohio and \'irgini:i. 'I'he paternal grandparents, 
.lames and IJeUey AlcC'ormick, were natives of \'ir- 
giiiia. On the mother's side, (irandfatlier Tliomns 
Alibott, a n.'itivc of Ohio, carried his gun in the 
^^'.-lr of Ml'J, and also fought the Indians on the 
frontier of t)liiii Territory, before it was adinitt4-d 
into the rnioii as a .*^t!lte. Orandfalher .McC'or- 
iiiick later did good service in the Black Hawk 
War. The grandparents s|K'nt their hist days in 
Illinois. 

Valentine McCormick, upon coining to Illinois 
ill IK2H, made a clearing in the wooded ])ortion of 
Morgan County, of which he continued a resident 
over thirty years, in the meantime o|KMiing up a 
fine farm. His death took place in the spring of 
1H73, when he was about sixty-flvc years of age. 
The mother died in IKCa. The stepmother sur- 
vived until in December, l«tiO. Our subject served 
^ an apprenticeship at the car|>enter trade in .Mor- 
gan County, after acquiring his education at the 
district schools, but upon the outbreak of the late 
war, eidisted for the three-months service in Com- 
pany A, G8th Illinois Infantry, nnd was luiistered 
into the service at C:imp Butler. He was most of 
the time engaged in provost duty around Alexan- 
dria, Va., and was there at the lime of the sectmd 
battle of Bull Run. He was also on guard duty 
for a time at Camp Butler, where also he was dis- 
charged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. 
He sought to re-enter the ranks, but was rejected 
on account of disability. 

I'lJon being coiiipelled to return t<i civil life, 
young McCormick resumed work at his trade in 
.laeksonville. III., and vicinity, and was there mar- 
ried, ill I HO I, U) Miss Kilie M., daughter of .loliii 
and Caroline (Wyatt) F>kridge, who were natives 
res|H-etively of Ohio and Indiana. Mrs. McCor- 
mick was burn in I'icknway County, Ohio, iu 1 »•!.'!, 



■*^-»-4» 



IK-*i- 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



889 ' ' 



.^h 



unci wiis the elder of tlie two children of her 
father; the hitter died in Cuniberhind (.'oiiiity, 111., 
forty-three years ago. Her mother lives in Scott 
County, 111. Her only sister is Mrs. Uuark, who 
also lives in .Scott County. Mr. McCormick, after 
his marriage, continued a resident of Morgan 
County, III., until the fall of 1870, then making his 
wa}' west of the Father of Waters, liomesteaded a 
quarter-section in Lincoln Township. This was a 
tract of raw prairie, and the first lumber which he 
hauled for use upon his new farm w:uj transported 
from Neosho Falls, a distance of 110 miles. His 
principal trading-point at that time was Emporia, 
a distance of 100 miles, the round trip occupying 
four or five days. After the erection of a house, 
Mr. McCormick planted an orchard, and now has 
the whole of his land under a good state of culti- 
vation, stocked with graded Morgan and Norman 
horses, and thoroughbred Durham and Short-horn 
cattle. His present homestead, his fat herds, the 
convenient and substantial buildings, the fertile 
fields and all the other appurtenances of the mod- 
ern country estate, form a most pleasant feature in 
the landscape of Lincoln Township. 

Mr. McCormick, as one of the earliest settlers, 
assisted in organizing the school districts of his 
township, of which he has been Trustee, and occu- 
pied other local positions of responsibility. Al- 
though taking little part in politics, he uniformly 
votes the Republican ticket. His estimable wife 
and daughter are members in good standing of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, at Furley. He fol- 
lows his trade occasional!}', and his mechanical 
genius has been the means of saving him the out- 
lay of hundreds of dollars, while he has the satis- 
faction of knowing that his buildings are all put up 
in a substantial manner. 

The live sons and one daughter born to our sub- 
ject and his wife were named respectively: Frank 
H., Charles Ernest, Grace L., Clement V., Clarence 
A. and Henry A. Charles E. died when a bright 
lad a little over eight years old ; Frank IL, on the 
26th of December, 188G, was married in Lincoln 
Township, this county, to Miss Lily Zellor. This 
ladj' was born near Newark, Ohio, Dee. 2.'>, 1804, 
and is the third cliild of James and Caroline 
(U'c'lls) Zellor, natives of West Virginia, who both 



died in Ohio som« 3'ears .ago. This son, soon after 
his marriage, settled on the home farm, where he 
has since resided and assisted in its managetuent. 
He is the father of one child, Don C. 

•-^ ^^^ ^ 

ylLLlAM R.SULLIVAN. Among the prom- 
inent agriculturists of Kechi Township is 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketeli, 
and who has his home on section 1 8, where lie is 
extensively engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, and whose history through life is given in 
the following biographical sketch. He wius born in 
Franklin County, Vt., Aug. 1, 1830, an<l is the sec- 
ond child in a family of twelve of his parents, 
Thomas Allen and Adeline (Rhodes) Sullivan. 

Tiie father of our subject was a native of Ireland, 
and the son of Thomas Allen and Mary Sullivan, 
both of whom were born in the Emerald Isle. He 
came to the United States while quite a young man, 
and married Miss Adeline Rhodes, a native of Ver- 
mont, and daughter of Briggs and Elizabeth (Bel- 
cher) Rhodes, who were natives of Connecticut. 
Thomas Sullivan w:is acabinet-maker and carpenter 
by trade, and while our subject was in his boyhood 
removed to Carleton County, Canada, where he 
established the first cabinet-shop. Later in his life 
he took up agricultural pursuits and conducted a 
large farm. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in the district schools of Canada, and early in life 
began his training as a farmer upon his father's 
place. On attaining mature years he learned the 
carpentering trade with his father, at which he 
worked for some time, after which he purchased 
a farm, and remained in his .adopted country 
engageil in agricultural pursuits until the year 1800, 
at which time he came to Kansas on a prospect- 
ing tour, and worked at his trade at F'ts. Ilarker 
and Leavenworth for about three years. At the 
expiration of that time, in the fall of 18G0, he re- 
turned to Canada, and there, Feb 0. 1870, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hunt, a native 
of Carleton County, Canada, born Nov. 22, 1845, 
and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Needham) 
Hunt, natives of the Dominion. Her paternal 



-» ■ ^ 



-•► ■ -^ 



^i:i)<;\\ !(K CDl'NTY, 



livr iiiitU-iiittl ^iuiiii|utU'iiL-<, .SttiiiiiL'l uikI C itUiciiiic 
(Nccilhnin) Xocillmin, wt-rc nil imlivcs of llio KiiiiT- 
nl<l U\c. 

Tin- first visit of otir sul>j<'rt to this Stntc wnjt 
with till- inloiilionof finding n liK-nlion for liis |mr- 
iMiLs, nnil ininuMlint4.-ly nfler llic inarriiigc his fnthcr, 
S4-Ilin){ out his fnriii in C'uniKlit fur .-ihout ^10,000, 
the whole fniiiily oiiini' to Kiinsjis and !<i'ttlc(l in 
Scdgwifk County, whii'li our suhjci'l considiTcd the 
hest |H>rtion of the Stnt*-. Tho chh'r Mr. Sullivan 
livi-d only nliout eighteen months after coining tu 
this l<K-nlity, dying Nov. 21. 1^71, at the .•idvanced 
age of st'vcnty-fivf years. His excellent wife still 
survives, and although she has reached the age of 
cight^'-three, still preserves many of her faculties. 
She is a resident of Sedgwick County at the present 
writing. 

On coming to this county the subject of this 
sketch |iurcha.-eil H'.n acres of land on section 7, 
and honiestcaded a quarter of section IM, ami com- 
menced improving lioth tracts at the same time, 
building a small house on the latter section, which 
he is now using as a stable. In 1IS81 he erected 
a handsome and substantial house, which was to- 
tally (h-slroyed by fire with most of its contents, 
Sept. 2. 1HM4. Not at all discouraged or dismayed, 
he immediately put up a hands<jme residence upon 
the same found.-ition, in which he is living at the 
present time, lie is the owner of a farm of 220 
acres of fine arable land, which he has un<1er a high 
state of cultivation, and is the owner of twenty 
acres n)ore which is platted into town lots, and 
known as William Sullivan's Addition to AVichiUi. 
This latter is inc)st valuable propert}', as it is within 
ea-s}- access to the city, and situated near the Mott)r 
Line. Our subject makes his home on section IH. 
surrounded by all the comforts of life, ."iiid has his 
place Well st<K-ked with higli-gnnle Norman I'l'r- 
cheron horses, Durham cattle, rolarid-Cliina hogs, 
an<l excellent mules. 

Our subject was the first man in Keclii 'I'ownshiii 
to prove up his claim, the place which he purchased 
lielonging to an individtcil to whom .Mr. Sullivan 
gave the money with which to obtain his |Mipers. 
He was also the first man in that sub-division of the 
'riHinly to pay Uixes on his hind. Although not 



ly nctivc in politics, be votes with the Repub- 
lican |mrty. but is quite prominent in educati<innl 
mnttt^-rs, lieing largely instrumcnlid in the orgnni/.:«- 
tion of the various school districts in this part of 
the comity. When he came to this part of the 
country it was in an entirely wild sliite, and he has 
watehed its growth and development with great 
interest. The first lumber which he purchased he 
was coin|>clle<l to haul from To|>eka, 140 miles dis- 
Innt, but shortly afterward he coulil purchsise that 
neces-sary article at Kinporia, a distance of only 100 
miles. The next time he needed it he found it at 
Newton, twenty-two miles away, and then at Wieh- 
it.n, which is within easy reach, l)eiiig but eight 
miles distJint. The town of Valley Center, but two 
miles from him, affords an easy market, and shows 
with what rapidity this |Hjrtion of Kansas is de- 
veloping. When he first came here he was out 
upon several bulTalo hunts, and has killetl several 
of those animals within the bounils of .Sedgwick 
County, not more than six miles from his place, 
lie has lived to s<'e Wichita rise from its infancy, 
when it only consisted of one st4jre and a few stock- 
ade houses, until it is now the wonder of the State. 

The home of Mr. and .Mrs. Sullivan has been 
brightened and their joys crowned by the advent 
of one child, William Albert, who is at home and 
attending .school. Mrs. .Sullivan is a member of the 
Methodist Kpiscopal Church, and a good, sincere 
and upright Christian wninaii. 



rSAAC SANDTSlvY is ••in intelligent and progrcs. 
' sive farmer an<l stock-grower of Ninnescah 
\ Township. He is em|)hatically a self-made 
man, !is he starteil in life with no tither capital than 
brains, a willingness to labor and the necessary mus- 
cle, and, although he is still a young man, he has 
liecoine quite successful. He was born in Verniil- 
ion County, III.. .Ian. ,"), 1H,")0. and is the son of 
Harvey and Klizabetli .Sandusky, who are now liv- 
ing in New .Mexico. The names of the remaining 
chihlren born to hi.- parents are ( leorge W., Charlie 
and Kate. 

Our subject gn>w to manhood in his native Stat<', 
receiving u judicious training from his excellent 



■•►•-4» 









SEDGWICK ((II N I V 



Mil 



parents, and the rudiments of his education in tiie 
district school. At the age of nineteen he entered 
Westfiehl CoHoge, Clark County, 111., and was a 
student there for one 3'ear, and by close applic-a- 
tion to his studies, attained high rank for good 
scholarship. Since leaving college he has broadened 
and deepened his culture h}' a thoughtful reading 
of good liteniture, and is well informed on all the 
general topics of the day. 

In 187G our subject went to Colfax County, N. 
M., with his fainilj', and became interested in stock 
raising there, conducting that enterprise with much 
success for some j'ears, also doing some farming in 
connection with it. He at last decided that he 
could do still better in Kansas, and coming here in 
the year 1881, soon after settled on liis present 
farm. This contains 240 acres of valuable land, is 
well watered, well improved, and well stocked, and 
in every waj' one of the most desirable farms in tlie 
vicinity. This prosperity has been brought about 
by persistent energj', well directed toil, and excep- 
tional business abilitj- on the part of our subject. 

Mr. Sandusky has been twice married. His first 
marriage w:us to Miss May B. McClcnathan, a na- 
tive of Vermilion Conntj', HI., and took place in 
that State on the 2r)th of March, 1875. Of that 
union three children were born, namely : Donna E., 
born March 25, 1876 ; Inez L., March 9, 1878; Dot- 
tie B., Sept. 23, 1880. On the latter date the de- 
voted wife and mother departed this life, sincerely 
lamented by many friends. The second marriage 
of Mr. Sandusky took place Jan. 19, 1882; the 
maiden name of his present wife was Emily R. 
Jones, a daughter of Andrew J. and Hannah Jones. 
She was born in Perrj^ County, Pa., Dec. 18, 1851. 
She is an excellent housewife, and makes their 
pleasant home attractive to hosts of friends. To 
them have been born two children: Cassius M., 
born Nov. 18, 1883; Elizabeth J., born Aug. G, 
1886, died July 19, 1887. 

Mr. Sandusky is regarded as a useful and an hon- 
orable citizen b}' his fellow-townsmen ; he has 
rendered invaluable aid in promoting the material 
interests, and in elevating the social standing of 
this community. He is doing good work as School 
Director of District No. 89, taking an active part 
in securing the best educational advantages for the 



*-»-4* 



pupils. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of Clear- 
water, Kan., and in politics is an adherent of the 
Democratic party, although in local matters he gen- 
erally votes for the man whom he considers to be 
best fitted foi' the odice, without regard to his po- 
litical views. 



1I1S^^«- 



<* felLLIAM BUANDIS, one of the most en- 
\&J// terprising young farmers of (Trand River 
\^^ Township, came to this county in the spring 
of 1886, about four months after his marriage, and 
located on the farm which he now occupies, on sec- 
tion 24. He is recognized by the people of this 
community as a valued accession to their numbers, 
being thrifty and prosperous, and possessing the 
principles which constitute of him an honest man 
and a good citizen. 

Mr. Brandis was born on the other side of the 
Mississippi, about forty miles south of the city of 
Springfield, 111., on the r2th of April, 1801. He is 
the son of Fred and Sophia (Hempstead) Br.-indis, 
the former a native of (Germany, and who was killed 
by machinerj' before the birth of our subject. The 
mother contracted a second marriage, with Christian 
Rlttger, of Christian County, 111., and William con- 
tinued with her until reaching his majority. When 
a boj' he attended school about three months in the 
year, but being bright and observant, acquired a 
very good education notwithstanding these limited 
advantages. His onl^' brother, Henry, was born 
April 9, 1859, and is now carrying on farming in 
Macoupin County, III. He is married and has two 
children; the elder. Alvan, was born July 7, 1882, 
and the little daughter. Bertha, July 19, 1885. 

Mr. Brandis, while a resident of Macoupin Countj', 
111., was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Stein- 
meyer, the wedding taking place at the home of the 
bride in the above county, Dec. 17, 1885. The 
spring following thej^ came to this county, and Mr. 
Brandis, with his father-in-law, purchased the land 
upon which he now lives, and which he and his 
brother-in-law operate together. The parents of 
Mrs. Brandis, Henry and Minnie (Meyer) Stein- 
meyer, were born in the Province of Hanover, Ger- 
many, the father Dec. C, 1829, and the mother 



t 



892 



^KDGWICK COUNTY 



Ocliibor |t"i iif ilif Miiiif vcar. Thcv I'ljiijjniU'fl U»llii> 
riiit«Ml Stnles bcforo their niRrringo. Mrs. IJ. wn.s 
Ixirii ill Miu-oupin ('oiiiily, 111.. I)w. ICi, IHCi, nnd 
»n> till' fifth <if licr parents' cijjlit chihlrfii. incliid- 
iii;; two liiklf-lirothers, Williniii nii<l Henry I-oRes, 
the MMis of her mother liy ;i former mnrriujfc. The 
Imlanee of the f:iniily, the SteinmeyiTchildreii. were 
t'htiriest nn<l Mary (twins); Hirtlm, Mi-s. H. ; Kicli- 
:ir<l. Minnie anil Amelia. Mr. :iii<l Mrs. Steinmeyer 
are re-idenLs of Illinois. 

Our siilijecl and his wife are the |)arciit6 of n 
lirijjht little d;iu;;hler. Di-na Caroline, who wa.s horn 
.Inn. II. 1HH7. .Mr. Hnindis was reared in the Ue- 
pnlilic-an faith, hut votes inde|K;nilently. He nnd 
his wife are aetive inenihors of the (leriiuin I.uth- 
emii Cliureh. 



r=^ KAS.Ml S !). ADAMS. The interesting 
l»j points in the hisl4iry of this representative 
Ik^ citizen of Clearwater are essentially lus fol- 
lows: A native of far New Knglnnd, he was horn 
ill the SUitc of .Maine, Dee. 31, 181 1. nnd is conse- 
c|ueiilly now quite well ndvnnced in yenrs. having 
more than nunihered the sum of threescore and ten. 
His long and useful life 1i;ls heen marked liy those 
element.- of diameter which have constituted him a 
useful citizen, nnd n man regarded with confidence 
and esteem hy all who have known him. He is now 
in the enjoyment of a good home and a competency, 
!iiiil has little reason to be ashamed of the record 
which he has made duringa jieriod of yenrs exceed- 
iiig the average life of man. 

.losepli and Het.sey (Knrnuni) Adnms, the parents 
of our subject, were natives res|>ectively of Miussn- 
chuselts and New Hampshire, the former of Kn- 
glish ancestry, and the progenitors of the latter 
natives of Wales. The first representatives of this 
r'ountr}' |>articii)ated in the struggle of the Colonists 
for their independence, nnd the whole history of the 
two families hns been eminently creditable .-md one 
of which their descendniits have reason to be proud. 
.Mr. Adnnis was renred to manhooil in his native 
State, nnd completed a good education in the Maine 
\VesleyHn Seniinnry at Kent's Hill, froiii which he 
wius grnduated nl the clo.se of the higher Kiiglisli 



•¥^m^4^ 



nnd scientific course. For twelve years then>i»fter 
he was engaged ns a teacher mostly in the public 
i«ch(.K>ls. He left New Knglnnd in Ix.'iG, mnkinghi-- 
wny westward t4i Clevelniid, Dliio, nnd Inter to 
Muscatine County, lown, whence five months lnt<'r 
he recrossed the Father of Waters into Warren 
County, 111., where ho resided several years. Hr 
next UK)k up his residence in.Iolmson County, Iowa, 
nnd from there rem<ived two yenrs later to Ulack 
Ilnwk County, where he wns one of the earliest pio- 
neers, ami settled near what is now the flourishing 
little city of Ceilnr Falls. He continued his resi- 
dence there from IH4<'>until ls70, then proceeded 
.southward, going into Newton County, Mo., ami 
was there engaged in fnnning a |H^riod of fifteen 
years. 

When a boy Mr. Adams learned chnir-mnking, in 
which he occupied him.self for several yenrs nl Cedar 
Falls, Iowa, but in Mis.souri lie turned his nttention 
to fnnning and fruit-raising. He came to Clearwater, 
this county, in the fall of 18H.5, where he has since 
resided. To the faithful compnnioii of his long nnd 
worthy life, who in her girlhood w.-is Miss C;itheriiu^ 
Stiirgis, he was united in marriage on the 1st of 
August. IHU.in .lohnson County, Iowa, and this 
union resulted in the birth of five children, of whom 
but four .'ire living, namely: .lohn .S.,of Califctrnia; 
Henry F., of .Stevens County, this .Stjite: Amos I)., 
of I'rescott. Ariz., and Delia, who reiii:iins at home 
with her jmrents. 

Mrs. A<lains was born in Monroe County, Mich., 
July 21, lH21,andis the daughter of .lohn and 
Delia (Miller) Sturgis, the former of whom was one 
of the first settlei-s on the prairie in St. .liKseph 
County, th.'it .State. He was a man of much ability, 
served first as .liistice of the I'eace and Postmaster, 
.•Hid finally as Associate .Judge. The town of Stur- 
gis was named in his honor, and he piuv-ed his hu-t 
days there, dj'iiig in 1H7:1. Mrs. Adams w.-is seven 
ye.'irs of age when her |>nrents became residents of 
St. .loseph County, and she lived (here until the 
twentieth year of her nge. when she moved to Iowa 
with a brother, nnd it was there she first met our 
subject, .lohn Sturgis nnd his wife were natives 
res|>eclively of Philadelphia, I'a., and New York 
Slate. Mr. S., politic:illy. was a decided DennK-rat 
and :iii intimate friend of cx-dov. (';i---, of Mulii- ' ' 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•^-Hl-* 



898 



gan. His father, Ainus Stiirgis, served as a Captain 
in tlie Revolutionary War, in whicii he distinguished 
iiiniself by iiis bravery, and was the close friend of 
Gen. Washington. Upon laying down the sword 
he took up his residence in Mt. Pleasant, Canada, 
where he spent the l.nst years of his life, and was 
gathered to his fathers at a ripe old age. 

A member of the Democratic party during his 
early manhood, Mr. Adams identiOed himself with 
the Repul)licans after their organization, in 18.5G, 
and hiis since been one of the warmest adherents of 
this party. While in Iowa he served as Trustee of 
Cedar Falls Township, and was also Justice of the 
Peace there a number of yc;irs. 

^^EORGE CARRUTHER.S. One of the most 
III g=, popular men in the village of Valle^^ Center 
^^J! is the individual whose name heads this 
sketch, who is the present Postmaster. He was first 
commissioned to this office in 1875, and held it 
until 1880, when he was removed, but in October, 
188;j, was reinstated, and has occupied the position 
ever since. He transacts all the business of the 
office, with the assistance of his estimable wife. 

Mr. Carrothers is a native of Coshocton County, 
Ohio, born Feb. 15, 1843, and is the son of James 
and Elizabeth (Brookover) Carrothers. His parents 
were natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively, 
and died, the father in 1856 and the mother about 
1871. The ancestors of the Carrothers were Irish, 
but the parents of Mrs. Elizabeth Carrothers were 
Eastern people, who removed from Mainland to 
Oliio when she was about six years of age. Jame."! 
Carrothers, the father of our subject, was reared to 
the occupation of a farmer, but in his j'oung man- 
hood commenced and served out an apprenticeship 
at carpentering, and for some yeai's followed that 
trade. In his later years, however, he went back to 
the business in which he had been bred, which he 
followed successfully until a few years before his 
death, when he retired from the active cares of life. 
For three successive years, in Ohio, he wa.s engaged 
in grading and building bridges, etc., on what was 
called the Steubenville ik Ohio Railroad, but which 
is now known as the " Panhandle Road." liy these 



contracts he amassed considerable money, and was 
counted among the wealthy and influential citizens 
of that part of the country. Both he and his wife 
were memltersof the Presbj'terian Church, and held 
connection with that denomination for a great 
number of years, and Mr. Carrothers w:is one of 
the leading men of the society. He was a Demo- 
crat in politics, and quite influential in all local 
affairs in the precinct and county where he lived. 
He was the father of eleven children, namely : 
Ruth R., Archibald, John L., James T., Elizabetii J., 
William, George, Mary E., Aton, Robert and 
Nancy E. Of these children, Archibald, James, 
William and Marj' are deceased. 

The subject of this personal memoir, (Jeorge, 
remained at home with his parents, assisting his 
father on the farm, and during his boyhood drew 
his education from the common district schools. 
At the age of nineteen he commenced the battle of 
life on liis own account, working wherever he could 
find employment at farming for about three years, 
after which he went to Illinois and located in Ma- 
con Count3% where he followed the same avocation. 
From that place, a year later, he removed to Moul- 
trie Countj', in the same State, where he made a 
staj' of aljout four years and then went to Piatt 
County. After four or live years spent in the lat- 
ter localit}', in 1875, with a view to better his fort- 
unes and to obtain a place where he could extend 
his efforts toward a competency, he came to Kansas 
and located in the village of Valley Center, where 
he engaged in the mercantile business. This voca- 
tion he continued until 1 883. when he retired for 
a short time and w;is then, as mentioned above, ap- 
pointed to the office of Postm.aster. 

Mr. Carrothers was united in marriage, Ajiril 11), 
1876, with Miss Nellie Litson, a n.ative of Jefferson 
County, Ind., who was born Aug. 10, 1857, and is 
the daughter of William H. and Helen (Fenton) 
Litson. who are farmers in Butler Count3', her father 
being one of the prominent and representative citi- 
zens of that portion of Southern Kansas. Mrs. 
Carrothers is one of a family of eight children born 
to her i)arenls, whose names are as follows : Will- 
iam II., James V., Nellie, Elizabeth, Andrew D., 
George M., Frank and Emma; the Latter died 
May 11, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Carrothers have been 



•►-■-^^ 



• -4^ 



894 



-■» 



4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



tlio |inn'cil.-> of three rliililrcii — .K-Ksie, K<lim H. nii<l 
|{o.iiv K.; the hiM imiiicd (lie<l .Inn. 20, lM^<.'i, and 
Kdnn ilietl Nov. M. IMS.'); they an- Ix'th l>iirie<1 in 
Mn|)le (Inive Ceniel«Ty. in ( Inmt Towiisliip; .h>s.Hie 
iit livin;; nt lionie nitli her |iiireiit.s, itnil alUMxIin^' 
tlie district sehiMil. 

Our sulijcol i.< ft .stnnch ndniini.stmtion Deinocrut 
nnd mlhcres chtM-ly to the prineiple^ ii.s hiid down 
liy Thoiniu" .lefTerson. lie is one of tlic most |)o|iiN 
hir and intliiential eiti/ens of the villaj;c and town- 
ship, and po.sjtes.ses the confldenee nnd esl«-cni of 
everybody. For two years lie was a member of 
the City Council, being one of the first who wns 
elected to that ollice nft«'r the incorporntitm of \a!- 
Icy t'eiitvr. and held the |x)sili<)n until the spring of 
1««7. He is a member of the I. C). (>. F., Valley 
Center Lodge No. 22.'$. 

- <i 

* )»II.1.1A.M K. A LHKHTSON.n lively repre- 
AvAy* seiitJitivo of the agri<ultural interests of 
\^/sf/ N'alley Center Township, is operating on 
.'S20 acres of land on sections '.) nii<l lU.and in nddi- 
timi to the ordinary cultivation of the soil he is 
giving considerable attention to the raising of 
blooded stock, usually keeping a lierti of from fif- 
teen to twenty heail of fine cattle, besides horses 
and swine. 

The farm of our subject includes ;J20 acres of 
land. <K-ciipying a jMirt of sections it and 10. where 
he located in August, 18H2. He si>enl his early 
years in Wayne County, Ind.. where he was liorn 
S-pt. 21, IHlil.aiid is coiiseipicntly little past his 
priini'. nn<l finds himself watching with the interest 
of twenty years ago the growth and dcvclo]>ment 
of the great West, lie is the offspring of a good 
olil family, being the son of .loshiin and Abigail 
(ItiitlifT) Alliertson, who were natives of North 
Carolina, where the father acquired his first knowl- 
eilge of farming and siibs4-(piently learned the tmdes 
of carpenter nnd millwright. They removed to 
Indiana during the early .settlement of Wayne 
County, where the elder Albertson erect<'d many of 
the mills adjacent to the now nourishing city of 
Kii'hniond, which wns then but a hamlet. The 
niotlur, »ho hail been reared in the i^iiiikcr faith. 



•^r^ 



<lied nt the homestead in Wnyne County, on the 
itii of June, 1K,')3, nged fifty-four years. The 
father survived his wife over n quart*-r of a century, 
nnd rested from his enrlhly Inbors on the KUh of 
April, 1870. A Whig in enrly iiinnlioo<l, he Inter 
joine<l the Kcpulilicnn |>arty, and t^Hik nn active 
interest in public nffnirs. 

The chihlreii of ,lo^hun nnd Abignil All>ert.soii. 
thirteen in number, included six sons nn<l .'>oven 
dniigliters, one of whom, Kliiiim, ilied when about 
one year old ; nnotherdied unnnmed in infancy: the 
others were: Kli. Kli/a, Milton, lU-njamin. Martha, 
Sarah: William H., of our skct<-li; Cyrus, Kllen, 
Kli/.nbeth and licbeccn, all of whom lived to ntUiin 
their majority. Of llie.se there arc five surviving, 
namely: Eli, William U., Cyrus, Kebecc.a and Kliz- 
abcth. 

Young Albertson, when twenty-two years of age, 
engaged to work the old homestead, u|>oii which 
he continued one and one-half 3'ears longer, and 
thence renu»ved to nnother farm near by, where he 
ojwrated three years. At the expirntioii of this 
time, resolving upon n ch!inge of location, he cros.sed 
the Mississippi into Mahaska County, Iowa, where 
he siHjnt the following winter, and in !>'.')'> settled 
in PoltJiwatoinie County, Kan., about forty miles 
west of the present fiourishing city of At<-hison. 
After a brief lime he change<l his residence to 
I'lejisant Hill, and then to Leavenworth, but 
not being able to content himself in the West nt 
this time returned to his old home in Wayne 
County, Ind. He subsequently lived in .I.-iy and 
Hamilton Counties, farming in the latter about 
twenty years, nnd in 1«S2 sold out and made his 
way to this ctiunty, where he has since remnined. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he w.ns innrried 
while n resident of Wayne County. Ind.. on the 
.'lOtli of .September. IK.">2, w.is formerly MIks Ke- 
bet'cn, dnughter of Mich;iel nnd .Mary (Etter) 
Fonts. The parents of Mi's. AlbcrUson were nntives 
res|)eetivcly of North Carolin:i nnd l'ennsylv;inia. 
and nre members of the Diinkard Church. The 
fnlher followed farming in Wnyne County, Ind., 
the greater pnrt of his life, and there his dentli 
t4jok place on the 27tli of December, 1h7(>. The 
mother folh.wed on the ,1d of AugU-st, I H7;>. 
Their family consisted of five sons and eight d:iugli- 




JJ.J^C^iJl 



lyr~~ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



897 



teis, iijiiiK-I}': Susan, Abigail, Elizabeth, Mary, Re- 
l)ecc!i, Aaron, Jane, Jackson, Catherine, John, Sarah 
Ann, an infant who died ininamed, and David. 
The latter is now a lawyer of Jaj- County, Ind. 
Only seven of the children are living, and are resi- 
dents mostly of Indiana, Nebraska and Kansas. 

The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Albertson are 
recorded as follows: Mary A. was born Jan. 30, 

1854, and was married, in 1873, to William H. 
Piirkey; they have had eleven children, five of 
whom are deceased, and are carr3-ing on farming in 
Valley Center Township. Sarah E. was born Sept. 26, 

1855, and died Oct. 2, 1856; Joshua R. was born 
July 30, 1858, and married Miss Eliza Martin when 
twenty years of age; they have one daughter, Lilian, 
and since 1885 have been residents of Wichita. 
Martha Jane was born Dec. l!l, 1859, and is the 
wife of William Shaw, of Sedgwick City; they have 
two children — Gracie V. and Nellie. John II. was 
born Oct. 4, 1861, and married Miss Jennie Craw- 
ford, by whom he is the father of one child, a 
daughter. Hazel. 

Mr. Albertson voles the Republican ticket, and 
with his estimable wife, iias been identified with the 
United Brethren Church for some years. He was 
elected Director of School District No. 01, in 1885, 
in whicii oflice he has since been retained. 




(^MOS A. PACKER, of Wichita, came to 
W/u\ \ Southern Kansas in 1870, and for a time 
engaged in the harness business. lie then 
established the second livery in the city, in 
a stable built out of store-boxes and oyster cans. 
He is now one of the capitalists of Wichita and 
partially retired from active business, devoting his 
time to the supervision of his propertj' interests 
and literary pursuits, having one of the most classi- 
cal and rare libraries in the city, of which he is a 
thorough student, and complete master. His unique 
and Uisteful residence is situated at the intersection 
of Topeka avenue and Lewis street, in one of the 
most beautiful sections of the cit^'. 

Mr. Packer was born Aug. 30, 1833, near Wheel- 
ing, Va., where he spent his boyhood days. His 
parents, Isaac and Rebecca (Allen) Packer, were 



natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to 
Virginia, and engaged in the hotel business at 
Wheeling for many years. The father also dealt in 
live stock considerably in that State. He died at 
Zanesville, Ohio, in 1884. The mother passed away 
in 1852, thirty-two years before the decease of her 
husband. They were both reared in the Quaker 
Church, of which they became members by birth- 
right. Their six children were: Angelina A., now 
Mrs. R. J. Campbell; Esther J., the wife of J. An- 
derson; Sarah 15.; Saretta, now Mrs. F. W. Todd; 
John, and Amos A., our subject. 

The subject of this sketch left iiis native State in 
1852, and came to Iowa, where he remained one 
summer. Thence he went east to Illinois, where 
he remained two 3'ears. His next removal was to 
Missouri, and he made his home at St. Louis, where 
he employed himself in the book and stationery 
business. In 1857 he moved to Roanoke, that 
State, where he studied medicine in the ollice of 
Dr. Haj'es until the spring of 1800, and during the 
border difliculties between that State and Kansas. 
From there he moved in an emigrant wagon to 
Leavenworth, Kan., and assisted in the establish- 
ment of a wagon road from that place to Denver, 
Col., in which enterprise he was introduced to fron- 
tier life in earnest, as the men were continu.ally 
harassed by the Indians, who assumed a threaten- 
ing attitude toward the white man's advance. In 
one conflict with them Mr. Packer's part}' sustained 
the loss of some of its members, but succeeded in 
pushing ahead and completing the road. This route 
was afterward tiie great thoroughfare to the Pike's 
Peak gold fields, then the object of great excite- 
ment, and which had been but slightly explored at 
this time. Our party engaged tht^re in mining, 
teaming and general camp life. 

Amos Packer was the first man to carry the mail 
from Denver to Colorado Springs, at the b.-ise of 
Pike's Peak, his route lying through that beautiful 
section of country which w.-is termed the "Garden 
of the Gods." He also established the mail route 
from Denver to Missouri City, Col. He remained 
in this countr}' until the spring of 1802, when he 
stampeded on what w:is known as the Salmon River 
stampede, and succeeded in getting as far as Old 
Ft. Hall, on the Skape River, Idaho, where he 



■■» ■ *«« 



1 ' H98 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



CKinlucted II triiiliiij; Ini-iiu-*- lutwccii llio Mor- 
mons mid miner!*. He six-nl the ^>llo«in^' winU>r 
in Snlt Ijikc \nllpy. wIuti- In- lif<ninc acqunintt-d 
with tlic ohl f,'mndMU>thor Chiipninn. tlic wife of 
Isjinc, twin brother of ,lm<di. grnndfiitlior of the 
Chiipinan Uros.. of Chicago, the luihlisliers of this 
volume. 

Mr. I'arkcr wiu-i in the ;,'ulili adjacent t4> the 
present ."^ite of \irginia t ity, Mont., where he took 
u|) a claim and remained tlie following summer. 
Here he became acquainted with Albert A. Stone, 
John Vincent, who wiut by- profession a ship car- 
penter, and E. It. Harton, familiarly called "Komeo," 
who entered inU> the project of drifting by way of 
the Lewis Fork and Columbia Kiver to the Pacific, 
arriving at Colville. W. T.. bite in the fall of I8C3. 
It was at this point that the .xhip carj)enter was 
first brought into use, when they built two river 
crafts, called the White Hall boats, launching them 
in the Columbia, one below and one above Kettles 
Falls. On one of these boats our subject, aecom- 
]ianied by a half-breed Indian called .Jo, loaded 
Hour and mining supplies and started down the 
river. He successfully ran all the rapids, including 
the noted S|iokan and I'riest, a feat that had never 
bi'fore been accomplished without a porUge, and 
one whi<-h our subject considers the most perilous 
he ever undertook. 

At Cclilo the boat wjv* abandoned, and the fol- 
lowing winter found our adventurer in I'ortland. 
Ore., where he reniaine<l until spring. From there 
he drifted to Boise City, Idaho. In 1861 he re- 
turned to Colville, !Uid with the aid of the ship 
car|)enter, iLssisted in building the first steamer that 
navigated the Cohnnbia River above Kettles Falls. 
During these days of adventure Mr. Packer at 
times would have a full purse, and at other sca-sons 
hardly knew where he would gel the next meal. 
He, however, borrowed no trouble and alw;iys 
numagcd to come out in the end very comfortably. 

Mr. Packer next revisited \'irginia City, took in 
.Sail Lake, where he wintered, and about the spring 
of IHf'.T purchaseil a lot of cattle and drove them 
to the Lindii g<ild mines, where he remained abcuit 
four month.s. Then he visit4Ml .Medicine Lodge, 
and taking in Salt Lake City once more, arrived at 
Clieyi-inie ag;iin in 1hi;7, and for n lime lliereafu-r 



was employed on the I'nion l':iciilc Knilrond. This 
contract ending, he embarked in general men-han- 
(lising at Trinidad, Col., which did not exactly 
prove a suet-ess. 

From here Mr. Packer drifted to Kansas, and 
arrived at Wichita in the spring of 1H7(>. lie Met- 
tled diiwn to business, and hius in:ide this city his 
<-ontinuo\is residence ever since. On the 20111 ot 
February, 1H7 1. he was united in marriage with 
Mr>. Klizabeth (Wdlitims) .lones, who was boni in 
Crawfonlsville, Ind., .luly 2(t, I8:!«. Mrs. Packer 
is the daughter of .Icihii II. and Cassandra (.Minor) 
Williams, who were called from earth when their 
daughter was a young child. They were natives 
respectively of Kngland and Pennsylvania. Of the 
seven children born to them Mrs. Packer is tin- 
only survivor. Of her union with our subject there 
have been born two children — F^dna F.-iy and Robert 
Ingersoll. Of the union of .Mrs. Packer ami (). F. 
.lones there is one child, a daughter. .Maud .1., born 
March 1.3, 18G."), at Clevelaml. Ohio. .She is now 
the wife of Charles Mosbacher, of Wichita, and they 
are the parents of one child, ;» son. Karl .1. 

Wc thus note in the history of Mr. Packer a 
career of more than ordinary interest, and the por- 
trait of the hero of many adventures, which we 
herewith present, is also that of one of Wichita's 
most valued and useful bu«iiie>i< men. 



•► • -4»- 



JTAMF.s 1!. tUtllKA.N. In Hulhr County. 
I Ohio, on the 17th of .September, 1«4(;. w.is 
I born .lames H. Cochran, the !*on of William 
1 R. and Martha A. (Heatly) Cochran. He 
is now (uie of the leailing and repre.ientativc- citi- 
zens of Salem Township, and is carrying on agri- 
cultural pursuits on section IH. His father wa.s a 
native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, and his 
moth(-r was probably born in Ohio, as her father, 
.lames Heatty. wa.s an early settler in Rutler County, 
that State. 

The subject of our sketch remained beneath the 
parental nxjf during his ycuith, .-ind drew his excel- 
lent education from the schiK)ls of his native .Stjite. 
Karly in life he was ma<le acipiainted with the 
theory and prMi-ticr of agriculture, ami jia.s all i>f 



>► ■ ^ « 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



899 ' ' 



his clays been employed in farming. He was reared 
to manhood amid the familiar scenes upon which 
he had first opened his eyes, and assisted liis father 
in the work upon the ohl homestead until his mar- 
riixge. This happy event, the most important in 
his life, took place in Franklin County, Ind.. which 
adjoins Butler County, Ohio, on the west, Nov. 3, 
1867. On that day he led to the .altar Miss Celesta 
Jones, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, wlio was 
born Jan. 19, 1H45. She is tlie daughter of Joseph 
and Leah (Hallam) Jones, both of whom were 
natives of the Keystone SUite. Her ancestry were, 
on her father's side Welsh, and on that of her 
mother, Holland-Dutch. By this m.irriage there 
have been sent four children to cheer the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Cochran: Lucj' O., whose birth oc- 
cuned Aug. 17, 1868: Ada B., who was born April 
23, 1870; Anson C, who made his appearance Oct. 
19, 1874; and Leah 11.. the date of whose birth 
was Feb. 16, 1877. 

Mrs. Cochran is one of a family of eight chil- 
dren born to her parents, whose names are as fol- 
lows: Lucretia, Mrs. John Dennett, living in Frank- 
lin County, Ind.; Melissa C, tlie wife of J. G. 
Carson, of White County, in the same State; Myra, 
Mrs. Thomas Turner, living in Barry County, Mo.; 
Ambrose L., a resident of Franklin County, Ind. ; 
Druscilla, the wife of J. C. Garber, of Sumner 
County, Kan.; Lizzie, a resident of the latter 
county; Celesta, the wife of the subject of this 
sketch ; and Freeman. After their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Cochran remained residents of the Buck- 
eye State until the Latter part of the year 1885, 
when they removed to this county, and located on 
the farm where he resides in Salem Township. He 
has 160 .acres of well-improved land, which is under 
cultivation and in a good state of tillage. He is 
active and enterprising, and the appearance of his 
place, which is very pleasing, manifests the care and 
taste of its owner. 

The family of Mr. Cochran have alwaj's occupied 
a very prominent place in his native State. Jere- 
miah Morrow, his great-uncle on his father's side, 
was the second Governor of Ohio, and w.os one of 
the original pioneers who settled at Marietta, in 
the latter part of the last century. William R. 
Cochran, the father of our subject, was Probate 



Judge of Butler County for one term, and Secre- 
tary of the Butler County Agricultural Society for 
sixteen years, of which latter association he is 
still a life member. He has also filled the ollices of 
County Clerk and Justice of the Peace in that 
locality. He is now living in that section of Ohio, 
in his seventy-eighth year, one of the old pioneers 
of the Buckeye State who are still left to show the 
rising generation wh.at men there were in the early 
days of the settlement of that commonwealth. 



B. BKOKAW, of Afton Township, with 
headquarters at Goddard, where he deals 
largely in lumber, coal, lime and stone, in 
company with J. W. Flood, is one of the 
most important factors among the business interests 
of the county, and has been a resident of Southern 
Kansas since the spring of 1880. In company with 
his brother J.ames W., he has invested largely in 
real estate in the city of Wichita, .and they are also 
joint owners of 1,920 acres of land in Gr.ay County, 
which constitutes a r.anch valued at %1 5,000, and 
which is well stocked with cattle. Mr. Brokaw 
came to this section of the State when men of his 
caliber were greatly needed in the development of 
its resources, and to encour.age the immigration of 
an intelligent and enterprising class of jieople, and 
right well has he contributed in bringing about this 
desirable state of things. 

Mr. Brokaw, .an Ohio man by birth and parent- 
age, was born in Morgan County, that State, !March 
21, 1859. His parents, James and Nancy (Dean) 
Brokaw, were natives of Belmont Count}', Ohio, 
and the father, a farmer and blacksmith by occu- 
pation, was born March 6, 1826. He served in the 
Union army during the late Civil War, and for 
many j'ears upheld the principles of the Republican 
party. He is now dead. The mother was born in 
Washington County, and departed this life at her 
home in Morgan County, in April, 1861. 

To James and Nancy Brokaw there were born 
six children. Their eldest daughter, Martha Lu- 
cinda, became the wife of William B. McVeigh, who 
is following the profession of a teacher in Grundy 
County, Mo.; Winfield married Miss Wilda Henry; 






900 



SEIKiWICK COUNTY. 



4 



lie i.H n I'liK'kMiiitli l>\ trnilc, uiiil of lliv >ix chiUtrcii 
liorn lj> thorn but two nrc living; llicir rcsiiK-nco is 
ill «;riiiiil_v t'oiiiily. Mo. C'Imrle.H <lii'<l wlie>i (Ivf 
your* i>f age in Miirgiin County, Ohio: Junics War- 
ren, who oix-ratfs a ninch in (Iray County, thi." 
Slutf, nmrri»"<l .Mi.s!^ Snllii- |{iil»v»ll, niul tiny hnvo 
two ehiMren: II. H., of our ^kotoli, was the next in 
oriler of liirth; Kliz.-il)elh <Iie<l in iiifani'V. 

Our siiljjeet wa-H a chilil three years of age when 
he met nitli the irre|>ai-aliie lo.s!« of his mother, and 
his fallier wii.t siili.seqtientiy inarrie<l to Miss Ma- 
tilda Brokaiv. of Ohio. This union resulted in the 
liirth of two more ehiidren: Whitlield Chiireliili, 
liorn ill Deeeinber. ImCI. who is now a surveyor l>y 
profession, and o|H-rating in Ijiinar, Col., for the 
lirui of Zimmerman A' Hrokaw;aiiil \'eriion, born 
in <lune, 1((C'.>, and now liviiii: with his mother in 
Morgan County, Ohio. 

Young Urokaw at the age of sixteen years was in 
possession i.if a goo<i practical educiition, and after 
leaving st-liool employed himself at farming. Three 
years later, desirous of seeing something of the 
Western roiinlry, he crossed the .Mississippi into 
Cass County, Mo., where iluring the summer he 
labored on a farm and in winter employed himself 
as clerk in a drug-store. Abut the time of reach- 
ing majority he made his way to Western Texas 
and joineil the ranks of the cowlmys, and came 
North with a herd of cattle a few monllis later, .•nid 
remained in Western Kansas an<l Indian Territory 
for a |ieriod of four years. He st.-irted out in busi- 
ness in that section with a eapilal of iisM.5, and at 
the end of four years had maile |2,0M0 s|>cculating 
in cattle. 

Mr. Hrokaw, during his .sojourn in the .Southwest, 
it is hardly necessary U) sjiy, was the observer of 
many thrilling incidents peculiar Ui that section of 
country, |)e(.>plcd ils it was often with a desperate 
and unprincipled clu.ss of men, and with wild In- 
dians. Upon one iM'casioii he witnes.sed theencoiiii- 
tcr of a cowboy and a chief of the Arapahoi'S, 
during which the former struck the chief with a 
"quirt" or short braided whip, heavily loaded in 
tli<' liandli' with Icail. The chief, Left- 1 land, lias- 
teiii-d to his camp and retiiriu'd with his warrioi-s, 
all ill their paint and ready for business. Mr. 
llmkaw tliouglit his lime had suri'ly conic, as he 



would have p(ii«iiiii «nli lii» lomrani* iiMij iiiiic 
liccn any further violence. The chief, however, 
was approached by a ine<litatur. and for the con- 
sidenition of a Mini of inoiiey he forgave the 
injury, and |>eacc was ileclared in the camp. The 
offeiKling cowboy, however, by oriler of (leii. Miles, 
commander of the i>ost. took giHxl care to make his 
esca|K'. and disippeared. This was only an inslance 
of tlie stirring times of that |ieriod and place. 

Mr. lirokaw, ii|riii returning t<» the States, en- 
gaged with the liimber coni|i:iiiy at (iixldard, ami 
since that time h.'is been working his way steadily 
upward, lie has been fortunate in his investments, 
and l>y close attention to business has accimiii- 
mnlated a competency. Itotli as a business man 
and a citizen he is held in high esteem, and is one 
of the warmest adherents of the Ke|)ulilieaii party. 
The teni|K'ranee cause hiis in him a sincere friend, 
although he is not quite ready to identify himself 
with the I'rohibitiiuiisls. He belongs lotheKnigliLs 
of Pythias, Sunllower Lodge No. 12s, at (loddard. 
and has recently been proniotefl to the (Irand 
Lodge, in wliic-h he has already held v.-irious olliccs. 

*^ DAM HAKKK. a well-known cili/.eii of Min- 
, ^/fJl j iielia Township, living on section 2.'), litis a 

frili large ranch of .310 acres, all uii<ler culti- 
(g* tivation. and well fenced with hedge, lumrd 

and wire fences. It is well watered by a very fine 
stream. He is extensively engaged in raising 
stock, and has also gained a wide reputation .is a 
successful fruit-grower, owning one tif the finest 
bearing orchards in the county. He raises apple*, 
|)caclics, peai-s, quini-cs, apricots, gra|K*s, cherries, 
plums, and the smaller fruits, all of choice varie- 
ties, and commanding .a ready sale. 

Mr. Haker was born in the Dominion of Caiiadu, 
May I, IH|;|. His parents were .lohn and N.ancy 
(ISigfonI) Maker, natives of Canada. His father w.-is 
born on StJiey"s Isl.and. Canada, in IMIO. His |)arents 
were n.atives of New York. The father of onr sub- 
ject settled on a farm in the Canadian Dominion 
when he was eighteen years of .age, .and there en- 
gageil in fanning and stock-niising until the day 
of his death, .luiie '.>, iss.'.. Hi* niarnage look 



•► ■ -4^ 



•^•-4« 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



!>01 



4 



place in Canada when he was about twcnly-c mr. 1 1.- 
was at one time a uicniber of the Hriti:>h army. 
He was a S'alued member of the Methodist Kpiscopai 
Cliurch, aiid was liighl}' esteemed for his upright 
conduct in all tiie relations of life. His wife still 
occupies the old farm. She is estcemeil for her 
many good qualities, and is a devoted member of 
the IMethodist Episcopal Cliurch. Nine children 
were born of the union, namely: Margaret M., 
Malinda, Adam, Claminzia, Roxie L., Edward and 
Edwin (twins), John R. and Pizilla. Claminzia 
married Ralph Mirkley; they live in Morrisburg, 
Canada. Edward married Hettie Morrow; they 
live in Cana<la. F^dwin married Miss Morrow; they 
live on the old homestead. John married Miss 
Belle Mirkley, sister of Ralph Mirkley; they live 
in Winchester, Canada. Pizilla marrie<l Lent Hult; 
they live in Canada, near the home farm. 

Our subject grew to manhood in the place of his 
nativity, receiving the advantages of an education 
in the public schools, and a thorough, practical 
training on his father's farm in the calling to which 
he lias since devoted himself with so much success. 
He became an earl}- settler in Sedgwick Count}', 
having determined to try farming on its fertile soil, 
and enjoy the benefits of its fine climate. He is a 
man of sui)erior capability, and by energetic and 
wise management has placed himself among the 
leading agriculturists of the Arkansas River Val- 
ley. On coming to his farm lie kept bachelor's 
hall for the first two years, raising his own prod- 
uce, and enjoying butter and eggs of home pro- 
duction. Mr. Baker w.as married in Wichita, June 
3, 1873, to Miss Madora McPeak. She was born 
in Crawford County, Ohio, June 1 , 1 855. Her father, 
Henry McPeak, was a native of Ohio, and died in 
his native State at the early age of twenty-four 
years. Her mother, Mary Jane McPeak, was born 
in Columbus, Ohio, in the year 1837. She now 
lives in Cowlej' Count}-, Kan. 

Our subject and his wife have seven children, 
whose record is .as follows: Rosella was born March 
•2, 1874; Albert, Sept. 12, 1876; Gracie, J.an. 7, 
187'J: Luella, April 5, 1881; Ainos R., April 22, 
1883; Arnold, July 7, 1885: Parmor, Nov. 6, 188G. 

Mr. and Mrs. Baker are active, energetic, enter- 
prising people, making them desirable members in 



a community which has such a promising future be- 
fore it, and whose develo|)nient is dependent upon 
the push of its citizens, for, although it has made 
wonderful jirogress in the few years that have 
elapsed since tlie first settlement was made here, 
with its advantages of a fine location, a healthful 
climate, and a marvelously rich soil, it is destined 
to become a great agricultural center with a large 
population. The Republican jiarty has in Mr. Baker 
a faithful all?. 

*jf) OHN W. STA RR. This gentleman may prop- 
erly' be numbered among the self-made men 
of Salem Township, to which he came in the 
spring of 1878 from his native State of 
Illinois, and located on his present farm, which com- 
prises 1 GO acres of section 4. He is in the prime 
of life, having been born July 23, 1840, and spent 
his boyhood years in Vermilion County, acquiring 
his education in the district school. 

Our subject is the son of Adam and Sarah (Cro- 
mer) Starr, natives respectivel}' of North Carolina 
and Ohio, and the mother now deceased. The fa- 
ther is a resident of Derby, Kan. The paternal 
grandparents of Mr. Starr on both sides of the 
house were of German aiicestrv'. John W. was 
reared to manhood in his n:itive State, and on the 
26th of April, 1867. was united in marriage with 
Miss Emily M., daughter of Daniel and Sophia 
(Pricer) Benner, of Pi.att Count}', III. To them 
have been born ten children, of whom seven are 
living, namely : William II., born June 14, 1870; 
Edward A., April 7, 1875; Elmer, Dec. 2, 1877; 
Eflie M., Dec. 16, 1879; John A., Jan. 8, 1881; 
George, Dec. 4, 1883, and Ida, Nov. 19, 1886. 
Mary A., Charles and Laura Ellen are deceased. 

Mr. .Starr, in 1878, removed from Illinois to this 
county, locating on his present farm in Salem Town- 
ship. Here he h.as 160 .acres of choice land, which 
by a course of persevering industry he h.as brought 
to a good state of cultivation. In connection with 
general agriculture he has for many years been 
engaged as a stock dealer, buying and shipiiing, and 
making his headquarters at Derby. He is one of 
the most reliable members of the Republican party 



■^•- 



-♦-■-^ 



f 



■► ■ -4* 



SI-.DCWK K COUNTY. 



of S<iiitlicrn Kiiiisji,'', and iK'.sido jtcrviiij; its Sclux)! 
Treiusiirer ill lii> lli^l^il•t. wiix n|i|HiiiiUMl by Cov. 
(;ii<k .liistice of llu- Pcncf. in .Inly, !««;<, and 
picclod Ui llif Millie i>fllc«f ill till' spriii}; "f IS84, 
which he htm hchl since tliiit time. 

The farm rejiideiice t>f cmr siilijecl, with iU siir- 
ruiindin)^, i.s one <>f the allnictivo featiire.sof Silum 
'roniushii). and tlic |iro|>ri<>tor i.s repirdcd a.s n lili- 
cral-ininded. piil)lic-.s|>irited citizen, eiicoiirngiiiK 
the cnlerpri.se.s cnlciilated to lieiicflt the (icoplc at 
hir(;^e, and a lilieral contributor t<i worlliy objects. 

Mrs. .Starr was born in Ross County, Ohio, Maj' 
15, 184'.), and removed with her iHtrenls when about 
five years of ajfe to Kdgar County, III. .Subse- 
quently they took up their residence in I'iatt County. 
Of their ten children three are ileccased. Mary E. 
is the wife of .lolin .Mossbarger, of NebriLska. where 
the ehlest brother, Absalom, also settled; Daniel 
is carrying on farming in Waco Township, this 
county; Willier and Oavid \V. continue in Illinois; 
Celestial M. is the wife of Clarkson Daggott, of 
Nebraska. .Mr. lienncr de|)arted this life at his 
home in Illinois on the .')tli of Kebruary, 1H74, and 
the mother followed her husband in the spring of 
1HM2. A lithograi)hic view is shown on another 
|»age of .Mr. Starr's h.-inds(jnie residence. 



-•*s-i-g*- 



JOHN HKN.S( )N. Among the prominent agri- 
ciilturisls and business men of Attica Town- 
ship and of .Sedgwick County, is the geiitle- 
' man whos«> nuiiie heads this sketch, who is a 
member of the linn of Benson Bros., owners of the 
Home Nursery. lie is a native of Southern .Swe- 
den, born Dec. .{1, 1840. and is the son of Bent and 
.Sarah (l'ear.soii) Swanson. Mis father was a tailor 
by trade, but .lohn was reareii upon a farm, and, 
like most of the youth of his native land, received 
the elements of a giH»d education in his bo^'hood 
days. Having always been studiously inclined, ami 
having an iiicliiialion for reading, he has added 
materially, through the course of a busy life, a large 
amount of useful information to his stock of knowl- 
e-lge. 

When be was about Hveiity-s<'ven years of age, 
feeling the iu|>ossibility of raising himself above 



the I'ondition In whii'li he wa.* bom, in his native 
land, our subject, in coiii|Mtny with his younger 
brt>lher, emigrated to America, and landed in t^iie- 
bec about Uie 1st of .Iiiiie, I »•'.". The brothers at 
once went lo Chi<-ago, HI., where, after looking 
about them two days, and linding nothing suiu*d Ui 
their views, they start«d for Kansas, and hn-ated at 
the city of I^jiwrenee. There .lohn Bcn.*oii ac- 
cepted a |>osition with W. K. Barnes, who wils en- 
gaged in the fruit tree and nursery business, with 
whom he remained eleven years, the longest time 
that any man had remained with that gentleman. 
While a resident of that place our subject w«s 
united in marriage, March 14, 1«78. with Miss .So- 
phia .lansen, a daughter of Andreas and Christine 
.lanseii. Mr. Benson removed to Wichita in |87'J, 
but shortly aftcrwanl purclnused his present farm 
of ItIO acres, |)aying therefor the sum of ^1,400. 
His ex|)ericnce in the employ of Mr. Barnes had 
given him a thorough knowledge of the business, 
and a taste for the work, and he coni-lnded to enter 
inUj that line of trade. In partnership with his 
brother, he accordingly piirclmscd a stock, and 
opened up a nui-sery of their own. 

It is now eight years since the "Swede Bo^s," as 
the Benson brothers are familiarly known, initiated 
the Home Nursery, and from a small beginning it 
ha-s become one of the leading industries of .Sedg- 
wick County. The great benefit that it has been to 
the people of this community is now fully appre- 
ciated, and the honesty and uprightness with which 
they IraiKsact business are making them host* of 
frieinls and patrons in .Southern Kans-u*. They 
have no less than thirty acres of land devoted ex- 
clusively" to nursery pur|H)ses, and the people of the 
.State arc beginning to realize that trees and shrub- 
bery that are accustomed to the climate are the 
most profiUible ones for them to purchase and sot 
out. None have done more toward the develop- 
ment anil prosperity of .Setlgwick County than the 
Benson Bros., and they are highly res|)ected and 
warmly esteemed by their legion of friends. 

In February, IM'lt, .lohn Benson's wife was taken 
from him by de.-ith, and .Inly IG, 1880, he again en- 
tered into a matrimonial alliance, this time with .Miss 
Kmina .lansen, the daughter of .lohn ami I'armelia 
(Swenson) Jtinsen, born in .Sweden, Oct. 2U, 1838. 



«» ■ <■ 



-i^-«-4» 



f 



•► 



-^*- 



SKDCiWlCK COUNTY. 



yo;; 



1 



^h 



Mer parents arc still living in Sweden, she having 
come to this country in 18G9. Mr. Benson was the 
father of one chiUl by his fii-st marriage, hut in' the 
fall of 187!t it foilowcil its mother to the iiomc ijc- 
3'on(l the grave. 

Mr. Benson was formerly a follower of the Re- 
publican party, but of late years has voted with tiie 
Democrats, as he is no believer in the Prohiliition 
movement, although he is strictly a temperance man. 
Both he and his estimable wife were reared in the 
hutheran Chureli, and are firm believers in tlie doc- 
trines of that denomination, and lie gives liberally 
from his means toward its support. 



^j^,^ETER CARLSON. Scandinavia, like many 
other p.irts of Europe, has furnished raan3' 
of the most prosperous and industrious citi- 
zens of Sedgwick County, and none stands 
more prominent as a wealthy and well-to-do agri- 
culturist of Attica Township than Mr. Carlson. 
He is one of the pioneers of the county, having 
located here in 1871, and has his home upon sec- 
tion 24. He was born in Sweden, July 1, 1842, and 
is a son of Carl and Betty (llolmberg) Carlson. 
He was reared on a farm amid the wild and rugged 
scenery of his native land, and received in the 
schools of that country the elements of a good edu- 
cation. On attaining his majority, he was, like all 
the young men of that distant nation, enrolled in 
the army, and received the advantages of a military 
training. 

Appreciating the fact that there is but littii- 
chance of a man rising above the condition in which 
he is born in a country under a raonarchial form of 
Government, with a desire to improve his fortunes 
in 18(J8 Mr. C. emigrated to America, and landed at 
New York City. Scarcely waiting a month in the 
metropolis, he made his way to Lawrence, Kan., 
where the first year he was engaged in working at 
any kind of labor by the month, and then com- 
menced employment at his trade, which was that of 
stonemason. In 1871 he removed to this county, 
and took up 160 acres of laud, paying %1.25 per 
acre for the same, where he has his present home. 

Our subject's parents having died in Sweden be- 



fore he left that country, and being alone in this 
country, his four'brothers having always remained 
in that "land of the midnight sun." lie felt a wish to 
gather around him a family of iiis own, and accord- 
ingly, on the 14th of June, 1872, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Catharine Malmburg. The 
bride was the daughter of Mausand Ellen (Pearson) 
Maluiburg, and was born in Sweden, Feb. 20, I84G. 
Her father died in her native land in 1849, and she 
came to America when in her twent3--fifth year, 
leaving her mother in the old country, where she 
is still living. Four children have lilessed the union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson, as follows: Henrj-, who 
\v:iS born April 7, 1873; Frank, whose birth oc- 
curred Aug. 27, 1874; John, whose natal day was 
March 30, 1876, and Albert, born Dec. 7, 1878. 

.Mr. Carlson is a ver}- intelligent man and an in- 
dustrious and energetic farmer. Being fully con- 
vinced that this nation is the poor man's friend, .and 
that under the star-spangled banner every man is 
what he makes himself, he is intensely patriotic. In 
his religious affiliations he adheres to the doctrines 
and tenets of the Lutheran Church, in which he 
was reared, that being the established church of his 
native land. Both he and his estimable wife are 
highly respected and honored b^- a wide circle of 
acquaintances, and are representative people of 
Sedgwick County. 

f(p^ AMUEL A. STUCKEY, a native of Berke- 
ley County, V'a., where he was born Jan. 
19, 1843, left the Old Dominion for Logan 
County, 111., in 1874, and from there two 
years later came to Kansas, and purchased 200 acres 
of land on sections 9 and K!, in Minneha Township. 
Here since that time he has operated successfully 
as a farmer and stock-grower, having one of the 
most desirable homesteads in this section, and an 
assortment of live stock which will compare favor- 
ably* with an^'thing of the kind in the township. 
He came at a time when the reliable and enterpris- 
ing man was most needed, and h:is furnished his full 
quota of assistance in building up the eastern part 
of this county. 

Mr. Stuckey received a common-school educa- 



-4*- 



^KDCWICK COUNTY. 



-•►■-4» 



ti'iii. aii'l ti'iii:iiiir<l Mt lii> latlicr's [:iriii until llio 
iiiithronk of Uio lute Kcbi-llinn, wIhmi he eiilifiUMl 
for llireo yi'iirs or tltiriii^ the war. in Coniimiiy K, 
".'il \'irjjiniii Iiifiintrv. Ili^ wns in ninny };encml 
«Mi;;a;renii'nLs. inclinlin;; llio Imtllc iit Wini'lioster, 
wluTf he WHS tvutinili'il in the nt'rk. nn<l llie first 
Imtllc of Krt'<lcrioksl>urj;, wlicro he w:ls \vonn<1c(l in 
the lirciist. At homo he «ns caiiliireil liy thi- I'nitin 
truo|«, niic) confiniMl n prisoner at Camp Cliiwe. 
Ohio, for «'i«;hl inonlh!<. He was on parol at the 
closing of till- war, an<l after heins; ninslereti imt of 
»erviee returned to liis olil home in the South, and 
on the "til of Noveiuher, lf^7.'i, was niarried to 
Miss Fanny Larkins, who was liorn in Shenandoah 
County, ^'n., April 17. 1H47. Iler [mrents, Andrew 
and Uehccen l^nrkins, were natives of .Maryland 
and Virfjinia. The former is dead, iind the latter 
now resides in Ohio. 

Mr. .Stuekey was acconi|>anicd l>y his family in 
his removals, first to Illinois, and subsequent!}- to 
this .Suite, lie is the father (»f live chihiren: Annie, 
Mrs. .Stover, of WiehiUi; Robert, .Mary S., Charles 
and Kdn.'i H. The latter wjis the youngest born, 
ami died when two months old. .Mr. Stuekey, po- 
litically, votes the straight l)eniocr:itie ticket, but 
ha.s very little to do with public affairs, confining 
his attention mostly Ui farming interests. 

Among the numerou.-i views given in this Ai.iiim 
a.-* representative buildings, both of city and farm 
projicrty, may 1)^' found one of Mr. .Sinckcy's 
place. 



J1 AMKS CONNKI4 resides on section .'12. Min- 
neha Township, post-otlic«', Wichita. Kan. 
lie owns a good farm, and is prosperously 
cngnge<l in the management of it, and in 
rearing live slock. lie is active, intelligent ami 
honest, well deserving the good fortune which has 
conu- to him in tilling his fertile acres, and reai>ing 
his abundant harvests, lie was born Oct. 7, 1MI7, 
in Clarion County, I'.a., ami is the son of S;imuel 
and .Mary (.Short) Conner, natives of Westmore- 
land County, I'a. His father h:is always been n 
resident of that .Stat^.'. He is a well-educated man, 
of more than (trdinary capability. In his younger 
ilnys he wiLM iN'cupied in the mercantile liusincss. 



He afterward enu'^tred in farming, lie i> a <M.m|«'i<'iii 
••ivil engineer, and for tliir'3' years was County 
.Surveyor for Clarion County. He is .n ilevol^d 
Catholic, and |M)litically is a stanch l)em<H-rat. On 
the .Id of February, IHH7, he was bereft of his ami- 
able wife, who had ever been devoted to his and 
their children's interests. .She was iKirn in 1MI2. 
Their union had been bles.se<l by the birth of nine 
cliihlren, as follows: Margaret, Dennis, .lohn, .lames, 
•Mary, Sylvester, .Samuel, Charles (<lcceascd), .lulia 
Ann. Margaret married Henry Smith, and lives in 
.Icfferson County, "I'a. ; Dennis married Mary Aaron, 
and lives in I'enn.sylvania; .lohn married Sadie 
Aaron, a sister to Dennis's wife: they live in I'enn- 
.sylvania. .Mary is a nun, and a teacher in St. 
Mary's School, in I'cnnsj'lvania ; Sylvester married 
Uelta Aaron, a cousin of the wives of .lohn nml 
Dennis; they live on the old homestead. .Samuel 
lives on the homestead; .lulia Ann is married, and 
lives in Pennsylvania. 

Our subject grew to manhood in the home of his 
birth, in the meantime actpiiring a substantial edu- 
cation in the public schotils. He staid on the 
farm with his father, assisting him in the manage- 
ment of il, until he was twcnty-tliree. He then 
learned the carpenter's trade, and continued act- 
ively engjiged in that pursuit for the succeeding 
five yeai-s. During that tinio he heard much of the 
wonderful fertility of the .soil of the Arkansas 
River Valley, of its beautiful location, and of its 
line climate. In the year 1H7.'> he cjimc here to 
Iind tint for himself the Iriilh of the reports. In a 
few months, being satisfied from oliservation that 
the many superior advanUigcs of this county as a 
great agricultural region had not been over-sUited, 
he purchased the farm he now occupies. It con- 
tains ICO acres of laml, well fenced with hedge and 
wire, and with a plentiful supply of good water. 
He h;is erected a comfortable dwelling,' good sta- 
bles, barns and sheds, and h:is an orchard already 
in bearing, which yields him a good income. As a 
stock-grower no man in the township has hail more 
satisfactory success than he, as his well-grade«l, fine 
looking animals will attest. He h.-is been very f»irt- 
unnle since coming to Kans'us; his years of constant 
and i'liergetic toil have early brought their reward. 

Our subject was married, .Ian. .'10, 1H77, in Clarion 



•>HI-^^ 



■•►•-^ 



*w'»Bf 




■.^^-.^.....^^^^^^^^^.s^i^^Sesi&iSSkiia^ 



Residence of James Conner , Sec. 32.MinnehaTownship. 




^*sas^>a>...: 



Residenceof Andrew M? Dougall, Sec. 30. Gypsum Township. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-A 



907 ' > 



County, Pa., to Miss Katie Meisinger. She has 
been :ui invaluable assistjint to him in his work of 
building up a home. She was born Jan. 7, 1855, 
in the city of Buffalo, N. Y. .She is the daughter 
of Martin and Anna Meisinger, natives of Ger- 
nianj', who eanie to America in their cnr\y lives. 
They were the parents of the following children : 
Klizabi'lh, Margaret, Catherine, Anna, Barbara, 
Celia, Minnie. George and John. Margaret died 
Nov. 28. 1885; John married Miss Mary Rissler, 
and lives in Bethlehem, Pa. ; George married Kiltie 
Jfolaney, and lives in Lincoln, Neb.; Mary married 
W. K. Hess, and lives in Wichita. 

To oursubject and his wife have been born seven 
children, namely : M.attie, Lottie, Rachel, Sammy, 
Celia. Charlie and Kddie; four of them are in at- 
tendance at school. Mr. and Mrs. Conner are 
communicants of the Catholic Church, to the sup- 
port of which they contribute liberallj', and heartily 
co-operate in its good works. They are well wortliy 
of the respect and esteem in which they are held. 
Politically, Mr. Conner works with the Democratic 
party, but he is independent in his views, and votes 
for those measures which he considers will be the 
most beneficial U) the community without regard to 
the party favoring them. A view of Mr. Conner's 
place is given in this work. 



1 ' 



LIAS L. CARXAIIAN, a man wliu h:is been 
useful in his community and ever taken a 

; prominent place in the enterprises tending 

to the enlightenment of the people, the friend of 
education, and active in all good works, has nearly 
all his life been a tiller of the soil, and still finds 
therein his greatest pleasure. The old idea that the 
farmer requires little beyond his nuiscle to enable 
him to l)attle successfully with the elements of the 
soil is fast passing away, and the fact is now every- 
where recognized by intelligent men that experience 
and education go hand in hand in achieving the 
best results in this as well as other employments of 
life. 

Mr. Carnahan is one of the leading men of his 
community, and the quarter-section of land which 
he Ihis eidtivated for the last ten 3'ears gives ample 



evidence of his good judgment, taste and skill. 
He made his advent here in the spring of 1877, and 
selected the land which he now occupies, which is 
located on section 1 8, G rant Townsliip. Upon it was 
a small frame house, and thirty acres had been broken. 
Cheered by the comiianionship and assistance of his 
young wife, he set in earnest about the building up 
of a home, and has been richly' rewarded for his ef- 
forts. In due time the farm was enclosed with sub- 
stantial fencing, and one building after anotlier was 
put up as his means accumulated and his needs mul- 
tiplied. After bringing the soil to a good state of 
cultivation, planting an orch.ard and getting a good 
growth of hedge fence under way, he turned his at- 
tion to the finer grades of live stock, and has now a 
choice assortnient of high-grade Short-horn cattle, 
Poland -China hogs and Clydesdale horses. He is 
not content with mediucrity, but aims for the high- 
est, and is rapidly attaining an enviable reputation 
both as a farmer and stock-grower. 

Mr. Carnahan is a native of the Bucke^-e SUite, 
and was born in Darke County, May 3, 1844. His 
parents, Elias L., Sr., and Catherine (Martin) Car- 
nahan, natives of the same State, were the parents 
of ten children, of whom oursubject was the seventh 
in order of birth. His patern.al grandparents, Will- 
iam and Frances (Higgle) Carnahan, of American 
ancestry, were also born in Ohio, and the great- 
grandfather had served as a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War. The maternal grandparents were Chris- 
topher and Mar}' (Elizabeth) Martin, who spent 
their entire lives in their native .State of Ohio. 

The father of our subject, about 1854, moved to 
Illinois and located in Logan County. He was one 
of the pioneers of that section and .assisted in the 
development of the soil, continuing there until rest- 
ing from his earthly labors. His death occurred at 
the old homestead in 1875. The faithful wife and 
mother is still living, and a resident of Logan 
County. 

The subject of this history received tlie educa- 
tion common to farmers" sons, and after the re- 
moval of the famdy to Illinois ni.ade his home there 
until coming to this .Stale. In the meantime, after 
the t)Utbreak of the late Rebellion, he enlisted sis a 
Union soldier in Company F, lOGlh Illinois In- 
fantry, for three years, or during the war. He was 



■; 



■*► ■ -^ 



908 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



4 



imistiTfil into MiTvic'o III Liiiculii. 111., An;;. '.), IHC2, 
iinil |>Hrlu-i|iiitf<l in ni:iny uf tlx- iniportiint biittlt-^ of 
ihf war. JM-iii^ iil the s'w^v of Vifk.shnrj; hiuI tin.- I>!il- 
tU- at Little liiM'k, iiml nit-rtin^' tin- LMicniy in various 
otIiiT cnyiigi'iucnLs ill llic Statf.s of '1'fnnc's.sec ami 
Arkansas. lie forliiiiatcly (•.•ioa|H-il wonnil.-^ aii<l 
caplUR', anil afliT tlir ;inirciiiUT of tlie Confederate 
army retnrnetl to Sprin^lielil. 111., ami wn.s niusleretl 
out on the :.'J<lh of .Inly. I^U.''). 

.Mr. C'ariialian, ujion retiring; from llie .servire, 
took up lii.-i re.-<i(lenee aj;;nin in Lopm County, ill., 
ami the foilowinj:; year. June l.'i, IMGO, was niar- 
ricil to Miss MarielUi I'erry, who was liorii in Darku 
County, (.)hio. Ang. '21. lt*4l. Her parents, .loseph 
C. nml Klizabeth (l)niin) I'erry, were also natives 
of the Huekeye .Slate, lt» wliieh < Grandfather I'erry 
had removed from \'irj^inia at an early d.-iy. He 
settled among the woods of Dnrkc Comity, where 
he cleared a good farm and lived and laliored to a 
ri|)e old age. The maternal grandp.-ireiils of Mrs. 
Carnahaii, Isiiac and Julia (Mc(lraw) i.)nnn. were 
from Alabama, and Grnnilfather Dunn was of Kn- 
glisli nneeslry. Mr. and Mrs. I'erry eontiniied in 
Ohio after their marriage, and the fatiicr died there 
in IMli'i. when eom|«ir;Uively a young man. llis 
excellent wife is still living, making her home with 
the subject of our sketch. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cariinhaii, after their marriage, set- 
tled on a farm in J.,ogan County, Mr. C. having 
pnrchiLsed eighty acres in Urville Township. lie 
followed farming there about eleven years, until 
selling out for the purpose of removing across the 
Mississippi, lie has for many years been protui- 
nent in the affairs of ( Irani Township, serving as 
.ScIio<j1 Director for a period of seven years, and 
also otlleinling as Trustee. .Socially, he belongs to 
.Stephenson I'osl No. Ha."), (i. A. U., at .Sedgwick 
City. Itolh our subjecl and his estimable wife 
are members in good standing of the Chrisliaii 
Church, at \'alley Center. 

Of the six children born U> Mr. and .Mrs. Cnnm- 
linn, the record is as follows: .Maggie 1. is the wife 
of.loseph Adanisoii,:i resident of Hodgeman Count}', 
this .Stjite; Kslelhi 1., Kobert (i., M:irv Fninces, 
Henry C. and Kdn:i are at home wilh their (mreiits. 
The elder children are attending ncliool, and it is 
the deterniinatioii of .Mr. Caiiialiaii that all of them 



-^^ 



shall have the be-t advaiiliiges In the way ofaii edn- 
calioii which he can give them. He has taken 
particular interest in the schools of his township, 
and n-ssisted in the orgaiii7.ation of the district in 
which he resides, and in the selection of siiilable 
and competent teaciiers. 

.Mr. Ciirnahan, in IHHli, invested a |Nirtof his sur- 
plus caplliil in additional live sl<M-k, and made his 
lieailipiarters in Valley Center, where for two years 
he was engaged etdnsively in buying and shipping 
to KasU-rn markels. At the same lime he siiper- 
iiiteiiiled the o|ieratioiis of his fariii, which is situated 
about three miles from the village. The premises 
are kept up in good order, and invariably attract 
tin- attention of the traveler through that region as 
llie home of thrift, iniluslry and |)leiily. 

\l/OSKl'll AD.V.MS. I'lominenl among the 
more iiilclligent, active and enterprising 
citizens of Attica Towiishi|), is the gciillo- 
maii whose name heads this liiogrnphy. His 
reputali<^in for integrity and industry is second U> 
none in the county, and being a man of rare intel- 
lectual atliiinment^, he is authority on many ques- 
tions with the [jcople of the coniniuiiity. His 
home, which is beautifully located on a branch of 
Dry Creek, is surrounded by a fine farm of ItiO 
acres of land, on which he carries on the raising of 
fine stock and grain. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, 
having been born Oct. .'tl, 1837, within a mile of 
I'ainesville, and distant but three miles from the 
home of the .Martyr rresident, I iarfield. His father, 
a blacksmith by trade, was a native of Knglaiid, 
and came to America wlieii about twenty -five ye.-irs 
of age. His name was William Adams, and while 
a resident of Ohio he married a widow at i'aines- 
ville, whose maiden name wjus Liicrelia Uyiler. Of 
this marriage there was but one child, the suliject 
of tiiis sketch. 

When .loseph Adams was a youth ho attended 
school in his native county, but his mother having 
died when he wius about two and a half yeai°s old, 
an<l his father having married again, before our 
subject was twelve years of age he commenced the 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



;to9 i k 



battle of life for himself, working for some farmers 
in the ncigliborhood, and attending school in bis 
leisure moments, and in this manner acquired the 
rudiniLMits of bis education. Tliis be has supple- 
nientt'd tlirou,;,di life by a systematic course of read- 
ing, until to-day he is one of the best informed 
men to be met with in a long journey. By the 
second marriage of his father there was a family 
of three children. 

While still in his youth t)ur subject removed 
with his father to Keenah, Winnebago Co., Wis., 
where be remained for about three years, en- 
gaged in various pursuits. About 1852 he re- 
turned to Painesville, Ohio, where he made his 
residence for about two years, after which he acted 
as cook on a sailing-vessel on L;xke Erie. This 
business he followed but one summer, after which 
he returned to Wisconsin and made his home in 
that State for four years, spending one winter in 
a lumber camp in the northern part of that com- 
monwealth. In Februarj', 1858, our subject re- 
moved to Peoria County, III., where for about 
two years he followed farming, but in 18G0 he 
commenced the sale of fanning-mills for E. A. 
Proctor, of Peoria. In this business he traveled 
over the greater part of Southern Illinois, and be- 
ing peculiarly fitted for a solicitor met with re- 
markably good success. 

But he was rudely awakened frcjni bis quiet 
dreams of the future, by the dark cloud of war 
which overshadowed our beloved country, and in 
the fall of ISGl, bis patriotism having been aroused, 
our subject enlisted in Company B. 11th Illinois 
Cavalr}-, under the command of Col. Robert G. In- 
gcrsoll. The regiment to which he was attached 
participated in the battle of Sbilob, but be was not 
present with them when that gallant baiul of heroes 
carried to the front the Stiite flag of Illinois in that 
fearful contest of April 6, 1862, "where deeds of 
eternal fame were done." At that time he was ly- 
ing at home sick, disease having been a conse- 
quence of hardships endured in the service. At 
the re-organization of the regiment to which he was 
attached, in the fall of 18G2. he was discharged on 
account of the rank of Sergeant Major that he held 
being dispensed with. 

Wliile at home on his sick furlough, in the spring 



of 1 862, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss 
Sarah E. Merrill, who became the mother of one 
child, Jennie, born Dec. 20, 1865, and who makes 
her home in Chariton, Iowa, with her maternal 
grandfather, James E. Merrill. After his discharge 
from ihe service, in the spring of 1863, the subject 
of this memoir removed to Lucas County, Iowa, 
where he purchased some eigiity acres of land, upon 
which he carried on farming for about thirteen 
years. At the expiration of that time he sold out 
and came to Kansas, and settling in Reno County, 
took up 320 acres of land as homestead and tree 
claims. Wiiile still living in the Ilawkeyi- State, 
bis wife was taken from him by death, on the 8th 
of January, 1866. Mr. Adams again entered the 
marriage state, the ceremony wbicli united him and 
Miss Sarah E. Boyson being solemnized March 20, 
1867. The laily was born June 5, 1838, at Merri- 
mack, N. II., and is a daughter of Ebenezer and 
Isabel (Cushing) Boyson. Iler parents were na- 
tives of Massachusetts, whose ancestors were of 
Scotch descent, and settlers in the old colony of 
Boston and M:issacbu setts Bay. Mrs. Adams ha.s 
often beard her mother speak of having been 
brought up beneath the shadow of old South 
Church, which was made so famous during the 
early history of Boston, and which is more widely 
known through Longfellow's poem, "Paul Revere's 
Ride." 

In the spring of 1881 Mr. Adams sold out his 
property in Reno County, and moved to the farm 
of J. R. Mead, south of Wichita, where he lived 
about eighteen months. The next year was spent 
on AV. L. Jackson's place, northwest of Wichita; 
but in September, 1884, he purchased and moved 
to his present farm. In July, 1884, the organiza- 
tion of Acme School District No. 150 was eflfecteil 
at a meeting held at tlie residence of N. Nelsorj, at 
which time D. S. Aldrieh was chosen Director, E. 
D. Roemer, Treasurer, and Joseph Adams, Clerk. 
Money to build a school-house was raised, and the 
building erected on land kindly donated for that 
purpose by Mr. Adams, and in this building, which 
cost, with its furniture, ^687.67, the first school was 
taught by Miss Kate Loosec. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been given two 
children, both of whom were born in Iowa: Maude 

■» 



4 



-•-^ 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



A.. .Sf|)l. -Jt'., |s71. iiikI C'Hiiiiio A.. ()<t. J't, l«7r». 
< (iir siiliject, nltli(>ii;;li lii.-< f;illier hii.< ii Dfinocriil, 
ciiMt lii.s flr!<l I'|-c.si<)ciiti:il vote fur Aliruliniii l.iii- 
colii. nini since llirit liino lia.t iilwiiys iilllli:itO(l willi 
ilic Kf|>ul>lic»ii piirty. NN'liiU- n rcsidi-iii of Inwii 
Mr. Ailiiins lichl tlio ollicc of .Su]HTvisor for llirci' 
yours, Asst-.-vsor out- _v<'!ir, ami Komi Overseer. In 
Ueiio I'oiiiity lie wius .liislice of llic I'enee for one 
year, ftiiil in Allien TowiKHliip w.-us Clerk of llie 
ScIhmi! ISonnl for lliree years. 

— -V -o♦<>-<<5^^V®-•♦o• s--— 

ED.MI.M) ( AI.I.AW AY i> on.- of ih,. reli:il.le 
ami |>roj{re.s>iive yoim;; farmers and rcprc- 
' sensitive men of .Snieni 'rownsliip. He is 

aetively ensjaged in ;(enera! farming; and slock- 
niisinjj on sei-tion 1(1. where lie Iwus an exeolloiil 
farm of KIO acre.s of land, lie i.s a native of Mason 
County, III., and liis liirtli took plan' Nov. 27, IH.'il. 
lie is the son of Dr. .loliii C. and Mary C. (Kin;;) 
Callaway, the formiT of whom was a very sueeess- 
ful physieian and surgeon, and was the .second 
setller of that ])rofession in CoflTey C'ounly. Kan. 

IJoth the parents of our siihjeet were natives 
of the Slate of Kenlui'ky, wIkj had removed to 
Illinois before their marriage. They were the par- 
ents of the following eight children: ."sallie. the 
wife of William Davis, a re>i<lenl of this Stjile; 
Chaiincey, a resident of Colonido; Lizzie, Mrs. W. 
•h Cox, residing in Wichita; William, who lives in 
No Man's Lund : Ktlmiind, the suhject of our sketch; 
Maggie, the wifeof.Iohn King, of Colorado; Nellie, 
.Mrs. (Jeorgc Salonica, n resident (»f Mcl'licrs«in 
County, Kan., and Addie, who is living in Colorado. 

When Kdmiind wa>i alioiit seven j'ears old his 
IMirents drought him with them to Coffey County, 
Kan., hut after a residence of some yeai-s the}' 
removed to Mah.-iska C'ounly, Iowa, where he w;ls 
reared to man's estate. He received his elementary 
eiliicalion in the excellent schools of the Ilawkeye 
.Slate, and ren)ained in that localit)- until the fall of 
lt<77, when he came to Kansas and settled in Sedg- 
wick County. Here he has made his home ever 
since. lie liH'ated on the farm where he now resides 
in IKMI. and l»y industry and good management 
has hroiight it to a high state of cultivation. His 



energy and |)erseverance, together with the tact anil 
mnnagenieiit i>t his estiinahle wife, have nii^ecl him 
from a jMisition of eompanitive poverty to a place 
among the well-Ui-do farmers of Sedgwick County. 

Kdiniind Callaway and Miss .losephine Fn-neh 
were united in marriage Nov. 2.'«, IKSd. The liride 
was a native of .Sullivan County, Inil., lK>rn April 
°J'J, IKCil, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Julia 
1-Vench, who claimed Kentucky a.s their liirthplace. 
In 1«7(; she caiin; with her parents to Knnsas and 
.settled in Waco Township, where the father and 
mother are slill living. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Callaway are as follows: fJracie, liorn Oct. 1.0, 
issi; Carl, .Inly .'U , IMH.'., and Oni .1.. .Inly 2'.», 
1 SHG. 

In his political :illiliations. Mr. Callaway is .an 
iiillexilile .•idhercnt to the diH-trines and principles 
of the Kepiihlican parly. He has no aspirations, 
however, for popular preferment, and aithongli he 
Ikls been elected to several of the Uiwnship olliees, 
has never qiialiHcd for them, preferring ihe |K-;ice 
and ipiietiidc of his own fireside. He is a piililic- 
spiriled and enterprising man. and takes an ai-tivc 
interest in everything which seems to promise a 
bcnelil to the community. He enjoys the esteem 
and confidence of his neighbors, and, with his 
excellent wife, is an imporU-int addition to the 
society of the township. Mrs. Callaway is an 
earnest member of the Christian Church, holding 
conneotion with I'r.iiric Home Church, in Waco 
Township. 

: :.r-H?^: : 

II.I.IAM lillNKI.I.. This gentleman ranks 
among the retired farmers and eapitnlists 
^f^ who are living at their ea.se in the city of 
Wichit'i, aiul who know right well how to lake care 
of the properly they accumulated in their younger 
years bj- untiring industry and the closest economy. 
The subject of this sketch has h.nd an interesting 
experience with the world, the main |ioint.s of which 
will well repay p«'ru.sal. 

Horn on the other side of llie Atl.-intic, in the 
city of London, on the iHsl day of April, IH;53, he 
spent the first twelve months of his life williin the 
eonnnes of thi' great Knglish melropolis, whence hi- 
cmigrateil with his parents to the United .States the 



-<»■ 



•►HI-4*- 



i 



^l•:l)(;\\I( K cniNTY. 



■•►Hh 



911 



following ye:ir. Upon neariiig the American shore, 
the}- sailed down the St. Lawrence to the city of 
Ciuebec, where they located and lived nntil our 
subject was a youth of fifteen years. The next 
residence of the latter was in St. Lawrence County i 
N. Y., where he started out for liiniself, and was 
occupied as a farm laln)rer for eight years follow- 
ing. From St. Lawrence he emigrated to Lewis 
Count}', and while there attended tiie common 
schools during the winter season, thus supplement- 
ing the limited education which he had received. 

Upon leaving the Empire State, Mr. Quinell 
made his way to Portage County, Wis., where he 
remained two j'ears, and in the meantime pur- 
chiused pine lands at sixty cents per acre. He lost by 
forest fire #10,000 worth of timber, which tended 
to make him disgusted vvith that section of country, 
and he soon afterward left for Doniphan County, 
in this State, reaching liere in 18G0. lie investeti 
tlie little money he had remaining in forty .acres of 
land, upon which he labored with indifferent suc- 
cess, and which he disposed of in 1872 upon his 
removal to this count}-. 

The first venture of our suiijecl in Sedgwick 
County Wiis the pre-emption of IGO .acres in Rock- 
ford Township, and later the purch:ise of another 
IGO acres adjoining. Upon this lie labored vvitli 
might and main for .several years, with the most 
satisfactory results. While eng.aged in the cultiva- 
tion of the soil he put up the requisite farm build- 
ings, and planted a number of fruit trees, 1,15() 
apple and 3,000 peach, and added from time to 
time the various otlier embellishments of the mod- 
ern country estate. This farm is now estimated to 
be worth §15,000. The fields are beautifully laid 
out with four and one-half miles of hedge, and the 
later years of Mr. Quinell upon this place were 
Largely devoted to stock-growing, including cattle 
and swine, which he shipped by the carload to 
Kansas City. In all his labors and plans he has 
been foremost in putting his own shoulder to the 
wheel, bearing in mind the maxim of Ben Krank- 
lin, " If you wish a thing well done, do it yourself." 

The lady who has been the faithful companion 
and helpmate to our subject for a period of twenty- 
seven years was in her girlhood Miss Amanda ,]. 
McCuUough, and became his wife on the l.'ilh of 
4« 



.January, 18G1, the wedding bi'ing celebrated at the 
home of the bride, in liurr Oak Township, Doni- 
phan Co., Kan. Mrs. Ciuinell was born in the city 
of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 1, 1K43, and came to Kan- 
sas with her parents in 1 85.0. The latter were Thomas 
II. and Rebecca (Craft) McCullough, the former a 
native of North Carolina, the latter of Virginia, the 
father being cousin to the Confederate General of 
the same name. Thomas U. McCullough was of 
Scotch ancestry, wliih; the motlier of Mrs. <^. was 
the descendant of an honorable old Welsh family 
who crossed the Atiantic during the Colonial days. 
The parents of Mrs. Quinell had nine children, viz.: 
Cl.aris.sa A., William, .John A.. Nathan C, Ama)ida 
J., Riifus L., .lulia A., Dulcina M. and .Lay. 

Mr. (Quinell after the outbreak of the Rebellion 
enlisted in Company A, l.'ith Kansas Infantry, in 
which he served three years, and met the enemy in 
several important battles, including the engage- 
ments at Prairie drove. Ark., Cane Hill, Camden, 
and various skirmishes. At the expiration of his 
term of enlistment he w.as honorably discharged, and 
returned to his farming interests. Previous to enter- 
ing the army Mr. Q. h;iil .accumulated about §1,400, 
which he invested in logging on the Missouri River; 
it was all swept aw.ay by the ravages of the rebel 
army. He had a full experience of the terrors of 
border warfare, which will never be effaced from 
his memory. In these his w-orthy wife fully shared, 
but proved herself equal to the emergency. Mr. 
Quinell w-as a good m.arksman, and entered the 
.army to share the fortunes of his friends and com- 
rades. He was under command of Col. Thom.as 
M. Bowcn, of Kansas, now United States Sen.a- 
tor from Colorado, who w-as his especial friend, 
and whose money was given to the safekeeping of 
our subject, who carried it around with him in a 
belt for two years. 

In 1860 Mr. Quinell rented his farm in Rockford 
Township, which he still ow-ns, and coming to Wich- 
ita, erected one of the finest dwellings on .South 
Mead avenue, where he subsequently took up his 
abode. A view of this elegant city residence is 
presented in this Ai.ium. His property embraces 
fourteen and one-h.alf acres, which h.as been laid out 
into eighty lots; he h.as fifteen .acres elsewhere in 
the city, besides eight lots on College Hill and five 



f 



f 

■ -4- 



912 



SF.nr.WICK COUNTY. 



III! s..uili Miirkn «U<i-l. i hiri- Is ii<> nii-Miii fur 
him In worry nl»>iil the future .us far nl li-.-utt n,* 
lin.-iiic-inl ninttrrs nre ooiiponied. 

Thi- sixcliihlren horn to our .siihject niui hi- wift- 
w»Tc imineil rospeclivcly : l.orcttn. Mnrtiii. I.coii- 
anl. Mih> C. Sylvin V. nnd Orniy. The IntU-r ilicil 
t)cL 17. IXHO, when an InUrt'sliiif; l)<>y of eight 
yearn. The ehle.st chihl i« twenty-one years c»f 
ii^rc. and the younge.st livinj: seven. Mr. l^ninell 
is a Ke|)nl)hcan at all times, an<l uniformly supports 
till' principles of his party. 



27. (i.'irtlen Plain Township, where he is 
interested in sUx'k-growiii'f. fruit culture, 
and the various products raised by an en- 
terprising Kansjis farmer. He was burn in .S|KMicer 
County, Ky., March 31, lH2fi. leaving that .StaU- 
for Indiana when about three yt-ars old, with his 
mother, where they rcmaineil for nearly a year, and 
tiicn went to (irecne County, 111., and made their 
home the succeeding Ave years. Thence they went 
to .Montgomery Ctnnity, Mo., l)Ut at the end of 
a residence of eight ^cars in that Stsite they re- 
turned to Illinois and settled in I'ike County, 
remaining there until our subject was of iige. Mis 
chances for an education were very limited, but by 
patient |)erseverance he managed to secure oppor- 
tunities to learn to read, write and cipher. At 
the age of twenty-one he commenced to learn the 
carpent«-r's trade, but did not follow it long, as he 
had n good chance U> work in a .-awmill in the em- 
ploy c»f VanDorn, Arthur it Co., in Adams County, 
serving them faithfully and elllcientlj' for nearly 
twenty years. In March, l.sG,'). he enlisted jis a 
member of the .'iHtli I'nilcd Stntes Troo|>s, nnd was 
in the service of the (iovernment for one year. 

While in Adams County our subject esUiblished 
a home, having married .Mis.s .Susan Wilson, in Octo- 
ber. IK.M, but jifter a few brief years of a happy 
wedded life .Mrs. Clark died. Dne .son was born of 
that union. .lames W., the Hate of whose birth was 
Aug. 2<',, IH'rJ. lie is wrll educated, lus his father 
jjave him the school advantages that were denied 
to liis own youth; he is now .'i inercanlilc traveler 



with a home in Clilcago. Mr. Clark was ngnin 
marrieil. .Ian. Ih. 1M.'>7. to .Mary M. Kee<l. a native 
of Mobile, Ala. She was born April '>~ . 1H.I7, 
and when three years of age wiuh taken to I'almyra. 
Mo., where she lived until she w.-is nearly eight 
years old, when she was taken to Illinois, .-ind 
bound out until she should be eighteen years old. 
She is a woman of great capability and is fairly 
well educated; she served with general satisfaction 
as Postmistress of (harden Plain for one year. 

In I«73 .Mr. Clark resolved to try life in Kansa.-, 
and coming to Wichita in October of that year, 
the following winter he worked at wagon-repairing 
with his brother, who was a blacksmith. In March, 
1H74, he |ire-cmptcd his present farm of ItiO acres, 
and shortly after his family joined him. On ac- 
count of the grasshop|>er raiil our subject had to 
work in Wichita another year tosuppijrt his family. 
Times were very hard that year, and they were 
very poor a.s he found it ditlicnlt to get good \m\- 
ing work all of the time; then Mrs. Clark nobly 
proved herself to l(C a true helpmate by taking 
in sewing to assist her husband in supplying the 
necessjiries of life. Since that time prosperity has 
smiled upon them, and Mr. Clark has been enabled 
to ])iit his f.irni in a high sUitc of culture, to erect a 
comfortable dwelling and other farm buildings. 
lie has a good peach orchard, which brings him in 
a good sum of money ; a fine grove greatly eidiances 
the value of his farm and ad<ls beauty to his place. 
To our subject and his wife have been born 
three children, namely : William II. A., born Oct. 
;3, 1H.')7; Harvey M.. born March 3, l«.'»y, died 
Sept. 23, 185'.»; Helen S., born Nov. IC, IHCi', dieil 
Nov. 5, 18G4, having been burnetl by her clothing 
catching lire. William is finely educated and has a 
good position in the State National Hank .-it Wich- 
ita; he is nmrried and has a home of his own. .Mr. 
and Mrs. Clark have L-iken a boy into their home, 
whom they have reared from an infant six weeks olil. 
His name is Antonio .1. Winters, and he was born 
Nov. 1.1, l.s7fi, in t^uincy. III. 
i Mr. and .Mrs. Clark have won the unbouniled 
i rcsjiect and conlidence of all with whom they as.so- 
' ciate by their sterling characters, kiml hearts, and 
I genial, hospitid)le manners. .Mr. Clark is a hearty 
! supporter of the Kepublicuu party; i;- .i memlicr of 



•►^-^ 



■*► 



h 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



••► 



913 



the Masonic fraternity, and in anti'-belliim times was 
identified with the "underground railroad," and 
many a poor fusritive has had cause to bless liim 
for iiis help, so kindly and generously extended in 
the hour of his utmost need. Mr. Clark is also a 
member of Tincher Post No. 3.02,0. A. R., Garden 
Plain, Kan. 

THOMAS 15. CARTWRIGIIT, Treasurer of 
Sedgwick County, became the incumbent 
of this ofHce in the spring of 1887, and is 
<lischarging its duties with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to all concerned. He owns asnug farm 
of eight}' acres on section 22, in Wiico Township, 
and is regarded .is a capable business man, and one 
possessing the sterling qualities of character which 
have made him worthy of the confidence of the 
l)eople. 

Our subject, a native of Sangamon Countj% 111., 
was born on the 29th of January, 1 844, and is the 
son of V. C. and Cynthelia (Scott) Cartwright, 
who were natives of Kentuck}". Valentine C. Cart- 
, Wright was born M.ay 19, 18.31, and departed this 
life at his home in Waco Township, this county, 
Oct. 30, 1886. The family emigrated from the 
Blue Grass regions when the father of our subject 
was a little l.id four years of age, in 1825. His 
father was the noted Methodist preacher, Peter 
Cartwright, whose history was closelj' intermingled 
with that of the pioneer days of Sangamon County. 
Peter Cartwright was born Sept. 1, 1785, in Am- 
herst County, \V. V., and died in Sangamon 
Countj', in Se])tember, 1873. 

The mother of our subject w.is born in Kentucky, 
Sept. 10, 1821, and is still living, having now ar- 
rived at the advanced age of sixty -six j'e.ars. She 
m.ikes her home with her daughter, Mrs. 1). O. Will- 
iams, in the city of Wichita. The parental house- 
hold included the children whose record is as 
follows: .losephine was born Jan. 14, 1842, and 
became the wife of A. McCormick, a lumber dealer, 
who owns and occupies a farm in Ohio Township; 
they have three children. Thomas B., of our sketch, 
was the second child ; Elizabeth C, born April 1 , 
1847, is the wife of S. D. Pallett, a lumber dealer, 



of Wichita, and the mother of three children, two 
of whom are deceased ; Harriet J. was born Oct. 
15, 1849. and man'ied I). O. Williams, of Wichita; 
they have one child. Charles A. was born Oct. 10, 
1852, and married Miss Ida Robinson, of this 
county; they have become the parents of four chil- 
dren, one deceased, and reside on a farm. Albert 
B. was born Dec. 1, 1855, married Miss Lilly Mc- 
Cormick, and they have two children ; he operates 
a fruit farm near Los Angeles, Cal. Arminda P. 
was born Feb. 9. 1859, and is the wife of J. L. 
Nessley, junior member of the grocery firm of 
Williams & Nessley, of Wichita : of the four children 
born to them one is now deceased. Newton C. was 
born Oct. 7, 18(;i, .and met an accidental death on 
the 20th of October, 1876. He had been out hunt- 
ing in Waco Township, this count}', and while 
slipping down from a log the hammer of his gun 
was caught and the weapon discharged, the shot 
taking efl'ect in the right side and coming out at 
the left. Walter L. was born Sept. 19, 1864, and 
lives with his brother in Los Angeles. Cal. 

The subject of this sketch continued a member 
of the p.irental household until twenty-three years 
of age, sin<\ was then united in marriage, on the 27th 
of September, 1866, to Miss Mary E.. daughter of 
Rev. Newton Cloud, of Morgan County, III. The 
maiden name of her mother was Klizal)eth Wood, 
and the p.arents were natives of Kentucky. Mr. 
Cloud was a very intelligent and well educated 
man, and served as a member of the Illinois Legis- 
lature from Morgan County several terms. There 
were born to him and his excellent wife nine chil- 
dren, namely: Louisa, George, F.anny. Dr. J. B., 
Campbell, Mattie, Mary, Newton and Virgil. Mr. 
Cloud was born Nov. 30, 1804, in Stokes County, 
N. C, and departed this life at his home in Morgan 
County, July 22, 1877. His wife, Klizabeth C, was 
born July 30, 1801, and p.assed aw.ay previous to 
the decease of her husb.and, Oct. 10, 1874. Their 
eldest daughter, Louisa J., was born Nov. 21, 1825, 
became the wife of Mr. A'an Winkle, of Morgan 
County, and died there Aug. 13. 1843; George N. 
w.as born July 11. 1827. and went in 1849 first to 
California, then to South America, and from there 
to Australia, where he was when Last heard from; 
Fanny A. was born Aug. 18, 1830. and is now the 



-t 



■♦ 






J^ 



91 « 



SKDCWlf'K fdlM V 



«if«- ""f |)r. <;. \\ . ( !ilil»<ll. lit |iii'M'iit II |iriictu-iii;,' 
pli_\>i<mii of Miinti'oiiiirv C'ouiily. 111.: llit-y Imvo 
twii cliililn-ii livin;; und imt' <ii'i-t'aM.'«l. .losoph H. 
wn-s ln>rii Niiv. 1"J, I83"i. niid difil in Di-ooiiiluT, 
1X72; Ik- wius llr>t niniTiitl to Miss Molly K|i1«t, 
wliu ilii-tl, and lu' wii.h >Mti>t<'i|tu-ntly ninrrioil toMiiis 
Annie Harrison, wlu> is now ii resident of San;;;!- 
iiion County. 111., and the wife of .lames Cardner, 
en<{agcd in farming there. Campbell wa.s liorn .May 
2<;. IH.U. and died .Inn. l;'i, 1H71: he had lieen 
married to a laily whos*- lirsl name w.-us Kliznlielh, 
and who lieenme the mother of one eliihl and sur- 
vived her hnsliaiid hut a short time; their home 
wn.s on a farm in .Morjian County, 111. Mattie K. 
wa.s liorn An-;. '>, IH.SG. and died at her home in 
Snn^^anion. Auj;. 20, 1 .s72. after havinj; been mar- 
ried to I. I'. .Smith. Newton C, horn .lune I'.i, 
IK 12, dieil in infancy: Mary K., the wife of our 
sulijeet, wai horn Au^. 1, IKIl, in Morgan County; 
N'irtril W. married Mis.s Mary A. Hayes, and occu- 
pies the ollice of Deputy I'nited Stiites Marshal; his 
family includes four children, and they reside in 
Sidem Ttiwnship. 

'I'lie live children of uur subject and his wife 
were born lus follows: .Maude C., Mi'^. 25, IHC.S; 
Claude N., .Ian. 2r,, 1H70; Madije C, Al)ril 21, 
1«77; Olive V., March 20. 1 HMO ; Arthur'!'., Aug. 
2.1. ISM2. They are all at lujme with their parents. 
'I'he family reside at their country honicsleud, al- 
though .Mr. Cartwright is the owner of four city 
lots in WichiUt, upon which are good buildings. 
He is a stanch Democrat, politically, and his excel- 
lent wife is a member in good stjinding of the Meth- 
udist Kpisco|ial Church. 



KWKirr 1). CANADAY, who is retired 
from activi' business, is now a prominent 
citi/en of .Mulvanc. He has been engaged in 
various enterprises since- coming to Kansjus 
in l.'<71, and has by shrewd jutlgmenl. e.\eellenl 
management, and fair business transactions, acquired 
siitlicienl pro|n'rty l<i enable him now, while yet in 
the prime of life, to give up biisines.s cares, and 
enjoy the result of his former labors. 

'I'lie subject of this sketch wa,s bom ill D.avis 



('oUilly,.Mo 1 .s||. heliig (he-oM I.I .loliii .1. .-Hid 

Siphia (.Smith) Cnnailay. natives of North Cam- 
lina and Pennsylvania res|K'ctively. His mother 
ilied In 1K.13, and his father in |M.'i7. After his 
pareuLs' death our subject continiietl his educa- 
tional studies fur awhile, and then start4-d in busi- 
ness on his own account, soon becoming a self-snp- 
IMjrtiiig member of s<K-iety. He removed to .Mis- 
s<iuri, and at the breaking out of the late Civil War 
enlisted in his country's defense, becoming a mem 
ber of the 5th Kansas Cavalry, in which he served 
until IH(;4. He wa.s actively engaged the greater 
part of the time, iM-iiig in the following battles, 
namely: At Osceola, Mo., under the command of 
.lames Lane; at Morristown, Mo., where Col. .lohn- 
slone lost his life; Dry wood; Curtis' raid from 
Missouri; battle of Helena. .Iiily 4, 1X0.!. where his 
horse was shot from under him; capture of Little 
Uock. Ark.; Pine UlulT, Ark; Steele's n»id tti Cam- 
den, on the WashiUi Uivcr. where part of the regi- 
ment was captured on the retreat at .Mark's Mill, 
and where our subject had another horse shot. 
After valiant service in the army, .Mr. Canaday 
returned to his former home in DeWitt County, 
III., where he resume<I life as a priv:ito citizen. 

Ill 1HG8 our subject w.as married t<i Miss A. .1. 
n<iwles. daughter of .1. P. and Maria Bowles, natives 
of Kentucky. They removed from their native 
State to Illinois in 1X30, and in that Stat*- their 
daughter, now Mrs. Canaday. w.-ls born Sept. 17. 
1S47. They afterward removed to Kansius, and .are 
still residents of Sedgwick County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Canad.ay removed to S;dem Town- 
ship three years after their marriage, where he |)re- 
cmpted the southwest (jiiarter of section 20, which 
he still owns. He improved the land, erecU'ii a 
house and barn, and lived there until his removal 
to .Mulvaiie in IHH2, where he iK-cupies the hanil- 
some dwelling which he had built in the north part 
of the city. After coming here .Mr. Can.aday !«■- 
came a dealer in grain and live stock, entering into 
a partnership with .Mr. Brown, under the nrm name 
of Brown it Canaday. He afterward eng!iged in 
the lumber business with B. II. Ward, buying out 
the Chicago Lumber Company, and continuing in 
the same until I.'s.s7. He is now practically retired 
from active work, .■ilthoii;;h his lime is pretty well 



•►■.^ 






HI-4»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



917 




occupied in looking after his extensive property 
interests. 

Mr. Can.idiiy ims great!}' aiiled the growtli of Mul- 
vane, and lias been instrumental in the building up of 
the city, both in the business and residence parts, 
having erected homes in each quarter, lie is promi- 
nently identified witii liie local man.ageinent of the 
city, where his aid and judgment are <jften called 
into requisition, and he has ably lilled the oflice of 
Councilman. 

In politics Mr. Canaday is a member of the 
Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the 
G. A. K., has belonged tc the I. O. O. F., and has 
been a Granger. Both he and his excellent wife are 
communicants of the Christian Church in the city 
of Mulvaue. 

The pleasant home circle of our subject and his 
wife consists of three children, namely: Emma, 
who was born July 24, 1870; Charles, Feb. 12, 
1874, and Anna. May 1.'), 1878. 



OLA MARTIN.SON, whose portrait is given 
on the opposite page, is a capitalist, and Vice 
President of the West Side National Bank, 
of Wichita. He is one of the substantial and intlu- 
ential citizens of Sedgwick County, where he has 
extensive business interests. He is a native of 
Southern Sweden, and was born Sept. 20, 184 I. His 
parents were Martin and Kjersti (Olson) Hakanson. 
His father is extensively engaged in farming in his 
native land. His mother died there in 1847. They 
had four children, the subject of this skeUth being 
the only one who ever came to America. 

Our subject worked on his father's farm and at- 
tended school until he was fifteen years old. He 
then left home for the capit.il of .Sweden, Stockholm, 
where he learned the baker's tr.ide, and engaged in 
it there for one year. He then returned home, and 
after remaining there eight months, went to Kristian- 
stad to work in a bakery, remaining there four ye.ars. 
During that time he joined the volunteer sharp- 
shooters, and drilleil with them evenings and Sun- 
days after leaving the bakery. When he left his 
situation in Kristianslad he worked as a journey- 
man at his trade for six months, and then was taken 



ill with inflammatory rheumatism, and for some time 
thereafter was unable to work. After his recovery 
he received a small amount of money from his 
mother's estate, and established himself in business 
a few miles from his old home. At the expiration 
of a few months he sold out, and after settling up 
all his private affairs and paying farewell visits to 
his friends he embarked for America. He landed 
at Castle Garden, N. Y., July 3, 18GG, and from 
there he went to Chicago. He was a young man 
of nK)re than ordinary ability and intelligence, and 
ambitiously resolved to make for himself a place in 
this new country, and in order to achieve this he 
did not hesitate to perform what work came to 
hand. He worked as a common day laborer for 
three months, and then, as he could not find any em- 
ployment in the winter se.ison, he attended .school 
to perfect his knowledge of the English language. 
In the following spring he found employment with 
S. B. Chase, of Lake View, Chicago, and remained 
with him for nineteen months, doing all kinds of 
work. He now looks back with grateful remem- 
brance to the time he spent in the family of his em- 
ployer as one of the happiest periods of his life in 
this country, .as they were so kind to him who was 
a comparative stranger in a new land, and they 
made iiim feel while he was with them tliat their 
home was his home. He in return rewarded their 
thoughtful regard for his welfare by the faithful dis- 
charge of his dutj-, and a cheerful willingness to do 
all, and even more, than was required of him to 
perform. He attended school in the winter, besides 
doing the chores for Mr. Chase. When he left 
Lake View, Mr. Chase gave him a cordi.al letter of 
recommendation. Feeling the need of a better 
education he bought a life-membership in the Dy- 
renforth Commercial College, of Chicago, and at- 
tended the morning sessions of that institution, and 
in the aftcrnofm did copying and other office work 
for J. V. LeMoyne. 

After a close application toollice work and school 
for six months, Mr. Martinson had an attack of the 
Kan.sas fever, and made arrangements with an old 
friend, a fellow compatriot, to acctunpany him to 
Tojjcka, this State, to which city thej- proceeded b^' 
rail. There he was employed for a month at lath- 
ing. He then set out for Emporia, hoping to ob- 



■•»■ ■ ■*« 



f 

■ -4- 



9IA 



'^KDOWICK COINI Y. 



••» ■- 



liiiii »»iik lli«Tf. j'oiiifr 11 imrl nf tlir wiiy in n wnjjon 
mill llie reiimiiKlor «>f tho way <>" f'«>t. In tliiil 
city lu' wnrkiHl nt «Mld j.iU of ^rnnlciiinp niul 
Imrvpstiiij; for tlin-o months, and ihon fmimd n 
|Kirtnrrslii|> in the rity with Mr. Ciintroll in the 
Ixikory liii!»in<-?y<. Tlioy were <Mif;ngcil to>,'<'lher for 
niuf months, nnd lind linilt up (luito n k'<u"I Inidc, 
whiMi Mr. MartinM)n «iu* Uiki'n sick with inllnmnin- 
tory rlioiimntism nnd did not rucovor liis hoidth for 
some time, «nd wns, thoroforp, olilifjcd to di><-<in- 
liniio bnsincss. 

In .Inly, 1H70, Mr. Martinson nuiif with Mr. Kec- 
ft-r to Wichita, IhiMi a frontier tradinp villn;re. and 
with that ;:cntlpm.Mn conducted u Hour and feed 
liuslnos on Main stroel for a few montlis. Our 
snhji-ct tlien pni-ctia.sed an inlei-e.st in a bakery with 
Mr. A. Wie.sner, ami continu«'d to run it until tlie 
fall of lH7:t, when he sold out his .share in the liusi- 
ne.ss and went to live on his (lovernment claim, 
which he had taken up in 1871 ; it lies six and one- 
half miles from the city, lie liveil there two years, 
and partly improved it Iiy Imilding a house an<1 hy 
setting; out fruit nnd ornampnlal trees. In tlie 
sprint; of 1S7(; he was aj,'ain alt--icked liy his ancient 
enemy, rheumatism, nnd came to WichiU for care 
nnd treatment. In that year Mr. Martinson took 
unto himsplf a wife l-o pre.sidp over his home, and 
to her zeal and devotion to his interests he is •jrpally 
indelited. Her maiden name wa.s .Sarali Knolllock, 
and Indiana w;is the place of her nalivily. To 
them have l)een horn three sons. n:ime|y: Ola K., 
William K. .-ind t'hnrles (J. 

After his marriage our subject, with his newly 
made wife, returned to his ranch, and there continued 
farming; until I HSU. In that year he purch.'ised 
2iiO acres of land in West Wii-hita, payinff therefor 
t>l 2,000. Up laid imrt of this out in city iot.s, 
nnd in \X>*!> made his llrst addition of ei<;hl 
acres, and now has ei<;lit additions, and lia.s been 
enpifjed in buying; and sellinfj other property 
adjoining ever sini'e. thus materially juvsistinj,' in 
the ffrowth of the city. He has alsf) conll'ibuted 
Inr^'cly to incren.-w the buildin^> of the city. He 
built the Martin.Hon I<l<K-k in this city, which Iiilk a 
fronUiKC of I'.'.') fe<'t and Ji depth of HI) feel, is three 
>torie> in hei^^ht and ha.M a full basement. It co»t 
over *.'.0,000. In 1HH7 he built tlic Wc-l Side 



Hotel, |ii\|lMl fci t and three >torie.o in hei;;hL He 
also built the We.st Side dru<{ store building. wlii<-h 
is two stories in height and '.'OxfiO feet. Up Ii;ls 
al.stt erpcteil store,* and tenempnt houses in that pnrl 
of llip city, and owns the street car stables on that 
side. He built his prp.sent rpsidpiice in lftS7, at .1 
CO.SI of over *1 1,000. It is one of the best built 
nnd finest ilwellings in the city of Wichita, nnd wp 
t.'ikp plpasure in {fivinfj a view of it in this volume. 
He is a sUickluilder in the street railw.-iy, nnd 
stockholder anil Director in the watch f.-ictory. nnd 
also several other institutioiis of the city. 

Mr. Martinson is very public spirited, and luis 
made lar<;e donations to the ililTerent institutions 
of the city. His kind-heartedne.ss and benevolence 
arc well known, and no chariUablc object ap|ieals to 
him in vain for relief. In National politics our 
subject is identified with the Democratic party, 
ihoutlli not :i p.'irtisjin in it.s stiietest sense. 

\|;()NA THAN HANDSON. .,( Viola Township, 
occupies a frame residence, a portion of 
which was the first structure of the kind 
erected south of the Ninnescah River. In 
view of this fact it is hardly necessary to slnte that 
he was one of the earliest pioneers of .Sedrrwick 
("ounty, and he luis made such s»ood use of his time 
durinj; the period of his sojourn here that he is now 
numbered anion^r the leadin<; men along the 
.southern line of the county. His property lies on 
section l."), and comprises ."iUO acres of land, with 
subst.-intial buildings, and nil the other appliances 
of the lii>t-cla.>vs country home. 

Our subject, a native of Lincolnshire, Kngland, 
wius born April l;'i, 1 S2;'i, and is the son of .lonathan, 
Sr., and ICIizabeth (Cowsheall) Handson, who were 
also of I-jiglish birth .'ind parenL-ige. In 1 H-JH, when 
(»nr sidijpct w.'is a chihl three yeai-s of age, the 
family cnosed the Atlantic and settled in Henry 
t'ounty, Ohio, where the father followed farming 
until ISM. In that year he removed from the 
Huckeye State to Monroe County, Mich., when' the 
parent.H spent the remainder of their lives. Of their 
live children the record is as follows; Frances, now 
deceased, will the wife of .lohn t'ullun; Kdward 



#/ 



•► • -^^ 



^r 



HI-4^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



919 ii\ 



n 



continues a resident of Monroe County. Mich., 
where he is engaged in farming; Enim.a is the wife 
of G. W. Williams, and ri'sides near Kalamazoo, 
Mich.; Henry maintains his residence near the old 
homestead in Monroe County; Jon.ithan, of our 
sketch, was the j'oungcst child. 

Mr. Handson, upon rciching manhood, was 
employed on canals and railroads in Ohio until 
1852, then migrated to Edgar County, 111., wiicre 
he resided for a period of ten yeare, engaged 
mostly in farming. After the outbreak of the war, 
however, he enlisted in Company G, 116th Illinois 
Infantry, and served until the Confederates laid 
down their arms. He participated in many im- 
portiint battles, including tlie siege and capture of 
Vicksburg, the conflict at Mission Ridge, and 
marched with the troops of Gen Sherman to the 
sea. He also went with that division of the army 
up through the Carolinas, and was present at the 
grand review at Washington, after which he re- 
ceived his honorable discharge and was mustered 
out. 

Mr. Handson, upon laying aside the accoutrements 
of war, returned to his old haunts in Illinois, where 
he followed agricultural pursuits until coming to 
this State in the year 1872. He first stopped in 
the city of Wichita, where he invested in town 
pro|)ert\', and for a few yeai-s was engaged in the 
wholesale and retail grocery trade. He removed 
from the citj' to his faam in 1884, although he had 
purchased the land twelve years previously. In the 
meantime he disposed of his city i)roperty, and is 
now living comparatively retired from active labor, 
his land being operated by a tenant. 

Our subject was married in Hancock County, 111., 
in 1872, to Miss Ella, daughter of Sil.as and Hannah 
(Wynn) Henderson, who were natives respectively 
of Indiana and Ohio. Mrs. Handson wjis born near 
Lawreneeburg, Ind., June 18, 1852, and was de- 
prived of a mother's care when a little girl of 
seven years, that affectionate parent having died 
in 1859. Her father only survived his wife five 
years, at which time the family were residents of 
Macon County, 111. Mrs. H. after the death of her 
parents was taken into the familj^ of William Lap- 
ham, of Decatur, and received a fair education in 
the public schools. She was visiting with friends 



in Hancock County at the time of her marriage. 
There were but two children in the family of her 
parents, and her sister Emma, now the wife of C. 
W. Vandervoort, is residing in Sumner County, 
Kan. 

Mr. and Mrs. Handson have two children only, 
both daughters, Nina and Genevra, who are bright 
girls of fifteen and twelve years respectively. 
The elder was one of the first white children born 
within the city limits of Wichita. Our subject 
uniformly votes the Republican ticket, but has 
steadily declined becoming an office-holder. His 
estimable wife is a member in good standing of the 
First Methodist Church, in Wichita. Their home, 
the al)ode of peace and plenty, forms one of the 
most attractive spots in Viola Township. 



f^^OBEUT J. McKIM, a well-known and hon- 
!Ui^ ored citizen of WichiUi, formerly a hotel- 
keeper, but now living in retirement in his 
^^"pleasant residence at No. 934 North Law- 
rence avenue, comes of an honorable ancestry of 
Scotch-Irish blood, one of whose representiitives, 
the great-gr.and father of our subject, was one of 
the first settlers of Virginia, making his home in 
th.at beautiful region near Richmond, his journey 
to this country being a long and tedious voyjige of 
nearly three months. The family were f.armers for 
many gener.alions, and some of the members were 
for long years engaged in that occupation near Bal- 
timore. They were always thrifty, prosperous people, 
and at an early period were slave-holders. 

Joseph McKim, the father of our subject, was 
born on his father's plantation in Loudoun County, 
^'a., in 1703. After completing his education he 
learned the trade of tanner, and at the early .age of 
eighteen became a pioneer of Kentucky, contempo- 
rary with the celebrated frontiersman, hunter .and 
pioneer, Daniel Boone. He settled in Bourbon 
County, near Millersburg, and eight miles from 
Paris, and there took up a farm of 200 acres, and 
operated an extensive tannery for many years. He 
m.arried, on the 1st da}' of January, 1800, Miss 
Martha McClelland, a Kentucky lady of Scotch- 
Irish parentage. They became the parents of thir- 



-•►-•-^ 



•^ ■ -^^ 



-i I ■' . w Ii K (■< il NTY, 



ti't'll < lill'lli M. IIUD' i>r nllnlll llM'il t>' lli.'ltlll lt_\ . 

*<«imii'l 11. (lieil at tho age of oij;lily-i>n(', in Cali- 
foniin; Kli!«lm wm. a fnnuor of I.owin C'oimly, Mo.; 
Williani A. elij-d nl Cniiton, in Norliu-ii>t Mi!«.-ioiiri ; 
hi' lincl born « nuTuliniil for forty yi'art.. .1. Morton 
iliiMl in Callaway County, Mo.; lie vnm n siicccs-sful 
farmer and .ttm-k-rai.'^r. Martha ninrrieil William 
lloilailay; Ltirinila niarripil Mr. 'I'liriK'kmorton ; 
K.li/.ali<>tli marrioil Mr. .lames; .lane A. innrrieil 
Mr. MeCluri-. .Mr. .MrKini \vu.s an ediicati-d man, 
wa.-* a gentli'Uian of llio old .vt'hiKil, and wa.-* con- 
!tiitor«-d wealthy in those days; he always kepi a 
sifielioard well furnished with liquors, and u.sed 
them in hospitality with in-eat moderation. His fam- 
ily was a very moral one, and it is s;ii<l that none 
of them was ever under the inlluenee of liquor <u- 
wjus ever known t») u.se profane ljiM;iuage. He was 
an earnest member of the Christian Church; he 
was a great reader of the Bible, and, having a 
good memory, eould quote the Scriptures freely. 
.Mr. McKiin was a prominent man in his locality, 
and a leader in |»olities; he was in every w.ay :i nierit- 
iirious man, of line chanieli-r, regular in his habits, 
and had a lime for everything: his desceiidauLs may 
well revere his memory-. He always lived on his 
plantation, ami died at the jige of .seventy -six. 

liobcrt .1. McKim. of this biogmphy, wa.s born 
Oct. 2."», ls2.'i, in the old home of his parents in 
Kentucky. He received a common-school educa- 
tion, and as in early life he evinced an unmis- 
takable talent for business, he was set to work as a 
clerk in a store at Millersburg, to learn the d<Uiil? 
of till- mercantile trade. He received a good prac- 
tical training, and so faithful and etilcient w.as he 
that at the age of twenty-one he w.ns enablcMl to 
buy the largest stock of goods that ever came into 
.Millersburg, and the following year began his suc- 
cessful career a.s a merchant, remaining in that 
city in that capacity until IK."".!. Our subject took 
unt4( himself a wife and helpmate in the pers<^)n 
of Mis« .lulia Neville Dorsey, a daughter of the 
Collector of the I'ort of New Orleans, (Ireen- 
bery iJorscy. The marri:igc took pl.iee .Ian. S, 18.11. 
To ihem were born five children — .loseph Dorsey. 
Samuel Warren. William .Morton. .lulia and Hor- 
aie Miller; the Iall4r died at the age of one 
y-ar. Tlic loving wife and mothei d.|«irle<l this 
-4« 



lifi' in August, isiii. Ml. MrKini w:l« inarrii'l to 
his pre.wnt wife, formerly Mi.ss .M. K. Harri-, daiigh- 
U>r of .lohn M. ami .M. T. (Walters) Harris, of Mis- 
souri, formerly of Kentucky. The marriage took 
place Feb. 1. I .Hf.C. 

After leaving Millersburg, in October, 18,'i4. 
Mr. McKim settled on a fann in Callaway County. 
.Mo.; this change was made on account of his 
health, and lie remained there, .actively and prosjier- 
oiisly engage<l in agricultural pursuits and stock- 
raising, for seven ycai-s. He then went into thi- 
mercantile business in Millersburg. Subsequently 
he went to Columbia, Mo., and there became the 
|)roprietor of the Central House, and after that be- 
came the owner of the Carroll House, Carroll- 
tun, continuing in the hotel busines.s in different 
places in Missouri until \HK,\. In that year he 
came to ^\■icllila, and for .some time nianaged the 
Tremont House with excellent success, his wide 
experience, ready tact and genial cfuirtesy making 
him a popular host. Mr. McKiin is now living re- 
tireil frfiiii active business, having accumulated a 
sulliciencv of this worUl's go<«ls to enable him to 
|)a.ss his remaining years in ease, surrounded with 
the comfi>j'ts of life, and enjoying the respect 
and C(>iifidei)cc of his fellowmen in the highest de- 
gree. Mr. McKim is a true-hearted man, an earnest 
believer in the doctrines of Christianity, and from 
very early years has been an active member of the 
Christian Church; imlitically, he is a stanch Demo- 
crat, and .socially, he is a prominent Mason, and 
has tiikeii all the Chapter degrees. 



-'€:^mmo(!^ 



Ji;OIIN A. U.MI.KV. Few IK-, .pie remain long 
I in Sedgwick Count}' without becoming fa- 
I miliar with this name, which is borne by one 
f) of its earliest pioneers and most enterprising 

men. His fine farm, which comprises the east half 
of section 1 1, has been brought to a good stile of 
cultivation, and .several acres artuind the group of 
farm buildings are devoted to apple and |M>ach 
trees be-ides the smaller fruits. A<ljacent are two 
niie groves, iiikI a spring of living wat*'ral each end 



-•^-•-^ 



I: 



SKDCaVICK COUNTY. 



'.121 ^^ 



of the farm furnishes this indispensable element to 
the live stock, of wliii-li Mr. Hailej- makes a spe- 
eialtj'. 

Mr. Bailey went out with the lirst surveying 
party em|)lo3'ed bj' the Government to determine 
the section lines, and at the time the first seven 
building.-; were put up in this neighborhood. With 
tiie exception of our subject the families who occu- 
|)ieil these are all gone. There was then but one 
road from Medicine Lodge to Wichita, and the 
|)rairie was covered with wild cattle. Mr. Baile^', 
during the lir.st few years of his residence in this 
locality, often went out and killed buffalo within a 
half mile of the site of his present dwelling. The 
graceful antelope frequently bounded over the 
plains, and other wild game was plentiful. Over 
the ground where these wild creatures roamed un- 
restrained now reign the fat and well-kept herds 
of our subject, who deals largely in Durham and 
Devonshire cattle, and as a breeder of fine horses 
has attained an enviable reputiition. At the head 
of his stables is a Cleveland bay, which has taken 
nine first premiums at the various State and county 
fairs, and is one of the finest animals west of the 
Mississippi. Mr. Bailey, upon coming to this State 
in 1873, pre-empted first a quarter-section, and his 
daughter, Mary E. Smith, secured at the same 
time also a quarter-section, which she subsequently 
sold to her father, and which he has since re- 
tained. About 200 acres have been broken, the 
balance being devoted to grazing. 

The subject of this sketch, a native of the Em- 
pire State, w:is born in Washington County, March 
1.5, 1834. Ilis parents, Nathaniel and .lane (Dun- 
ning) Bailey, were natives respectively of England 
and New York State. Nathaniel Bailey was born 
in 1!^02, and departed this life at his home in 
Wivsliington County, N. Y., in the spring of 1842. 
The mother was born in 1818, is still living, and a 
resident of LaSalle County', III. Nathaniel Bailey 
was a carpenter and millwright by trade, and both 
parents were members of the Free-Will Baptist 
Church. Of their four children, John A., of our 
sketch, was the eldest. Two died in infancy un- 
named. Hannah is the wife of James Anderson, 
and the mother of four children ; they are living 
on a farm in Ophir Township, LaSalle Co., 111. 



After the death of her first husband Mrs. Bailey 
was married to William Graham, and this union 
resulted in the birth of three children, two of whom 
died in infancj', and the third, George, died when 
a lad eight years of age. Mr. Grah;im departed 
this life in Washington County, N. Y., and the 
mother was married the third time, to Henry Mer- 
win, who died in 1870. She now remains a widow, 
and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Han- 
nah Anderson. 

John A. Bailey completed his education at the 
High School in Poultney, Vt., and then returning 
to his native State remained there until a youth of 
seventeen j'cars. Thence proceeding to J^aSalie 
County, 111., he engaged there farming until the fall 
of 1873, and in the meantime was married to Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Vangieson) Smith, who was born in 
Monroe Count\', N. Y., in 1832, and became tlie 
wife of our subject Nov. 12, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bailey have one child only, a son, Alvoran D., who 
was born Nov. 9, 1 870, and is now the able assist- 
ant of his father in the operations of the f.-irm. 

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Cor- 
nelius and Ellen (Lake) ^'angieson, and remained 
with her parents until her marriage to James 
Smith, which took place in New Y'ork on the 12th 
of May, 1852. Of this union there ivere five chil- 
dren: Marv Ellen was born Feb. 13, 18.54, and after 
being thoroughly educated in the common school 
and the High School of AVichita, engaged as a 
teacher; she makes her home with her mother. 
William was born June 9, 1856, and died on the 
loth of the same month; Ida L. was born Aug. 24, 
1857, and is the wife of Samuel Ilaldermau, who is 
farming in Afton Township; of their five chil- 
dren one is deceased. Olive A. was born June 3, 
1860, and died in October, 1874, in this State; 
Cornelius E. was born Feb. 7, 1863, and married 
Miss Lucy, daughter of Philo M. and Lj-dia A. 
Herron, a history of whom appears elsewhere in 
this volume. They are the parents of three chil- 
dren, and Mr. Smith is numbered among the pros- 
perous farmers and stock-raisers (>f Afton Township. 

Mr. James Smith, on the 12th of October, 1864, 
during the progress of the Rebellion, enlisted in 
Company II, 1 1 ih Illinois \olunteers, and at the 
battle of Mobile received a sunstroke, which re- 



-<^ 



• -4^ 



•►■-4* 



SEIXiWIfK COUNTY. 



Milu<l ill ly|ili<«i<l fivtr, lull 1<m> nniliilioii.s l<» go to 
itii- lio!i|)itnl 111- f^rew woni' niul iu-vit ri-iu-lu'tl 
lioiiie. Ill- cliiMJ III Spriii^'lU'liI wliik- on lii.s wiiy 
Ik line. 

Mr. llj»ilL-y. nftcr the luillinak ..f tlu- lute t'ivil 
\\ :ir. iMilisU'<l lis n liiioii soMUt in toiiiiMiny D, 
i;»lli lllinoi- (First lliittfry. Yules Sliar|>sho<iUTs), 
aiKJ nl the Imllii- of Fnniiiiijrtoii. Miss., a few 
iiioiiths liiUT, wrus Miioiisly woiimlcil by llic cxplo- 
•■ioii of n sliell iK'twi-eii his feel, wliieliemiseil |>iirlinl 
paralysis of tlie lower litiilis. This il is hanlly iiec- 
essiiry lo say imliltetl him for further service, and 
ho wius olili<;e(l to accept his discharge in less Ihaii 
two years after his enlistnient. lie liad in the 
tneaiiliiiie niel the enemy in several oilier iiiiporlant 
en;,'!i>jeinents, including those of Ft. I'illow, .ShiUili 
and Corinth, which have gone ilown in history :w 
among the hardest fought battles of the war. Mr. 
Bailey was for a lime detailed as an orderly at the 
lu>ad(piarters of (ien. Kosecrans. Me receives a 
|>ension <if ^H per month from the (Jovernmenl. 
lie li:u) been a slnncli adherent of the Republican 
parly since il* (irganizatioii. Mrs. llailcy is prom- 
inently identified with the Baptist Church al Clear 
Creek, lie belongs to I'osl No. U'.i, C. A. K., at 
( iardt'ii I'lain. 



UAULKS 1'. I. VON. rmiiiiiicnl among the 
' successful and enterprising farmers of Waco 
^^ Township may be found Ihc subject of this 
biographical sketch, whose home is silualed on sec- 
lion lit, and who is coiisiilered one o) the most in- 
dustrious and worthy citizens of this pari of the 
county. lie is a native of Kentucky, having been 
born in UiK-kcaslle County, Nov. IJ, 1H|9, and is 
the son {if William II. and Mary (Biitlon) Lyon, 
who were natives of N'irgiiiia .'inil Kcnliicky rc- 
>lM'ctively. 

Mr. Lyon, of whom this sketch is written, is the 
ehlest of a family of ten children born to his par- 
eiiLs, and of his brolhers and sisters the following 
ii-<-ord is given: I'arks B., who married Susjin 
Wiiodman. and is a fanner near Keokuk, Iowa; 
Meplien II. is re.<tiding on a farm in Arkansas with 
hi- fimiilv. which consists of lii« wife mid two chil- 



dren, he having Imried thier more; Sanih .lane 
married Isitai- (iarrell, and had a family of ten chil- 
dren, only two of whom are now living, and re- 
sides on a farm in .Mahaska County, Iowa: Are- 
Ihiisa died in Indiiina. al the age of three years: 
I'elor married .Miss Calherine Hull, and is en- 
gaged in farming in Iowa; .lames Monroe married 
Ann (larretl, who died in Colorado, when he itgain 
married, and is following fanning in Mercer County, 
Mo., and has two children ; America married .lohii 
W. (Iarrell, who is di-eeiLst'il : she is now married 
to .lohn Co<i|K'r, and lives in .Mercer County, Mo. 
Zachariali and Kli/abeth died in infancy. 

When our subject wa.'* Iml eighteen months old, 
his p.arenls removed t^i Indiana, where Charles re- 
ceived the elements of his educalion in the district 
school, and received such li-aining upon the home 
farm as fiUeil him for the life of an agriculturist. 
He remained al home until about eighteen years of 
age, when he went to Henry County, III., where he 
remained until IfO'J. Al thai lime he journeyed 
westward, and crossing the .Mississippi, settled in 
Henry County, Iowa, where he made his home for 
some seven years, cngnged in farming and milling 
operations. In 1872 he came to Kaiis.'u and set- 
tled in Sedgwick County, on the farm where he is 
now living. Kver since locating in this place he 
has occupied a proniincnt place in the cslinialion 
of the people of the community, and is one of the 
leading, represcnlative farmers tif the township. 

Our subjecl wa.s united in marriage, Aug. l."!, 
li^'tO, in Missouri, wilh Alinena Ilobson, a native of 
Orange County, N. C, born .lune 1 1, \H2:i, and the 
daughter of William and .Sarah (Hyson) Ilobs<in. 
The former died Aug. 1,0, 18G7. By this marriage 
there have been born to Mr. and .Mrs. Lyon a fam- 
ily of seven children, as follows: .Mary .lane, who 
wiui born Aug. iU, l><41, married A. Gaskell, and 
is residing al Keokuk, Iowa, with her two children; 
William II. was born Oct. 21, liSlit, married Tem- 
^lerancc Cooper, is living in this county, and 
has one child; IJeorge, who wiw born May 1, l«4G, 
died .Sept. «, l.'<l)3, in Keokuk, Iowa; .Sarah, who 
was born Aug. .'i, IKoO, married .Silas I'orler, and 
dieil ill IHH", having been the mother of seven 
children: I'eter W., who was born .lune 2, 1H;>;1, 
married .Mis-- .Marv Booth, is llic father of four 



■•►•-^ 



SKlx.U l( K COUNTY. 



923 



children, and is eiigiiij^cd in fjinning in this county ; 
Louisa R., whose Ijirth tooic place Oct. 13, IS.'iG, 
married George Uccuril, a fanner of tins county', 
and has a family- of six children ; and Melinda, born 
Sept. 11, 18tM, at home. 

Mr. Lyon has a fine farm of !(>() acres of land, 
sixty of which is now in pasture, he giving consid- 
cral)le attention to the rearing of fine stock, in 
which lie is meeting with merited success. Politi- 
cally, he affiliates with the Republican party, and is 
a a strong and earnest advocate of the temperance 
cause. He has held the oflices of School Director 
and School Treasurer, and gives considerable at- 
tention to educational interests. In presenting to 
our patrons views of farm homesteads, that belong- 
ing to Mr. Lyon has, among others, been selected, 
and is given on another page. 



^ HARLES SCHNEIDER is very success- 
fuUv engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser. 



e 



on section 22, Payne Township, where he 
i)wns 240 acres of choice land. He came here in 
1880, and purchased the farm where he now resides, 
and immediately commenced its improvement. He 
has worked untiringly, and his labors have been well 
rewarded; he now has his land all under fence 
(hedge and wire), and has it well cultivated. The 
soil is especially- adapted to the culture of fruits, 
and he has a fine orchard of apple, pear and peach 
trees, already in a bearing condition. He devotes 
much attention to niising stock, and has met with 
much success in that line, his fat, sleek looking ani- 
mals comparing favorably with those of other far- 
mers in the neighborhood. 

.Mr. Schneider is a native of the German Empire, 
his birth taking place there April I, 183(i. He is 
the son of Phillip and Henrietta (Miller) Schneider, 
natives of Germany. His father was born Feb. 12, 
1808. He followed the trade of shoemaker in his 
native land for many years. In 1 8.J3 he decided to 
emigrate to this country to belter his fortune, and 
with his family crossed the ocean, and made his 
home in Texas. There he was actively engaged 
in making shoes for nearly a year, and then the 
dreaded scourge of the South, yellow fever, invaded 



his household, and threi; of his sons fell victims to 
the disc.'ise, two of them dying in one day. .Shortly 
after the little family, so sadly reduced in numbers, 
made their way to DeWilt County, 111., and there 
the father industriously plied his trade for fifteen 
years, and managed by wise economy to lay u|) 
some money. In 1880 he and his wife accompanied 
their son Charles, of this sketch, to Kansiis, and 
settled with him in his present place of residence. 
On the 20th of March, 1 883, the kind and patient 
wife and mother passed to eternal rest. She was 
born Ain'il 11, 1813. To her and her husband were 
born five children, namely': Charles C, William, 
Fred, Phillip, and one, the 3-oungcst, who died un- 
named. The other sons, with the exception of 
Charles, died of the yellow fever in Texas. The 
father of our subject still continues to make his 
home with his son; he has led an honorable and use- 
ful life, and is spending his declining years in peace 
and comfort. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
in the public schools ()f his native land. He was 
seventeen years of age when he crossed the ocean 
with his parents, and in this country he grew to 
manhood. He was strong and active, and quite 
capable of making his own way in the world when 
he had to begin the battle of life for himself. In 
1859 he took an important step in founding a home 
by securing an able and worthy helpmate in the 
person of Miss Rebecca Dick. Their marriage 
took place on the 28th day of February, in Harrison 
County, Ind. She is well educated, having been a 
constant attendant at the public schools through 
her girlhood. She is the daughter of Christian 
and Rebecca (Mowery) Dick, natives respectively 
of France and Pennsylvania. Her father served 
in the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte 
eight years, and did gallant service in many of the 
world-famed battles fought by that great leader. 
He was with him on his march to invade Russia, 
and witnessed the destruction of Moscow by the 
fires which the patriotic Russians had themselves 
kindled in their beloved and beautiful city, thattJiey 
might drive away the foreign invader. He was one 
of the survivors of that immense army, of whom 
so few escaped death, either at the hands of the 
enemy, or through the horrors of starvation, or 



Ah^ 



••►-■-^ 



•►•-4*- 



■•► 



'.••-M 



SKIKiWlCK COUNTY. 



fr. .Ill the inU'iiiUM'olil in llml U^rriblc rolrcat. When 
II yuuiij; iiinn he loft his imlivo Knincf, nn<l cominf; 
(ii Amcricn, to<ik up n fnrni in Iii<li:iiiii iindor the 
h<>nic.<<U>nd Inw. Then- liis life was Imniglit. to a 
(•lortc July IJ, IS'tS; Ills wife's (Ifiilh h(i«l (KTurred 
twelve _v<-ar>i prior to that date. lie ha<l heen twice 
married, the maiden name of his first wife heinp 
Mary Shear. Of that union five children were 
l">rn. Three children were Imrn to him hy his 
second marriiifje, namely : Uehecca. Mrs. .Schneider; 
Henry, ilead ; .lacoli, who is a farmer in Kin;;mnn 
County, this .Stale. The father aud mother were 
lioth faithfid memliers of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are the parents of six 
children, whose record is as follows: Henrietta, honi 
Au;,'. 12, l«CI ; Marj-, May l.'j, 1HC3; Phillip J. M., 
M.irch 4, 186.'); Christian F.. March 22, ISClt; Jacob 
1'. M., Jan. 9, 1871; fJeorjje W., Sept. 9, 1880. 
Henrietta married Paul Haas, and lives in this 
township; Mary married fJeorpe Haas, brother of 
Paul Hmu>, and lives in this township. 

In INSO our subject ami his wife came to sunny 
Knnsa.s to make their home, and have since been 
very much pr*>spcred financially, and as intelligent, 
honoralile and charitably disposed people have won 
the regiird of their neighbors. They are active 
and useful niemlurs of the Methodist Epi.scopal 
Church. Mr. .Schneider is independent in politics, 
vf>tinfr for the man rather than for the |)arty. 

A lithographic view is shown on another page of 
Mr. .Schneider's h.'indsome residence. 



4 



f KONAHI) ITTNKR, who is i.leiusantly lo- 
ll (C*^' •'"'*'' "'"'"' s''' miles from Valley Center, 
/lisi^ and the same distance from Orecnwich, 
owns and occupies the southwest <piart»'r of section 
•'il. in Lincoln Township, where he gives much of 
lil^ attention to the breeding of high-gmdc Norman 
liorse.- and goo<l cattle, and where he took up his 
residence in the spring of 187(!. Adjoining the 
home farm is another (juarter-section which he 
purchiu<tcd at the same time, but U» the former he 
has given his principal attention, putting up a 
liiiridi'ome rcsidenee uixl fine barn, .-iiid planting an 



orchard, the lntt«r of whirh Is among the finest to 
be found in the t«)wnsliip. Another attractive 
feature is a grove of mixed trees, most of which 
.Mr. Ittncr plantcil with his own han<ls, and whieli 
affords during the summer sea.son a shelter from 
the scorching sun, and during tlic winter wards off 
the pniiric blasts. 

.Mr. Ittner was lM>rn in the southwestern corner 
of Pennsylvania, in Washington County, March 2h, 
|K:)8, and is the tiftli child of John L. and Sophia 
C. (Miller) Ittner, whose family included si-ven 
children. The parents were natives of (iermany, 
whence they emigrated at an early day, and after 
which the father changed his <K'('n|>ation from that 
of a weaver to a farmer. The family removed to 
Ohio in IM.'il, and after a residence in Hancock 
County of eighteen months, migralecl to Logan 
County. III., where the mother <lied in the fall of 
1880. The father survived until the spring of 
1 X87, when he too passed nway. 

Mr. Ittner, of our sketch, atlende<l the distriet 
schools of his native county tnitil twelve years of 
age, and then began assisting his father on tin- 
farm. Upon reaching manhood he commenced 
farming for himself in Logan County. HI., and was 
there married, on the 8th of September, 1861, to 
Miss Klizabeth B. Weeks. Mrs. Ittner was born in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, March 13, 1839, and was the 
fourth in a family of nine children, the offspring of 
Henry Taylor and Sarah (Shepherd) Weeks, natives 
of Pennsylvaniiu Her maternal grand|)arents were 
Benjamin and Catura (Hutchins) Shepheni, also 
natives of the Keystone State; the grandfather was 
born in one of the military forts about 1750. 

After their marriiige Mr. and Mrs. Ittner settled 
on a farm in Logan County, whence they removed 
later to OeWitt County, where they lived until 
taking up their abode in Kansas. This latter re- 
moval was effected in the fall of 1876. (dir sub- 
ject assisted in organizing the scIumiI districts of 
Lincoln Township, aud although n<jt very active 
in politics, is a warm 8up|>ortcr of Republican 
principles. Roth he and his excellent wife were 
merubers of the Methodist K|>isco|)al Church, at 
(ireenwich. Of the five children born to them, 
Minnie H. tlied at the age of fourteen months; 
Sarah C. is the wife of C. .M. .Jackson, who is also 



-•►■-^ 



.», .-..^w^- ,, 







Residence OF Leonard lTTNER,SEc.3l.LmcoLNTowN5HiP, Sedgwick Co. Kan. [ th,s rARM 



t 



,*." 



■^...M...M. 



.*»iBV' i-«,K. 



i«Jiafiai)sjiift--^pT«sM ^tf ii./ i i M i wMffi iB » > m» > m. « »i iiiiWi< M 






^■-m 








Residence.of H.H.Raymond , Sec. 28. Grant Township. 



<^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



927 ' ' 



carr3'iiii;' <iii farming, on section 31, in Lincoln 
Townsiiii); .John \V. makes Iiis home in Logan 
County, 111.; Lewis H. and Robert A. are at home 
with their parents. 

Mr. Ittner at one time left his farm anti took up 
his residence in Wichita, but returned to his old 
haunts six months later. He rented his farm in 
1880, and returning to Logan County, 111., lived 
there until the fall of 1882, then came back to 
Lincoln Township, satisfied that it was the most 
comfortable s[>ot he could lind. He is about three 
miles from tlie new town of Kechi, on the Rock 
Island Road. 

Among the rural residences illustrated in this 
volume may be found that of IMr. Ittner. 



=^38^ 



KNRY H. RAVIMONI) became a re.sidentof 
Grant Township in the spring of 1873, and 
rendered material assistance in the develop- 
ment of one of the best counties in the State 
of Kans.is. He may still be called a young man, 
and h.as, without question, made for himself an 
enviable recovd in this communitj". A native of 
Illinois, he was born in Jersey County, Feb. 21, 
1848, and early in life became familiar with agri- 
cultural pursuits. He drew his education from the 
district schools in his lioyhood, and in 3'oung man- 
hood learned the blacksmith's trade. When he 
had attained his twenty-fourth year he made his 
way to Southern Kansas, and took up a homestead 
of 160 acres on section 28, where he now lives. 

The i)arents of our subject, Charles and Harriet 
A. (Nickcrson) Raymond, natives of Connecticut, 
after their marriage had moved westward, and settled 
in Jersey Count}', 111., at an early day in the history' 
of that portion of the Prairie State. Cliarles Ray- 
mond took up a good farm in the grassy wilderness 
of that locality, which he improved, and of wiiich he 
made a good farm, and remained upon it until his 
death, which occurred March 12, 1871. His faith- 
ful and estimable wife is still living, and makes her 
home with her son Henry, being now seventy-six 
years of age. The paternal grandiiarcnts of Mr. 
Raymond, Seth and Eunice (Diamond) liaymond, 
were also natives of the Nutmeg State, as were 



Nathan Nickcrson and his excellent wife, the par- 
ents of Mrs. liiiymond. The father of Nathan 
Nickcrson was a soldier in the Continental army in 
the Revolutionary War. 

After having selected his location in this county, 
our suliject moved to Dodge City, where he was 
engaged for about two years in blacksmithing and 
buffalo hunting, and it is estimated that he has 
slain about 1,.500 of these huge animals, which once 
roamed in unrestrained freedom over the Western 
plains. The c.xciteraont, danger, sport and occa- 
sional hardships incident to his camp life on the 
plains, were often varied by a visit from the "noble 
red man," and his nnamiabic spouse. On such 
occasions, he, like everybody else, w.as invariably 
met with an extended hand, and a "How," .and the 
.accompanying request for "heap of bigsup." Tiiey 
were never turned away from his camp iuingr}', and 
it is said that should the same Indians come across 
a dozen hunters' camps in a day, they would eat as 
many hearty meals. Mr. R.aymond paid a visit to 
a village inhabited by Che3'cnne and Arapahoe In- 
dians, :uid witnessed the squaws engaged in tanning 
robes, laying in winter supplies of provisions and 
fuel, while tlie lazy husbands Lay around in groups, 
and the j'oung bucks, under the guidance of scune 
aged grandsire, practiced with the bow and arrow. 

Returning to his farm in Grant Township, Mr. 
Raymond commenced the improvement of his laud, 
and erecting a house, m.ade arrangements to estiib- 
lish a home. One of the most important steps in 
this direction was his marriage witli Miss Sarah R. 
Armstrong, which was celebrated at Ihc home of 
Willi.am McCrackeu, in Grant Township, Oct. 20, 
1874. The l.ady of his choice was born in Hutlcr 
County, Pa., Feb. 25, 184(5, and was the seventh of 
twelve children, who made up the family of James 
and Jane (Stewart) Armstrong, who were also na- 
tives of the Keystone State. The 3'oung coui)lc 
commenced life together on the farm where they 
now reside, and which has been brought by our 
subject to a most excellent state of cultivation. 

The sul)ject of our sketch has spent considerable 
time and money in building up his beautiful home- 
stead, a view of which we give, and besides a good 
orchard of thrift3' trees, he has set out a number of 
maples, cottonwoods, catalpas, .and others, which ^ ' 



- ► ■ ^" 



■►Hi-4^ 



:ij« 



.sn,-:v\ I. K CDl'NTV. 



nil<l iiintorinlly U> Uif Itcaiilv niiil I'liliAncc ' 
'if hi- |>li«L-o. Tlif farm is w»-|| KUK-keil with ;{«khI 
;;rnilf!i of c-ntlh-, niiil l'iilnii<l-('hiiia hn^i*. nixl hi8 
.-Uilih-- ciiiitain .soiiii' very liiii- ;t|K'oiiiii'ii!« i>f farm 
liopHvs. Ilf ha.H availc-il hiliiM-lf of all iiKxItTii ina- 
(hiiifry, and ihf latest inolhoil-. uf earning; mi ajjri- 
niltiire and st<H-k-nii>iiiK. and tiiko.s a ('iininiondahlt' 
|>ride in llu- re.snlt of lii« labor. 

With a hearty contempt for the ollice-seeker, Mr. 
K.'iyniond i!< yet aelivc in |ioliti('s, and nniforndy 
I'.Lsts hi> Vole in su|i|Mirt of Ue|itililiean prineiples. 
lie is not identilied with any religions organimtion. 
hnl his estiinahle wife is .n nieniher of the I'nitcd 
I'resliyterian (linreh, atStinnydale. 'I'heir live ehil- 
dren.ali of whom are living and at home, are named 
res|)eelively : Walter K.. James Hraden, llerhert .1., 
Harry I,, and .lessie .Mahel. They form a bright 
and intelligent grou|i, andare pursuing ihcir stn<lies 
in the tlistriet sehool. \Viicn our suhjocl first sel- 
lled in (Jrant Township there wjus Imt tuic house 
u|Min the site of the now flourishing little village of 
Nalli-y Center, and .Mrs. Kayinond t^iught the see- 
on<l term of the school, which was eslalilislied in 
their ilistriet. The lady had followed the profession 
of U-aching for some years previously, in the .Suites 
of Ohio, Illinois, .Missouri and Kansas. 



tKNUV UOllliS. .Many of the best chiss of 
eiti/ens of .Sc<lgwiek County have come 
from over the sea, parti('(d:ii I3' from the Km- 
pire of Cermany. They have lrans|M)rted 
into the wilds tif Southern Kansas the industry, 
thrift and e<'onomy of their native litnd, ami have 
been very important factors in the nipid develop- 
ment and almost niiracuUius growth of Seilgwick 
Connl}. Of this class of honest, hard-working, 
.•dien born citizens, there are none who occupy a 
more prominent place than Henry iiohrs and his 
famdy; Ihey were among the early »etlle|-s in this 
portion of the State, locating in Salem Township <in 
.•<<'clion 2(1, where they now live, in 1H72. 

Ileiny Uohrs, the father of the family, is a native 
of Hanover. Oernuiny.and wjis born .March 4, l«j!0. 
When he was but four weeks old his mother died, 
:iiid he was reju'ed to manhood under very ailverse 



< ircunistiinees in the l:ii l>irUi. Like all 

(Germans he received tlie elements uf n very fair 
education, which has l>een usefid to him in many 
ways throughoiil life. While still a resident of the 
Fatherland he wiis united in marriage with Miss 
Anna Wohlberg. in June, IH.'*;}. .she was a native 
of Haiiover. Oennany, born Nov. K, IKi'7,aiid wjls 
the daughter of Frederick and Annie (Olfka) \>'ohl- 
berg. Of this marriage there were born two chilrlren 
to .Mr. and Mrs. Uohrs: Annie, the elder, wils born 
.Inly III, iH.'iC. and is the wife of William Itiich- 
liollz, a resident of Sumner County, this Stal4'; 
she is the mother of five children, as follows: 
Henry, Kmma, Annie, (ieorge and William. The 
other child uf Mr. and Mrs. Kolirs is Henry F., a 
sketch of whom is given below. 

In l)S(J(i the father of the family determined to 
le:ive his home in his native land, and seek in the 
New World the bettennent of his fortunes. Ac- 
cordingly he took passage with his little f:imily on 
a sailing-vessel at Itrcmen, and started across the 
m'can. I'roceeding but slowly, driven back by 
he;id winds and tempests, the ship labored onward 
across the 3,(tO() miles uf watery waste, and ten 
weeks from the dat€ of their embarking the^- 
sighted the MuiiUink light on the head of Long 
Island, ••md the next day landed at New York City. 
For two years and a half Mr. Kuhrs continued iu 
the mctro|iolis, engaged in work. At the expira- 
tiun uf that time he came tu Kansas, and settled in 
Walmunsee Cuunty, but in 1872 removed tu Sedg- 
wick County, where he has since lived. He pre- 
empted the southeast (pmrter of section 20, Salem 
Township, which Wiis then a grassy wilderness en- 
tirely nnimpruved. Commencing work at unce 
tin- impruvemenls U|)un his place daU.- from the day 
of his settlement. Hy cunstant hard wurk, inile- 
faligidilc industry and rigid ecunomy, he hius suc- 
ceeded in making his pl.ace one uf the finest farms 
in the township. His residence, barns and utiier 
buildings, a view uf which we give, are of a haiul- 
suine .'IS well as uf a substantial chanicter, and 
the general ap|H.'arance uf the place bel*>kens thrift 
and pros|K<rity. This splendid estjite, which eun- 
taiiis 100 acres, is a standing inonnnicnt tu the 
laburs uf Mr. Uohrs. 

The subject uf this sketch and his wife are both 



-*► 



-•►■-4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



929 ' ' 



members of the Lutheran Church, and good, sincere 
Christians. Tiiey enjoy the esteem and regard of 
the entire community, and what is more, merit them 
both. In politics Mr. Uohrs is a Democrat, and a 
standi supporter of tlic principles of tliat part3'. 

Henry 1*'. Uohrs, who is the son of Henry an<l 
Annie (Wolilborg) Uohrs, is also a native of Han- 
over, Germany, and was born May 12, 1854. He 
came to the United States with his ()arents in 1X60 
as detailed above, and finally settled in Sedgwick 
County with them in 1872. He is the owner of 
eighty .acres of most excellent arable land, which 
he has brought to a good state of cultivation. He 
is active, enterprising and industrious, and is meet- 
ing with a merited success in his fanning operations. 
He was united in marriage, Feb. I'J, 1882, with 
Miss Lena Uosin, who was born Sept. 18, 18.58. 
She is the daughter of Christian and Marie (Kruger) 
Rosin. By this marriage there have been born 
two children, viz: AVillie, born July 18, 1883, and 
Emma, Oct. 2, 188G. Like his father, Henry F. is 
also u Democrat, although no politician. He and 
his wife are members of the German Lutheran 
Church, and devote considerable attention to relig- 
ious work. Mrs. Uohrs' parents came to Ohio from 
Germany in 1884, and the mother died there Jan. 
1, 1887; the father died at the same place Sept. 17, 
1887. 



POSTEU COLEMAN. This early resident of 
Attica Township and his excellent and ami- 
able wife are numbered among the most 
highly respected and worthy residents of Sedgwick 
County, within whose limits they arrived in the 
spring of 1872, and have since resided. Our sub- 
ject possesses a family history of more than ordi- 
nary interest, which we subjoin as follows: 

The Coleman famil}', which is of English ancestry, 
crossed the Atlantic .and settled in Jamestown, Va., 
in 1U09, having made the voyage in one of the 
seven ships which anchored in safety after a tem- 
pestuous voyage. After the lapse of three or four 
generations we find the descendant's of this ancient 
familj' scattered over different parts of the United 
Stiites, and among these was John Coleman, Sr., the 
grandfather of our subject, who settled near Tren- 



ton, N. J., where he lived at the commencement of 
the Revolution.arj' War. Some of his brothers set- 
tled along tlie Ohio River on the Kentucky side. 
He and three of his sons served eight years in the 
Revolutionary War, and one son, Charles, continued 
in the regular service five years thereafter. The 
grandmother was Catherine Coleman, and four of 
the sons were named Robert, John, Charles and 
James. It is believed there were other sons, but 
their names have not been preserved. There were 
also three daughters — Cassandra, Catherine .and 
Joanna. 

At an early day John Coleman, Sr., with his son 
James and his three daughters, moved to a point 
southejLst of Pittsburgh, Pa., leaving the other sons 
in New Jersey, where it is supposed they spent the 
remainder of their lives. James Coleman, the 
father of our subject, w.as born in Trenton, N. J., 
whence he removed while a young man to Pennsyl- 
vania, and was there married to Miss Amy P'osler, 
who w!is born in Virginia, The wedding took i)lace 
on the 2."ith of December, 1797, and of this union 
there were born ten children, namely: Andrew, 
Joanna, Catherine, John, Elizabeth, Hester, Mar- 
garet, Foster, James B. Finle3^ and Charles. 

The parents after their marriage continued in 
Pennsylvania for several years, and until after the 
birth of their three eldest children. Thence they 
removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, where their 
remaining children were born. The latter place 
was the childhood home of our subject, Foster, and 
there his birth took place on the 11th of June, 
1814. The name of Foster was given him in order 
to perpetuate the family name of his mother. When 
he was eight years of age the family left Jefferson 
County, and took up their residence in Guernsey 
County, where Foster Coleman w;is married, in Oc- 
tober, 1831, to Miss Jane Uobison. The young 
people commenced life together on a farm, and 
about two j'ears later the father of our subject sold 
his farm in Ohio, and removed to Iowa, being 
accompanied by his family, including Foster and his 
3'oung wife. Besides being a first-class farmer, 
James Coleman was also an expert at carpentering, 
by resisou of which he brought about many conven- 
iences around his homestead involving little expense, 
but which added greatly to the comfort of the fam - 



■*► ■ ^» 



■^^ 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



t 



ilv ill llu'ir -iiiipU' iiiiiiiiiiT i>f Iiviii;,'. .Iiiiiics I'ole- 
iiiHii ili'|Birli<l this lift- nt liist Iiouk- in Adair t'ouiity, 
I.. nil, ill 1h:,o. 

.Mi>. .Iniif ( llnlii.soti) ( oliiiKin. llie llrst wife of 
■ iiir Miliji'il, bc't-aiiu' tlif iimtlur nf (Ivi- iliililri'ii,aii<l 
.I.|>:uUmI l\m life. II tlu' ll'lli ».f <)it..l.oi-. IHl.'i. Of 
tin- two still!* ttii'l liireo liaiighUjrs <if lliir* iiiarriji;;!'. 
.Uisi-pli |{.. till' fidf.xt, M.M-vi'(l lu) ft sdlilior ill tlu- 
I'liioii army almiil fmir year.t, pailitiimliii': in MHiie 
of till- iiii|M>rlaiil Iialllc.s of tin- war, ami was nl one 
linn- cjiplureil l»y the rehels Iml .siili!te<iileiitly 
exilianjieil. lie tli»<l in New Mexieo. in IHH.J, 
leaving three ehililren. Tlie other son. .laine.s !•"., 
als4.i served in the army as a iiicmher of an Illinois 
roj^iinenl, .•iiid was wounded b}' a |>ieee of shell 
from whieh he lost an eye. lie died shortly after 
the elose of the war. The other eliildren — Amy 
Klizalieth, Mary .Matilda .-ind .luanna — are dea<l 
liiit Mary, who lives in Nebraska. 

On the Ljlh of Aii;;iist, 1XI5, Foster Coleman 
coiitnieted a seeond marriage, with Mi>s Naney Sul- 
livan. who was liorn in lli;;hlaiid C'oiiiily, Ohio, 
,\|>ril ■.', IHll.and is the daiifjhter of Daviil and 
Cliri.-tia A. ( Yeakey ) Siillivjin, the former of whom 
wM^liorii in l)elaware in 1772,aii<l was of Seoteh- Irish 
di'seeiil. The inollier, a native of Pennsylvania, was 
of Oernian aiieestry. Mr. Coleman carried on 
farmiii;^ continuously from the lime <)f starting out 
ill life for himself, .'ind like his father before him 
was rcmarkablv handy with tools, and frequently 
did carpenter work in a lirsl-class manner and with- 
out havin-j: served jiny .'ipprenliceship at the busi- 
ness. About \si:i, while still a resident of .Vott 
County. Iowa, lie lost most of his properly by <;t)ing 
M'ciirily for a friend. In IKK'i he repaired to .Mer- 
cer County, 111., where, in partnei-ship with his 
brother-in-law, he w:ls U) put up n mill, but the 
latu-r faih-d of ineeliiif^ his contract, so this |>rojeet 
was abandoned. 

Mr. Coleman remained in Illinois until IK;V.l, and 
next locat<'d in Cedar County, Iowa, where he farmed 
a year, .'iiid in the spring of I H(U) removed to 
I.eaveiiworlh. Kan. Two years later he was ilriven 
out by Southern niiders, and going into Colorado 
M'ttled on a ranch about sixt^'-eight miles eiust of 
Denver. Kighteen months Ial<'r he sold tlie land 
uhich he had purcha.Hed, and bought property in 



Denver, when- In- iiM lii> !:iiiiiiy, wlulc he wriii i.. 
Montana, an<l engaged in mining and car|H'iit»-ring. 
While there his family, becoming homesick, sold out 
the proiK'rty in Denver, and returned to Iowa, 
where they were joined by our subject in 1x70. 

.Mr. Coleman, in 1S72, eainc to this county and 
pre-empted the land which he now occupies, and 
which consists of I (iO acres, lying adjaeenl to the 
town of Ooddard in Attica Township. I'pon this, 
it is hardly necessary to .say, he has o|ierate<l with 
most .sjitisfact^iry results, building up a giKwl home, 
while at the same time he hius established himself 
in the esteem and conlidenee of his neighbors. 
Hoth he and his excellent wife h;ive long licen 
members of the .Methodist Kpi.«-o|»al Church, with 
which they iilciitifieil tlieinselvcs at an early |KTi<Hl 
in life, Mr. Coleman fifty-three years, and his wife 
lifly years ago. Our subject has olllciated ils Clmss- 
I.cadcr and .Steward nearly all these years, ami has 
also oc<-upied the otiice of Treasurer. In all the 
eiilcrprises tcniling to bcnelU the [K-ople of his com- 
munity, morally, .socially or financially, he has been 
an earnest and cheerful worker, and while going 
down the sunset hill of life, he h.-is reason to \tf 
comforted that his years .and his labors have not 
been in vain. 

Mr. Coleman received but .h limited education in 
his youth, but has been an extensive reader, and 
thus ke|)l himself well posted upon matters of gen- 
eral interest. His honored father w.as a Whig, 
politically, but Fikster voted with the (Democrats 
until Huchanan's time, when he became a Repub- 
lican, but now supptu'ts the Prohibitionistii. Of his 
second marriage there were born five children, four 
of whom are living, namely: .lohii Henry, Andrew 
Simpson, William Wallace and Francis .Marion. 
Charles Wesley, the fourth child, dicil in infancy. 

i^llOHN WKSI-KV KKITII, an inUdligent and 
I energetic farmer and sto«'k-raiscr, and a silb- 
' 8tantial and reliable citizen of Delano Town- 
(^^/ ship, having his home on section 20, was 
liorn Nov. .'10, 1S2(>, in (Jenesee County, N. Y.,and 
is the son of Luke and Hannah ( Wolcolt) Keith, 
who were descendants of old cstablisheil families of 



-•►• -4« 



■<•• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



931 1 ' 



Massachusetts. lli~ .uicistors upon the father's 
side were of ScuU-li uriji;in, while on that of the 
niotlier they were Englisli yeomen, who came to the 
(lid IJay State in early Colonial times among the 
hardy band of Puritans who settled on the stern 
and rock-bound coast of New England, and were 
among the prominent historical characters of that 
portion of our history'. 

The fatiier of our subject was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and reared his sou to agricultural pursuits, 
while affording him the facilities for acquiring tiie 
elements of an education in the district school. 
When .Toiin Keitii was about seven years of age he 
moved with his parents to the wilds of the State of 
IVIicliig.in, which was just settling up at that time, and 
located iu Kalamazoo County, where he was reared 
to manhood. Of course the schools or teachers of 
that region were not as good as they are at the 
present day. The buildings were of rough hewn 
■|t)gs, and, says the poet: "Small the windows were, 
and the window-panes were of paper, oiled to admit 
the light, while wind and rain were excluded." In 
consequence of these disadvantages the knowledge 
tliat he acquired in youth was but limited, but by 
a diligent course of study through life he has be- 
come well informed upon all general subjects. He 
labored in assisting his father in clearing up the 
place and in carrj'ing on his farm until he was 
about eighteen years of age, when he returned to 
New York and commenced an apprenticeship at the 
tiiilor's trade, in which he served three years. The 
succeeding seven years were filled by him in the 
employment of his trade .is a journeyman, most of 
the time in Galesburg and Kalamazoo, Mich. In 
18r)4, concluding to abandon his trade and adopt 
the business of farming, lie purchased eighty acres 
of land, where he was engaged in that noblest and 
oldest employment, that of tilling the soil, until 
1874, when he sold out and removed to Kansas. 
On liis arrival iu this State he purchased an interest 
in IGO acres of land in Butler County, whicli he 
finall}' sold, and purch.ased tl>e pl.ace where he is 
now living. The j-ear 1874 will be long remem- 
bered .IS tlie chief grasshopper j'ear, and our sub- 
ject's prospects were most seriously endangered 
thereby. The sum total of his crops for that sum- 
mer was one bushel of onions and a couple of 



-■^^ 



pumpkins. He reports that the hoppers swarmed 
even into the house, and devoured every gi-een 
thing that grew out of doors except the onions, and 
literally covered even those. Notwithstanding his 
misfortunes at that time, and the discouragement 
attending upon it, he wsis not entirely dism.i^-ed, 
but with commendable energy and pluck stuck to 
the pl.ace, and now hjus an excellent farm of IGO 
acres under high cultivation and well iniiu-ovcd, as 
a reward for his labors. 

The residence which our subject has erected, and 
of which wc give a view, is a handsome and pleas- 
!int one, and contains all the modern conveniences 
for the ease .and comfort of the family. His sub- 
stantial granary and out-buildings, and the sleek and 
well-tended stock, all indicate the intelligent, suc- 
cessful and prosperous fanner, who thoroughly 
understands the vocation which he h.as chosen. He 
is entire!}' a self-made man, having started in life 
with nothing but his own energy and lauilablc 
ambition, but by the assistance of his devoted wife, 
has succeeded in placing himself among the com- 
fortable .ind well-to-do people of this part of the 
country. 

During the late Civil War, when the reliel hordes 
hung on the skirts of our troops, and the General 
Government isssued a call for more troops to sup- 
press the Rebellion, Mr. Keith enlisted, Aug 26, 
18G4, in Company A, 13th Michigan Infantiy, 
under command of Col. Eaton. He participated 
in much of the Atlanta campaign, and was witli 
Gen. Sherman in his m.arch through Georgia and 
the Carolinas to the Sea, and was an active partici- 
pant in most of the engagements that occurred 
during that famous movement, among the principal 
of which were those at Savannah, Ga., fought from 
Dec. 12 to 20, 18G4; Catawl)a.S. C, Feb. 28, 18G.0; 
Averasboro, N. C, IMarch 10, KSG.'i, and IJcnton- 
ville, N. C, March !» of tiie same year. He did 
valiant service in defense of our country's flag, and 
on the conclusion of hostilities w.as nuistered out 
of service and honorably discharged at Detroit, 
Mich., June 21, 18G5. In his political views, like 
a large proportion of those who shouldered a inus- 
ket, he votes with the Rei)ublican party, but cast 
his first ballot for Zachary T.aylor for l'resi<l('nt, in 
1848, and has never missed voting at a Presidential 






t 



•► ■ -♦^ 



9M 



SI. DO WICK COUNTY. 



I'lt-t-liuii >iiict' that tiiiir. \\ hill- in Michij^nii lie 
IllittI ihi' (illlfis of Towii.-liip CUrk nml IliKliwny 
(■•iiiunis-tionor. ninl xinrt- ctuiiin;; l<> this SUilf ho 
hnji Ix-en .?ii.«lii-c of the I'varv for one tiTiii. and 
ScIkmiI Din'ctor iioiirlv vvvr ^illOl• h«' liK-iitt-tl hi-ro. 

.lolm WtsU'V Ktilh nml Miss Ilnrrii'l A. Hliiki-s- 
Ico wi-rc uniU'd in marriage April '2'J. is.'il. The 
liriile \vn.H n (laii>.'ht«'r of Asahel nml Kli/jilietli 
(Carey) Hlakeslee, nativi-.s of \'ern)ont nml New- 
York Slate re>i|>eetivel_v, nn<l wns lioril in .lerusaleni, 
Yates Co.. N. Y.. Nov. 211, IH.'JD. ller parents 
nioveil to Michignn in 1S;J7, where she liceanie 
nequninteil witli her future husliaiiil ami where lliey 
wen- nmrrieil. ller father was one of the pioneers 
of the Wolverine .Stnt<', ami labored ninnfiilly in 
clearing; up his proix-rty <if 160 aeres of land, u|i<in 
whii'li to make a home. 

The family of Mr. .-iikI .Mrs. Keith has heen in- 
erenscd liy the ndvenl of five ehildren.of whom the 
follow'in<; is a reeoni: Kdilh wius horn Nov. 21, 
is.'i2. in K.'ilama/.iMi, Mich., and was .-i teacher in 
schiHil and in music until 1 .'^T.'i, when she married (i. 
W. Kellum. .'ind now resides in Anthony, Kan., wilii 
her husliand and two children. KIlis A., who was 
horn l'"el>. lit, 1H,'».'S. i.s a farnn>r and stock-raiser in 
Kiu<;innn County, this .State, and is unmarried :.Iames 
II., who was horn Anj;. l/i, 1 HGO, has 210 acres ot land 
in Kiii;,'niah County, l>ul resides at home with his 
parents; llanimli Lildiy, who was horn .Sept. 2-1, 
lNt)2, is n graduate of Baldwin L'niversily, situateil 
near Ijiwrence, in this .State, ami has followed 
school teaching ns a profes.sion for the l:ust si.\ years; 
K. W. (Jrant, the youngest child, was horn .Ian. ;>, 
IXtiM, and is living at home. 



^^: --.g^J^^^E 



Uli.N ( ()I'.N|;K. who is worthy of more than 
a mere mention in a work of this nature, is 
nil "Ohio man" in the hroadest anil liest 
@j/ sen.Hc of the term, lie arrivcil in this sec- 
tion of country when a large proportion of the soil 
of Sedgwick County still rested undisturhed hy the 
plowshare, and while the primitive dwellings of the 
settlers were few nml far hetween. The township 
of Salem in which he local4'd had lieen hut recently 
iir;.'aiii/.ed. an<l ;;ladly wclcomcil within its preiincls 



every nwm who was hiesscd with amhilion anci l.niins. 
In this cnleg<irv the sulijeet of this sketch wils 
placed at cmce, lunl has proved hims«df e<pial to tiie 
demands made upon him. 

The ehihlliiMMl home of Mr. Copner wils near 
what is drnominnt^d Foster's Crossing, in Wnrn-n 
County. Ohio, whore his hirth t4-M>k place on the :id 
of Fehruary, IK24. His father, Snmuel Copner, 
was a native of Sniem, N. .1., and married Miss l,u- 
cinda llnnT, of Virginia. The |mternnl grandfather, 
who W!Ls of French ancestry, and prohnhly horn in 
France, settled when a young man in Salem, and 
there reared a family of sons and daughters who 
grew to a worthy manhood and womanlKKxl, and 
were prominent nnn>ng the best |)eop|o of that sec- 
tion. The mother of our subject desi-ended from 
an excellent old Cennnn family, the first representa- 
tives of whom in this country crossed the Atbinlic 
at an early day, and were subsc<]ncntly among the 
pioncci-s of W.'irren County, Ohio. 

Samuel and Lucinda Copner bec.-ime the parents 
of ten children, of whom the following survive: 
.Sarnh A., the wife of II. K. Clunowcth, of Hunting- 
ton County, Ind.; .larvis. of Finney County, Kan., 
:ind .lohn, our subject. The father departed this 
life while in his prime, pa.ssing away on the 2.'ith of 
.lanuarj-, 1K4H, while a resident of Warren County, 
Ohio. The mother survived her husbaiul for n 
|K'riod of thirty-six years, remaining .-i widow, and 
(Missing her last days in this township, at the home 
of oiu' subject. She liveil to be eighty-four yeni-s 
old, and died Oct. 12, IX»A. 

.lohn Copner w:is reareil to maidiood in his na- 
tive county, receiving a fair education, and by a 
thorough course of reading has become well in- 
fornu-d and keeps himself thoroughly |Hist4Ml u|>on 
matters of genend interest. In convers.ntion he is 
pleasing and intelligent, and Uikes the sensible view 
of life and iUs responsibilities. While not coun- 
tenancing idleness in any way or manner, he still be- 
lieves in giving due attention to the culture of the 
mind and tnsles, and very nearly approaches in his 
ideas the model laid ilown by our best thinkers and 
rca.si mors. 

Mr. Copner, in IHlii, when a youth <.f sixteen 
years, conunenced an apprenticeship at the tailor's 
traih'. wliiiji he subscipienlly followeii many years. 



-•►•-4» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•► 



933 



f 



He chose his wife among the ladies of his own 
county, being married, Dec. 30, 1848, to Mrs. Nancy 
.1. (Andrews!) Newland, widow of Samnel Newland, 
of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of Alexander 
and Nancy (Spray) Andrews. Afrs. Copner was 
liorn in W.iyne County, Ind., M.iy IG, 1824. Her 
parents had been married in South Carolina, whence 
the}^ removed first to Ohio, and from there to the 
Iloosier .State during its pioneer d.iys. Alexander 
Andrews had served as a soldier in the War of 
1812, and came to his death by an accidental shoot- 
ing during a turkey hunt, Oct. 3, 1829, in what was 
then called the "New Purchase" on Blue River. 
The parental household included twelve children, 
and Mrs. Copner it is supposed is the only survivor. 
Of her union with our subject there are six chil- 
dren, namely: Warner R. Henry C. .and Cassius L., 
living, and three decea.-;ed — Samuel A., Jesse S. 
and Isjvac .1. 

Mr. and Mrs. Copner left Ohio for Illinois in 
1 .S58, and located in Pleasant Plains, where Mr. C. 
followed tailoring, and odiciated as Postmaster by 
appointment of President Lincoln, from 1862 to 
1 8(3(1. In 1871 he determined to cross the Missis- 
sippi, and came with his family to Sedgwick County 
in August of that year. Shortly after their arrival 
they settled on a pre-emption claim on section 19, 
Salem Township, and which Mr. C. a 3'ear or two 
later exchanged for the place which he now occu- 
pies. This lies on section 20, and comprises eighty 
acres of fertile land under a good state of cultiva- 
tion. The buildings, stock and farm machinery, are 
creditable to the proprietor, and will bear fair com- 
parison with anything of the kind in this section. 
The period of nearly twenty" years, during which 
Mr. Copner has labored industriously for the estab- 
lishment of a homestead, and the securing of a com- 
petence for a r.ainy d.a}', has been pregn.ant with 
what should be, at least to him, most satisfactory 
results. He and his little family had much to con- 
tend with during the early days, and there is ver}- 
little in connection with pioneer life which they do 
not thoroughly understand. From an humble be- 
ginning Mr. Copner has buildod well, and received 
not only the reward of a good conscience, but the 
highest regard of the people around him. Mr. Cop- 
ner was an old-line Whig until the organization of 



•►-•-4^ 



the RepublicMii p'ri\. ^iIkh he took up its prin- 
ciples, and there wo tiiid him to-day. In religious 
belief Mr. Copner is a Universalist. while Mrs. C. 
has been a member of the Methodist Episcojial 
Church since 1849. 

Mrs. Copner, together with Mi-s. M. O. Martin, 
Martha Glaze and Mary Toinlin, were the original 
organizers of the first .Sunday-school in this town- 
ship, the meeting being held in a log house situ- 
ated on section 29, .Salem Township. 



^^EORGE W. WAYBRIGHT, an industrious 
III ,_, and hard-working agriculturist of Waco 
^^Ul Township, is a resident on section 27, where 
he has a neat and beautiful farm of forty acres of 
land, which is valued at $50 an acre. This is 
well improved, and upon it he h.as erected a com- 
fortable and commodious dwelling and tasty barns, 
a view of which may be found in this Ai.iujm. He 
has set out a small orchard and a great variety of 
small fruits, all of which are quite thrifty, and add 
much to the value of the property. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of High- 
land County, Va.. and was born Sept. ."», 1830. 
He is the eighth child in a family of twelve chil- 
dren born to his parents, William and Mary (Sn}'- 
der) Way bright, both of whom were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of Prussian ancestry. His father 
was by occupation a miller, which business he fol- 
lowed the most of his life in the Old Dominion. 
The children's names were as follows: John, Bar- 
bara, William, Sarah, Abraham, Peter, Andrew, 
George AV., Annie, Benjamin, M:irth:i J. and James. 
The father died in Highland County in 18G6;the 
mother is still liviug at an advanced .age. Of the 
children born to them, the majority are still resi- 
dents of Virginia, as will be seen by the following 
short sketches : John married Polly Wimer, and is 
a resident of Highland County, \'a., where he is 
engaged as a miller; Barbara, Mrs. Andrew Har- 
row, the wife of a farmer, is a resident of A'irginia 
also; William married a Miss .SuUenbaerg, and wsis 
the father of one child, which is deceased, as is also 
his first wife, he having been married the second 









9^^ 



SEDGWICK C'OI MY. 



tiiiu-. III iiii» "^Uiif. to \|i-> >ii:«ii l'..i-io|i, liul is now 
(lead; lie «ra.H the «i»'iii.T uf llii> 'I'wiiifHll Mills in 
< ;ri'i'n«<><Ml (.'iiiinly, Kan. Snnili, .Mr». Sulonion 
ll.'irrow, is n rp.iidi'iil of I'l'iKllrlmi Cuiiiity, \'i»., 
'•n 11 farm; Aliniliiuii was l>y iH-ciipation h fanner 
ill IVlli!4 County, Mo., ami liaal niarrii'il .Strali 
MoziT. Iiiit wiL- kiili'il at Hit- liattlo of Wil.-ion'.M 
Crcrk, wliile in tin- CoiifciUTal*' x>rvire; Totj-r inar- 
rii'ij .Sii.Hjtii Lance, and re.sided in lli^^'liland t'oiinty, 
\ a., liiit wa.H killed l>y a runaway team; Andrew 
ni.'iiried Sii!Ukn l-'le»her, and i.s a miller in the Old 
l>oniinioii; the Miltjeet of oiir.sketeh re.sidcii in Kan- 
^a-••; Annie married Solomon llar|K'r, who was 
»oiiiided while in the Confederate serviee and died 
from the elTeeU of it, after whieli she married 
Henry Moyers, and is a resident of I'eiidletoii 
County, \'a.. on a farm; lienjamin died at home in 
the same place, at the iv^o of forty-five years; 
.Martha .1. is a si'hool teacher in \'irginia,and .lames 
i.-> married and living' in Missouri. 

The siihjccl of our sketch remained at home 
eiijoyiii},' the facilities for acqnirin;,' an education 
afforded liy the common schools of his native .Stnte, 
until he was ei;.'lileen years of a<fe. He then 
entered the couiilin;;-room of a dry-i.;oods cstitblish- 
incnt at Crab ilottoni. where he remained ahout 
live years, commencing at a salary of ijflaO per 
ye.-ir, which was afterward incroa.<ed. Havini; ac- 
r|iiired some knowledtre of liusine.ss in that time he, 
ill coinpaiiy willi his lirolher I'eter, eiiU-red into the 
mercantile business in rendleton County, \a., 
where they kept a stock known as general merchan- 
dise. This they coiitimied for two years, when 
the subject of this skeU'h was married. and engaged 
ill mercfliilile business at .Settleville. In 1850 he 
removeil to McLean County, III., and cngjiged in 
farming;. While living there the dark clouds grow- 
ing out of the slavery question, which IijmI so long 
gathered o\er our beloved country, lowered dee|)er 
and blacker. .Scheming traitors in the South, led on 
by personal ambition, sought the life of our nation 
until the loyal |H'ople of the North were aroused 
from their peaceful dreams of the future .•ind gath- 
ereil at the call of our noble I'lesident, Abndiain 
Lincoln, to vindicate the honor of our Mag. Among 
llio',e who eiilist<-d in August, 1 M(ii', was (ieorge 
\V. Waybriglil, who. altliough .a Southerner by 



birth, wa.-. a loyal and |i:ilriotic citi/eii. He wns 
must4Ted into the l'iiile<l .StaU-s service as a mem- 
ber of Company C, '.Htli Illinois Infantry, with 
which he served three years. He |iarlicipati-d with 
the regiment in many of the marches, battles and 
cani|Mtigiis of the .Southwi-st, aaioiig which were the 
battles of I'rairie (J rove, the raiil to \'aii Hiireii, 
(he siege of Vicksburg, the capture of Yazoo City, 
anil the sieges of Ft, Morgan ami Spani.sh Fort. 
lU'ing "ill his duty prompt at every call," he did 
most gallant service in the place where "deeds of 
et<'riial fame were done," an<l was fiimlly mustered 
out, and discharged at (lalvesttui, Tex., .Inly 17, 
I80."i. After the war he returned to Illinois, where 
he remained until 1 H7(), when, with a view U) the 
improvement of his fortune, he came to Kansas. 
He is among the pioneers of Sedgwick County, and 
has scon what he found a wilderness blossom lus the 
r( >se. 

The ceremony which united the destinies of 
(ieorge W. Waybright and Miss Kliza \irgiiiia 
Hiirgoyne took plai'C on the 0th of I)eceiiil>er, 
1863. The lady is a native of N'irgini.-i, born .Ian. 
18, 1830, and is .a daugliter of Wiishiiigltm and 
Catherine (Evick) Hurgoyne, both of whom were 
natives of \'irginia. Her father was one of the 
heroes of the Ucvoliitionary War, and was the par- 
ent of four children, as follows: .Sarah Catherine, 
who married Harvey dinger, .and died in Hraxton 
County,W.\'a., leaving two children; Marshall, :i resi- 
dent of .Stone Uivcr, in the same Stiite; .Sophia, who 
was married, and is living in West \'irgiiiia, and Mrs. 
Waybright. The subject of this sketch and his es- 
timable wife have been blessed with a family tif ten 
children, !is follows: Sarah A., born Oct. I !•, |8,')4, 
and died in DeWilt County, 111., , Ian. -21, 18.-|7 ; 
William, born .Ian. 2-i, l8o.'i. and died in Illinois, 
Dec. 10, 18,^0; IjifayetU-. born March 24, IM.'iH, a 
farmer in Clark County, Kan.; Alice. Mrs. Will- 
iam .Shiitts, born April 22, 1800; she lived in this 
county, and dieil March 1'.', 1888, leaving an infant 
son named Harry C., who w.-is born March 12, 1 8,s,s. 
Albert, born Feb. 1 I, 1802, at home; Marshall, born 
May 21, INOO, at home; I'arker G., btirii .Sept. 2 1, 
1807, at home; Martha .1., born Oct. 2H, 1 80'.l, at 
home; Marcus, born ,Iuly .'>, 1874, and died in 
Kaiis;L><, Oct. H, Ih7h, and Hertram, born .M:u(li 0, 



9i^ 



-►• 




:^' 



^ \ - 




■"sisat^ 







P^ .. 


f^l 


^^s^sSiP 


^■- . > 


^ 


,:* /^*^ 








*>-»» 



/ 



■^ 



•►HI-4*- 



SEDOWrCK COUNTY. 



937 



m 



1877, and died on September 29 of the siiiih \. n. 
In politics Mr. W:iybriglit is a strong Kcpiih- 
liean, seeking in tliat party a. conenrronce with his 
views on iK)litical siiltjocts. lie is quite influential 
in the townsiiip, and h;LS held the position of Jus- 
tice of the Peace for three years, and that of 
School Director of the district for several terms. 
He and his wife and daughter are members of the 
Church of Christ, and are conscientious and sincere 
people. In all the walks of life they take as their 
guide the precepts of the Scriptures, and are fore- 
most in any movement for the religious advance- 
ment of the cominunit}'. Of our subject it may 
well be said that he is in "soul sincere, in action 
faithful, and in lionor clear." 



R. W. II. II. OATLEY, who is the favorite 
physician and surgeon of Delano, and 
whose portrait is presented on an accom- 
panying page, aside from his professional 
duties, has since 1H8'2 turned his attention to farm- 
ing and stock-raising, operating mostly in thorough- 
bred, registered Short-horn cattle and full-blooded 
Poland-China swine. He has been uniformly suc- 
cessful through life, and giving to whatever he has 
attempted his best efforts, advanced from a modest 
beginning to a gooil position, socially and finan- 
cially, among his fellowracn. His early advantages 
until able to do for himself were extremely limited, 
but being naturally fond of books he made the most 
of his opportunities, and acquired his knowledge in 
a manner which enabled him to retain what he 
learned. 

The Oatley family is of Scotch ancestry, but on 
the side of the mother of our subject the latter is 
of German descent. He was born in Janesville, 
Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1838, and is the 
son of James and Elizabeth (Lenhart) Oatley, who 
removed from Penn,sylvaiiia to Ohio during its 
pioneer daj's. After going through the common 
school he entered the High School at Janesville, and 
subsequently spent two years in the school at 
Delaware, Ohio, paying his way by teaching during 
vacations. He also taught considerably after leav- 
ing college and while reading medicine. His first 



-tinli. ■- ill (•..iiiirctic.ii wiili hi- profession were pur- 
sued under the instruction of O. C. Farquar, Prof. 
Hamilton, now at the head of the Surgical Depart- 
ment in Sterling College, and Prof. Rearing, who 
is now connected with the Medical College at Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. From the latter institution Dr. Oat- 
ley was graduated in 1801. 

Our subject commenced practice in Muskingum 
County, Ohio, and Nov. 8, 1864, was united In 
marriage with Miss Jennie Garner, who was born 
in Zanosville, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1837. He came with 
his wife to Kansas in 1869, locating on the present 
site of Wichita, and put up the first frame dwelling 
erected there, having pre-empted a quarter-section 
of land in 1870. This he continued to occupy until 
1882, and from it built up one of the finest home- 
steads ill the suburbs. 

Dr. Oatlej' presided as master over the first 
school taught in the embryo village of Wichita, and 
at that time might have pre-empted almost any 
amount of land upon the present site of the city. 
The soil here, however, was inferior to that of the 
land surrounding it, and he did not desire it. The 
Occidental Hotel occupies the site of his first dwell- 
ing. He has lived to see a broad and uncultivated 
tract of land transformed Into beautiful homes, and 
a nourishing city grow up in less than a quarter of 
a centur}'. He continued in the viciuit}' of Wichita 
for a period of eleven years, and in April, 1880, 
sold his first property and removed to his present 
farm. This latter is operated mostly by employes, 
while the Doctor has the general supervision. The 
people have not been willing that he should aban- 
don his profession, and the writer has heard man}' 
of them express themselves to the effect that Dr. 
Oatley is the most successful ])ractltioner in this 
part of the State. 

Mrs. Jennie (Garner) Oatley departed this life 
at her home in Delano Township on the ."ilst of 
August, 1884, leaving no children. The Doctor 
contracted a second marriage, on the 20th of Oc- 
tober, 1885, with Mrs. Alclnda (Rusk) Wright, 
daughter of Mauley W. and Rose Ella (Gibson) 
Rusk. Mrs. Oatley was born in Loudoun County, 
Va., March 11, 1833. Her parents were also na- 
tives of the Old Dominion, and her mother, a dis- 
tant connection of Gen. Gibson, was reared in the 



HI-^»- 



f 



-^^ 



4- 



•I DOWICK COUNTY 



i^Mniki r fiiith. Ilir f.'illi.r <lii<l iii .inly Irfc, nild 
llu' iiioIIht wiij* "diliM-qiicntlv mnrricd Ui A. M. Ilul- 
linjpiwdrth. un tlip 17lli <.f .liiniiary, 1 •*.'>«. Of tliir. 
lunrriiigc llicrc arc fmir cliililrcii. The i'lile?»l, 
Frniikliii S., Ixirn Nov. 2, IM.'iS, is in:irricil iiiul 
lives in Sncrnnieiito, C'lil. ; lie is tlic fntlicr of <>iu> 
• liild. I-«-wis M.. Iiorn April 23. 1 HCO. is ii fnrnirr 
tif Knox County, Ohio, inurritMl, ami tlio fiitht-r of 
one chilli; Charles II. C. wils Imi-n .l:in. 'J.'>, IKi;2, is 
unniarrieil, ami lives in Sacramento, Cal. ; Carrie 
was liorn Fel>. 23, l.sf.4. an<l is the wife of Martin 
Miller, of /jinesvillc, Ohio, anil the mother of three 
chililren. 



\|] N. ( A.Ml'I'.KI.I, h:i> l.cen iirominently iileii- 
I titled with the liiiiiilin;,' interests of Wichita, as 
! a liriek and stone conti-actor, ft)r some years. 
' lie is one of the leadinj^' men in his line of 
liii->ine.s<i, and some of the fine.st buildings in this city 
were erected by him. He w.is born in .lefferson 
Coimty, Ind., Anj;. 2. IH.'iH, and is a .son of Alex- 
ander and Lydia (Ingraham) Campliell, natives of 
Kentucky. 'I'hey moved to Indiana in .Mn e.-ul}' 
day, of which .State Mr. ('amj>bell became a wealtlij- 
and influential eiti/en. lie engaged in milling .'ind 
also w:is interested in boating <m the Ohio River, 
st-nding lumber, wood and haj' U^i L«*uisville and 
New Orleans. lie served with credit in the Mlack 
Hawk War. To him and his excellent wife were 
born six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are 
now living; the following is the family record: 
.lane, Mrs. Iteeves; Hannah, Mrs. Hood, deceased ; 
Mary, Mrs. Cowell; Martha, Mn*. Brock; .Sarah A., 
dece4LHcd ; .lames; William, decea.scd ; .Iosc|>h. .lohn, 
Alexander an<l .). N. 

The Mibject of this sketch s|)enl his younger days 
in school until sixteen years of age, and ac(|nired 
n good education. After the completion of his 
strliooling he engaged in farming in Morgan County, 
III., in IH.'tT, and wa.s thus occupied the following 
two years. He then turned his attention to the 
trades of bricklaying and pliustering, ami afl<'r mas- 
tering the work in all its branches, followed it for 
twenty-one years in Illinois. He became a large 
i-ontraclor in .lack.sonvillc, thai .State, and built the 
High S,|i.,ol, the Opera House in Wav.rly. aud 



other fine iMiiJilJng-' in ihe vicinity of thatcity. In 
IHH4 he eanie to Wichilfi. whither his fame as a 
contractor of unusual ability had already preceded 
him, and ever since establishing hin)self here has 
carried on a large and pros|K-rous business. His 
first contnict ini mediately after coming here was U> 
build the Manhattan Hotel, and shortly after he built 
the .Methodist Kpiscojud Church, and also the county 
buildings. He built the .Myers \- Noble HIiM-k, the 
Iliusely .V .Stackni.'in Itlm-k, the Kansis Furniture 
HIiK'k, the Throckmorton KliM-k, and many other 
buildings, and ha.s just flnished the Fetch Hammer 
building. The beautiful building of the (iarfield 
University is a fine example of his work, and wo 
might instance others if it were not for the brief 
limits of this sketch. He ha.s had a." many as eighty 
men in his employ at one time. He h:L-> gained a 
giMid repuliitioii for the substantiality and durability 
of his Work, as he allows nothing but first-class ma- 
terial in his structures, and his keen eye readily 
delects any flaw in building or mat4-rial. 

Mr. Campbell was lii-st married in IH;'iH, to Miss 
Harriet, daughter of , lohn T. and Rebecca (I)elf) 
Henry, natives of Kentucky. Her parents lived in 
Illinois after their marriage, where Mr. Henry wai 
engaged in the tailoring bii.siness. They had four 
children — lohn I)., David I'.; Dorothy, Mi-s. IJall. 
and Mrs. Campbell. Of her union with our subject 
six children were born, of whom tlu- following is 
the record: Lulu. Mrs. I. R. Crow, of Sturgis, Dak., 
has fourchildren — (irace, Blanche, .lohn and Helen; 
May, Mrs. M. Cornett, of Woodson, III., li.is two 
children — Clifton and .Stella M. ; Kate. Mi-s. \"ore, 
of Sundance, Wyo.. h.is one child, Frank; Harry, 
who married Mary Romig, of Wichita; .John A., a 
student of (larlield I'niversity, and Grace C, at 
home. Mr.s. Campbell, the devoted wife and mother, 
died at her home in Illinois in .March, |h74. Mr. 
Campbell marrieil for his second wife Mrs. Anna 
Caldwell, of Illinois, their union being solemni/.ed 
May 4, l«M4. After n few brief years of wedcled 
life she died, Nov. Hi, I8S7. On the 4th of .lami- 
ary, IKH8, he wa.s marriecl to Miss Lydia K.illiy. of 
Howard. Kan. 

Our subject Inw an honorable business record, 
and is a man of unchallenged honesty and integrity. 
In politico he is a genuine Republican. alway.-< cisLs 



•►•-4^ 



-•^^m-^ 



•►■ 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



939 



his vote with that party, and uses his influence to 
sustain its measures. Mr. Campbell built his beau- 
tiful brick residence, which is .-m ornament to that 
part of the city, at a cost of |i6,000 ; it is pleasantly 
located on East Central aveiuie, on a lot of land 
with a frontage of sixty-five and a depth of 170 
feet. Me has besides purch.i-sed many other lots in 
different parts of the city. 

The portrait of Mr. Campbell, shown in this con- 
nection, will be viewed by all a.s that of a rcpre- 
senUitive and worthy citizen of Wichita. 

MIOIMAS KKRRICK is one of the enlorpris- 
iwii y()ung farmers and stock-growers of 
Payne Township, where he owns on section 
3 a line farm of eighty acres, all fenced with wire, 
with an abundant supply' of water. It is situated 
in one of the most productive regions in this i)art 
of the count3', and rich harvests have resulted from 
his energetic and skillful man.'igenient, every acre 
of it being iinder good tillage. It is well adapted 
to stock-raising, and he has made that business 
quite profitable. He has erected a good dwelling, 
and a conveniently arranged barn and other neces- 
sary farm buildings. 

Mr. Kerrick w.as born Keb. 12, l»o3, in Franklin 
County, Ind., and is the son of Arnistead and .Sarah 
Ann (Sloan) Kerrick. His father was born in Lou- 
doun County, Va., P'eb. 21, 1819. He received a 
common-school education; he was reared to the 
occupation of a farmer, and in later life, besides 
attending to his farming pursuits, he became a 
Method i.st minister. In his boyhood he left his 
Southern home with his p.arents and went to Ohio. 
Later he went thence to Indiana, and remained a 
resident of that State nearl}' thirty-five years. He 
finally migrated with his family to Woodford County, 
111., whence he removed to Marshall County, .and 
there lives on a farm with his wife and children. 
He was twice married. His first wife, mother of 
our subject, was born in Indiana, May 1, 1821. She 
was educated in the common schools of her native 
State, and was a devout member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. To her were born three daugh- 
ters — Joanna, Mary and Phebe — and seven sons, two 



of whom, Stephen and Jacob W., are dead. Joanna 
married Alma Rodgers, and lives in Illinois. Their 
mother died March 19, 1870. The second marriage 
of the father of our subject w.as to Mrs. Sowers, 
nm Burley. Three children have been born to them. 
The Rev. A. Kerrick is a man of decided views 
and fearless in expressing them. In politics he was 
an old-line Whig until the formation of the Re- 
publican jiarty, of which he has since been a stanch 
member. He was bitterly opposed to slavery and 
used all his inlluence to aid in its downfall. 

The subject of this sketch received a good public 
school education and a careful training from his 
worthy parents, which was well calculated to make 
him a n.seful and honorable citizen in later life. 
He was married, June 7, 1877, to Miss Margaret E. 
AVineteer, thus securing an active helpmate to aid 
him in building up a home and in making a suc- 
cess of his life work. She was well educated in the 
common schools. She is the daughter of Lewis iuid 
.Sophia (Hollenb.ick) Wineteer. Her father was 
born in Indiana in 1821, and is now living on a farm 
in Woodford County, 111. Her mother was born in 
Ohio. To them were born four sons and five daugh- 
ters ; the names are as follows : Thomas L., James ])., 
George W. ; Ilarri.son and Martha F., deceased; 
Margaret E., Clarissa A. ; Anna, deceased, and 
Jessie E. 

Our subject and his wife are intelligent people 
who lead upright Christian lives, and are thus val- 
ued men)bers of this community'. They are com- 
municants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
politics Mr. Kerrick is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. He is also a strong Prohibitionist. 



ON. WILLIAM KARR. The intelligence 
and education of the citizens of Wichita 
have in this gentleman a worthy representa- 
tive — one who keeps himself well posted 
upon matters of general interest, and luis served in 
many positions of trust and responsibility. The 
later years of his life, until 1887, were occupied in 
mercantile pursuits. In December of that year he 
retired from business, and in a tasteful and comfort- 
able home now spends his time largely in reading 



■•►■ 



f 



•^U-4i 



910 



skim; WICK COUNTY. 



mill >liiil_v, iiiul III llir (>iijii_viiii-n( of llii- suiiii\ uf 
\u» iimiiy fricii<l». 

Our siibji'i-l, a luilivc uf Wiutliiiigtoii C'duiilv, 
I'll., wiLH Imrii oil llip 24111 of .\Iiirfli. |.s|;l, mul j^ 
tiif Soil of Multlu'w luid Uniiiiikli (lVn.se) K.-irr, tlu- 
fiitlier 11 niilive of Irclaiul iiiiil tlio iiiollK-r of Wiuili- 
iiigloii C'omilv, I'a. 

.Mnlllifw Knrr wils born in Irt'laiul. :iiiil cnnic to 
this country with lii.> |iari-nLs wlicn n lad eight veui-s 
of !igi-. They wore iiiuong the curliest settlers of 
Wn-xliiiigton t'oiMity, I'n., where liiey followed fnrni- 
iiig, ni)d lieeatne the |MkreiiUs of a line family of suns 
and daughters. Matthew, in lt<14, early in life, re- 
moved to Franklin County, Ind., where he sjienl 
tin- remainder of his days, lie had lieen ediieated 
for a I'resbyterian miiiisU-r, Iml preferred ugrieiilt- 
ural |iiirsuits, and never entered u^Hjn the coiii>e 
whieli had been marked out for him by his jMirents. 

Onr subject was but a year old when his jMireiiL-^ 
removed from Pennsylvania to Indiana. Their 
hoiisi-liold iiielnded ten children, most <jf whom 
were natives of the Keystone State. They all 
lived to years of maturity. Only six are now liv- 
ing, an<l residents mostly of Iowa and Kansas. 
William wtus one of the younger members of the 
family, and like the others was reared to farming 
pursuits. He continued with his (mreiitj* until 
lM4i;, and then made his way westward to Marion 
County, Iowa, where he engaged in merchandising, 
and remained ten years. He next located in 
Miami County, this Stjite, where lie oi>orated a 2(K)- 
aere farm, an<l made a s|)eeially of blooded stock. 
Ho lived thereuntil I8.'i7,a period of cloven years, 
then abandoned agriculture, ami took up his resi- 
lience in the city of Wicliitii. 

Mr. Karr, in 18H, wa.s delected Justice of the 
Peace, which odice he held during his entire resi- 
dence in Indiana. In 1K(;2-<>1 he wa.s chosen also 
to rcprosenl Miami County, Kan., in the St4ite 
Legislature, and after serving his term resumed the 
duties of a Police .Iiistico. For a short tinio afti-r 
coming to Wichit.'i he engaged in merchandising, 
but sold out in December, 1«m7, since which time 
he has lived retired from active iiiisiness. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Iiidi- 
Jina, on the I'.llh of IVbniMiy, l.s.i.l. the l.idv of 
his ihojci- lieing Mi.v AniaiKJ.i llnpkiiis, i.f Ken- 



tucky. They coninieiiced life together in a modest 
home in ItArthoU)mew County, Ind., and aft«r a 
la|itie of yearn found themselves the |iarenls of It'ii 
children, of whom but four are now living. Of 
the Iatt4'r, Klihu A. married Miss Hannah .). Stew- 
art, of .Miami County, this Suite, and is engjiged in 
the real-estate business at Wichita; Sarah A.. Mrs. 
H. Brown, the wife of a Wicliitn menhant, is the 
mother of three children — Ida, Carrie and Cora; 
William H. and Milton remain with their |>»rent8 in 
Wichitji. The mother de|wrlcd this life Nov. 22, 
1H7I, and her remains were laiil to rest in the ceme- 
tery at New l.ane.-ister, Miami Co., Kan. 

Hon. William Karr w:ts the second man who 
signed his name to the Kiflcenth Amendnienl, in 
IMG I, and while a member of the KanssLs Legisla- 
ture, and following his were eighty-four iianies of 
members. Karly in life lieatliliatcd with the Whig 
|Mtrly, and subsequently entered the Hopublican 
ranks. During the lat« war he wiis First LieuU'ii- 
ant in Comjiany A, in the Stat*- .Militia, which was 
instituted and maintiined for the protection of the 
frontier. A well-informed man and a fluent speaker, 
he has oft*n been called upon to address political 
or other meetings. He was President of the I'nion 
League during the war, and materially assisted in 
diffusing Union sentiments. Karly in life he iden- 
tified himself with the Baptist Church, with which 
ho has been connected now for a |K'riod of over 
forty years. He liius alw.-iys Uiken an active inler- 
terest in the esUdilishmcnt and maintennnee of re- 
ligious institutions, believing that the sentiments 
Uiught in these are the surest weapons against an- 
archy anil misrule. The family resilience is pleas- 
antly located !it No. 2(1 1 Locust street 



P~ RANK A. WOOLF. who is well known 
, throiiglioiit Sedgwick County, is numbered 
among its best men, scu'lally and financially, 
and is especially valued ."is a large-hearted and pub- 
lic-spirited citizen, whose ont4'rprise and benevo- 
lence have contributed greatly to the happiness and 
comfort of the |M>ople around him. His homestead 
is one of the most noticeable in Illinois Township, 
for the air of thrift and coniforl which siirrouiuis 



•►•-^^ 



-•*-»-4« 



SKDfiWK'K COUNTY. 



•Ml i ^1 



it and ih.' r\ hi. ur,- ,,|' enterprise, taste ami skill. 
Tliequartcr-sffliuii of lancl comprising the farm lias 
been brought to a fine stiite of euUivation, and the 
comfortable and commodious dwelling, flanked by 
barns, corn cribs, sheds, a fine orchard and the 
smaller frnit-bearing trees, makes a most attractive 
picture in the huulscape of that region. These are 
illustrated in the view department of this Album. 
The farm is largely' devoted to the raising of grain 
and slock, the latter of which comprises horses, cat- 
tle and swine, which find r('ad3' market, and the 
proceeds of which yield a handsome income annu- 
ally. 

Mr. Woolf. politically, is a stanch Republican, and 
with his estimable wife, a memlter in good standing 
of the Methodist Church at Goddard. in the build- 
ing up of which he hiis been an able assistant and is 
numbered among the chief pillars. He was care- 
fully reared by most excellent parents, Andrew T. 
and Angeline (Detro) Woolf, who at the time of 
his birth, Jan. 2, 1856, were among the well-to-do 
residents of Muskingum County, Ohio. The father 
was born in Virginia, and the mother in the Buck- 
eye State, in the latter of which the parents still re- 
side. Andrew T. Woolf, in early nianhooil a member 
of the t)ld. Whig party, identified himself with the 
Republican party soon after its organization, which 
was effected the same year our subject was born, 
and all his life has been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. The parental household included five 
children, the eldest of whom, Charles H., married 
Miss Kllen Hart, and is now farming in Sedgwick 
County, this Slate; like his father, he and our sub- 
ject, Frank A., are zealous supporters of Republican 
principles. Thej' were the only sons. Laura 15. is 
the wife of Leroy Dunn, one of the sturdj' Demo- 
crats of Zanesville, Ohio, and a farmer by occupa- 
tion ; they have one child, lilanche is the wife of 
Milo Dunn, a book-keeper, of Zanesville, Ohio, and 
formerlj' a teacher in the schools of Muskingum 
County; thej' have one child. Maude is unmarried, 
and resides with her parents in Zanesville. 

Mr. Woolf commenced farming for himself in the 
Buckeve State when about twenty-two years old, 
and crossed the Mississijipi in 1883, taking up his 
abode in this count}'. He was married in his native 
1 A county, Feb. 27, 1878, to Miss Lizzie Handschv, 

' ■> Y . ■ — 



also of Ohio, and who was born April 23, 1857. 
The parents of Mrs. Woolf, Frederick and Ruth 
(Win) Handschy, were born in Muskingum Count}'. 
Ohio, where thej' were reared and married, and still 
remain. Their family consisted of two sons and 
six daughlers. Caddie, the eldest, became the wife 
of William Dunn, who died about eighteen months 
after their marriage, leaving a young wife and one 
child, and the bereaved widow then returned to her 
father's house, where she still lives; Ella is the wife 
of Howard Dunn, a farmer of Muskingum County, 
Ohio, and the mother of two children, one of whom 
is deceased; George married Miss Cora Dunn; 
Lizzie, Mrs. Woolf, was the fourth child ; Dorothea is 
the wife of Charles Pierce, and the mother of one 
child; Mr. P. is a well-educated man, and carries on 
farming and teaching altertiately in this State. 
Alice is immarried, and continues at the old home- 
stead ; Flora. Mrs. Jacob Miller, resides in Pratt 
Center, this State, and is the mother of two children ; 
her husband is Princ'ipal of the Westfield schools, 
and also engaged .-is a dealer in real estate. Fred- 
erick is associated in business with his brother-in- 
law, Mr. Miller, of Pratt Center. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woolf are the parents of two chil- 
dren, only one of whom is living, a little son, Wil- 
lard, who was born April 1,1 S85. Their eldest, 
Odessa, born Oct. 6, 1878, died on the 11th of 
April, 1887, when an interesting child nearl}' nine 
years of age. 



"T~~V 



-£^ 



,/P^^ AMUKL M. WILSON. The late S. M. Wil- 
son came to Kansas in 1879 with his family 
and located in Sedgwick County, and be- 
came one of the original settlers of Mul- 
vane. The population was sparse at that early 
period, and the larger part of the inhabitants occu- 
pied primitive dwellings of logs or dugouts. Mr. 
Wilson built the secon<i house in the city, which 
was a substantial frame structure, and which he oc- 
cupied for some time. 

Immediately after coming here Mr. Wilson em- 
barked in the furniture and undertaking business, 
but after giving it a thorough trial of two years, 
decided that his financial condition would be im- 






•►-•-4*- 



' »<-' 



■► ■ -4i 



SKI n; WICK COUNTY. 



pnivtMl |i_v II i-liiin>;«' uf iK-cu|>!aiiiii. IK- <li»|M>M-<l uf 
his iiiAtiu factory nml Nili'sroDiii, and I'liilmrki-"! in 
iIm" uniiii hiKsiiicss, wliicli «tus ihcn one nf iho most 
hicnitivi- ontiTprisoK thai an inli.iditnnt of Kansn.-- 
idiilil cn^jte in. Mr. Wilson sul»r<|ui'ntly liouglil 
forty aiTf.s of land on .Mi-tion 32, Rockfurd ■ro»Tn- 
!ilii|i, jiisl one mile north of .Mtiivano, where ho 
liiiill a tine rc^ideiKe, in whirl) hi- lived until lii.s 
dialh. Dec. L';t. 1SM7. riii.t |>ro|)erty he iin|>rove<l 
ill the various ways eoniniun to jx-ople in a new 
country, where the soil is a.« fertile and productive 
iL* in this Stale, and it is now a very |ileasjint fea- 
ture of the landM'a|ie of the Arkansa:> NaUey. 

.Mr. Wilson's native SUitc was Ohio, where he was 
born Dec. 1,'), lK.'i;i, ami wjicre his early years were 
s|K-nt. After coniniencinf; life's battle for himself 
he left the IJuckeye Sljitc and proceeded westward 
in search of fortune. l'rosi)erity smiled on all his 
ventures, and by iintirinir industry and persever- 
ance, he liati before many years acquired sullicicnt 
means to enable him lu establish a home. With 
this end in view he wooed and won for his bride 
Miss .Sarah .M. IJales, to wht^m he was married in 
.lanesville. Wis., Dec. .W, 1 .S .■.(;. This estimable 
lady wiLs born in Lurniinc, N. Y.. April 10, IHil, 
being a daughter of Oliver A. and Klvira (Law- 
rence) Uatcs, natives of New York and uf pure Kn- 
glish origin. They are both n<jw living, Mr. Kates 
being suciv-ssfully engaged in the livery business, 
which he has followed for some years with pleasing 
results. !L« shown by the large anioiint of proi)erly 
he has accumulated. 

Our ."lubjcct and his wife became the parents of 
six children, namely : Nellie N., born Nov. 23, 
1«.')7; Amos Wilber, Oct. H), IkCI; Samuel I)., 
born Feb. 1.'7, IM'.I; Oliver K, April i, 1 S? 1 ; 
Lena -Vdel, Aug. l.'i, lt<7'.); Frances .Marion, May 
1, I.HhI. Oliver died Jan. 2. 1«77, and Amos 
October 7. the same ye:ir; .Samuel was married, .Ian. 
'.I, IMMM, to Miss Kmma .Stansburg. and they re- 
siile in Sumner County, Kan. 

Mr. Wilson look an active interest in the advance- 
ment ami growth cif .Miilvaiie from the lime he liisl 
became numbered among its cili/.ens until his death, 
and labored hard to place it in the front rank of the 
leading cities of the .Slate. lie siipporteil all 
fciLsilile pLms for its nioial and inleLlectualadva^cc- 
^•— — — ^— — — ^^— — ^-^^^ 



nient. and wiut also an im|Hirt:tnl factor in promot- 
ing the welfare of the township in which the city is 
included. 

Mr. Wilviii was a worthy niemlKT of the .McIIhkI- 
isl Kpisco|ial Church, of which .Mrs. Wilson is al.>^o 
a communicant, lie was an active worker in the 
.Sunilay-M-h(«i|, and long presided lus Su|H'rinl»-nd- 
ciit. S>cially, he wics a member of the 1. O. O. F.. 
and likewi.M- of the I'liiteil \\ Hrkmen. In politics 
he wiuastntight Kepublican. although he never l<Hik 
lui active |Mirt therein. 

Mr. Wilson left a pro|)erly of tiver l,(KK» acresof 
land, besides village property, and his estimable 
widow is at pre.xent comlucting the afl'airs of her 
farm and also the harness trade at .Mnlvane. with 
excellent result.^. She is an enterprising lady, and 
is demonstrating her business genius in so success- 
fully carrying forward large financial affairs. 

The iKirlrait of the well-known and highly rc- 
s|K>cted gentleman whose name heads this article 
will be gladly received by the many who mourn his 
death. It is given on |»age s^,C,. A valued cili/.en. 
a kind father and alTectionale husband, his memory 
should be cherished ami pcriM-tuated by all. 



€11AK1.KS KAl.l.ANC K, senior member of 
the firm operating the Wichita Steam Sione 
' Works, which occupy a leading |Misilion 
among the industries of the city, is a native of the 
I'r.iirie .State, and a gentleman in the prime t>f life, 
having been born .March 'I'.i. If<l7, in I'eoria County, 
111. lie there learned the trade of sloni'cnlter, and 
when of suiUible years embarked in busiui'ss for 
him.self. lie always look a lively interest in his 
cho.Hcn vocation, and was one of the first men in 
Illinois to use machinery in dressing stone, provid- 
ing his shop with machinery in 1872. 

The attention of »>ur subject was lirsl called to 
this machuiery by the perus;d of articles relating to 
this subject in the columns of the ".Scienlilic Ameri- 
can." .Mr. Uallance, from the llrsl, was ambitious to 
excel as an artisan in this line, and judging from 
the result of his operations west of the Mississippi, 
it is fair to suppose that his itspirations have been 
graliticd to a large cxlciil. Iblefl I'eoria in the 



^ 



^y 



-4*- 



■^^ 



SKIXIWR'K COIINTV. 



;ii;{ ' H 



>|.riiiu "t I >s7 with a firm belief in tiie future of 
AVichiUi iiiul Southern Kansas gcnerully, anil ilius 
far he luis had uf) reason to eomi)lain. 

Our subject, in 1H82, formed a partnerehip with 
Cliarles K. Jaus, locatinfi: their workshoj) in llie city 
of IVoria, and tliereafter ljuildin<< up an extensive 
business and furnishing the stone work for some of 
tiio larjj;esl buihllnj^s, includinjj the National lltitel, 
the Masonic Temple, tile County Insane Buildiiifr, 
Peoria County Court House, tiie First National 
IJank building, the Union Depot, the Watch Factory, 
and otliers too numerous to mention. In fact thej' 
became the most extensive contractors in cut stone 
work in Central Illinois. 

In May. 18H7, this firm, oliserving the rapid 
growth of Wichitii, removed thither with their 
works, Ijringing with them also a large force of 
skilled employes. Many of these had learned their 
tr.ide with the firm and been in its empk)y for 
years. 

In Wichita this firm has furnished the cut stone 
for the Lawrence & Seaman building on the West 
Side, the Stem, Ilauck & Wilkic building, corner 
of Lawrence and William avenues, llie Smith ife 
Skinner building on Market street, the Pollock & 
Pierce building on Topeka avenue, and the Zim- 
merly liuilding on Douglas avenue. This last is 
the finest and most beautiful structure in WiehiUi, 
the frcmt alone being f.ishioned at an expense of 
^i;^.000. The design is unique and chaste, and the 
carving executed in a manner that exhibits the 
most skillful workmanship. The building in all re- 
sjiects is a credit to the Wichita Steam Stone Works, 
and would do honor to New York City or Euclid 
avenue, Cleveland. 



fi? KNKY KAUFMAN, dealer in real estate, 
IT^l Wichitii, is one of the representative busi- 
IM^^ "ess men of that city. His long residence 
^K) here hiis made hiin perfectly famili.-ir with 
tlie condition of realty in this part of the country, 
and h:is given him a knowledge of lines, bounda- 
ries, values and titles, which has been of inestimable 
value to him in his transactions: and his large ac- 
quaintance and dealings with men throughout South- 



em Kansas has also proved advantageous, as be 
is coiulucting a large business with sjitisfactory re- 
sults, lie is a native of Butler County, Pa., born 
Dec. 2.0, 183G, to John and Margaret (Cress) Kauf- 
man, natives of IJreidenbach, Hessian Germ any . 
They came to this country in 183.0 and settled in 
Butler County, Pa., where Mr. Kaufman wiis en- 
gaged as a journeyman. In Februaiy, 1837, he re- 
moved with his family to Warsaw, Hancock Co., 
III., and engaged in the manufacture of wagons, 
stages and carriages, until within a few years of his 
death, when he had l)ecome rich enough to retire. 
His wife died in 18,03 and he in 180a. They 
were honest, respectable people, wIkj walked the 
path of virtue and honor throughout lives of use- 
fulness, and were devoted members of the German 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Their marriage w.as 
blessed by the birth of seven children, four of whom 
are living: Henrj-; John, a farmer living in Wich- 
ita; Margaret, now Mrs. Schuhart, of Columbus, 
Adams Co., III.; Maria, now Mrs. Schuiiart, of 
Coatsburg, Adams Co., 111. 

The subject of this sketch spent his younger days 
in school, and gained a good, practical education. 
When his schooling was completed he engaged 
with his father in his wagon and carriage manufact- 
ory, serving as a common workman, and gaining a 
thorough understanding of all the details connected 
with ihe Ijusiness, remaining with him until he at- 
tained his majority. He then established himself 
in a carriage factory of his own in Warsaw, and 
conducted a fine business, his superior workman- 
shif) l)ringinghini in an extensive trade. In l.sOO he 
was obliged to close out, on account of his failing 
health, and subsequently turned his attention to 
the mercantile business in the same town, entering 
into partnerehip with .1. B. Miltuer, under the firm 
name of J. B. Miltiier & Kaufman. They con- 
tinued together for several 3'ears, and, bj' their en- 
terprise and energetic management built up a large 
and prosperous trade. In 187.0 Mr. Kaufman sold 
his interest in the firm, and came to the beautiful 
city of Wichita, which he shrewdly foresaw, from 
its superb geographical location, must l)econic a 
great commercial emporium of an agricultural re- 
gion unsuri)assed for fertility and productiveness. 
He established himself iu the gi-ain business soon 



-^*- 



'.M4 



SKUcavlCK COUNTY. 






!ifl«'r coiniii;; luTf, ;m<l hu.* vory sui-f«'s.sfiil. Imvin^ 
«'Xl»'iisivc (lenliii^!) llir(iu;;lii>tit Soiilherii K:iii!<ii.s. 
Ill IKMi". Iif ili.HcuntiiiiK'il llint liusiiicv*. niitl bi-ennic 
cii^^cil ill renl-cstaU' trniis^ii-tiiiii.x, in nliioli hi- liui 
iiicl with his usual siu'coss. Ilo iis n iiiitii of ^(kkI 
hti!<iiu-ss caiMtciU', iinil n Ihoruiigh iiiniiogcr i>f his 
ttiiK- mill liicnilive iiiUrests. 

Mr. Kiiurinnii wius iiiarrit-d, in Si'ploiiilKT, 1K(>(I, U> 
Mivs ,I..hiiniiii M. Wilkic-, of HanitMk County, 111., 
ami (Inii^'htor of Henry and Calheriiio (Coleman) 
Wilkii'. nalivos of (icrinany. They came to Aiiier- 
ion iiiMiiy yi-ars ago, and seltleil in .""it. Charli's. Mo., 
whi-re Mr. Wilkit- was ciigagud in fsirniiiif,'. Finally 
tliL'V reinovi-d to Illiiiuiy, and iiiadc thoir lionie in 
Ilani-ock County, and rarricd on agricultural pur- 
suits until dca'.li. Thoy had four children : (Jeorge 
F., of .Sedgwick County, Knn. ; Hciijaniiii F., of 
Wichita: .Siphia, Mrs. Miltncr, of Wichitii, and 
.Mrs. Kaufman. To our sulijecl and his wife have 
been Imrn four children, three of whom are living — 
Annie .M., Clara .S. and Itla S. Miss Annie iseiigjigcd 
in the iiiilliiiery business, under the firm name of 
Kaufman A- Kolier, uf Wichita. 

.Mr. Kaufman takes a lively interest in |>olitics, 
and is a member of the Ke|iiiblican parly. Both 
he an<l Mrs. Kaufman belong to the (ierman Meth- 
odist Kpiscopal Church, and are intlucntial in itsaf- 
fnii-s. They are quiet, unpretentious people, helpful 
toward <jlhci-8, and easily winning and retaining 
the res|)cct and esteem of those with whom lhe3- 
come in contact. 



^^^ ALVIN MiWOKTKU, an enterprising and 
[11^^ energetic f:irmer of I'ark Township, resid- 
^^i^' ing upon section 24, is a native of Pulaski 
Cfjiiiity, Ky., anti was l)orn May II, 1811. llis 
paternal grandfather, Francis .McWorter, was born 
in slavery, hi> birth having taken place while his 
mother was at work. She bnniglil the infant to the 
house in her apron, and jn'cscnled it to the m:»ster. 
lie grew up, and lived in slavery until he w:is quite 
an ol<l man, and, having been hired out at odd 
limes to work in a saltpeter cave, he thus accuiiiu- 
laled money enough to ]iiire|i:L»c his freedom. From 
that time onward he labored diligently to procure 



more money, »itli whieli he bought his uife. chil- 
dren and grandchildren, all of whom were iMirn 
slaven. lie thus [wiid out over > 10.0(10 Ut lil>emle 
his own flesh and blood. He flnnlly ilied in I'ike 
County. III., quite a well-to-do and highly res|>ected 
citizen. 

Calvin McWorter, the father of the subject of 
this sketch, was a slave, who. after all of the up> 
and downs incident to the life of a bondman, was 
bought by a man of the name of Klliott, who was 
\\i> owner at the time of Calvin's birth. The mother 
of our subject, Sjirah SIcWorter. wju< the pro|«Tly 
of a family namcii Dunham, and is now living in 
this county, having already attjiined the age of 
threescore years and ten. She was the mother of 
five children, all of whom have grown up. Their 
names are as follows: Lucy Ann, the wife of 
Ceorgo Brooks, who resides in .lacksoiiville. III.; 
Hiley, the wife of Alexan<ler Clark, of this county; 
Calvin, the suljjcct of our sket*;h ; rarmelia, the 
decciised wife of William .Stephenson, who died 
leaving <ine child, and Comnioilorc, of .Sedgwick 
County. 

The subject of our sketi'h was born a slave in 
the family of I). B. Dunham, who reared him until 
he was si.xleen years old. At that age he was sold 
to .lonkin \'ictj>ry, with whom he remained until 
he had .-ittained his twentieth year. His grand- 
father being a free man as related above, then 
purchased Calvin of his master, and being out of 
bondage, the young man went to I'ike County, 111., 
where his grandfather w.as living. He remained in 
that locality until 1870, when he came t4j KaiLsas, 
aixi settled in Humboldt, where he worked as a 
common laborer. During the year 187.') he came 
to .Sedgwick County, and settled in I'ark Town- 
ship, where he has remained a resident ever since. 
He is the owner of 12.5 acres of tine land, on which 
he carries on farming, and which by his industry 
he has brought to an excellent sUiie of ciiltivatii^m. 
He pays p:irticular attention to the rearing of i-at- 
tle, in which lie has been very successful in a 
iwciiniary |Miinl of view. His residence, which is 
erected upon his farm, is very handsome and com- 
fortable, :Hid is a monument to his business energy' 
and good management. 

Not wishing to live a life of single blesseiliiess, i 



-»-<^ 



-•►■-4* 






^•►^l 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



945 



in 1873 Calvin McWoitcr wjis united in marriage, 
in Missouri, with Miss Saraii McCampbcll, who is a 
native of Missouri, born free from bondage, as iier 
jjarents were not slaves. Tiiey are llic parents of 
seven eiiildren, as follows: Arthur, John, Willie, 
Sarah, Maggie, Henry and Thomas C. 

When Mr. McWorter came to Kansas almost his 
entire property consisted of his span of mules, but 
since living here he has not only risen in the world 
ii) a financial sense but lias gained the esteem of his 
neighbors and the community in general. Industry, 
honor and uprightness will always win in the end, 
as is evitlenced in the life of the gentleman of whom 
we write. He is, in politics, a strong Republican, 
and has served in the position of School Trustee for 
one term. Being a Prohibitionist from conviction, 
he is a member of the I. O. G. T. His wife draws 
her spiritual consolation from the Baptist Church, of 
which denomination she is a member. A view of 
the home of Mr. McWorter is shown elsewhere in 
this work. 

ILLIAM KINCAIl), of Wichita, is a car- 
penter and builder by tr.ade, but is now 
practically retired from active labor. He 
was born June 8, 1828, in Brunswick, Cumberland 
Co, Me. Rural by birth and habits, he re- 
mained on a farm until reaching his seventeenth 
year, then migrated to Frccport, 111., where he be- 
came master of the trades of carpenter and ship- 
joiner. He finally made his way to Big Swanico 
River, near Green Bay, Wis., where he carried on 
the milling business. lie and his brother became 
owners of a tract of pine land, and sawed lumber 
for the market. 

Mr. Kincaid remained in that section of country 
about eighteen months, then sold out his business 
interests, and in 18G5 headed for Vincland, N. J. 
Here he resumed carpentering for seven months, 
when Cedar Falls, Iowa, presented attractions for 
him, and he accordingly journej'ed to that place and 
occupied himself iis farmer and carpenter combined. 
He secured a clear title to 240 .-jcres of this planet 
in that section, which anchored him down for a 
period of seven ycai-s, at the expiration of which 
time Venango County, Pa., dazzled his perceptivcs 



i^h 



with promises of wealth in its oceans of oil. and he 
leased land and sunk a well. The venture proved 
quite encouraging, ami lie wsis finally the proprietor 
of eight more wells there. His no.\t residence was 
in Bradford, of the same State, which promised 
larger returns for the same outhi}' of monej- and 
labor, and there he sunk sixteen wells, struck plenty 
of oil, and that on his own land; his wells j'ielded 
about 100 barrels per day, and were about 1 ,.500 
feet deep. He still owns thirty -seven acres of that 
oil land. 

From the oil regions of Pennsylvania, a glance at 
Wichita, Kiin., was suHiciently inviting to attract 
Mr. Kincaid hither, but keeping in mind the fact 
that a promised Eldorado did not always fulfill the 
cxpecUitions of the adventurer, he wiselj' retained 
a portion of his property in Pennsylvania. He 
came to this county in February, 1887, arriving 
here on the 1st day of the month, and took pos.ses- 
sion of the fort}' acres of farm land which he had 
previously purchased. He now has three lots 100 
feet front, upon two of which are fine dwellings. 
His own residence is particularly' noticeable for its 
tastefulness of architecture! and its size. It is 
flanked by a carriage barn, and surrounded by shade 
and fruit trees, forming one of the most complete 
and comfortable homes of the mod(Tn gentleman of 
means. 

The parents of our subject, David and Abigail 
(Waldron) Kincaid, were natives respectively of 
Maine and New Hampshire. The father was born 
in 178,'), and departed this life at his home in Bruns- 
wick in 1841. The mother, who was born in 1800, 
survived her husband for a period of thirty-five 
years, remaining a widow, and departed this life at 
her son's home in South Portland, Me., in 187(). 
They enjoyed religious consolation in the doctrines 
of the Free-Will Baptist Church, of which they 
were mcmbei-s for many years. Of their thirteen 
children only four are living, and William, of our 
sketch, was the youngest of the famil\'. 

Mr. Kincaid, while a resident of Portland, .Me., 
made the .acquaintimce of Miss Abbie R. Osgood, 
with whom he was united in marri.ageOct. 27, 18.n7. 
Mrs. K. was born in the city of Portland, Me., Nov. 
22, 1842, and is the daughter of Abraham and 
Mary (Clement) Osgood, who were also natives of 



i 



•►-•-♦- 



-► ■ -4« 



1| 



94f. 



SKI x; WICK COUNT V 



i 



llic riiic Tii'f MiiU'. Alintliiiin ().s;;ih>(I wiLt Itorn 
l>tr. -J'l, IMl!. mill ilit-il at Ui» home- in I'orlliiixl, 
Mc, ill I-S72. I If oiirrii-d on IkiIIi funning nnil 
nicri-liiiii(li!<in^, iiinl iniulo f<insi<lfnililo inunt-y n.« u 
!i|>cciilnt<ir. lie waiiit ilcviuit incniln-r of llic ll!i|>li!<l 
C'liiirrli. 'I'lii- niullicr wn.t horn Miircli ICi, 1KI7, 
i;* >till livin;j, iinil innk«'.* tier liome in South I'ort- 
liiml. Me. 'I'lie nine eliililren of llic |>Jirent«l liouse- 
hoiil were: Kninin, I'lielu-, Alil>ie H., Almini, < leorj^e, 
Aliee. MnrielUi, ( M-oi'<,'innii hiiiI Cornelia. 

To our iiuliject ami liis wife there were liorn four 
chiiilren: Willis married Mis* Meyer, a New .ler- 
si'V Inilv. ami tliev make their home in llrailfonl, 
I'a. ; Marietta died in 1 s7.'{, when about two years of 
aj^e; Waldroii and Harry O. are at home. Mr. and 
Mrs. K. .-ire both members in ;rood sl:indin<^ of the 
.Methodist K|iiseo|ial Church. The former, siK-ially, 
i> a mend»er of the I. ().(). F.. while Mrs. K. is 
identilied with the Royal Tem|ilar*s De-jrce of Ue- 
beeea. Mr. K., |Militieally, alliliMles with the Ke- 
|>ublieaii party. In addition to his projierty in this 
eounty, liis name stands u|>i>n the reeords of 
.S-ward County, tliis SUite, as the ta.\-payer on '.MJd 
jicres, whicii lie pureiiased there in IMH7. 

K(iU(.i-: llA.MII.Ki.N I.AI I. Ill, IN. A. M., 
IAj. 1)., Professor of Amienl ]^aiij,'uages 
atCiartielcl I'liivei-sity, Wichita, Kan., is one 
of the most prominent educators of this State, lie 
was born iJec. -.'K, 183m, at t/nincy. III., and is the 
third of a family of ei<;;ht »uns. His father, Simon 
l.au;:liliii, was born in Bourbon County, Kj'., and 
his mother, whose maiden name was Kemp, in Har- 
rison County, Ky. His paternal ancestors were ICn- 
•,dish; Ids maternal. Scotch and flerman. Through 
the former he is related to l'resi<lent Madi.-^on. The 
latter, in their loyally to the inf:int Republic, ex- 
|N-rienced .some of the hardships incident to the 
Revolution. 

I'rof. I.anglilin's early Iraiiiiiig w.-ts received in 
Illinois, and liis lii^t educational opportunities were 
.■.oiiiewlial limited. 'I'he public s<-hool .sy.steni, as 
yet, had done little for the •'( I real West." .School- 
lioiise> were few. and he re<'eived his elementary 
I* ' instruction at home. His father, beiiij,' a public- 



spirited man. aii<l wishjn;.; the wi-lf:ire of the whole 
community, as well im that of his family, erected a 
s<'liiH>l-hoiisc at his own ex|H>iise. There yonn>; 
fJeorj^e attended for .several years, until, iK-coaiinj,' 
an.\ions for bett«'r advantages, he ent^-n-d Iterean 
College, liK-alcd at .Jacksonville. III., in l«.'>7. 
Becoming dissalistied with that instilntion, he left 
it to enter Abingdon College, Abingdon, Knox Co., 
III., where he remained four years as n student, and 
graduated with the highest honors of his cln-s.*, de- 
livering the (Ircek salulatory. His inclination on 
graduation was toward the legal profession, but 
through the advice of his |Mireiits, for whom he al- 
ways had the most sacretl filial regard, he turned 
his attention Ui t<^'aehing and preaching. For more 
than a quarter of a century he has steadily and 
successfully pursued this twofold work, regarding 
teaching :is his profe.-*ion, and preaching .-is an avo- 
c.ition. 

The first three years of I'rof. I.aughlin's public 
career were s|ieiit in the common schools of Illi- 
nois. During the next eight years he was Principal 
of the Itjills County Academy, New London, Mo., 
five years of this time fdliiig the ollice of County 
Sniti'rintendcnt of Public Schools. In IK71 he was 
called to till the Chair of Ancient Languages in 
Oskaloosa College, Oskaloosa, Iowa. After hold- 
ing this position seven years with great acceptance, 
he was elected President of that institution; .it 
the same time he w.ts elected Professor of Ancient 
Langnagcs in Drake L'niversity. I)es Moines, Iowa, 
and was also offered the Presidency of Christian 
College, Colnmliia, Ky. With these three offers 
before him. he decided to accept the Presidency of 
thai instilulion with which he had been so long 
connected. After a successful term of two years, 
he resigned, to accept the Presidency of Hiram Col- 
lege. Portage County, Ohio. This |K>silion he held 
for four year.s with admirable success, having won 
the approval of the friends and patrons of the col- 
lege, and the high regard of the students. He has 
given much attention to the public school sy.>tein, 
writing for educalion:d journals, either as editor or 
corres|Miiideiil, lecturing on educational themes, 
and leaching in Normal Institutes during summer 
vacations. He is of a metaphysic-il turn of mind. 
As a minister, Prof. Laughlin is a deeideil iioii- 



■> ■-» 



•►-11-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



947 



sectarian, and as a public s|)eaker, he is regarded 
as very successful. In writing he is logical and 
concise, using pure diction, and possessing a style 
clear and forcible as well as oratorical, lie lias 
been connected with tlic Christian Church twenty- 
eight years. In 186S lie became identified witii 
the Masonic fraternity, of wliich he is still a member, 
and in whieli he has held imporUmt positions. How- 
ever, he has never allowed .Masonry to interfere 
with his professional duties. He was for a time 
President of the Central Book Concern, a publish- 
ing-house and book store in Oskaloosa, Iowa. In 
politics he is a Republican, although he has some- 
times voted for men in other parties. 

August 21, 1862, our subject was married to 
Debbie J. Ross, of Princeton, 111., who has proved 
to be a devoted wife and helpmate. Ten children 
have been born of this union, nine of whom are 
living, five sons and four daughters. Mrs. Laugh- 
lin is a graduate of Abingdon College, and possesses 
superior qualifications and intellectual powers. In 
addition to her household duties and cares, Mi-s. 
Laughlin has found time to write for the religious 
press, her most valuable contribution being a prize 
essay on "Life's Practical Duties," published in 
1870. .She ha.s also taken great interest in missions, 
and has delivered several addresses in their behalf. 

JJimrod Dickinson Laughlin, President Laugli- 
lin's eldest son, was graduated at Hiram College in 
June, 1886, with the degree of A. B. He is now 
professor of Greek and German in a Kentucky 
institution. Laura Rebecca Laughlin, the eldest 
daughter, was graduated from Hiram College, in 
1887, with the degree of Ph. B. She is teaching in 
the Wichita public schools. 

One of the conditior.s upon which Mr. Laughlin 
accepted the Presidencj' of Hiram College, was, 
that its facilities for instruetionshouhl be increiised. 
For two years he kept before the Trustees, the pat- 
rons and the students, the question as to the need 
of better and larger buildings at Hiram, his policy 
being that the institution could not make a sub- 
stantial growth without having enlarged appliances. 
Through his Western enthusiasm and persistence, 
vigorous measures were taken by the Trustees for 
the erection of a large and substantial college edi- 
fice, to be completed before the close of the year 



1 886. No addition more valuable than this has 
ever been made to the property of Hiram College. 
Prof. Laughlin's studious life and iiainst-iking care 
of such educational trusts as liave been under his 
management, have shown him to be a ripe scholar 
and a wise administrator. 

Prof. Laughlin has live brothers livnig, viz: 
Clmrlrs H. Laughlin, of New Canton, III.; Frank 
Laughlin and John R. Laughlin, of Kansas City, Mo. ; 
Thomas H. Laughlin, of liuincy, III. ; and Mark W. 
Laughlin, of Monroe City, Mo. Charles and .Mark 
are farmers; Frank and John are mechanics; Thomas 
is in the Postal Service, having served the Govern- 
ment in that capacity with great acceptance during 
the last twenty-five yeare. Prof. Laughlin's mother, 
now seventy 3'ears old, is living at t^uincy, HI., 
which has been her home for fift3- years. She is a 
faithful member of the Christian Church, and is 
held in high esteem by all who know her. 

In 1887 Prof. Laughlin was called to the Chair 
of Ancient I^anguages in Garfield University, a posi- 
tion for which his critical scholarship and large ex- 
perience as a teacher eminently fit him. He has 
received several literary degrees in recognition of 
his work as an educator. The degree of A. M. 
was conferred upon him b^' Abingdon College, in 
1865; thiitof LL. 1)., by Eureka College, in 18.HG; 
and that of F. S. Se., by the Societ}' of Science, 
Letters and Art, of London, England, in 1888. He 
is a member of the American Institute of CIvies, 
and advocates the teaching of civics, both in the 
public schools and colleges. 




10, 1823, in Gallia Count}-, Ohio. His parents 
were natives of .South Carolina, where they were 
married, and moved to Ohio in a ver}- earl}' day. 
Settling among the heavy timber that at that time 
clothed the Buckeye State, his father cleared up 
two farms and endured .all the hardships and priva- 
tions incident to life on the frontier at that time. 
He wiis the parent of ten children, nine of whom 



•^-•-^ 



SKI )<; WICK COUNTY. 



^r< '^\ to iiiMiih I .'uiil «ri>iiiiiiili(><iil. llu-ir ii.'iiin-it 

ntv n.'< fiillou>: Williiiiii, wlin si'ltli-d in Iniliaim; 
Wilrv, will) lives ill Ohio; lliirj^c.vt wns a pilot on 
tlu' Ohio Kivt-r, ami iliol whilf » yoiini; iiinii; 
.lonlnii wn^ tin- owner niid ('n|>tiiiii of ii .HU-iiiiiliont, 
mid dird in Arknns<i.s on the U<-d Kivor: Lewis is 
livinj; in Illiiioi.s; S'liey. the wife of .luiiies Kinjj, 
died ill Iiidi.-inii; Snnih, Mrs. .loliii Cnii^. is now 
living ill Illinois; niid .lane, who died nt the nge of 
eighteen yenrs. Our siilijeet's mother died when 
he wii> liiit a mere child, mid his father marrieil the 
second time, and had horn to him four children, 
two of whom fjrew to maturity. I'he father was a 
soldier in the War of I Hi 2. 

The siihjecl of this |)ersonal history was reared 
ii|Niti n farm in his native county, and received in 
his youth l>u( little education, a.s the facilities to 
ol>t.iin such were lackin<;, free schools not having 
Ih-cii est-ililished. lie remained at home assii^ting 
his parents in the lahors of the farm until hi.s mar- 
riage, which t<^>ok ))lace May l, 1«C1, at which lime 
he wediled .Mis.- ICIizaheth Woods, the dau;iliter of 
A.s;i and Alibic (Harper) Wooils. and a native of 
(;allie County. Ohio, born in IHi-l. Shortly after 
his marriage he removed to Davis Count}', Iowa, 
where he wa.s engaged in carrying on .Mgriculliiral 
pursuits on a farm of 2(10 acres of land, which he 
owned about twenty-live or twenty-six years. I5y 
this marriage he was the parent of nine children, 
four of whom grew to maturity, and three of whom 
marrie<l, viz.: .Mary, the deceased wife of Oeorge 
Miidd, left three children, who live in Iowa; 
AinaiKla. Mrs. Harvey, living in Illinois; and David, 
a resident of Iowa. Our subject's wife dying in 
IHlJl, he w.a.s married for the second lime. May 4, 
lK(i2, at which time he wedded Mi.ss Angclinc 
llayiu'S, the <laugliter of William II. ami Kliza 
(Smith) llaynes, a native of Helmont County, 
Ohio, born .Sept. 27, IHKl. Her pareiiLs were both 
natives of the SUito of N'irginia. By this marriage 
there were three <'hildreii born : Charles, who died 
ill infancy; Albert, born Oct. 4, I8i;)'i; and Frank, 
whose birth occurred Nov. 17, 1K70. 

Mr. Hill, in IM74, dis|K»sed of hi.s farm in lo\v:i, 
and removed to Kan.sas, M'ttliiig in .Sedgwick 
County, and pre-empted Did acres of land, half of 
which he has since sold. The ini|)rovcinciils upon 



his pro|H-rtv are of a siibsUiiilial character, and 
everything nmnifesUr the thrift mid pros|ierily of 
an intelligent farmer. Both he and his worthy wife 
arc members of the .Methodist Kpiscopal CInircli, 
having connected themselves with that Mx-iety in 
early life. They hold their connection at present 
with the church of that deiuuiiinatioii at (loddard. 
.Mr. Hill isa .lacksonimi Demoi-rat, and <'a>l his first 
Presidential vol*- for .lames K. I'olk in lM44,and 
since that day has always adiliated with the Dem- 
ocratic party. lie is a highly res|H>cted citizen of 
the community, and an excellent spe<'imen of the 
genial, hospitable |H-oplc who are born .■iiid reareil 
ill the old Buckeye .State. 



A. I..\ril.VM. an enterprising inaniifactiirer 
of Wichita, wa-s the prime mover in the or- 
( ganization of the Kaii.sa.s I'linip Ccjiiipaiiy, 
who are manufacturers of wooden and chain puiii)is. 
This enterprise occupies an important position 
among the many and varied industries of this busy 
and thriving metropolis of the Arkan.Mis Uiver 
N'alley. It was lirsl .started by our subject in com- 
pany with his father, whose sound judgment, abil- 
ity, .•ind wide experience in business, gave it the 
iiecesiMiry stability, while the clear-headed energy 
and enterprise of the younger man were ini|Kirtaiit 
factors in its suci'ess. In llSSt; their trade amounted 
to fnjin * 1.0,000 to #20,000, being confined mostly 
to Wichita. .Since then it has so increased as t4> 
authorize the formation of a stock com|)aiiy, which 
was organized in 1MH8 with a capit.-d stock of#20,- 
000. This company will manufacture piiiii|>s for 
the Southwest in general, and will greatly enlarge 
the works and extend the business. The following 
persons constiliite tliecom|Miny: Oeorge I'. <;iaze. 
Oeorge L. Doiighis, C. A. Lalhain, Bcird ('liurcli- 
wooil .'iiid Morton Woolmaii. 

Mr. Latham w.ns born in Adritiii. .Mich., Dec. i:i, 
1 Si'il , and is the son of Kobert and Lucrelia (Corn- 
well) Latham, natives of New York .state. Our 
subject received the basis of his education in the 
excellent public schools of his native city. In 
1K72. when a lad of ten years, he came with his 
father to Kansas, and in the .State Agricultural Col- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1^ 



949 



lege at Manhattan, by a thorough course in the 
scientific department, he finished the education so 
well begun in the State of his birth. Me has a nat- 
ural aptitude for all mechanical employnicuts, and 
his careful training has made him very skillful 
therein. On leaving college and starling out in 
the world for himself, his first work wsis as a railway 
engineer, which occupation he pursued the two en- 
suing years. At the end of that time he turned 
his attention from engineering to the manufacture 
of wooden and chain pumps with his father, as 
before stated, and his friends have watched his 
progress with satisfaction. 

Mr. Latham has made a very successful start in 
life, and by his systematic methods of conducting 
his work, his strict attention to it in all its details, 
and his thoroughly upright dealings, has already 
made an honorable record in the business world, 
and is in a fair way to place himself among the 
wealthy men of Wichita. His culture, intelligence 
and" gcnialit)' make him an important factor in 
Social circles, and have secured him many warm 
friends. 



-.rs^l 



iSiSi 



^^i^^. 



t 



^ AMKS W. CLOUD. Among the young and 
energetic farmers of this (county, as well as 
those who have been successful and whose 
elTorts through life thus far, through their 
own perseverance, have borne ample recompense, 
is the subject of this pereonal history. lie is a 
farmer and stock-raiser of Kechi Township, and h;is 
his home upon section 24. He is a native of T.aze- 
well County, 111., born Dec. 4, 1860, and is the sec- 
ond child in a family of nine belonging to his 
l)arents. Haylis and Ellen (Powell) Cloud, natives 
of Ohio and Maryland respectively. 

The father of our subject was tlie son of \'ivian 
and Sarah (Gibson) Cloud, who were natives of 
Indiana and pioneers of Woodford' County, HI. 
The grandfather of our subject is still living in El 
P:iso, in the latter State. In July, 1870, Baylis 
Cloud came to Kansas and settled in Butler County, 
where he took up a homestead of 1 GO acres, to which 
he l)rought his family the following March. This 
tract of land he improved and afterward sold, and 



purchased IGO acres of partly improved land in the 
same county, on which he erected a good house and 
barn, but later disposed of it and engaged in the 
cattle business in that portion of the SUite, where 
he is still living. 

Our subject received his education in the excel- 
lent schools of Butler County, this SUite, and :is- 
sisted his father in the duties upon the farm until 
1 882, when he came to Sedgwick County. Jan. 20, 
1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida E. 
Jackson, a native of Wapello County, Iowa, born 
July 11, 18C8, and the youngest in a family of si.v 
children born to her parents, Joseph B. and So- 
phrona (Cochran) Jackson, natives of Ohio. After 
his marriage our subject settled on the farm where 
they now reside, and which they have made their 
home ever since. Although liut a young man he 
is well-to-do. owning a quarter of a section in Kiowa 
County, Kan., which is partially improved, and 
some valuable lots in the town of Clearwater, in 
this county. The farm he controls is in a high 
state of cultivation, and is well stocked with excel- 
lent horses and high-graded Durham cattle, as he 
gives considerable attention to stock-raising. 

Our subject and his worthy wife are consistent 
members of the Methodist Einscopal Church and 
sincere Christian people. He is not very active in 
political matters, but in the discharge of his elect- 
ive franchise votes with the Republican party. He 
and his wife are the parents of one cliihl, Earl W., 
who was born Nov. 24, 1 887. 



VILLIAM W. DAVIS, a Lieutenant in the 
late Civil War, and one of the pioneei-s of 
Sedgwick County, is the subject of an 
interesting history which in its main points is as 
follows: His boyhood ye.-irs were spent in High- 
land County, Ohio, where he was born April ITi, 
1835, at the modest homestead of his parents, Will- 
iam and Betsy (Elliott) Davis, who passed their 
peaceful and worthy lives engaged in the emi)loy- 
ments common to farm life. The father rested 






I 



r».Mi 



sK.rinwicK roi'NTY. 



friiiM Ills fjirllily liilmrs in 1><7.'1, at ihi- imtMif sixly- 
I'i^'lil _Vf!ir>. 'i'lio iiioIIkt, <i lii^rhly ro^iH-i-U'd old 
l.'nly of cinlilv-two year!*, reiniiin!* at the nld honie- 
stouil ill lli^'lilniiil Cotiiity, with her .son, Thotiiiui 
|i:i»>oii |)nvis. 

Williiiiii Diivis, Sr., thf fntiicT of oiir Milijfct, was 
a iiiHii who |»osM-s.so<l iiiiiiiy i-xct'lleiit (|iiiilities iind 
t'Mik nil iiitfltigi'iit iiitrrcsl in the wclfiire of tlio 
|M-o|)h- iiiiion;,' whom hr livod mid iiiovrd su iiiiiny 
years, mid l>y whom he w:ushehl in iiiiivei>jil resjieet. 
Ill early manhood he lielon;;ed to the old Whij; 
IKirty, Imt ii|>on its ahandonmeiit conlially endoi-se<l 
l{e|iiililii'aii |iriiiei|iles, sii|i|iurlin;; them until the 
day of his death. Moth |>aroiit« were <levout liiem- 
lM'r> of tlie Methodist Kpiseopal Cliureh, alllioii;L.'h 
the fatiier had been reared a (.Quaker. 

The siilijcct of this sketch continued a member 
of Ili^ father's household until reaching his twentieth 
year, and then rented a farm near the old home- 
stead. This, after ujieraling a year, he abandoned 
.'ind proceeded west into Louisa County, Iowa, 
where he fanned on rented land four years, then 
returned to the scenes of his childhood and worked 
at earpenleriiij.' and farming four years and niitii 
tin- oullire:ik of the Kebi-liion. During the lii-sl 
year of that memorable contlict he eiilistetl in the 
7i;th Ohio Infantry, under C'apt. Nathaniel Morris, 
and upon the consolidation of the regiment w.os 
commi.ssioned Fii^st Lieutenant, with whicii rank he 
was mustered out at Camp Deiiisoii, in I1SIJ4. 

l'|Hiii his retirement from the service Mr. Davis 
repaired to ('liarii|uugii County, III., where he fol- 
lowed fanning until the early part of 1H77, and 
made his a<lvciit into this county February I'J of 
that year. He located on section 22, where he has 
since resided, and is now the possessor of 2-11) acres 
of Valuable land, which is largely devoleil to stock- 
raising, he handling principally Durham cattle and 
good grades of general-piirpo-se horses. He was at 
once recognized as a valuable accession to the com- 
munity, and ill IXHS was elected Treasurer of 
School District No. I.'IH, in N'alley Center Town- 
ship, which ((dice he still holds, being re-elected in 
IMH7. To the various ent4'rpri.ses calculated to 
>levelo|i the country and improve the condition of 
its people, he hius ever lent a ready and cheerful 
iuvsislance, and as a man of sound jiidgnient and 



•►■-^ 



|M>ssessing » goixl fuml of general iiiformntioii, he 
is one whost- opinions are held in rc»|)0<-t. 

.Mr. Dnvis, on the I'.Hli of ()ct4>ber, |H.J4, while 
a resident of Adams County, Ohio, wiw united in 
marriage with Mi.ss Angelina CainplM>ll, who wils 
born in Adams County, Ohio, and died in that 

.State in the fall of IHJJO; her n tins were laid at 

rest in the cenict<>ry at Mt. Cannel. Of this union 
there were born two children: Mary Car«iline, and 
Sarah Agnes, who liius died since the above was writ- 
ten; her death occurred March I .'J, IMHH. Theelderis 
the wife of Henry Sharp, to whom she was married 
on the 2."ith of December, |x7(). and is the mother 
of twc> children — Charles and \N'illinin; Sjinih A. 
was married. Oct. 11, I Hm;J, to .Samuel Tracy, who 
is carrying, oil farming in Kingman County, this 
.State. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Feb. Ill, 1H('.2. was in her girlhoiHl Miss 
Lydia A. Gos-sett, who is a native of the game 
county as her husband, and was born Nov. "29, 
184<i. Mi-s. Davis is the daughter of Levi and Isn- 
belle (Jossett, natives of Ohio and the father a 
])otler by trade, and was ii hical preacher of the 
.Methodist Kpiscup.'d Church for a niiiiiber of ye«rs. 
Both i>arcnts arc living ami now retired from active 
labor. Their household ineliidetl six sons anil one 
daughter, namely : Morris Turner, .lohii Wesley, 
William Henry, .loseph 1'., Lewis Clark, Charles 
Wilson and Lydia A. Of the.se four are living, and 
residents of Illinois, Kansas and Texas. 

Mr. and .Mrs. Davis have two sons .•iimI two 
daughters living, and one daughter dead. The eld- 
est, Kniina Helle, wa.s born .Ian. I, 1«<)3. and is the 
wife of Isaac Walter, a well-to-<lo farmer of N'allcy 
Center Township; the first son, William Kdgjir, was 
born Dec. G, 1 SCI, and is eompleting his studies in 
the business college at Wichita, which he entered 
on the Ist of November, 1KK7; Maltie Irene was 
born Aug. H, ISC7, and with the younger children 
remains with her parents; Clara Clarinda W!us born 
Nov. 0, lK7(t, .and died Dec. 1.1, 1 m7.1, when an 
interesting little girl three year^ of age; .lohii 
Wesley was born Dec. 10, IH72. 

Mr. Davis had just reached his majority al the 
time of the organization of the Uepiiblican parly, 
with which he at once ideiitilied himself and whose 



i 






-•► 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



951 



i 



principles he has sinco supiwrted. He has been a 
delegate to the Republican County Convention 
nine out of eleven years since a resident of this 
count}'. Both he and his estimable lady are de- 
voted and eflicient nicml)ei-s of tiie Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and are the center of a l:nii!;e 
circle of warm friends. 



TILMAN E. JOHNSON, capiuilist, is one 
of tlie wealthy and intluential citizens of 
Sedgwick County. He came to the city of 
Wichita on the 20th of November, 1885, 
and lias since made iiis home here, and is contrib- 
uting materially l)y his enterprise and energy to the 
advancement of the city. He deals largely in real 
estjite, and owns a good deal of land in various 
parts of Kansas. He was born in Steuben County, 
Ind., April 2, 1849. His father, James H.Johnson, 
was born in New York State, Feb. 24, 1813. His 
father was Harvey J(jhnson, also a native of New 
York, wiiere he was engaged in the boot and shoe 
traile. 

The father of our subject grew lo maiilnxid in 
his native State, and there married. May 30, 1839, 
Miss Louisa Yeager, daugliter of Henry A. Yeager. 
She was born in the State of New York, Sept. 2, 
1820. After marriage thej- moved to Steuben 
County, Ind., and as pioneers began the rough bat- 
tle of life in a newly settled country, living in a 
log cabin in the woods, and bravely and cheerfully 
enduring the trials and hardships incidental to a 
life in the forests far from the busy haunts of men. 
There they built uj) a pleasant, comfortable home 
for themselves and the children that were born to 
them. They had but il'iOO to start with, but by 
wise economy and untiring industry* that small sum 
was increased many fold, and they aecunuilatcd prop- 
erty worth ^2."), 000. They were thus enabled t<^» 
surround themselves with every comfort, and to 
give their children superior educations. In their 
prosperity' they did not grow forgetful of the needs 
of others, and bj' their nianj' acts of neighborly 
kindness made for themselves a warm place in the 
hearts of those about them. They were earnest and 
sincere Christians, and faithful members of the Bap- 



tist Church, and li\ ihcii until iiig efforts a society 
of that denomination was established in the town 
where they resided, a hou.se of worship was built, 
in part by their liberal contributions, and the}' also 
gave largely to its maintenance. Mrs. Johnson 
died May 13, 1877, and Mr. Johnson on the 17th of 
March, 1878. Seven children had been born to 
them, namel}': Catherine, Martha C. and Alabama 
E. are all deceased; Stilnian E. ; Julia R., deceased; 
Medoria A., now Mrs. Dye. and Louisa, now Mrs. 
Orton; the two latter live in Nebraska. 

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in 
the place of his birth. He acquired a substantial, 
pr.ictical education in the district and High School 
of Orland, which well fitted him for his subsequent 
career as a man of business. After he conijjleted 
his school life he assisted his father in the manage- 
ment of the farm. While living at home his mar- 
riage with Miss Elmeda Heath took place, Dec. 
15, 1871. She was born in Allen County, hid., 
April 12, 1854, and was the second in a family 
of three children born to Calvin and Ellen (Trout- 
ner) Heath, natives of the Slate of New York and 
residents of Allen County, Ind. The names of 
their remaining children ;ire James M. and Clara 
E. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two 
children — Harvey C. and Wardie E. 

In 1873 Mr. Johnson bought the old homestead 
of his father, and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
for the succeeding twelve ycai's. He then came to 
Wichita, as .above stated, and purchased 160 acres 
of land northeast of the city, having decided to 
make his home in Kansas, and take advantage of 
the many fine ojiportunities offered by this great and 
growing State to an enterprising capitalist. He 
afterward purchased a home at No. 938 South 
Topeka avenue, into which lie removed with his 
family. At the end of five months he sold that 
propertj', and bought in 1887 his present i)l!iee of 
residence. He has built two houses, and has bought 
quite a number of others in the city, which he rents. 
He has invested largely in realty throughout the 
State. He rents his fine farm of 240 acres east of 
the city; he also owns other land in that direction. 
His investments have proved very iirofitable, and 
he has generously contributed from his means to 
the various enterprises of the city and county. 






t 



95-J 



SKDGWICK COIKN TY 



.Mr. ainl Mr!i. .IiiIiiimoii urv ^oiiinl, ciilliiri'<l |m-o|i|i'. 
:iii<l iH'ciipv n lii^'liMH'inl ptKsiliitii in the oiiiiiiiiinity. 
Mr. .I(iliii!«iii »ci'iii!t to have iiilicritoil n lnr<;o .xhnrp 
of till' integrity of liis {Miri'tit^, nii<l lins .s4.M-iirc<l tin- 
i'oiillilfiicf of nil with whom lif ha.s Imi) (l<-nllii^s 
throiighoiil the StuU'. In iRilitics bo i;* a loyal nn<l 
faithful Republican. 

.VKIIN lli:i.l..\U i> ili.sse.l jiniong the 
wi-nilhy mill iiitlurntial ciliziMiii of the city 
of WichiUi. His rc-idciic-e is at No. 2'1,'i 
North 'ro|M.'ka avenue, lli' is a native of 
ll:ij;er!Sto\vn, W!i.shinf,'ton (.'<>., Md., where be was 
l>orn .luly 'JO, lM:)t, anil is the bon of Jacob and 
Isjilieile ((.jiiinzy) Ileilar. natives of (Jerniany and 
Maryland res|)eclively. Ili.s father bad come to 
.Vmerica's shores with bis parents at the age of 
seven years, and was reared in Maryland, lie was 
.1 n)illwri<;bt by trade and general mechanic, and 
re.'ired a family of leu cbiblren, of wiiom the subject 
of this sketch is tiie youngest. 

.Martin Heljjir w.-is reared upon a farm in his 
native Stale until reaciiing his lifleenlb year, at 
which time be procuix'd, .-it Petersburg, Va., a po- 
sition in a .store sis clerk. Two ye.-ii-s later he went 
to .Manslield, Ohio, wlicre. its sidesman in a boot and 
shoe store, be remained another two years. Feeling 
that there was a larger field for his efforts in Illi- 
nois, he settled on a farm on Uock Uiver, in Ogle 
( ounty, that .State, where he employed his lime 
ill agriculture and in burning lime. After a two- 
years trial of this be moved iiit<i the town of Mt 
.Morris and entered into the livery business, where 
he remained for a little oV4T two years, and was 
highly successful. In IK.').'! he erecteil a warehou.se 
at Forreslon, on the Illinois Central Railway, where 
be was engaged in the grain and lumber business 
for ten yeai-s. Disposing of his interests there he 
removed to the vicinity of Ml. .Morris, on I'ine 
(nek, and erecting a llouring-mill. continued its 
operation for ten years, when be sold out and 
moved his family to l"ree|)orl. Taking a trip, 
which liLstcd some six iiionlhs, lliroii;.'b Iowa, 
Nebnisk.'i, .■Old all (lie Western SUiles, be (Inally 



liM'ated in Wiehita, where be now resides, in I K76. 
On ItM-nting in the city, Mr. Ileilar began the mnnu- 
fncture of artifleial stone. wbi<'|i he continued for 
about four years, and w;is aKi eiigage<l in |Mirk. 
IHtcking, an<I two years' ex|ierience of the latter led 
him, in the spring of I87H, to purchase a drove of 
cattle in the Indian Territory, and sell tliem in 
Kansas. This proving a flnnncial success, in INT'.l 
he made a triji to Texas and purchased another 
herd of cattle, which be sold in the Indian Territory. 
About that time, bis attention having beencidle<l to 
sheep, be went to our sister Republic, Mexico, and 
purcha.sed 7,0(10 head of Ihe latter animal, which be 
brought to this .State and sold. In I ''NO he bought 
double the number of sheep in the same country, 
and after having tnins|H)rled them to Kaiusas, sold 
some C.OOO head, and winU-red 8,000. He con- 
tinued to buy wool and niise sheep until 1884, when 
be closed out all bis stock and engaged in real- 
esUite business, buying and selling farms and wild 
land. Having been engaged in many lines of busi- 
ness, in 1880 he es.s.ayed a new departure, and com- 
menced the manufacture of the Morris tyiK'-wriler, 
at New Haven, Conn., which is a new and brilliant 
success in the market. The following year he dis- 
po.scd of one-half interest in this invention to a 
manufacturing company in Connecticut. 

The subject of this sket<-b has always been an 
active and enterprising business man, and feeling 
convinced that this country is underlaid with coal, 
in 1882 be organized a company for the |)uriK>sc 
of lioring into the biKsom of mother earth, to ascer- 
tain what the jirospects were. Tbey drilled down 
1,025 feet, but with little success. At the disUuice 
of 780 feet from Ibe surface tbey found wati-r 
which was int«'nsely salt. Mr. Ileilar iK'cupies a 
very pIcjLSjuit and prominent place in the business 
part of Wichita, both from bis w-ealth and social 
qualities. He is a stockholder in the Wichita 
National H.-uik; is stockbohler and Director in the 
Savings Hank, ami deals largely in real estate, both 
in the city aiul the surrounding country. In |H)li- 
tics he is a Democrat, but cast bis first vote for 
President. for.)<ibii C. Fremont, in 18.'ii;. Since that 
time be has genemlly i-ast his ballot for the Repub- 
lican canditlale, but feels convinced that in the 
principles of the Denutcratic party, as now formed, 
— ^ ♦- 



=7=^'=55=?'?5S?BS= 




ENCE OF Dr. Calvin P. Marshall, Akidale:. 







hg^^SiSSd 




Residenceof J.J. Cook >5ec. 20. Waco Township. 



HI-4*- 



I 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



tlieie is truer freedom, and a better giiarftntee of 
tlic perpetuation of this couutrj-'s greatness. 

Mr. Ilellar ii.is been twice m.irried, lii.< first wife 
being Miss Annie M. Neweomuier, .1 native of Marj- 
iaud, willi whom lie was united Dec. 3, 185G. She 
was the niotiier of nine chihlren, eight of whom are 
still living, :is follows: George M., Flora, .S.amuel, 
Mary, Grant, Klia, Clinton and Frederick. Sept. 8, 
lK71,he was bereft of his wife by death. She was a 
most estinialjle woman, and her death was deeply' felt 
by her family and the community among which she 
had lived. Stronglj- imbued with that "mild and 
gentle sympathy that steals away the pain " of 
trouble and care from our neighbor, she was greatly 
beloved by all who knew her. His second marriage 
took place Nov. 27, 1873, at which time he led to 
the altar Margaret 1). IJrander, of Petersburg, Va., 
a daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Morgan) 
Brander, both natives of Scotlaiul. Mrs. II. is a 
memlicr of the Kpiscopal Church. 



;S*J#L*4S 



'^ OS FPU 
1 tial fa 



OSFPII J. COOK, a prominent and inlluen- 
farmer and stock-raiser, residing upon 



I section 20, Waco Township, is a native of 
^^J/ the State of Illinois, born in Cass County, 
Maj- iii, 1 848, and is the son of Joseph and Sarah 
(Ilorroni) Cook. His father was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, in 1810, and with a desire to im- 
prove his fortunes, knowing that in his own down- 
troilden land he could not do so, came to America 
in 1837. He was engaged in farming for many 
years, but is now living in Cass County, 111., a 
retired life, having by his industry and economy 
accumulated sufllcicntof this world's goods to allow 
him to suspeml active operations, and spend his 
declining ye:u-s in peace and quietness. His wife, 
the mother of our suliject, was born in 1810. in 
Ohio, and died June fi, 1879. They were the 
parents of eight children, of wiiom the following is 
a record: Siunuel, who die<l in infancy; Cyrus, who 
married Miss Mattie Blair, and is the father of ten 
children, two of whom are deceased, is eng.aged in 
farming in Cass County, 111.; Timothy, Charles and 
Layman, who died in infancy; Joseph, the subject 
of this sketch; .lames, who died at the age of 



eighteen years; Caroline, Mrs. John Warner, a resi- 
dent of Hamilton County,. Neb. ; Sydney, who 
married Richard Stith, and is the mother of one 
child, is living on a farm in Illinois; and Daniel, 
who married Miss Kmma Fielding, is carrying on 
the old homestead in C.-iss County, 111. 

The subject of this narrative received his educa- 
tion in the cominon schools of his native Stale in 
his youth, and assisted in the labors of the farm 
until lie was some twent^'-four 3'ears old. He tlieu 
rented some land of his father, and carried on :igri- 
cultural pursuits for about three ye:u's, which i)roved 
quite reinuiierativc to him, but in 1873 he came to 
Kansas to look at the country, and after a ten- 
months stay in this State returned to Illinois. In 
the spring of 1877 he returned to Kans.as, and 
settled in Sedgwick County, in Waco Township, 
where he h.as ever since resided. He has a fine 
farm of ICO acres of highly cultivated and well 
cleared land, on which he has erected some luuid- 
some and substantial buildings, and li.os set out an 
orchard, which comprises seventy-five apple, fift}' 
peach, thirty cherry trees, 100 grape vines, and a 
quantity of small fruits. A view of the hoine 
place is given on an accompanying p.age. 

After his return to Illinois, from his first visit to 
this State, Mr. Cook w.as united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Caldwell, the wcilding ceremony Uiking 
place March 4. 187.'). The bride was a native of 
Cass Count3', 111., born Dec. 20, 1851, and is the 
daughter of Patrick and Mary (Rej'nolds) Cald- 
well, natives of Ireland. Her father was born in 
1812. and emigrated to America when twenty-one 
years of age, and died in Illinois, in April, 1878. 
Her mother died in the same State, Doc. 31, 1884. 
Mrs. Cook was one of a famil.v of ten children born 
to her parents, of whom the following record is 
given: Charles, who married Mi.ss Kate Healon, 
w.as the father of seven children, and died in Cass 
County, III., at the .age of forty-two years; Francis 
died in Illinois, at the .age of six years; Thomas 
died in Alaryhuid when a year old; James married 
Miss Delano Legg, who was the mother of four 
children, one of whom is deceased; she died also, 
and he married Rachel Wheelock, who ilieil in 
1884; he is residing in Logan County, Kan. John 
died in Illinois, at the age of forty -one years; 

• *¥ 



f 



-»-4- 



t 



skik;wick county. 



l-'l'!llll'i^ is a fariiicr in Ma-xiii Ciiiiiilv, III., Iittviii}; 
iiiarrii'ij Matililik l,iviiiLp<t<>ii. iiml is tin- |i:irfiit of 
Iwii rlii|cln>ii ; 'riiiiiim.H niiirricil .Miir;;nn't MilU-r, is 
Ow iMiri-iil of six i-liililrrn, iinil ri'sidi-s on ilic fiiiiiily 
lii>iiif>t<-n<l ill Illinois; Kli/aliolli is llic wife of our 
Miliji'ct; I'iilrick iiinrrii-il Miss .Mary Miller, niiil 
»!!» llif father of lour cliililrni, ami ilicd in Ciiss 
( oiiiity. III., in .liiiic, IHS.'i; Mary Ann iiiari'ic<| 
( liarlos Iticlcljt'coiiu-, \Mi> the innlluTnf one cliilil, 
aiul .li.-.l May 7. |s7.s. 

.Mr. ami .Mis. Cook li.avc lici-ii tin- parcnl.s of six 
cliililrcii. four of wlioui arv living' to liri^lilcii the 
joys of till- Oiiiiily liivsiilc. 'I'lu-ir record i.s n.s fol- 
lows: One will) ilieil in infancy: Jolui .)., Iiorii 
.Vii-;. I.^i, IS77; Mary Annie, l>orn .March 2(», ls7'.l, 
ami .lie.l .lime 11, I.SSO; Daniel, l.oru Oct. I, IHSO; 
.laiiu-s Walter, whose liirlli occurred Oct. .'Ht, 1h.h;1: 
anil I'arrie K., who wa.s liorii .liine 10, lhH7. Mr. 
Cook is not connected with any organization, lint 
his esliinalile wife is :i Catholic, havinj; lieen 
lii'<iU;.'lit M|> :iiii| eiluc:ite<l ill th:it faith liy her 
parciil-. Ill his jiojitical .■illilialions .Mr. Cook is a 
|)eiii>KTat of the strictest ty|K'. 



ALVI.N P. MAUSIIAI.I.. .M. I)., the le.a.liiij. 
jihysician of Andale. and .'i |>o|iiilar and 
|iroiiiinent citi/en of that |il:icc, is :i native 
of I'eniisylvania. and w:is horn April '>, Is.'M. Ijj^ 
p:ireiits were .lolin and Sarah (Phillips) Marshall, 
natives of I'enn.sylvania. 'I'lie father was liorii Oct. 
s, IMIH. and di-parted this life May •>:!. I SS.'i, at 
hi- home ill Kennett ."vpiare. Pa. The niollier, horn 
Aii^'. ''. Isill. died when a yoiinj; woman, on the 
•.Md of .Inly, IhpJ. 

.lolin Marshall was ;in extensive iron inannfact- 
iirer of Ncw<'astle County, Del., occiipyin;; a lead- 
in;; position in the trade diirin;; his lif<-. 'I'lie 
parciiL'd household included four chililren, of whom 
('.•dvin was the second in order of liirtli. Ilis sil- 
ler .Mary, the old. si child. I.e.ame the wife of 
liilwin Itrosius, a diy-;;ooi|s nierchaiit of Kennett 
*«ipiare. Pa., and i" now deceased; I.ydi.a married 
Ivlward .Mcndinhidl.a pro>|H-roiis merchant of Wil- 
mili:;toii, Del ; Cnleli, previous to the late war, was 
Ihe owner of a plantjitioii in Al.'ihaiiia. .and heiaiiie 



•►•^ 



a Colonel in the ( •mfedemte army, since which 
time all track of liim lia.H Ix-eii lost, and it is siip- 
|M.s«d that he fell a vicliin to the Keliellion. 

Dr. .Marshall spent his early years at his vill!ij>e 
home in Pennsylvania, ami when tliirl4-eii years old 
was placol in a lioardin!.'-.sclicHil in Chester County, 
where he remained three years, lie wa.s then .sent 
t4i Philadelphia, :iiid wa.s engaged as clerk in his 
uncle's drn^i-store twoyears, then!L<>n student under 
Prof. (;eorf,'e U. WoimI. in the I'liiversily of Penn- 
sylv.'inia, where he studied live years ami nttemled 
liotli snnimer and winter lectures, lieini; in the in- 
tervals still under tuition fnuii the preceptor. Al- 
thoii;;li sutliciently adv:inced for •;radualion at the 
a<;e of twenty-one years, his father desired him to 
wail until n year later hefore eoinmencin<; pnic 
tice. His first oHice was in Lancistt-r Coniitv, 
where he continued until the spring' of IKUI), and 
the followiiii; ye.ar entered the army as Assistant 
.Sur^jeon. A few months later he was pruiiioled to full 
Ue^^imenUd Snificon, and in the spriiiy of iNr.i was 
promoted to Uri^rade .Surifecii of the Army of the 
potoin.ac, servin;;in lli;il capacity until takiiii; cliar;.'e 
of the liri;;ade Hospital at Alexandria. In the 
spring; of l.SC.'i he sent in his resign.'ilioii, which was 
accepted, and retiirninir to Chester County, Pa., he 
rcMimed his old practice, and I'ontinned there until 
1S7I. 

Our suhject now look up his residence in Chester 
County, P.a., where he ciuitinned four years, then 
disposi-d of his interests in the Keystone .State, 
and ciosscil the Mississippi into Pawnee County, 
Kan., where he followed his profession until 1 H. •<•.>, 
in which year he c:ime to Sedjrwick County, and 
eiifjaired in farming'. This ch;iii_ue of viK-aliun was 
for the pur|Hise of rediiciiifi his llesh, which llireal- 
ened to .serinisly iinpare his health, if not to 
produce fatal results. He followed a^^riciilliire coii- 
tiiiiionsly until the sprinj; of INM.'i, when the ile:itli 
of his father necessitated his return to Peniisylv.'inia 
for the purpose of settling' up the estate. 

Whileat hisold home Dr. .Marshall :ivaile<l himseir 
of ll pportiinily to attend another course of lec- 
tures at the Iniversity of PennsyUnnia. ami ii|Mm 
his return to this .Suite locatcil in \'alley Center. 
A few months later he w.as reciilled to Pennsyl- 
vania, ami upon lii" rc-liiiii \\i'>t. rn llie >priii;.' 






t 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



9o7 " 



T 



uf I88G, took up his residciico in Aiidnle, where 
he is now biiih1ln<;^ up :i piofitublo and lucrative 
palronngp. 

Dr. Marsha)! has been twice niarriccl, his first 
wife iiaving been Miss Kinelic Matlier, to wlioni lie 
was we(ble<l Oct. 8, IS;")(;, and wiio died at their 
home in Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 24, 1874. Of 
this union liiere were born four cliilcben: Caroline 
J., born April 1.'?, 185S, is the wife of Kdward Criss- 
niore. a fanner and stock-raiser of Sedjjwick Count3', 
Kan.; Condy .!., born Nov. 18, 18G0, is a. drug<i^ist 
of Kansas City; Mariana was born Jan. 2.'), 18(i7, 
and is the wife of William Wetterhold, a fanner 
and stock-raiser of Sedgwick County, Kan.; John 
was born April 13, 18(i".), and remains at home 
with his father. 

The present wife <>( oursul)jccl, to whom he was 
married Sept. l.'i, I87(!, w:is formerly Miss I'luebe 
A. Wilkinson, wiio was born Aug. G, 184G, and 
is the second of five children, the offsi)ring of 
Lewis P. and Sar.ali (Chandler) Wilkinson. 'I'lie 
father departed this life at his home in Chester 
County, Pa., in 1887. The mother makes her home in 
Chester Count3'. Jlrs. Marshall is well educated, hav- 
ing attended the Normal School at Millcrsville, in 
Pennsj'lvania, and is a member in good standing 
of the Christian Church. The Doctor is a Demo- 
crat, politically, and socially, belongs to the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd I'ellows, and is also a mem- 
ber of the Ma.sonic fraternitj-. 

Among the views which adorn so many pages of 
lliis Ai.f.iM may be found that of Dr. Marshall's 
plac... 

y. III'',ALV, a real-estate and insurance 
agent, is an active and prosperous business 
^ man of Wichita, Kan. He is a native of 
Scott, Ky., his birth having taken place in 
that StiJte Feb. 14, 1848. His |.arents, John P. and 
Kii/.abeth (Drew) Healy. wore born in Ireland, and 
remained residents of that country until after their 
niarri.age. They tl-.en emigr.ited to America, and 
first settled in Scott Couut^', Ky., where Mr. 
Healy was engaged as a contractor in building the 
turnpike road. He lived in Kentucky until 1 S.O.'i, 



1 



when with his family he moved to Illinois and 
settled in Mt. Sterling, lirown Countj-. There he 
purchased a farm, and w.is profitabl3- engaged iji 
farming and stock-raising until his death, which 
was occasioned by a railway accident, in I8G;5. His 
wife survived him, and eontinue<l a resident of 
Brown Count3' until she, too, p.asscd to a higher 
life, in 1S8;5. To them had been born seven chil- 
dren, six of whom are now living, namely: Aim, 
Mrs. Wegand; Catherine, Mrs. Gould; P. \'., Ivl. 
ward J., John A., and Klizaljcth, Mrs. Cook. 

The subject of our sketch w.as a small boj^ when 
he moved with his ]>arents to Illinois, and his boy- 
hood and earl^- manhood were i>.a3sed on the farm. 
He received a common-school education and a 
practical farm training, remaining at home until of 
age. Ho then commenced life for himself, his (irst 
step being to leave his home and go to Ford Country, 
in the same State, where he w.os eng.nged in farming 
the ensuing seven years. His prospects there were 
not suHicientl^'cncour.aging, however, and he looked 
.around him for something belter. The enterjirising 
and growing State of Kans.as seemed to him a desira- 
ble field for energetic and industrious 3-oung men. 
Accordingly, in 187G, he came to this State and 
settled in Wichita, where he first engaged in llie 
m.anufacture of brick, having twenty-five men in 
his em|)loyment. Four months later Mr. Healy 
sold out, and entered into partnership with H. (). 
Meigs in the real-estate .anil insurance business. 
After three years Mr. Meigs sold out his interest to 
Mr. Neiderlander, and tiie business was continued 
under the firm name of Healy A: Neiderlander for 
four years. At the expiration of that time our 
subject sold out his interest in the firm to hispart- 
ner .and opened his present office, where he carries 
on the business alone. Mr. Healy was united in 
marriage, in 1883, to Miss Nanc^' Wilkerson, a na- 
tive of Illinois, and to them have been born one 
son, Frank, and a daughter, Lucy C. 

The subject of this biographical notice has been 
actively identified with all enterprises likely to 
benefit his .adoi)ted home, and h.as materially aided 
all projects to enhance the welfare of the city, giv- 
ing lilierall^' to its various educational institutions, 
and its social and civic organizations. He is now a 
member of the City Hoard. He is a large stock- 



•► ■ -4*- 



•J.'.H 



sKlMiWK K ('(UNrV 



Niniics<-:tli 'ri>wii.-lii|i. llo is one (if llu- 
^fi'.V"'""{i htoi-kiiii'ii wlio. \>y llii'ir enU-rpiiM' 



holtltT Biid ilintU.r 111 Iho SlnU- Niilii.iml Hniik, 
nU<i a stixklioMcr ill till- WicliiUi Wntcli rnilon, 
tin- KniiNi-NiiMli anil |)iM>r ('«iiiii>aii.v,!»iui Hk- WiiliiUi 
S<.n|> Maiiiifaclon. Politically. Mr. lUnh is n 
warm Mi|>|KHior of llii' i>riiii'i|)li-.-' |ir«.iiiiil;iaU>l liy 
llu- I )fiiuKTnli<- |>nily. KtliKiKiisl.V, lie is an inlKii- 
tial iiuiiiIkt of tin- Calliolif t'liiirili. 

OIU'.U T A. TIlOMl'SON, aproininonl faiini-r 
anil slock-iaiMT, ri'sidos mi sorlioii ;( of 
c'lV \V Niniifwali 
^_V<>"ii^' St. 
ami «'iiei-;,'y. arc fjusl furt-iii;: tlicinsclvos lo llu- fionl, 
ami will in tiiiio to coiiio lio londiiii; men anion;,' 
the catlli-incn niicl .•i;;riciilliirists of this j;i-«'al 
coiniiioiiweallli of Kansas. He i> a Kfiiliifkiaii liy 
liirtli ami lirti'din;;. llo was liorii .M.ay .il, IKCJ, 
and i- the son of William and Mary .1. (Lyll<) 
riioinp.son, natives of Keiilmky (for tlitii history 
S4T sketch of William .1. Thompson). 

(Iiir subject wius educated in the coiiiinoii .schools 
of his native Stat<'. and there ^new to a strong ami 
vii;oroiis manhnod. lie received a good training 
in agricultural piir-uit-s on his father's farm. In 
IhT'J lie left his i>ld Kentucky home and came with 
his |Kirelils to Kansas, and with his father now owils 
a fine farm of If-O acres in Niiinescah Towiishiii. 
'I'liey purclia.M'd this Oinn two years ago, and 
already, liy their untiring industry, have greatly 
improved it and it yielils them gooil returns for 
their lahors. They liavi- n fair set of farm luiild- 
ings. 'I'heir farm is well adapted to raising cattle, 
and they have made a s|H'cially of that line of 
hiisiness, ami have .s«'c'iired a good sljirt. 'I'liey have 
twenty-three head of cattle, among which are sev- 
eral fine s|K'ciiiieiis of .Short-horns; they have iiiiie- 
It-en valiialile horses, and twenty-five swine of ii 
superior lireed. Kverythiiig aliout the ranch shows 
evidences of care and excellent iiianagemciit on the 
jiart of the owners. 

The marriage of Mr. Thompson with .Miss Ida 
I., (raiie took place April i;i, IM«7. .She is. like 
himself, a native of Keiilii(k\. and wa> horn in 
.liiniiary. \Hl',',>. Her p.'iieiil.s are Lewis and Niincy 
lOilloii) ( raiip, natives of Kentucky, ller mother 

-4« 



died ill .May, IHHi;. .She w'lus II woiiian held in high 
eslt'em, and wa* n valii«-d memlier of the Methodist 
Kpiscopal Chiircli, as are also her eliildreii. .Mrs. 
Tlioiii|)soirs father lives in Valley C'eiitt-r. lie came 
t4i Kuii.sa.s in \hh:\, from Indiana, where he and liis 
family lind lieeii living the three years previous to 
making their home there. He is now living n-tired 
on the income he gathered t«igellier ils n farmer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thoni|«soii make their home atlracl- 
ivc alike to liotli friend and the stranger who hap- 
pen to he within their gates, extvmliiig l«i lioth^ 
with true Siiithern hospitality, n cordial and hearty 
welcome. Alllioiigh these two young |MMiple have 
lieguii life together with a |ierfecl underst.-indiiig 
and liarnioiiy, yet they are 1«mi iiide|H-iideiit in 
eliar:icter to think alike on all siil>ji-cts, and so it is 
that while he is an ardent Democrat, she is an 
cipially strong Uepiililicaii. 

• '^) '•■<,- • 

II.I.IA.M II r.Ar.li. Among the old sell len* 
/'\JII *'^ Salem Township there is none who stands 
higher in the estimation of his fellow-citi- 
zeiis than W. II. llalili. who is rcsiiling on section 
;)2, where he is engaged in general I'aiming and 
stock-raising, lie is a native of Hnrlington. Des 
Moines Co.. Iowa, and was horn Keh. 2;i, I N H. 
Mis parents, .lames and Kosanna (l>onglns) Italdi, 
well' natives respectively of Frederick t'onnly, 
\:i.. and Pielile Coniity. Ohio. 

The ancestors of the siilijecl of (his personal 
memoir were Knglish on the father's side, and 
Cerniaii on that of his mother. His maternal grand- 
father, .lolin Douglas, was a soldier in the armies 
of the I iiiled .Stales iliiriiig the war with tin at 
Britain in ISDJ-l.'i. .lames Halili died in l«l".t; 
he was the father of five children, of whom the 
sulijcct of this sketch is the only survivor. Those 
deceased were as follows: John A., who laid down 
his life a sacrifice on the altar of his lonntiy nt the 
siege of Atlanta during the late Hehellioii; Mary 
.S., Charles H. and Darwin. The mother of Mr. 
llaMi of whom we write is now the wif«' of Koliert 
lln-ckenridge. and is a ri-sident of Salem Tuwii>liip. 
On losing his father at lln' age of live years, the 
sniiji'ct of this sketch was lakcii hy hi- i^iainlfalhei . 



m 



-•►•-^ 



»^f^^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY, 



SftO ' ^i 



John Douglas, with whom he remained until he was 
about twelve years old. About th:it time his niotlier 
was again married, and was tliiii residing in Clinton 
County, Ind., and he again made his home with her, 
and was reared lo manhood in that localil}'. He 
received his ednealion in the district schools of the 
neighborhood, and was eaily initiated into the du- 
ties of a farmer's life. .Shortly before attaining 
his majorit3- he enlisted, on the IClli of February-, 
IHG;"), in Company I, loOth Indiana Infantry, which 
was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. 
The Iirigade in wl)ich it was i)laced was under the 
command of Col. Uiddle, and was a portion of the 
corps of Gen. Brooks. Having enlisted toward the 
close of the war, Mr. Babb was not called upon to 
participate in anj' of the battles of that cruel and 
unnatural contest. He was on his wa}' with the 
regiment to Richmond when Gen. Lee surrendered 
at Appomattox. After having been mustered out 
he received his discharge, Aug. 4, lw65, and re- 
turned to his home in Indiana, where he made his 
residence until the f:dl of 1871, when he removed 
to Warren County, Iowa, but a year later can)e to 
Sedgwick County. On his arrival here he jire- 
empted the northeast (piarter of section 32, in what 
is now Salem Township. His land was in its raw, 
primitive condition when he locate<l upon it, but 
by incessant labor, perseverance and good manage- 
ment, he has succeeded in bringing it all to a state 
of cultivation. 

The marriage ceremony whicii united the desti- 
nies of William II. Babb and Miss Klla James took 
place Jan. 29, 1879. 'J'be bride was a native of 
Brown Count}', 111., born June 2(1, 1858, and is 
a daughter of John W. and Martha (Garrett) 
James, who were among the earliest settlers of 
Salem Township. Her father was born in Scott 
County, Ind., Oct. 1, 1819, and is a son of Thomas 
and Priscilla James, both c>f whom are su|)posed 
to have been natives of " the dark and bloody- 
ground, " Kentucky. When Mr. James was about 
twelve years old he removed with his parents to 
Schuyler County, III., where he was married, Dec 19, 
I84;5, to Martha Garrett, a native of N'irginia. 
They were the parents of six children, as follows: 
Mary K., the wife of Dr. S. Mann, living in Wel- 
lington, Kan.; Carrie, Mrs. K. li. Ross, of Wichita; 



Henry J., a resident of Pratt County, this State; 
Calvin G., of .Sumner County, this State; Ella, the 
wife of the subject of this sketch ; and llurlbert, 
who was killed in the retreat after the battle 
of Franklin, Tenn. Mr. James came to Sedgwick 
Count}' in the fall of 1870, and pre-empted IfiO 
acres of land on sections 28 and 29, where he lived 
for some years, but a short time ago sold out to 
George Price. In politics he is a Republican, and 
an enterprising, public-spirited man. The mother 
of Mrs. Babb died in this county. May 3, 1873. 

There have come tf) brighten the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Babb two children : James C, whose birth 
occurred Oct. 14, 1879, and Daisy, who was born 
Oct. Hi, 1882. Mr. Babb is a Democrat in jwlitics, 
and has had several township oflices bestowed upon 
him bj' that party. He was the first Clerk of School 
District No. 93, and for four years served as School 
Director. He is the present Treasurer of the school 
district, and is honored with the fullest confidence 
of the community in which he lives. He is classed 
among the successful and prosperous farmers of 
the township, and is greatly esteemed for his 
uprightness, benevolent disposition and genial hos- 
pitality. 

-^ €-^^ ^=- 

f^R. FLMORF Y. ML'NSELL has estab- 
ijj lishcd a reputation throughout the country 
as a specialist and an eminent authority' 
on eye, ear and throat diseases, in the 
treatment of which he has been remarkably success- 
ful. After his disablement during the war he was 
obliged to give up general practice, and confined 
his attention to the study of these organs, having a 
natural taste in that sjiecial line. In M.ay, 1883, 
the Doctor came to Wichita, anil opened the Eye 
and F^ar Surgical Institute, and the many cures that 
he has since performed have secured him a large 
practice and extended his fame far beyond local 
limits. 

Dr. Munsell comes of an ancient and distinguished 
English family, the roots of. whose genealogical tree 
are firmi}- imbedded in the soil of France. The 
founder of the family in England was Sir Phillip de 
Maunsell, a Norman baron and a companion of 
William the Conqueror, whom he accompanied to 

■ » 




-4»- 






skik;wick county 



llial oiiiiilry. anil ulio licitoncd mi liiiii llif Mniior 
of Oxwii-lic, in ( !liiiiiiir;;aii.s|iii'i'. ||js •.'laiiilHiin, 
Sir .Kiliii MaiiiiM-ll, wnn ('i>ii>titiiti'<l Lord I'liicr 
.lilMlifi' of Kii^laiul in lliv lime of llenry III. lliit 
i-IiIckI M>n, Sir 'riii>rna.><, Kiii^'lil, Itamnt't, foil in llio 
It-iriins' War itl Ni>rtliaiu|it<>n, and was succofdod 
liy lii.s son llrnry, "lio was ilio ant'i>l<>r of llii- r.iiw 
i-Stini-t l.ord^ ManiiM-Jl and llarom-Ls of Magnin. 
'I'liiii family omiltcil tlio "n" in their name in tliercii;n 
of l^iieen Kli/alietli. and in I'll dro|>|H.'d llie scc- 
oml letter "1." A liranrli of tliis family mi;:nited 
from the neiirhliorliood of l''rome, in Kii<,danil, and 
settled in IrelantI early in llie reiyn of t'liarle.s I, 
and i.s now known as Mon.M'I of 'I'enoe. The 
name is sjielleil in varions ways. It is rather nn- 
eerUiin as to what niemliei-s of the family lirsl nnide 
their appearanee in Ameiiea, and as to the time of 
their arrival, lint there is a tradition .ainon;^ the pres- 
ent nieinliers that two or three hrolliers eamc from 
i:n;;;land hetween D'.Otland I TOO and settled some- 
where ill t'oiineetieiit or Kliode Islanil, Thomas 
Mnnsell. from whom our siiltjeet is a lineal deseeiid- 
ant, lieiii^ one of them, lie n:Ls liorii in Ili.jO, and 
il is tlioii;!lil that he eame from Kii<;l:iiid in KiKO, 
and M'ttled in New l.onrlon, Conn., as his name first 
oeeiirs on the reeords of that old New Kn;j;laiid 
town in ll'i.sj, and in KIM.'! he lived at (!reat Neck, 
at that plaee. His ehildren's names were written 
loitli Moiisel and Miiiieil. lie died at New l>oiidoii 
ill the year 1712. 'J"liey were the pjirenLs of four 
ehildren: .lacoli, horn at New J.,«iiidoii alioiit I r>'.)(l ; 
Klislia, horn in the same town in I7(MI; Merey ami 
Deliveraiici'. .lai-oh Mnnsell, their (list horn ehild, 
was married in I 7 I ■'(, at alioiil the aj^e of Iweiity- 
tliree, to Sarah Calkins. 

Klisha Mnnsell, fourth rhild and tlind son of 
.lacoli and I'lni'lie ( l.ooinis) Mnnsell, was liorii in 
Windsor County, Conn., in .Septemlier. I7'J."I, .-iiid 
was married at U'indsor, Dee. "^7, I7.'i0, l<i Ke/iii 
'lay lor, of Wiinlsor, who w.m liorii Oct. 2;$, I7:iti, 
and died April «, 17M. He was from KnIield, 
Conn., and died Nov. I'l', 1 no;{, .ageil ei;.dily years. 
He was the father of nine ehildren; his son .loel 
served in the lievoliilioiiary War, under (Jen. 
(i.'itcs, and died of sniallptix. Henry .Mnnsell, a 
siip|Hised son of Klislia .Mnnsell, was liorn alioiil 
I7.'HI or 1710, in Norwich. Conn., and w:uj married 



nliuiit the year I7l>0, to Surah Hyde. They made 
their home in Norwich, and lliiTe lliree ehildren 
born t<i tlieii). Levi, the »eeonil child and second 
son of said Henry and .Sarah Mnnsell, was horn 
Jan. 2)'i, I7i'i|. He heeanie a soldier in the Colonial 
army in I7S0, and rcmaineil in the service until Ihc 
close of the Kevoliitioii. In llnS he l«Mik a trip t4i 
.South America, and remained in that country u 
year. He then enlisted in the riiit<.'<l Slates army 
for three yt-ars, serviiijj; in the Western country 
uiitler (ieii. Hariiier, and in the season of I7f*."i-H(; 
wintered at the mouth of the Ilij; Ilcaver, on the 
t)hio Kiver. He then hccamc a pioneer merchant 
at Cinciniiali. in the days liefore it wiis a eily. He 
was married Dec. II, ITH'j, at the .•i;ic of twenty- 
live, to l^ticrelia Oliver, daughter of Col. Alexander 
Oliver, of Hampshire County, Mass., who enii<.'rated 
from there to Ohio with the lii-st settlers, in I7SN. 
Of their niiioii eleven children were born, three of 
whom are livin;; — Mary K., Levi W. .'ind Will- 
iam A. O. Their son Lcandcr became very wealthy, 
and took a conspicuous part in |H)litical alTairs in 
his native Sljite, tHiio, and at one time reprcM-'iilod 
Miami County in the Lcjiislatnre. M.ary K. was 
born in ISI I, and miirricd, for her lii'st hnsbaiid, 
Dr. S. H. Chn.se, a physician ami a Methodist min- 
ister: he was n chaplain in the army during the 
late war, died in the .South in l^ti-l, and his l)o«ly 
was brou.uhl home. .She iiiarrie<l a second time, in 
1 .sdi'i, at the aj^e of forty-one, A.sn Malian, Presi- 
dent of the Adrian (Mich.) Colleye; they reside in 
Lontion, ICiifiland. Levi W. is a Metlio<lisl iniiiis- 
tcr. William A. O. Mnnsell, the f:itlii-r of our sub- 
ject, was the ninth child and fourth son of Levi and 
Liiereti.a Mimsell, and was born Sept. K',, 1S12, in 
Ohio. He m.irried, .nl Ihc ,i;,'e of tweiity-oiu-. De- 
borah <!ray, their weddiiif; Uiking place in Fletcher, 
Ohio, .liine is, IS.M. To them were Imrii four 
chihlren— Sarah L.,Klmore Y., Levi .S. and .Mary K. 
Mrs. Mnnsell was the daughter of iJcv. David and 
Sarah (McSherry) Cray, of I'iqiia, Ohio. Her 
father was a minister of the Mctho<list denoiniiin- 
tion. Mrs. .Mnnsell was a woman of linn character, 
a helpful wife, awi.sc mother ami a true friend, ami 
her early tlealh, in is IS, was a cause of sadness to 
many who Inid known and levciOfl her. Mr. .Mnn- 
sell ni.'irried for his second wife Mi.ss Kli/.abelh Kcs- 



■•►•-^ 



a 



-4^ 



-^^h-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



961 ' ^ 



4 



ter, of Coldwater, Oliiu. To llieiii were born four 
cliildriMi — M.illicw, Silas H., Clariiida S. and Jncol), 
all of whoiii are living and inarrit-d. The faithful 
companion and devoted mother departed this life 
in 1!S63. Mr. Munscll's third marriage was to 
Mrs. Harriet Frank, the widow of Jaeoh Frank, of 
Cold water, Ohio; she is a most cstimahle and a 
highly respected woman. The following is the 
record of Mr. Munsell's children by his first two 
marriages: Sarah married Stephen Frank, a farmer 
near Cameron, Mo.; they have seven children, 
lycvi graduated at Sterling Medical College in 18G'.t, 
and has since been in the active practice of his pro- 
fession, and is now House Surgeon of the E3-o and 
Far Surgical Institute, Wichita. He married, in 
1861, IVIiss Jiine Young, of Coldwater, Ohio, and 
to them have been born five children — Phillip Day- 
ton, William ()., Pearl Etta, Netta R. and Grace. 
]\Iary E. married Enoch Plnmmer, a farmer of Ked 
Oak, Mo.; they have had three children — William, 
Frank, and a daughter in Ohio; the wife and mother 
departed this life in 1872 in Kidder, Mo. Matliew 
Munsell is a manufacturer of agricultural imi)le- 
ments in Nebraska; he was educated at Adrian 
College, Mich., and married Miss Rainer. Silas 
lives in Kans.is; Clarinda married Dodson Staf- 
ford, a farmer near Cameron, Mo.; Jacob lives in 
Kansas; he married Miss Mattie Reed, of Kid<lcr, 
Mo. 

Mr. Munsell, the father, was ordained a minister 
in the Methodist Episcojial Church in 1848. He 
is a well-educated man, of sterling common sense, 
whose opinions on nuy subject with which he is 
familiar are highly valued, and these, with his good 
business ability, have made him very prosperous 
throngh life, and an intluential citizen in whatever 
locality he has lived. He was Justice of the 
Peace in Coldwater, Ohio, for fifteen years, where 
he was also Postmaster, and kept a general store; 
he w.as also Provost Marshal during the war. He 
is now retired from active life, and is living on his 
farm in Cameron, Mo. 

Dr. Elmore Y. Munsell, of this biography, was 
b(jrn in Coldwater, Mercer Co., Ohio, in 1839. 
He received the benefit of a good academical edu- 
cation, and commenced the study and i)ractice of 
medicine at \'crsaillcs, Ohio, and read medical works 



in the ollice of Dr. J. C. Williamson, who was a 
verj' skillful surgeon. When Abraham Lincoln 
made his first call for men to enlist for three years, 
our subject promptly threw aside his studies and 
entered the.'jth Ohio Indepen<lent Hattery of Light 
Artillery, under the command of Capt. Andrew 
Hickenloper, who was afterward Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor of Ohio. 

Dr. Munsell was promoted to the position of Ser- 
geant, and took |).a!t in all of the battles and skir- 
mishes that his regiment was engaged in. In the 
two-days fight at Shiloh he was in Gen. Prentice's 
division; he was slightly wounded, and from ex- 
posure lost his health, and was subsequently dis- 
charged on account of disability. On his return to 
his home from the seat of war, he was unable to do 
anything for a year. After that he resumed the 
practice of his profession at Versailles, Ohio, and 
then became a student at the Starling Medical Col- 
lege at Columbus, Ohio, from which he w.as gradu- 
ated in 18(i9, and has since still further perfected 
himself in the knowle<lge of his i)rofession by at- 
tendance at lectures in the same college, and in the 
Ohio Jledical College at Cincinnati. 

The Doctor practiced at Norbornc, Mo., for three 
years, and there married Miss Addie Farrington, 
daughter of Col. Josiah Farrington, of Norborne, 
formerly of Vermont; she was born Dec. 2, 1852. 
The maiden name of her mother was Aara Adna 
Goodwin, a native of Canada. Col. Farrington 
served through the Civil War, and was Colonel of 
the 14th Ohio Inf.-intry, Uiking part in all the bat- 
tles in which his I'egiment engjiged. Dr. and Mrs. 
Munsell are the parents of three children : LaDessa, 
born at Norbornc, Mo., Jan. 13, 1873; Blanche K,., 
born at Rockport, Mo., March 2.'), 1880; Farring- 
ton, born at Atchison, Kan., in August, 18!S2. Dr. 
Munscll's first marriage was to Miss Emily Hoover, 
of Versailles, Ohio, a daughter of .Samuel and Mary 
Hoover, of German descent. Four children were 
born of their union: William A. O. Munsell, born 
at Coldwater, Ohio, March 2, 1806, an architect in 
Wichita; and Allie, born June 21, 1867, in North 
.Star, Darke Co., Ohio, lives at home with her 
parents; one of the children died inOliiu, and one 
in Missouri. 

Since coming to Wichita Dr. Munxll has made 
■» 



f 

1 ' '.••;•.' 



sKIm;WI(K ColiNTV 






several -tinn ,... , >ialo, :iiiil 

miw (HviKs jilxiiil ♦;l(),(i()() roitlty, siinl lin;* »'irrl*<l two 
lioiiM*!*. Ili> litimUoiiii- ri'sidi'iKT at No. I.'JOU 
Siiilli Kin|i(>ii:t nvciiiii' is* imc of llic |ik-n!MiiiU>sl 
lioiiics aiiioii^' tlio iiiiiiiy COM' ilwclliiipi ihsil oriia- 
iiifiit tlinl iNirt of llio f'lly. In rclijjioiis views our 
^^llljl•cl is coiiservnlivi- ; siH-inlly. lie is :i iiiciiil>orof 
llic (I. A. It. ami llic .Masonic fialcriiily. 






> C-K"- 



I 



KI'l.N .s.Miril caiui- U> Ijiicoln 'rownsliip In 
11 time to iLssisl in or^ani/.ini: it.H s<'liool ilis- 
triels, anci also to lend liis ai<l in eivcliny 
the llrsl two scliiHil liuililin^s of the lownsliip. 
lU'fore he eoiilil |iut up .-i |a-rnianenl shelter for 
his family he w.-us oliii^^ed to h:iul hnnher from 
ColtonwcMHl Falls, a distance of 100 miles, lie 
h.'is en-ja-jed in many a liufTalo hunt over the coun- 
try which is now laid off in heauliful farms, and 
where viiln;;cs are developiii-; into t<j\vns of re- 
s|)eet.-ilile pro|«)rlioiis, :inil has watched with the 
interest which every intelligent man feds tiie 
fitowtli and development of a new section of coun- 
try, lie is now niimliercd anion;^ the extensive 
stock-raisers of the norlheastern jKirlion of the 
c<junty, where he has l)een no unimportant f:ict4ir 
in its pros|>erity. 

A native of Ashtnliida C'<>iirit\ . < tliio, our suli- 
jeet wxs liorn at the honicste:i<l of his parents in 
IK'12, and was the third in a f:iinily of live, the 
offsprinj; of (irville and Nancy ('I'ohiiis) .Smith, 
natives respectively of Ohio .-infl New York. 'I'he 
{Kiternal ^r!ind|Kirenls, KIkin Smith and his wife, 
were natives of New York State, ami the maternal 
;;randf.'ilher w:us Jii-son 'l'oliia.H. The maiden name 
of the lalt«T"s wife wjw Il;iines. 

The father of our sniijeet carried on f:irmin<.' and 
niillin;;, and "pent his entire life in his native .SUtte, 
his ili-ath oeeurrin;,' in lH."i(!. The wife .and mother 
is still living :ind makes her home in .\.>hL:dinla 
County. Their live children, four of whom are 
living, were named respectively: Harriet; .Mary, de- 
censed; Oren, our suliject; Kdwanl I- and Sarah .1. 
(Men. of our sketch, spent his lioy hood :ind youth in 
an Hucventfu! manner, atteniling the district school 



and U'coii....^ i ., ..,,;. i;,. * us einpluy- 

nu'iits of the farm, lie carried on agriculture for 
himself awhile after att.iining his majority. I'rc- 
vious to this, however, nfl«'r the ouilireak of the 
Kcliellion and when hut a youth of nineteen y»-ar», 
111' cnlist<'<l in Company I-", "Jil Ohio C'av.alry. on 
the :;Oth of August, l«t;i, for three years, lie was 
mustered into service at Cleveland, and wn-s act- 
ively engaged in the battles at Monticello, Ky., in 
IMiil, at Knuxville, Tenn., under Cen. liurnside. 
and in the battle of the Wilderness tinder cominanil 
of (!en. (!rant. Later, under .Sheridan, he whs in 
the Shenandoah W-illey, and at the expinitiuii of 
his lirst term of service re-enlisted in the Nime com- 
pany and regiment, lie received his honorable 
ilischarge at Cohnnbus, Ohio, .Sept. 20, IhCi, after 
h.aving been nnl^tered out of service in .St. Louis, 
Mo. 

Mr. Smith, upon hi^ return to lii!> ohi tramping 
grounds in Ohio, resumed farming, and in INOT 
was united in marriage with Miss Lydia A. Wibirt. 
Mrs. .Smith is a native of Chenango County, N. 
Y., anil was born in \sHi. She was the seventh 
i>( ten children who con)pri>ed the family of 
Thomas and Mary Ann (Sanford) Wibirt, natives 
respectively of New York juul Cunneelicut. Iler 
paternal grandparents, Benjamin and .Sylvia (Kella) 
Wibirt, were natives of Massjichusetts, ami the 
mother's ii.arcnUs, Levi and Klizabeth (Tyrrell) 
.Sanford, were born in Connecticut. IJrandfalher 
.Sanford wjus .a minute man in the War of IMi'. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
emigrated to K.indolph County, Mo., where oiu- 
subject carried on farming three years, and remov- 
ing Ihenec in the spring of 1K7I, took up his resi- 
dence in Lincoln Tiiwnship, this county. Here he 
homesteaded a tpiarler of section '2X, which he 
commenced at once to improve, and to which he 
hiis added until he is now the pos.se.ssor of -'10 
acres. This he li;u> brought to a good state of cul- 
tivation, and provided with neat and »ub>lantial 
buildings. The farm is admirably adapted to the 
raising of gr.iin and sltK-k, ami well watered by 
a good creek which pa,s>es through it. Mr. Smith 
ki'cps high-grade Durham cattle, Norman horses 
and full-blood Poland-China hogs, lie i.s not very 
active in politics dhcrwisc than to cit-l his vote 



I 



<*• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



903 



Willi llu' Repuldicjin part}'. He has held the ollicc 
of Townsliip Treasurer, and lias contriljuted his 
full quota toward its reputation as a desiralile 
place of residence for the enter|)rising and indus- 
trious individual seeking his fortunes west of the 
Mississippi. 

JANET McRIINN. It gives us much pleasure 
to place ill this volume a brief record of the 
life of this estimalilo woman, who, with her 
late lamented husband, occupied an impor- 
tant position among the pioneers of Sedgwick 
County. .She isanativcof Wightonshire, Scotland, 
and the daughter of Peter and Mar^' (Anderson) 
McMillan. She grew to womanhood in her native 
land, enjoying the advantages of a good education, 
and receiving from her mother a careful training in 
the management of a household. In 1872 she left 
the home of her birth, old friends, and old associa- 
tions, and at Liverpool, England, embarked on an 
Anieriean-bound steamer. After a voy.age of two 
weeks she landed in New York City, and from 
there came directly to Wichita, where she w.'is 
shortly' after united in marri.age, in Se|)teniber, 1872. 
to James McMinn. He was likewise a native of 
Scotland, and had preceded her to this country only 
a few months before her own arrival. He w.is born 
June 10, 1840, and was a son of Charles and Jane 
(Anderson) IMcMinn. He grew to a sturdy and 
self-reliant manhood in his native country, receiving 
a fair education. In the spriiigof 1872 he resolved 
to try his fortunes in America, and after his arrival 
in this country he came immediately to Wichita. 
Here he pre-empted a quarter-section of land in 
Ohio Townshij), on which he settled in the fall of 
1872, and with the assistance of his wife, who was 
his interested, earnest and constant co-worker, he 
commenced the varied duties of developing a farm 
from the uncultivated prairie; in the few years of 
hard toil that followed he succeeding in bringing 
it to a good state of tillage. The comfortable farm 
buildings, however, which now grace the farm and 
greatly increase its value, were placed there by 
Mrs. McMinn after her husband's decc.'ise. 

JMr, McMinn's useful and hi.)uorable career was 



closed by his untimely death Dec. 18, 187.'», in 
which sad event it was felt that the community ha<l 
lost one of i(s best and noblest citizens. He was 
always foremost in every good work, and was an 
earnest supporter of whatever tended to elevate the 
social conditions of the county in which he lived, 
and did all that he could to advance its material in- 
terests. In politics he supported the Republican 
part3'. It can truly be said of him, that he was 
"that noblest work of God, an honest man." He 
was a consistent Christian, and a valued member of 
the United Presbyterian Church, and while in Scot- 
land took an active part in Sunday-school work, 
being a faithful teacher. He leaves to all who knew 
him the precious legacy of a good life. He was a 
devoted husband and a tender father. His union 
with our subject w.as blessed by the birth of two 
children: James P., born Jan. 11, 1871, and Jane, 
Oct. 31, 187.5. 

Mrs. McMinn, our subject, now resides in Clear- 
water, where she owns some valualile property, con- 
sisting of nine town lots. She still retains posses- 
sion of the line farm of 1 GO acres left her b}- her 
husband in Ohio Township, and is also the owner 
of tivolots of land in Florida, finely located on .St. 
Andrew's Bay. Mrs. McMinn is a woman of fine 
character and good mental endowments, well de- 
serving the respect and confidence of the many 
friends that she has gathered about her by her 
pleasant soci.al qualities, and kind and helpful ways. 
She is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian 
Church, and is devoted to its iiileresb?. 



,^s^ AMl'EL 11. HESS. Among the iuMuential 

lie n1 '^ 

^^^ and prominent citizensof Sedgwick County, 

1H/__m) who are indebted for their present prosper- 
ous condition to their own industry and 
energ}', and who have raised themselves in the 
world from a state of comparative penury to that 
of ea.se and comfort, is the gentleman of whom 
this history' is written. He is engaged in farming 
in a general w.a}', with the attendant stock-raising, 
oil section 32, Delano Township, where he has a 
fine home. He is a son of David M. and Nancy 
(McCown) Hess, and was boni in WMrron Cnunly, 



-♦■ 



-•► 



-•-4- 






'm;* 



SKDCWKK CDUNTY. 



Ky...liih 30, IH2«. Wli. : ui six MKiiitli!. 

• i|i| Ills fntlin- ri'iiiovcti witli liis fninilv to \\^*> 
(.'ixiiity, Intl., wIkt)' lie |irc-fiii|)tc>il it tntcl of liiiid. 
.■iikI ciitoriii;; ii|k>ii it» ciiltiviitioii ii|h'Iii-iI ii|>ii furiii, 
nil »liii'li ho iiiikIc lii.i liniiu' until tin- ilay of liix 
<li-:itli, nliK-li tiMik |iliu-e in Au^^ii»l, IHI'ii;. 

In lii> liii_\ lioiiil iiur .'-nlijcct rrccivi-i) •ii<-h cihicn- 
tii>n n.s the coniniiMi x'liool.s of tliiil lime luxl Iik-iiI- 
ity ;ifTt>r<li>(l. wliicli \vii.> !<u|i|>k>nient('il \t\ nlxint one 
yt'iir's atloniliinfi' at Asltnry rnivcrsitv. lU' re- 
niitint'il at lionii' n|)on U\n father'.s farm, ami tlicrv 
I'foeivcil the trninin;,' wliicli lia>< lievn .so vnluaMt- to 
liini in tlir vocalion in which he i.s now engngt-tl. 
On reneliinji nialtirity he removed U) Montgomery 
Conrly, 111., where he was engaged in a;;rienllnrc, 
Working for an annt, with whom he renmined aliont 
three yenrs*. In 1 H.'rJ. like .so many i>lher people 
at that date, he wa.s .seized with the gold fever, and 
made the trip to C'nlifoinia liy the overland route. 
( )nee upon their journey the train with which he 
wius tniveling wils waylaid and flopped liy a hand 
of Indian!', lint after e.\|ierionfing con.sideral>le 
danger and many hardhhi|*s, he arrived in (he(iolden 
StJilc, in .lidy, lH.'i"_». and at once proceeded to the 
mine,-. In tiie rich placers and river liars, where 
lay hidden the auriferons dust, he laltorcd some 
live years with pick, pan and cradle, lint with little 
|K-cuniary lienefit to himself. Provisions liringing 
such an immense price, almost fabulous at the 
pres<'nt time, the instincts of his youth caused him 
to turn his attention to farming, in which luisine.ss 
he achieved much lietter success. For alioul live 
or si.\ years his agricidlnral venture held his atten- 
tion, liut he linally went into the Territory of Ne- 
vada, where for the following two years he w.-is 
engaged in the wood and tiinlier liusiness. While 
in this latter pl.ice he he.ard of the ileath of his 
father, and returned home, after an alisence of ne:irly 
fourteen years. On his arriv.-d .■unong the familiar 
scenes of his childhood he foinul his pecuniary <'on- 
dilion was aliout the same as it was when he left 
lliere. 

Our suliject hail a little properly left him liy his 
f.ilher, liiil through sickness and niisfortuue he lost 
II all, and .-ifter a few years s|Knt in his Indiana 
home, he made a trip t<i this St«le, in |m70, with 
the intention of iiros|H'rling for a location, and le- 



tiirneil home the same fnll. Having made up his 
mind thai in .Sedgwick County he would tind the 
country lie was seeking, in the spring of l^7l he 
cnme t<i Wichita, which was then n mere hamlcl. 
with lint n few stin-kaded houses and one stole 
liesiiles the military post, and he, even in his wildest 
dreams, could not foresee the lirilliant future thai 
awaited this em hryo city. He entered into ihe dray- 
ing business, however, as settlers began to IliK'k in, 
which he continued until ImT.'I. when, having accii- 
mnlated a little capitid, and the future looking 
bright, he returned to Indiana, and wius married 
in Terre IlauU', April II, 1X73, to Miss Matilda 
I)u<lley. a native of .Sullivan County, Ind., born 
April II. IK.'il.and daughter of Koberl and Samli 
(Barker) Dudley, lie at once returned in ilii- 
county, of which he luis remained a resident e\tr 
since, anil has now a line farm in excellent cul- 
tivation, and upon which he has c<imfurtjible and 
siriistantial buildings, lie Is the father of two 
children: Moses Henry, born Feb. 22, 1X71, and 
Cora .S., Aug. 2G, IH7;j. In his politics he is a 
straight Democrat, and adheres closely to the 
principles and policy of that party, lie has lilled 
the olllce of Treasurer of tho scluiol distiicl in 
which he lives for a number of years. 



\ 



ll.l.l.VM II. U II.I.IA.MSON, prominent 
r/ aiiioiig the well-lo-i|o farmers of (Irand 
'^7^ Uiver Township, was [larticularly fortunate 
in coming to this county, having now a farm located 
in a section that h.as fortunately escaped failure of 
crops during the dry .se.-i.-on. lie is conipanitively 
a young man, and conimenced life for himself about 
the time of reaching his m.ajority. Deiiendenl 
upon his own resources, he hits learned to liNe 
economically, and is now Ihe |Mis.ses8or of a good 
property v.alued at about <(4,(I0(). His farm is wati'icd 
by the North Fork of the Ninnescah, and has proved 
one of the most fertile tniels in the western part of 
the county. • He secured it by pre-empti<in, ami 
feels well repaid for his early labors and sjicriflces. 
A native of t)range County, N. Y.. our subject 
was born on the Stii of February. IK.'il, and is the 
son of Thomas and l-'.li/.a ( Itilchie) Williamson, 



•^Hh-^ 



-¥^m^4» 



•►-II-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



DCS ' ' 



who were born ii) Ireland, the father on tlic 'Itli of 
August, 181G, and the mother in .luiie, 1827. They 
emigrated with liieir i)areuls to the Unite<l SUtes at 
an early aj,'e. The father was reared in Orange 
County, N. Y., and the niotlier in the I)uniinit)n of 
Canada. Tlionias Williamiion, a short time before 
the outbreak of the Rebellion, chanued liis residence 
from the Knipirc Slate to Randolph County, 111., of 
which he wiis a resident for a period of seventeen 
years. In 1876 he came to this county, and bj- 
purchase and pre-emption secured a fine tract of 
land in Kcclii Township. He is now fanning there. 
The father of our subject was twice married, 
having one child by his first wife, and ten by the 
second. William II. was a son of the second mar- 
riage, and was quite young when his father re- 
moved from New Y'ork to Illinois. He completed 
his education in the common schools of Randolph 
County, the latter State, and had been married two 
years when he came to this county. This first in- 
teresting event was celebrated in Randolph County, 
111., on the 17th of November, 1874. his bride be- 
ing Miss Eliza A. Williamson, a cousin of our sub- 
ject. Mrs. AV. is the daughter of James and Ellen 
(Williamson) Williamson, natives of Ireland. The 
mother is dead, and the father lives in Dakota. Of 
her union with our subject theie have been born 
six children': Ella, Oct. 12, 1877; .John H., June 6, 
1879; Frederick, Oct. 7, 1881; Mabel, Jan. 10, 
1883, and Clarence, Sept. 23, 188G; Tommie died 
in infancy. Mrs. Williamson was born in New 
York, Jan. 26, 1848, and came to the West in 1869. 
Mr. and Mrs W. have a pleasant home, a bright 
and interesting family, and a large circle of warm 
friends. 

.yp^TTO WEISS, one of the enterprising real- 
[I I estate dealers of Wichita, until recently was 
^^^ engaged in the grocery trade, in which he 
built up a large and vcr}' extensive business by 
his own energy and enterprise, and gained a most 
enviable reputation for his financial sagacity and 
honor.able, straightforwai'd dealings. lie is a na- 
tive of Germany, and w.os born Dec. 19, 1854. 
His parents, Ph. Otto Weiss and Louisa (Greillen- 



stein) Weiss, were natives of Germany, and were 
the parents of ten ciiildren, as follows: Fritz, 
Heniy, Carl, Julia ; Otto, of this sketch; William, 
Frank, Beate, Walter and Julius. The father was 
Superintendent of one of the largest railroads in 
Germany, and built a bridge over the Rhine at Ft. 
Main/. ; at the time it w.as built it was probably the 
finest bridge in the world. For this he received 
of the king a badge of honor for his skill sis an 
architect. He departed this life in his native land 
in 1886 The niotlur is still living in Darmst'idt, 
Germany. 

Our subject received a substantial education in 
the excellent schools of his native country, and was 
thus well fitted for any business career he might 
choose to follow. In the year 1872, when seven- 
teen years of age, the ambitious 3'outh, wisliing to 
try his fortunes on American soil, left the Father- 
land and crossed the waters to this continent. Im- 
mediately after lauding on these shores he caiiie 
directly to Wichita, where his uncle, William (ireif- 
fenstein, who w.is one of the earl}' [jioneers of this 
cit3', then lived (see biographical sketch of W. 
Greififenstcin in another part of this work). Our 
subject at once secured work as a clerk in the hard- 
ware store of Schlicter it Russell, and by strict 
attention to the interests of his eniplo^-ers won their 
implicit confidence and gained a clear insight into 
the best methods for conducting a successful busi- 
ness, which has been of inestimable service to him 
since starting out for himself. He retainecl his po- 
sition in that establishment five y.ears, and then 
accepted a clerkship of Bissantz iV Butler, hard- 
ware merchants, with whom he remained two years. 
He subsequently went to Colorado, where he ol)- 
tained a position as a clerk in a similar establish- 
ment. After remaining iu that State awhile Mr. 
Weiss proceeded to the Indian Territory and there 
tm-ned his attention to stock-raising, which he con- 
ducted with i)rofitable returns for some time. 1I(! 
finally' abandoned that business and took a trip 
across the ocean to revisit his relatives and the 
scenes of his j'onth. After a pleasant sojourn iu 
(iermanj' he came back to Wichita, an<l soon :ifter 
established himself in business as a grocer, and by 
his energetic and shrewd man.agement secured a 
hirge trade. He began in a sniall wav with no 



••► 



1 

1* 



■*► 



we, 



si;im:u ICK COUNTY. 



(■k'rk«, mill ^ni<liially I'xtriiilt'il Ins liii.siiii'.>> until lio 
IiikI t<'ii men ill his fiii|>|i>y uml soiit out fmir <it'- 
livory wii;;iiii> III the time he m>I<I out lii.s liiii^iiics.s 
to eiiffiigf in till- rfnl-oUili- l>ii>iiu->.», wliirli ho is 
now o|HTntin^' succi'ssfiillv. 

Mr. Wfis-s wii!. iimrricil, in I .sm.'., to .Mi-vs Annii' 
Wylii', of \Virliit;i. foriiirilv of Wot N'irv'inia, .'iml 
of their union oiu- cliiM hu.s Iuh'ii liorn, whoiii tlicv 
iimiiiimI Williiiiii. 'I'lu'V liavi' ii ln'iiiilifnl honiv mihI 
11 half liJiK-k of land on AViHxIlaiul aviMiiU'. Mr. 
Wi'is.s is an intflli;;ciit, wide-awaki' citi/.fii of lih- 
I'lal views, ami heartily in syinitalhy with every 
inoveinent Ih.-it will in any way add to the prosper- 
ity of this city, of whose develo|iineiit from a small 
town he has lieen a witne.ss. In |iolilieal opinion.s 
he sides with the l>einuentt«, and is an iin|H)rtanl 
member of that party. 

^ -^r^^ ^- 



^=^K<lKr.K W. INDKUWOOl), an e.xtensivc 
l|| ^— , and prosperous f;irmer and stock-raiser of 
^^^5, (Jraiit Township, is a resident of section 13. 
He is a native of Illinois, having' lieeii horn in Lo- 
gan County, June IK. IS.'iS. He W!Ls the sixth child 
in .-i family of nine children liorn to his parents^ 
Mcriweathcr aiitl Loiiisji (Honey) L'iiderwo<id, lioth 
of whom were natives of Kentucky. The paternal 
gmndpareiit.s of our siiliject were Williaiii S. and 
I..ucy ( I'oindexler) I'nderwood. 

Till' father of the snliject of our sketch removed 
from his native Stale to Illinuis at a very early d.-iy, 
and was n pioneer of .Shdliy Coiinly, where he set- 
tled more than lifty years .•i;io. For a niimhcr of 
years he ma'le that |M)rlion of the SluW his home, 
and from there removed to I'eoria County, and 
niially to Logan County, where the suliject of our 
sketch was liorn. In |MH(l the father came west and 
settled in flypsiiiii Township, this coiiuly, Imt is 
now a resident of .Minneha Township. Itolhhcand 
his wifi' are still living and in the enjoyment of a 
comfortalde competeiic\ . 

The siilijeel of our sketch was reared on a farm 
and w!is e:'.rly initialed into agricultural lalmr. He 
received his education in the district schools of his 
native .SL-ite, ami assisted his father in the work on 
the old honiest<-:id until h<' loniineiiccil the lialllcof 



life for himself. lie engaged in tilling the -oil in 
Illinois iiiilil the fall of l>'T7, when, with a iiiitiiral 
nmliilion to improve his fortunes, he came lo Kan- 
sas and settled in Minneha Township, this county, 
where for a time he remained with his lir>>llier-iii- 
hiw. and in that and in the ailjoiiiing township of 
( lypsiim passed some four years. After his mar- 
riage in IHM he remained liut a short time in the 
last-named township, and iliiring the antiimn of that 
year rcmovcil to Ciant Township and settled on 
section i:l, where he now resides, lie has a fine 
farm of HIO .acres of highly cultivated lanil, which 
he actiuircil on moving here. It w.-us icirtially im- 
proved at that time. Imt he has improved the resi- 
dence it then contJiined, and hius heeii very success- 
ful in its tillage, hriiigiiig the pro|)erty to a stjite of 
high productivene.ss. lie has it thoroughly stocked 
with horses and cattle, some of which arc thorough- 
breds, and all of most excellent stniins. lie is also 
giving great attention to raising Poland-China hogs, 
which ho has hroiight to great perfection. 

The suliject of this |ier.sonal n.'irralivc was united 
in marriage, in Decemliei-, hSKl . with .Miss .leiinie 
.losephine liusenliark, a native of Linn County, 
Iowa, and Imrn .Iiine ■>>'>. IHC:!. .She is the youngest 
of a family of four children horn to her parents, 
Henry and .liidith Kllcn (Scott) nusciili.irk. natives 
of Indiana and Iowa res|>cctively. 

Mr. I'mlerwood, although not vei^' active in poli- 
tics, still voles with tin' Uepulilican party. True lo 
tho inlluenccs under which he grew to manhood, he 
lia-s always been deeply interested in educational 
matters, and is serving at present :is School Director. 
He is also the incumbent of the ollicc of Township 
Treasurer, and is highly esteemeil in the community 
in which he lives. He is a plain, solid and pi.ictical 
farmer, and withe<insidoiable foi-esighl intends fi'cd- 
iiig all the slock he raises, so as to turn his attention 
entirely to stock-raising in the future. The horses 
which he places upon thi' market, half .and Ihree- 
ipiartcr grade animals, for draft |iiirposes, find a 
ready s;ile at extremely good prices. His farm is 
most pleasantly situated about three and oiie-h.'ilf 
miles from I'lirlcy, nine from Valley Center and 
eleven from Seilgwick City. His improveineiit- 
areallof asiibstnnlialand coinfoiljiblc character, ami 
the plai c e\inie- the t.-t-tc and thrift of the owner. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



967 



Mr. and Mrs. Underwood have been blessed with 
;i family of three interesting ciiildren — Charles Al- 
l)ert, Clarence Riiel and Richard Lawrence. It is 
liis intention to give his ciiildren all of the facilities 
for acquiring a good education, being convinced 
that it is the best iieriUige tiiat he can leave then). 
Capital in the brain cannot be taken from them 
while they live, while riches ofltiini-s take to lliom- 
selves wings and flee awnv. 



■%>•<- l: 






^p5^ AMIJKL C. LKWIS, a native of Virginia, 
^^^^ was born near Winchester, Frederick Coun- 
l^Q) ty, Sept. 15, 1812. His father, Edward 
Lewis, was a son of John and Margaret 
(Brewer) Lewis. The father's nativity is not known, 
but his marriage occurred in New Jersey, the lady 
of his choice being Miss Brewer, of German origin. 

The subject of tliis notice received such educa- 
tion as the public schools of tliat day afforded, and 
served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. 
Upon attaining his majority he removed from his 
native State to Ohio, where he worked at his trade 
for a number of years. lie subsequently' removed to 
Lawrenceburg, and then to Wilmington, Ind., where 
he w:us married in 1.S38, and removing immediately 
to Aurora, in that State, he continued to reside 
there until 1SG7. In th.at year Mr. Lew'is removed 
with his family to W.ashington City, Iowa, where he 
lived for two 3'ears, and then removed to Kirlcs- 
ville, Mo. In 1 K7.3 he again reirmved westward, 
coming lliis time to Wichita, wiicri' !»■ has since 
lived. 

On the 18th of October, ls;!s, our sulijccl w.-is 
united in marriage witli Miss Martha, daughter of 
.lohn and Hetty (Roach) Brewington, both natives 
of the cast shoi'c of Mar^'land. Of •-'•e fifteen chil- 
dren born of this union seven are yet living, and 
are recorded as follows: Marj' Jane became llie 
wife of James Newell, of Reno County, Kan.; John 
K. lives in Aurora, Ind.; Hester A. is the wife of 
W.allace McLean, of Wichita; Lueila is the wife of 
John Hill, also of Wichita; Harry C. resides in 
Garden Plain, this State; Martha R. became the 
wife of Norman Soutliwick, of Wichita, and N'iola 
is the wife of .loim (iroves, of tiic same city. \'ioIa 



was born in Washington City, Iowa, while the birth- 
pliice of the other children is Aurora, Ind. 

Mr. Lewis is now almost seventy-six years of age, 
and is remarkably' hale and vigorous, having worked 
constantly at his trade until within the last two 
j'cars. .Since 18HG Mr. Lewis has spent most of his 
time in tlie East, attending to important family 
business, and expects to return again soon for the 
.same pur[)ose. Mrs. Lewis tlied in Iowa, July 27, 
18(;8, and Mr. Lewis now makes his home with his 
children here in Kans.as. 

During the existence of the Whig l)arty, Mr. 
Lewis was found witliin its ranks, but he became a 
member of the Republican party u|)on its organiza- 
tion, though he does not belong to the Prohibition 
wing of the party in this, his .adopted St;ite. His 
sons, as they grew to manhood, followed the pre- 
cepts and example of their father, and ciist in their 
lot with the Republican party. Mr. Lewis was 
reared a Methodist, and is still a moniber of that 
denomination. 



•Spy MIL WERNER, capitalist, living at No. 319 
|a South Water street, is one of the promi- 
(JL^ nent and solid business men of Wichita. He 
is an Austrian, and was born in that country' in 
183!), being the son of Franz and Frances (.Shultz) 
Werner, natives of Austria. The father was a manu- 
facturer of cotton, his factory having been situ- 
ated on the Elbe River. 

The subject of this sketch remained at home 
until eight years of age, when lie was sent away to 
.school to complete! his education. He entered the 
college at Hoeniginhof, from which he w.as gradu- 
ated at the .age of seventeen j'ears. He afterward 
served three ^'cars .as an apprentice in the mercan- 
tile business, paying for the privilege 400 tlorins. 
At the expiration of his term of apprenticeship he 
became manager of the firm, occnjjying that |>osi- 
tion one 3'ear. Having now a practical knowledge 
of a merchiint's duties, he embarked in the mercan- 
tile business on his own account, continuing until 
18;")'.), when he .abandoned it to become a soldier in 
the Prussian army, where he served six inunths. Ht 
enlisted as .Second Lieutenant, was pmnioted to 



4 



•► ■ -4*- 



-••-•-♦ 



SKlx.WK K ("(UNTY. 



lii>l Liiiiliiiaiit. ami, in i:i.t cf vsicniicy. wi.iil"! 
Imvi- liecoiiie Capl.iin. Tin- following two yciir* 
<Mir sulijccl Imveli'il a* sjili'smnn for n Mk fiifl«»ry, 
viAJtin;; llnly, Kniiu-f, nnd vniioiis coiiiilrirs of 
Kiiro|M'. ill tli!il iiip.'uily. Sul>Mi|iiiiiIly In- vsUt\>- 
li>liiMl liiniM-lf ill liiisiiic;- ill the tnpitnl of llohi-iiiin, 
lull iiol qiiiU' !«^li^lU•<l willi liis |>osiliini or future 
pros|H'tt.s ill that ('oiiiitry, -Mr. Wiriier (IccitU'd to 
(•iiiijjRito to Aiiierieii, fooliiij; sure thai he could 
iM-llor his fiiiniuial coiidilion in this fife liopiililic. 
Thus, ill May. \M4, he fouiiil himself in New- 
York, lie traveled throughout the priii<ipal cities 
of the Kaslern Stales, and for a short time was en- 
piged in husiiiess in New York City. That did 
nol seem exactly the place for him, however, and 
in l.sOi; he lioiighl a lickel for Kansas, and lirst 
l*H-at4'd in Lawronec. There he purchased ii h.uild- 
iiig, and started in trade, remaining there until 
1870. when he came to ^ViclliU•l. Mis first step 
toward making a perinanenl seltleiiient here was to 
liiiild a lirewery and sjiloon on North \Vater street. 
The Ijuilding was in the form of .-i right angle, one 
wing heiiig llSx.JO feel, and the other If.x 10 feet, 
e.Mcli twi> stories in lieli^ht. lie had in his employ 
seven men. .and .at e.ach hrewing he turned out nine 
barrels of liecr. lie eonUnued thus occupied until 
IsT'.i, when ho relin<piislicd thai husiness and in- 
vesU'd some of his capit.al in real estate, on a part 
of which he erected huildings, which he afterward 
Sold at !i large profit. In this lucrative linsiness he 
has siiii'e lieeii engaged, and being a very siigacious 
s|M'culator has succeeded where othoi-s, less bold 
and wise, would have made a eoinplele failure. 
TIk! (irst brick block he built was on Douglas ave- 
nue, between Lawrence and Topeka avenues; soon 
after he put up six houses on Mosley avenue. In 
IHK.'i Mr. NYciner built another brick building be- 
tween .Market street ami Lawrence avenue, .'lO feel 
front by HIO feel deep. In ISM" he made addi- 
tions to the liisl block that he erected. Our subject 
now owns a large amount of real est-ate in this city, 
besides being the owner of Ihirleen business build- 
ings and seven l<'iieinciit houses. 

Mr. Werner w!is united in iiiarri.age, in IST.'I, to 
Miss Uosa Smaisli, a most estimable l.ady of Wich- 
itn. In |H)litics oiir subject uniformly .-.-tsls his 
Vole with the |)emocralii- pally. Id' r;iu jiislly be 



niiikol among the pioneers of Sedgwick County, 
coming here while it was in its infancy, and settling 
in Wichita, where he has since resided, lie ha.s 
been nn important factor in the business and iniliis- 
trial inteiesLs of the city, and has aided materially 
in developing its resources. His hand li:ts never 
been withheld from doing good, and his lilteral 
sup|Kirl of the various industrial and charitable in- 
slitiitions has proved him a truly generous niul 
benevolent m.aii, as well as a citizen worthy of the 
high respect and conlidence cc<led to him by the 
ctimmunitv. 



— * ^^;'^^ <'^- 



^!*)AMll.rs M. .IA( KSI»N, a lea.ling farmer 
' and stock-miser of Lincoln Township, i- 



c 



pleasaiitlj' situated on section .11, about 
seven miles from N'niley Center and ftuir and one- 
half miles from the rising little town of Kurlcy. lie 
ranks among the pioneers of .Sedgwick Couiily.aiid 
superintends the operations on his farm of eighty 
acres, where he makes a s|H'cially of high-grade 
Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses, keeping of 
the latter some of the best animals to be found in 
this township. 

Mr. .lacksoii is a product of the I5lue (;r,a.ss State, 
and was born in .Simiison County, March G, IS.'!*'. 
He is the fourth child of .lolin W. .•mil .Sarah A. 
(Stanley) .lackson, who were the parents of six 
chihireii. .lolin .lackson and his wife were also 
natives of Kentucky, while the grandparents on 
both sides of the hoii.sc were born in Virginia. 
The parents of .lohn .lackson were ISenjamin and 
Winnie (Carpenter) .l.ackson. and the mother's 
IMirents were Meredith and Kdilli SU'inley. 'I'lie 
father of our subjecl was born in Allen County, 
K}'., where he was engaged .as a carpenter and con- 
tiaclor, and died in Simpson County on the 2iitli 
of August, \X.'i\. The wife and mother is slill liv- 
ing, and m.akes her home with our subject. .She 
was born in lx\'.K in Logan County. Ky. 

The subject of this biogi-aphy was reared to fann- 
ing pursuits, and educated in the dislricl schools of 
his native county. There also he engaged in agri- 
ciillnre for himself until coming westward, which 
journey lie made in the fall of l,s,s:!. He at once 



-►•- 






4 



RKDCWKK COLNTY. 



0C9 



r 



purcliased eighty :u-r<> <'f iiii|irii\ c'l Imi'l on section 
."U , ill Lincoln T<)wiislii|), mill in Ifs.n?, iiftiT effecting; 
oilier iniiirovcnionts, put up one of the finest f;inn- 
lioiises in lluit locality. He makes a specijilty of 
sloci<-rai.siiig, and in addition tti his fine horses and 
cattle, contemplates in the near fiilme the breeding 
of swine. 

Mr. .lackstMi has had little time to devote to po- 
litical affairs, but is an earnest supporter of Reiiiib- 
lican principles. His marri.ige took place on the 5th 
of October. 1 88G, in Wichita Township, his bride 
being Miss .Sarah C. Ittner, who w.is born in Logan 
Comity, III., Aug. 1), 18C2. Mrs. Jackson was the 
eldest of the five children born to Leonard and 
Elizabeth (Weeks) Ittner, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and a sketcli of whom will lie fi>uiid 
on another page of this volume. 



L. SNIVKLV, who is a retired business 
lY man, and one of the Directors of Garfield 
University, is one of the prominent citizens 
of Wichit;i, and is held in universal re- 
spect as a man of jierfect integrity, faithful and 
trustworthy in every relation of life, and one who 
uses his influence to promote any good cause that 
will benefit his fellowmcn. He is a n.ative of .Stark 
County, Ohio, and w-.is born March 6, 1838. His 
parents were Peter and .Sarah (Simmons) Snivel}', 
natives of Penn.s3'lvania, but when the^' were chil- 
dren the}' went with their parents to Stiirk Count}'. 
Peter Snivel}- was a son of Joseph and Catharine 
(Sherman) Snively, who were extensively engaged 
in farming at their home in Ohio until death. 
The parents of the mother of our subject were 
Lawrence and Sarah (Link) .Simmons, who were 
.also extensive farmers, and were among the first 
settlers of .Stark County, residing in their pioneer 
home until death closed their career. 

Peter Snivel}', father of onr subject, was reared 
on a farm and chose farming for his life work. 
He gained a conipdency by his untiring industry 
and the help of his good wife, and their closing 
years were spent in the enjoyment of a comfortable 
home, and all the luxuries that they desired. They 
were greatly esteemed for their genuine worth, 



kindness of heart, and undoul.tc-.l lui. Lrrity, and 
when they passed away from the scenes of earth, he 
in April, 1H,50. and she in .September, 1801, they 
left an honorable life record .-is a worthy inheritance 
for their children. Of their union si.\ children 
were born, three of whom are living: 1). L., Jona- 
than K., and Mary E., now Mrs. Heiidershot. 

The subject of this sketch was bred to a farmer's 
life on the pleasant old homestead of his birth, 
remaining there until he was over twenty-four years 
of age, actively assisting in the management of the 
farm ,and receiving in the meantime :\ substantial 
education in the district school and in an excellent 
academy. In 1 8G2 he took a step that was to have 
an important bearing on his after-life; this was his 
marriage with Miss Martha J. Johnstm, the daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Margaret (Fanble) Johnson, of 
DeKalb County, Ind. He has ever found in her a 
wife who is devoted to his interests an<l has been 
to him a faithful helpmate. 

After marriage Mr. Snively continued to live on 
the old homestead for two and one-half years, he 
having purchased an interest in the estate. At the 
expiration of that time he disposed of his interests 
to his brother, and moved with his family to Bureau 
County, III., in 18(>4, and there purchased sixty 
acres of land, and subsequently ninety acres more. 
For several years thereafter he was largely eng.aged 
in farming and stock-raising, and by working intelli- 
gently and with unce.asing industry, he managed 
his business so as to gain very profitable results, 
and at the same time greatly incre:ised the value 
of his farm. In 188'2 he sold his property in Illi- 
nois and removed from there to this .State, and 
made his home in Wichita, .Sedgwick County. 
He purchased a farm in Delano Townshi(); it con- 
tains "240 acres of land in a most desirable locality, 
and has proved a valuable source of income, as he 
rents it at a good [irice. 

.Since making his home in this inetroiiolis Mr. 
Snively has been extensively eng.nged in real-estate 
transactions, and by his shrewd investments has 
made quite a fortune, so that he is now able to live 
in retirement from active life, although he is .scarcely 
past the prime of manly vigor. He and his wife 
have a pleasant, commodious residence on South 
Water street. Their happy married life has been 







•«► 



O'o 



^i:i)(;\vi( K cor MY 



li|("-<t'il liv IIk' liiilli of tnii M>ii> .'111(1 uiiu iliiii;;liU'l'; 
Willinm A., .loimthnii K. nixl S:mi)i M. M. Williiiiii 
i.s i-ii;;n<;c<l in bti.HJiiciksn.s ii stjiir-lmiliU'r; .loiinlliiin i» 
cii;,^i>;«'<l n.s n liiiukkoi'iier in n liool nml sIkm' Iioiiso. 
Mr. Siiivi'lv is n innii <if ronmrkiitily jjoml jiidi;- 
iiifiil, •iiiiiiul ciiininnii sfiisi- ami aliilily. wliidi 
traits have iiiailc liiiii |>i'iis|ioroiis ami iiilliionlial ; 
tlir rf!*|»«-<t ill wliicli li.' i.- held is iliif Ui his liij;li 
iiiiinil clianu'lci" ami liis (lisiiiton'sU-il ln-iu'Volciicc. 
In iMililic's lio is a licarty sii|i|)<>rliT of llu- imlicy 
nf till- Kp|>iiiili(aii party. Itntli liiiiisolf ami wife 
arc nii'iiilMTS <if lliu Clirisliaii C'liiircli, nml arc 
ili>liii;;iii»lii'il fur llicir cariu'st rfli<^iiiiis chanii-UT 
ami linn failli. 

' At'Oli IIAICIIKY, our of tlif .suli.l. r<-lial.lc 
1 1 ami rr|ircM'nLativi' farmers of ."saleiii 'rowii- 

dsliip, rr.sidiii^ on soi-lion 0, is a native of 
^/' .lelTei-son County, Uliio, and first drew the 
l)realh of life March L".t, IK-J.s. Hjs |iaieiits. Hub- 
ert .-ind Hannah Ilaii;;liey, were native.s, the former 
of Delaware and the latter of New .lerse}-. His 
anrotors iipon his father's side were from Ireland, 
and upon his mother's Holland Dutch. Robert 
llaujjhey, the frnmd father of our subject, was a very 
patriotic siip|x>rter of the cause of independence 
diirin;; the licvoliilionary War, an<l lost a fortune 
of nearly h.alf a million dfillars by the deproci.ation 
ill Continental money diirin^L; that strii';:;.;le. 

When Jacob llau^diey was about six ye.ars of a;;c, 
he removed with his |iareiit^ to Ashland Coiility, 
Ohio, where he w.as reare<l. He there received his 
cdiicatioii and was early initiated into the hard work 
attendant on a farmer's life, and a.ssiste<l in the, 
laliui> on the old homestead until his marriage. 
When he Mas about twenty-two years of ai;e, he 
with his parents removed to Willinms ('oiiiity, 
in the Hiickeye Stale, where. .Inly 1, IS.'id, he took 
unto himself a wife in the |)erson of Mar;raret Ca.->- 
sil. The biide was a native of Carroll County, 
Ohio, lioni. Sept. I.'>, Im:);1, and is a dali<;hter of .lolin 
l{. and Christina (Wehlay) Cnssil, tlie former of 
whom wjis a native of Kentucky, of Scot<-h-Irish 
dcsceiil, and the latter of Ohio, of (iermaii .am-eslry. 
They were early settlers in the .St,ale of Ohio, .-15 
were the parent'* of the -iibjerl of lhi« sketch. 



Afl«'r his marriage .Mr. Hau;:lu'y coiniiienceil 
housekeeping in Williams County, ami piir>ued 
the peaceful avocation of farming there until the 
spring of ISTX, when he emigrat«'d to Kaiisiu, ami 
settled in Salem Township on the farm where he 
how resides. His place, which consists of about 
I.')! acres of laiul on sectiiui Ci, is well tilled and in 
excellent shape. The improvements are of a hand- 
some and siilistjintial character, and the neatness 
and order of the whole estate show a commendable 
degree of industry on the part of its proprietor. At 
one time he was the owner of -tSd acres of land, tlie 
great<'r portion of which he Iiils given to his chil- 
dren, on which they coiihl make a start in life. In 
his politics he coincides with the principles and 
policy of the Republican (larty, but has no a$pini- 
tioiis for ollice. He has frequently been solicited 
to ofTer himself aj* a candidate for some of the [kj- 
sitions in the gift of the people, but liius uniformly 
declined. ))referring the rpiietude of his home life 
and the pleasure of atteiiiling to his own affairs. 
While a resident of Williams County, t)hio, how- 
ever, being then a younger man, he served as n 
member of the County Board of Commissioners, 
and in nearly all of the township olliees of any im- 
portance in turn. He was a member of Company 
C, 111th Ohio Infantry, during the war, serving 
until the war closed ; wjus also a member of Com- 
pany 1), l«."ld Ohio Infantry, and w:is discliargeil 
from that regiment in .Inly, IHIn'i. He is also a 
M.asoii in good sUuiding. He hits no p.'irliciil.'ir 
belief in religion, but believes in doing right under 
all eirciimstinct's. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ilaughey were born a family 
of six children, three of whom are living, as follows: 
Robert v., Willis K., and Mary C, the widow of 
the late (iilbert .). Christ. All of them are resi- 
dent's of .Salem County. Robert is the parent of 
two children— Reno 1',. .'ind Oi rilla M. Willi> ha> but 
one son, Harry ( I. 



\1]()11N YKRCl.KR, who is classe<l among the 
siicces-sfiil farmers of .S-dcni Township, is 
well worthy of notice in a work of this 
kind, and lo be ranked among the men who 
have ilisliii;riiislied llieiii.selves as useful and enter- 



•►■ -4^ 



■*► 







Cptt-'C^^^^ 



•► m <• 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



973 



f 



prising citizens. He is pleasantly located on sec- 
tion 11, to which he came in the spring of 1879, 
and has devoted his time since to the cultivation 
of the soil and the raising of stock. 

Our sul)ject, who is a n.ative of Woodford County, 
111., was born Nov. C, 1857, and is the son of Philip 
and Mary J. (llcpting) Ycrgler, who were of Ger- 
man birtii and parentage, l)eing natives of the Grand 
Duciiy of Baden. They emigrated to America in 
the spring of 1H57. 

riiilip Yergler, after setting foot iii)on American 
soil, made his way directly to Woodford County, 
111., where he resided several years, and engaged in 
farming. From there lie removed across the Mis- 
sissippi into Platte County, Mo., and thence, in 18C7, 
to Franklin County, tiiis .State, where he lived un- 
til the spring of 1870. He then took up his resi- 
dence in this county, pre-empting a quarter of 
section 14, in what is now Salem Township. There, 
with his estimable wife, he is still living, both well 
advanced in years .and surrounded by the friends 
whom they have gathered about them, and wlio 
have learned to esteem them for their sterling worth 
of character. The father, upon becoming a natu- 
ralized citizen, identified himself with the Repub- 
lican party, of whose principles he still remains a 
zealous supporter. 

John Yergler has been familiar with farming 
pursuits since early bo^'hood. He received an edu- 
cation far inferior to that commonly given the 
yonliis of to-da}-, but made the most of his oppor- 
tunities and kept his eyes open to what was going 
on around him in the world. He was consequently, 
at the time of reaching manhood, well fitted to 
cope with it.-^ dillicullies and responsibilities. These 
he took upon himself earlj- in life, having been 
married when in the twenty-first year of his .age to 
Miss Anna C. G laser, on the 28lh of September, 
1878. Mrs. Yergler was nearly a year younger 
than her husband, having been born June 28, 18.58. 
Her early home was in Clearfield County. Pa., and 
her p!\rents are John and Margaret (Reisch) 
G laser, also natives of (ierman^', like the parents of 
her husband. They at present are residents of 
Douglas County, this State, the father being Post- 
master of Clearfield. The parental household in- 
cluded eight children, of whom six are living, 



•^ 



namely: George, a resident of Salem Township; 
Barbara, the wife of Joseph Kriebel; Anna C, 
Theodore, Sarah and Can-ie. 

To our subject and his wife there have bccai born 
five children, as follows: Josephine M., born Dec. 
13, 1881; Frederick D., July 7, 1884; Sar.ah D., 
March 27, 18KG; one babe, who died in infancy, 
and John Franklin, born Jan. 31, 1888. Mr. and 
Mrs. Y. are members of the Evangelical Church, 
and the friends of every enterprise calculated for 
the advancement of the pcojjle. Their homestead 
comprises eighty acres of choice land, which by a 
course of thorough cultivation yields the choicest 
products of Southern Kansas. Mr. Yergler com- 
menced at the bottom, as it were, in building up 
his homestead, there having been no attempt what- 
ever at improvement when he took possession. His 
thrift and industry have met with their legitimate 
reward. 

^yBRAM SMITH, a leading citizen and a 
fuW wealthy capitalist of Wichita, came here 
March 15, 1872, and bouglit the lot and 
built the house at No. 447 North Lawrence 
avenue, which still continues to be his homo. He 
has dealt largely in real estate in this city, :ui<l by 
his energy and enterprise has been an import:int 
factor in building up Wichita. He is an extensive 
owner of very valuable property in this city anil 
county, consisting of houses, lots, etc. In 1877 he 
bought five lots adjoining his lirst purchase, and in 
June, 188C, he bought four more lots adjoining, on 
the same avenue. In 1882 he purchased two lots 
on Main street, and later two lots on the corner of 
Main and Third streets, on the first of which he has 
since erected two stores an<l two dwellings. Of the 
last two lots he sold one for 1^0,000, it having cost 
him ^52, and on the other he built ihe Bon-Ton 
bakerj', which rents for ^150 per month. His ne.\t 
investment was the jiurchasc of six lots on Market 
street, between Third and Central streets, on which 
he built four residences. He sold three lots and two 
of these houses for t;12,00n, in 1887. He next 
bought four lots on T<jpeka avenue, between Elm 
and Pine streets, on which he built three houses, for 
which he receives illi> rent each month. He 
— -•► 



i^ 






-«► 



SKDfiWlCK COUNTY. 



Iioti^lit twi'lity luU ill Uivt-ntiiU- Adililinii, niid hns 
liiiilt n tine (twellin^ there, which rciittt for |50 ii 
iiiontli. Ik- iiflvrwiirii piirchii-MMl >t'veii lotj* mi Iho 
foniiT of Kiii|><>riit nvoniio ninl I'iiio >lrefL«, «ii(l 
l>iiilt two hoiiM-.s, uliiih he- >o|il for tH.'i.oOO. lie is 
uImi the owner of h viiliinlili' niiirli, eoiitniiiing 4^0 
iicres of ImikI, in Ohio 'rown.shi|>, Sedjjwick County. 

.Mr. Sniitli wius lioni in KpHnue {'oiinly, N. Y., 
.Inly 12. IH12. His p.irent-s nre (Imries II. and 
Dorothy ( \'nnl!iireii) .Sinitli, imtive.s res|K'clivciy of 
\'frmonl anil New York. Ili> fallier wait an umler- 
Uiker, ami in tiie last years tif lii> life a ronlraetiir 
iiml Imildcr. lie w:is eharnctcrized liy shrewd jiidg;- 
nu'iit and pM>d liiisiiii-ss.-iiiilily. lie died at Castle- 
ton, N. Y., ill 1«8(;. To him and his wife were 
l>orn nine ehildreii, live of whom arc .still livin;^, 
namely: Al-ram. C'h;irles W., Klizalieth, Tiuiolliy 
and Lonisn. 'I'heir mother lives in a plci^uinl home 
in C'lustleton. 

Our subject ip-vw to manhooil in his native State, 
lie wa.s .stronji^. active and capable, inheritin<^ fnjin 
his parents those qualifications which li.ave made 
him pre-eminently successful in his business career. 
lie »'arly lenrned the cjir|ienter's trade of his father, 
:ind ha.s been a builder and contractor ever since he 
entered on the active duties of life, until I KKG. At 
his country's call in 1«01 he eiilisti'd sls a drummer 
Imy in the !Mst New York Wdiintccrs, and diir- 
infj the four trying years that followed he did 
faithful service on Southern liattle-fields. 

'I'iie marria;L,'e of our subject with .Miss Cornelia 
r. Kairchild took place Nov. 10, 1,S(;.5. .She is :i 
native of All)any, N. Y.. and is the dau;;liter of 
Samuel B. ami Kstlur .M.(.Myei-s) Kairchild. natives 
of Pine I'lains, Dutchcivs Co.. N. Y. .Mr. Kairchild 
»a.-> in the dry -goods luisiness in e.-irly life, but later 
he turned his attention to farming, and wa.s thus 
(iiyagfd until williin a fiw years of his death, which 
occurred Oct. 11. ImTO. The mother is now a resi- 
dent of Wii-hita, making her home with her daugli- 
ti-r, Mrs. Smith. To her and her hiisb.Mnd were born 
five children, of whom three daughters are now 
living, namely : C(»rnelitt 1*.. Mi-». Smith; Kliznbelh, 
.Mrs. S<'nnett. of California, and Mrs. Kittie llenr, 
of Argonia. Kan. Iler son .lohii was an Orderly 
Sergeant in the IMst New '^'ork \olunleers, and 
served four years, Inking part in liiaiiy battles 



iindi-r Cien. I(jiuks. lie died of a fever in the Ikw- 
pital at lliUtiniore, .Md. 

To our siibje«-t and his wife have been born five 
children, three of whom arc now living — Frank il., 
Clarence A. and Hazel C. With the joys of par- 
entage they have also siifTered iUs sorrows in the 
ileatli of t«o children. Kttie and Samuel F. Kttie 
tlied in Iiuinc3', III. Samuel F. wa.-- killed by light- 
ning ill the home of his parents on the 'JOtli of .lum . 
I.s7 1, at the age tif four yenrs und six ilays. 

In IHCil) .Mr. and .Mrs. Smith took up their alxHle 
in t^uincy, III., for .-i few months, .Mr. Smith being 
engaged there jus a contractor and buihler. In the 
sameyear they removed to Humboldt, Kan., and re- 
sitled there for one year. In l«7n Mr. Smith look 
up a claim in Hntler County, Kan., and with his 
family lived there a year. They then came to 
Wichita, which hiui since been their home. It was 
then a small town, scarcely two years having ela|)sed 
since the first house had been built within its limits, 
and our subject m.ay well tiike pride in the ini|H>r- 
tant |>art he luus taken in building it up, ami in aid- 
ing its many businciy* enterprises. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Smith are noted for their many 
countless acts of kiii<lncss and deeds of charity; no 
one ajipeals to them for JissisUince in vain. They 
are esteemed members of the Methodist Kpisco|Kil 
Church, and always evert their inlliieiice to promote 
the nioml welfare of the community. Mrs. Smith 
is one of the Directoi-s of the Ladies' Relief Cor|is, 
and of the Ladies' Benevolent Ilonu- and Hospital. 

In politics ,Mr. Smith has always been a stanch 
Kepiiblican. His portrait may be seen cl.-ewliere in 
this work. 







U. TllO.MAS.l. SllKri'AUD.of the firiiiof 
Miller A: Sheppani, reul-estsite agent:*, lo- 
i-aled at >\icliita. are doing a fine business, 
and have several buildings, both resilient 
and btisine.ss hoiisi's. One block of which they are the 
owners :itti:ict.s the attention of slnmgers t<t the 
city by the beauty of its arehitectiire. and for its 
conveniently arraiigeii interior. Il is of brick, three 
stories in height: the lower lliMir is entirely taken 
up by two large stores, and the other stories are 



•►•-4« 



I 




^.jU6^eylZtA^ '^ 



(r^^o^'J 




i..iiA.^l 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



U 



075 'M 



t 



devoted to offices, parlors, etc. The firm also owns 
valuable proiJiTty outside of the city. 

Mr. Shcpp.ird was born in Moniteau County, 
Mo., Aug. 2/), 1S44. His parents were Alfred B. 
and lOniily (Uaulliit) Sheppard, natives of Kentucky. 
His fatiier was born in 181G, and in 1«37 moved 
to Missouri; he wsus a carpenter by occupation. His 
marriage took place in 183.'). He \vas a Lieutenant 
in the Black Hawk War, and his widow afterward 
received a laud warrant for the services he ren- 
dered at that time. In his politics he was an old- 
line Whig, and stood by that party until his death. 
He was an active and valiant member of the Chris- 
tian Church. lie was early cidled from the scenes 
of earth, and in his d(!ath in 1845 the county lost 
a highly esteemed citizen, and his neighbors a kind 
friend. His estimable wife survived him many 
years; she was killed by a runaway team while 
crossing a railway track in September, 1863; she 
was a woman of fine constitution, and with re- 
markable powers of endurance, coming of a long- 
lived race. She was a faithful member of the 
(■hMifli. To her and her husband were born four 
children, all of whom are now deceased except the 
subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Sheppard, the subject of this biography, re- 
ceived a good education in the common schools, 
and in the High School at California, the county 
seat of Moniieau Count}'. His first occupation, 
when a lad of fourteen years, was in spitting rails 
to fence his mother's farm, and during the three 
following j'ears he fenced the entire farm, and took 
care of his widi^wed mother. When he was seven- 
teen years of .age he enlisted in the Union arnij' as 
a private in Company A, 7th Missouri Cavahy, 
and for nineteen months engaged with patriotic 
ardor in fighting the battles of his counUy, He 
was then discharged from the service, as he 
Wits seriously ill with measles, which nearly cost 
him his life. After he became convalescent he 
entered the State militia as CapUiin of Company 
K, 1 20th Regiment, and served until the i>.\piration 
of his term of enlistment. 

In 18G7 Mr. Sheppard discarded secular einploj'- 
ment and entered the ministry of the Methodist 
Protestant Church, occupying the pulpit for eight- 
een years. IJuring that tinje he did faithful service 



for the cause of the Master, and was instru- 
mental in bringing many sinners within the pale of 
the church, over a thousand people being brought 
to see the error of their ways b}' his burning and 
eloquent words. By his zealous lab<jrs he built 
seven church edifices in his various p.astorates. 
In 1877 he was elected delegate Ijy the Missouri 
Conference to represent the Methodist Protestant 
Church of that State in the (leneral Conference at 
the city of B.altimore. 

On tlie 7th of April, I Hi;.!, our suliject was joined 
in the holy bonds of matrinion^' to Miss Sarah F. 
Poe. She was born in Dade County, Mo., Nov. 
29, 1840. Their union was blessed by the birth of 
seven children, namely: Mary F., Jennie E., Will- 
iam A., Emma, James E., Hattie B. and Walter. 
Jennie married Charles E. Collett, and resides at No. 
62.5 Allen avenue; he is a contractor and builder. 
AV'illiam married Miss Victoria Hoggett. The only 
grief that overshadowed the liai)|)y married life i>( 
the Rev. Mr. Sheppard anil his wife was the death 
of their beloved daughters, Mar}' and Enim.a. 
Mary died at the .age of twelve years ; she wiis a 
remark.able child, a fine scholar, and one of the 
bright liglits of earth, thougii so young, being a 
type of all that is innocent and lovely. She died 
in the faith of her Savior, and a sweet life beyond 
the grave. Emm.a's death took place at the age of 
fourteen, the result of an accident, being burned to 
death from the igniting of g.as from a g.asoline 
stove, .at her home in Wichita. The home of Mr. 
Sheppard was once more invaded bj' death, and 
the kind wife and loving mother was no more ; she 
was called away by her Heavenly Father March 
1 ] , 1884; she w:is a true lady in every respect, and 
was of genuine worth and high moral character, 
and devoted to the Christi.an principles which she 
espoused. 

Mr. Sheppard's second marriage took place .lune 
12, 1885, at which time he was united to Miss Ina B. 
Thurston, the daughter of Dexter and Mary 
(Rhodes) Thurston. They were natives of Maine, 
moved to Wichita in the spring of 1885, and sub- 
sequently returned to Maine. She w.as horn in 
Northport, Waldo Co., Me.. .Sept. 29, 1857; she 
is also of the household of the f.-iilhful. One child, 
Ina Ma}', has blessed their union. 



•►■ -4*- 



sKi)(;\vi( K corNiY 



Mr. Slu'|>|>iir<l oiiiiii' l<i Ksitimis in l.sisj and 
liH'jttvi) on II rnnii iicnr WicliiUi, niul ciigngcd in 
:u:ri<'iiltiinil inindiiU, still cniitiniiing to prcnch. 
At llu- ox|iir:itioii of n yonr'n rc-.^iiloncp on timt fiirni 
ho Sold it nml moved into tin- city, iiml nftvr re- 
nminin^ in retironiont for n ycnr ontcrcd into his 
liri'scnl liii>iiu-ss. 

Anion;; tin- nunicrons portniit.s of llii' Ic-idin^r 
nifu of Sfd;;«rirk County |>roM'nt»'d in tlii> volnnio 
ni;iy ho found tlwit of Mr. Shcppanl. 



y?^ I.AKKNCK L. ODKLL. ii yontKnmn in the 
li^, prime of life, is currying on iigrieuiliire snc- 
^^^/ eessfully on section .11, in Illinois 'rownsiiip, 
to which he t'nnie from across the Mississippi in the 
sjiriii;; of I .'SS.1. His chihlhoodV home wasiii Coles 
( uimly. 111., where his Itirtli took [duce .Iiine IJ, 
1^11. His |>nrents were I'liillip iind Mary June 
(Vokuni) Odell, the former a native of Tennessee, 
where he wius liorn in INI."), and (leparle<l thi.-' life 
.It his home in Cluirle>ton. in November. 1.S4I. 
He w:is u Ijiilor hy li-adi-, and .'i Wlii^'. politically. 
His wife, Mary .)., wjis horn near Hardstown, Ky. 
Sept. l;!, 1819, and is now- living' in Coles County, 
111. 'I'lie following,' stanzas We clip from an ol»il- 
iiary notice of Mr. Odell, which appeared in the 
Charleston jiaper at the time of his death: 

Coiihl I the sucred nine command. 
And iiispjntliim ^'iiide my hand. 
In iiiimhers sweet Inil sjid I'd t<'ll 
'I'lie virtues of our friend Odell. 

With seiisiliilily refined, 
A generous heart ami upright mind; 
Formed on heaven's grandest plan. 
He lived and died an honest man. 

No niarhle inonnment may rise, 
'I'o jHiint out friendship, where he lies. 
Yet in our hearts will ever dwell 
The treasured mem'r}' of Odell. 

And when full many a year is gone, 
I'cri-hance wc wander ne.ar his tomli. 
We'll iMiiise and |)ay the trihiiU' dciir, 
AikI to his memory drop a tear. 

A te.'ir at le.ast l4i him wc owe, 
W'r lov'd anil cherisli'il here lielciw. 
Mine have I paid, so fare-thee-well. 
My dear dei>!irt4'd frieinl Odell. 



•► • -4«- 



i To I'liillip and Mary tMell there was horn one 
child only, CInrence L., the suliject of this sketch. 
After the ilcath of his father the mother wils mar- 
ried the st'cond time, to .loshiia Acres, of Coles 
County, and this union resiilte.) in the hirth of 
another son, Thornton, who married MisM Doni 
Horsley, anil is the father of four children, one of 
whom died in infnncy; he is carrying <ui fanning in 
Coles tVninty, III. Clan-nee I,, remained with his 
mother until reaching his majority, and w;us mar- 
ried ill his native county t4> .Miss Agnes C. llerry : 
they are now the parents i«f nine children. The 
eldest daughter, Klla <;..« its l.i.rn Kel>. If., lHt!4, 
and is now the wife of Svlh K. .lones, a native of 
Illinois, and now carrying on farming in this county ; 
.loshiiu was liorn May 1 h, |K(i7, ami died .S-pt, I I'l, 
I8f.'.t: William I", was Imin Fcl>. 2."i, 1K70. and with 
the younger children remains at home with his par- 
ents; Mary A. was born .Inly III, l.sT-J; l.illa A.. 
Aug. IH, \x7i: (lertrndc, March I I. I.hTC; .lames 
C., March -ii, \xlX; Arthur, .Iiiiie I. I.SKO; .le.ssie, 
.Ian. i;, 1HH3, and Clam, .Inne 1 J, 1 .s.sC. 

Mr. Odell owns I <iO acres of g 1 land, the gTeat<'r 

part of which is in a high state of cultivation, and 
the li.alance devoted to piustni-e :iiiil hay. Although 
mixing veiy little in public afl'airs, he is numbered 
among the useful anil entfrprising men of Illinois 
Township, is a reliable liepublican, politically, and 
Coincides with the doctrines of the .Methodist Kpis- 
copal Church, of which his estimable wife is a de- 
voted niemlier. 

■^KOIIN C. in'DK. a prominent farmer, and 
one of the largest finc-st<«-k misers in Sedg- 
wick County, is a resident on his f.arm on 
the soiilhcast qn.'irtcr of section .S, in Oraiit 
Township. He is a native of County Cork, Ireland, 
born Aug. 1.'.. |M|0. and is the eldest child of hi.s 
parents, Nicholas .and Mary (O'Hrien) Hyde, both 
of whom were natives of thi' s.anie county in the 
Kincrald Isle, and were the parents of ten children. 
The grandfather of our subject, .lohn Hyde, wjls an 
extensive fanner in his native land, under the old 
proi'e.ss of agriculture, .and employed ipiite a 
uumlicr of men in carrj'ing tm his pmiK-rty. 



■ 



-4^ 



?- 



SKDtiVVICK COUNTY. 



'Jit 



Nicholas Hyde, the father of our subject, was 
reared to agricultural pursuits in Iri-laiul, and came 
to the United StjiUs with his father when he was 
cightein yeai-s of age. The}' emliarked at Liver- 
pool, Knghuul, in the spring of lH.'j«. and after a 
rough Mn<l tempestuous vo.yage which lasted eight 
weeks, landed at New York. They at once went 
to Hoston, Mass., and shortly after to South lling- 
haui in the same SU\U\ where Nicholas is still liv- 
ing. Mrs. Mary Hyde, the mother of Jolin, was 
the daughter of .John anil Mury (Kelley) O'Brien, 
and ilied in Ireland in !«.')(;, previous to her hus- 
ItaiKl's emigration. 

The subject of this personal biography received 
hiseducation partially- in his native home, but com- 
pleted it in this country. After his arrival in 
America, he was employed for about two years in 
the old Bay State, at various kinds of labor, but 
in 18G0 removed to Abingdon, Knox Co., 111., 
where he attended school for about one 3'ear. Dur- 
ing this time the war broke out, and the sharp call 
for men i)enetrated even to the quiet student at his 
desk, and with a commendable patriotism in a 
young man of alien birth, Mr. Ilyde enlisted in what 
was familiarly known as Oglesliy's Sharpshooters. 
Through some fault of others he was never mus- 
tered into service, and after a short stay in camp, 
for which he received no pay excei)t his board, 
returned to his college life. But calls succeeded calls, 
until it seemed that there were not men enough in 
all the loyal North to suppress the Rebellion, and 
Mr. Hyde, with the same old patriotic feeling that 
stirred his breast in the c.-u'ly part of the conflict, 
enlisted for three years, or during the war. in Com- 
pany 1), 7th Illinois Cavalry, on the 4th of M.ay, 
1804. He was nuistered into the United .Suites 
service at Benton Barracks, St. Louis. After hav- 
ing participated in the conflict with the Confederate 
General, Forrest, .-it Memphis, Tenu., he was detailed 
for hospital duty, and fdled all the grades up to 
and including that of llospiuU Steward. At the 
close of the war he was honorably discharged at 
Memphis, May 17, 1865. Returning from the fiehl 
he settled on a farm in Illinois, but a 3'ear later 
removed to Missouri. The growing fame of the 
ytuing State of Kans.as drawing his attention hither, 
in 18U7 he removed to this State. For three years 



he spent his efforts on a farm which he had rented 
in Johnson County, but in the winter of 1871 
removed to this county, and locate(l where he now 
resides. He took up ItiO acres under the homestead 
and pre-emption .acts, and commenced improving 
it. F^ven at that early day he saw the benelits 
arising from the raising of stock, and made a be- 
giiming at once in that line. He has his farm well 
improved, and in a good state of cultivation. A 
line residence, three roomy barns, ami a cattle-shed 
of a subsUintial character, increase the value of this 
noble property. He is also the owner of a good 
improved farm in Wilson Count}', this State, on 
which he has a tenant. He gives great attention to 
the breeding and raising of thoroughbred stock, all 
of which are recorded as having a noble pedigree. 
Clydesdale horses. Short-horn cattle, full-blood Po- 
land-China hogs, and fine poultry are his special- 
ties, in which he has been eminently successful 
fiom a financial point of view. 

While a resident of .Johnson County, Mr. lljde 
and Miss Isabelle .Alaxwell were united in marriage, 
on the •24th of .luly, 18(57. The lady of his choice 
w.as born in F'ulton County, 111., in August, 1843, 
and is the eldest of the family born to her parents, 
Abner and Martha (Brown) Maxwell, both of whom 
were natives of Illinois. For many yeai-s it was a 
question whether her father was not the first white 
child born in the I'rairie State, but it was finally 
decided otherwise. Her parents are residents of 
Johnson Count}', this State. Her grandfather 
Maxwell was one of the pioneers of Fulton County, 
III., and wivs very prominently identified with its 
early history. Her mother's father was a native of 
Kentucky, and was a drunkard ; his wife not .agreeing 
with him, left her husband and came to Illinois on 
foot with three small children, carrying them the 
most of the way. She reared and educated the 
children, and settled them all in life, and finally 
died in .McDouough County, III., after having at- 
buned the very advanced age of one hundred and 
four years. All her children are still living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hyde have been blessed with a family of 
six chililren — William J.. Kmmet C, John S., Mary 
B., Katie May and Fred George, all of whom are 
attending school in the home district. 

Mr. Hyde Uikesa very active interest in politics, 



t 



SKDCWKK COUNTY 



liiit ri'fiiM-^ to liolil iillK'f iif iiii_\ iU-M'i'i|iti<>ii, nixl is 
nil jielivi- niid nt«iirli ndlien-iit In tlic |>riiici|ilf!» nf 
tho |{c|MililJi-!iii |inrly. His lir^l |Mililir:il coiiiii-clion 
in tlii.s roiintry wn-s witli tlu> tiiiu'li iicili^iii'rl Alxtli- 
tiiin |inrty. »iiif|i \vm.'> liiiiillv iiicr^cil into tin- 
Uf|iiililirtin iirpini/.ntion. Having; liiniM-lf a nmsl 
rxocllcnl i-iliii-nlioii, hf lin.x Inkt-ii ipiilo an autivv 
|tnrl ill llu* or^Miii/.alioii of tlie v:trioU!< !<('liool t\h- 
Iric-U ill llip lo\vii.<.|ii|i. Ill- wii.-* iMliic-alcii for llic 
KoliinniHt priotliooil. anil liius oin- l>rotluT who i> a 
pricitl, liK-aU'<l on llu' raciliu Cojusl; luiollier lirotlior, 
ilcjmrtiii;,' from llu- failli of his forffatliers, a.- did 
also .loiiii C. is a ininisU'r in the ( hrisliaii ('hiiruli. 



ij.^ 



f^<^ A.MIi:!. I.Mr.l.i;K. now .hci'iis.-.i. was iinin- 
i^ licn-d aiiioii^' the lii;;lily n'S|iorl«'d i-itizens 
and successful fariiiors of riiioii 'rowii8hi|>. 
A native of .MiihlenliiTg County, Ky., he 
wiLs horn Aug. ;!0, 1»1'.. His fatiier, a native of 
Virginia, was a pioneer ol the IJlue (Jrass Slate. 
The siilijecl of this sketch spent his early years at 
home, att<'iiding school anil assisting on the farm. 
WIf.Mi quite a young man he went to Louisiana and 
aeteil as ovei-seer on his lirother's pl.-intalion, re- 
laining that position seven years, lie then returned 
t4i Kentucky, and with his father's family migrated 
to .lefTerson County, Iowa. There he liecame Jic- 
<|uaiiited with .Miss Christiana Lathers, the 3-oiing 
lady whum he induced to share his fortunes and 
iLssiHt him in Imildiiig a hmnc. and in is 12 they 
were married. 

'i'he mother of Samuel Iinhler wa.s a native of 
Ad:iiiis County, Ohio, where her liirth occurred 
March 2.f, I .hl' I. Her parent.-, .lames and Kli/.al>eth 
Lathers, moved with their family from Ohio to 
Indiana, where they settled in Shelhy (onnty, and 
remained several years. In I .s.!7 liny look another 
we-lward lliglil and Incaiiie pii>neers of .IcfTerson 
( 'oiinty. Inwa. 

.Mr. and .Mrs. Iiiililer resided in low'i several 
years after iiiarri.'ige, ami then removed lo Kno\ 
(iiiiiily, .Mo. In I M7n llicy came lo the plea.>uiiil 
valley of the Ark.insas and took up a homeslcail 
i-liiim on the si)iitliwe«l ipiarlcr of -cction '.' in 



I'liion Township, aiul thus were among the pio- 
neers of this siiliseipiently fertile region. I)iiriiig 
the hii.Hy year- that followed Mr. Anihier ilevelo|H'il 
a line farm from the wild prairie, and with the nlile 
a.ssisL-ince of his wife liiiilt up a eomforlalile home. 
He WHS gn-ally interested in the welfare of his 
ailopted town and State, and aided liy every iiienns 
in his |Miwer the advanceiiicnt of this M-elion of 
the country. Al his denlli, which iM'curred Nov. 
•Jh, IMSii, the community w;ls deprived of a useful 
inciiilier, as he had always fnilhfiilly fiiltilleii the 
oliligations of a hiisliainl, a father and a citi/.en. In 
)><>litics Mr. linliler wn.- a strong rnion man. and a 
firm supiHjrIer of the Uepiililican party. 

Mrs. ImLiler now own.s and occupies the lionio- 
st<-ad. She is a consistent iiiPinhcr of the (ierinnn 
Baptist Church. To her and her hiisliand were horn 
six I'hihlren, namely: l)orca.s A., Frances K., ^\'ill- 
iam II., .Mary K., Lida and .lames L. Dorcius A. 
married \V. [■'. Sieven.s, and died, leaving three 
chiltlren; Knincos is the wife of Lewis HIuhIcs; 
^^ary is the wife of I'erry ( iarretl; Lida marrieil 
Uolierl 01:i.ss; .lames L. resides in Mai/.e, heiiig 
engiiged in merchandising al that place; he wils 
horn in Knox County, Mo., Feh. I(t. iHi;.'., and re- 
moved with his pareiiLs to Kansits at the age of live 
yeai-s. He is an industrious, worthy young nuiii, 
who, hy his energy and :itteiilion l») Imsine.ss, \v.is 
accumulated some pi<n>erty, including an Mlt-:icre 
farm. In politics he is a Ke|>ulilicnn. 

Like the majorily of the early selllers of Kaiis.-LS, 
Mr. Inililer was oliliged to lalior under many dis- 
advantjiges. His nearest mill wjus thirty miles dis- 
tant from his home, and there were no bridges 
.•icroivs the streams. A little more than a year after 
taking up his residence in I'liion Township, .•md 
when reliirning from mill, in crossing the llig 
Arkansus Hiver, at a time of very high water, hc.acci- 
deiitnlly drove into a place from which the sand 
had heeii wa.sheil away, and where his horse.s Uol 
their footing and the wagon liirned over. His 
daughter l''rances w:is with him, and he succeeded 
in getting lo shore safely with her, hut the v;iluali|e 
tcjini was drowned. He w.i.s thus left without a 
team, with very little money, and ipiite a large 
family upon his hands. It wjis a time of severe 
trial, Imt hi- per-cveraiirc anil indii-lry I'li.iMcd 



•^-lh-««- 



-•►•-♦ 



h 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



979 ' k 



; 



him to hold his hind and later provide his chil- 
dren with a good education. Those who are sur- 
viving are settled in coniforUible homes of their 
own, and are numhcrcd among the reputable and 
well-lo-do citizens of this region. 



JJOHN S. MUZZY, who was formerly engaged 
I in tlie grocery, flour and feed trade, located 
in Wichita, came to this citj' in theyear 1884, 
' and being I)}' trade a plasterer, was engaged 
as a contractor in this business for three years, then 
abaniloned it and invested a part of his capital in 
tlie above commodities. Ashtabula County, Ohio, 
was the early tramping ground of our subject, and 
where his birth took place on the 2d of July, 18."i2. 
His parents, John G. and Ruth A. (Sweet) Muzz^', 
were natives of New York .SUite, the father well 
educated, and engaged as a teacher and a lecturer 
on temperance for many 3' ears. In the latter work 
he was deeply interested, and published several 
books treating upon this subject. He left the Em- 
pire State before his marriage, and taught in the 
public schools of Ashtalmla County, Ohio, raanj' 
years. Upon his removal from there he settled in 
Marion County, 111., where he occupied himself as 
before, and where his death took place in 1882. 
The mother followed her husband two j'ears later, 
in 1884. 

To John G. and Ruth A. Muzz}', the parents of 
our subject, there were born five children, of whom 
only three are living, naraelj': Susan .S., Mrs. Houts, 
of KHingliam, IH. ; Nancy M., who also married a 
Mr. Ilouts, of Olney, III., and John S., of our sketch. 
The j-onnger years of the latter, until he reached 
the age of thirteen, were spent mostly in school, 
and he then went to learn the trade of plasterer at 
Cincinnati, Ohio. After serving an apprenticeship 
of three yeiU's, during which he gained a thorough 
knowledge of the business, he began making con- 
tracts, and at some seasons gave emplo^'ment to 
sixty men. He went to Illinois in 1850, settling in 
Marion County, whence he removed across the 
Mississippi in 186!K He first located at Topeka, 
this State, of which he became a resident on the 
10th of June of the ^ear mentioned, and whure he 

m » 



i-eniJiincd until ciianging his residence to the city of 
Wichita. Since establishing himself in business 
here, on the I8tli of October, 1887, lie has been 
prosperous, and is the ownci- of considerable real 
estate. In this line also he has effected various 
transfers, and upon his own land in the city put up 
several h(juses. 

The marriage (if our subject with Miss Selah 
Oglesby wjis celebrated at the home of the bride in 
1853. This lady became the mother of one child, 
a daughter, whom they named Sarah A., and de- 
parted this life three years after her wedding, the 
child following a week after the death of the mother. 
Mr. Muzz3' was subsequently married, Oct. II, 1857, 
to Miss Jane Moore, who was born Oct. 8, 1887, in 
Baltimore, Md. This union resulted in the birth of 
four children, three living, naraelj': Sarah A., Ed- 
ward S. and Nellie J. Mr. Muzzy, politicallj', is a 
solid Republican: sociallj', belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, ami as a business man and a citizen, 
represents the well-to-do element of the communit}'. 

One important episode in the life of Mr. Muzzy 
should bj' no means be omitted. The second year 
of the war, and while a resident of Marion County, 
111., he enlisted in Companj' E, 111th Illinois I»- 
fantrj', as a private, in which capacity he served 
eighteen months with great credit, and was then 
promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to 
the 2d Tennessee Heavy Artillery. Eight months 
later he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and 
assigned to the 7th United SUites Colored Infantry, 
and remained in the service until the 12th of Jan- 
uary, 18GG, being sUitioned during the latter part of 
the war at Memphis, Tenn. He was mustered out 
at that place, and returned to his home. His sub- 
sequent course we have alreadj' indicated. 



OHN FARMER. Prominent among the real- 
dealers of Wichita is Mr. Farmer, 
of an excellent old family of English 
,vw;»/ ....^u and descent, and who at a later daj' 
settled in the seaport town of Tralec, Conntj- Kerry, 
Ireland. They were Orangemen, loj'al to the 
Government, and eminently respectable .and well- 
to-do. Farmer's Bridge, of County Kerry, Ireland, 




■► ■ M* 



4 



t 



•►-•-^^ 



SKUr.WlCK COUNTY. 



\V!L- imiiuvl afUT tlii.'" f:iiiiily. Smli ;.:r<';a (•iiiifiilcnci- 
liitil till- «;<iviTiiiiifiit in lliiiii tliiil tlii-y worx- iil- 
linvfil to rnrry llrcnnns, ninl llicn- were niiioii;; 
lliciii m-venil wh'i tli>liiii.'ui!>lii'<l iliiMiim-lvt-s ns l)nive 
Mililieni. Mi.vt Alice ilolToy, cousin nf llie iiiaU-riitil 
i;niii(liiiolli<T i>f our xiilijcct, iiisirrieil Lonl Wliiu-, 
to tvhiiiii she wiut ^ivfii ill cniiiiiilcnition of Iter 
wei>;lil ill ^i>lil. Tlu- Kiirlit Ih.ixmilile Morris FiLz- 
Ki-riiiil, of Iri-lnii<l, w:»> iiii uncle by nmrri!i}»i- to Mr. 
Farmer, lie wti.s wi-nltliy ami died uillioiit liuirs. 

Uiclinrd Fariiur, the father of our .siiliject, was 
lioni in (.'oiinty Kerry, and came with his parents 
to Caniidn some lime in the lii-sl (ju.-irlor of the pres- 
ent century, and wlien he wiu« liut an infant, lie 
w!Ls reared in New Brunswick, anil when a young 
man migrated to (iuelpli. Province of OnUirio, 
where he suhscqueiitly married Mis* Ann, daugh- 
ter of .John linns, of (uielpii. They hccainc the 
parent.- of eleven cliildren: .Mary. .lohii ; William 
II., whodied when a young iii;ui; Alfred . I., ('harics, 
Kslher L., Frederick W., .Morris, llattic, and two 
who died in iiifanc}'. 

The elder Farmer was a wheelwright liy trade, 
and coiitinueil a resident of Ouelpli for many ycar.s. 
In 1>>70 he sought tiie far West, removing with his 
family across the Mississippi to .Soutiicrn Kaiisius, 
and pre-empted a hoinesteiid in this county one 
mile -south of the present city of Wichita. He 
lived to be sixty-three years of age, and pjusscd 
to his eternal rest in the spring of l«H|. He 
aecumnl.-ited considerable pro|K'rty, real estate 
which liius since become valuable. I'piui becoming 
a naturali/.cd citizen he iileiitified himself with the 
Kepublicnii pjirty, and was.-i member in good stand- 
ing of the Kpiscopal Church. The mother of our 
subject is still living. The brothers and sistei-s of 
Mr. Farmer were seven in number, of whom all 
except one are living in Wichitji. One sister is 
living in Belle I'laine, .Sumner Co., Kan. 

.lohn Farmer, of our sketch, was born .March (1, 
I ft 19, at the homestead of his parciils in ^^'ellington 
County, Canada, :ind came with the f.-iiiiily to Kan- 
sjis in IM70, when twenty-one years of age. He 
had received a giMnl conitiio!i-s<'hiKil education, and 
during a comparatively brief residence in Pennsyl- 
vania had served an a|)preiilicesliip at the cariieii- 
li'i'i trade. Soon after hi- arrival in tlii- Stjiti- lie 



eotniiienced working at hi- trade, and a.-vsi-ted in 
building the first fniine house put up in Wichita. 
In IS7-1 he wils iiniti'il in marriage with .Miss .le.ssie 
A., daughter of . I. 1'. mid Kli/.nbetli ( West) Chapman, 
of Wichita, which union resulted in the birth of six 
children, namely : Henry, Klla, lieorge, I'enrI F., 
Koss and Alice. 

In |M72 .Mr. I'"ariiier purchased a farm of I 1(» 
acres in Delano Township, ii|Min which he opernted 
sncce.Hsfiilly until 1mS7. Then selling out, he pur- 
chased real cstjile in Wichitji, to which he reinoveil 
and built a comfortable residence at the corner uf 
llewett and Klin avenue. He is now n dealer in 
real est^itc. Politically, he is a Uepubliean. 



I,I.1.\.M .\. KINSICK. wh iterially as-ist.s 

in niaintiiining the repiitatiiui of (Jreeley 
Township us a Urst-cl.-Lss farming and stix-k- 
raising region, is carrying on his chosen i>ccu|>ation 
on .section 21. Here he operates ItJO acres, a |>art 
of which is planted with peaches, grajH's and the 
suiiiller frnit.s, iiicliiding a line a])ple orchard, and 
the whole enclosed with neat wire and hedge fenc- 
ing. 

Onr subject, a native of Kentucky, was lK>rn .Ian. 
It, 1 HI!), and is the son of Henry and Margaret 
(Reeves) Kissiek, natives of Kentucky. The father 
died there about IHIW), and the mother is still liv- 
ing at the old homestead in Fleming County. They 
were people greatly respected in their commiinit}', 
and the parents of eight children, namely: (Jeorge 
W., Francis M., Mary .lane, Malvirn, Henry, Will- 
iam of our skct<.-li, Charles I)., and one who died in 
infancy. M:iry .1. is the wife of Wil.son Fonl. who 
is farming in Kentucky, and .Malvina is dccejwed. 
Mr. Ki.ssick w:i8 reared on his father's farm in 
Fleming County, Ky., whence he emigrated when a 
youth of nineteen years to Bureau County, III., 
which was his home for several ye:irs. He came to 
Kansas in IHS| , ami pureh.-used the land which he 
now occupies, paying then-fore #<;.10 |H-r acre. Be- 
fore this lust venture, however, he had secured for 
himself a wife and lielpniate. Miss Alvira Iioy.se, to 
whom he wius united in marriage Feb. 24, IMXl, 
and llii-y lieciinc tin- p.-ireiits of three children, 



•^-•-^•- 



-•►•-4» 



ffi" 



w\ 



ai> ii i »i ri i * i ^7 .r'" ^'^"?"" ^ " ■ " ^ 




,;V%^V^N.^^gASibr^-.^^'^;S^ 



RESIDENCE OFW. A.KI551CK,SEC.21,GREELEY TP. 



ji;ii*^i*jfa,^ - »«f 



^v>r^-;-.V-> .-ffa^i^.y : L! gi: 










SHERWOOD AtiC ROHR , STOCK-FARM ),5EC.3G, GRANT TP 



fe 




HI-4^ 



SEDdWICK COUNTY, 



a 



983 ' * 



namely: Liiella, born in 1882; Minnie, in 1884, and 
Luther Clcvchiiid, in 1886. Tiic name of this last 
child clearly indicates the politics of our subject, 
who iilentificd himself with the Democratic i)arty 
upon rcachinLT his majority. 

Mrs. Kissick is the daughter of Hiram and Syl- 
via (Hardee) Koysi;, who were also natives of the 
Blue Grass SUilc, where they arc still living. Their 
family included twelve children, ten of whom sur- 
vive, and are residents mostly of Kansas. Mrs. K. 
was born in Tleming County, Ky., P'eb. 20, 1855, 
and, with her husl)an<l, is a member in good stand- 
ing of the Ciiristian Church. 

Among the line lithographic views given in this 
volume, and which form a very attractive feature, 
may be found that of Mr. Kissick's homestead. 



ANIEL .SHERWOOD, a retired fanner, 
now doing business as a capitidist in the 
city of Wichita, purchased property in this 
city in 1883, l)ut did not take up his resi- 
dence here until 1887. He is the owner of two 
good dwellings in the city, and of a large and 
valuable stock ranch of 680 acres in Grant Town- 
ship, where he raises fine Jersey cattle and blooded 
horses. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood come from families 
who were notable in t!ie annals of Connecticut from 
early Colonial times, and they are themselves natives 
of that illustrious New England Stiite. Mr. Sher- 
wood was born in Fairfield County, June 20, 1818, 
and was the son of Gershom and Laura (Darling) 
Sherwood, both natives of Connecticut. The date 
of his father's birth was July 14, 1786, and the date 
of his mother's was April 8, 1788. His father was 
a man of decided force of character, and was in- 
fluential in public affairs. In the 3-ears 1827 and 
1830 he was a raemlierof the State Legislature, and 
was als(j a member of the Oflicial Board. He was 
prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
wiis Class-Leader in tliat denomination. In 1837 
he removed with his family to New York State, and 
there successfully prosecuted his vocation of farm- 
ing until his death in the town of Benton, Sept. 27, 
I 867. He was twice married and three sons were 
horn to him by his first marriage, all of whom are 



deceased. His second wife, to whom he was married 
Dec. 28, 1814, survived him until Feb. 15, 1880, 
having attivined the venerable age <jf ninety-two 
years, ten months and seven days. She was also a 
memlter of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, and 
during her long life was a consistent Christian 
woman. She was the mother of four children, 
namely: Aaron, Daniel, Benjjimin D. and W:ilter 
J.; the latter two are deceased. 

Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving from 
his parents a good training in ways of thrift, use- 
fulness and honesty. His educ:ition was conducted 
in the public schools of his native State, which has 
ever been noted for the su[)erior educational advan- 
tages she gave her children. In 1837 he removed 
to New York with his parents, and there eng.aged 
in agricultural pursuits. On the 28th of February, 
1847, he w!is united in the holy bonds of matri- 
mony to Miss Abba A. Sanford, the Rev. Parsons 
C. Hastings, a noted Presbyterian divine of the 
State of New York, performing the ceremony. 
Mrs. Sherwood was the only child of Frederic A. 
and Maria (Bradley) Sanford, natives of the State 
of Connecticut,' and was born in Weston, Fair- 
field County, Feb. 23, 1826. Tlic Sanford family 
had occupied an important [wsitiou in the SUite 
affairs of Connecticut since its first settlement. 
Oliver C. Sanford, Mrs. Sherwood's uncle, was a 
member of the State Legislature for many 3'ears, 
holding his seat and taking part in the councils of 
that body for a longer lerm than any citizen of the 
United States ever held a like [)osition. In the 
annals of the .Sanford family is a reminiscence of 
slave-holding in Puritan New England. The uncle 
above referred to owned slaves for many years, as 
did .also the grandfather of Mrs. Sherwood, her 
mother having a slave to wail on her, and it is said 
that her father paid ^200 for the negro child. 
Mrs. Sherwood is :i woman of superior refiuement 
and culture, and was a graduate of a High School 
in her n.itive State. 

After marriage our subject and his wife made 
their home in New York State, and there spent 
forty years of their wedded life. During those 
long years Mr. Sherwood was engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits, and by his intelligent and well- 
directed energy and perseverance, gathered to- 



T 






- ' »s« 



SKI m; WICK COUNT V 



({Ollii-r i|iiitc H liir;;«' iiiiioiiiit i>f |>ri>|K'rlv. In I'^i"" 
III' mill hi," wife li-fl the limnc «liirii llii-y liml 
f!iUil>li!<lH'il ill llifir yoiiii^t'i' <inys, nrntiiiil »liii-li 
i-lii>t4Tci| sij iiiiinv iixs<K'iiitiiiii!>, :in(l uIutc llii-ir 
rliililrcii lull! Ix'cii liiirii lu lliciii. miuI in tlu' siniiiy 
viilli'v i>f llif Arknnsjis Kivfr they liuvr rniiii' to 
iiKikc II new lionic. In tlii.s Inispilaliic I'oiiiilry llii-y 
Imvc iiicl with II rrmly wclriinic. niiil hiivi- ailvnily 
inmlc wiiriii frirmls aiiinnj^ the jii'Dplr. wlin early 
ri'ci>;;iii/(Ml llu-ir ^{fiiiiiiie wm-lh. 

Mr. and Mrs. SluTWnod have four ehiliiren, 
inniely: l.aiira M., Iiorii .Inly ;10. IHJ'.t; Levi F., 
(III. •_'!, l^/iM; Frederic A., Any:. ■>:>. Is.Vi; and 
(lentlioin U., April 7, IH.'i.'i. Laura married Kdtvanl 
S. Uiee. and they are now re.sidenls uf Caiiiindaiyna, 
Ontario Co.. .\. Y.; Levi is a resident of tlii.s eily; 
ho married Miss .Sii.sie M. Dmiirlas. Frederic mar- 
ried Mi.-vs Kilie C. Dodd; he is a itiemlier of tin- 
linn of .Sherwood A- Itiimsey, Uoeliester. N. V., 
dealers ill leather mid tindiii;;s.. Levi F. is asso- 
ciat4-d with his father in :iil the l>ii.Niiie!>.s Ir.-in.saclions 
of the lalter'i! ranch, iinil now nian!i<;e,s it. Mr. and 
.Mrs. Sherwood have tliree <rrandcliildi'eii, namely: 
Frederic S. Kiee. horn Dec. ;il. 1 SV 1 ; Liiln A.. 
Aiiir. L"), l«7;i; Carolyn. April 1 .!, \HM. 

< )iir .siiliject is a sUiiii-ii supporter ol llie Kepiili- 
liian parly, lie :ind his wife have a very eoiii- 
niodioiis .'iiid t.'usti'fnlly fiiniished home, plea.s.-iiitly 
located in a pretty part of the city. Kveryoiic who 
visits it is especially .•ittracted l>y .Mi-s. Sherwood's 
lie.-intifnl caliiiict, containing;; a hw^v and valii- 
ftlile colleclion of jjeoloijicjil formations and other 
curiosities, anion;; which is a reminiscence of 
her cliildiiood days, n collection of \,.W() hiilton.s, 
which she hits lieeii ;;alherin;; to;;elher since she wa.H 
ei^rlil years old, and no two of which arc ;ilike. A 
line view of llie stock farm of Mr. Sherwood is 
Bhowii elsewhere in thi.s work. 



^^jHAULF.S A. NAN NKSS. This (r,.„i|e,„n„, 
(11 "'"' '* '""nliered anions the citixen.H of 

V.^' U'ii'hilji who are eiialileil to live in retire- 
ment ii|Hin a coni|«-teiicy, came to Sonlliern Kaiis:i.s 
ill Decomher, I M7(l. and lioiiie.Hteaded a qiiarter-»ec- 
lioii of land in Lincoln 'rownship. rpon this he 
cipcratcd Mirressfiilly, and at Ihe .-!ime time, liy 



industry and eiiterpn-c, and l.\ Ins »trai;;litfi.rward 
nietliiMl of doiiiy Inisiiicss, fully e.stnlilished himself 
in the ciinlldeiice and esU-ein of his fellow. citizens. 

'I'll more fully provi- his ntandin;; nuiont; the |h>o- 
ple of the 'riiirteenth .liiilicinl District, .Mr. Van 
Ni-s-s was, ill NovciiiImt, l(<7t>. Clerk of the District 
Court of .Sell j; wick County, Kan., which olllee he 
held for t4Mi years in siicce.s.sioii. It should, how. 
ever, he said that he wiu> till' lirsl 'rru.sUH- of Lin- 
coln Township, in which odice he served four yean>. 
For the duties thus thrust upon him Mr. Van Ness 
wa.s eminently ipialilied, as he had served .-ls Dep- 
uty County Treasurer two years prior to liecomiii}; 
Clerk of the Court, lie i.s at present a ineinher of 
the .School Hoard of his district. His pro|H-rty 
includes valualde city real estaU.-, and liesides his 
liandsoine dweilinj; lie has live other lious«'s, the 
rciit.s of which yield him a liandsoine income. The 
family residence is an elegant structure with licauti- 
fiil siirroiindings, and in nil its appliances indicates 
cultivated t^ustes and ample means. 

( >iir siilijecl, the son of Nehemiah iiiid .Martha 
(.lackson) \'aii Ness, was horn in .leffcison I'ounty. 
N. v., .May •J.'i, 1h;J><. His father was also a native 
of the Km pire .suite, and horn Nov. K, I7'.t0. He 
was a farmer hy occnpalion, and served in the W.ar 
of |.sr_' while a young man. A Deacon of the 
I'resliylerian Church, and protninent in the town- 
ship ollices, he was widely and favorahly known 
throughout .letTcrson County, where he s|)cnl his 
entire life, and pjissed away in .laniiary, |m7('i. The 
mother, a native of N'erinont, wjls horn Sept. 17, 
1 7'.M, and departed this life nineteen years heforc 
the deccLse of iier hnsliand, on the .'^th of Deceinlier, 
l.S.'(7. She sympathized entirely with her hushand 
in his religious sentiments, licinga devoted memlier 
of the same church. Their children were named 
respectively: .lames I... .Sarah A., Lewi.s \'., Lu- 
cenitli. I'ainclia, Margaret .M.. Henry. William IL, 
and Charles A., our suhject. Hut three of the 
family are living. William H. i.s a resident of I lani- 
ilton County, Iowa, and Lueenith, of Minneapolis. 
.Minn. 

Mr. Van Ne.s-s, of this sket<-h. left his native Slate 
in I H5)i, removing to ^Hllllesotn, sulise(pieiitly to 
Illinois, thence to Ohio, thence to Iowa. While a 
resident of Illinois he wxs nirinicd at .Macaiiih, 



•►-|l-«»^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



9S5 ' 



on till' 1 Itli of Noven)l)er, 1858, to Miss Maria .1. 
Plielps. who was horn in M(;I)onoii<rli County, that 
State, Oct. 12, 1840. Of this union there are tiirec 
cliildren — Minnie M., Frcflericl< W. and Louis C. 
The}' also have an adopted child, Alice, the daugii- 
ter of Ingram Pace. 

The j)arcnts of Mrs. Van Ness, Joseph W. and 
Emily .1. (Burns) Phelps, were natives of the Stite 
of Kentucky, and the mother of Scotch descent. 
'I'his bi'anch of the Purns family are lineal descend- 
ants of Uobert Burns, the poet of Scotland. Jo- 
seph W. Phelps was born in 1810, and rested from 
his labors in 184G, passing away at his home in 
Linneus, Mo. He had learned the trade of tailor 
during his early manhood, and developed into a 
prominent and well-to-do citizen, being at the time 
of his death Sheriff of Linn County. He was also 
an Elder of the Christian Church. He had three 
brothers: (ieorge, who spent his entire life iind died 
in his native county in Keutuckj'; William H., a 
resident of Macomb, 111., a tailor by tra<le, and a 
member of the Christian Church; and James, who 
was the youngest, liut whose whereabouts arc not 
now known. 

The mother of Mrs. Van Ness mai'ried for her sec- 
ond husband Mr. Milton Sweeney, and there were 
born several children. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney iu 
aljout 18.53 removed to Arkansas, where the death of 
Mr. S. took place in 1 884. The mother still survives. 
Joseph W. Phelps was the father of three children: 
Mary E., who w.as born in 1837, was m.arried to 
Mr. Ingram A. Pace, Sept. 20, 1853. Mr. Pace, a 
native of Cumberland County, K}'., was born July 
24, 1829, and served as a soldier in the Union army 
three years. He was woiuided at the battle of 
Chattiinooga. His death took place at Macomb. 111., 
on the 23d of Ajiril, 1881, from blood poisoning, 
the result of injuries received in the army, from 
which he never recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Pace were 
the parents of eleven children, namely: Milly A., 
Luella, Clarence A., Joseph W., Frank, Frederick 
J., Emily J., Sarah, Charles A., Beulah II. and 
Alice. Milly A., Emily and Beulah are deceiused. 
Luella, on the 2Gth of December, 1878. was mar- 
ried to Mr. G. A. Hinkle, at .Macomb, 111., and de- 
parted this life at Mt. Hope, this Stjite, May 20, 
1SS7. .Mrs. Pace removed from Illinois to Kansas 



-t 



aliout four years since, and is now a resident of 
Mt. Hope. She is a most worth}' Christian lad}', 
and at the early age of twelve years became a 
mend)er of the Christian Church, since whicOi time 
slic has adorned her profession by a g«jdly life and 
conversation. 

In politics Mr. Van Ne.ss has since the beginning 
of the war l)een a stanch an<l influential Republican. 
When he came here he had Ixit little means, but by 
good judgment and enterprise he soon laid the 
foundation for his subsequent wealth and compe- 
tency. 

^T^4 ENJAMIN C. SMITH, a worthy representa- 
tive of the farming and stock-raising inter- 
ests of Greeley Township, came within its 
limits in time to assist in organizing the 
township of Nakulla, and his school district. Origi- 
nally this township comprised all the territory 
lying between the two rivers from the south line 
of town 26 to the west line of the county, and 
Indians and buffaloes roamed unrestrained over the 
uncultivated fields. Mr. Smith has engaged in 
many a buffalo hunt over the ground where the city 
of Hutchinson now stands, and .as one of the e;irliest 
pioneers of Southern Kansas is entitled to more 
than a passing notice. 

Muskingum County, Ohio, contained the boy- 
hood home of our subject, where his birth took 
place Nov. 8, 1838, his parents being David G. and 
Mary (Johnson) Smith, natives of Ohio. The 
father was born Jan. 17, 1811, and followed farm- 
ing in his native State until 1844, then reni(jved to 
Huntington County, Ind., of which he was one of 
the early pioneers, settling iu the timber. There 
he cleared a good farm, bringing the land to a high 
state of cultivation, and adding one im]>roveinent 
after another, so that it is now numbered among the 
most valuable homesteads of that section, and which 
he is still living to enjoy. The mother also sur- 
vives, and is nearly five years younger than her 
husband, having been born July 12, 181(1. Both 
are members of the Baptist Missionary Church, and 
by their kindly and useful lives have gathered 
about them a large circle of warm friends. Their 
five children were named respectively: Thomtis J., 



••► 



-•► 



SKlKiWRK < uIM V 



lU'ijj.-iniiii C. Mary K., I.saao A. ami Mmrllia K. 

1 111- !:i.«l iiaiin-)! ilic<l at tin- a^«' of thrw? ye:\n\ 
M.iry it llu- wif«-«f ( .('. Miller, of Kl. Wayne. Iiid.; 
riioiiin.> .?. i^ a f.nriiicr aixl 'lot-k-raiM-r. of hji^jlc 
roHii<lii|i, tlii- ii>inity; tlu- oilu-r. li^aac A.. i» nt 
Ikiiiic nith hi^ (mrt-iit^. Mi|i«TinU-iiiliiig Ihi' farm ami 
l-rat-licin;; iiictliciiie. 

U'liilr n r«->i<U'iil of Wa|>»'llo County, Iowa. Mr. 
^iiiitli. aftiT li.-ivin^ fully «-^|ui|i|N><l hiui^x-lf with a 
llmrou;:)) kiiow|<-<t;^(- of fainiiii;;. wilh iiiiitnl in ni:>r- 
ri:i;;c with Mi-^Mary .M. l.inn. hIiom- |mrcnt», .lanu-s 
anil Mary (Welili) J, inn, »veri- natives re,-|>ectivi'iy 
of Nir-jinia and Ohio. Mr. L. was iM.rn Oct. H, 
IM'S. anil <le|>arteil tlii.i lift- at lii» liomr in Ajrency 
lily. Iowa, .Inly 17, 1«^7. The mother was Imrn 
:ilioiii |H|h, anil is •'till living, making; her lionie 
with her chiiilren in A-jenry t'ity, Iowa. .Mr. Linn 
w:is a hl.Hck^uiith hy tnuie. liul iluring the later yt'ars 
of his life en{P4jtil in farming. H<ith were devout 
membent of tin- .Mi-tho<list K|)isco|>al I'hnrch. They 
were the |Kin>nlt^ of twelvi' ehihlren. six of whom 
are de<va.seil. Thus*- livinjj are Kebei-oa A., .Minerva 
I... -Aiary .M.. I-evi. .lohn F. and Philoin.t. 

Mr. Smith lived on the farm in Indiana with his 
|«renl» until ahout twenty-three years of a;,'e, and 
in Novendier. I>'G1. after the outbreak of the late 
Ki'lielliiin. i-idistcd !is a L'nion soldier in C'om|Kkny 
II. 47lh Indiana Infantry, and (lartieipated in vari- 
ous batlU-s and skirmi-hes. amoni; the most serious 
living the siege of Ft. Thom|ison, and the battle of 
Island No. HI. In M.iy, 1 ^^t;:;. his health having 
been unilerminc<l by hardship and exiMisure, he 
rereiveil his ili.-^-harge on .iceounl of <lisability, and 
returned to the farm. Two years Iat4.'r he went 
with the family to Waijcllo County, lowa, and four 
xears later, in OetoInT, I XO'J, came to this rounty, 
.ind liome«teadii| 1 OO aere? in < I reeley Township, 
and pre-empt4-d 1 1»0 neres in F;i{;Ie Township, and 
ha.* in all Ihii .ures of l:ind. This he lists brought 
to a high state of iiiltivation, pl.-inted an orehard. 
and put up the various buildings required by the 
enterprising and progressive agriculturist. His fam- 
ily now ineliide.t three bright children : Altis Clauilc, 
born Oct. •.»«. 1«74; David Franklin, .May i;i, 1«77; 
:tnd Wadie ( lertrmle. Sept. .W, I HMO. 

Mr. Smith. (Militically. votes the Kepublii-:in ticket, 
;nid h.as been Clerk of the .School Ikiard in his clis- 



trict sint-e \x~i. Ue was Township TrusUf five 
years, and was Uie lirBl Conslable elected in itiis 
district, which then comprise.1 the whole of the ter- 
ritory U-twi-en the (In-jil and Little Arkni.sas Riv- 
ers. .Socially, he Iwloiigs to Su-plieuson Post, H. 
A. K.. at .Sedgwick City. In the winU-r of IMV 
.Mrs. Smith was farther west than any other whit*> 
noinaii of the Arkait.s<is Kiver. In lH7o Mr. Sniitll 
lost a t4'am of horses, which were sl<ileii either by 
Indians, or by white men di.sguised as Indians, and 
fourteen hi-jid of horses l>eloiiging to other fmrties 
were driven out at the s:ime time, and never re«'ov- 
cred. The s;iv.Hges freipieiitly |Kiss<'d by the diKtr 
of his primitive cabin in tile pioneer days, but never 
offered any violeni-e. 



-^ < i |3 - c:|: ' v— 

' A.MKS M-ANA.MKK. Among the pioneers 
of K;igle Township who Imve s<j largely cou- 
tributvd to the development of the resources 
of tluit |Hirtion of .S-ilgwick County, there 
is no more pn>mineiit figure than the gentleman of 
whom this memoir is written. He cauie u> this 
SLite in the spring of Ik7i) from I'eiiii.sylvania. and 
look up I tilt acres of land on section .'{"i under the 
homi-stead act, on which he is at present making 
his home. He has been giving his attention .all 
that time to the cultivation and im]iruveinent uf 
this line prt>i>erty. an<l l«> the bn-eiling and rejiring 
of tine graded sUx-k. He li:is on hand from thirty 
to fifty head of these valuable animals, principally 
of the Short-horn variety, nearly all the time, and 
his lalKirs. agriculturally, are generally direct*?*! 
toward the raising of corn for the pur|>ose of feetU 
iiig tlicin. When he came here the country was a 
vast wjiste. covered with wee<Is and sunllowers 
higher than his head, and the soil was lMiun<l fast 
by a tough and wiry so«l. By diligence and indus- 
try helms reclaimed the laud to the uses uf eiviliza- 
tion. erected a beautiful and commodious resilience 
and substantial barius, and otherwise improve*! the 
pro|ierty until lo-day it is one of the best in the 
township. 

.Mr. .Manamec is a native of I'hiladelphia. IV. 
lK)rn .May I, 184t'., and is the s*>n of Willi.-im and 
Caroline (Brawley) Manainee. His [mrents were 



•^-« -4* 



•►-•-^•- 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



987 ' 



natives of Ireland, and were married in the Emerald 
Isle, and emigrated to the United States about 
1840. They settled in the City of Brotherly Love, 
where tlic fatiuT tiled when the subject of this 
sketch was in earl}' childhood. The mother is 
still living at the .advanced age of sixty-five years, 
with her daughter Mattie, in Philadelphia, and, not- 
withstanding her time i»f life, is hearty and active, 
and punctual in her attendance on the services of 
the Catholic Church and in her religious duties. 
They were the parents of six children, two boys 
and four girls — Marie, Katy, Mattie, Charles, Jen- 
nie and .lames. 

The subject of this narration commenced the 
labors of this life at a very early age, his orphan 
condition necessitating his earning a living in 
childhood. At the age of eight years he com- 
menced working on a farm, located about fourteen 
miles from his native city, and while there at- 
tended the district school when he could find the 
time. By this means he acquired a large amount of 
information, to which he has added by considerable 
reading in his Later yeare. He remained upon the 
farm until the breaking out of the Rebellion, but 
in October, 1861, enlisted in Company K, 97tli 
Pennsj'lvania Infantry. The company to which he 
was attiiched was under command of C'apt. Wayne 
f«)r about one year, and then under Capt. Black for 
about the same length of time, when the latter w.as 
succeeded by Capt. Underwood, who remained 
until the close of the war. With the gallant regi- 
ment of which he w.as a member, and than which no 
braver ever carried the State Hag of the old Key- 
stone .State through the perils of many a stricke?i 
field, our subject saw considerable active duty. He 
was present during the battles and skirmislies of the 
Bermuda Hundred expedition, at the siege of Port 
W.agner, on Morris Island, in South Carolin.a, and 
at the reduction and capture of Fts. Sumter and 
Moultrie by the gnus of the batteries erected by 
Gen. Gilmore, on the swampy islands off Charles- 
ton B.ay, and m the battles of Cold Harbor and 
Petei'sburg, V'a. In many other skirmishes and en- 
gagements he was actively emplo3'ed, and in the .as- 
sault upon the lines, shortly after the explosion at 
what is known as the Crater, at I'etersburg, our 
subject was shot in the arm and was sent to the 



hospital at Central Park, N. Y., where the woinuled 
limb was amputated. It wsus about two months be- 
fore the stump healed up, and for si.x months fol- 
lowing he remained at the hospital, until June, 1 H(;,5, 
when he received an honorable discharge and re- 
turned to his home in Philadelphia. 

After living in the latter jilace about one je.ar, 
Mr. Manamee removed to Hayton.Ohio, but a year 
later removed to Augusta, Me. From the latter 
pl.aee he removed to Kansas, and located in .Sedg- 
wick County, as above mentioned. He was mar- 
ried. Dec. 27, IHH2, to Miss Bell Bunton, a native 
of Kentnck}', and daughter of .loel and lilizabi^th 
(AVheat) Bunton. Her father was engaged in farm- 
ing in the Blue Grass State, but came to Sedgwick 
Count}' in the fall of 1870, and located in Greeley 
Township, but died in the following summer. Her 
mother remained but about a year after her hus- 
band's death, and then reiurned to Kentucky, where 
she is living with a daughter. Mr. M.anamee is a 
Republican in politics, and has filled various oflices 
in the township. He was the Constable of Union 
Township for two terms, and in 188G was elected 
Jnstice of the Peace in and for Eagle Township, 
and still holds that position. 



.A R.S. THURSEY HUNTER, widow of the 
late Basil W. Hunter, came with her hus- 
band to this State in the pioneer days, and 
for a series of years experienced all the pri- 
vations and hardships of frontier life, with the added 
misfortune of the gr.asshopper scourge. Through 
it all. however, she kept up the remarkable womanl}' 
courage with which nature had endowed her, and 
now, a well-to-do woman, living in the enjoyment 
of ease and comfort, feels amply repaid for the 
atllictions of those darker days. In her residence 
at No. 907 Pine street. West Side, she lives to 
recount the history of the early times, and is sur- 
rounded by hosts of friends who have learned to 
respect her for her excellent qualities of character, 
and admire her for her courageous spirit and genu- 
ine business ability. 

The earliest years of Mrs. Hunter's life were 
spent in Ohio and Indiana. Her birth took place 



f 



f 



ll 



-4*- 



98ft 



^ 



^i;i)<;\\ ICK COUNTY. 



ill ('<>>liiHl<.ii ( oiinly. l)l>iu, Nov. 2;J. lt<;{i>. lli-r 
|>iirt>iib> wtTi' .liiini'!) iiiul KKfU (Terry) Kirlu-rtM-k, 
luT fMlluT a niitive of Virgiiiin iiixl her iiintlicr of 
IVmisylvMiiin. 'i'lipy !<|)4-iit llu'ir liutl yc-irs iiml 
l>ii.vM>(l from t'urlli in Kowiiisko t'oiiiily. Slu- rc- 
iiiiiiiicil iiiiili-r llic home roof until ri'.-ii-liing womiiii- 
hood. iiikI Fi'Ii. '2X, \x*'<^>, l)ocniiu' the wife of Iliisil 
W. Hunter. Mr. II. wius liorii in Knt)X t'oiinly, 
Ohio, Nov. 7, IX II, nn<l when twenty yeiirs of 
ii;;e Nliirle)! out for himself, nii<;niting to Iniliunii, 
where he rented .-i traet of land, ujion whieh the 
yoiinj; |»eo|>ie commeneeil life to;,'cther in n <lweil. 
ing lifter the fii.shion of tliiil (leriod. In due time 
they lieeiime the |(:ireiits of three ehildren — Krnest- 
ine, \'oloseo .1. :ind Charles A. The two sons still 
reside with their mother: liie ihiii^zhler is tiie wife 
of .lolin A. Moore; they live mi the corner of I'iiie 
aiicl WiehiU-i stieeL-*. 

.Mr. Mild Mrs. Hunter continued in liidiiiii:! eight 
yeiirs aftvr their marriage, and in I H7.'5 emigrated 
to KaiiMis and took up 100 acres of Innd in (ianU'ii 
I'lain Township, in the extreme western part of this 
county. Fifteen months later tliey sold out, and 
eoming into We.-t ^\■icllit!l purchased three lot*, of 
which they took possession in IHT,"), adding lliereto 
four acres for gardening purposes. In this enter- 
prise Mr. Hunter became successful ;iiid secured the 
nucleus of the property to which his wife h:us since 
added through her own enterprise .'ind good judg- 
ment. She has s|M>eulatcd in real estate consider- 
alily. and is now the owner of twenty-one lots and 
three houses. She has luiill seven houses in West 
Wichita, four of whieh she sold at a good flgnrc. 
I)uriiig her less fortunate years she never ev.aded 
any duty, Imt managed in (^very possilile way to 
keep her property together and ediicat<- herchildren. 
She kept lioarilers and dirl whatever work it 
seemed neees-sary for her to do, and at the sjime 
time molded the character of her offspring so that 
they have hecome iiprigiil citi/cns and respected liy 
all who know them. When her son V'oIohco ,1. was 
s«!venleeii years <>( age nlie prc.senUMi him with sev- 
enty-live acres of laiiil near Cheney, in this county, 
which is now worth ♦•.',000, and he owns two lots in 
the city purchased liy her n<lvice. for which he wius 
offered ♦i.GOO ill golil, liiit refiiseil the offer. 

Hoth .Ml. and Mrs. Iliiiiler united with the Metli- 



(Hlist Church early in life, and .Mr. II., politically. 
wiu» n stiineli Uepiililiean. He was little more than 
n youth at the outbreak of the late war, but enlist4'd 
as a I'liion soldier in Company It. 'ioih Indiaiia 
Infantry, being mustered into service in Aiigiisl. 
l.»<Cil. He received a serious wound at the battle of 
Shiloh which di.naliied him for further iiiilit;iry duly, 
and on account of which he received his liononilile 
di>charge. The e\|><>sure an<l hardship whicli he 
eiidure<l while in the army, together with the wound 
which he had received, ln'oiight on a lung diseasi' 
from which he suffered for a period of thirteen 
years, and wliicji flmilly resulted in his death. He 
IMLKScd away at his home in Wichita, .Inly 2m, ImmI. 
.Mr. .•mil Mrs. Hunter were living on their claim 
in (iardeii I'lain Township during the grasshopper 
period <if 1H7-I. These insi'eLs appeared suddenly 
in countless numbers, .and together with the grow- 
ing crops destroyed every semblance of vegetation 
dost! to the ground. The Hunter's house was the 
last habiUition on the wi'stern line of the county, 
and they being far from anyone who could render 
them assistance, suffered even for the coinnion 
necessaries of life. Mrs. Hunter during th:it terri- 
ble time heard her children cry for bread when she 
had nothing to give them. The herders p.assing to 
and friim the West would sometimes leave beef for 
them until money arrived from Mrs. Hunter's par- 
ents. The contrast between those days and the 
])resent sulllci's to make Mrs Hunter amply con- 
tented with her lot, and enables her to feel for those 
les.s fortunate. 

HAYS, a represenU'itivc business iii:in of 
J)") Wichita, successfully engaged in the harness 

^ and .sjiddlery business at No. P27 W»'st Doug- 

lits avenue, was born in (iermany in is.t.'i,and in that 
country .so famed for it.s educational advantages 
received an excellent public school education. 
When but thirteen years old Mr. Hays came to 
America, an<l lamled at Castle (Jarden, N. Y., with- 
out a dollar in his po<'ket. Nothing daunted he 
set t<i work to earn his living by blacking lioots 
and selling pa|R'rs, and being entirely uii!ic<|uaiiited 
with the Kiiglisli language had a luird struggle. 



►-■-^*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



989 ' ' 



After a three-weeks stay in the city he proceeded 
to Rochester, where he had relatives, who assisted 
him Willi the loan of $10. This money j'oung Hays 
invested in a pack of Yankee notions which he 
peddled tlirongh New York and Peinisylvania. He 
gained slowly, but by perseverance, industry and 
economy, accumulated $200 in eighteen months. 
Tlie great Civil- War then broke out, and young 
Hays then became a clerk for a sutler in the 33d 
New York Regiment; after clerking five months he 
bought out his emplo.yer, and followed the Arm^' 
of the Potomac as a sutler. He amassed a con- 
siderable fortune, and being t,aken prisoner by 
Stonewall Jackson, he unwillingly contributed to 
the Confederacy his entire fortune of $70,000. He 
was a prisoner two months in Richmond, and wiien 
he arrived in Baltimore after his relea.se, was in the 
same condition financially as when he landed in 
New York a penniless lad. Our subject then went 
to Wiishington Heights and became a peddler among 
the soldiers, doing so much trading that he took a 
partner, but he soon defrauded him of his posses- 
sions. Going from there to Indianapolis Mr. Hays 
became a salesman in a clothing houBe, but not 
being ssitisfied with his i3osition soon after went to 
Missouri and took charge of a store in Rolla. There 
he was interrupted by the raid of Price and Mar- 
maduke, and was conscripted into the State Militia, 
in which he served for six months. 

We next hear of our subject in \'irden, 111., 
where he successfully engaged in the dry -goods 
business, and .soon after opened a branch esbiblish- 
ment at Auburn in the same State; finally' consoli- 
dating the two stores, he removed his business to 
Taylorsville, where lie remained several years. In 
1868 our subject came to Kansas and opened a 
store in Humboldt, where he remained ten months. 
In the ensuing year he came to Wichita, and es- 
tablished himself here in the clothing business, 
which he carried on five years, then selling at an 
advantage he embarked in the lii<le and wool busi- 
ness. In 1875 he opened a leather and findings 
store, to which in 1878 he added saddlery, and ha.s 
continued the business since, meeting with great 
financial prosperity. He is the largest dealer in his 
line of business in the city, having a wholesale 
trade exclusively, and occupying his entire store 



and basement, where he carries about $75,000 
worth of stock. In 1K86 Mr. H.a3's did a business 
of $250,000, handling that year all the wool of the 
southwest. He also owns considerable real estate 
in the city, and stands high in the mercantile wcjrld, 
where he has the confidence and respect of all per- 
sons with whom he deals. 

In 1873 Mr. Hays returned to Germ.-iny and 
visited his native town of Grumbach, .'uid was there 
married to Miss Clara Marx, daughter of Aaron 
Marx, of Trier, (Jermany. To them have i)een 
born two children, Gertie and Millie. 

The career of our subject is in many respects re- 
markable; starting as a stranger in a strange land, 
with no knowledge of the language, and without a 
dollar, he has gradually persevered through various 
vicissitudes, which would have discouraged a less 
determined man, until ho has made a final success, 
and is now numbered among the wealthy citizens 
of this community. Politicall3', our sid)ject is a 
Democrat, and socially, is a Royal Arch Mason and 
a Knight of Honor. 



JOHN W. VANNEMAN, a worthy represent- 
ative of the drug business at Garden I'lain, 
W!us born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 29, 185'.l, 
and is the son of George and Maiy (Will- 
iams) Vanneman, also natives of the City of Broth- 
erly Love. The father, a carpenter b^' trade, was 
born July 1, 1835, and the date of the mother's 
birth was Sept. 12, 1840. They were married July 
10, 1.S58. The father passed aw.ay in 1874, and 
the mother Jan. 10, 1875. 

The subject of this sketch acquired his education 
in the common schools of his native citv, which he 
.attended until he had reached the age of fourteen 
years, when he was left an orphan b^' the death of 
both parents. Being then thrown upon his own 
resources, he went into New Jersey, where he 
worked uiion a farm until the spring of 1879. Then, 
seized with an attack of the Western fever, he mi- 
grated hither as far as Cook Countj', 111., whence 
after a short sojourn he went into Peoria Count}', 
where he remained until in December. 1884. Upon 
leaving I'eoria our subject continued on his West- 



H 



-^ 



■ -4- 



990 



SKI k; WICK COUNTY. 



iTii |iil;;riiiiii;;t'. crovtiiii; tlic Mis>i!v»i|>|ii ami litii<liii^ 
ill this i-iiiinlv. AftiT fnriiiing mw yi'Jir in CiinU-n 
I'Iniii 'rownsliip. lie in llic liiltcr |>nrl of lUM.'i 
inovcil In town mill i'ii^tnj;o<l in tin- <lrii},' lui!<iiu's.s 
with Mr. .loliii Kii'flHT, Jr., nixl llu'v Imve .since' 
oiKTiiU'd t4ig«'ttii'r iinikT llit' flriii niiino of Kicfnor 
A: \'iiniii-innn. 

.Mr. Viiiincninn is now nnd liiis bei-n for four 
years lio|iIin<r the olllrc of .Iiistict- of llie I'eaci', iiiul 
fiijoys in II iiiiirkL-tl (loi^ret' the oiiiifiili-iicc and rt'- 
s|M'i-l of his in'i;;lil>ors. In politics he i.s a stanch 
Kcpiililicaii. one of the stalwart hnuid, and is an 
active worker in his party. He wjus inarriod, .Ian. 
1'-'. lxx'2. to .Miss .Maggie, daughter of 'I'lionias and 
Uosetta (Creen) Andrew, natives res|M'otively of 
Knglaiid and Niagani County, N. Y. Their daugli- 
tcT Maggie was horn in French drove, Peoria Co., 
III., Dee. I, It^O:), and died at her home in (warden 
I'lain, Feb. 6, l«is7, before reaching the twenty- 
fourth year of her age. 






M^O.SIU'A IIOFF. one of the leading farmers 
and stock-raiser's of Allien Township, resid- 
ing on section 111, is a native of M.iryland. 
having been horn in Washington County, 
Dec. .1, IH.'JG. His parents, .laeol) and Susanna 
(Spielin.-ui) IlofT, were both natives of the .same 
Stale, and of (ierinan ancestry. 1 1 is father was 
born Sept. I'.t, I «()M, anil his mother July 21, 181;'i. 
The former wjts a miller by trade, but also during 
his life ran a distillery, and later on a farm, and 
tin- subject of our sketch was reared iiimiii the lat- 
ter, where ho received the elcmeiiLs of an agricull- 
iiial education. 

In the common schools of ()iii<> .losliiia was lol 
through the llowery paths of knowledge, his father 
having moved to that .Suite with his family' when 
our subject wilh tuily U-n months old. The house- 
hold wiLs esL'iblished in Ashland County, and there 
the geiilleiiiaii of whom we write remained until he 
had almost attained bis twentieth year, when lie re- 
moved to DeWitt Coiiiity, III. Kemaining in the 
lalliT place, engaged in farm labor by the month, 
unlil \M'i, he then enlisted in Company K, I.'i'Jd 



•► *^-4i^ 



Illinois ^'olllnteel■>. but ^.'iw no active service, and 
was not called ii|Hin to jMirlicipate in any of the 
sanguinary contests which marked the great Civil 
War. lie received, however, a sjM'cial eommeiida- 
tion u|K)ii his neatness and soldiery appearance from 
(ieii. N. A. M. Dudley, who commanded his brigade. 
lie was mustered «>ut of the service, and roceiveil 
his discharge in September, 1 ^Ci. and returned to 
DeWilt County, where he took up his agricultural 
pursuits, linding employment by the iiionth. 

While a resident of that |Mirtion of the I'niiric 
Stale. Mr. IlofT was united in marriage, Feb. 2M, 
IHfiT, wilh Miss Kmily Harnett, a native of \°inton 
County, Dhio, born Dee. 3, 1847, and daughter of 
N'aleiiline and liarbura (Smith) Ilamctl, who were 
natives <>( Ohio, of German dcsi'ent. After his mar- 
riage our subject rented a tract of land, anil enter- 
ing upon its tillage, made his home in DeWitt 
County until 187Ci, when he moved to Kansas, and 
settling in .Sedgwick County, rented lan<l for the 
succeeding five years. At the expiration of that 
time lie traded a span of mules for the ICO acres 
where he at present lives. He has the place well 
improved, and in a good condition of cultivation, 
and although the architect of his own fortune, is in 
comfortable circumsUuices. In politics he is a He- 
publican, and ailheres closely' Ui ])arty lintis, and Iuls 
belli the position of Treasurer of the .School Dis- 
trict for some two years. He and his family enjoy 
the respect of nil who know them, and they are 
greatly beloved by all for their genial hospitality. 

Mr. and Mrs. Iloff have been the parents of 
twelve children, eight of whom are living. The 
record of them is as follows: Alice wits born .Inly 
I;'i, I8C8, and married Lewis Ayers, Oct. II. 188(1, 
and is a resident of Keno County, this State; Sam- 
uel, whose birth (xcurred Oct. 11, IMG'.t, died April 
2.j, 1871 ; I.iicy wa« born March 18, 1871, and mar- 
ried .lesse Heaver, Feb. 29, 1 884, and lives in Cherry 
V;de, this .State; Franklin Oscar was Inirn Dec. .'i. 
1872; .Sarah. .Ian. 26, 1874; .Susanna, whcise birth 
look place Aug. i;J, 1875, died Aug. 12, I87C.; 
Frances' birth occurred Sept. 2, I 878; Ivan was born 
.Sept. .'J, 1880; .lohn B., Aug. I, 188:1. and .May 
Belle, May 8, I8.S.^. ()f two infant daughters who 
died unnamed, the llrst was born and died Aug. 2, 
1877, and the other ScipI. .!, 1887. 





^ 

K 




:il-^^ 



SEDOWICK COUNTY. 



993 



As a relic that will be prized by his children, and 
by their descendants, the text of the general order 
complimenting Mr. Iloff is hereby attached: 

Headqnarters (Second Brigade, ( 
Kirst Snb-div. Mid. Tenn. ) 

Tiii.i.Aiio.MA, Tens., May 14, 1805. 
■I(.)!<hn!i Iloff, Conipanj' K, 152d Illinois Volun- 
teers, is excused from all duties except afternoon 
drills for one week, he being one of the most neat 
and soldierly appearing men on ])ickct guard mount- 
ing to-day. B}' command of 

Brevet Briff. Gen. N. A. M. Dudlkv. 



^ IVILLIAM II. SCOTT, well known by a large 
\jjJ// proi)orlion of the leading citizens of Wich- 
WW ita, took up bis abode within its borders 
on the 14tli of January, 1877. He purchased an 
acre of ground on Fourth avenue, between Lewis 
and Kellogg streets, for which he paid $100, and 
upon half of which he raised the first year §115 
worth of watermelons alone. That fine beginning 
as a gardener formed the nucleus of his present pros- 
perity, and from which he has accumulated a com- 
fortable property, including a good home and other 
real estate in the city. 

Our subject, in 1880, added throe acres to his 
first purchase, and operated upon this, raising vege- 
tables for the city, until 188G, when he sold the 
four acres for the snug round sum of $8,000 cash. 
He ne.xt purchased two lots at the corner of Lewis 
and Fifth streets, and subsequently' forty acres 
three and one-half miles south of Douglas avenue, 
and one-fourth of a mile west of Lawrence. This 
latter he sold, and in June, 188(;, purchased the 
five lots south of his present home. With a thor- 
ough understanding of his business, industrious and 
energetic, he presents a fine illustration of perse- 
verance and industry, and has one of the most at- 
tractive homes within, or adjacent to, the city. 

A native of Henry County, Ind., our subject was 
born Jan. 11, 1844, and is the son of Arthur and 
]yucretia (Greenstrcet) Scott, who were natives of 
^'irginia, and the father a farmer by occupation. 
The parental household included six children, of 



•►Hh-^^ 



whom five are living, namely: Anderson H., George 
W. ; Isabelle, Mrs. Rynearson ; Eliza J., Mrs. Hodges; 
and William H., of our sketch. James H., who 
was an engineer on the Pan Handle Railroad, was 
killed by the explosion of his engine, in February, 
1807. Arthur Scott .-ifter his, marriage, migrated 
to Henry County, Ind., of which he was one of the 
pioneer settlers, became prominent in pul)lic affairs, 
and held the various local offices. He built up a 
good home from the wilderness, but subsequently 
returned to Wythe County, Va., the place of his 
birth. • 

William U. Scott was reared at his father's home- 
stead near the city of Indianapolis, Ind., and in 
the latter place learned the trade of cabinet-maker, 
which lie followed about six years. Upon the out- 
break of the Rebellion, although but a youth of sev- 
enteen, lie was one of the first to resjHjnd to the call 
for troops, enlisting April 18, 1801, for the three- 
months service in Company I, 8th Indiana In- 
fantry. This regiment was under command of 
Geu. McClellan, and at the battle of Rich Mount- 
ain, in West Virginia, on the Gth of July following, 
our subject received a ficsh wound in his right knee. 
This did not disable him long, however, and he re- 
mained with his regiment until the close of their 
term of enlistment, receiving his discharge where 
he had been mustered in, at Indianapolis. 

After a few weeks of rest and recui)eration, 
young Scott again entered the ranks, on the 1st of 
September, 1801, in Company II, the same regi- 
ment, for three j'ears, or during the war. Two 
years of this time his regiment belonged to the 
Western Army. In the spring of 1802, at the bat- 
tle of Pea Ridge, Mr. Scott was wounded in the 
right side with a rninie b.all, and about two hours 
afterward was wounded with two buckshot in the 
bre.ist, which struck the ribs, passed around to his 
back, and are still there. He did not receive sur- 
gical attention until six days afterwjird. He wjis 
hauled in .an ambulance from Pea Ridge to Rolla, 
Mo., about 190 miles, without any food. From 
there he was taken in a freight car to St. Louis, 
where he laj' in the hospital about three months. 
In June he rejtiined his regiment at Sulphur 
Springs, Ark., and then by forced marches, skir- 
mishing with the enemj' almost daily, they made 



L 



i 



'f 094 



SK1k;\VI( K (orNTY 



■i: 



their w!iy nlimi; While Uivir, fioiii .IiickMiii ("diirl- 
I louse U< Ililonn. They «liveige<i fnmi the river 
near Little K<K-k. passing nnniiKl tliul rity, being 
(ililigetl t<i reui-h IIeU>iin on Ihf Mis.Hi.s.Hippi, in or- 
■ h-r to gel to thiir l.xsf of Mippiies. I'hey were 
now with the iirniy of <;fii. t'tirti.s. At lli-h-nH 
Mr. Scott »».•< taken siek, in S4-pt<-nilier, IHr.2, wiis 
»«M>n ufterwiinl .sent to Keokuk, lowu. wlierc he re- 
eeiveil a Mirgeon's certificate of ilisnbility, niid on 
tlie 'Jl'd of |)ecenil>er following wiis given his ln>n- 
onilile clischarge. 

With patriotism niisnlpilned, Mr.Scott, in Feliru- 
iirv. \Kt'>i, re-ent«-reil the ranks, re-enlisting in the 
IC.th Iniliana Light Artillery, anil serveil until the 
e|os«' of the war, lieing linaliy discharged Aug. ."i, 
\si;',. lie never reci>vered from tiie effects of his 
Wounds, and will proliahly experience from tlieni 
more or les.'^ discomfort all his life. 

Oursniijecl upon his recovery followed cahinct- 
uiaking as before in lndiana|H)lis, and also learned 
the dilTi-rent metlxxls tif slule roofing, at wliicrh he 
wiu* engaged in various places for a iHTio<l there- 
after of twenty yeai-s. After leaving Toledo he 
entered the employ of Munson A- Johnson, on a 
sjilary of i('M\ a week and expenses, which |H)sition 
he held over two years. By ecomimy he saved 
money, which enalilecl liiui to sL:irt in business for 
himself. lie s<'lectcd his location in I):iyt<>n, Ohio, 
and started out on a larg<^ scale in .luly. 1H72, 
having in his employ n)nch of the time thereafter 
from fifteen to twenty men. Ilis successful career, 
however, was broken in upon by the panic i»f lH7;i, 
which the following year involved him in great 
los,s. 

On the 24l\\ of December, 1«71, occurred the 
marriage of William II. Scotland aMIss l-jnnia A., 
ilanghter of Andrew .1. .and Catherine (Michael) 
Armstrong, who were natives res|)eclively of Indi- 
ana and Ohio. .Mr. A. was also a cabinet-maker by 
Inide, which, with the exception of the time siK-ut 
in the army, he followed through life. As a sol- 
dier he was a member of Company K. !i:!il Ohio, in 
which he served four years. At the battle of 
Chickamauga he was wounded, captured by the 
rebels, aixl experienced the terrors of Auderson- 
vilh- I'ri.Hon three months, lie died in Dayton, 
Ohio. .Inlv l.'i, IHHI. liis widow, the mother of 



.Mrs. .Scott, coulinues to resiilc at the old houie- 
stead there. 

Mrs. .Scott was born in Daylon, Ohio, Oct. 0, 
!K/i(l, and was the third of twelve children com- 
prising the family of her parents. Of these but 
four are living, namely: Kinma, the wife of our 
sid>jecl; Charles A.; Clara K., .Mrs. Iljirnes, ami 
llatlie L., all of Dayton. To onr subject and his 
wife there have been br>rn two children: .lames A. 
anil William W., the elder si.\t«-en years of age ikud 
the younger fourteen. Mr. .Scott, |Miliiicnlly, is an 
:u-deut Ucpublican, ami .socially, a member in good 
standing of the I. O. O. !•". and the (J. A. H. Mrs. 
.Scott belongs to the Chiistiau Church, also to the 
Wonnin's Helief Coips and to tlic Daughters of 
Ri-becca. 

As Ihe sulijcct of a varied ami interesting career, 
and in illustration of the enterprise and industry to 
be found so largely in Sedgwick County, we are 
much gratified in being ;ible to place the portrait of 
Mr. Scott among those of other prominent men of 
Southern Kau.sjis. 



¥--i KN.IA.Ml.N (MI'FOKD, <,ne of the earliest 
\v,Jc pioneers of S-dgwick County, came to 
yi^J'jll' Kansas in IMCil, and to Wichita when it wjis 
%<^- but a militJiry |misI, forming the sUition of 
a company of I'liilcd Stales regulai-s. He and his 
two brothers put up the fii-st house, which was 
gniced with a shingle roof of colt4)nwo«Ml, and 
h.'uded the material for this purpose fnun Cotton- 
wood Falls, eighty-five miles distant. The Indians 
had only just taken their leave, and many graves 
were to be .seen which held victims of the cholera, 
which had worked fearful haviH- among them the 
year before. Kighl years later the first railriiad 
train was running through the en)bryo city. Its 
phi'uomenal growth is a matter familiar to all those 
who h.avc tjikeu any interest whatever in the de- 
velopment of the great West. 

The subject of this sketch, who is now a sui-cess- 

' ful real-eslale ilealer, commenced his career west of 

the Mississippi, farming on Kansas lamls. lie is the 

I off>pring of an old AmtTican family of Ccrmau and 

I Knglish ancestry, who were first represcntecl in 



•►•-4- 



-*¥^m^^ 



u 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



99: 



America during the Colonial days. One branch of 

it settled in New York State, and there the father 
of our subject. Joseph Giflord, was born, in Caj'uga 
Countj'. There also he was reared to manhood, 
and married Miss Sylvia C. Jenney, of Massachu- 
setts. They became the parents of the following 
children: Giles, John, Charles, Ann, Elizabeth, 
Jeiuiie, Jo.seph, Bessie, licnjaniiii, .ind three who 
died in inf.nncy. 

Joseph Gifford about 1832 removed to Huron 
Count}-, Ohio, where he settled on a farm and 
remained until his death, in 1863, when sixty- 
three years of age. The parents were Quakers in 
religious belief, and greatly- respected for their 
sterling worth of character. Benjamin, of our 
sketcii, was born at the old homestead in Huron 
County, Ohio, in 1847, and there spent his child- 
hood and youth. He received excellent home 
training, and became tlioroughly imbued vvitli the 
principles so strictly adhered to bj' the quiet and 
unobtrusive nieml>ers of the Society of Friends. 
His education w.as completed in the State Normal 
School at Emporia, Kan., after coming to this State. 

Our subject was but seventeen years of age when 
he came to this State in company with his brother 
John, and they took up their residence near Cot- 
townwood Falls, and herded cattle for one year. 
The next year they were employed at freighting 
goods to Leavenworth and Kansas City. Mr. 
(iifford first stood upon the site of the city of 
Wichita on the 3d of July, in the j'ear 18G8, and as 
soon as tiiey could make arrangements stjirted a 
supply store, in company with his brothers John 
and Charles. A year later they all located land at 
the mouth of Chisholni Creek, now within a short 
distance of the city limits. Benjamin, in 1872, 
sold out and removed to Sunmer Coimty, but two 
years later returned to Wichita and purchased a 
farm in Kechi Township. In 1887 he purchased 
three lots wliere he now lives. 

Our subject, Feb. 18, I.s72, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Loretta, daughter of W. B. and 
Lizzie (Duncan) Williams, w'ho was born April 6, 
1855, at Dodgeville, Wis., aiid who was at that 
time a resident of Sedgwick County. This union 
resulted in the birth of four children, namely : 
Eftie, Willie, Lizzie and Nellie, all living. 



Mr. and Mrs. Gifford are members of the Society 
of Friends, which have in Wichita a goodly number 
of adherents, who have erected the John Bright 
University. Our subject made a good record as 
an .agriculturist, and is doing equally well in his 
real-estete Imsiness. He cast his first Presidential 
vote for Gen. Gr.ant, and is a strong supporter of 
the Republican party. His residence is at No. 923 
South Water street. 

The portrait of this oldest of pioneers of tin's 
section will form a valu.able fe.iturc of this Aj.ium, 
we therefore give it on an adjoining p.age. 



"ifJOSEl'H E. NOKUIS. The name of this 
gentleman is familiarly known as one of the 
substantial farmers of Park Township, to 
(^1 / which he came in Febru:u-y, 1871, and home- 
steaded the southejist qu.arter of section 17, w^est of 
the Arkans.as River. He has been eminently suc- 
cessful as a tiller of the soil, and being a man of 
good judgment, usually wise in his investments. 

The early home of Mr. Norris w.as in Round 
Prairie, Sangamon Co.. 111., where his birth took 
place Nov. 16, 1833. His father, Joseph Norris, 
Sr., was born in Maryland on the 18th of M;iy, 
1789, and was one of a large family of children. 
The following history of his life was publislu<l in 
an obituary notice in a psipcr at the time of his 
death : 

Joseph Norris departed this life at Edina, Mo., 
on July 31, 1879, at the advanced age of ninety- 
one years. The deceased was born in the city of 
Biiltimore, Md., May 18, 17S9. When at the early 
age of eighteen years the migratory tide car- 
ried him westward to Bracken County, Ky., where 
he settled near Augusta until the breaking out of 
the War of 1812. Being filled with that patriotism 
which will ever render the Kentuckians of th.it 
w.ar famous in song and American history, al the 
age of twenty-three he enlisted in the line to fight 
tiie British, .and fought it through in Capt. John 
Paine's comi)any, with honor and distinction, in 
several engagements with the best st)ldiers of the 
world. At the close of the war he was honorably 
disch.arged and returned to his iioine. and there, on 
the 27th of January, 1816, was married to Miss 
Lyda Welch, and soon after moved to Bourlion 
County of that State, where he resided until the 



L*^^ 



99r) 



SKIxiWK K (OINIY 



nutiiiiiii of I M27, wlit'ii he rcniiivoil tu Sniiffunioii 
County, III., whero In- residecl until the bn-akinf; 
out of the IJiack Hawk War. in the your ix.'VJ. in 
which he took tin iictive pnrl throughout, piirtiei- 
IKitiu); in wvernl en^iip'nicnt.-i, in one of whieh his 
hopn- was shot fn>ni uniier him in ii rharfje, imkI 
ti "rei1>kiii" in the :u-t of toiniiliawkin;: the rider 
wa-H only preveiiU'd liy u weil-diri-eted saher stroke 
liy one of the decea-soirs eoniradex severiiifj the 
Indian's head from his liody. 'I'liat inliorn spirit 
of emigration peculiar to his nu'e iij^iiiu prompted 
him to move in lM:t7. this time to Stephenson 
County. III., where he remained for twenty years. 
After this period of time in Illinoi.s, (he deceased 
fell in with that tiile of immi;.'Talion Missouri ever 
had, and in lh.'>7 locjiteil in Sheltiy County, Mo., 
wliere he remained until the death of his wife, .May 
2;i. luT.'i, liein;; the seveiily-nintli yeiir of her !i;,'e, 
and over the tifly-niiith year of her married life. 
lie then removed to this eoiinty, where he s|H'nl 
the remainder of his days. The ileceased w:is a 
nolile ty|M' of the old-time "liijf-heart^-d" pioneer, 
who liail felled the forest.s and flriven out the red 
nnin and wild lieiusts, and reclaimed the lands lie- 
tweeu here and the Atlantic seaboard. 'l"he ile- 
ceased reared fourteen children, of whom ei^dil 
survive him, five .sons and three dauf;hters, all of 
whom reside in Kansas .save two, his son (leorfje 
and .Mrs. (Jihlcr, wife of tiur popidar Sheriff. Thus 
ends llie eventful life of one who licli>ii;;ed to the 
last century, and who did his pari to lay deep and 
well the foundations of our |H)lilical and reli)j;ions 
liberty, iind blessed with long years ujion earth, anil 
a large family, he now rests from the strife of life 
ami cpKvse.s that bourne "whence no traveler ever 
returns." 

.loscph K. Norris .served a thorough apprcntice- 
shipat farming in his youth, and <'oniple(ed his educa- 
tion in the district schools of .Sieplienson County. 111. 
lie cro,'<.sei| the Mississippi with his father's family, 
and continued with them during their removals 
until the outbreak of the Hebcllion. A few mouths 
later, on the I'd of November, iKtil, he enlisted in 
Company H, .'td .\Iis>ouri Cavalry, and thereafter 
was in active service until being nuistcrcd out on 
the lOlhof December, IHC.J. That year he a.ssisU'd 
in recruiting the Itli Arkans.is Mounted Infantry. 
His regiment wa-s detailed for duty mostly in their 
own StJite and Arknnsji.s. 

After his discharge from the .■inn}- Mr. Norris 
returned to Knox County, Mo., of which he con- 
tinued a resident until his removal to this count}'. 
His health was greatly impaired by the privations 



and hariUhips which he endured in the service, but 
being forttMutle in securing a fertile trad of land 
he succeeded in building up a gixMl houiest/^ad. 
.'dthiuigh he commenced with very little means. 
He lia.s a substantial set of franie buildings, go<Ml 
live-stock anil farm machinery, and in his Iat4'r 
years is enabled to look around him and view with 
a reasonable degree of satisfaction the result of his 
labors. Ills course a.s a man and citizen has been 
such as to commend him to the |>eople around him. 
by whom he is held in universid esteem. 

Mr. Norris. on the :)Oth of May. 1N(14, wils united 
in marriage with Mrs. Lcvina .lohnson, iife Cason. 
who was born in .St. Louis. Mo., .Jan. 1 7, 1 H4(l. Two 
years later her |>:irenls, Martin and Klizabcth (Hast) 
Cason, removed to Independence County, Ark., 
where they s|M-nl the last years of their lives. The 
father was a nuuson by trade, and departed this life 
in Im7I, at the jige of sixty-seven years. The 
mother pa.ved away soon after the death of her 
husband, .'ind was si.\ty-one years old. 

Our sid>ject and his wife became the |iarenLs of 
eight children, one of whom, a little daughter, 
died ill early childhood. Mattie is the wife of 
William Friend, who is farming in Ailair County. 
Iowa; Atlah is the wife of William Snively, of Wich- 
itJi; the others are named respectively: John T., 
.lo.sepli Martin, Lndia Maude, Lewis H. and Charles 
|{. Mr. Norris, politically, is a stanch Kepublican. 
and while in Missouri was the iticunibent of variou^< 
liK-al 4illiccs. His estimable wife is a member in 
gooil stjindiiig of the Mission.ary liaptist Church, 
with whieh she has been identilicd man}' years. 



JrOHN S. HOl'CK, who is both a carpeiilei 
ll and a farmer, resides upon section 16, .Sa- 
I Icni Township. He whs born in Fairlleld 
_|/ County. Ohio. IJcc. .'., I.s2l, and is a sou of 
.Solomon and .Sarah A. (tiothrup) Iloiick, bi>th of 
whom were natives of Maryland. On his father's 
side the family are descended from (iernian ances- 
try, while his forcfatliei-s on the mother's side are 
siippo-sed to have been Scotch. 

Solomon Ilouck, the father of the subject of this 
.sketch, was a .soldier of the I'nited Suites (Joveril- 
meiil in the war with Oreat Britain in lHI2-ir>, 



<¥-m ■^' 



-•^^■^4« 



•► ■ » 



-? 



SKDCWICK COUNTY. 



uw, 



and his son has in his possessimi :i Imh L-Liii purse 
of curions coiistniftion, whieii was cairied for 
years by the old iiertj. Solomon and his wife were 
the parents of ten cliildren, four of whom arc liv- 
ing, viz. : Jacob, who resides in Woodford County, 
III.; Eleanor, Mrs. William Cliflford, who lives in 
Ford Count}', 111.: Kmily. Mrs. John Day, a resident 
of Champaiirn County, III. ; and John S., the subject 
of this skctcli. Those deceased bore the following 
names: J:imes. Joshua. Sarah A., Klizabeth, Marj- 
Hannah and I.saac. 

The subject of this personal narrative was reared 
to manhood on his father's farm in his native 
Slate, and received such rudimentary education as 
was furnished in tlic district schools of that place 
and period. He had not the advantages enjoyed 
bj- the young men of to-daj^ for acquiring a good 
education. In his nineteenth year he commenced 
to learn the carpenter's trade, which he has fol- 
lowed more or less up to the present time. Af- 
ter his marriage, which took place when he was 
some twenty-three years of age, lye followed his 
trade in his native county in the Bucke3'e State 
for a numlier of ^ears, after which he removed 
to Colundjus, the capital of that St:ite. where for 
twenty-eight years he was engaged in carpenter- 
ing and building. In the spring of 1878, feeling 
the necessity of seeking in a newer country in 
the great West a Geld for his efforts, he and his 
family reuu>ved to Kansas and settled in Wichita. 
On his arrival in that city he had l)Ut twenty-five 
cents in his pocket, so whatever he has accumu- 
lated since has been made while a resident of Sedg- 
wick County. He remained at the county seat for 
Mime time, but in the S()riug of 1883 removed to 
his present liK-ation on section 16 in Salem Town- 
ship, where he owns some eighty acres of good ara- 
ble land, which is well cultivjited, ;md brought to 
the uses of civilized man. 

On the 21st of September, 1844, John S. llouck 
and Miss Mary J. Love plighted their troth at the 
marriage altar. The bride, a daughter of .lames 
and Mary Love, was also a native of P'airfield 
County, Ohio, and was born March 17, 1819. Her 
parents, who were natives of Ireland and Pennsyl- 
vania respectively, were among the fii-st pioneers 
who blazed the w.ay for progress and civilization 



into the wilderne.-- II < -univ. having 

settled in that locality ascuily ;ls 1802. Even as 
late as the time when Mrs. Ilouck was born, her 
parents had no neighbors nearer than live miles dis- 
tance, and they were compelled to endure many 
hardships and [)rivations. Mrs. llouck was one of 
a large familj- of children born to her parents, only 
one of whom survives: Martha, the wife of Robert 
Hlack, a resident of Carroll County, Ind. Mr. and 
Mrs. Love died, the former Ma^' 25, 1814, and the 
latter Oct. 2, 1833. 

To Mr. and Mrs. llouck have been born eleven 
children, four of whom only are living, .is follows: 
Edward, who is farming in McLean County, 111.; 
Thomas, a resident of Coffe^-ville, Kan.; John F., 
at home with his father: and Anne, Mrs. Harr^' 
Traverse, who is living in Lane County, Kan. Al- 
though the family came to this county with com- 
paratively nothing, still, with the assistance of his 
devoted wife, and by the exercise of industry, 
frugalit}' and good management, Mr. llouck h.is 
succeeded in securing a good home and accumulat- 
ing some spare capital. In his declining years he 
is enjoying the remembrance of a life passed in 
usefulness and well-doing. Mrs. Houck, after an 
illness of only five days with pneumonia, departed 
this life at her home, Feb. 28, 1888. Her death 
was mourned l)y a large circle of friends. 

In National and State politics Mr. llouck is a 
supporter of the Republican candidates, but in all 
local matters is generally independent, voting for 
the nominee whom he considers the best man for 
the place, and the best calculated for the interests 
of the township or county. Mrs. Houck was a sin- 
cere and consistent member of the Presb3'terian 
Church, communing with the congregation of that 
denomination at Derbj'. 



^OHN (i. WALKER, an inrtuential member of 
|| the agricultural community of Delano Town- 
l| ship, having his home on section 6, w.-is born 
(^|/ in Hocking County, Ohio, April 22, 1842, 
and is the son of John M. and Anna Katharine 
(Wich) Walker. His father and mother were both 
born in Saxc-Coburg, tJerniany, and came to this 



-4^ 



_♦ 

-«^1i 



nKIm;W1CK COIN! V 






o.uiilry ill I>;17. stUliii;; in Oliio. His fiilhir 
wif Ixtrii in ISI7, ami hail iiiarrinl in lii.s iintivc 
lainl tin- widow <if Fri'iliTii-k K«M>f, wlm ilicil l)ci-. 
•.'I. ls;i7. Shr Uiaini- tin- iiiollicr of otir siilijwt. 
.Mr. Walkir, of wlmin wu wiitv, was n-urcMl upon 
a farm, ami rrceivoil lint a iiniilcil filucatioii in his 
voiilli, on nccoiinl of hi.n having ln-on i'oiium'JKmI to 

aid hi!< fallnr in tin- work al lionif. AfU-r e ing 

of n'4v. he soii;,dil i'in|>lo_vinfnl in the iiei;;hliorh«HMl, 
and w'oi'ki-d li_v the nionili, ami, with a isnd inipruvi- 
denir whiih he still ie;;rets, .spent hi.s earnings as 
Uwl :us he lereiveil them. Mareh '^7, l«7<l, how- 
ever, he wiLs united in marriage with Miss Sophia 
IJeery. a native of the sjiiue county as her liii.s- 
liand. Iiorn .lune 27. IK.'il. and daughter of Al>ra- 
hani .ind Nancy (ltlos.ser) lUery. who were of Cer- 
inan de.M.-eiil, and are lioth now nuinlicrcil with the 
dead. 'I'lie former w;is Imrn .Iiinc 17, IHl.'i. and 
died .lune 27, IX{>2. The latter was born .Iiinc -I, 
|.si.'(, and died April 27, IKO'J. They were iiiein- 
liers of the Mcniioliite Hielhren in C'hri.st's Church. 
The seiilinieiit* of this esteemed couple were ex- 
pressed on their tombstones in the following heau- 
tifiil, lio|H'fiil language. That on the father's read 
thus: 

Farewell, vain world, I am going home, 
.Mv .Savior smiles and bids me eonie. 
I'.riglit angels lieckon me a»v,iy, 
To sing (iod'-s praise in endless day. 

'I'lie verse placed on the mother's hendstunc was 
as follows: 

nearest children, do not wee|>, 
I am not clead, Imt here to sleep. 
Though cold and !<il<-nt is my l>e<l, 
.My rest is sweet, my .sorrows tied. 

Having now a wife upon his liamls, .Mr. NS'alker 
mended his ways, and tin,- suinincr succeeding his 
marriage rented a farm in his native county, upon 
which he niised a crop, but in the winter, following 
the advice of tin- illustrious Horace (ireeley, the 
voniig couple inoveil West, and settled in Anderson 
(oiinly, this Stale, where he rented a farm and cnl- 
livat<'<l it, !iiiil harvested the crop, but in the spring 
of 1.^72 moveil to Sedgwick County, (tii his ar- 
riv.'il here he pre-enipU'd the IGO acres of land 
which constitute the fjirni where he now lives, and 
.'il oiii'i I nterrd upon the l.'i.«k of bnaking iiji the 



tough pniirie s<mI, so covered with wci'ds and sun- 
flowers, and putting it into a shajH- nt for tilling. 
At that time Wichitn cont:iiiie<l but a few little 
shanties or Ihix-Iiousi-s, ami all of the land west of 
Cowskin Creek was a vacant .-ind uiiinliabite<l waste. 
His wife having inherited the sum of 4i|,.'i(lO, they 
had enough capital to start with better jirospeets 
than nn'st of the settlers in ihisfxirt of the country, 
.so he iinmedialely put up n l)ons<-, broke some of 
the ground, and niisod a small crop of g(KHl corn 
the lirst year. He went to the trouble, also, and to 
no little ex|>en.se, in .setting out some fruit trees, the 
nucleus of an orchard, ami has now, liy his |H>rsevcr- 
nnce :ind industry, backed by the economy ami ex- 
cellent maiiiigement of his giMM) wife, as ginxl a 
farm lus there is in the tow-nship. He is the owiu-r 
of a comfortable and sulistiintial residence, a good 
and "t'lil 'inrii ""'l other oiit-buildings, an excellent 
orchard, in which can be found apples, jie.'iches, 
pears, cherries, plums, et<-.. and, in short, is sur- 
rounded liv everything tli.-it is necessary to make 
life agreeable and home |)lea»ant. 

Our subject ami his wife are both members of 
the .lamesbiirg Methodist Kpiscopal Church, in which 
the former holds the position of Class-Leader and 
St<"ward. They arc both of a free-hearted and gen- 
erous disiK-isition. and contribute freely toward the 
support of the (iospel, and gave considenible sums 
to aid in building the edifice where their worship is 
held. In his politics Mr. Walker usually vott-s 
for the Democratic party, but tjikes no active inter- 
est in that field, nor is he a .seeker after olllce. Mr. 
and .Mrs. Walker have a family of four children, as 
follows: August 11., born .lune 22, 1 S7 1 ; Annie 
U., .lune ti, l«7;!; Charles W., Dec. 1 J. 1S7I; ami 
.Malihla C, Nov. 23, l.s77. 

The subject of our sketch is the fifth child in the 
f:imily of his parenLs, who had nine. all of wIioiikmc 
living, as follows: .lohanna, the wife of Carl 11. 
lleerhoiise, and the mother of six ehililren, is living 
in l)el:uio Township, this county; Fred K., who was 
a Viiliiuleer during the entile war of the Uebellion, 
is m.-irrieil and has a family of six children, and 
lives in I'erry County, Ohio; Chris., a resident of 
Pickaway County, t)hio, is also a vct<'ran of the 
late war, and has a family of .several chihlren; 
.loseph is m:uTicil and living in Kiowa County, ' 



■•^•-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



O'M 






Ohio, and is the father of four children; John 8. is 
the subject of this sketch ; Wilhain F. is married and 
livlnj;; in Iluciiing County, Ohio; .Sarah, now Mrs. 
Daniel Engle, lias iier honie in llic same county and 
State; Matilda, who miirricil Pliili|) Rudy, is livinj; 
in Dayton, Kan.; and August II. is also inanied, 
and lives at Danville, 111. 

Mrs. Walker is the seventh child in a family born 
to her parents, of whom the following is a record: 
lienoni, who served during the late war, is married, 
and living in Darke t'ountv, Ohio; Lucinda married 
Jacob Geil, but is now a widow, and lives in War- 
ren County, Iowa, with her six children ; Sarah, Mrs. 
George Boyer, h.as a family of eight children, and 
h;is her home in Darke County, Ohio; Mar}' Ann, 
the wife of Daniel Widner, has a family of six chil- 
dren, and lives in Moultrie County, 111.; the next 
child was Jlrs. Walker, the wife of the subject of 
our sketch; John II., the youngest child, is married 
and has a family of three children, and resides in 
Indiana. 






UTLIF G. BUTLER, the oldest liveryman 
in the city of Wichita, is proprietor of a 
nourishing sale and livery stable, occupying 
No. 1 1() South Fourth street. He established 
himself here in 1872, and has proved a valued ac- 
cession to the community. His excellent business 
cap.acitics and his good judgment are evinced in 
his surroundings, and the fact that he has been en- 
abled to provi<le himself and his family with all the 
comforts of life, and has in prospect a snug sum for 
a rainy day. 

Mr. Butler made his advent into the Territory of 
Kansas iu 1 858, settling first in Leavenworth County. 
He was there engaged in farming about three 3'cars, 
and until the outbreak of the late Rebellion. Sub- 
sequently he was iu the Quarternuister's department 
of the army at Ft. Leavenworth, and held the posi- 
tion of Wagonm.aster until the close of the war. 
During this time he had in charge a train of twenty- 
five wagons, to each of which was attached a six- 
nude team. His migrations in this department of 
the army led him all over the South and West, 



during which period he was often in places of danger 
in common with his comrades, but happily escaped 
serious injury. 

After the close of the war Mr. Butler once more 
engaged in farming, and continued thus occupied 
until coining to Wichita. Here he engaged in city 
transportation, which he followed for six years, and 
then e.«tjiblislied himself in the livery business at the 
corner of Fourth street and Douglas avenue, and at 
this location built up the business which is now one 
of the most extensive of its kind in the city. 

Mr. Butler was born in Steuben County, N. V., 
June 14, 182',),and is theson of Thom.nsaiid Clarissa 
(Sutlif) Butler, natives of the Empire State. Thom.as 
Butler was one of the most thrifty farmers of Steu- 
ben County, from which he removed to Boone 
County, III., in 1839, being one of the pioneers of 
that region. There also he carried on agriculture 
extensively, but finally removed to Wisconsin, where 
his death took place iu the spring of 1848. The 
mother died the same 3"ear, a few months after the 
decease of lier husband. The parents were of Irish 
and English ancestry, and Mrs. Butler was the 
daughter of Gad Sutlif, who was a sea captain many 
years. The parental famil}' included five chil- 
dren. 

The subject of this lu'story received his education 
in the district school, and became familiar with the 
various employments of farm life. Upon reaching 
his majority he engaged in lumbering in Michigan, 
building up a good trade, and operated thereabout 
eight years. He then went into Rockford County, 
III., and engaged in farming until the year of his 
arrival in this State. Upon coming to Sedgwick 
County he took up a quarter-section of Govern- 
ment laud in Kechi Township, where he made some 
improvements, but only occupied it a comparativelj' 
brief time. He has lived to sec the city of Wichita 
develop from a village to one of the most prosper- 
ous towns west of the .Mississippi, and takes satisfac- 
tion in the rellection that he has contributed in no 
small measure to its business interests. He put up 
his present stidjles in 1882, and not long since re- 
fused an offer of *30,000 for the ground, buildings 
and contents. 

The marriage of Sutlif (i. Butler and Miss Sarah 
E. Adkins was celebrated at the home of the bride ' ' 



n 



-4* 



t 



•►•-4- 



■•► 



1000 



sKiK'.wicK cor.M V 



a 



it) Ixnvfiinnrdi t ily. Au^'. .'.', i -"■.!. Of lliis union 
lIuTf won- tliri'o cliililrvn, Uic i-lilesl of win mi, Frnnk 
S., ws.s nmrrioil, Uct. l.'i, ImmT, t«» ^Ii!^^ Com A. 
Ann'<lroii>;, of Wichitsi. Ilu in a proini.tin); young 
ninn, Imvinib; iiihfritfii ttic l)ii!iiiic!i,i i-niKioities of liiK 
fatlii-r, for whom Uv oDIcinU's iis forcniiin in Ihc liv- 
iTV !<l.'»l>lo. Tlu' youiipT cIiililri'M, (Ji-orge S. nnd 
l^iltif K., rt- mnin iitnlor tlic lioiiic roof. 'I'lu' fiiniil}' 
r»'>i«l«'nce is lot-alfil at No. H2y Soulli 'ro|K'ka stri-ct, 
anil lit tlir frcqiiciit resort of tin- rt-nni-d anil oulli- 
vaU-d |H.-o|>l(> of till' city. 

Mr. HiitliT ;rivc!t lli<- most of his atu-ntion to his 
liiisinc.vi affain<, lull when cxcri-ising llii' rights of 
an Aincrioan citi/.i-n at the (tolls iinifunnly supports 
the I)t'nio<TBtic ticket. 



KWIS KASSKTT. Among the pioneer set- 
tiers of Sedgwick County n<» one is more 
Worthy of notice in a«vorkof this kind than 
the gentleman who.sc name stands at the head of 
this sketch. I le cro.ssed tlie .Mississippi when this 
.section of country was mostly a wiiderne.>s, and 
from the uncultivated soil openeil up n good farm, 
and is to-day in the enjoyment of a competence. 
His worthy ambition of Imilding up a creditable 
homestead resulted in the thorough cultivation of 
the »oii, and the erection of substantial buildings, 
the planting of a fine orchard, and the gathering to- 
gether of all those little conveniences and comforts 
u|M>n which the happiness of a household in so great 
a measure de|H-u<ls. As a man and a citizen, he 
has been honest and upright, and enjoys in a marked 
ilegree the e.-<teem and confidence of his iieighltors. 
The homestead of Mr Kas.sett is pleiusantly located 
on section lo, (Irani Township, and of late years 
he has given consideralde attention t<» the raising of 
fine sUM'k, including Short-horn cattle and good 
grades of hor.ses, with I'oland-China hogs. Ilislife 
ha.s ln-en anexlrenii'ly bu.sy one, in which he has not 
allowed his own s<-lfish interests t4i ho|tl entire 
'•way, but has given a reitnonable share of his time 
and att4'ntion to the welfare of the |M>ople around 
him. A Whig when first beginning to vote, hesub> 
•<i<pii-iitly went with tlii; niiijiirity of tin- old parly 



int4> the UepiiblicMii rtiiik-. and 'n\iv liial tinx- liii.-> 
In-en n stanch adhiTent of it.s principle)), lie ha.- 
helil the olllce of .S<-hool |)irector in his district n 
number of yearx. and wjws one of the prime movers 
in the organi/jitioii of most of the .schtHil dislriels 
in the township. The Baptist Church, at il« orgnn- 
i/jilion, found in him one of its most cordial sup- 
|H>rlers, and made of him a Deacon and Trust4>e, 
the duties of which he has discharged with the .same 
fiilelity which hiL- chnniet4-ri7.ed hi.s entire life. 

I,ewi> Fassetl is ji native of Allegany County. N. 
Y.. and was born on the l«lh of .May, l«27. lie 
wns the eleventh in a family of twelve children 
born to John I. and Su.sannah (Dutlon) Fiusselt. 
The father, a native of .M:u^-vacliusett,», was born 
Aug. 14, 17h.'), and the mother was born in New- 
York Stal«', May l.'i, 17K1. They were nuirrii-d in 
^'ermont, an<l the father continued in Allegany 
County, N. Y., until IH-I.'i, when, with Ins family he 
departed from his old haunts, and migrating to Illi- 
nois, .settled in Winnebago County, being among its 
e.-u'liest pi<»uei'rs. Thence he removed to Iowa, set- 
tling on a farm in Howard County, where he re- 
miiincd until his death, in 1 r^O'.l, when he had retched 
the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 

The mother of our subject piLs.sed away when her 
sou Lewis wjus but two years of age. The father 
subsequently married a widow lady, and the mother 
of ten children, and of this union there were born 
four more children, .lohu Fassetl thus eventually 
lieing at the he;id of a family of t»Yeuty-six ehil- 
ilreu. 1 1 is second wife died in Iowa, in IHriC. 

Our subject wjis a youth of eighteen yeai> when 
he removed with his father's family to Illinois, 
where he received his education in the district 
schools of Winnebago County. He became famil- 
iar with the various employments of the farm, and 
about l«r.>, desiring a change of .scene and <K-cupa- 
tion. went to Heloit. Wis., and servetl an appn-ntice- 
ship at the m.'uson's trade, which he followed there- 
after for a iM'riod of twenty-six years. There also 
he met his future wife. .Miss Nancy .1. Mann, to 
whom he was nnirried on the "iftth of May, is.'il. 

The wife of our subject was born in the Province 
of Canada, March 20, IH'2'.K and w:is the ninth in n 
family of twelve children. Her parents, William 
and l.vdia (Ingram) Maun, were natives respect- 



•^•-^ 



-•► ■ -^ 




tiESIDEfJUE; OF R0RT.5.CO0K,(/9/fri-flffl'O/^/?C.5i^//v£.J SeS.14. WICHITA TOWNSHl P. 




-^ , ;>- 






Residence OF Lewis Fassett, Sec. 10. GR^NT Township. 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1003 ' > 



ivelj' of Vernioiitand New Ilanipshirc. Ilcr mater- 
nal grandparents, Joab and IMar^' Ingram, were 
natives of New Ilanipsliii'e, and llie grandfather 
served as a soldier in the Kevolutionary War. John 
I. Fassctt, the father of onr subject, entered tiie 
army during the War of 1812, and came out with 
an lionorabk' scar. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fassett set- 
tled in a modest home iit Beloit, Wis., where Mr. 
F. followed his trade for a time, and thence re- 
moved to Darlington, that State, where he resided 
for a period of twenty years, still following his 
trade. In 1871, the naturally rich resources of 
Southern Kansas attracted hiui, with numbers of 
others, to this section of country, and crossing the 
Father of Waters, he homestcaded 1(J0 acres of prai- 
rie land on section 10, Grant Township, of which 
he still retains possession. Upon this, as m.ay be 
supposed, there had been no im|)rovements what- 
ever, and the beautiful homestead which the traveler 
now observes with an admiring eye was built up 
by our subject. A view of this .accompanies this 
sketch. 

Mr. Fassett, after the outbreak of the late Re- 
bellion and before leaving Illinois, enlisted as a 
Union soldier in Company G,o3d Illinois Infantrj-, 
and was mustered into service at Pacatonica. lie 
was assigned to guard duty chiefly at Talhdionia, 
and later officiated as nurse in the regimental hos- 
pital near Memphis, Tenn. In the meantime he 
contracted a disease from which he has never fully 
recovered. At the close of the war he was mustered 
out at Memphis, and not long afterward resumed 
his trade in Winnebago County, 111. 

The six children born to Mr. an<l Mrs. Fassett 
were named respectively: Jidia A., Mary J., Clara 
L., Lutella A., Albert L. and Lura K. Julia is the 
wife of Rev. William Sandefer, who is farming in 
Grant Township near his father-in-law; she was 
first married to George llorton, and h.ad one child 
by that marriage, named George A. Clara L. mar- 
ried Harry II. Henderson, M. 1)., a resident of 
Morton County, this State : M.ar^' L. was married, 
Feb. 23, 1888, to Isaiah Williams, and they live in 
Hardman Count}', Kan.; Lutella A. died in Sep- 
tember, 1883, aged nineteen years and four months; 
the younger children live at home, and are pursu- 



ing their studies in the district school. Mrs. Fas- 
sett, like her husband, is a member in good stand- 
ing of the Baptist Church. They have lived and 
labored together In the building up of a home in a 
new country, and are How enjoying, as they deserve, 
tlic fruits of their labors. 



ir^ 015KUT S. COOK, one <>f the leading stock- 
[L^jf^ growers of Sedgwick County, and one of her 
most enterprising citizens, makes a specialty 
frgjof raising Poland-China swine, in which 
linsiness he has been very successful. He started 
this industry from the herds of C. VV. Jones, the 
standard swine-breeder of Kalamazoo, Mich., and 
other leading breeders, such as J. L. Lawrence, 
Shellabarger and others. Mr. Cook's swine are 
registered in the Ohio Poland-China Record. This 
department of farming alone yields him a hand- 
some income. His farm, which comprises ninety acres 
of land, is finely located on section 14 of Wichita 
Township, and he selected this location after having 
traveled over a large portion of the Western coun- 
try, including the Rocky Mountains and to .San 
Francisco, which he has twice visited. He has 
abundant faith in the future of Kausa.s, and is con- 
tributing his share toward its prosperity. We pre- 
sent a number of views of farm residences in this 
volume, showing also specimens of the fine stock 
raised in the count}'. Among them ma}- be found 
a view of Mr. Cook's residence and the pictures of 
some of his fine animals. 

Our subject, a native of Claike County, Ohio, was 
born Nov. 7, 1849, and is the son of Andrew J. 
and Ann E. (Stevens) Cook, natives of Massachu- 
setts and the Buckeye Slate. F'rom there the father, 
in 1861, removed to St. Louis County, Mo., where he 
continued until 18(!4, and thence changed his loca- 
tion to Morgan County, III. He left Illinois for 
Kansas in 1869, stopping at Topek.-i one winter, and 
in May, 1870, took up his residence in this county, 
where he now lives. Robert S. became familiar 
with farm pui-suits in his boyhood and acquired his 
education in the common schools. He accompanied 
his father in his several removals until reaching his 
majority, then started out in life for himself. 



i 



•^-•-^^ 



l' ' I004 



SKI)(;WICK COUNTY. 



YiMiii;; ('iH)k tiiiuic hitt flrat lMi8iii<->i.H vi'iitiiri- l)y 
III)- |)ri'-ftn|itiiiii iif n (|iiHrU-r-M-i'(iiin of tlio ()su;r»' 
Trii.-d I.HI11U, of which lie rrliiiiuMl |iiii>itc.s.Hi(iii .some 
Vi'iirs mill llieii solil jtevenly .•n-n-!t. Fur tin- ninety 
reiimiiiiii^ III- could ciiKily olttjiiii ^1,000 |H.-r (u-re. 
lie iiiikIu lii.s hoiiii- nilh hi.n |inreiil.t in llii.s c-olinly 
uiilil hiit nr>l ni)irriiix<-, nhiihtook itlacc in (Htolii-r, 
IH".'i, his liridu lii-in-; Mis-i C'liriie ('o|M-lanil. Of 
Ihi.s union Ihni' were liorn thief rhildren: ChiirieM 
K., Kliinchf ('. iinil Klincr, who urc now iil home. 

Ihe pre.ieiit wife of our sulijeil, lo whom he w;i.s 
miiiried on Nov. 17. \xs:,. wii.s formerly Mr.-*. 
Funny K. (('o|iel!ind ) \Vin;:er, who wiut liorn in Mc- 
Lean t'ounty. III.. May 20. IM.Vi. ,Mr>. Cook is the 
dau;{hl«r of Milton N. and Zerihia (i-onjj) Cope- 
land, who wen- natives of Ohio, and are now resi- 
dents of Keno Ciiunty, Kan. Of this l.itter union 
there were no children. 

Mr?*. Cook is a mcndier in ;;ood .stjindini; <jf (he 
I'reshylerian Church, and our sulijeri, |>olitic.'illv, 
is one of the warmest adherents of the Uepniilican 
party, lie is at present Townshii) Clerk, :ind also 
School Direcltir. in which position he Iiils served fur 
several years, lie hxs lieen Ko.id Supervisor and 
occupied various other res|)onsil»le positions con- 
nected with puMic affairs, lie contemplates laying 
olT a|Mirli<in of his land intci town lots, and intends 
liuihliuf; a strecl-car line t<) his farm from the city, 
which will involve the laying of aliout three miles of 
tmck. His energy and industry are proverbial, 
and he is nnndiered among the men who have been 
lnstrumeuL.1l in the progress .and prosperity of 
Sedgwick County and city of Wichita. 

K.Ki iMd.ril MMrilKWS.No. iL'WNorth 
■.J .Main street, Wichilii. is a prouiincnt mem- 
ber of the dentjil profession. He wiis born 
in Henderson County, III., in I Ml."., and is 
of Knglish ilcsccnt. His |>atenial grandfather came 

from I lou, Ijigland, settled in Providence, U. I., 

and there married Mixs Lucretia Hartlett. who was 
of an olil New Knglaud family and .a lineal descend- 
ant of one of the pilgrims who came over in the 
••Mayllower." Her father was a soMier in the Kevo- 
liiti iry War. She inherited to a markeil degree 1 



the Ktcni stull ol h> I ..;,.. .;... .. .,i,d \\n-~ a u..niau 

of great energy and force of clmracter; her life wits 
prolonged to the unusual length of niiiety-one 
yeai-». 

Cr well H. Matthews, the father of our subject. 

was born on Naiituekel Island. He early learned 
the business of watchmaker in Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
ill IS 10 left that city, prtMcedeil to the Stjkl4- <jf 
Illinois, and there l<K-at4^-d 011 a farm. He wn.s united 
ill marriage to Miss Ainaixla. daughter of Israel 
StockUm, of Kipley Comity. Iiid. Of their mar- 
riage seven children were iHirii, namely : Aurelia, 
Kudolph. (U'orge. Cora, .less*-, llonice and Oraiil. 
In 1m7'_' Mr. Matthews came to KaiisiLt, and iiiai'e 
his home in Wichita, and is thus numbered among 
the pioneers of this city, and here he established 
the linn of Ceorge G. Matthews A Co., dealers in 
drugs and jewelry. Tin- remaining years of his life 
were passetl in this phice, and in his death at the 
!igo of sixty-three an honored and ns«'fiil citizen 
nn-s lost to this city. He w.xs a man of uii<loubt4'd 
int<-grily and correct moral habits. In [Militics he 
was a Kepublican, taking a lively interest in all 
public alTairs, .-ilthough modcnttc in all his views. 

Dr. Uiidolph Matthews, of this sketch, received an 
education in the pulilic schools of his native StJile, 
and at the age of twenty commenced to learn 
the profession of dental surgery at Kirkwood, 111., 
and afterward attended the Mis.soiiri Deiilnl Col- 
lege at St. Louis, from which he w;us graduated in 
1870, having Uikeii an excellent and most thorough 
course of instruction in his chosen profession. After 
graduation he esUiiilisheil himself in KirkwcMid, 
III., and also had .-i branch olllcc at ronliac, con- 
tiniiiiig actively engagcil .-us a dentist in his native 
SU'itc for several years, and building up in the mean- 
time an extensive practice. During the late Civil 
War Dr. M;itlliews won an honomble record for 
elllcient service. lb- enlisted as a private in Com- 
pany (!, HIth Illinois Infantry, and wivs soon after 
deUiiled as Commissary Clerk. Aft«'r holding that 
olllce a year he wati appointed Clerk at the regi- 
iiicnUd headipiarters: his service in the Ciiioii 
army covere<l a term of nearly three years, and at 
the expiration of lh;it liiiic he wus honorably dis- 
charged. 

In I.SHI our subject visited Wichita, and being 

m^ 



41-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1005 ' 



very favorably iniiircssed with the beautiful loca- 
tion of this metropolis and with its fine eliniate. he 
deteruiined to make his home here, and, in accord- 
ance witii tiiat resolve, in the following 3'ear opened 
an oflice in this city. He has been vcr}' successful 
from the st^irt, and, having a wide and valuable 
acquaintiuice, has built up a first-cliiss business, and 
is now one of the most popular dental surgeons in 
the citj', as he ha-s adopted the most modern methods 
now pursued by the gentlemen of his profession, 
and has the custom of the best people in Wichitji. 
The skill and thoroughness of his work are espe- 
cially commended, and some of his patrons claim 
that in some of the newest inventions of crown 
teeth, etc., he far outrivals the inventors themselves 
in the superiority of his workmanship. His practice 
is so extensive as to keep himself and an able assist- 
ant Constantly at work. He stands deservedly' high 
in his profession, and has the reputation of being 
a strictly honorable and manly man. Tlie |)leasant 
household of our subject consists of his amiable 
wife, formerly Miss Ida Simpson, of Rock Island, 
111., and of their three children— Charles, Maude 
and Cora. 

Dr. Matthews is a Mason, and a member of the 
G. A. R. ; in politics he is a Republican. 



EDWIN 1). MUNN, one of the solid men of 
Wichita, came to the city in 1879, but not 
being quite ready to locale, returned to his 
home in Ohio, and made his next venture to Kansas 
four years later. He then took up his location in 
Clearwater, and occupied himself in the hardware 
business, and now represents a large amount of 
real estate in this part of the county. lie has been 
largely occupied of late 3'ears in the transfer of real 
estate, and has built in WichiUi seven fmc houses, 
besides one at Clearwater, in Kinnescah Township. 
He was also at one time the owner of ICO acres of 
land in Minneha Town.ship. In 1885 he removed to 
the city of Wichita, and to some extent has been 
dealing in real estate for himself. 

The early home of our subject was in Augusta 
Township, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he was born 
on llie Ith of February, 1828. His parents, Sher- 



man and Ilarrit'l (Smith) Munn, were natives 
respectively of Hartford, Conn., and Oneida Count}', 
N. V. The paternal gran<lparent,s of our subject, 
Asa and Eunice (Cassidy) Munn, were of New 
Kngland l)irth and parenUigc, and extensively 
engaged in farming pursuits. Grandfather Munn 
served as a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Sherman Munn early in life left the farm ami 
learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which he car- 
ried on in Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., and died 
there in 1851. The mother sul)sequently toiik up 
her home in East Cleveland, Ohio, where her death 
took place in 1884. The parental household in- 
cluded two children, of whom our subject is the 
onl}' one living. 

Ell win 1). Munn continued on the farm with his 
parents until a youth of sixteen years, then com- 
menced an aiiprenticeship at the tinsmith trade, at 
which he served four years, and was thereafter 
employed in Medina County, Ohio, and vicinity, as 
a journeyman three years. After his marriage he 
engaged in the stove and tinware trade at Medina 
three years, then leaving the town, purchased a 
farm of 123 acres, and carried on agriculture after- 
ward for a period of eighteen years. He now con- 
cluded to return to the village, and invested a part 
of his capital in hardware and stoves, and con- 
tinued in trade at Medina, this time for seven years. 
Then, determined to seek the West, he came to this 
county and located in Clearwater, .as indicated 
above. 

!Mr. Munn was married in his native county, Oct. 
10, 1850, to Miss Sarah J., the daughter of John 
.and Deborah (Hanchett) Mead, natives of Cayuga 
County, N. Y. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. 
Munn, William Mead, married JNIiss Eunice Brown, 
and the family generall}- engaged in farming pur- 
suits. On the mother's side the grandparents were 
David and Diantha (Rood) Ilanciielt, who were na- 
tives of Massachusetts. 

John Mead with his family' left New England in 
1833, and settled near LaFayette in Medina 
County, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives. Of the five children born to them only 
two are living, Mrs. Munn and her brother Albert. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Munn there were born five chil- 
dren: Albert E. married Miss Emma, daughter of 



■•► 



i 



•►•-4i 



lOOti 



>i.im;wick coin I ^ 



A. .). I'iKik, iif Wii'liiut, Hiiil tlit'V liiMaiiii- ihi' 
|mn'iitit of l«o i-liihlrcii. (lortnuK' .•iml Kilwiii. llie 
I:i(Ut of nhniii ilicil at the ii).'i' of tlftcfii iiioiilli!t: 
t;i'»>ri;i> I,. .Miniii iimrrifil Mis^ N'iolii, iltiii){lilfr of 
O. S. ( hiiri'liill. of (h.-inloii. (iliio; th.- only cliiM 
of their Iioiim*Iio1iI i^ an nilo|it<-il >oii, Uii-lianl II. 
Hiirru't I). i> tin- wife of \\ . S. Iteriinril. of Kiisl 
('li'Vclitnil, ()liio, and Ihr inotlii-r of two chililren — 
K"l«vin M. ami .1. W. Frank I), and hoilic I-'., con- 
linuf rt'sidiMits of Wicliitn willi tlu-ir panMib-. 

Our .sulijcfl is an i-ariii'st ItciMililican iHilitically, 
and while a rfsidi-nl of Ohio wa.« Aldmnan of 
Ihf c-ity of .Medina. Tlii- family are all ronnectvd 
with the I're.shyterian Clniic-h at Wicliitn, in which 
.Mr. .Mnnn olllcialo.s ju- Kliler. 'I'lu'y are now re- 
>idin;: at their liandsomie home on Kairnioiinl 
Ili^jhU', corner of Kifleentli street and Fairmonnt 
avenue. 

<)IU-.IM .\l. IJAitM>. .M. I)., tile only piac- 

' lii-ini; physicLaii of the vili.'i^'c of (ircen- 

ll \\\ wich, has been operatinji .successfully amonir 



liainl a |nriod of iHenty-live yejin<. |i:us.s<'d away at 
her home in .S|>rin);ville, lowa, on the t'.tli of A(i;;U!<t, 
|M7i. 'riiecc Worthy an<l excellent (M'ople were the 
parents of M-ven <-liildren, the record of whom is a.s 
follows: .Sarah ('.. I.innie A.. Xoliert .M. hikI Martha 
A., the two latter twins: William Alexamler died 
when three years of a;,'e; Mary .lane and Meli.swn 
Antoinette, i.innie A., who was the wife of .l.i<-uli 
Arney. died alioiit isxl.in Condon, lowa; S;irah 
('. married Andrew 'raniiehill, and reside.s in (lien- 
wood. Mo.; Martha wa.s twice married, her first 
liiishand liavin;; heen Daniel Itoyles, now decea.scd, 
and the .second, .leroine \Noods, with whom she is 
livin<; in lown; Mary •lane is the wife of .1. Dun- 
can, and they are residents of I'liionville, Mo.; 
Melissa, Mrs. Fremont A. llurrcss, is al.so livinf; in 
I iiionville. 

'I'lie sniijei-t of onr sketch upon reacliiii!.' man- 
hood was married, in Hancock County, III., to Miss 
.Susan llolhert, in .lune, I NtW;, and they are now 
the parents of >eveii chihlren. Their eldest, Samh 
.l.ine, when three years of aye was hiirncil to 
death, her clothinjir haviiij,' eauyhl lire from an 
open fireplace. Hyron and Ida. twins, died when 
^Ihe people on the eastern line of .Sedgwick al.oiil eiylit months <.ld; Kol.erl Uos-s at the age of 
County since the summer of IHh)!. 'J'he history ' si.\ years was stricken with spotted fever, and ilieil 
of the family in its main points is as follows: j while hisfather wa.s ahsenl fiMiii home. 

The parent.s of onr.sul>ject, .Marm.idnkeand .lane Mi-s. Harnes is the daughter of Klihu and Klizu 

S. (Mc.Maines) Ilarne.s, were natives respectively of Ilolliert, natives of North Carolina, and now de- 
Virginia and Kentucky, the former born in .South- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. B. after their marriage lo- 
nmpl<ui County in I.'^IO. He was reared to farming cated in Schuyler County, III., whence they came 
piir»iiit.s. ami early in life left his native .state and to this county in Decemlier, 1M«5. The inK-tor 



began lilliii;; the soil among the pioneers of I'arke 
Coniily, Ind., where he first settled in \K.W. Ik- 
was a man of more than ordinary ability, and wa.s 
considered sulliciently <-oin|M-tcnl and honest to 
represent his dislrii-t in the State Legislature. He 



when !i boy removed with his parent* to Iowa, and 
continued :i resident of Davis County until the 
outbreak of the Kebellion. .Soon after the first 
cjill for lr(iops he enlisted in Company <!, ilst Mis- 
.<ouri Infantry. He remained with the coni|Hiiiy 



T 



was duly elected in 1 H.| |, on the Deinocr.-itic ticket, about two years, when he wa.s honorably discharged, 

serving out his K^rm with credit to himself, and He then a.s,sisled in organizing a company for the 

satisfaction lo his constituenl.s. Death look him protection of the southern border of Iowa, an<l 

from the further honors which might have been was elected to the First l.ieulenantcy of Com- 

his. he dying while in the prime of life a few years pany A, of what was known as the "Davis County 

later, in 1MI7. Kotli he and his excellent wife Rangers," ami tjiking command of his company, 

were devoU-d members of the Methodist Kpiscopal lieUI his coinmision until being honorably dis- 

''•»""■••• charged at the do.se of the war. 

Till' ni..llier of our subject w.ls born in Wood- Dr. Harnes attended Keokuk Medical Colle;,'o 

foril Coiinly. Ky., in I h| | , and -in viving her liiis- after returning from the army, and received his 



« ■ 



^»-4« 



■•►-41- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1007 



diploma from that institution in 1867. He at once 
commenced practice, and in J 873 took up liis resi- 
dence in Schuyler Count3', 111., where he built up 
an extensive patronage, and Itecame very popular 
and .successful. A part of the years 188.') and 188G 
Wits spent in traveling througii New Mexico, Ari- 
zona, Colorado and California. About that time 
he became interested in tlie mines of Chaffee County, 
Col., in which he still retains an interest. He and 
his estimable lady are the center of a circle of 
warm friends, and tlieir neat and tasteful home is 
the resf>rt of the cultivated people of Creenwicii 
and vicinity. 



El 



DMONl) E. HOADES, an intelligent and en- 
terprising farmer of Ohio Townshij), residing 
on section 14, is a native of Bedford County, 
Va., his natal da}' being Aug. 12, 1824. lie is a 
son of Henry and Mary J. Roades, both of whom 
were born in the Old Dominion. His father was 
reared to manhood oti the banks of the J.'inies River, 
near Richmond, and was of Gei'man ancestry. Henr^' 
Ro.ades was a son of one of the old Revolutionary 
heroes who fought with Washington for the liber- 
ties of our country, and was himself a soldier in the 
American army during the war with England in 
1812. Upon his mother's side the subject of this 
sketch is descended from ancestors of the thrifty 
and long-headed .Scotch race. 

When about ten years of age the subject of this 
biography removed with his parents to Christian 
County, Ky., where he was reared to manhood. In 
the daj's of his youth he received but a rudimentary 
edncation, for at that time the facilities for acquir- 
ing knowledge were much more limited than those 
enjoyed by the present generation. Having attained 
his majority, in 1846 he removed to Jersey County, 
III., where, in December, 1848, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Nancj' Hughes, a native of Mor- 
gan County, III. Previous, however, to his locat- 
ing in the Prairie State, in 1845, he spentsome nine 
months in traveling through the States of Missis- 
sippi, Tennessee and Arkansas, and returned to his 
old Kentucky home, from which he shortly after- 
ward set out for the Prairie State. Making his 



home in the latter commonwealth until 1873, be 
finally concluded that in the newer country of the 
great West he would find a locality better suited 
to his needs, and accordingly, in theautunui of that 
year came to Sedgwick Count}-, Kan., in search of 
a home, and pre-empted the southwest quarter of 
section 14, Ohio Township. In the fall of 1874 he 
returned to Illinois, where he lived until the latter 
l)art of 1882, and then returned to this .State and 
made a permanent selllcMicrit on his farm, where he 
now lives. 

When oin- subject came to this place the first 
time, he commenced making improvements, and had 
put up a house in which to install his family, and 
for a year endured all the privations incident to a 
life ujion the frontier, but as the shades of autumn 
gathered over the land, his house with all its con- 
tents, including the clothing of his family, was 
burned to the ground, and this, together with the 
failure of the crops in that year, brought him to a 
point of destitution which caused his return to Illi- 
nois. He has, however, by diligence, industry and 
economy, fully recujjerated from this severe stroke 
of fortune, and is now classed among the prosper- 
ous and well-to-do farujers of this locality'. 

During the dark days which overshadowed our 
country during tlie late Civil War, Jlr. Roades' pat- 
riotism having been aroused, lie enlisted in March, 
1863, in Compau}' K, 18tli Illinois Infantry, and 
served principal!}- on provost duties in different 
portions of Arkansas, until he w-.as discharged from 
the service in January, 186.'), and is now in the re- 
ceipt of a pension from the Government of ^10 
per month, for injuries I'eceived during a hard march 
wliile in the service. He is a member of the Odd 
Fellows' faternity, who, with the brotherly kindness 
which so distinguishes that society, assisted him at 
the time of his trouble in 1874 to regain his lost 
financial stan<ling. and has sorve<l in all the appoint- 
ive odices of Lodge No. 14.!, at Franklin, Morgan 
Co., III. 

Mr. Roades was the father of nine children, five 
of whom are living, viz.: Joseph H., residing at 
Arkansiis City; Lewis, of Sangamon County, 111.; 
Belle, the wife of Lewis Gatchell, of Ohio Town- 
ship; John P. and Ella J.; those deceased bore the 
names of Mary, Jane and Edward, and one child 



►-■-4^ 






♦ 



f 

' ' 1008 



t 

-•-•- 



SKI>r.\\ |( K COUNTY. 



iIIcmI ill iiifaiK'V iiiiniiiiii'il. Nov. °J, IhM/i, mir .siib- 
J«'<-1 wn.s cnllcd ii|hiii In tiiiiiirii tin- lost* of lli?« wife, 
whii |in.s.Hc<l l<i "tlmt laiiil ol^iaii. wIhim* |H>rtiiU wi> 
i-nll ilonlli." Tin- liiTimvi-il riiii)ilv liml the syin|i:itliy 
i>f II \nr)iv cirt'lo of frioiul^*, iiml of :iliiio!<t llic fii- 
tiro (■oniiiiiiiiity, iis Mn. Koiulfs wjus n mo^t f.stiiiiu- 
IiIp woiimii nnil greatly Ix-lovcd liy all whU whom 
>>lii> (.-aiiio in coiiUint. 

The !(iil>J«'<a of tlii-. iiioinoir i.s a sinciTf aiul coii- 
sciciitioti!* ini>iiil>or of the Itaplisl Cliiirrli at Dorliy. 
Kan., in whicli In- ha.s been .scrvinf; forsevciiil yi'ars 
!Ls an orilainoil l>t>nc-on. lie is always very ariive 
in all ri-li;;ion'< and clinrch niatt4>i>, anil spm'o.s no 
luiinn III cli-vato and lii'nulit lii.s fcllowrni-n. Il(> is 
till- owniT of li'.o a<T<'> of lii^xlily fiTliJi- and wcli- 
rnltivaU'd land, and is ttno of llio rc'iircsi-nlalivo 
i-iti/.rns of liis townsliiji. In |>oiilii's lu-alliliaU>> with 
the Dennx-rnllf p.arty. and is a slani-h adhi-ri-nl to 
the diM'trini-s forninlat*-!! hy that parly. Ili- w.-ls 
one of tin- orjianizcTs of ( )hioTownslii|), and hcl|K-d 
fircnialc llii- |K.>tition for tin" .sollini; "f it ofT. and 
It^^isl4■d in till' orintni/atioii of .School Di.strict No. 
.'it, coniinoidy known iLs Ohio Ccntor. Ih- is the 
|irc-.st'nl Trrasnrt'r of the lalt^T district, and has 
Served .T- Koad ( >vci-sccr, and Con^l.-ililc of the 
l<iwnshi|>. 

•— «-t* •{♦tS^' > '" ■ • 

\fjAC()li T.IADKN, farniiT and stiK-k-raiscr. 
succ«'.ssfully cn;;a<,'pd in liisn<.!'ri('nllnral lalmr.-. 
on his farm on .section '22, Ninnescnh Town- 
ship, is a native of Woodford Cotinty. III., 
Iiorn .Ian. 2i;, l«.'iK. His parent.s, .lacoh C. and 
Minnie ( llein ) Tjaden, liotli natives of ll.inover, 
tierniany, enii<;niled to America alioiit thirty ycai-s 
im<>, and located in Woodford Coiinty, III, where 
thoy are stdl livinjj. To them have liecn horn ten 
children, seven of whom are livin;;, namely: Mi- 
chael, .lolin. Manke, Henry, .lacoli, I.onis and ll.-ir- 
nion. Three died in infancy. 

The sulije(;t of this •.ketch w .us reared to manhood 

in his native c ity, s|H'ndin{; his yonnjjer days in 

altendin;; the district st-hiMil and in assisting his 
father on the home farm, reeeivinj,' a jfood knowl- 
ed^i- of hooks and of the science of a^riculliire, 
«hiih he ha> made his life-Ion^ "nrk. .Mr. Tjaden 
"as iiiarri.d, .March .'i, 1 .s.H.",, to .lohaMna .lonM.n, 



who wa« liorn in llano\er. Ceriiiany, Keli. ii, IXCd. 
Her father, Harmon .lonson. died in that anrient 
Cennan city in IH~{). Her mother, Mr^. .lohanna 
.lonson, with her fonr children — Ceor^ie, < lltman, 
.lohannaand llertha — emifjnited to America in I XHi, 
and settled in Woodford County, III., when- she 
still lives. .lohn, the second son. came five yi-ars 
previously. 

After marriage .Mr. Tjaden and lii.s wife decided 
to cstalilish a |H.>rmanent home for themselves and 
their family in Kansif., which otters grenl^'r indiire- 
incnts to those wishing to pnwiire their living from 
the soil than most other .States, owing to its saliiliri- 
oiis climate, fertile and well-watered soil, railway 
facilities, and its geographical |N>sition. Accord- 
ingly they came to Sedgwick County and purchiused 
their present farm, consisting of :il'0 acres of arable 
land, a part of which is under cultivation, and the 
remainder ii.scd for gnizing purposes. Our subject 
has prospered since coming here, and feels that his 
expectiitions of this land of promi.se are being fully 
realized, lie pays much attention to stock-raising, 
and has now eighty-five head of fine gnided cattle, 
seven head of good horses and mules, and about a 
hundred hogs of a choice breed. 

The union of Mr. .and Mrs. Tjaden ha.s been 
blessed by the birth of three children, namely: 
.Minnie .1., born A|iril II, ISH4; .lohanna M., OcU 
:t, ISS,^; Uertlm .1.. Nov. JC, is,s7. 

Our subject is a warm-hearted, public-spirited 
citizen, willing to aid by all means in his power any 
beneficial scheme for the improvement of his 
adopted town and county, and his integrity and 
honorable bnsine.s.s methods have gained for him 
the respect of the community in which he resides. 
In politics he is a Democrat and an ardent supporU-r 
of the principles of that party. Religiously, he and 
his excellent wife arc worthy and consistent mem- 
bers of the Ccrnian Lutheran Church. 



KNKY .1. I'KKKISON, after the labors of n 
\i long and busy life, is now enjoying the com- 
forts of a plea-sanl home in Wichita, located 
C^ at No. l.'t'J".' South Mead avenue. Here he 
has cIliIiI IoI.s, and aside from this owns five lots in 
Liiii oin's A di lit ion, I ho on Laura avenue, and two in 




•^9L-^ 



■*►■ 









Butler and Fisher's Addition. In 1 88C he erected 
the handsome residence which he now occnpies, 
and has tiirec otiier dwellings in the city. As a 
man and a citizen, he is the object of respect and 
esteem by all wlio know him. He and his excellent 
wife are prominent members of the Methodist Kpis- 
<-ol)al Church, in which Mr. K. hns held the olllce of 
Class-Leader for many years. 

A native of Somerset County, I'a.. <'iir suliject 
was born on the "iGth of November, 1H23, was 
reared on his father's homestead, and received his 
first rudiments of education in the primitive log 
school-house. When a child six years of age, his 
parents removed to Knox County, Ohio, where 
j'oung Ferrison was rearc<l to manhood, and was 
united in marriage with Miss Sophia II. Mastellar. 
Mrs. F. is a native of the same State as her hus- 
band, and born in Columbia County, Feb. 20, 1H27. 
Her parents, Jacob and Sarah (Cotner) Mastellar, 
removed to Ohio in 1837, and the father tilled a 
portion of the soil of Knox County the remainder 
of his life. Mr. M. was of German ancestry, and 
born in Somerset County, Fa., in 1800. The 
mother was born in Lycoming County, Fa., in June, 
1805. Both parents died in 1865, and both had 
been devoted members of the Lutheran Church. 
Their children were named respectively; Jacob H., 
Henry C, John E., George \V., Amanda A., Joseph 
A. and Sarah A. 

The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Ferrisun was cele- 
brated at the home of the bride in Knox County, 
Ohio, Feb. 28, 1850. Six years later they left the 
Buckej'e State for Nebr:jska, and our subject pur- 
chiised 120 acres of land in Pawnee County. Here 
he carried on farming until 1877, and his next re- 
moval w.as to Southern Kansas, he coming to Sedg- 
wick County and purchasing eighty acres in Waco 
Town.ship. This he subscfiuently sold upon his re- 
moval to the city. 

Mr. Ferrison during the l.ate war enlisted in Com- 
pan3' K, 5th Missouri Cav.alry, :ind after serving 
one year was so injured by horses running over 
him that he received his honoralile discharge, and 
was sent home. He is a stanch Repul)lican, politi- 
cally, and served as Constable in Nebraska four 
years. The record of his children is as follows: 
Annette is the wife of Seth Cowperthwait, a farmer 



of Saline County, this State, and the mother of four 
children — Harry, Klizabeth, Lilly and Allie. El- 
dora, Mrs. Andrew Poland, is a resident of Pawnee 
County, Neb.; she 1ms three children, viz: Liz- 
zie, Eva and Rose. Sarah, Mrs. Reuben Benton, 
resides in Wichitsi; Althea is the wife of Andrew 
Ross, a merchant of Clearwater; Lucy and .May S. 
are at home with their i)arents; the latter has a 
claim in Haskell County; Rose L. continues with 
her paront-s, and their only son, William H., is silso 
at home. 

'\f/AMKS H. McG RIFF, located at No. 11 .SO 
North Main street, Wichita, is a capitalist 
and speculator, whose birthplace was Preble 
Countj', Ohio, the date of which wjis the 2Gth 
of August, 18;^3. He was brought up on the farm 
until he reached his nineteenth year. Then learn- 
ing the blacksmith trade occupied his time for 
thirty months. He then set up for himself as am- 
bitious boys are wont to do, and as the world goes, 
was "dubbed" successful. 

In 1865 our subject removed to Jersey County, 
111., where he stuck to his trade, and did general 
job work. That trade has been congenial for him 
thirty years of his life. Frances M. Wilson, of 
Indiana, became his wife on the 13th of January, 
1856. Nov. 7, 1836, wjis made memorable in her 
family by her .addition to it. Her decease took 
place in 1875; she had become the mother of five 
children: Mary died in 18,s7; Ida L., James O., 
Frank L. and Alda F.. survive to call her name 
blessed. 

As in olden times, it not being good for man to 
be alone, the father of these children sought and 
won the hand of Mary F. Tottenger. The}' were 
duly installed in wedlock March 4, 18SC. She was 
a widowed daughter of Is,aac K. Robbins, her 
mother being Amanda Andrews. She still lives at 
this writing, in Phelps County, OI)i(j. She married 
Mr. Halderman after her first husband's decease; 
and Mr. Tottenger married Mary of whom mention 
is made above. Their wedding occurred Sept. 30, 
1868. He was born J.an. 4, 1846, and died April 
17, 1881. They had two children, both boys, John 
B. and Harry R. Mr. Robbins was a wagon-maker 






•► ■ -^*- 



1 O 1 fl 



SKDGWICK ( "I N n 






li_V Inicio, iukI was Mii-r<>!>»riil. IIp was n-liffious n 
( 'l:i.v>- LvntliT, Siii)tliiy-M-h«Hil ivurki-r, niiil iiiuiiilicr 
..r III.- I. ().«). K. Ill- (lied ill ls7.!. I It- |.r«.f.-w«-<l 
I'litin-siiiic-tilU-iitinii for t«-ii yi-iirs lu-fun- lii-t <U-iii !;<(■. 
Ilii.'tiii I,, itml ,M:iry V. wi-rc tii)- cliililri-ii of thai 
union. 

Mr. .Mi(;rilT locsiNil lu-nr WitliiUi in IsTTi, 
t-if{lity iKTi-s of luiiil cijiliU-i-ii miles soiilliwe.st of llie 
cily beiiij; his first domicile. Here In- worked iil his 
trade, liiil two y<'.->i"s ii^ro retired from it to rest 



Kiiimm .Mrs. Dr. liiirkett: .loshiin U . ; Kli/Jibctli, 
Mrs. WoimI; Alii-e, Mrs. Judge SInss. 

I). L. (Ireeii, of whom we ^ive it lirief liio^ra|ili- 
ieal Jiotiee, alleiidetl the |>iililie .hcIiimiIs of his hoy- 
huod homo, mid from the time he wiui seveiit<-<-ii 
years old iiiilil he was tweiity-oiie tjiii};lit scIumiI 
ihiriiiff the wintf-r t4-niis. In I860, Oetolier :tl, 
Mr. (ireeii w:i.* married to Miss Heliecen I'arker. a 
native of N'irginin, and daii^^hter of ,Iocl and .Susan 
(Martin) I'arker. After inarriiige our subject eii- 



rcntvS some |>ro|K'rty. lie has some five aeres of 
laml iiesides lots. 

.Mr. Met IrifT is .-i memlier of tin- .Masonie frater- 
nity, and was .Master of Fidelity Loil^'e No. liii, at 
lidelity. III. lie was a <lelef;ate to the (iliind 
l.oilp- for several years, nieetin;; at Chie.-igo, III- 
lie and his jjood wife are members of the .Melhotl- 
i>l Cliureh, in ^'oo<l slaiidin;^ .-ind full fellowship, 
she believes in DemiK-raey, but he thinks Uepiib- 
lieniiisiii the mad out of polilieal lliiaidoiii. 






.■\while. lie loans iiioney, buys and sells lols, and (Ta^ed in farming and stock-raising in his native 

.StiUe, and met with <foo<l success. In ImG-J, think- 
ing' Kansas better suited for his business lliaii Indi- 
ana, he removed with his family to Miami County 
and located in I'aola icmpoi-arily. In IHlIU, while 
in Iiuliana, he sufTered a <rreat loss in sheep, which 
crippled him Ilnanciaiiy. l-'roin that time until 1 870 
he was enijaged in the hotel business, but not beinj; 
particularly pleased with that occUjiation, or its 
results, he came to Wichita, and pre-empt«d 1(10 
acres of (iovernmonl land four miles east of the 
city, in .Minneha Township. Mr. tJrocn built a 
house lOxU; feet, two stories in height, and com- 
menced improving his land, it beinjr the lirsl sec- 
tion of land broken in the county, lie >nrrouiided 
his liiicl of land with hedges and crossed it with 
hedge fences, and i-ontinued to live there for thir- 
teen years. Meanwhile he added ."l-^O acres to his 
original pnrchiise, and liad one of the finest and 
most proiluctivc farms in the county. Besides 
handling stock, he niise<l a great deal of wheat and 
corn, his usual crop of wheat being the produce of 
I CO acres. 

In .March, 1872, Death invaded the household ol 
our subject, taking away llu- devoted wife and 
tender mother. She left four children, namely: 
William I-', married Miss Luni Haumbach, and is 
engaged in the roal-esUite business in Wichil^i; 
Leoniilas 11. married .Miss .Sadie Collins; .lohn I-', 
married Mary l.angden ;(ieorge T. For his second 
wife our subject niarrieil Mi's. .1. A. I'arkerson, 
.-1 native of Indian.-i, and daughter of .S. ]'. Howard, 
of Kcnsselaer, that .Stjite. Hv this union Iwochil- 



I.. (IRKKN. capitalist, and ilealer in real 
estate, with odlce at No. 10.") DongliLS 
avenue, is one of the foremost business 
men of Wichita, lie is of Knglish descent 
and a native of Kiishville, Rush Co., Ind., where 
lie was born .lime l.j, IH-JI). Ills |j:irenl.<< were .lohn 
.'ind .Mary (Criizan) (irceii, natives of Ohio. His 
father wius extensively engaged in farming in his na- 
tive State until 182.'(, when he removed to Indian.-i 
with his family, and became a pioneer .settler of 
Uiisli County. In I8.|;J he removed to .Marshall 
County, in the .same .St,-ite, where he remained 
engaged in agricultural piirsuil> iiiilil his death, 
which occurred in .SeptemlK-r, Im(;-2. He was a 
man of upright character, high social standing. 
Mild much esteemed in the commnnity. In politics 
lie was a strong Democrat. His excellent wife, who 
survived him, passed away two years later, her death 
occurring in IHHI. 'I'licy were both worthy incni- 



liers of the .Methodist Kpi.scopal Church for many dren have been born — Stella M. and Clarence II. 

years. To th(-m were born a family of twelve That they might receive the ad vanUiges of Wichita's 

fhildren, s«-ven of whom are now living: D. L. ; su|M-rior educational system, .Mr. (Ireeii with his 

Susan, now .Mrs. Thayer; .liilia, .Mrs. Coniptini; i family vcd into the city in .Se|)tember. I88.'l, 



•^■.-^ 



■•► 



•►41-4^ 






SKDGWICK COUNT V. 



1013 



taking possession of the residence lie hjul previously 
bought on Topeka avenue. Mr. Green continued 
handlinj,^ grain raised on Ills farm, and purchased 
stock through the county. Tiie following 3ear he 
entered the real-estate bnsiness; soon after he sold 
his farm and erected the fine brick block on the 
corner of Water street and Douglas avenue, which 
is .")0xI10feet and three stories in height. .Since 
then our subject has built many private dwellings 
and now owns five tenement luyuses, the aggregate 
cost of the building's being many thousands of 
dollars. 

Mr. Green is a man of great linancial .■iliillty, 
sound judgment, courteous manners.»and one whose 
general wortii impresses those with whom he comes 
in contact very strongly. He; and his famllj' now 
live in a fine n'sldence in Riversi<le Addition, on 
Coolidge avenue, and their home, a model of comfort 
and good taste, is an attractive place for the large 
circle of friends whose esteem and respect they 
have won. In politics Mr. Green is a strong Demo- 
crat, and a warm su()poi'ter of the principles of that 
l)arty. 



m 



\f^ ONALD McMURCIlY, a pioneer of this 
" county, now owns a large and valuable 
farm and is extensively engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, including stock-raising. 
His present farm, to which he removed in 1884, is 
pleasantly located on section 29, Kechi Township, 
and is easily accessible from Wichita, as it is on the 
route of the Valley- Center Motor Line. As is 
in<licated by the view which will be found on an- 
other p.'ige, it is a beautiful and home-like place, 
with ample accommodations for the comfort and 
pleiisure of the family as well as for the care and 
shelter of the domestic animals. 

Mr. McJIurchv was born in Cain])belltown, Ar- 
g3'leshire, Scotland, May 1, 1837, and is the eldest 
of the five children of Archibald and Margaret 
(Mclnnes') McMiircliy. His father was an ollicer 
in the Hritish army, and served in a Scotch regi- 
ment during the Napoleonic wars. His paternal 
uncle, John McMurchy, w.as an otiicer in the Hritish 
navy, under Admiral Nelscm, being present at the 
battle of Trafalgar and otiier noted engagements, 



and for his services received a liberal pension from 
the British Government. His paternal grandpar- 
ents were natives of Scotl.and, the grandmother 
being Isabella Campbell, a near rei.'itive of Mary 
Campbell, the "Highland Mary" immortalized in 
verse bj' the poet Burns. The maternal grand- 
parents were Donahl and Mary Mclnnes, the former 
a ship-builder on the River Clyde. His maternal 
uncle is proprietor and head physician ofoneoftiie 
most noted .sanitariums in Scotland. This is situ- 
ated on the "Brig of Allan," Ilirlingshire, called hy 
some the Scottish (iraffenburg. 

Mr.-McMurch3' grew to man's estate in his native 
land, and upon leaving scluiol, where he was fairl}- 
educatcd, he was apprenticed to a jeweler. This 
business, however, not suiting his tastes, he turned 
his face toward America, embarking on a sailing- 
vessel, the "Chieftain," from Glasgow, on the (Uh 
of June, 1 855. After a stormy voyage of six weeks 
and three days he landed at (iiiebec, Canada, and 
settled in Port Darlington. He first attended 
school at Newcastle, and subsequently pre-empted 
200 acres of land and engaged in farming. Later 
he went to Rockford, where he pursued the same 
occupation nearly three years. Then believing 
that he could do better in the States, be in 1871 
came to Kan.sas, and for the following two win- 
ters was settled at Valley Center. He took up a 
claim under the homestead law in what is now 
Sherman Township, of which he subsequently sold 
ICO acres in the same township. His iiome farm 
comprises 430 acres of fertile land, under gooil cul- 
tivation .and well stocked with Kentucky trotting 
horses and high-grade Durham cattle. Of this 
land he rents a goodly- portion. 

Our subject was married at Wichita in December, 
1878, to Miss Hester Ann Sullivan, who was born 
in Canada in 1842, and is the fifth child of Thomas 
and Adaline (Rude) Sullivan. Mrs. Sullivan now 
makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. McMurchj'. 

Since becoming a citizen of this Republic Mr. 
McMurchy has been loyal in his allegiance to the 
Government, faithfully and honorablj- performing 
his duties .is a member of tiie body politic. He 
has held the ollice of Justice of the Peace of Sher- 
man Township, has been Road Commissionei', and is 
at present School Director. In politics he votes with 

' •► 



T 



• IrtH 



SK|i(;u 



the |{«'|illlilii'aii |i:iltv. lit- iiliil lli^• t\<>i'tliy wifi 
Ik'Iiiiii; to till- I'rcsliytorian Cliurrh: llii-y fH'c 'Ic- 
vi>1«m| to il* iiil4Tf.st,>, 7.cnloii!i ill !i>.<i:.tiii;4 it.s rfTort* 
for tlip niornl rlcvntion of MM-icty. iind t-oiitriliutc 
lilicmlly to il.H clinritMlili- work. Our siilijrol !> 
I'KM'iitiiilly HM-lf-niixlf iiinn.aiicl liny ncciiiiiiiliiti-il his 
wonlth liy Klirkiii;; to his nork with n roMtliite will, 
IKitii'iitly iMiiliiriii); the Imnlsliips of n pioneer life 
tlml he ini^'lit in the eiirl jirolit tlu-rehy. iiiul the 
result litis .■ini|ily jiiKtilieil the shrewd nml intelligent 
foresight of this eleiir-hended. eiier-ielie ninn. So- 
lially. Mr. MeMiinhy l.eloii;i> i4. Lodi:!- No. '.v.\, A. 
!••. A- A. M.. of W i.hit.'i. 



IFI'.S .1. A IJJ'IN, im euler|iri»ln;,' Miul |iros- 
(KTous f.'iriner mid >liick-i!iiscr. residing,' on 
section 12, owiiin;j the soiithenst i|ii!irter of 
V^ \' III ley t'ciiter 'rownsliiii, is one of llie 
oldest settlers in Ihnl |iorlli>ii of llie coiiiily, liav- 
iiif; i-oinc here a> early a.s Si-pt. ,">, l.s7(). lie e.-iiiie 
herefrom lllooinin^ton, ( iniiil I'o., \Vi>. lie is :i 
native of f'nledoiiia County, \'t.. .and niailc his liist 
a|>|M'nranee anioin; the liills and valleys of tlml 
IH.rlion of the St;ile Dee. jC. l,s| (. lie is the -on 
of David li. and Kineline (lti<{elou) Allen, who 
claim the Stjites of N'ermont an«l .Massiichuselts 
a.> their hirthphiccs respectively. .\|r. Allen owns 
I (10 acres of ;,'(>od Land on the southea>t quarter of 
section 12. town 2.'i, ran;4e 1 west. 

Our siiliji-ef- father liioujjht his family to took 
I'ounty, 111., at an eiirly day, liut a year later 

renioveil to Mclleiiry County, in the s.a .Stale. 

Not liiidingin that place Ihe locality to suit him, at 
the end of n twi-lvcmoiith he went to < Irani Cniinty, 
\Vis., wlu-rehe made his home until .liiiie, 1S7<I. .and 
then removed to Sodj;wick County, Kan. He 
si'ltled, on corning here, in that part of ( Irani 
Township which is now known as X'.alli'V Center, 
where he look up eighty acres of Covernmelit Land. 
On that tr.ict he inaile his home niilil \HH(), when 
he sold out and moved to W'ichit.a, where he is 
livin;; retired from the active cnres of life. I'p to 
the date of his Inst removal he had always lieen 
en^TH^'cd in ii^'riciilliiral pursuits, and l>y Indn^lry. 
aliilily and economy, luis acipiiicd :\ innifortalili- 



t •■inp.-U-iie_v. lie is n Hepiililieaii in {Nililics, nnd 
Uike.s (;rFAl int4>re!tl in lUI piihlie alTitirit nnd in tin' 
|Nilitirnl enmivii^Mis. Itolh he and his C!«timnl>le 
wife are memliers of the Methodist Kpiscopal 
Clnireh, and hy exemplary lives lend others to 
nilniire their sincerity lus Christians. They nrc tin 
pareiil.s of three children, as follows: lliifus .1., the 
siihjeel of tlii>< nionioir; Lyman It., who uinrricil 
Miss Katie Uyer, and is a farmer In .Sedgwick 
County, this .sijiie: and Kli/.n 1... Mrs. I'. Kennedy, 
a resident of (Jrant 'I'owiiship, this <'oiinly. 

Knfiis ,1. Allen wjis reared on his father's fnrni 
nnd acquired his education in the district soIkhiN. 
Aug. !l, 1SC.2, when not yet eightc'cn y«>ars of ag<', 
he enlisted in Company D. .'J.'ld Wi.-i'onsin Inf.antry, 
under the call made \>y President Lincoln for men 
to suppress the liebellion, in July, |.s(.2. The liist 
CapL'iin of his company was W. S. K.-unharl, who 
w.as succeeded shortly after liy Capt. \\'. II. 
Warner, who is the present Congressman from the 
district in which Kansas City, Mo., is situated, 'i'lic 
third ollicer in command of the company was 
(apt. Alfred II. Fitch. With the gallant ri-giincnt 
thai carried the Stjite Hag of Wisconsin to the front 
in many a h:ird conlc>teil Itatlle. Mr. Allen partici- 
pate'! in many of Ihe engagements in the South- 
west, lie was present at the siege of \icksliurg, 
anil in the sjinguinary conllici under (ieii. .Sherman, 
.•it .L'ickson, Mis>.. .Miid w.as with the I Ctli Army 
Corjis under (Jen. A. .1. Sniilh, in the Ked Hiver 
expedition, and wounded at .Marksville I'lfiirie. lie 
w.as also eng.agcd in the lialllcs of Tu|k'1o, Miss., 
where he w.as again wounded ; .at Nashville. 'I'enn.. 
.and at the capture of .Moliile and Spanish Fort. In 
Ihe fall of l.s<;2 he w.is one of the army whiih 
started under lien. Cnint for Memphis, 'i'enn., to 
till' rear of N'icksliurg, which f.ailed in accomplisli- 
ing the purpose for which it h.ad sUart<'d. When 
the war closed .and lio>lililies had ceased, our snli- 
jecl found himself ill Tuskegee, Ala., where he was 
innstereil out and discharged in August, ISi'i.'i. 

Having done his duly as a lirave and gallanl 
soldier, Mr. Allen returned lo his home in Wiscon- 
sin, where he followed farming and sloek-r.aisin^' 
until i-oining to Sedgwick County, as aliove men- 
liohcil. \\ Idle a lesiilcnl of lirant County he was 
iiniled in in:m iagc with Miss l-;ilcn K. .MiNS illiani>. 



-^^m^^ 



HI-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1015 'i\ 



Aug. 15, 1869. She is a daughter of Isaiah and 
Eliza J. (Marshal) McWilllaiiis, and is a native of 
Grant County, Wis., born March 4, 18411. Her 
father wa.s the first settler In Gnuit County, Wis., 
and made that portion of tiie Badger State his home 
until a few 3'ears ago, when he removed to Dalcotii, 
where lie is enga-rcd in agricultural pursuits. Mr. 
and Mrs. Allen have been the parents of five chil- 
dren, as follows: An infant daughter, liorn Oct. 21, 
1870, who died the next day, ininanied ; Nellie 
May. born Nov. IG, 1872, and is living at home, 
and attending the Lewis Academy, of Wichita; 
Rufus II., born Jan. 31, 1874; Albert Lee, Aug. 
19, 1878, and Olive Grace, Feb. 5, 1.S80. 

Mr. Allen is extensively cng.aged in'stock-raising 
in this township, giving much attention to the rais- 
ing of graded Short-horn cattle, Poland-China hogs 
and work-horses. The improvements on his place 
are subsUintial, and the grove which surrounds his 
residence and barns is quite large and thrifty, and 
was all set ont by his own hands. He was one of 
the very first settlers to i)enetrate into this p.art of 
the country, and h.as been quite prorainentl}- identi- 
fied with its rise and progress. In politics he is 
what might be termed an independent Republican, 
not being so thoroughly bound by partisanship as 
to alw.ays support the candidati' of his p.arty, if in 
his judgment the man in question was unfitted for 
the place. His wife and eldest daughter seek 
s[)iritual consolation in the Christian Church, and 
are good, sincere Christian, women. A view of our 
subject's place adorns a l)age in this vulunie. 



jj,ILEV U. iMt'il.K is a farmer and stoek- 
[' raiser of Garden I'lain. His success in his 



chosen calling since pursuing it on the fer- 
tile prairies of Sedgwick County, is onlj- one more 
illustration of the numerous instances recorded in 
this work of men who came here poor in pocket, 
but arc now in prosperous circumstances, owing to 
the extraordinary .agricultural facilities afforded bj' 
the rich soil and the mild climate of Kans.as. When 
our subject came here scarcely more than a decade 
ago, he had onl^' :^10 in money; he now owns a 
well-stocked ranch, a comforUible dwelling, con- 



venient farm buildings, and an ample supply of 
everything needful to conduct agrictdture success- 
fully. 

.Mr. Doyle was born in Allen County, Ind., May 
20, |.Si)2. and i-; the son of William and Mary A. 
(Russell) Doyle, natives of Ohio, his father having 
been liorn In Richland (.'onnty, May 10, 1820, and 
his mother In Crawford County, March 17, 1825. 
The paternal grandfather and great-grandfather 
were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 
Adams County, in 1789, and married Oct. 30, 1810. 
The latter, it is believed, was born in the town of 
Reading. It is known that he enlisted from there 
as a soldier in the Revolutionary army .at the age 
of nineteen years, and was wounded at the battle 
of Br.andywine. Grandfather Doyle was of Irish 
descent, as were also most of the maternal ancestors 
of our subject, although Grandmother Doyle is be- 
lieved to have been German. 

William Doyle, who is a farmer, moved to In- 
diana when it was still a new country, yiaid ^3.50 
an acre for a tract of land, cleared it, and improved 
a good farm. In that pioneer home ten children, 
seven of whom are still living, came to him and his 
wife. Their eldest, .lohn, was born Oct. 2, 1844; 
Hannah .lane, deceased, was born Oct. 20, 1 S4C ; 
Maria Elizabeth was born June 11, 1849; Wiley 
R. w.as the fourth; Laura L. w.as born April 21, 
1854; Elcctii L., Jan. 22, 1857; Martin Monroe, 
Feb. 1, 1800; Ida Emeline, May 12, 18(52; Jere- 
miah E., M.arch 8, 1 805 ; Ellis Leroy, born March 29, 
1809, died in February, 1873. John, Electa, Mar- 
tin and Jeremiah, live on the old homestead; IMaria 
married Adrin L. Rogers; they live in Anderson 
County, Kan., and have six children. Laura mar- 
ried SimefHi Libby; she died June 11, 1882, leav- 
ing one child, Laura Ethel, who lives with her 
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle, and is now 
about six years old. Ida married John M. Miller; 
they live in Allen County, Ind., and have one child. 

Our subject was reared b}' his parents on the old 
homestead, and carefully trained In ways of useful- 
ness, honesty, and good deeds, which were the 
guiding principles of their own daily lives. His 
opportunities for schooling were limited to the win- 
ter sessions, which lasted from six weeks to two 
months, but as he was an Intelligent lad and ai)plied 



^f 



f 



t 



SKDCWK l< < ' 1 N 1 V 



liiiii-iir I.' Iii» iMM.k-, he liiMim^'i-.l til I'lik tip II vi-ry 

}j;<mmI filiii-ntidii. At llie i«tfc <if iwi'iily-i'iif hi' 
xtnrU-il mil to i-nni his own living, hHvin-; pliMily 
of nniliilioii to iiiiiki- his nay in tin- wurhl, nnil willi 
n fnir shiiri' of oner^fv nml iniisrh'. In- si-t liiiDsrlf 
ri'sohili-ly to Work iit whati'ViT he i-ouM llml to ilo. 
For sonir ycurs hi- wils fin|i|oyc<l liy the- month, ii 
luirl of the tiuii> in thr Stittc of New York. In 
IS77 he set his fare toward Knnsjis, anil on lii.s ar- 
rival here |ire-enii>l4'il ItlO acres, on a |Mirl of wiiicli 
his pre.sent home now sUinds; forty aere.s of it are 
platteil lus town lot.s in (larilen Plain, liein;; very 
tiesimhiy liK'Ated in a pleiLsniit jinrt of tlie village, 
mill constjintly ini-re.-usini.; in value with its growth. 
AfU>r tjtking up his re.siilence on his lanil, our siih- 
jeet kept a haehelor's estiiliiishmenl for eiijhteen 
months, beinir his own eook and hoiisekeepi-r, con- 
tinning to live on his farm for aliout nine montiis. 
lie then returiieil to Indiana for the lady who liad 
a;.'reed to preside over his home, and they were 
iniil<'d in marriai;e .March II, IM7".t. The maiden 
name of Mrs. Doyle was C'larona Adams, and she 
was lioru in Allen Coiinly, Ind., iMarch 21. |H,'its. 
Her pjirents are .lerome and t'harlott*.' (Siingliarts) 
Adams, natives of Indiana and flermany respect- 
ively; her mother W!i» liorn in IH.'iS, and c.-ime to 
America with her parents when a child. To her 
and her hnsliand there were Imrn four children, of 
whom Mrs. Ooyle is the .-econd. .losi.-ih was Imrn 
in .Vptemlier, I s.'.d; Charlotte Ii.. .Ian. •_'. I Hi;n ; 
.Jerome. Dec. J.'!, IHri.">. .Josiah and .lemme .-ire un- 
married; they live in Allen t'oiinly, Ind. Char- 
lotto married (leorge Wolf; they live in .Mien 
County, Ind., and have one child. 

Shortly after marriajie Mr. Doyle returned with 
his liriile to K:insas, and in the pleasant home which 
they have since liuill up three chiliiren have lieen 
horn to theen, namely : .lerome Kriiest. Dec. 1.1, IHHO; 
HnrUtn I.eroy, Oct. :,, IHM.1. and M.diel, .Inly •_'(), 
IMK7. 

For Ihe prosperity which ha.s come to our snli- 
jeet through his persistent lalioi-s jind intelligent 
management he is greatl_\ iiideliled to his wife, who 
has a.ssist4'd him liy every nieaiis in her power. 
.She i.s a consirientioiis Christian and a cunsistenl 
memlier of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church. Mr. 
Diivle wa,s reared in the s;inie lielief, ImiI hi- Ii.-ls 



never iiiiileil Hitli llie i liiinli. lie l« a man of 

strong and oarnetit convictions, is honomlile and 
upri;.dit in the daily walk.H of life, and fully de.>4'rve!i 
the repntntiiin wliich he has wini of JM-ing in every 
rc.iiM-et a giMid eiti/.en. Politically, he is a Ucpiih- 
lican and a Prohihitionist. lie Iiiim never heen an 
olll(-e-seeker, wa.s once elected Constalile. lint de- 
dini-d to serve. 

'tr^ l'\\IN l>. ( KOSS, of Attiea Township, is 
|i*| propri(-tor of a vahmiile farm of .-140 acres, 
L^' w'hi<-h lies aliout nine miles from the city of 
Wichitn. It is flnely improved with commodious 
and siilisbintial liiiildiiigs, which arc liM-ated on a 
point of gninnd which afTords an ample view of the 
surrounding eoinifry. The farm is watered from 
alkali springs twenty-two feet below the surface of 
the ground, and from which the water is piinijieil 
hy a windmill, and i> condui-ted liy pipes wherever 
required. 

The Cr(i.>w farm is considi-n-d one of the finest 
stiH-k farms of .Sedgwick County, and our snliject 
takes great pride in his thoroughlired Short-horn 
cattle and Poland-China hogs, lie i-aine to this 
section of country in its pioneer day.s, and when 
Wichita was an nuimporUuit town of aliout l,(KiO 
iuh.-diitanl.s. Mr. Crons hail previously a little 
money, wliich he invested and lo.-t hy the deprecia- 
tion of property, and eanu* to this .Stjite with about 
t7l>0, no team or anything el.se with which to com- 
mence farming, lie wa-s obliged to exercise the 
greatest economy in getting lo;felher his imple- 
ment.s and in putting in his crops that first year; he 
h.'id his labor for his pains, as the crop was ruined 
by drouth and gra.vshoppers. lie was one of those 
men, however, who were not easily dismayed by 
misfortune, and Ihe next year went over the same 
ground, this time meeting with belU-r success. His 
priigre.s,- sini-e that time has been steadily upward, 
and his farm with its appnrtcuau(-es, its fine Imild- 
ings and fat herds, present.s a picture of comfort 
and plenty whi<-li is a delight to the eye. 

(lur subject wn-i* liorn in Clinton County, Mich., 
.Ian. I'.l, IK.t.t, and is the son of TliomiLs C. and 
I i-a ( .M.-illlie«s) Ciu-^s. tin- former of wIhum was 



•►• -<• 



•►»-♦ 




8KDGW1CK COUNTY 



1017 ' ^ 



horn ill Westcliester County, N. Y., in 1K08. Thomas 
C. w;i.s the son of Lewis Cross, who was of Irish 
descent, 'i'lioiiias was reared to farminy pursuits, 
wliieii he followed in summer, hut durinf^ tiie win- 
ter seasou employed himself at shoemaking. and in 
this capaeit}' was eonneeted with large manufaotnr- 
iiigestablishnjents at different jilaces in llie State of 
Connecticut. 

The niother of our subject, who is now living 
with her son Edwin, was l)orn in Wasiiington 
County, N. Y., Jan. 21, 1814, and is the daughter 
of John (i. Matthews, a wagon-maker liy trade. 
She became the wife of Thomas M. Cross ou the 
•24th of Februar}', 1833, the wedding taking place 
in Greenwich, Wiwliington County', where they 
lived for some time afterward. Thej' removed to 
Michigan about 1838. The parental household in 
due time included seven children. The eldest, 
Sarah K., was born Aug. 13, 1834, and died at her 
home in Micliigan, Feb. 26, 1800; she had married 
HoswcU Weatherby, and left one child, Herbert E., 
who is now living in this State. John L. was born 
July 13, 183G, and married Miss Rachel Danes; 
the}' have four children, and make their home at 
Cheney, this State, where Mr. C. is emplo^'ed as a 
veterinary surgeon. Mary A. was born June 19, 
183!), anil is the wife of T. M. Eane, proiirietor of 
the Doughis Avenue House, at Wichita; the}' have 
no children. The next child of the faniil3' was an 
infant son, who died when six weeks old ; Edwin D., 
of our sketch, was the fifth in order of birth ; Louisa 
Alice was born July 18, 1846, and died Dec. 14, 
187'J, at her home in Attica Township; she was the 
wife of Josiali Perkins, and left two children. Char- 
lie dieil when six years old, and Ella C. makes her 
home with her grandma and uncle Edwin. 

Edwin I). Cross made his home with his parents 
on the farm in Clinton County, Mich., until twenty 
years of age, in the meantime having acquired a 
common-school education. Ho now conimeuced 
his apprenticeship at the cooper's trade in Illinois, 
and was there employed for about three years in 
different places. He then returned to the old home- 
stead, where he remained until 1873, then crossing 
the Mississi|ipi bought a "squatter's" right, and pre- 
empted his present home of 160 .-icres. To this he 
subsequently' added the balance of his land, and 



m 



now, after years of industrious labor, sees before 
him the fine prospect of a competency in his old 
age, and has passed beyond the necessity of that 
close application to hard work .-md business which 
accompanied his earlier years in this State. He is 
a man who keeps himself well posted upon National 
and political affairs, and during the earl^' agitation 
of the Greenback part}', heartily supported itsi)rin- 
ciples. His sympathies are now with the Union 
Labor party. Mr. Cross ha^ never married. 



ASON J. ROBINSON, the leading livery- 
man of the little <;ity of Goddard, and 
noticeable for his excellent business capacity 
and enterprise, is a |)roduct of the Buckeye 
State, and was born in Lenox Township, Ashta- 
bula Count}', Jan. 20, 1836. He came to this county 
in 1870, during its earl}' settlement, and when there 
were but two houses west of the spot where he lo- 
cated, in Afton Township, for a distance of six 
miles. He secured 100 acres of good land, and at 
once set about its improvement and cultivation, 
which he prosecuted with such industry that he h;is 
now one of the finest farms in the township, fitted 
up with .all the little embellishments that serve to 
enhance both the beauty and value of a homestead. 
The buildings appertaining to the Robinson home- 
stead are neat .-ind substantial in character, and 
adjacent to them are fine orchards of apple, ])each 
and pear trees, while grapes and the smaller fruits 
are cultivated in abundance. The farm is watered 
by two streams, which have their source in a never- 
failing spring, and the conveniences for utilizing 
this indispensable adjunct of the farm are every- 
thing that the agriculturist of this latter day could 
desire. This farm serves as the nucleus of an ex- 
tended business, and upon which is held in reserve 
the magnificent animals for breeding purposes, and 
which have made of the estate and its proprietor a 
subject of much attention in this part of the country. 
At the stables in Goddard are two of the finest 
specimens of horseflesh to be fimiid in .Southern 
Kansas, one a full-blooded Pei'cheron, sired in the 
spring of 1880, and the other of Percheron and 
French-Canadian blood combined, a year younger. 



-•►-•-^ 






-•► 



skim; WICK (OIINIV 






Mr. KuliiiiMMi |(ri>|MKu>ii Id <;ivc to tluvnc lii!< (•.»|M-ciiil 
<-!in> mill !ilU-iitiiiii lliu nunin^' m-mmmi. itixl h w- 
HunU'fl as H iiiiiii |Mfiiliitrly ndikptcil u> his present 
c-nlliii^. 

In iiiitiii^' llu- siic('i,-!i!i itnil i'iiU'r|iriM> of h |ii'iiiiii- 
iK-iil cili/.i'ii, llio wish til Icnrii MUiK'thiiij; >>( Uh niito- 
I'l-ili'iiti is iiiiliiriilly foriiii'il in the niiiul uf those 
whiiM' iittcntinn hn> ln-i-n iiltraL-toil tii his carei-r. 
Tin' Milijfct iif this histurv cotnes of iin old and I'x- 
i-ciii-nt funiily, licin;; Ihr son of Diinic! ii. mid 
l.ouisa (llousf) Uoliinson, whu won' iiikli\cs of llio 
Kiii|iiri> Stjilo, and s|H'iit IJK'ir last years in \'an 
Itnreti Comity. Mi<'li. |)aiiiel ('•. Uoliinson wius 
liorii .Ian. -'2. ISOH, and followed the oceiipntion of 
:i liiinlierniHii the •;reuter |>ortion of his life, lie 
did not live to lie an a;;ed man, luit died when 
forty -seven ye:irs old. on the l.'ttli of April, IHTi.^i. 
The inoiher wjus liorn .lime •J.'J, 1M<I, in Oneida 
I'oiinty, N. Y.,.aiul survived her hushaiid for .a 
period of seventeen years, her death taking; plaee 
in Oelolier, \X~'.i. Their eldest son, .losepli .1.. was 
horn ill Ashlnliiila (.'oiinty, Ohio, .lime 1;'), IH3i', 
and married Miss .Mary Ann Abbott, of New York 
.SUili', by whom he beeame the father of two 
dmi^'hte-s; 111' dii'il in I'lilaski, Tenn., in l.s(!2; in 
the ineantinie his liri>t wife had died in Mi('lii<,'aii, 
in Miireh, IS.'iM, and he was the seeond time mar- 
ried, and beeame the father of a son, who is now 
dead, .bison .J., of this skeleli, w;ls the seeond- 
borii ; the ne\l eliild, .also a son, tiled in infaiu-y; 
Kideliu A. bec-jiiiic the wife of Uobert Clark, a 
well-t<.i-do farmer of Almeiia Township, \'an Hiiren 
Co., .Mich., and is the mother of four eliililren. 

.Mr. liobinson left his native State with his parents 
when a eliild of ei;,'lileen month*, they removing; 
to While I'igeon, .Mieli., only sUiyinij one winter. 
They then moved to N'an Hiireii County, Clinch 
Township, the name of which w:us siibseipiently 

eli!inj;ed to HI iiin;,'il:ile. Here the boy developed 

into nianhood, receiviii;; a eoiiimon-siliool educa- 
tion, and here also he formed inatrimonial lies, 
beiii;{ married, Feb. L',"i, IM.'iT, lo .Miss Harriet IC. 
.Miller, a n.alive of New York Sljite. Ivlwiii .Miller, 
the father of Mr«. Uobin.-on, wjis a shoemaker by 
trade, and, dying in l'p|M'r .Sandusky, Ohio, U'n re- 
mains Were laid til rest in the old Indian biirying- 
t;npiiiid near the ancient -lone cliiiicli, which is of 

m 



liiMtorlc inlt .. ... :.. 1 .:.... .... 

se<|tienlly erossod the MiMissippi. and s|M-nt her bust 
years with her •weond hilsbaiid, I)aniel .Miller, in 
Iowa, her death tnkin;; place abont \M4. Mr. and 
Mrs. Miller were the pnreiiLs of tlin-e children. 
Their eldest dau^rhter. Isjibelle, firsl became the 
wife of .lohn .Martin, who died in the army, leaving 
three children: she was sulise(|iieiitly married to 
Haniel .Martin, a brother of her lirsl hnslmnd, and 
of this union there were born two children ; Harriet 
K., Mrs. Uoliinson, wius the .second child; (ieorgi-al.so 
served in the I'nion iiriiiy, and before leaving the 
ranks was married: beyond this little has been 
known of him for many yeai-s. Mr. Miller died in 
middle life, and his widow was subsequently mar- 
ried to Daniel Miller, of which union there were 
born si.\ children. 

I):iiiiel Kobiiison, the paternal gi-andfather of <iur 
siibjecl, and a native of the Kinpire SUle, sought the 
West in the fall of I.s.ls. and s|ient the winter fol- 
lowing in Micliig.-m. In the spring uf IK31) he 
settled on .a farm si.\ miles from While Pigeon, 
when; he continued to live until I H;')(), in which 
year his death took place. On the maternal side, 
(irandf.-ither House, also a native of the Kmpire 
Sl:ilc, selccled Ohio as the scene of his future o|K;ra- 
lioiis, and there carried on f.ariiiing and d.airying 
for a number of years. His daughter Louis.'i. the 
mother of our subject, wius ihe i-ldest of thirteen 
children, and died in \°aii ISiiren County, Mich., 
about l!S7;{. 

.Mr. Uobinson continued in the Wolverine .SUitv 
until reaching his majority, and on the I'.'ith of 
Febriiar}', I H.") 7, one day le.s,s than a iiionth later, 
occurred the most iinport.:iiit event of his life — his 
marriage. .Mr. .-iiid .Mrs. liobinson resided in Van 
Itureii County, .\Hcli., for the following nineteen 
years, and there their live children were born. 
Kdtvin, the eldest, whose birth Itiok place Feb. Ill, 
1. ■<.•,;), died in IJImnniiigdale, in l.'tCi.'J; Alberta Fi- 
delia wa.s born Aug.."), !«()(), and married Clnirlcs 
A. Itiillard, one of Ihe prosperous farmers of Afluii 
Towiislii|i, this county, by whom she lin.s become 
the mother of si.\ children; Amy Louisa w.as born 
March "JCi, 1 Stl.'), .•ind with the younger children re- 
mains :il home with her parents: \Villiain I), waji 
bom Oct. I.'., |si;7, and Fdirar .I...liiiic •.'•;. I.''i71. 



-•►■ -^ 



-4^ 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



101!) 



''i 



While ill Michigan I\Ir. Koliiiitioii cngagoil quite 
exleiisivoly in farming and luniljcring, and upon 
coining to this county, in Marcii. 1 870, purchased 
a tract of tiovernnient laud, occupying a part of 
sections 10 and 11. in Afton Township, wiiere lie 
gave his close attention to farniiiig and stock-rais- 
ing until tiie spring of 1.S87. lie then determined 
to invest some of his surplus capital in real estate 
at Coddard, and purchased first five lots within 
the town limits. This ground is now occiiiiied by 
his extensive business, and is inclosctl with neat 
and substantial fencing, within which arc the vari- 
ous st:d)les. sheds and coal-bins indispensable to 
his calling. In all undertakings he exhibits the 
careful and conscientious business man, and his 
clean record has made him a general favorite, both 
in social and financial circles. He gives little at- 
tention to politics, but endorses the principles of 
the I'rohibition party, lie and his wife and daugh- 
ter Amy aiul son William are members and regu- 
lar .attendants of the Methodist E[>iscopal Church, 
and ill the I. O. O. F. Mr. Robinson is Treasurer 
of Lodge No. 20G, at Coddard. 

\J/ EWIS II. CORBIN, one of the proiiiiiient 
and enterprising stock-raisers of Ohio Town- 
ship, resides upon section 31. He came to 
this county in 1883, and settled upon his present 
farm, where he owns 168 acres of most fertile and 
productive land, on the Js'iiinescah River, and is 
considered one of the best farmers in that neigh" 
borhotid. lie is a self-made man in the truest 
sense of the word, as he started in life without any 
means, but with the assistance of his devoted wife, 
who has been to him a helpmate and counselor, he 
has, by dint of hard work, perseverance and econ- 
omy, become the owner of his present comforlalile 
fortune. 

Mr. Corbiu made his appearance upon the stage 
of life July 3, 1853, in Highland County, Ohio, and 
is a son of William and Elizabeth (Shaw) Curbiii. 
His father was a native of Virginia, and died when 
our subject w.os but a child. Ills mother, who was 
born in Ohio, is now the wife of Warren Howell, 
and resides in Stockton, Cal. When but a b.iv. Mr. 



(Sorbin removed with iiis mother and stepfather to 
M(I>i>iioiigh County, 111., where the family resided 
about three years. At tiie expiration of that time 
they removed to Jasper County in the same Stjite, 
where our subject was reared to manhood. He 
received the elements of a good conimon-sehool 
ednentioii in his youth, and was trained up to agri- 
cultural pursuits. He was one of a family of three 
children burn to his parents, viz: David W., who 
is living in California; Thomas II., a resident of 
San Francisco, in the same Stiite; and himself. He 
has also a stepbrother and sister, who bear the 
names of Edward ]i. and Julia Vtm Felt, his mother 
having married a Jlr. N'iin Felt for her second 
husband. 

After having attained an age when he was able 
to start out in the world and light life's battles for 
himself, the subject of this personal narrative re- 
turned to Ohio, and located in his native county', 
where lie was married in l.sTlJ. The following 
year the young couple, in search of the fortune 
which awaited them, and with an eye to the future, 
came to Kansas, which offered such inducements to 
all who were possessed with sin.all means, and set- 
tled in Morris County. Six years later, the3' re- 
moved to AValjauiisee County, but after a short 
residence there, in 1883 tliej' came to Sedgwick 
County', and settled on the farm where they now 
live in Ohio Township. Since locating in this 
place he has ra|)idly grown into the esti'em and 
conridence of his fellow-citizens, and is serving at 
present as Treasurer of the school district. 

The marriage ceremony which united the desti- 
nies of Lewis H. Corbin and Miss Ella li. Shaw 
took place on the 23d of March, 1870. The bride 
of the occasion was born Dec. 13, 18,53, in High- 
land C<.)unty, Ohio, in which State she w.as married, 
and is a daughter of .John C. and MelindaJ. (Shoe- 
maker) .Shaw. Her parents are residents of High- 
land County', Ohio, where they were among the 
first pioneers who settled in the leafy wilderness 
that then covered that portion of the Ikickeye 
Slate. The circumstances of the case caused them 
to endure unusual hardships and privations, iis set- 
tlement at that date was attended l)^- more difliculty 
than it has been in later \-ears. Mrs. Corbin is the 
fourth child of a large family born to her i)areiil«, ' ' 



•►-II-* 






" 1 



^KI>t;WICK COIN! V 



•i ...,..,„ , .V !.;;. Their 

nnim-* an- lis follows: (U-orp-. w|io i> liviii); III 
IlichlniKl I'oiiiitv. fHiio; Aiimmlii, llif wifi- of 
.Iniiu-t ('itiii|ilH>ll. of Mnr^liikll ('oiinU, Knii. : .Ininoii, 
n-siiliii^ ill lli^'lilaiiil Coiinly, Knii. ; Klla It., tlio 
«lfo of llu- Milijfil of this ?<kfl<h; Kinily, Hie wifo 
of Noival IliiiU-y. living; in I'iikaway C'oimly, Oliio, 
ami S-iiiiiK'l, slill rosiiliiij; in his unlive loiiiity. in 
till- lliiik«yi' SUiU'. Mi>. ('tirliin'.t^iranilfMtlu'i-, Solo- 
mull Shtwiiiaker. wa.-- a KoUlii-r dliriiit; llio war with 
<;ri'nl Hrilain ill IS1l'-1.'», as was ln-r iiiirli-, 'riioiiias 
Whitley. 

'I'hiTc liavc foiiii' lo •;la(l<li-n llu' lioarLs ami 
hri^hton llu- firi'sifli- of Mr. ami Mrs. C\>rliiii four 
rhihlreii : Moiinie .1., who was liorn Keli. '2!t, IK77: 
C'onoy W.. Sept. 15, 1«7»<: t'ora A., Sept. 2-.', 
IKK.I, ami Lewis C"., on the 2()th of .lannary, 1H«H, 
llotli Mr. ami .Mrs. Corliiii are en>i;a;:eil in all j^oimI 
work enlenlnteil lo lienelit the eoiniiuinity, ami in 
the <loine>lic joys of reariii;^ their ehiiilren aroiiiul 
the family hearth, snrroiimleil by all the iioliii' iii- 
IliH'iiefs of a t'hristian home. 

In all matters of publie spirit mikI enterprise the 
sniijeel of this sketch takes a proniineiil part, and 
lends liis eiieonm;,'eineiit to every measure thai is 
ualeulalcd to elevate his fellowineii in asocial sense. 
In his |H)lilieul faith he is n Keptihlicaii, and :i 
stanch follower of the <loctrines as formulated l(\ 
that parly. He comes of a patriotic family, his 
grandfather, l)eunis C'orhin, having been a soldier 
during the War of 1M12, and is filled with an in- 
tense love of country. 



I .N( AN W. Kl-;ili. a worthy repre.seiitalivc 
J of the farming and stock-raising interests 



»f (Jranl 'rownship, is siluated about six 
miles from Sedgwick City, where he owns 
and o«'cnpies lOd acres of finely <-ultivated land 
l(K-nled on sectiini '.'. lie has a good residence, n 
view of which we give elsewhere, ami the neces.sjiry 
oiit-biiildiiigs for the care ami shelt4-r of his stock, 
which includes Norman horses, l)urliain cattle and 
roland-C'hina and Iterkshire hogs, lie Uikes pride 
in his I'nlliiig, and ha.-< a worthy ambilion to in.-ike hia 
farm ami his sliK-k models in their wav, and thus 



iniiiu'.-i , . -I nkillfiil ngririilluriHl 

among llie other enU-rprising men of SMlgwick 
C'«»iiiity. 

Like many of those whti yenrs ago sought the 
fertile region> of Southern Kansas, ii|Min which to 
liK'nt*', Mr. Keir first ojieiied his eyes in the Knipin* 
suite, his birth inking place in St. Law reiice County, 
Keb. ;(, iH.'l.'i. lie was fourth in the family of nine 
children born to William and .Maria (lliird) Keir. 
unlives res|iectively of .Scotlnnd and Kiiglnnd, who 
emigrated to Amerienin their youth, settling first in 
the Dominion of Cnimtln. Thence they removed U> 
New Vork .SUit*' a few years later, where llu- father 
of our subject battled with the primitive soil of 
St. Lawrenci- County, and opened up a g<HMl farm. 
In l.H.'iS he delenninecl lo push still further west- 
ward, and removed to Whiteside County, III., 
where he still continued fnrming until retiring from 
active hibor. He spent his Inst years in the town of 
Morrison, where his death took place about 1H78. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, .lolin 
Keir by name, was also of .Scotch birth and ances- 
try , and after cro.ssing the Atlantic served as a 
soldier of the War of 1M2. He i^issi'ssed tdl the 
slurtly and sulistantial tniits cimnicteristie of his 
nalionalily, ami transmitted to his descendaiit^ his 
own inherent integrity and high iiioiiil principles. 

The subject of this record spent his boyhcKidand 
youth amid the quiet .scenes of country life, and ac- 
([inred his ediicntion in the district schools of his 
native county. He was twenty-three years of age 
when he rcmoveil to Illinois with his father's family, 
.'iiid had in the meantime lenrnecl the trade of iim- 
son, wliich he has since followed lo n coiisidembh' 
exleiil in .iddilion to his farm o|>erations. He pur- 
cha.sed ill Whiteside County, III., eighty acres of 
land, where he engiiged in the raising of grain and 
slock iinlil his removal to Kansas. l'|><ui coming 
to this coiinly in 1M7'.I, he purcha.sed a qiuirler-.see- 
tioii of railroa<l land, which he li:is now brought to 
a good sl.-itc of cultivation, . and has arriveil at the 
point where he can "rest ii|m>u his ojirs," lus it were, 
ami »-ontemplnle the laboi> of his h.-uids with a 
goodly degree of salisfaclion. 

.Mr. Keir, while n resident of \\ hiteside County, 
III., was married in the town of Morrison, .laii. ;!, 
l>SI).t, to Miss Ann Kliz.-i Collins, a native of Cat- 







RESIDENCE OF D.R.KEIR , 5EC.3.GRANT TOWNSHIP. 




PROPERTY OF W. A . PI N KHA IVl , COR . PRI NCE & ELLIS , WICHITA 



Ih-^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1023 - > 



skill, N. Y., who removed West when a young 
woman, and after tlic decease of her parents. Mrs. 
Keir was born Aug. 10, 1833, and was tlic eldest in 
a family' of live children, her parents being Seymour 
R. and Hester A. Collins, natives of New York 
State. Mr. and Mrs. K. eommenced life together 
on the farm alread3' spoken of. where the}' remained 
until crossing the Mississippi. Their household in- 
cluded originally four children, thn^e of whom have 
fled from the home nest, and are now conifortaldy 
established under their "own vine and fig tree." 
Their eldest son, Willis Burr, is married, and en- 
gaged in the feed and grocery business at Sedgwick; 
Sarah Maria is the wife of M. L. Ilartmaii, and lives 
not far from her father; Edith Belle, now Mrs. E. 
Robinson, is the wife of a thrifty farmer of (Jrant 
Township; Elwood remains with his parents, and is 
completing his studies in the district school. 



WILLIAM A. riNKIIAM, late of Wichita, 
and who closed his eyes upon the scenes of 
earth Feb. 9, 1888, was a gentleman favora- 
bly known among the people of Wichita .as one of its 
independent capitiilists and solid business men. He 
was engaged largelj- in real estate, and was the 
owner of a fine home at No. 151 Ellis avenue. He 
came to Wichita in September, 1875, built the first 
sidewalk on Ivast Douglas avenue east of the Santa 
Fe Rjiilroad, and the first sidewalk on North Fourth 
avenue. 

Our subject, ui)on coming to Southern Kansas, 
fii"st engaged .is a contractor and builder, which 
business he followed until 1 886, and then practically 
retired from .active labor. His earliest recollections 
were of a home in far New England, he having been 
born in Kennebec County-, Me., March 1, 1845. 
His parents, Thomas D. and Rosalinda (Cashnian) 
T'inkham, were also natives of the Pine Tree State, 
and the father a farmer by occupation. The latter, 
during the late war, enlisted as a Union soldier, and 
received an honorable wound, on account of which 
he was discharged as incapacitated for further mili- 
tary duty. L'pon his recovery, however, he de- 
< r termined to return and assist until the conUict was 



over, and this time joinetl a battery, witli which he 
remained until the close of the war. 

Our subject, although a youth of butsi.xteeii upon 
the outbreak of the Reliellion, determined not to 
be outdone by his father, and also enlisted, becom- 
ing a member of Company I, 'ilth Maiutt Infantry, 
for three yeais, and at the ex|)iration of his term 
of service re-enlisted, in September, 18<J4, in Com- 
pany A, Kith Maine Infantry, with which he con- 
tinued until the close of the war. He was slightly 
wounded in the head b}- a shell in one of the en- 
gagements in which he participated, and with the 
exception of this returned home unharmed. He was 
subsequently employed as a carpenter and contractor 
at I'ittston, Me., but in 1868 determined upon a 
change of location, and set out for the West, and did 
not stop in his journey until reaching the Tacific 
Slope. Locating in Stockton, San .Joaquin Co., Ciil., 
he engaged as contractor and builder there, and at 
San Jose and vicinity, where he operated about two 
years. 

At the expiration of this lime Mr. I'inkliaiii, de- 
sirous of a sight of the old familiar faces at home, 
returned to Maine, where he followed his trade 
through the winter, then set out for Michigan, and 
locating at Albion, continued engaged as before in 
I that vicinity for nearlj' two j'cars. We next find 



him in Chicago, 111., where he continued employed 
in the same business, but remained in the (iarden 
City, however, only six months. From there he 
returned to New England, and continued in his na- 
tive State until 1875. After another trip to Cali- 
fornia, where he remained but a few ni(jnths, he 
made his waj' to this countj', locating in Wichita 
in September, 1875. He worked at his tr.ade here 
until 1879, then being seized with an attack of 
the Le-adville fever, proceeded to Colorado, where 
he was engaged in prospecting and mining, to- 
gether with his other business, five j'ears. 

Mr. Pinkham returned to Wichita in Novem- 
ber, 1883, and followed his former occupation 
about three years, then began buying and selling 
city property. In this he was very successful. In 
1887 he put uj) the handsome family residence 
where he died, and besides this was the owner 
of a store and dwelling, which his widow now rents. 
He was a Republican, |)olitically, and took a lively 

•p. 



T 



<• 



'4 !...•( s| |)( . W l( K ( ul N n 



i I. Ht iiiihf fiiiurc |>i - U illiiiiii iiikI 

I lir lnurriii;»i' of iiiir itiiltjfrl iiikI Miss ( atlioriiH- Kliwilirtli (l>nt|>»T) .\if:iii>. ili.t IhiIht wii* Iturri 

Hiirr w;us i-fli'l>intc<l 111 the Iioiik- of llic lirido in in Norlli C'nrt.lina, .Inn. •.', I s |'j, mul <lic<l K»l>. Il', 

I'iU-ton, Kfiim-litT Co.. Ml'.. Miir. li LISili;. Mrs. I «M'.4. Tin- (rntii<ir:itluT ■•f our siiUjoct. Koliorl 

riiiklmiii is llif <l:iuj;lil4T of .lou:itlian :iii>l Lmv .Mi-iiiis, wiu* n imlivt- of llu- Old .Norlli S{nW, iiikI 

( WiiiNwiirlli) Hnrr, iiHlivi's of .Maim-, uml till" f:itliir «.i.-. |iroiiiiiifiilly iilfiililii'il wiili llu- ollicini lift- of 

a !<lii|> i-ar|H'iilt'r by Irailc. .She wa.s liorn in lln- llial I'oininoinvi-altli in liis ilay. Mr.->. Kli/.alu'lli 

.•iliovi'-imntioncil roiinty, April 211, 1 ,s ic, hhiI is .Moans wjls a native of KiiiHicky, liorii Manli .'M , 

ono of tin- only t»vo living cliildrcn of Inr iian-iiLs. I IS12. ami dii-il April iO, !««;!. Tlioy wort- llif par- 

wliosi- liiiiHi'lmlil iiK-luiKM| two .-oiisand four •laiii;li- cnU of ten cliililri-ii, :ls follows: Anroii, who wa^ 

tors. Ili-r I. roll), r .laiiif? livt-< in l*iit>l .Mi-. Tlif I'orn Nov. ;», |.s;t,t. inarrii-il .Miss .Mary Dvakin. aii<i 

niotlur <lii''l in l">7;!. Tlif fallur is still livinj; at lius a f.iinily of tlino iliil.lnn. rtsiiliii;,' on a fjirin 

the- olil hoiin- phiic in .M:iin<". lo .Mr. .ind .Mrs. in .Jasper I'ounly, Iowa; .Marllia. Iiorn .Mareli ih, 

I'iiiklmni there w.f l)orn inie eliild only, a <laiii.'li- 1 s.l;;, manieil Charles Jilaek foi her lirsl liiisliftinl, 

ler. Lillian C, wh.i .lieil at the liiiv of ei;.'hl years ami .1. C. .Siiiis for her seeoinl, and died .March 2, 

and four months. The earthly remains of .Mr. 1 .hk.I; .lohn. horn Kel.. J-.', IM.ir.. married .Matihiu 

I'iiikham were laiil to their l.isl repose in the ceine- .Asher, and died in .la.s|)er Coiinly. .Mo., .lime il, 

lery at Ka-sl \Viehil4i. His later years were siieees.-*- IH7.1. h.ivin;; heen the parent of nine ehildren; 

fill linaiieially. aiitl he left a handsome eoin|H'leney .loidan. horn Mareh -T,, 1 .s,!.s. married for his lir»t 

to his widow. "ife Sarah C;irrick, for his seeond. M:ir;;aret .Miller, 

y\ view of the I'inkham resideiiee and surroiiml- and for his third. .Mary ( limy) I'nreell. and is a 

in;;s, t;iveii on another pa;;e. illustrates one of the re.>ideiit of .Ia.sper County. .Mo. ; i'lionms I,., Ix.rii 

most eomplete lionie.s in the eily of Wnhita, and in 1 .H tO. nmrried for his lii>t wife llaltie C ill. and 

one liiiilt up liy the exereise of jjreal industry and for his .-eeond, Delia Clayton, .ind is Ihi- father 

foretlioUL,'hl on the pari of one of ils self-made nun, j of four ehihlreii, and is a farmer in I'olk County, 

who will ever he kimlly reineinliered hy all who Iowa; Adam, horn .lune 1:.', IHIl'. a inemi.er of 

knew him. Company II, 1 Ith I'liiled .Stales Cavalry, during 

the late war, married .M.ary Clerk, and is a resident 

_>> -.g fa c|c » <^~- 1 of (iiithrie County. Iowa, where he is a fanner and 

slock-dealer; KliiLs, liorn .lune 12. IKI2. was a mem- 

Li;\ I l\ MKA.N.s. At 1^' the sturdy, eiier- i her of Company C. 2.td Iowa Infantry, and died 

i(e>^ yelie ami siiccessful farmers in this eonnly, while in the service; Hehecca. horn Nov. Ij, I.SN, 

_^ who lhoroui;hly understand the vocation marrieil Levi Sprunce. who was killed at Milliken's 

whic-h lliey follow, :in<l ii>nsei|uently are eiialded to IJeud during the lale war, after which she married 

carry on Ihal calling with pn.lil to Ihcmsclvcs. is llmannel D.aviNa merchant of Des .Moines, Iowa; 

the snhjecl of Ihis notice. He is actively and ex- .and Levi F.. the suhjeel of this sketch. 

Iciisively engaged in .igriculliiral pnisiiils on his i .Mr. .Means removed with his parents to .lasper 

magniliceiit farm of ^OO acres of land in Illinois County. Iowa, in a very early day, and while he 

Township, his residence heing upon section 17. He was yel ipiile a child. He was reared in ihe 

cMinc to K;ins;is in I Nh.J, and purchased |. si I acres llnwkeye State, and is a splendiil example of the 

of land, lo which he hits since adiled Ihe other .'J'Jd. i gradu.'iles of the district s<-hools of lliul cominun- 

.ind h.as (;()() acres of il nnder plow an<l hroiight lo wealth. He remained a resident of that locality 

a high stite of cultivation. I' pon his farm he has until 1.^70, when he removed lo .l.asper County, 

three tenant houses, a haiidsoun- and commodious .Mo., and having lieen ihol'onghly Iraiiieil to the 

residence. Ileal and comfortalile harns and siili- avocation of a farmer, followed that occu|>alioii in 

slnnlial oiit-liiiildings. with heHiitifnl siMToundiiigs. ihal locality for some lliirteen years, after which 

Mr. McHus is a native nf Marion ( oiiuiy. hid., | he cftine lu Sedgwick County, as ineiitioiied uhove. 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1025 ' ^ 



where he h;i5 ever since iimde his residence, lie is 
in politics a Republican, and is at present hoMing 
ollice of School Treasiii-er. 

Our suhjcct W.1S united in niarrriage, Oct. l.'J, 
1872, with Miss .Mary Prnuty, a native of .]asi)er 
County, Iowa, born Oct. 12, IHoo, and the dauuli- 
ter of Ash and Mar}' (Shearer) Prunty. Ilcr father 
was a native of Kentucky, who removed to Illinois 
at an earl}' day, among tlu' pioneers of that State. 
Mrs. Means was the third in a family of ten chil- 
dren born to her parents, as follows: John, a me- 
chanic, living in Kansas City, married for his first 
wife Sarah Trabis, and for his second Lizzie 
Brooks; Ellen, the wife of Pleasant Auguslon; 
Pierc}-. who is a farmer; Mary, the wife of our sub- 
ject; llenr}', who is farming in Idaho; Smith, fol- 
lo'.ving the same occupation in the same Territory; 
Charles and Anna, who died in infancy ; Fannj', who 
makes her home with Mrs. Means: and Minnie, who 
died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Means there 
have been born a famil}' of four children: Arthur 
C, born May 14, 1874; Ash, whose birth took 
place March 4, 1876; Bessie I., whose natal d.iy 
wa,s Aug. 7, 1880; and Jay, whose advent was upon 
the 3d of February, l^^^'l. 

G' EOUGE W. liERDINE, the genial and popu- 
lar pro|)rietor (.)f the Buckeye Hotel at Mt. 
Hope, migrated to this section of country 
from Peoria, 111. lie was born on the 2.5th of March, 
1836. He has had some experience in .agricultural 
pursuits, and is a man of good business capacities, 
public-spirited and liberal, and in all respects a 
valued member of society. 

Vincent and Louise (Seiple) Berdine, tlie parents 
of our subject, left their home in New Jersej' about 
1843, and took ui) their abode on a tr.act of land in 
Trivoli Township. Peoria Co., 111., where the father 
occupied himself as a tiller of the soil until resting 
from his earthly labors, in 1 870. The mother sur- 
vived her husband onlj' eight years, her death taking 
place in the spring of 1887. Of their nine children 
the record is as follows : The eldest daughter, Eliza- 
beth, became the wife of James .Shearer, and is now 
a resident of Kansas City, i\lo. ; .lacob S. is f:u'ming 



Hh-*^ 



in Hancock County. III., and John is similarly occu- 
pied near Karnu'nglon, tlnit State; Vincent is in 
Brown County, Te.x.; George W., of our sketch, 
was the fourth child; Martin during the late war 
served as a I'nion soldier in Com|)any B, .siJth Illi- 
nois Infantry, and was killed on the battlc-lieid of 
(hickamauga : Walter J. is a traveling manager 
for tiie linshford wagon-works, at Louisville, Ky., 
:ind has his residence in that city: Albert F. resides 
in Iowa, and Ellen M., in Peori:i County, 111. 

Our subject was a lad of seven years when 
his father's family settled in Peoria County, III., 
where he grew to nninhood, and received acommon- 
.school education. He came to the Territory of 
Kansas in 18.58, and for four years thereafter was 
engaged as clerk in a general store at Lawrence, 
with the exception uf six months siient in the 
mountains on accoiinl of his health. After the 
outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted, in 1862, in 
Company B, 86th Illin(Ms Infantry, of which his two 
brothers, Martin and AValter J., were also members. 
They participated in the battles of Perryvillc, 
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, went all through 
the Atlanta campaign, and accompanied Gen. Sher- 
man first to Richmond and finally to Washington. 
Here they were in the grand review, and were 
mustered out in June, 1865, our subject having 
been promoted to Corporal and carried the colors 
of his regiment during the last two years. 

Upon his return from the arnij' Mr. IJinline 
resumed farming in Peoria Count}', 111., and sub- 
sequently became the owner of eighty acres in 
Chani[)aign County, III., and resided there seven 
years. In June, 1884, he sold out and removed 
to Sedgwick County, Kan. His first piuchase 
here w.as a quarter-section in Sherman Towiisliip, 
which he traded later for his hotel property, and 
to the latter has since given his time and attention. 

Our subject, while a resident of Illinois, was 
united in marri:ige with Miss Mary, daughter of 
Samuel and Harriet (Frc}') Frey, the wedding tak- 
ing place at the home of the bride, April ."., 1.S68. 
Mrs. Berdine w.a.s born July 24. 184t), in Huntingdon 
County, Pa., and was the fourth of eight children 
born to her parents. Her brother William died 
when .'djout thirty-three or thirty-four years of age; 
Alinira is the wife of John A<l;ims, and resides in 



r 



-4^ 



.sKDiavicK i(ii;ntv 



I<i«n; lliitliv. Mr*. (>. 1». Swih-I. i'h a n-»i<li'iit of 
IU.>ti.ii, Mii-v..; Dnvi.l |iv^•^ in UiilTiil... N. Y.; 
I'riix illu hoi-iiiiK- the wifi- of Arlliiir Itiii l»r, <if Ciir- 
tli.i;:«-, .Mil.; Aiiim. Mi>. Allen ( iuim.Im, :iti<l Kll;». 
.Mm. l!«mc ('»na<lii, arc r«>>i<lfiitj> nf .loi>cy vilK-, III. 
.Mr>. Hcniini' is hvitv |il«:Ls.iiit anil inU-lligi-nl laily. 
nnti an i'X|H'rl in tlic m.-muractiiru of tvax ami 
zt'plivr tliiwiT!*. 

Till' two chililrcn of our >ul)jcct ami III", wifi- aiv 
K<l«;ii<l F., who I.-. <-i;{htci-ii yvnrx of aj;*-, and 
Malii' II., who i> hint- _Vfiir.Hof a^f. Mr. i ten line is a 

lic|iiililii-an iKilitically, and s<K-ially. i.s a niln-r 

of S. A. Cill.orl Post No. .l.JI.C. A. U. II.- wa* a 
charier nivuilior of the po.vl at I'axton, III., and 
alfo a.vsi.st«-i| in the or;:ani/alion of tin- Kni^hls of 
l'ylhi:L>, TiU'^Mi.Miia Lci.Ii;,. No li'o, .'ii \Ii. llnpe. 

-^^ €^ 



IIAIM.KS II. HAUDSIIAH is prominently 
iilentilied with the va.st »tock-raisin;i; inter- 
est.* of Sedffwiek County, lie lives in(!ree- 
ley 'rownshi)), on section ).'>, his residence in this 
county dating from the fall of 1m77. lie was horn 
in I'astnlia. Krie ('o.,(>hio, Dec. C,, IH.'il, lieinira.>ion 
of Henry .'ind Hilda (Smith) llnidshar. al.-o n:itives 
of Ohio. Ilis umternal ;;raMd|):irciils were from 
New Kn;,dand, anil his palernal ;;r:ind|>arent.s were 
natives of renn.xylvanin. 'I'he latter settled in Krie 
County. Ohio, in I six. and heinj; amcjn;; the early 
settlers of that county, were olili<,'e(l to clear their 
farm from the dciisi- wilderness that then prevailed 
in that pari of liie country. The father of our snh- 
jeit W!is a life-lony resident of Ohit), his de.alli 
<Hi-urrin;; there in l.s.17. lie was a well-to-do 
farmer and stink-iaiser, and left . 'in extensive estate 
to his heir>. To him .■mil his wife were horn three 
children, two of whom arc now livin;;, Charles U. 
and lUchel Maria. The mother of oin- sniijecl 
married .lames |{. .Suowden for her second hnslmnd, 
and died in Ohio in I km). She had three children 
hy her .M'cond marria;,'e — .Mar;;.'irel, .Samuel II. and 
Klhcl. 

Our suhjecl wii.s reared on .-i faiiii, and hiseduca- 
lion wn» condncled in <he common schools until he 
was fourteen years of aj,'C. w hen he attended a .school 
at Cornwall, on the Hudson Uivcr, for one year. 

^» 



Aflcrwar'i ..: .. ^:. .! ■m|,Ii 

Cniversity at South Hend. Ind. Our suhject 
started in life with <<.'i,IMMi from his father's esUl4?, 
nnd ha.- met with marked success in hi- liusines-. 

career, es|H'cially since he ca to Kansiu>. At the 

a;:e of .Heventt-en he enpiycd in the ;,'nH'ery tnide 
ill his native town, hut his Imsine.ss w.ts afu-rwanl 
destroyed by lire. He then went .South and |»a»sed 
one snmnier in the "land of <'otlon " with his 
grandfather Smith, a wealthy planter who owned 
two planUilions in Louisiana, one at Katon KoU!,'e 
and one at .Ml. Pleasant. That ;,'entli man stjirl«'il 
in life with hnt i^-'iU; he died worth 4t:.'(ii).ouii. 

■|'he yc;ir followin*; his return from his .Southern 
vi>it, our >idijecl traveled in the interest of the 
South Ik-iid Iron Works, introducing the Oliver 
chilled plow into Ohio, makin<^ large .sales of the 
.sjinie throughout the State. In the fall of I HXO 
.Mr. Hard.->li:ir married .Mists Carrie ,1.. daughter of 
Levi and .MeIi.><Ha Chandierlin, who was, like himself, 
a native of Cast.'ilia, Ohio. Her father dieil in Ohio, 
:iiid her mother is .-.till a resident of that SUile. 

.After marrnigt' .Mr. Hardshar kept books for a 
milling company at Caslalia until the following year, 
when he came witli his family to Kansas, and set- 
tled whore he now resides. He .at lirst iMinght •.>.>(> 
.-icrcs of land, unimproved, for which he |>aii| iX'i 
:in acre. cash. He has since added to his original 
piu'chase. and now ha.s a valuable farm of .'lOO acres, 
.-ill under improvement, and on which he hiLs ertn-t^-d 
neat nnd commodious buildings. He has tifty head 
of I'olled-Angus cattle, besides owning considerable 
stock of other strains, and he also owns a number 
of horses and hogs. Kor n few years before he 
engaged so extensively in the cuttle businesj^ he 
nd.sed sheep :uid dealt in live slock. He estJib- 
lislicd the first furniture liusiiic.s> at .Ml. Hope, coii- 
diicliiig the ,s."ime for over a year. 

.Mr. Hardshar is a valued citi/.en of this coiiimn- 
nily; he has been an active !igeiil in promoting the 
various schemes f«ir it.s advancement, and has taken 
a I'onspicuons part in the adininislrntion of public 
afl'airs, his educalion and marked Udeiit for business 
eminently qualifying him for any position to which 
he may be elected by the suffrage of his fellow- 
citi/ens. He has .served as Township Trustee 
three terms, and Inus held the olllce of Township 



■^•- 



SKIh:\\ K K county. 



1027 



Treasurer the same length of time, and is frequently 
a delegate to political conventions, l)eing a leading 
man among the IlepuMicans of this county. He is 
a member of the K. of 1'., and holds the oflice of 
First Chancellor of Ta>ni;inia Loilge No. 120, at 
iMt. Hope. 

Mr. and Mrs. B:irdshar's marriage has lieeii 
lilessed bj' the birth of six children, three of whom 
are dead, two d^'ing in infancy and one at the age 
of five ye.ars. Their first child died when eleven 
months old, and then the two following children, 
leaving them childless. Hut they have since h.ad 
three children — Ilarr3', Kdward .1. and Hilda Marie. 

^AKKR S. IIORRIGAN, SecreUiiy and Man- 
ager of the Wichita Soap Manufacturing 
Company, was born ne.ar the town of Maloiie, 
'^ in Franklin County, N. Y.. Aug. 29, ISoS. 
lie received an academic education, and learned the 
clothing business in earl}' life in Malone, that State. 
After four years' experience he opened a store on 
his own account, which he conducted successfully 
eight years. 

In the meantime our subject had jissociated him- 
self with a partner, and, under the firm name of 
Horrigan & Lytle, they carried on the manufacture 
of soap successfullj' with the clothing business, 
commanding a lucrative patronage. Mr. Horrigan 
also established a branch store at Chautauqua, and 
one at Rouse's I'oint, New York SUite, and specu- 
lated considerably', especially in hops. He was thus 
occupied until in Decenibei', 1886, when he resolved 
to visit the West, and came to Hutchinson, this 
State, to look at the country with the view of locat- 
ing. Not long afterward he became interested in 
real estate, in which ho lieg.an to deal considerabi}' 
with excellent results. 

In March, IH87, Mr. Horrigan came to the city 
of Wichita, and organized the Wichita Soap 
Manufacturing Company, with a capital stock of 
^(iO.OOO. (Jf this he was elected Secretary and 
Manager, and is also a member of its directory. The 
President of the company is John B. Carey; the 
Vice President, N. A. English; and the Treasurer, 
J. U. Davidson. The conipan\- in the spring of 



... 

-■ j « _ 



1888 purchased a lot, u|)on which tlie.y erected a 
three-story brick building, which issupplied with all 
necessai;}' machinery, and finely adapted to the car- 
rying r)n of theii' business. It is finished in a mod- 
ern and substantial manner, with tine hardwood 
floors, and turns out about four tons of soap per 
day. The product finds a ready market among the 
jobbing houses of that and other cities. The capacity 
of the factory will be doubled in a short time. 
The company' is now manufacturing a superior 
brand (^f washing soap called " Magnet," which is 
becoming higlil}' popul.-ir. 

Although comparatively young in years Mr. Hor- 
rigan has fully established himself as one of the 
substantial business men of the city, and is already 
the owner of some valuable real estate. He com- 
menced for himself in life when a youth of sixteen 
j'ears, and since that time has made his own wa}' in , 
the wcirld unaided, save b^' the natural business 
capacity and the resolute will with which nature 
endowed him. The wife of our subject, to whom 
he wiis married Aug. 29, 1 882, was M iss Carrie L., 
daughter of (). R. and Emily A. Slater, at that 
time residents of Potsdam, N. Y. Mrs. Horrigan 
was born April 2;?, 1 8y8, in New York. Her parents 
were natives of New Y»»rk, and are now in their 
native State. Of her union with om- subject there 
is one cliild, a daughter, .Jessie E., who was born 
Jidy l.j, 188.'), in New York. Mr. Horrigan, 
although having little time to devote to political 
matters, uniformly support,-* the principles of the 
Republican party. 

\fr^, REDERICK AICIST ROE.MKACH, a re- 
K^lg; tired farmer, and now a resident of Garden 
iHl, Plain, is a native of the little Kingdom of 

Saxony, and born Jan. 13, 1828. His parents were 
.Joseph and Anna (Guenler) Roembach, who were 
also of German birth and parentage, and who ui)0n 
emigr.ating to America made their wa}- directly to 
Milwaukee, Wis., where both soon passed away. 

Our subject, thus throwi upon his own resources, 
employed himself at whatever he could find to do, 
and from 18(;8 to 1872 was engaged in the hop 
culture near Eilbourn, Wis. Thence he returned 




■•►-HK-^ 



ii>-_ 



si;|h;\\ k k (III N I V 



til M ilvvMiikii-. :iiii| wji.s iiiliir-li-il m the livtrv liiiM- 
iK-ss until |.>^77. l)iiriii^ lliin yt-ni', ilo.iiriuii* of a 
clmnge of liMittiun, lit> miIiI mit \\\n \>uf>un:i« in tlio 
C'n-Jini t'ily. nii<l coiiiiiix t<' llii-* «'<innl_v !<i>jiiiiriii'<l 
r<ir II tiuK- in Wii-liitn, wliicli \va> tlicn iiii iniini|iiir- 
tiuit liiwn. lie niitilly Mtllnl In .Murtnn 'riiwn>lii|i, 
|)iir<'lia<in;; tlir Himtlu-aMt i|uarl<'r of .srcliim 1 1, anil 
in (liif linit' aililnl |i> hi-i innilcil possessions ttit- 
norilifiist (|uui'tor of section !••. In tin- fall of lss~ 
lu> rvtireil from active iaiior, ami settlcil ilown in a 
suui! little home at I ianlen I'laiii. The house which 
he occujiies he nioveil fmui ( 'heuey, anil localeil 
on some lots for uhicli he liail trmleil sonu' tiuu> 
previously. 

On the I'.tth of Seplemlier, I h;.2, our suliject was 
iiniteil in marria^'c with Miss Wilhelniina Itremliai h, 
who eiui;.'rateil with her parentis, Karl Kreilrich and 
Kreilrika Christiana Wilhelinina (Lorenz) Itreui- 
liach, to America in IS Is. 'I'liey. too, niaile their 
home in .Milwaukee, Wis. .Mrs. Koeinliach is a 
native of the sjune country as her liuslianil, anil w.xs 
liorn May L'T, is.-.i'. (»f the ei;:ht chililrcii who 
came til their householil only three survive, nauiely : 
(;eiir;.'e K.lwaril. liorii M.iy 10, IS.-iC; Clara Krcl- 
rika, March Id, I s.'i'.l ; ami Hichnnl Lconanl, March 
IS, isO.'i. The sons are enira^^'cil in liusiness at 
(larilen I'laiu uniler the firm name of Uoeiuliaeli 
IJros., carryiuf; a •;eneral line of h.nrilwarc, farm 
iniplements. macliinery, etc., .ami are haviiiij a pros- 
|M-rons tnule, nolwitlisLaniliu<; the cry of liaril limes. 
In jMiJitics the entire family are Hepulilican.aml are 
all menilii-rs nf the Lutheran Church. 

WII.I.I.VM I Alt KIT i- a real-estate ilcaler 
ami farmer, liviu;; in Wichita. Kan. lie 
^ ^ w:is liorii in .spriimlielil, Inil., .Ian. 2.'i, 
I Sir,, ami is the ehlest of the live chililren, all of 
whom are still livin;,', of .lohn V. anil Sarah It. 
(tiillespie) r'auccil. His failierwas lioin in Hutler 
County, Ohio, .luly •.'. isi l.ami ilieil Sept. 1, |K«(;. 
His miithi'i was Imrn lli-c U'l, ls|ll, anil ilieil .Sept. 
21, issn. They were uniteil in niarri:ii,'e in IS I I, 
ami liy imluslry ami fiiif^ality j;;ithereil tii;;ether a 
comfortjilile pro|ierly, ami were cnaMeil to;,'ivelhe 
chililren Imrn to thi-m a i'immI '■tart in life, ami llie 



Usu.'il eilucalliinal iiil\ anta^es. I'lie reciMil of their 
sons ami ihuitfliters is ita follow.s: William, the suli- 
Jfcl of this skoU'h; l-nmci« H.. Iwiru Oct. 10, IK 17; 
Sjinih A.. Oil. II, IKI'.t; .lohn H., Dee. .'). I «.'.]; 
(Jenevra, Aug. 7, IS5,^. Francis mnrrieil, nml li ve- 
al Collef;e Corner, Ohio; .Samh miirrieil A. C. 
/.artinan; they live near Hamilton, Ohio, nml have 
four chililren. .lohn is married, lives near Sprinj». 
fiehl, Inil., iinil Ims one Imiv ; Gcnevra marricil 
.lames C. Thompson: they live .il .Inniaica, Iowa, 
ami have three chililren. 

'I'he maternni j.jrcat-gran<Ifalher of our siihjecl, 
Alexnniler Koliinson, was Itorn in ScotlamI in I7(i(), 
anil ilied Nov. •_'(;, 1S2'.I. His wife, Nancy (Patter- 
sou) Koliinson, was horn in 1 762, and died Aug. 
12, 1S4S. His inaleru.'il grandfalher, Kohert Cd- 
lespie, was horn Fell. 2, I7s2, and died .Mnrcli 12, 
IH.'il. Ili.i wife, Mary, wn.s born Oct. 10, I7S2, 
.■iml died Feh. ICi, |s7.t, surviving her husli.-iml 
nearly twenty years. They were married Dec. 10, 
I7!i;i.nml the record of their children is as follows: 
Nancy (i. was horn Feli. 2, ISO!, married Asji Cor- 
wine. May l.'i. IS20. and died .Ian. 2;i, issi ; .lohn 
W. was liorn Oct. 1 :!, IS02, married Kiltie Kesse, 
April 2-1, 1S2S, and died Feb. \i\. I ss7 ; .lames 
was horn Oct. .1, I SO I, married Mary lleyden. Oct. 
2.'!, 1S2S, .and died Aug. ."i, 1S4I; .lane was liorn 
Nov. '.), ISdCi, married .lames MeCloskey, .lune 10, 
ls:!.l, and died May 23, 1SS2; (Jeorge II. wius horn 
.Ian. 4, ISO'.), and married Hannah Uridge, March 
(!, is;!2; .Sarah R. was liorn Dec. 24, ISIl, married 
.lohn Faueett, Feb. 27, 1S44, and died .Sept. 21 , 
ISSO; Mary F. wa* born .Sept. 2.'), 1813, nuirried 
William Wilson, Oct. 13, 1S3.5; Alexander K. wa- 
liorn Feb. Ti, ISlC, and nuirried Mary K. I'ierson, 
Dec. 24, 1S40; Samuel was born March K'., Isis, 
and married Amanda Killcter, Oct. 2'J, is;i:»: Will- 
iam li. was born Ajiril I'.l, 1 S20, ami married Kli/.a- 
beth Kemple, .M.ny lo, ls(<J; Uoberl wjis born 
.March 21, 1S22. and married Cnroliiie Holser, Oct. 
21, IS 17; Wilson was born Dee. 12, ls2l,and died 
the day following; .lohn Faueelt died Sept. I, ISSC, 
and As;i Corwine, .Ian. 10, ls44. 

William Faueelt of this sketch s|M'nt his boyhood 

and early nuiuh I on his father's farm, .and early 

becauu' ;iccustoineil to hard «ork. His parent,- 
sent him to the public mIiuipI, where lie ol.laiiiid 



•► m-^*- 



I- 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-•► 



10--'!> 



the ftxiiulation of a solid education, as lie wa.-< a 
ln-ight, quiolv sehol.-ir, and easily kept his place at 
tilt' head of his classes; when not in scliool he was 
kept closely at home and steadily at work, never 
even takinu: .1 ride on a railwa\' train until after he 
was twent3"-one. Ills i)arents were very strict with 
him. as he was inclined to ho wild, but when he was 
twenty years of age he hecanie convinced of the 
evil of his ways, and firmly <letermined to abandon 
them, and lead a more manly. Christian life. Hence 
he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, becom- 
ing one of its most earnest and useful members, 
giving uj) all of his bad habits, with the exception 
of chewing tobacco. It is worthy of note in this 
connection that he inherited a craving for that per- 
nicious weed, commencing it.s use when not mono 
than two or three years old. 

AVhen our subject attained his majority lie com- 
menced to make his own way in the world, working 
out by the month, and being ambitious to acquire 
a bettor knowledge of books and things than he 
alread}- had he wisely saved his money until he had 
enough to pay his w.ay at an academy, where he ob- 
tained a better education than was usual for far- 
mers' boys at that lime. Afterward he worked for 
his father a year, and the ensuing season rented a 
part of his fai'm, on which he raised a fine crop, 
which l)rought him in a snug sum of money. The 
next year he resolved to see some of the surround- 
ing coinitr3', and traveled through Illinois, Missouri 
and a ])art of Kans,as. In 1873 he esLablished him- 
self in the mercantile business; that w.as the season 
of tiie great panic, when thousands of solid, long 
established firms went down in ruins, but Mr. Kau- 
cett managed to keep his liead above water, con- 
tinuing in the business until 187f>, finally making a 
success of it. 

In IHTOMr. Faucett bought an interest in a large 
feed and sale stable in Indian;ipolis, Ind.,but at the 
end of a year he had a chance to .-^ell out ver^' ad- 
tageoiisly, and did so. He then bought a farm of 
17.5 acres, near College Corner, Butler Co , Ohio, a 
part of it extending into I'nion County', Ind. This 
he farmed for three years with good success. He 
then sold his property there, and moved to Hamil- 
ton, Ohio, where he engaged as triiveling sidesman 
for farm implements for a ^ear, and w:i.s connected 



with the business about four years, devoting the 
last year or two to selling buggies and horses. In 
this venture he met with iniqn.alified success, as by 
his geniality, ready tact and honorable dealings he 
secured the conndence of his customers, and made 
large sales. In March, lSH.'(,he resolved to resume 
farming, and coming to Kansas bought 120 acres of 
land near Channte. iNot liking the location he sold 
out in a few months, making nearlj' ^1,000 by the 
transaction, and coming to this county purch;i.sed a 
valuable farm of ;{20 acres, which w.as much lietter 
suited to liis requirements. Ho has since sold 1(!0 
acres of it, .•ind now owns a quarter of section .'), in 
Afton Township. 

Although our subject has scarcely atU-iined the 
meridian of life, ho has by his diligence anil enter- 
prise alread\' secured a competency', and he and 
his wife can now i)ass their remaining years in their 
conimodio\is. comfortable home in the enjoyment 
of everything that goes to make life easy and happy. 
While engaged in the mercantile business in Oxford, 
Ohio, Mr. Faucett was married, Aug. 10, 187.5, to 
Miss Ilattic Matson, of that place. The father of 
IVIrs. Faucett was born at Milford, Ohio, Oct. 2. 
1814; for many years he was a successful hardware 
merchant in Oxford, .and is still living there, now 
retired. The maiden name of his wife was Cath- 
erine Mcpee; she was born in Center Countj', Pa., 
Dec. 12, 181C, being a descendant of noble Irish 
ancestrj', and was very highly educated. Their 
marriage took place Jlay 4, 18.35; her death oc- 
curred Oct. 28, 18GG. Their familj' comprised six 
children: Georgetta, born Feb. II, 1836, married 
A. S. AVinston, a lawyer of Burlington, Ky., and 
they have six children; .Mary F., born Dec. 21, 
1837, married D. G. Thom.is. of Cincinnati, Ohio, 
and they have two children; Charles M., born Feb. 
.'), 1840, died Sept. I, 1848; Sarah E., born Nov. S, 
1843, married Richard (Jatch, of D.aylon. Ky., .and 
they have three children; Harriet M..Mrs. Faucett. 
w.a.s liorn .Ian. Hi, 18.50; Annie, born May 29, 1853, 
married Caleb A. Shera, a banker of Oxford, Ohio, 
an<l the}' have three children. ft[rs. Faucett is 
finely educated, being a graduate of Oxford (Ohio) 
Fem.ale College, and carrying aw.ay the honors of 
the class of twelve students in 18(;7. 

To our subject and his wife there have been born 1 r 



i 



•s*-" 



■^— 



' ' Hi30 



SKI"; WICK cm n i v 



four children, niimply: Funnie, May IN, IH7C. in 
Oxfonl, Ohio; Aiiiilo, Ndv. 21, In77, iicnr lliiiiiil- 
toll, in iiiitlt-r County. Ohio; Ni-rv;i. Mnrcli 31, 
IMWI, Ml C'oll«-};»- Corner. HnlltT Co., Ohio: rhili|> 
l>. Mnt.Hon, .Inn. 'J't, IKNt; nnotlior .son, not niininl, 
wiLs Lorn March l.'i, ISMK. 

Mr. KHnci'tt i-i n ninn of nnliji-niished rcpiil.'ition, 
gpnerou.s nml kiml-hi'iirU-il, ){cniiil iiml licliifiil to 
thiMtp nlioiit him, .-iml of hli;h >t.-tiiilin>,' in ]\\-< roin- 
niunitv. 



\T^()IIN .M. CHAIN, tho yoiin^' nnd inlolji^rt-nl 
I'lUthier of ihc Cii-HrwuiiT IJank, i.-* :i native 
of Tn/..Mvt'l| Connty, III., horn Nov. 1, IH.'.?, 
^gj/' and is a sou of William I'. nn<l Loni.sa ,1. 
( .M<-I>aniel.>i) Chain, who arc now livinj: in nntlcM- 
Comity, this .Slate. His father i.< a native of 
I'enn.-.ylvania, of llolhinil-Dnteh ilescenl. while hi.> 
mother'.- Iiirthplaee w:is in Kenlncky. 

Our snliject was one of a family of five ehililren 
horn to his parent-., four of wliom are >liil living', 
viz: William, Ciiarles, .lohn M. and I. In L. His 
father was en^'ii^eil in the ilry-;,'oo<I.- Inisiness in 
I'ekin, III., for many yi'nrs, Ittit wius ('oni|>elleil to 
retire from hnsiness, owinj; to iiis ill-lieallh, an<l 
eanie to Kansas in 1H7U, settlinjf on a farm in 
Itntler Connty, where ho is now en{ja;;e(i in raising 
stock, .lohn M. wits reare<l heneath the paternal 
roof, and re<-cived tho lienellts of a most exeeilenl 
edneation in the .sehools of I'ekin, {jratluatinj; from 
the High School of that place wlicn he wjus alioiit 
»ixt4-cn years of aj;p. He came to Kans.is with his 
parents in l«7f>, and remained with them upon the 
farm until the winUr of IKHl, which he spent in 
'iexas, and came to Wichit.-i the summer follow in j;. 
He wius in the employ of I'opke.ss A- Caither, whole- 
side and retail coal merchant^ of that city, with 
whom he remained until the fall of l.SHI. At that 
date he removed to Clearwater, where for a .-.horl 
time he was enKa>,'ed in the coal hnsiness, having'' 
sUirt4-d the Clearwater Coal Compjiny, hut >ooii 
sold out and enn!i>;ed in the gniin business. In 
\HHl\ he entereil into an enj;;if;emciit with !•'. L. 
'rillin^dia.<4t, as nuina;;er of the Clcjirwater Itank, 
with whom he continued until the .-prin;; of I hh7. 
whiii that ^'cntlemnn t-Mik Ihni- parlm-rs into the 



hn.-iiii--. Will -MMjiii iiii'ii .11 ■ .i.ii .i till- |Hisition 
of liookkec|H'r in the lili/.ens' Itank nt Wichita. 
Snh»e<iuenlly the linnk at Clearwater n^'nin jKissed 
under the sole control of Mr. TillingluLsl, who in- 
st.alled Mr. Chnin na cashier in it in Uie fall of 
IHH7, which iKksition he is filling with marked 
cre<lit and l>nsine.«.s nhility. He is a young man of 
sU-rling integrity ami hi;.'h principles, and is justly 
esteemed hy all who have liusines« connections 
with hin). 

The snhject of our sketch was united in niarriage, 
Sept. 1.'), IHHO, with Miss Kittie A. Morgan, a na- 
tive of Stephens(»n County, III., horn Nov. 1 «, IHIH). 
The lady is a daughter of Henry W. nnd Hannah 
Morgan, who now reside in (ireenwich. this county, 
having located here in 1S7H. Her father is n 
native of the State of New York, .and her nufther of 
Maryland, and were the jtarents of five children, 
four of whom are living, as follows: Harry W.; 
Kittie A., the wife of our sidiject; Mary K., the 
wife of Klnier Dickei-son, and (Icorgc L. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Chain have come two children to lirighten 
their domestic joys: (ieorge W., who was liorn 
.Inly 22, ISHI; and Freddie T., whose hirth oc-- 
curred .Inly 2«, 1«H.3. 

Mr. Chain is n memlicr and .lunior U'nrden of 
Unity Lodge, A. V. .t A. .M., :in<l is comiected 
with Clearwater Lodge, I. (). <). F. I{i>th he nnd 
his estimalile wife are active members of the society 
of the town, :ind have greatly endeared thi-mselves 
to the i>eople of ilic loniniuiiity since their resi- 
dence here. 



•► H-*i 



ILLIS K. IIAI (illKV. who is favorably 

M known among the citi/.ens of Salem Town- 
^ „ ship as an intelligent farmer and a musi- 
cian of more than onlinary t-alent, is a native of 
Williams County. Ohio, and occupies n comfortii- 
ble homestead on section t'>. He wxs born on the 
2.'hl of May, IH-Ort, and is the son of .Incob and 
Margaret (Ca.ssil) Ilanghey, of whom a sketch will 
be found on another |Ktgc in this work. The fam- 
ily cnnu- to this connty in the spring of IH7S, 
where they have since resiiled, and are recognized 
ii.-. :imi>ng the inl<-lligent men of their community. 



/ 




•►- 



i 



SEDGWICK COUNTY, 



— •► 
1033 



Our subject receivod an excellent ertueation in 
his j^oulh and followed teaching for a time after 
leaving school. He left his native State a single 
man, and after reaching the twenty-fifth year of 
his age, was married in .Jonesvillc. Hillsdale Co., 
Mich., .Inly 'M, ISS:?, to Miss Clara E., daughter of 
Calvin and Ellen (Troutner) Heath, who are resi- 
dents of Cumberland Count}', Tenn. 

Mrs. Ilaughey was born Fel). 10, 1(SOO, in Allen 
County, Ind. She w.is the youngest of her parents' 
three children, her elder sister being Meda, the 
wife of Stillnian E. Johnson, of Wichita, her 
brother being the late James Monroe Heath, of 
Muskegon, Mich. When a child three years of age. 
the parent* of Mrs. II. removed to Steuben County, 
Ind., where she was reared and educated. Our 
subject and his wife have one child only, a son, 
Harry G., who was bf)rn Aug. 8. 1S84. Their 
homestead comi)rises eighty acres of good land, 
where Mr. Ilaughey is carrying on general farm- 
ing successfully and enjoys the confidence and 
esteem of his neighbors. Politically, he is a Repub- 
lican with Prohibition tendencies. 



^^iJEORGE F. FLESH MAN, a prominent .and 
(II ,=, energetic j'oung farmer and stock-raiser, 
^^J residing on sectitm 27, in Salem Township, 
is a native of Virginia. He first drew the breath of 
life Nov. 2, 1857. and is a son of William II. and 
Mary L. (Gish) Fleshman, a sketch of whom ap- 
pears eLsewhcre in this Ai.I!i:m. In 1809 he came 
to Kansas with his parents, and has m.ade this .St;itc 
his residence since that time. Ho received a por- 
tion of his edue.ition in his native State, which 
was finished in the district schools of Sedgwick 
County, Jifter the family located here. He grew 
to manhood on his father's farm, and at the age of 
twenty-one was united in marriage, Nov. 20, 1878, 
with Miss Charity C. PoTvers. The bride was born 
in Lewis County, W. Va., Nov. 19, 18.54, and is 
the daughter of William I), and Charily (Paxson) 
Powers, both of whom were al.so natives of West 
Virginia. While Jlrs. Fleshman was still a little 
child her mother died, and left her to a father's 
care. The latter has been twice married, and is 
the father of four children, namely: William M., 



residing in West Virginia; Charity C, the wife of 
our subject : Paxson L., residing in .Salem Township, 
and Luther H., in California. 

In the spring of 18()9 William 1). Powers, the 
f;ither of Mrs. Fleshman, c.imc to Kansas, and set- 
tling in Sedgwick, pre-empted a quarter of section 
2, in Salem Township. Tlicre he remained, engaged 
in agricultur.'il pursuits, until August, 1879, when 
he was called hence. As a pioneer of Sedgwick 
County he was one of its representative men, and 
w;is widely and favorablj- known by all who lived 
in that portion of the county at that time. He 
merited and received the esteem and confidence of 
his neighbors and associates, and in his death the 
county lost one of her best citizens. He w.is a 
member of the Evangelical Church, and of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

There h;u5 been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleshman 
a family of three children, viz: William IL, de- 
ceased; Florence L., who was born Feb. 1(!, IfSMl ; 
and James G., Feb. 3, 1885. Our subject has 
a good farm of eighty acres of land, on which he 
has made all the improvements himself. These 
are of a neat and substantial character, and m.ani- 
fest a degree of industrj' and good management 
on the part of the proprietor th.at is commendable. 
Considerable attention is given by him to the rais- 
ing of stock, with excellent pecuniary results. He 
alliliates with the Democratic part}' in politics, but 
is not bound entirely by party lines. 

Among the representative homesteads of .Sedg- 
wick County, that of ]Mr. Fleshman, as given by 
our artist on another page, bears fair comparison, 
' and is a silent illustration of his industry and worth- 



VILLIAM O. ELDKED. The handsome home 
of this gentleman is conspicuous among 
those of the better class of people of W:ico 
Township for its elegant residence and t:isteful sur- 
roundings. The sixty-two acres of land which lie 
around it have been brought to a high st;ite of cul- 
tivation, antl the barn and out-buildings, with the 
stock and farm machinery, are of first-class descrip- 
tion, combining the ideas of the modern and progres- 
sive agriculturist. 

Our subject is the offspring of one of the best 



*-. 






•1 I'CWICK t'fil N I 1 



! 



faiiiilii'H III till- lMii|iirr "^iJiif, iiiMii^i un- Mill III KritH- 
tii!t mill Kiiieliiic (Wtxilcy) Kl«lrfil, who wt-re born 
nixl ri-arol in llcrkinifr C'luinly, und tlifnce re- 
nii>%'i><lto (JriThfConnly, 111., wIktc WillmiiiO. »!i> 
horn Aujf. 30, IH'Ih. Tlur piitcrniil gninilfiilliiT sfl- 
llftl in Illinois with hi.s fitnilly in |h-.'ii, mikI died nl 
a ri|M; old ;igu. Knu<tu» KMrt'd »■ll^ horn in 1 S"JO, 
and is ittill riirryin;; on fiirniin;; tind !>t<K-k-rnising in 
lllinoi.". Tlw niolluT of our subject dird when the 
InlU-r w«j* a liul ciyhl yeiirs of tigv, or about IHi'iti. 
The father was subse<|ucntly innrried to Mi»s Kli/.a- 
bi-lh Uitt-hie, who lu-cann- tiie mother of six chil- 
dren, and died in ImO'J. ilis tliird wife was Miss 
(Iraee Tribble, anativeof Kn;;lHn(i. To the niolher 
of onr subjpi-l there were born seven children, 
namely : Kninia, Floni, Damiin, Martha, William ()., 
(leor^je aixl Charles. Uy the second marrijij^e of 
Kra^tns Kldred there were Ixirn four sons and two 
daufjhtfrs, namely: Cluirles, .Siimuel. Il<irace, Ma^f- 
jific, .lohn and Nellie. There are livint; of the two 
families seven children, mostly residenUs of Illi- 
nois. 

The childhoiHl and youth of our subject were 
spent in his native county, where he became familiar 
with fiirmiuf,' pui-suits, and developed into man- 
hood, lie was married quite late in life, on the 1st 
of March. \xM, Ui Miss Kliz:i lioliley, who became 
the mother of two children: Albert, born Dec. ."t, 
1MM3, and Kdith, April !l, IMHC, and died at the 
birth of the Intttr. The children are now at home. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
nuirricd l*'cb. H, 1HM7, wjis formerly Miss .lennie 
Bullard, daufjIiU-r of William C. and Kliza A. 
(Snow) liullard, who wius born Auj;. 10, iHtiO, in 
Macoupin, 111. William C. linllard is still a resi- 
dent of that place. 'I'lie mother of Mrs. Kldred 
dieil there in 1M71. Their hou.sehohl included the 
followinji; children: I'aulina, who died at the aye of 
.sixteen years; Chester, who died at the i^je of 
eighteen: Lillian, .lennie, Kdwin; Willie, decea.scd ; 
Willie Floy; twin infants who died unnamed: and 
.SUmley, who died when six years old. 

In IhMJJ Mr. Kldred cro.ssed the Mississippi, and 
took up his residence in this county, where he has 
since tninsf<»rmed n tract of indifTerently cultivated 
land into one of the most fertile farms of Waco 
Township. His aim has always been high, and 



notlini:; p:i--cs lln. .u-h In. Iiaml^ ill i| ||i» ni- 

clu.stry and g<Kxl judgment, a* well as his Hue Lasl4>s, 
are amply illustrated in liLs surroundings, his home 
being the object of admiration by all who liave ik-- 
easion to |>as> through this M-ction of country, anil 
a view of which will be reeorrnized on another page. 



,«KI,S NKI.NON. Among the protninent and 
worthy citizens of Sc-dgwick C<Minty, of 

[i^ alien birth, whose lives are <ievoU'd to agri- 
culture and the farming interesLs of this section, 
nniy be named the subject of this biography, whos*- 
home lii-s within the borders of Attica Township, 
on .section 14. lie is a native of iIolst<-iii, I'rii.ssia, 
born May 'J, lH4,'t, and the .son of Peter and Kat- 
rina (Hansen) Nelson. 

The father of our subject was a shoemaker, and 
living in the town, Nels received a good comnion- 
scluM>l education. At the age of lifteen he com- 
menced to learn the blacksmith's trade, and .served 
an apprenticeship of Ove years, as is common in that 
country. For about a year he worked its a jour- 
neyman after being out of his time, receiving his 
board and about what would make ijsl.io of rnit4'd 
.Stales money for his weekly wagos. He then 
rented a shop, and carried on the business for him- 
.self for about a year, but concluded that there was 
no opening in his native land for a |M>or man, an<l 
that it was inijiossibh- for him to rise from the stii- 
tiou where he was born, s<» he emigrated to America 
and landed' in New York City. In that mctro|NiIis 
of the Western Continent he remained about five 
months, working at his trade, and then went to 
Monmonth, 111., where he spent about a year, 
(ialesburg, in the .same Stale, w:ls the next scene of 
his hibors, being engaged in the machine-shops at 
that place for about fourteen months. He next 
removed to Yates City, 111., where he was engaged 
at his trade by contracLs, and where he remained 
some three years and a half. While a resident of 
the latter place our sultject was married, .Sept. lit, 
IHCK, to .Miss liiLsie .lohnsoii, a native of .Sweden. 
Soon after his nnirriage both he and his wife were at- 
tacked by the typhoid fever, and within U-n weeks 
from till' date of licr wedding shrdied. In l.'STI the 



•►•-♦i 



-•^-■-4« 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1035 



!i 



subject of this sketch reuioved to Knoxville, in the 
same State, where he worked tlirough the summer, 
and where he was again married. Sept. 21, 1871, 
was the date of the ceremony which united the 
lives of Mr. Nelson and Miss Helen Peterson. 

Mrs. Nelson is a native of Sweden, born Feb. 21, 
1845, and is the sixth child in a family of nine born 
to her parent*, Samuel and Helen (Hanson) Peter- 
son. Her father was born in 1802, and her mother 
in 181.5. All of their family are in this counUj 
except one, and one deceased. When she was quite 
small, April li>, 1853, her father died, after which 
her mother came to America, where she passed 
away to her rest Jan. 9, 1882. Mr. Nelson came to 
Kansas in 1871, and locating in Wichita, commenced 
work for the same party with whom he had been 
enii)lo3'ed in Yates City, with whom he remained 
about eighteen months. At the expiration of that 
time he opened a smithy of his own, which he 
operated for about nine years. On his locating in 
this count}", he pre-empted the farm of about IGO 
acres where he now lives, and to which he removed 
in 1881, when he gave up following his trade. 
Since that time he has devoted himself to agricult- 
ural occupations with considerable pecuniar}' success. 
His farm, which is among the very best in the town- 
ship, is well imjjroved and is considered to be worth 
something over $12,000. A view of it assists in 
gracing a page of tiiis volume. 

In his politics Mr. Nelson has alwaj's been a 
Republican, but he is at the present time iden- 
tifled with the Labor Union party. While a resi- 
dent of West Wichita, he served as School Director, 
and was Constable for five years. Soon after mov- 
ing to his present home, he commenced to move in 
the matter of getting a school-house built, and after 
a good deal of time and labor, notwithstanding the 
frequent discouragements, he succeeded, and they 
now have a good school and an excellent teacher. 
The community gave our subject full credit for 
his labors in this direction, .-md respect and honor 
him accordingly. Both he and his wife were reared 
in the Lutheran Church, but on account of there 
being no organization of that denomination in this 
locality, they have been attending the Presbyterian 
Church, in which their children have been baptized. 

Peter Nelson,the father of our subject, was born 



Feb. 21, 1798, and was a shoemaker and tanner by 
trade. He married Miss Katrina H.anson, and was 
the father of eleven children, four of whom are 
now living in this country. The father died in 
October, 1881, and the iiKPlhcr, who was born in 
1817, died in 18U.'.. 

Mr. .'Old Mrs. Nelson arc the parents of eight 
children, as follows: Arinjld, born July 4, 1872; 
Augusta, June 7, m74; Anna, Jan. 22, 187G; Mar- 
guerite, Dec. 20, 1877 ; Frank, Oct. 31, 1879; John. 
Jan. 9, 1882; Ida, Feb. 20, 1884; Emma, Sept. G, 
1885, and Osic KlrtivT. M.,v 1 '^ I «ss. 



"^■tSf^^-.-r.^-^- 



« \ j^ 



•►Hl-^- 



J'ASPER N. CKCUeil... iili;iblc and ener- 
getic member of the sturdy sons of toil who 
are engaged in tilling the soil of these Kan- 
sas plains, is engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising on section 15. in Illinois Town- 
ship. He was born in Kosciusko County, Ind., 
March 19, 1847, and is the son of James and Me- 
linda (Groves) Crouch. 

The father of our subject was the son of Joseph 
and Amy Crouch, and was a native of Ohio, born 
July 25, 1798. and died in 1857. He was a farmer 
and stock-raiser, and wiis in politics a Re))ublican. 
He had married in early life Miss Melinda, the 
daughter of William and Elizabeth Groves, who 
w.TS born Oct. 31, 1805, and departed this life Jan. 
13, 1881. They were the parents of the following 
children : Eliza, born May 25, 1 823, married Ben- 
jamin Vancuren, and died Aug. 4, 1886, in Kos- 
ciusko Count}', Ind. ; Eli, born March 31, 1825, 
married for his first wife Charlc>ttc McNeal, and 
after her death, Mrs. Elizabeth Firestone, nee 
Elder, and died Nov. 29, 18C7; William was born 
Dec. 27, 1827, and died Oct. 4, 1857, leaving a 
widow, who was formerly Mary Dustin, and one 
child: Elizabeth was born April 9, 1830, married 
Samuel Kelly for her first husband, and after his 
death John Keith, and is a resident of Indiana: 
Amy w!is born Sept. 8, 1 832, and married Joseph 
Largent, a Kansas farmer; Dorcas was born Jan. 20, 
1835, and died Oct. 3, 1857; Margery, born March 
7, 1837, and died in infancy; Lucinda, who was 
bcfrn Dec. 29, 1838, married William Otenford, 
'. A^ 



-♦•- 



in.1t: 



SKI)f;\VI( K COLM V 



»h4> H11.S a iiiilltT I'V Irmlr; |);iiiii-l \\ i'l>r»t<T, ivlioso 
liirlh UH>k iiliue .Inn. 18, ISi.'l, tlieil :il DiiiivilU', 
Ky.. Oct. 2;», IHfi'J. wliile n mpiiitifr of ('iiin|>nny 
A, "4lli liiilinim Iiifniitry : Sanili S\.. tlic wiilnw of 
.Iii<'t>l> ItilililiT, WHS liorii April !•, 1^11; the yoiiii;;- 
ost oliijil WHS .liu*|)er N. Crunch, of wlmiii ijii.x skoU-li 
i.s wrilU'ii. 

Mr. C'r«>iicli rciiiaiiicil nt Iihhk- wjiii iiis widowol 
iiiotlu-r, his fiithoi linviii^' iliiMl when the former 
was lint ton yciirs of a^'c. iiiilil he was .a lion I tw<Mily- 
Qvc ycnrs of iif;i'. \lv rcccivcil his iihication in 
Iho district .s«-hools of his native ."sl.atc, ami ii.-vsi.sl«'il 
in cjirryinf; oh the f.irni lalioi>. lie \va> united in 
ninrrinve. March III, l.sT'i. with Miss Hosclle Stin- 
son, a niilivo of Kosciusko (onnly. hid., who was 
Imrn Auff. ;l|, l.sfid, and is the daujrhler of .lames 
T. and Margaret (Collins) Stinson. who were both 
natives of Ohio. Her fiither was horn .Sept. I, I HIS, 
and died May 2.'i, 1 .^H7, in IndiHiia, and her mother, 
born .Ian. IK, IH^U, died Nov. 27. I H.")t;. They 
were the parents of six children, as follows: Aii^e- 
line, born .May l'7, I f<4.'i, ilied .lunc ;i, 1 s IC : Marija- 
ret, Uoselte, Charles, Rlanciio and Lulu. Mari.niret, 
Mrs. Wilson Hoover, born Aiijj. S, l,si7. is a resi- 
dent of Indiana: Uo.«etlc is the wife of the subject of 
tiiis sketch; Charles was born Vrh. 1, l.S;').!. married 
Miss Kmma Brown, and is a c:trpenter in AiiirustJi, 
this State: lllanche, wiiose liirtli occurn'd .Ian. 7, 
ix.'i.'i. married Kinliy .McMillan, a blaeksniith .il 
l)ou;;lus, Kan.; I.iititia was liorii March i.'i. I.s.'ii;, 
and died M;iy I'.'. l-s.'i.S; AiiL-^cline died wjicn 
about two years old. Mrs. Cionch's mother d\ iiijr 
while a yoiMifj woman, her father marrieil .Mrs. 
Klizabeth .Moore, iit>p M.acllv.nin, who bei.'ime the 
mother of six children, as follows: Alii'c and Uanii'l, 
decea-M-d ; .loliii, in Imliana: I'lysses and .-in infant 
iinnamed, < I ecen.se d ; and Mark, in Indiana. 

.Mr. Crouch remaineil a resilient of Indiana, 
where he was eii;,'a;,'ei| in rarniin;:, until Ih'C. at 
whii-h time he came to K:iiis:i> .and located in lliil- 
ler County, where he rcm:iined about three ve.'irs, 
he then returned to his lii>ni<- in In<li:iii:i, .■md hav- 
ing; ilis]K>sed of his properly in tli.at locality, came 
back to Kan.sns in the spring of |hh|, ;iiid settled 
in this county, on the farm where lie now resides. 
lie ha.- a plai'c which embracis I (In ai-ri-s of land. 
I.'.,', of uhieh are in a iiuidil ion of ixcillfiil culture. 



the balance b<-in^' in i;ras«. He ha.- an exeelleiil 
orchard of ymin^ and thrifty tree« and an abund 
ancp of small fruit. The buildiiiffs on the pro|i(>rty 
are of an exeellriil anil fiubstantial charnrter, and the 
whole siirronndiiifis betokon thrift and pros|i«Tity. 
In his |HiliticnI views our subject coincides with 

the Republican |Ktrty,has held the ollh f Conslnble 

for two years, and is the present S<'hool Treasurer. 
ISoth he and his wife communo with the Methodist 
Kpiscopal Church, and an- sincere and Christian 
|>eople. 

'I'll Mr. and .Mrs. Crouch there have been born 
four children, vi/. : I'earl. whose advent t<Hik place 
.March l'"i, lfi7.'i, is at liouie, and is quite an excel- 
lent musician: Cliarlcs. who w;us born Oct. I, IX7.'>. 
died April 11, I.'<7r. ; IWrtha K. was born .Sept. 29, 
IH77, and Chester, whose birth iK-ciirred April I , 
IH.SK. 'I'he entire family enjoy the warmest re-rard 
and e.-teem of the whole community, and .are valn- 
.•ible members of society. 



yll.l.IA.M C. (AIM!, the ■leninl :ind ncconi- 
modatiiii; linsl of tlieCarr llonso, at Valley 
„ ^, Center, is one of the most respected and 
intlncntial citi/.eiis of that bcaiilifnl villafie. He 
came to SedjTwiek County in November, ISHI,.and 
located in the place above mentioned, and has since 
made il his residence, ciiL'.'ijred in manai;in(: the 
hotel, which is one of the best in this portion of the 
county. He i> a native of .M.'ieoupin County, 111., 
and first drew the breath of life Dec. Id, I SI.!. His 
parents, MeCabea.s and Mary (Hhike) Carr, were 
natives of Tennessee. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was 
chielly eni;!i':ed duriiiir his life in f.arm pursuits, 
but dealt l:ir;,'ely in cattle and lioi.'s also. He wa.s a 
slioiii,' ndhcrent to the principles of Democnicy, 
and iield many of the ollices in the ;rift of the pen- 
pie of the town>liip in which he lived. As a sub- 
stantial and wealthy cili/en, he occupied a very 
prominent position in that portion of the I'rairie 
Stiilc, and paid i^rcat .attenlion to the niond and 
educational improvement of his neighborhood. He 
died on the ohl lioinctead in Illinois, in .laniiarv. 
l.'<7.'i. Hi.- wife, till- nicilhi'i- of onr subject, was a 



•►• -4^ 



-•^-■-4« 



a 



^h 



SEDCiWRK COUNT V. 



10;57 ' ►■ 



most excellent Christian woman, Laving been con- 
verted and professeil religion in her early life. She 
was the niotUer vi some thirteen ehililren, llirce of 
whom died in their infancy. Those living are as 
follows: .Jasper N., William C, N'irginia, Laura, 
t)sear, Klziiia, Love, Linus, (4eorge and Ornani. 
Love married John Dews, a native of lingland, 
who is a farmer in Illinois; liis parents died while 
he was very young. \'irginia married (tideon Lo|H'r, 
a native of lllin<jis, who is a farmer, and said to be 
t>ne of the best in his district in that State; when 
he was married he had but ^i)(Ht, but at present is 
worth in the neighborhood of $7.'). 000. Oscar mar- 
ried Miss Julia (jibson, and is a substantial farmer 
of the Prairie State; Jasper N. married Mary Eliza- 
beth llnlse, also a native of Illinois, and is a resi- 
dent of Valley Center, and the father of one girl, 
Mabel. The rest of the family are single, with the 
exception of the subject of our narrative. 

William C. Carr remained at home with his par- 
ents until he was about twent3'-live years of age, 
and in his earlier days assisted in the agricultural 
labors on his father's farm during the summers, and 
in the winter time attended the district schools. As 
he grew older he devoted himself (exclusively to 
farm labor at home until his marriage, which took 
place Nov. 11, 1808. The bride was Miss IMnebe 
Jane Roncn, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., 
March 26, 1 .S49. Her parents were natives of the 
Emerald Lsle, who had left their native home and 
settled in Canada. From the latter place they re- 
moved to Rochester, N. Y., and from there to the 
vicinity of Chicago, 111. Her f:ither died about 
1M75, but her mother still survives. Mrs. Carr was 
one of a family of seven children born to her par- 
ents, and is a most estimable, intelligent and ener- 
getic woman. 

The subject of our sketch came to Sedgwick 
Count}' in November, 188 I, and locating in Valley 
Center Township, has been engaged in the hotel 
business in the village ever since. The house, 
which is a very neat and convenient, one, is the 
best in this part of the county, and with Mr. Carr 
as a genial host, is quite attractive to the traveling 
public. In politics the latter endorses the princi- 
ples and policy of Democracy, and takes a Ic-iding 
' ' part in the local political field, lie has held sev- 



eral ollices iu the gift of the people of this vicinity, 
the principal of which is that of Judge of the Police 
Court of Valley Center. .Sociall}-, he devotes much 
time to the interests of Free Ma.st)nry, being the 
present W<jrshipful Master of Ark Lodge No. 243, 
A. F. it A. M. lie also is the incumbent of the 
ollice of MiUiter Workman in Assembly No. 10809, 
K. of L. 

Mr. and .Mrs. Carr are the parents of one daugh- 
ter, Mabel, whio was born Oct. 7, IHG9. She is a 
highly intelligent and educated 3'oung lady, having 
passed through all the grades of the .schools of 
N'alley Center. She is greatly beloved by all for 
her kindness of heart and winning ways. 

EV. AUGUSTUS G. McCORMICK, now 
deceased, was a minister of the Church of 
JUV (Jod, and a half-brother of the well-known 
chohis and John McCormick, whose biog- 
raphies will be found elsewhere in this work. He 
was the son of John .McCormick, a native of Penns3'l- 
vania, who reinoveil thence at an early day to In- 
diana, and fr<jm there to Iowa. He was married, in 
Williamsi)ort, Pa., to Miss Ilattie Caryell, who be- 
came the mother of five children and dieil in Ohio. 
The suliject of this sketch was born at Hamilton, 
(Jhio, Oct. 10, 1820. When but a lad of eleven 
years, his father removed to Trenton, Iowa, where 
he purchased a tract of land, and there 3'oiing Mc- 
Cormick became familiar with farm pursuits. He 
was, however, of a thoughtful and studious turn of 
mind, and when eighteen years of age, desiring 
more book knt»wledge, entered the college at Mt. 
Pleasant, from which he w.as gr.aduated and subse- 
(luently developed into a school teacher. In Bur- 
lington, Iowa, he w.as Principal of a select school 
two y<'ars. In isr)0, when thirty 3'ears of age, he 
was married to Miss Jane E., daughter of William 
K. and Maiy (Brown) Hammond, of Lycoming 
County, Pa. The father of Mrs. McCormick was 
a very able business man, and for a number of 
jcars was engaged as a railroad contractor and 
accumulated considerable property. During the lat 
ter years of his life he carried on the lumber busi- 
ness at Mauch Chunk, Pa. He died when his 
daughter Jane was about six years of age. 



■^•- 



"^^ 



' ' mas 



^I;Ih;\\ K'K CUUNTV 



Th«' Hri>"ii i:iiiMi\ ([••Ml "iiiiii ilu' iiKitliiT i>f 
Mrs. McC'iiriiiick ilcsfciiiUMl. wen' of S«M)lch nnoe»- 
Iry, mill as far iis the rcoiril is |irf.*t'rv<Ml fiijjajfcd 
iiii>!«tly in n^^rioiillurnl |iur»iiit>. Mi>. .MrCurinick 
wiL-i horn May 12, Ih:{;J. in Miuuli Chunk, I'n. 
Aftor the ilenth of her fntlier »he lici'iinie n nicniher 
of tlie fnniily of her aunt, Sarah (Hrown) MeC'or- 
inifk. ami when ei^jhU-en years of »(;,■ niarried otir 
subject, the son of the latter, at Mt. I*lea>anl, Iowa. 
'I'his union wa,s lilc.<<.seil liy the liirtii of iiinechililren, 
namely: Mary K.. Ma M., Kil;;ar II., Noni F. (who 
flieil in infaut'V), .Maltie II., Snilie K., MonU'ith M., 
AugU!>tuM(i. and Helen (>. Ma M. died at the age of 
fourtt'en. Monteith w;is accident-illy kilieil at the 
!ige of sixteen years in the |>res.sroom of a printing- 
olHce in Kans.-us fily, hy being caught by a belt <if 
the machinery. This w;is a great lilow to his mother, 
as he was n singidarly intelligent and energetic 
young man, very conscientious and upright, and a 
child of whom they had great hopes in the future. 
.Sadie E. was the wife of lieujamiu .Schncirlc, Trea*- 
urer of Wyaudottc! County. She became the 
mother of two children, and died a little over three 
years after her marriage. 

.Mr. .McCurmick departed tins life at his home in 
Wyanilolte, Kan., .lune :i.'5, lUHl. He wjis a man 
of deep piety, ver^- coiisi-lentious .•iiid thoroughly 
devoleil to his work. He became a member of the 
Church of (lod in Trenton. Iowa, and in l)s.").S was 
ordained a minister, preaching thereafter al Mt. 
rieiLsanl. After the outbreak of the licbclliuu he 
felt that he could do goo<l service by entering the 
army, anri in 1H(;2 enlisted as a private in the 1st 
Iowa Cavalry. He was elected head clerk in the 
hospital al Itenton Harracks, antl soon began 
pre»cliing, taking a great interest in the soldiers 
and really <»ccupying the position of Chaplain. He 
labored e:iriieslly for the conversion of souls and 
served until the close of the war, although in the 
meantime sulTering greatly from ill-lieallh. At one 
lime he was compelled to return home, but his 
sense of duty tiMik him to his post .'igaiii. He was 
appointed .-i general agent of the Christian Com- 
mission, and :imong his comrades he walked as a 
kind anil solicitous friend, speaking words of com- 
fort to the sick and alllicted. ami doing good as he 
li:id cppditunity. He llius cudeareil hini^i'lf to the 



wddient. ami In- n:inic i> jii-ld in :;r!il«-fiil lemem- 
bmnce by tlioM* who survive him. 

Afl«-r the close of the war .Mr. .McCormick pur- 
sued his pious labors in St. Ixiuis for n time a.s a 
home missionary, and preaching in diflferent place-. 
He linally removed to St. l.ouis, where he lived 
until l«"0. He there engaged as an .'idvertising 
agent, and controlled .a large business until, un ac- 
count <if failing health, lie sought n different cli- 
mate in Kans.-ui City. There he became manager 
of a business ucwspajK'r called the I'ri'-P Current. 
He was a very industrious and genial man, and 
often fliled the pulpit of other churches bejiides his 
own, mostly the Baptist. His own church was small 
in nund>ers and not very strong, and notwithst.'ind- 
iiig that he received offers of a more lucrative 
|H>sition, he steadily refused to abandon it. 

Krigar II., the eldest son of Mr. and .Mrs. .Me- 
Corivick, is editor and publisher of the |>a|)er en- 
titled Toii-n Talk at Alexandria, La.; his wife 
w;is Miss Sophia Cornell. .Miss .Mary K. McCor- 
mick became the wife of .lames L. .lones. of St. 
Louis, who is now deceased ; Mattie H. is the wife 
of L. Noel, of (H.asgow, this SUitc, and the mother 
of one child; A. (!. and Helen (I. continue with 
their mother, and arc pursuing their stu<lies in the 
public school, .Mr.s. McCormick, in ISMl, came to 
Wichita, and purch!u>iug ground put up a neat and 
substantial residence, which is pleiis.aully situjited on 
Univcr.sitj' avenue. .She is a hidy hehl in high es- 
teem by all who know her, and proved hei-self a 
fitting helpmate to her gifted husband. 



I 



l-:\\ TON II. KDl'.INsoN, a le;i<liiig r«rmer 
of Waco Township, is also engaged in the 
mercantile trade at Oatville. He carries al 
the latter place a stoi-k of genenil merchandise, 
including coal and fresh meat, and is doing a lucra- 
tive and iucreasiug bu-sincss. His farm, which is 
situated upon .section II, <'ontains some I Id acres 
and adjoins the village plat, he having donated 
•some twenty acres of his original purchase for the 
site. His improvemcnt.s are most excellent, and 
the land is under a state of admirable culture. 
Mr. Koliiiisoii w;is born in Franklin, \'t.. May 



Ih-^ 



-•►•-4» 






»► ■ ■» 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1 039 ' ^ 



♦4h 



28, 1827, and is tlie nintli child of Stephen and 
Betsey (Kimble) Robinson, both of whom were 
natives of the (iieen Mountain State. The father 
was a farmer by occupation, and removed to Wash- 
tenaw Count}% Mich., in 183C, among tlie pioneers 
of that portion of the Peninsular State, and died 
there in 18C1. The motlier of our subject pre- 
ceded her husband in death some ten years. They 
were the parents of eleven children, as follows: 
Betsey, who married Granger Spaulding, a black- 
smith in \'erniont, but since deceased; Stephen, 
who married Pauline Gregory, and died in .Michi- 
gan; Lucy, who married George Ansley, now de- 
ceased; Laura A., who married Reuben Fisk, a 
farmer, and is a resident of C'alhoim County, 
Mich.; Irene G., who married A. Woodward, but is 
now a widow living in Minnesota; Warren married 
Marj- Baughman, who died, when he again married, 
and is a resident of the Peninsular State ; Charlotte, 
the widow of Samuel Goddard, and a resident of 
California; OrI.on; Newton, the subject of this 
sketch; Sophia, the deceased wife of Lawrence 
Spaulding, and one who died in infancy. 

The subject of this personal narrative came to 
Michigan with his parents in 183(), and remained a 
member of the family, living beneath the parental 
roof, until he had attained his majorit}'. He re- 
ceived his education in the common schools, and 
completed it in the excellent acadeni}' at Grass 
Lake, Mich. Having thus well laid the founda- 
tions of his future life he removed to Jackson, 
Mich., and apprenticed himself to the trade of 
blacksmith. After having finished that he settled 
at Chelsea, Wa.shtenaw County', in the same State, 
where, Nov. l.'i, 1850, he was united in marriage 
with Martha C. Beckwith, the daughter of Cyrus 
and Amariila ((iorliam) Beckwith, who were na- 
tives of New Hampshire and \'ermont respectively. 

Mrs. Robinson is a native of Washtenaw County, 
Mich., and was born Jan. 30, 1828. Her parents 
were among the very earliest settlers of Washte- 
naw County, going there in the year 1830. Their 
house was for quite a time the only one between 
Ann Arbor and Gr.ass Lake. They were the parents 
of four children besides Mrs. Robinson, as follows: 
Richard C, born in 1829, married Lucy Moore, 
and is a resident phj-sician in his native State; 



Luther, born in 1821, the husband of Bessie Lymm, 
W!us a lawyer, now decejised, having died in 1882; 
Sidney, born in 1844, married Mrs. Minnie Perry, 
and is a resident of Port Huron; and Sarah, born 
in 1841, married Henry Pratt for her fn-st and Col- 
ton Wines for her second husband, and is a resident 
of Michigan. Mrs. Robinson attended the common 
schools of her native count}', and rounded her edu- 
cation at the High School at Jackson, Mich. 

After the subject of this sketch was married he 
went to housekeeping in Chelsea, Mich., whither he 
had removed, and for five years followed the trade 
of a blacksmith. At the expiration of that time, 
having accumulated some capital, he purchased a 
farm in the immediate vicinit}' of Jackson, where 
he carried on agricultural pursuits for about two 
years and a half. He then sold the farm and re- 
moved to Ow.asso, in the same State, where he 
resumed his trade, working at it for about five 
years. His next venture was in a mercantile line, 
entering into the furniture business, which he car- 
ried on for about sixteen j'ears. Twice during 
this time he was unfortunate enough to have his 
establishment destroyed by fire, with a heavy pe- 
cuniar}' loss to himself. He returned to Chelsea, 
and located on a farm, the old Beckwith home- 
stead, where he carried on stock and grain-raising 
for two years, at the conclusion of which, in April, 
1875, he removed to Kansas, and settling in Sedg- 
wick County on the farm where he now lives, has 
made it his residence ever since. 

Mr. and Mr. Robinson are the parents of eight 
children — Ida M., Inez A., Cj'rus .S., Charles R., 
Sarah L., Sj-dney N., Amy E. and Newton. Ida 
M. was born Oct. 3, 1852, and upon the 10th of 
August, 1877, married Charles H. Cartwright, now 
a resident of Wichita; the\' have a familj^ of three 
children, and reside upon a farm in this State. 
Inez A. w.TS born Aug. 18, 1854, and married Rev. 
Francis Rominc, and is the mother of three chil- 
dren, one of whom is deceased ; thej' reside at Free- 
port, Kan. Cyrus S. was born Aug. 2.">, 1 853, and 
March 10, 1880, married Cora Gray, and is the 
father of three children; he is a farmer in Waco 
Township. Charles R. w.as born June 15, 1856, 
and married Austa Bowmen, and has one child ; he 
is a IMethodist preacher and resides at Ashland in 



-•►-■-^ 



f 



-■► ■ -4» 



■^KlMiWU K Cdl N I "1 



J\ 



lliiit SlnU: Sitrnh L. iliecl i' . T; Syduoy 

N. MILS liorii Fell. I-.', l«<0(l. .-iikI (lic<i .Inn. N, Itst'iM; 
Amy K. wili liorii .laii. IH, iNritl, :iiiil i.s at home; 
N«-«rii.ii WR.H Ii4irn Miiy lit, Im71, :iii<I ilii-d Aii}{. 8, 
1«71. 

Tlic fikinily Inkv a ilrrp iiiti-ri'.sl in nil (|iie!<lions 
i>r It nmnil nnil reli>;iciu.s clinrMcU'i', Mr. Koliinsun, 
liiK »'ifi-iin<l (likii;r|ilor Amy la'in;; .-ill nii-nil>fi's of llic 
.Mcllii>i)i»t K|li^c■<l|lHl Cliuri'li. In his iMililicnl tif- 
niinlions .Mr. Kuliiiison i!< ii Ktnneli nnd inllexiblu 
.-nllivriMil III llio iliiotnncs .'uiil |irjnri|ilu!t iif llie Ke- 
|iiililii>an |i!irly. Iiis viiU- Imvini; «lwiiy.'< liecn cH.st 
for till- i-amliiliiU-.s of iliai |ioliliriil or<;iini/.!itiiin 
sini't' its inL-fplioh. l*ri!vious to iho orpini/.itlion 
of tliu livpulilic-an |mrly liis !<ym|iatliiu.s :in() .■<u|i- 
|)ort were with the ol<l-lini> Wliij^.s. 



KTKU S. CIUM. one of li.e soli.l men of 
IJ Minnelia 'ro\vn:<lii|i, owns :V>() aeres of land 
on sertion K, where he lia-uted in tlie full 
of l«7(i. With the exception of 1 l.'i aeres, 
it liiLS heeii liroughl to a {^ood slaU' of etlltivnlion, 
and one of its prominent featnre^ is a peaeli and 
apple orchard, secoml to none in the .SUilo. This 
comprises ihirly acres, and hiut received the especial 
care nnd attention of the proprietor, to whotn it 
.•dready yiehls handsome returns. The farm liiiild- 
in};s are neat and siibslnnlial structures, and the 
live sliK'k, to which Mr. C'riim also gives particular 
attenlinn, includes horses and cattle, specimens of 
which will compare well with those of any other 
farmer in this part of the county. 

Mr. I'rnm is a native of Adams County, I'a., 
and w;i.« Itorn April 2, 1.S4I. His parenLs, Christo- 
pher and Klizalicth (.Meal.-") Ciiini, were also na- 
tives of the Keystone .State, and were married 
April .'), |h;1h. ('liristo|)her Crnm was Imrn .Ian. 
.'M, IKI2. and spent his entire life in his native 
.StJitc, enjjaged in coopering; and faiinin;;. He de- 
|)art*-d this life at his home in Adams County, I'a., 
.Mari-h iK, IH.HO. The mother wa.- horn Aug. 2.'». 
|.H|7, and is still living at the old honiest^'ad 
ill renusylvania. They were most excellent .and 
worthy people, and devoted meinliers of the I.ulh- 
clan Church. They had a family of eight chil- 
dirii. the record heing :lh tojlow.s: Ann M., Imrn 



Ue. . .... v; . K...;: 1 ,|i.m| 

Fell. 20, 1H72; Mary .1., horn .Iiiiie l.'i, l«ll. mar- 
ried Isin I'. Uiee, and dieil .Inly I, 1H^0; IVler S. 
is oiir sulijeet: Sarah, l>uni .luly 11, I HlO ; Alvina, 
April 4, lMi;t; l.iiey. horn .March I, l»i')2, died 
Fell. 10. lHi;3: CInyUin, lioin April II, IK-iW, died 
■Ian. II, lisd.'l; .lennie was horn .Ian. 17, IH,'t7. 

Ill .Mr. Cnim is fully illustmted the career of the 
self-made man, who early in life wa» thrown u|niii 
his own resources and deprived of the advanUiges 
of education. ili.-< industry and enU.>rprise have 
served him well, and hi.s liahit of oliservntioii of 
men ami things has served t4i supply him with a 
good fund of general informalitui, hy which he in 
enahled to maintain his position among the intelli- 
gent men of his community. He uniformly vote.s 
the straight Uepulilican ticket, and serveil iui 'I'own- 
ship Trustee l<y appointment six months iluring 
the early part of l.'ssi7,and in the fall was elected 
to the same ollice. 

Mr. Cruin was married, in Adam.-. County, I'a., 
Aug. 20, isijis, to .Miss Kli/.a Warren, a native of 
his own StJite, anci who Wiis horn Feh. 2, I.s 17. 
Her p:irents were David and Hannah (Luoj)) \\'ar- 
len. native;* of rennsylvnnia. The father died in 
April, l.sH."i; the mother still survives, nnd is living 
with her grandson, (Jeorge Heller, in Pennsylvania. 
.Mrs. Criiin wiw reared under the parental roof, and 
rem.'iined at home until her in.-irriage. This union 
resiilleil in the liirtli of eight children, all of whom 
are living: H.arry K., Imni .March I, 11^71; Ann 
M., .Maieh 2(1, l«73;.Iohn H., .Ian. II, l«7.'i; 
Maggn .1., .March 21. ls77; Herttie F., .Sept. l.J, 
1.S7'.»; Chancy R., Jan. 2.5, l.s.si; Howard C., Foh. 
28, l«is;i; Alice C., .Iiinc II, \xs:,. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crum are meinliers in good sUinding 
of Ihe Methodist Kpiscopal Church, and respected 
hy all their ncighhors .and acquaintances. 



<a\ '» I,. .MiltKF, who is engaged in llic real- 
\&J/I e.-.lale liiisiiie.vs and loans, ranks among the 
\^'% reliahle .and enterprising hiisine.ss men of 
AVichitii, and the accompanying (Mirtrait will form 
a valualile feature of this work. A native of Log.-in 
County, III., our >uliject was horn l-'eh. I. 1 sC.O, 



•►•-^ 




^,-v--v;rSo- 



2^ 



I 



-4^ 



SK DC WICK COUNTY, 



\or.i ' ' 



and lifter eiiterinj; Ibe coiiiinuii school, piirsiit'il his 
studies there until a lad of eleven years, lie llieii 
came with his father, .lusepli McHee, in 1 !S7 1 . lo 
this county, the latter setlliiij,' on a farm in Kock- 
ford Township. 

Our subject pursued his studios unlil a youth of 
sixteen years, and sul>se(iiiently enyayed in teach- 
ing durinj^ the winter seasons, while the reni.ninder 
of the year he employed himself on his father's 
farm. The family experienced all the hardships of 
pioneer life, which, however, were not unmixed with 
many |)leasures. For the lirst few years they were 
obliged to dispense with luxuries, living very plainly 
and economically, their fare consisting largely of 
corn bread and buffalo meat. The settlers of that 
region would club together in the fall, and hunt 
buffaloes, thus securing a su|>ply of meat for the 
winter. It was a communit}' hospitable, warm- 
hearted and generous, and exhibited an unselfish- 
ness which is seldom seen at this later daj*. Each 
man had a per.sonal interest in the welfare of his 
neighbor, and they all sympathized with each other 
in both their joys and sorrows. 

Young McBee continued under the parental roof 
until 1882, and in the meantime had discovered the 
fact that he would prefer some other life than that 
of an agriculturist. In the spring of that year he 
came to Wichita, ami entering the olllce of the 
Uegister of Deeds made a set of abstracts, and ad- 
vertised himself as ready for business. This seemed 
just what was needed in his conununity, ami he was 
successful from the start, receiving the support of 
the best men in the countj'. He soon estjiblished 
an otlice of his own, and for a time was his own 
clerk and otlice boy. At the close of his business, 
in 188(), he had been giving employment to seven 
men. He Hnally resolved u[)on a change of occupa- 
tion, and selling out his abstract business to Smith, 
Ozane & Co., turned his attention to real esUite 
and loans, in which he has met with like suc- 
cess as the other, and is now the owner of a goodly 
amount of choice real esUite, incUnling about thirty 
lots in the city and suburbs, the larger number, 
however, inside the corporation. 

Our subject was married, Dec. i:i, l.ssi, to Miss 
Lizzie, daughter of John Hellar, of Gypsum Town- 
ship, this county, who was born June i;i, 1801. 



The parents of Mrs. McHee were natives of Maryland 
and Pennsylvania, and the mother in her girlhood 
Miss Lahana Toms; they are now residents of Oyp- 
suni Township. The only child of our subject and 
his wife, a son, Lyie, was born June ;"), IHHI. Mr. 
McUee, |)olitic:dly, votes the straight Uepublican 
ticket, and socially, belongs to the I. (J. O. V. 



'SISAAC N. COOLEY. Among the well-to-do 
I and successful farmers of this county, who have 
/li accunudated a competency through their own 
exertions an<l economy, and who are carrying on 
the business of farming and st<jck-raising in a man- 
ner which draws forth praise from eveiyone, is the 
subject of this biographical notice, who resides on 
section ;35, in tiypsum Township. He is a native 
of Indiana, having been born in Bartholomew 
County, near the city of Columbus, Sept. :W, 1H43. 
He isthesonof Isaac and Elizabeth ( Alle3-) Cooley, 
who were natives respectively of Ohio and N'irginia. 
His father was a farmer by occupation, and followed 
that line of business until his death, which took 
j)lacc in 1884. He was a stanch and steadfast Ue- 
publican in his politics, and actively supported the 
principles and candidates of that party. Both he 
an<l his wife were members of the Methodist E|)is- 
co[)al Church, and were truly good and sincere Chris- 
tian people. 

The mother of our subject dying while he was 
still a babe, he was brought up beneath his father's 
eye, but without a mother's fond and loving care. 
In the district schools of his native county he was 
educated, and drew from that source quite a large 
amount of knowledge and information. Earl^' in 
his life, his father removed to Franklin County, in 
the same State, where our subject received the neces- 
sary training in the art or science of agriculture, 
that h:is been so valuable to him in his later years, 
and which he has put to so excellent a use in the 
course of his busy life. He remained at home with 
his father, .-issisting him to the extent of his power, 
unlil he had reached his m!iji)rity, at which time he 
started in life for himself, lu 18;j7 he removed to 
Douglas County, ill., where he pnrclnised some 
eighty acres of land, and followed farming in that 



i 



-•-4^ 



■•► 



ll 



I., 



10 1 1 



sKr)(;wi('K couM V 



|»iirtiiiu ..1 uM- ;'iei»t I'rnirii' Sl.il<- Im iwi-iity yenrs. 
In I x77 our Miliji'ct rciiiovcd l<i Kiiiisii.->. anil f>ol- 
llin^ in Kntlor Coiinly, |iiiri-liaM'il ii i|imrt<-r-s<>('tii>n 
of litml, ii|K>n whii-li he wns cnjpifU'd in lln- puptnil 
iif n;;ricuUnrc for iiIm lilt scvt-n _vii>r». In lt«Hlh<' 
r«Mnov«tl t<> St'i|}{wic'k County, nml locnt«<l on sec- 
tion 2.'i, (;y|>suin 'ro\vnslii|i. wIhto Ik- is* now livinfj. 

Mr. ('<MiU-y wii.H niiiirlf.j. S-pt. .1(1. IK.'iH, to Miss 
.Miirnnrt't A. Uroi-du, a nativi- of X'irjjiiiia, who was 
liorn in |H.'>7. an<l wlio died in IS.si, |favin<; tlireo 
I'liihiren — .loseph. Ijllii' and Ollic. IMir subject 
wiis niarrioil tin- second lime. M;iv Id, 1K«7, to 
.Mis.* Nannie Hrown.a native of Meaile I'ounty, Ky., 
Iiorn Oct. 22, IM)'>2. and the dnu^liler of .John an<l 
rermelia (Serrill) Hrown. Holh he and lii.s eslinia- 
lile wife arc .sincere Christiaii.s, and are consistent 
nH-nil>ers, he of the MetlnHJisl. anil >hc of Ihc ISap- 
list Church. 

In his [Hilitics .Mr. Cooley f^enenilly supports the 
principles anri candidates of the Uepiililican imrty, 
but not bcin-i strictly liound by party lines, on all 
i]uestious of hic.-ii issues he ih i;eneraily apt to make 
up his mind lus to which is the l)c.st party for the 
olllce. and, liavin^a mind of his own, dares to sup- 
|Hirt it. lie is extensively enj,'aj^ed iu liie .stock 
liiisiiie.sjj on his farm, which employs most of his at- 
tention, he tnkiuj; considerable pains in the reariuj; 
of Norman and Ciydcsd.alu horses, and .Short-horn 
Durham cattle, of which he has a very considerable 
herd. His sterliuf.' integrity, lulle.xible honesty, and 
;{eneral hi;,'li principles, have won him the respect 
of every community in which he has resided, and 
he is to-day one of the most esteemed and valued 
citizens of this portion of the county. 



E^'T'lEE 



V 'D.sm A i;ii)\vi:i,i„ «ii,, dc'piiricd thi.- life 

at hi'- home in Wichita, Nov. 21, IH.si;, was 
_j I born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 
(^}j It;, IM2;i, and wa> the sou of .loshua, Sr.. 
and (Jrace (Aithur) Hidwill, who were also of Irish 
birth and ancc>try. 'I'liey emij^'raied to America 
in |m;M, unit settled in Whileliall, N. V., where the 
father carried on the nmuufaetnrc of cloth until 
IH4.). Durinjj that year he made his way to Crant 
Counly, Wis., and liMatin;,' upmi a tnict of l.'ind iu 



11-^ 



the Vieilillv •.! I ;ii. 11 « . I..1 . . i.MKxliO .i;;l K iriiiin- 

the renmindcr of his life, iMiissinj; nwny in March, 
1M.')2. The wife and mother survived her husband 
for n periinl of over tliirly years, her death tjikin^ 
pinc-c also at I'atch CJrove, in IHK.'}. 

The children of .loMliua, Sr., and Cirnce liidwell 
included three iluu;;hters and two sons, of whom 
but three are living, namely: Marie, Mrs. Uieo; 
Su.sau, who lives at the old hoinest4>ad, and .lohii. 
The deceased are Kli/.a. Mrs. Winslow, and .loshua, 
our subject. The latter continued under the par- 
eiitid roof until reaching manhood, in the meantime 
becoming familiar with farm pursuits. His first 
business venture for himself was in the drug busi- 
ness at I'olosi, Wis., where, however, he rem.ained 
but a short time, then returned to I'atch fJrove, 
and resumed farming until his enlistment as a 
I'nion soldier in l«t;;!. He then joined Company 
A, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry", a.s a private, and was 
promoted U> t^uarterm.aster .Sergeant. During his 
.•irmy life of twenty months he endured the priva- 
tions and hardshi|>s common to a soldier's life, and 
was finally seriously wounded, from the efl'ecLs of 
which he never recovered, being rendered a cripple 
for life. At the close of the war he returned to 
his old haunts in Wisconsin, remaining there until 
coming to this Su-itc 

The marriage of .loshua Hidwdland .Miss .\ui.'ind:i 
McNabb was celebrated .Iidy 2f.. Irt.'il, and they 
becauie the parents of six children, all living, 
namely: .loshua, Sally, John, (Iraee, Frank and 
Kdwin. Mrs. IJidwell w:us born .luly 1, l.S;{4, in 
Sprirgfleld, III., and is the daughter of Hobcrt and 
.S;irah (Sommers) McNabb, natives res|H'Ctively of 
Maryland and Kentucky. Her p:iternal grandpar- 
ents, (ieorge and Kliza .McNabb, were natives 
of .Scotland, and cro.ssed the Atlantic at :ui early 
day, locating in Baltimore, Md. Thence they re- 
moved to (Jreen County, Ky., where their son 
Robert was re.ured to farming pursuits. Later in 
life he migrat*'d to Wi.scimsin. and was employed 
iu the lead mines of Cnmt County, lie was mar- 
ried iu Kentucky, and there were born six daugh- 
ters, live now living, namely: Kliza, Mi-s. Caskey, 
of Wi.'Consin; Klizabeth, Mrs. Paul, of Illinois; 
Amanda, Mrs. liidwell, of our sketch; liilda, Mrs. 
Kcnnic, of Nebr.iska. and Melis.-.a, .Mrs. Malitt, of 



4 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1045 " 



Nebraska. The niothcr departed tliis life at Potosi, 
Wis., in 1858. Robert McNabb, in 18S1, came to 
Wichita, and thereafter made his home with his 
dauj^'hter, at whose residence he died that same 
year. 

Mr. Bid well, in 1M7."), located at Wichita, which 
remained his home until his decease. lie put up a 
jjood residence, and the family gathered around 
them all the comforts of a home, which bears fair 
comparison with those of the other well-to-do resi- 
dents of this flourishing and cultured city. 



AJOR BLASDEL is an enterprising farmer 
of Union Township, (jleasantl}' located on 
the northwest quarter of section 24, and 
although his residence in the county has 
been short, he has already- identified himself with 
the representative and progressive citizens. He is 
a native of Dearborn County. Ind., born Dec. 
17, 1847. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch 
origin, one of whom, Nicholas Blasdel, was a great 
mechanical genius, and to him is assigned the honor 
of being the inventor of the clock. We learn from 
history that four brothers came to the United 
States before the Revolutionary War, and settled in 
the New li^ngland SUites, and from them have 
sprung all the Blasdels in this countr3\ 

Jacob Bhisdel, the gre.at-grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was a native of M.ass.achusctts, and married 
Kuth Moss, a native of New Hampshire, where he 
first settled after marriage. In 1799 the^' removed 
to Ohio, and settled near Cincinnati, then an 
embr^'o town, whence in 180') they moved to In- 
diana. Mr. Blasdel became prominent among the 
e.'U'ly settlers of that region, and it is believed 
built the first saw and grist mill in that Territory. 
Soon after he put up a rude school-house, and in 
181 1, with other settlers, built a fort for protection 
against the savages. Before the .admission of In- 
diana into the Union, he was one of the first to 
circulate a petition that it lie admitted as a free 
.State, which was carried by a majority of one. He 
inipnjved a farm and resided in Dearborn Count}-. 
Ilis son, grandfather of our subject, was born in 
New Hampshire in 1797, and was but eight years 



old when the family' settled in Iniliana, wliere he 
grew U) manhood, married, reared a family of (chil- 
dren, and closed the years of an honoralile and well- 
s|)ent life. 

Henry W. Blasdel, the father of our subject, was 
born in Dearborn County, in .Jul}', 1817, and grew 
to a strong and vigorous manhood. in the home of 
his birth, receiving the educational and other ad- 
vantiiges accorded to the youth of th.it day and 
generation. In Decend)er, 1838, he married C:ith- 
erine Chase, a native of the siimc county, born in 
1820. Her father, Leonard Ch:ise, and her grand- 
father, Anthony Ch.ase, were natives of Massachu- 
setts, and of English ancestry, being descendants of 
one of three brothers. Thom.-LS, William and Aquilla, 
who emigrated from England. Her grandfather 
was a seafaring man, and died at Yarmouth, Mjiss. 
Her father commenced life .as a .sailor with his 
father, who was commander of a vessel, and followed 
the sea until twenty-one years of age. At this 
time, during the War of 1 .S12, he w.as taken prisoner 
by the British and released after six weeks' confine- 
ment. He then started West, stopping first at Cin- 
cinnati, which was then a small place, and procured 
work from John Ferris, a farmer. While there he 
made the acquaintance of M.ary Lee, and subse- 
quently they united their fortunes, and removing 
to Dearborn County, Ind., entered Government 
land in what is now Lawrenceburg Township, live 
miles from the present town c>f that name. Mr. 
Ch.ise built a log cabin in which they commenced 
housekeeping. After a few years this was replaced 
by a larger dwelling, which Wius built of logs and 
covered with clajiboards rivcfl by hand. In that 
house their daughter Catherine, now Mrs. Bl.-isdel, 
wjis born. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Blasdel settle<l in 
Dearborn County, where, near the home of their 
childhood, they have experienced the jo3*s and 
sorrows of half a centur}' of wedded life. To them 
have been born eleven children, foui- of whom died 
young. The names of those wIkj grew to maturity' 
are .as follows: Huron, Zerilda, Major, Bettie, Ella, 
William H. and Leonard C. Huron M. enlisU>d 
during the late war with Company II, 83d Indiana 
Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Vicks- 
burg. May 19, 18G;3, from the effects of which he 



t 



t 



>KI>i;\\ K K I ( >1 N I V 



•lii-il (WHtii nfUT; X.i>ril<l;i. Hii. ... 1 .1. .\im11, 
rt'.sidi'.s ill Smiiiicr Coiiiily. K.-in.: IliUir i> llic wifo 
■ if Kolurt Coin, <if Suiiincr COimty. K.iii; Kiln is 
llii- wife of .loliii lto;ir,.|ir, of K.'iio (.'oinil.v. Kiiii. ; 
William livts in Kiowa Coimty. Kaii. ; l.toiiiinl 
icsi<le»oii tin- lioii»-fU-n.| wltlihis Mjiiil |..iriii|>. All 
the cliilijrfii an- inanieil and .suiccvsfni in life. 

Onr siilijool was icaii'il on llie home farm, an. I 
ri'ioiveii lii.s lit.iaiv i'(lntali<iu in llic common 
.<flKM>ls of hi.s nali\«' town. Al llii- commi-nccminl 
of tlif laU- Civil War lie iva-^ too yonn;;,' t<i taki- |.art 
in it, lint his |ialrioti<' .-iiirit was ai-onscil, ami lu' 
i"a;;i-rly watolu-il iu* fonr.M-, nnlil .lainniry. \st;:,, 
when, llion<;h only si-vi-nlii-n yi-ars of a;,'i-. In- 
enlistvii, and was mustt'rcd inio scrvii-c asamcnduM' 
of ( om|i!iMy A. llMli Iniliana Infantry, and sirvcd 
until ()i-t<ilji'r of tin- samo year, wlii-n llio rcirinicnl 
tt:Ls dislinmk-d liy ;,'fn.ral ordrr. After Ilie war he 
WHS actively on^'a;;ed in airricullni'al |iursnits, assist- 
in;; his father in earryinn on the farm until he was 
twenty-three years of a;,'!'. Snlise(|Ueiilly for some 
years he was very snecejsfnily «ima;,'ed in the same 
t-allini; in I'iatl County, III. There he esial.lisluil a 
eoiuforUihle home .-tml aeenmulaled eonsideiaMe 
|>ro|ierty. 

On the Jlh of .\Iarrh. isT:.', .Major lil.i.sd.l was 
nuirrieil to Kleanor .1. Co.\, an amial.le and aceom- 
plished yonn;; lady. .She was horn in De.irliorn 
County, Ind.. .May |-.', IS.-.2. Her paternal yrand- 
IMirenUs were natives of .Maryland and Kentneky 
rc»|ieelivoly. Her pareuLs, l.af.iyetle and .Meli.s.sa 
(Hhtsdel) Co.\, were natives of Dearliorn County, 
Ind. To them were horn thirteen ehildren, ten ot 
whom alUiined the aire of maturity, as follows: 
.N.uiey, ThomjLs W., .Mary, Kleanor .!.. .lohn .1.. 
Hetty, Henry, .Melinda iM., Louisa A. .and Adelia. 
Nancy married William .Shanklin, of ( aliforni.i : 
ThomiLS resides in ( hampaiun County. III.; .Mary 
nnirried .1. IJ. IJolpinson. and died le.avin;,' four 
ehildren: .loiin resides in pjatt County: IJelty 
i.i the wife of A.sji .Smith, of .McLean County. III.; 
Henry lives in I'iatt ( ..unly. III.; .Mdimla is the 
wife of Ualph Smith, of Spink County. Dak.; Louise 
is al home; Adelin nnirriecl i;/.r.i Sh.mks, of jMc- 
I.ean Coutity, III. 

In \sh:, the suhjecl of our sketch, with his 
family, left their iiome in Illinois .and came lo Kan- 



s.'is, ,'iiid pmcli.i-i-d (he l.arin where they now reside. 
.Mr. Itlasdel owns I lid acres <if land, which is very 

liiiely situaleil i e of tlie most fertile farinin;; 

re;,'ions of this .stjite, and is highly improved and 
W( II stcK-ked. He has a ;;ood dwelling,' and ample 
farm linildiii;;s; one liarn which he lost hy fire wils 
replaceil liy .a |arf.;er and lielter one. 

To Mr. and .Mrs. Itlasdel have heen horn .seven 
children, namely: Ira, ( >ra. Leo, Liiella, Hoy, Kda 
and Clyde. Mr. Ilhusdel is a man of much force of 
diameter and native aliility, anil in all his traiis- 
.•ictions, either in m.-itlers of Inisine.ss or siK-iety, 
uniformly comni.ands respect ami esteem. In |>oli- 
tics .Ml-. Illasrlel, like all lie.aiin;,' that patronymie, 
is a linn supporter of the Kepulilicaii parly. 
Socially, he is a inemlicr of the C. A. H. 



1 1. LI A. M ( (Mtl'KK. a farmer ami stock 
aV/' '">iser of .Ninnescah Township, residiiijir on 
WW section l.'t, comes of hoiioralde lineage. 
\lv w:is liorn ill Kentucky. Dec. 'Z^. 1M25, .and is 
now the only surviver of the fourteen children, 
ten of whom i,'rew to maturity, horn to William C. 
and .Mary (Mi/.c) Cooper. His father, a Vir;L;inian 
hy liirlli. w.-is a son of Laylon Cooper, of Kii;;lish 
ilcsccnl. who w.'is a soldii'r in the Uevolutionary 
war, and did ;;allant .service in that memunihle coii- 
llict while it lasted, with the exception of about 
one year, which he sjient in hospitids, havin;; been 
twice .severely woniidcil. An uncle of our subject, 
Uolicrl Coo|)er, look .an active p.art in the War of 
I SI 2. 

In the year 1.S27 the parenl.s of our subject left 
their old Kentucky home, and moved to I'ike 
Couiily. 111., hi'iiiL: .amoni,' the earliest pioneers of 
that county, and there the record of their honor.able 
and useful lives closed in death, the mollier dyiiitj 
in IH;)H, and the father in An<rust, IMf.). 

Our subject w.as scarcely two years of a;;e when 
his parent.s l<iok him from the home of his birth to 
Illinois, So that his boyhood days were p:Ls.sed amid 
the slirriiij5 sta-nes of a pioneer life, and his educa- 
tion was c<mducted in the primitive loi; school- 
houses of those days. He early lip«j.an his life work 
.as a farmer, married in is I.! Kli/abelh Wilkiii- 



-^^m "^ 



-^v* 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1047 



sou, and established a home of his own. lie took 
an active part in public affairs wliilc n resident 
of Illinois, doing- good service as Road Commis- 
sioner, Road Overseer, and lioldiiig f>lher town 
oflices. 

Mr. Cooper was bereft of his first wife in 1849; 
she had been to him a true wife, a wise and readj- 
helper. He was again married, in Illinois, to Miss 
Eliza A. Harris, Sept. 14, I.s.tI. She was born in 
Highland C'ountj', Ohio, .lune 18, 18;V2, and lier 
parents were William E. and Elizabeth (Foreman) 
Harris, natives of Pennsylvania. Her maternal 
uncle, Jacob Foreman, was a soldier of the War of 
181:?, and took part in the battle of New Orleans. 
Her parents had nine children, three f>f whom .'ire 
now living: Eliza A.; Eleanor, wife of William Huff, 
of this county ; and William T., who served in the 
war of the Rebellion, went to Colorado in 1874, 
and has not since been heard from. Mrs. Cooper's 
father is now living with her, and is in his eighty- 
eighth year. The mother died May 22, 1868. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born ten 
children; their record is .as follows: Samantha E., 
born June 19, 185"2; John L., March l.^i, 18,0;'); 
Mary A., Jan. 17, 1857; Elizabeth, Feb. 23, 1859; 
Frank, Oct. 12, 18(;i; Thompson, March 9, 1864; 
William H., born Sept. 1.5, 18.i3,died Oct. 8, 1869; 
Archie G., born Feb. 7, 1867, died March 24, 1868; 
Florence, born March 23, 1870, died May 16, 
1871; Willis E., born Aug. 24, 1872, died M.-iy 
18, 187,5. vSamantha is the wife of T. E. Kel- 
ler, and M.ary is the wife of J. A. Webl). John 
L. came to Kansas from his native St^itc, Illinois, 
with his parents in 1879. Prior to coming here, 
however, he bad married, Dec. 2.5, 1878, Clara 
A. Chamberlain, who was born in Adams County, 
111., Dec. 27, 1856, and is a djiughter of Noah 
and Mar}' Chamberlain, natives of Ohio. Her 
mother is deceased; her father is now living in 

Brown County, 111. To Mr. .and iAIrs. John L. 
Cooper have been born two children: William 

E., Jan. 30, 1880, and Ella M.. Aug. 30. 1886. 
Mr. Cooper is actively engaged in farming, own- 
ing a good farm of eighty acres. In politics he is 
a Republican. 

Mr. Willi:im Cooper, of this skclili, removed 
with his fainii}' from Illinois to Kans.ns in l.s79, 



and settled on his present farm, which consists of 
160 acres of land under fine tillage, .and yielding 
him a gof)d income. He has it well stocked, and 
has a comfortable and convenient set of farm 
buildings, the neatness and thrift of the owner 
being apparent in ever3'thing about the pl.iee. In 
all his work he has received the hearty co-opera- 
tion and sympathy of his capable wife, and now in 
their declining years they are enjoying the fruits 
of a life spent in usefulness and well-doing. They 
arc active members of tlie Christian Church, where 
he h.as held the olHce of Deacon for three years. 

Mr. Cooper is i)ublic spirited, and cordially wel- 
comes and aids ever}' improvement and every en- 
terprise to benefit the township or county, and :is 
Sch(n>l Director has taken a warm interest in fur- 
thering the cause of education. He is identified 
with the Masonic society, of Clearwater. In ])oli- 
lics he is a stanch representative of the Repiililieau 
party. 



ip^RANKElN S.CARLTON. Among the lar- 
|-^j(gji gest and wealthiest land -owners and stock- 
/ll, breeders of Sedgwick County, who have 

made such m.agnificent records in their chosen 
branch of business, there is none more note- 
worthy than the gentleman of whom this sketch is 
written. His home, which lies on section 23 in 
Gypsum Township, is a model of beauty, elegance 
and convenience, and the barn which accompanies 
it is consideied by competent judges to be the best 
for farm purposes of any within the boundaries of 
the county. His homestead, which consists of 1 ,000 
acres of fine bottom land, lying along the Arkansas 
River, is mostly in pasture, as he devotes nearly his 
entire attention to stock. He came to this locality 
in December, 1871, and located on the place where 
he now lives, purchasing at that time some 400 
acres of land, to which he has since added from 
time to time, until it has assumed its present mag- 
nificent proportions. 

On his settlement here Mr. Carlton at once com- 
menced the stock business, purchasing 132 head of 
common cattle, for which he gave about ^10 apiece, 
hut has gradually rlrifted into the raising of fine 
stock, and has on his pl.ice the current year (1888) 



•^•-♦n. 



i 






■ -4^ 



1048 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



110 ht'llil iM >iMi| C-iii.rii imUji. lie ii:i> nIttO n IllTll 

>>r 160 bead'uf liuntcs, fur une of niiicli h<- pniil 
ii',.'iOO. This <inc, whk-li Itenrs tin- nnnioof Slrnvcn 
<i:illiinl, i.-< of pun- iin|Mii'U-(I Clydi- stock, nixl is u 
Ix-iiiilifiil liny in color. Ik- t>xc-oi>ils l,7oO poiimls 
ill »i'ii;lit, i.s !ioveii years old, niiil cunsiiU-i'iMl one of 
tlic licst »t<K-k liorM-'S in Soiillii-rn Kiiiisa.s. Oursiilijccl 
liiiji also met with j^rent success in the lireeding and 
niisiiij,' of I'oiand-Cliina lio;,'x, of which ho keeps on 
hand a jfrcnl nnniher. 'I'iie farm is consiilered one 
of the U'st for stock purposes in the county, iiinl it 
is autlioriLatively slated that our suhjcct |>ays more 
L'lx on |M-i-soiiai properly, in the way of stock, than 
any other farmer in Scdj,'«ick t'ounty. 

Mr. Carlton is a native of the .State of North 
Carolina, born in Wilkes Couiily. .Ian. 17, l^•.'H, 
and is the son of William ami Polly (Hall) Carllon, 
natives of the sjime .SUite. William Carlton, his 
father, was a laliorer in the vineyard of our J^ord, 
a regular or<lained clergyman, and occupied the pul- 
pit of the Mi.s.sionary Unptist Church for many 
3'eai-s. He was a].so a lencher, and bore iherepuUi- 
tion of being one of the foremost anil best peda- 
gogues in the .SUite of Indiana, whither he had 
removed about IM.MI. In conneclion with these 
profes.'^ional callings, he also carried on fanning and 
sUK-k-brceding, and in this school our subject re- 
ceived the home training which has been so valua- 
ble to him in after life, and ha.s made his efforts ' 
such a splendid success. On his rcuioval to Indiana 
Mr. Willi.'ini Carlton purchased some seven farms, 
anil being an energetic man, of a powerful and act- 
ive ti'm|K-ranient, nothing suited him better than to 
enl*'r the heavj- green forests which at that period 
covered the lloosier Suite, and felling the trees, j 
clear up a new farm. He grew to be one of the 
wcalthiesl !igriculturist,s of that time and place, but 
in ix'i'.i he removed lo Hates County, Mo., where 
he died in IK.JG, having .itUiincd the age of sixty 
years. The mother of our subject died in 1 h;1;», in I 
Indiana, and his father wa.s again married, this lime 
to Miss Harriet I'. Keddiek, who beeainc Ihe molhei- 
of eight children, and is still living. Hy his lirsl i 
marriage William ('.•irlton was the father of eight 
children, as follows: William 1{. ; l-'rankliii S., the 
subject of this sketch; I.eander 1'., Ilosea A., 
Miiiy S., .lolin .M., Oliver H., ami one who died , 



unnamed in iiif.'ini'y. lU tlie second niairia;.'e there 
were born — David .M.. (Jabriel W., .Martha K., 
I'iersjin W., Amanda (".. Kiigene S., and two who 
died unnamed. 

The subject of our |>ei><inal narnilive received 
but a limited education in his boyhood, the schoob 
of Indiana at that perioil beingquilc limited in their 
nunilK>r and of no great value in an ediication:il 
sense. Notwithstanding thcM- disadvanlages, how- 
ever, he has, by a conslanl I'oiirse of reading, p«.>st4^'d 
himself until he is well informed upon all general 
subjecls and an authority in matters relating to his 
busines.s. He remained at home with his parents, 
and. ns he grew to mature years, the great burden 
of the work of his father's farm fell n|>on his.shoul- 
ilers. He removed with his father and the family 
lo Missouri, from which SUite he came to Sedgwick 
County, !is nicnlioned above. Oct. .'), IS.'iS, .Mr. 
Carlton w.as united in marriage wiih Miss Liieiiida 
Blevins, a native of Johnson County, Mo., born 
Oct. 2'.t, l.s.!7. and the daughter of Stephen and 
Mahala (Young) ISIevins, natives of Kentucky ami 
Indiana res])cclively. Her father, who is a farmer 
by occupation, is living in .lohnson County, .Mo., 
having attained the advanced age of eighly-eigbt 
years, with his wife, who is now seveiily-ninc years 
old. ISotli the old people are members of the li:iplisl 
Chiiicliand have licen so for agreal number of yeai-s, 
anil are humble and sincere Christian people. They 
are the parents of the following children: I.ncinda, 
the wife of our subject; l)ian:i, who died at the 
age of eight years; Christina, Polly, William U., 
KzekicI, Hobert L., Andrew, Iteliecca I).. I.ydia 
and Macdonald. 

To .Mr. and Mi-s. Carllon have been born a f:imily 
of four children, as follows: William S.. who mar- 
ried Miss Ann .Smiley: .Mary .S., the wife of Charles 
Craig; .John U., who nuirried Miss \'iola Kick, and 
Charles M., who was educated at the Km|>oria 
Normal .ScIiimiI, and is engaged in teaching ."school. 
Mr. Carlton is a man of deep religious convictions, a 
consistent and honorable Christian, and a member 
of the .Methodist Kpiscopal Church. He genenilly 
votes with the Kepublicin party, but is not bound 
by any partisanship, nor is he a seeker after politi- 
cal prefernieiil. He prefei-s the rpiiet |>eace .'nid 
domestic joys of his own lireside lo the liirinoils of 

•►- 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1049 ' ' 






party sti'ife, and would much rather attend to his 
own extensive business tiian that of liie public at 
large. 

Tlie fine dwelling-house which our subject has 
erected upon his place is one of the handsomest, 
.architecturally speaking, in this section of the county, 
and is finished throughout with great regard to the 
comfort and convenience of the inmates. It has 
beneath it a good basement cell.nr, which proves an 
excellent place of storage for the family provis- 
ions. Mr. Carlton has about thirty-five .acres of land 
set out in an orchard, upon which are about 1,200 
apple trees, 1,000 pe.ach trees, 12.0 pear and 100 
plum, besides apricots, nectarines, cherries, dwarf 
.June or serviceberr^- trees, besides a large quantity 
of grape vines and blackberry and raspberry bushes. 
•Surrounding his house, he has, with a great deal of 
taste, set out a large number of ornamental trees, 
besides 200 cherry, chestnut and others. 



OSCAR F. PEAllCY. who is a Southerner by 
birth, being a native of Nashville. Tenn., is 
doing good service in .advancing the agri- 
cultural interests of Valley Center, owning and op- 
erating a well-improved farm of IGO acres on sec- 
tion 2H. He has been a resident of this township 
for a number of years, and in 1880 was elected 
Constable, which office he held until ISS."). Subse- 
quently he served as Commissioner, and is one of 
the men upon whom the citizens depend to assist 
in looking after their interests, and for wliich duty 
he is adniir!il)ly adapted, being public spirited and 
progressive, and keeping himself well informed in 
relation to current events, both in the State and 
county. 

Mr. Pearcj' began his hand-to-hand struggle with 
the world wlien a lad of thirteen ye.ars, first engag- 
ing .as a clerk in a confectioner^' store at Pulaski, 
in his n.ative State. Upon the breaking out of the 
Rebellion, although but a youth of sixteen years, 
he enlisted in the 15th Tennessee Cavahy, and 
shared with the Confederate soldiery the vicissi- 
tudes of war until the fall of 1803. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Stone River and Chicka- 

4* 



mauga, and in the engagement at Sugar Creek in 
North Alabama was captured by the Union troops, 
and w;is held prisoner until the 22d of May, 186.'). 
Then, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the 
United States, he was released and returned to his 
old home in Nashville. There he eniplo^'ed him- 
self a.s a carpenter eigliteen months, then repaired 
to Simpson County, Ky., where he met his fate in 
the person of Miss Mattie V. Herndon, who became 
his wife in December, 1807. Mrs. Pearcy is the 
daughter of James W. and Permelia Herndon, 
natives of Kentucky and now deceasetl, the mother 
dying near Franklin in 187."!, and the father in Au- 
gust, 1880. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pearc3- began life together in a 
modest home at Franklin, C(jming to this county in 
188.5. Considering that Mr. Pearcy's experience 
as an agriculturist h.as been somewhat limited, it is 
a<lmitted on all sides that the exercise of his nat- 
urally good judgment has been fruitful of most 
excellent results. His general farming operations 
include the raising of considerable stock— r-horses, 
cattle and hogs. He is a man who improves the 
most of his opportunities for observation of men 
and things, and he avails himself of the advanUiges 
of modern methods and improved machinery. 

The parents of our subject, Clement A. and Ma- 
tillah (Shaffer) Pearc3', were also natives of Tennes- 
see, and the father engaged in mercantile pursuits, 
most of the time in the city of Nashville, Tenn. 
His later days were passed in Nashville, where his 
death took place in 18.06. The mother was born 
in Niishville, in 1822, and is still living, making her 
home in Franklin, Tenn. Their family included 
four sons and three daughters, the eldest of whom, 
Elizabeth, is the wife of R. M. Cavett, a carpenter 
of Nashville; John R. married Miss Elizalieth 
Eeak, .and they resided in Nashville until 1800, 
when they removed to Hopkinsville, Ky., where 
Mr. Pearcy was subsequently- elected Cit}' Marshal, 
and after serving in this capacit}' ten months, was 
shot by a man whom he wjis endeavoring to arrest; 
Josiah L. married Miss Lizzie Eppei-son, and is 
Wariien of the State Penitentiary, at Niishville, 
having been appointed in 1880; Oscar F., our sub- 
ject; Samuel 11. married Miss Susan Thom.os, and 
is the assistant of his brother-in-law in the peuiten- 



t 

' ' 10.10 



-*-HI-^ 



^KhCW ICK COIN TV 



wii.- forini'rlv :i i-omluctor mi lln- 'rciiiioMH' it 
Aliilitkiiin Hnilniiul for n piTiotl of thirtron ycnrs. 
Mini is III >«• also connccU'tl wiili tin- |)«'iiitciiti:iry ; 
Siirnh Fr!ini-f> dicil wlii'ii a c-liil<I tiirro yfiif< of itfrc. 

(ilIN C. 1)A\'IS. will! owns a iriMxl piece nf 
|>ro|)orly on .-eelioii 7. WieliitJi 'row-n.-liip, 
ojiiiie to KHns'i.>- in IS7 I, and |iiir('im!ie(l over 
2.Sij acres uf lioltoni lanri lyin>f lietwccn llie 
two Arkans^ts Kivers. anil ailjacent to the cily 
liniit.>. lie liiis laiil off liftv-two acres of this in 
tiiwn lots wliieli are now vnliied at ^•J,00(l |ier aere. 
His eiiursc has been fully in keepiTitr witii thai of 
the oilier men of t-nlerprise to wlnuii the city of 
\N'ieliit« is so ifreatly iiiilehteil for it.s <jr»>wth anil 
pros|K?rit3'. 

A native iif .Icniiinirs County, Iml., Mr. Davis 
wa.s horn Nov. 1 .'>, IS-J7, anil is the son of I'hnnuel 
anil .laue ( Woods) Davis, natives respectively of 
X'irjjinia and Tennessee. The father \v:is .mii KIder 
of liie I'resliyterian t'huicli, a f;irnier liy occiip:i- 
tion, and spent his last d:iys in his old linnie. his 
death lakinjr pl.Mic on the 17lli of .March, l.siM, at 
the n-rQ of seventy-three years. The niolher was 
coniiecled with the same church as her liiishniid. 

Theirs was the third family in the ei ty. Their 

eleven children were named respectively: Kutli, 
.Ii'seph. Mary. Sarah, Nathan. l-'.Uen, .l:ine. I'haniiel, 
.lohn C, Harriet .•mil Martin 1,. 

Our suhjeet w.xs the ninlli child of his parents, 
nnd conlinned a resident of his native .Stale until 
eoniiiifj to Missouri. I'pon the ontlneak of the 
Keliellioii he cnlisled in C'umpany K. KJth Indi.ina 
Infnnlry. in which he served eiuhleen months and 
until the rejfinient was dislpanded. I'pon reliiriiin<j 
home he joined the StJile Militi.-i, in which he re- 
ceived a ('.•iptain's ei.iniinission. and held himself 
ready for duty until the clnse of the war. On the 
2.'td of Oetoher, \>*r,:,, he was uniled Fn inarriap' 
with .Mrs. l,ouisn Kenniii^hani, Sipiire ('nllierl.son, 
of liuy. Ohio, olllciatiii^'. 

Mrs. Davis wa.s horn in (laylii County, 

l.nn.. May 2(1, I «;!! , and is the dau^diter i.f Dan- 
iel and (Jhirviiia (Dm.li-) Maikliam. who weicalso 



natives III 1 rniiessee, ;iiid llie father a ItlacksTiiith 
and waijon-maker iiy trade. He was liorn Dec. l.'i. 
IS02. and died in Knox County, Ky.. Nov. It'., 
1M,17. The inother was horn .lune 1. I .hO'.i. Their 
eii;lit cliihlren were: Louisa: Nancy. Mrs. .1. .1. Wil- 
son; Lucy, Mrs. Haskctt; Mihired. Mrs. CraiL': 
Kli/.a. Mrs. Dyer; .Snnih, Mrs. O. M.Davis; Mary, 
wiio died at the ajje of eleven nionth.s; and .Mnr<ra- 
ret, .Mrs. W. W. Klliott. .Six arc living. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davis heeame iho |inrent8 of the 
followiiiir liviiifT children: Waller H., Kdniund .S. 
and (leorjie L. The family residence is plea.santly 
located, ;ind Mr. Davis is n prominent man in his 
township, where he h.as served as 'i'rustee, and oc 
cnpied other positions of responsihilily. He is a 
stront: Kepnhlican, politically, and with his esliina- 
hle wife :i member in good slanilin<r of the Chris- 
tian Church, in which he hn.s held the ollice of 
|)c:icoii for n number of years. 

.Mr. Davis is nalnraily n very iiidnslrions and 
energetic ni.-m, and since coming to Kans.'is has fully 
sli:ireil with his brother pioneers tlie eonlliel with 
gra.sshoppcrs, gojihers .•ind wild sunlhiwers. His 
iiirge and well-cultivated farm is the result of ^'eai-s 
of i:il)or nnd good management. He is now breed- 
ing and feeding swine extensively, lint has lost eon- 
siderahly by the cholera. He keeps blooded hoi-ses 
and high-grade cattle, ;iiid realizes frnm the proceeds 
:inniially .-i liand.some income. The .Motur Line runs 
llirough llie Davis Addition to WichiUi. 



f, OllN T. FISlli:U. .•! retired fanner, and re- 
siding oil section .°U , in Kechi 'I'ownship, 
was born in Monroe t\>uiity, W. \'a., Feb. 
^^ 27. l«i:t. He w.-is the fifth chilli of William 
and Lli/.abcih (Ittisli) Fislier. who are :ilso natives 
of the Old Dominion, the former the son of Is;me 
and Hachel (Riggs) Fisher, natives respectively of 
Fngl:iiid and N'irginia. 

( I r;ind father Fisher emigrated to America pre- 
vious to the Kevolutioiiary \\ar, in which he served 
on the side of the Colonists for seven years. The 
parents fif the niolher. .bilin and Keziah Itiish. 
were also of I'jiglish liirlh and ancestry. (Ji-riiid- 
f:itliir I'.iish likewise c.-iriieil his niiiskct in the (' 



•►Hr*i 



1 







H 





^ 




% 



4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1053 ii 



tiiiciit.il aini}', !in(l liolli ynindfiilluM's received 
liononililc wounds and i)pnsioiis from the Oovern- 
ment. 

William Kishcr spent his entire life in liis imtive 
State, where he carried on farming, and where his 
death ocenrred when he was in the prime of life, 
in 184C. The mother survived her husltand several 
years, and also died at the old homestead in Vir- 
ginia. John T. acquired his education in the sub- 
scription schools of his native county, where esich 
pupil paid a certain sum each month. He started 
out for himself not far from the parental rooftree, 
and engaged in cultivating a tract of land, taking 
unto himself a wife and helpmate on the lOtli of 
September, 1837, before he was nineteen years of 
agi'. The maiden of his choice, Miss Elizabeth 
Jones, w.as also born in Monroe County, W. Va., 
Sept. 15, 1818, and was the third child of Klisha 
.and Margaret (Johnson) Jones, also natives of Vir- 
ginia. 

The grandparents of Mrs. Fisher, Thomas L. and 
Melvina (Thomas) Jones, were also natives of Vir- 
ginia, and the former served as a Cajitain in the Uevo- 
lution.iry War, afterward carrying an honor.'iblc 
scar, on account of which he drew a pension, and 
which reverted to his widow after his death. The 
maternal grandparents, who were William and Eliza- 
beth (Hicks) Johnson, also born in the Old Do- 
minion, spent their entire lives in their native 
Stjite, engiiged in farming pursuits. 

Our subject and his wife after their marriage 
continued to live in Monroe County until 1858, 
then set out for the West and pitched their tent 
among the pioneers of Platte Countj', Mo. Mr. 
Fisher carried on farming there fora perio<l of nine 
years, and in 18G7 came into the Territory of Kan- 
sas, locating upon eighty' acres of improved land 
about six miles from the city of Atchison. Three 
years later, however, he sold this property, and on 
the 1st of September, 1870, arrived in this county, 
where he h.is since remained. 

A few weeks after his arrival in Kechi Township, 
Mr. F'isher purch.ased 320 .acres of prairie land, 
comprising a part of sections 31 and 32, upon 
which he at once commenced operations, and a part 
of which he subsequently sold at a good profit. At 
one time he [)arted with eighty acres for the snug 



sum of |i250 per acre. His present hunistead com- 
prises eighteen acres, which is planted with fruit 
trees, and in the midst of which is the comfortable 
and commodious dwelling, with a carriage-barn 
an<l other outhouses, .and forms just such a home 
as the old farnioi- of fifty years should be permitted 
to enjoy. He now has ampli; time to devote to his 
favorite business — the keeping of fine stock, in- 
cluding high-grade Norman horses. Among these 
is " Little Arthur," who is one of the finest si)eci- 
niens of trotting stock to be found in Southern 
Kansas. The tastes of Mr. Fisher have been largely 
agricultural and domestic, his disposition inclining 
him to mix very little with political affairs. He has, 
however, kept himself well posted upon matters of 
general interest, and votes with the Democratic 
p.arty. Both he and his estimable wife are mem- 
bers of the First Baptist Church, at Wichita. 

Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, 
but three are living, namely: Lewis, Sarah and 
Charles. The eldest son is engaged in the stock 
business in Mexico; Sarah is the wife of M. F. 
Nichols, and resides in Wichita; Charles is mar- 
ried, and engaged in farming west of that citj'. L. 
D. Fisher, the eldest son of .1. T. Fisher, was one 
of the oldest settlers of Sedgwick C!ounty, and was 
the first Sheriff of the county. He is engaged in 
the stock business in New Mexico, but intends to 
rclnrn and make this his home. 



ARCUS AURELIUS RALPH, a farmerand 
stock-raiser residing on section .'i, Illinois 
Township, is one of the intluential and 
representative men of the county. He w;is 
born Feb. 13, 18:i2,in Windsor County, Vt., and is 
a son of Jonathan and Marcia (Kingsley) Ralph, 
both of whom were natives of Vermont. His father 
was born Sept. 1, 1801, in Windsor County, and 
was a farmer by occupation. His demise took place 
in Vermont, Aug. 13, 187.'5. His wife, the mother 
of the subject of this sketch, w.as a descendant of 
an old English family, some of whom were quite 
prominent figures in the historj' of their time. She 
W!is born Aug. 17, 1806, and died in Windsor 
County, A't., Jan. 22, 1884. She was the mother of 



►:#^ 



•► ■ -♦•- 



" i(.:.» 



SKDCWICK COL'NTV 



ruiirtvcn cliililmi, ivt fullowa: .lutliAiii F., Marcus 
Aiiroliii.M, Wallnce A., Luviiiti M., Mary K. ; Frcflcr- 
ick <). (i|c«-ca.sp<l) ; Williitiii llciiiv llnrrisoii. (loijrgc 
W.; C'lHri^xii A. iiiul I, Ill-ill Miirillit (<l«M-ca.Hcil ) ; .Ir- 
roiiic K.: \'tTiiiiii\ M.. Wiiilii'ld Scult imtl Cliiri'iii'i' 
S.. nil ilfc-oiutctl. 

rill- Kii)ije(.t of tills .skcUli siM'iit Ills IiovIioimI hikI 
youth lifiieiitli the iKirciiUil nMiflrei-, Mirruiiiiclccl Ity 
nil tlu' swi'ot iiilliii-iu'os of lioiiif. lit' i-iijoyeil iiii- 
usiiiil fiic-ilitics for acqiiiriii^ an fxci-llenl fdiic-iilioii, 
Itolh ill the coiiiiiioii .si'liools and in the acnduniy 
loonli-d in hi-- native town. 'I'lio kiiowltMlj^re wlilch 
lie acijiiireil in his early years, su|)|ileineiit^-il liy a 
lary:e ooun*e of reailin;; siiu-e, li.-us been of inesliin- 
alile value to liiin tlirou<^liuut his life. \\'hel) he 
had alinost allained his majority he turned his 
Imek on his hoiiie, and .sL:irleil for Mii-hi>ran, but 
shortly afltT moved t<i WinU-rset, Madison Co.. 
Iowa, where, in (■oiii|)niiy with his brother Wallace 
A., he entered iiitii the niii'sery bu.sinpss. This 
brother w:ls born Nov. Mil, I H;{;j. These brothel's 
had been bound toji^elher by unusually .<>lroii<; fra- 
ternal lies, as is evideiieed by the fact that what- 
ever IIh'V have done tlirou<^hout life, or whatever 
they have owned since altaiiiiii<^r inanhood's years, 
have been in coninion. It is therefore lillinfj that 
the |)ortraiLs of these two <;>entleinen should be 
placed side by side in a work of this charttcter. 
Kniineiitly honorable, they enjoy the hiirhest res|)ect 
of the coiiiniiinity in whicii they live. The}' con- 
tinued to raise and dispose of Iheir fruit trees and 
shrubbery, until the financial panic of Is.'iT swept 
over the country, and forced the suspension of 
many banks, and the failure of must of the mer- 
chants of the land. 

t'olii|M'lled by iieces,sily, the brothers closed out 
their business, and in the spring of IK."»S moved 
westward, and settled in Sarpy Coniily, Neb., some 
thirteen miles from Omaha, where they liiuk up 
some (lovcrnmenl land by pre-emplion. Marcus 
conimeiiced the improvemenl of the same, while 
his brother worked anion;,' the farmcr> of the vicin- 
ity to earn money with which to help pay for the 
farm, and to purchase provisions for their support. 
The former s|>ent four years ii|ioii this place, and 
his brother nine. After starting' a nursery u|Hin 
this land, .Maniis, in IHD'J, left it under char;/c of 



his brotlp the plains to tlic golden 

shores of t nlifornia, by way of Salt Ijike City. He 
slnrled from (Imnhaoii the I'.Hli of .May, and ar- 
rived at his destiiiulion in S«>pleiiil>er of the same 
year, s|>ending some four months u|Hin the journey. 
After his arrival there he was employed in teach- 
ing; school for six years, at which lime, his brother 
Wnllace haviii;; ilis|Hised of their pr<>|MTty in Ne- 
braska, cnnie to California, and they en^i<;ed in 
farming and bimberiii;^. 

.Mr. Italph's exlraordin.'iry talent, and the ex- 
treme excellence of his education, ciuseil his serv- 
ic«'s to be in fjreat demand, and he was paid :i 
sum varyinj; from *«0 to ♦100 [M-r month for his 
labor, lie wa* ap|H>inted a member of one of tin' 
School Hoards of thai suiiscl land in the county 
he lived in, which position he tilled for ei<;lil 
years with ^'real creilit to himself, and honor to 
those u'ho.sc judgment had placed him there. In 
1H7:S, having receiveil the appointment of Mineral 
Surveyor from the Surveyor (ieneral of California, 
he turned his face eastward, and coming here, sel- 
lletl in this State. With liini, of coun<e, cnnic his 
brother Wallace. Our subject pre-eui|>led ItU) 
acres of land, and his brother ;t'20, all in one body, 
where lliey now reside. Of this extensive farm, 
KUI acres are iintler a high stale of cultivation, yield- 
ing excellent results, .is a r«'wai'd for the labors of 
the husbandman; the b.-ilance is in meadow and 
pasture land. On the place Ihe brothers have 
erecli'd a very comforUible house, in which lliey 
keep bacheloi's' hall, enjoying everything, as usual, 
in common. They are engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, and are meeting with a deserved 
pecuniary success. 

In politics Mr. Ralph Ii:ls always alllliated with 
the Republican |)arty, but the principles of the new 
l.abor Reform movemcnl meet his views much 
nearer llian the doctrines of citlier of the older 
political orgaiiizations, and il is his inU-nlion to 
give his inlliiencc and sup|M>rt to the ticket lo be 
placed in the fiehl by thai parly. Possessing an 
education far above most of the |)eop|e, endowed 
with great natural abilities, and strongly grounded 
in the principles <if honesty and integrity, Mr. Ralph 
is looked upon by the coiiimiinity in whicli he lives 
OS one of their most iiillu<>ntial and prominent cili- 



•►•-♦i 



•» I I ^» 



,t 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■*^» 



1055 



zens. As ;i inatheiunlician he has no pei-r in the 
county, if indeed he lia.-; in the State. He is well 
read in all classical literature, the Greek writers, 
Homer, Cicero and Ca>sar being his daily com- 
panions, while he has at his tongue's end the Latin 
works of Horace, Livj' and Tacitus. He is a 
scholar in every sense of the word, and what is 
much rarer, a perfect gentleman. 



K V-^' 



1^ 



^EV. .lAMES S. TUHNBULL, I'astor of the 
j^ United Presbyterian Cliurch, at Viola, came 
to this county during its pioneer days and 
l^lms for many years been a faithful worker 
in the Master's vineyard. He is a native of Greene 
County, Ohio, and although having seen much of 
life and being rich in experience, is still com- 
paratively a young man. 

Our subject has reason to be proud of his ances- 
try, wliich originated in Scotland several hundred 
j'ears ago, and tlie first representative of which in 
this country was his paternal grandfather, Will- 
iam Turnbull, who crossed the Atlantic when a 
young man. Being of an inquiring and observant 
turn of mind, the latter traveled over the country 
and w:is engaged in different kinds of labor. He 
finally located on a farm not far from the city of 
Na.shville, Teun., where he met and married a Miss 
Marshall, of a family well known in that section, 
whence, in 1809, he removed to Ohio. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
man of strong convictions, and this removal from a 
pro-slavery region was occiisioned by his bitter 
opposition to the peculiar institution. He con- 
tinued a resident of the Buckeye State for over 
twenty years, and from there emigrated to Warren 
County, 111., locating in the town of Monmouth, 
where he died about 1840, when seventy years of 
age. Grandmother Turnljnll had died in Ohio be- 
fore the removal of her husband to the Prairie 
Stiite. They were the parents of ten children, the 
ninth of whom was named James and became the 
father of our subject. 

James Turnbull, Sr., was born in 1807, while his 



parents were residents of Tennessee, and wjis but 
two years of iige when they removed to Ohio. He 
was reared to manhood in Greene County, the lat- 
ter State, and there also was united in marriage 
to Miss Susanna Bidl, who w;is born in Greene 
County, and was the <laughter of James Bull, a na- 
tive of Virginia. The latter, upon leaving his na- 
tive StJite, settled in Greene County, Ohio, where 
he spent the remainder of his days, and passed 
away at the advanccjd age of ninety-six years. 
James Bull was imbued with strong temperance 
principles, and it is said was one of the first men to 
abolish the use of intoxicating liquors in the har- 
vest field. 

The father of our subject after his marriage 
gave his close attention to agricultural pursuits, at 
which he was employed tlie remainder of his life, 
He also became ripe in years, dying in 1886 at the 
age of seventy-nine. The mother had passed away 
in 1879, seven j'ears before the dece.-ise of her hus- 
band, when seventy years of age. Their nine chil- 
dren all lived to mature j'ears. Of these, James S., 
of our sketch, was the sixth in order of birth, and 
spent his childhood and j'outh at the old homestead 
in Greene Countj', Ohio, where he pursued his 
early studios. Later he repaired to Philadelphia, 
Pa., and entered Westminster College, from which 
he was graduated in 1871. He had already re- 
solved upon laboring in the ministry, and next be- 
came a student at the Theological Seminary in Xe- 
nia, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1874. 

Upon leaving college Mr. Turnbull sought the 
West, crossing the Mississippi into Red Oak, Iowa, 
where he wiis sbitioned one j'car, preaching to the 
people of that place, and from there came to this 
State. After a sojourn of a few months in Ander- 
son Countj' he made his way to Southern Kansas, 
and was first given charge of the United Presbj'- 
terian Church, at Wichita. While there he was 
formally ordained in 1871). The j-ear following, de- 
siring a relief from the confinement of his studj', 
he pre-empted a quarter of section 'M, in Viola 
Township, upon which he settled and where he has 
since made his home. He is fond of tilling the 
soil, delights in watching the changing of the sea- 
sons, and l)elicves that with the buililing up of a 
healthy physical i>ig:iniz:itioM, llii' mind is also bet- 



4- 



-4^ 



1(».M 



^1 l>i;\\I( K COUNTY. 



4 



l«r |iri|i.ir« I lo i<i|M> Willi tln' 

coii-tantly nri.Hiiig in conni'flinii wiili tlie iliiiips of 

hilt mllii));. 

Mr. TiirnlMill hiul orp»nir.c<1 llic I'liiUMl l'rf.*l>y- 
U-rinii Siioiftv, of \ii)lii 'rowiisliiii. iMfort- li-aviiij; 
WiuliiUi. luiil Mia.-< Minco lu-oii it.t |)!i>tor. It cum- 
((risos now iilioul .sixty inenil>er>, wlioho|H' for lu-t- 
t<>r things in the fuliire. Mr. rnrnl)iill, |MiIiticulh-. 
i.t a >Uncli Proliil'itioni>t. lie tlis|>os«"<l of forty 
Rort> of \u» land to tin- Sjintc Ft- K.iilroiiil Coni- 
|iiiny for town |iur|io>c;*. 

The ilccfjLSt'd wife of our subject, with whom hi' 
WR.S iinitpil in niarriiiye in Octohor, lf<74, wius for- 
merly Miss Ahhie I). Ilaskins. who was born near 
the city of llarlforil. Conn., ami deiuirt^-il this life 
in Hartford, in IXX'J. She wjls a lady held in hit;h 
re.speel for her many e.slinialile qualitie-s. (If this 
mnrringc there were no children. 



OlIN THOMAS CTLl', who i.s living on sec- 
tion '21. Kechi Township, is extensively en- 
;^i;,'ed in aj^ricultuml pursuits and stoclc- 
niisinj;. and owns a lar';e and va!ual>le farm. 
He wius horn in .Mineral County, W. Va.. Oct. ti, 
JM.'tl. ami was the third child in order of itirlh of 
the live children horn to .lohn an<l Rachel (Baker) 
Cuip, who Were likewise natives of West \'irginia. 
His paternal grandparents, .lohn and Nancy Cnip, 
were horn in N'irjrinia, and his maternal grand- 
father. .Mich.'iel Haker, with his wife, was a native 
of I'ennsylv.ania. 'I'he father of our stilijecl was a 
farmer in his native Stale, ami still resides there, 
near Cnndierlaml, Md., .-it the advanced sige of 
eighty-six. in the cfmiforlalile home which is the 
result of his early labors. His lirst wife, mother 
of our subject, departed this life in I H,54, and in 
l«.'i<; h(- married Margaret Seiver, a native of Vir- 
ginia. Five children were born of that union, all 
of whom are living in the Fast. 

Our subject piutsed hi* boyhood and early man- 
hiMid on the farm which had been his place of birth, 
a.ssisting in the labors of tilling it. and helping to 
reap the harvests. He recciveil his education in the 
subs<'riplion scIkmiIs of that day, which were held 
' in an olil log cabin, with a space between the logs 



for « window. In May, 1856, he left the pleasant 
home of his youlli to start out in the world to 
earn his living elsewhere, and we next hear «)f him 
in Ad.-ims County. III., where he had located, and 
was vigorously carrying on the occu|inlion to which 
he had been reared. In a few years his success 
had been such :ls lu justify his marriage with the 
young lady whom he had asked t4i .share his life. 
Miss Martha Crewdson, aufl they were made one 
March \ IHO.'l. .She was born in Adams County, 
111., in IXIJt. and was the youngest of the six chil- 
dren born to William .•md Mary Ann Crewdsoiii 
natives of \irginia. 

After marriage our subject settled on a farm in 
Illinois, and continued there until the spring of 
1K7.0, when he came U> .Sedgwick County, Kan., 
and located where the Iturton ear works are now. 
He bought eigiily acres of wild prairie land, and 
built thereon a house and barn, ship|)ing the lumber 
from Hannibal, Mo. He afterwani sold that farm, 
and bought 1C,(( acres of prairie lanti where he now 
lives, thirty acres of which were broken. He im- 
mediately commenced its improvenient, anil now 
liiLs it under a good state of tillage, and has built 
a substantial, commodious dwelling-house and barn. 
His farm is well stocked with grailed Norman 
horses and Durham cattle. He has sold forty 
acres uf his original purchase to be laid out in town 
lots, and gave four acres t<> the Burton car works. 
He also owns I MO acres of laixl in .Meadu County, 
Kan. 

'The married life of our subject and his wife has 
been blessed by the birth of nine chililren, ii:imely : 
Willie H.; Don, who died at the age of one month; 
'Thomas Leo, Mary Stella, Rosa L»'e, liachel, fJracie 
Brown, Avis and Blanche. Willie is married, and 
has a feed store at Wichita. 'The otlier children 
are at home, and their {mrents are giving them the 
best |>ossil>lc educational advantages. 

Mr. Cnlp i> a man of sound common sense, is 
just and honorable in his business transactions, is 
very public spirited, and is in every essential a go<Hl 
citizen. He is a strong Prohibitionist, and gives 
that party his hearty support, Jis he, in fact, warmly 
favors any inoveinent that will elevate the moral 
sUitus of the Slate. .\s a .School Directt»r, which 
olllce he has held the last nine years, he has done 



•^•-4^ 



-•^^m^^ 



^1 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1057 ' ^ 



good service, and has contributed his share toward 
extending the educational facilities of this town- 
ship. He is a member of Uie Methodist Episcopal 
Church, as is also his excellent wife, who shares 
with him the respect of the entire neighborhood. 



KNNIS R. COLK. The name of this la- 
mented citizen of Secigwick County, who 
passed to his rest on the 14tli of November, 
1881, is remembered as that of one of the 
first settlers of Rockford Township, and of a man who 
assisted greatly in its development and prosperity. 
He was by nature liberal and public-spirited, and 
wherever he took up his abode maintained an in- 
terest in the people around him, and contributed 
to the best of his means and ability to their improve- 
ment socially, morally and financialh'. No man is 
more worthy of representation in a work of this kind, 
and there is none whose name is held in more grate- 
ful remembrance. 

Our subject was born in .Jefferson County, N. Y., 
March 19, 181 (J, and was the son of Allen and Hope 
(Sallies) Cole, who were probably natives of New- 
York and spent their last years in that State. Den- 
nis w;is educated in the common schools of his na- 
tive SUite, and when a ^'oung man and commencing 
business on his own account, made his way to the 
vicinity of Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., where he en- 
gaged in farming for about fifteen years. 

Mr. Cole, while a resident of Wisconsin, was 
imited in marriage with Mrs. .Julia (Forward) Red- 
ington, who was the widow of Charles W. Reding- 
ton, a native of New York Stale and the daughter 
of Benjamin F. and Betsc}- (Cook) Forward. Mrs. 
Cole was born in Jefferson Count}', N. Y., Dec. 18, 
1822. Her parents were natives respectively of 
Connecticut and New Hampshire, and spent their 
last years in Wisconsin and New York respective!}'. 
The mother died in middle life in the spring of 
1842, and the father, surviving a jjcriod of forty 
years, rested from his carllily lal)ors when (iiiilc 
.aged, in 1882. 

The marriage of Miss Julia Forward and Charles 
W. Redington took place in 185.3, and they became 
the parents of one child, who died unnamed. To 



SI I', and Mrs. Cole tliere were born the children 
whose record is as follows: Benton O., born in Bur- 
nett, Wis., July 15, 1858, marrieil Miss Emily Bar- 
nard, a native of Canada, and is living in Derby; 
Franklin B. C, born Aug. 9, 1862, remains with 
his mother and superintends the operations of 
the farm; Brat'on J. was born Jan. 2(1, 18(!8, and is 
living at home; Bertha .F. w:is born Nov. H, 1809 
and is a very [lopular and accomplished young lady^ 
with a good education and making ;i specialty of 
music. 

Mr. Cole came U> Kiuisas in 1877, and purchased 
the quarter-section of land which comprises the 
present fine homestead. The land has been thor- 
oughly cultivated and imjjroved, with good build- 
ings and fences, while a nourishing orchard and 
trees of the smaller fruits contribute to the attract- 
ive features of the home and provide the luxuries 
of the season for the family use. Mr. Cole steadily 
declined becoming an odice-holder, although taking 
a lively interest in political affairs, and being one 
of the most earnest supporters of the Republican 
party. He was a man universally respected and 
one whose word was considered .as good as his bond, 
on his death the county lost one of its most honored 
and useful citizens. Mrs. Cole proved herself full 
worthy as the companion and helpmate of this ex- 
cellent man. .She is a lady greatly respected in her 
community, and a member in good sUinding of the 
Presbyterian Church. 



rUUAY MYERS, Auditor of Sedgwick 
County, a gentleman well and favorably 
known, is highlj- respected for his excellent 
)usiness qualities, strict intcgritj' and fidel- 
ity in places of trust. He is a native of Wenona, 
Mai-shall Co.. 111., where he wjis born April 28, 
1816, being the son of Albert .S. and Emily J. 
(Whitcomb) Myers, natives respectively of Penn- 
sylvania and Rochester, N. Y. 

The grandfather of our subject, David Myers, 
was born in Pennsylvania, his ancest<^>rs having 
emigrated from Holland in an early d.ay and settled 
in that State, where they engaged in the nursery 
business. David, who was trained in that occupa- 




#-4h-i^ 



•^•-4*- 



\S I' K corNTV. 



tilMI, |. . 

mill esl:ibli>lii'(l llic first nursery in timt Slnlo, kimwu 
ru* Ihf MytTs Niirsory, ni-ar MH;;n<iliit, .■mil Miccfss- 
fiilly i-nrricil on the liiisinr!<.H tlirrc iiDtil liiit ilfntli. 
TliL- iniiiilcn nniau of lii't wife uils |)rii.sillii Simpson. 
Tollieni w«'ro hum a fiiniily *>f tliirlocn cliililrcn, nil 
of wlium, fXfO|>tin;f the yonn};i'.sl, livoil l<i miilurily, 
w«T(> ninrriod nnil ri'iircd fnniilies. 

Alltcrl S. Myers, the fnllier of our subject, con- 
tinued ill the iiuntcry business nl the old hoinestcad 
lifter the dentil of his father, and stiil resides there, 
having nequired n coiiipetcncv in that lucrative 
business, lie is n proiniiieiit man in his coniniu- 
iiity, has always been identiried with its interests, 
and hius held the nuiiieroiis local ollices of his town- 
ship. To him and his wife have been born five 
children, all of whom are living, niiineiy : Kiln, 
.Murray, Oreii, Willis and llattic. Klia is the wife 
of iloii. A. II. SUileicr, who iseng.'igcd in themorcnii- 
tile business at Wcnona, III. ; Orcn lives in Ncl)ra.<ka, 
and is enj;a<;od in farming: Willis lives -.'it Ft. 
Hayes, Kan., and is engaged in the broker and real- 
eslnte business; llattie is the wife of (Icorge Young, 
a merchant uf liliKiriiiiiglon, III. 

The maternal grandfather of oiir subject, Oren 
Whilcomb, w.is a native of New York, lie removed 
with his family to I'utnam County, III., and settled 
ill M:igiiolia. being one of the pioneers of that place, 
lie engiiged in the cabinet business in that town, 
and by his superior workmanship soon csUiblishud 
a line business repiit^ition. lie had great mechani- 
cal ability, lis well !is inventive talent, and was the 
inventor of the lii>t re:iper. lie never had it pat- 
ented, but the mai'liiiies were maniifactiired liy 
William I'arrolt. of Magnolia, and were extensively 
used in that part of the Stale. Had lie lived a few 
years longer the worhl might have had siibstniitial 
evidence of his genius, but in 1 s,"i7 both he and 
his wife were stricken with that dread disease 
cholera, and died within an hour of each other. 

Miirmy Myers, of this sketch, remained at home, 
atU-nding school and .'ussistiiig in the nursery, until 
elevi-n yeai-s old, when, having become familiar 
with all branches taught in the district school, he 
went to (Jalesliurg, III., where he was adiiiilU'd to 
Lombard I'liiversity, remaining there until the 
bniiking out of the late (.'ivil W.ir. He then in- 



Iist4-d as (Iriimnii ' inpniiy C, 4 Ith Illinois, 

and remained in service during the war. lie took 
an active part in the battles of the Western Army 
under .Siegel and Fremont, wx^ with (ieii. liiiell 
through Kentucky, and |>articipntcd in all the en- 
gagements from NiLxhvillc to Chattanooga. Afl<'r 
lliiell was su|)crseded by (Jen. l{o.sccniiis, our sub- 
ject continued with the latter through the siege of 
( 'haltaiKHiga, and wils engaged in all the battles of the 
(leorgia campaign, 'riien he returned to Nashville, 
and from then- went to New Orleans, finally receiv- 
ing an holionible discharge in Texas in November, 
IhCj. During the second year of the war our sub- 
ject was promoted for gallant service to the jiosition 
of Captain of Coni|):kny K, tttli Illinois liegimeiit, 
being the youiigesl Capt-iin commi.ssioned from that 
State. He subseiiueiitly received furthiir merited 
proniotiol) for valor aiidelllciency, being appointed 
oil the staff of (!eii. Ojiedike, of Ohio, and later 
served on the staff ofden. Connid. of St. Louis, 
and was also an ollicer on the staff of .Maj. (icii. 
Klliott. (ien. Myers wius wounded in the kiieeat the 
battle <jf Stone River, shot in the hip at Cliicka- 
niauga. and al.so received a wound in the head at 
Resacn. After the war closeii our subject returned 
io Wcnona, III., and engagcil in the drug business, 
continuing until 1H72. 

In I8C8 Mr. Myers was united in marri.-ige with 
Miss Libbie, daughter of II. N. Todd, and sister of 
Rev. George S. Todd, Chaplain of St. Luke's llospi- 
tnl, Chicago, III. To them was born one child, (!uy. 
In 1873 Mr. Myers, desirous of trying farm life in 
Kansas, removed with his family and took up a 
homestead claim in Attica Township, where he im- 
proved a farm, erecting substantial dwellings and 
putting the laml under good cultivation. In I SHO 
Mr. Myers, who had become prominenlly ideiilitleil 
with town and county affaii-s, was a]i|>ointeil Audi- 
tor of .Vdgwick County, a [losition for which he is 
well fitted, and the duties of which he li:is since sat- 
isfactorily discharged, and later coniiiiissioneil by 
(iov. Martin Hrig.ndier (!eiieiiil of the Kansas 
National ( iiiards, which |Kisitioii he continues to fill, 
.lust before the •' Wichitji Imhmii " he sold his farm, 
and removing to this city, invested the proceeds in 
projicrty here, which proved a very fortunate s|K'C- 
idatioii, and since then he has dealt largely in real 



-<^ 



4 



SKDOWICK COUNTY. 



1059 ' ► 



cstiite. Ill cuiiipaiiy with ^[^. IIei$eriii:iii our sub- 
ject Una built three brick blocks woitli *I 50,000. 
lie is also a stockholder in most of the stock com- 
panies of Wichita, and has l)cen remarkably' suc- 
cessful !is a financier. 

In 1881 the household of our sulijcct was ijcreaved 
by the death of the gracious woman who presided 
over it with loving care. Ilcr body was carried back 
to her old home in Illinc)is, and on the 4th of March 
was tenderly laid U> rest in the cemetery' at Wenona. 
Ill 1 88.') Mr. Myers was again married, his union with 
Miss Laura, daughter of (Jen. B. B. Egglcston, of 
Wichita, being solemni/.cd February 21 of that 
year. 

The subject of this sketch is one of the leading 
men of the city, and uses his intluciice in advancing 
its welfare, inateriall}- ai<ling all beneficial schemes 
for promoting its financial, moral or intellectual 
sUitus, and is a worthy representative of the intelli- 
gent and substantial citizens of the count}'. As a 
man of judgment and discretion, bis views are often 
Solicited on matters of importance, and as a man 
and a citizen he is filling his niche in life with credit 
and dignity. His pleasant home at No. 1013 North 
Lawrence avenue is ever open to his friends and 
acquaintances, who are hospittibly welcomed and 
entertained by himself and his estimable wife, 
rolitically, our subject is a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party; socially, he is a .Mason and a 
member of the (i. A. II. 



jj^ ELVILLK C. CAMPBKLL, whose name is 
familiar to the greater portion of the peo- 
ple of .Sedgwick County, occupies a pleasant 
residence at No. 1227 North Emporia av- 
enue, Wichita, and is numbered anu>ng the most 
extensive cattle owners of this section. A native 
of Kankakee, 111., he was born Sept. 6, 1849, and is 
of pure Scotch ancestiy, one of the fourth genera- 
tion of his faniil}' in the United States. 

Rev. James Campbell, the father of our subject, 
who was born in Greene Count}-, Ohio, in 1808, w.is 
a son of Henry Campbell, of South Carolina, who 
w.as a Revolutionary soldier, and cousin of Col. 



-^•- 



Robert Cam|)L)ell, one of the coniinanders of the 
patriotic forces at King's Mountain, who defeated 
the British troops under Gen. Ferguson, .lames 
Campbell in his youth emigrated with his i)arents 
from his birthplace to Montgomery Couiilv, Iiid., 
where he subsequently became ac(juainted with and 
married Miss Priscilla, daughter of .lohn Mick, an 
extensive export merchant of that count}'. Mrs. 
Campbell was born in Flemingsburg, Ky., and was 
of German extraction, the scion of an excellent 
family which made its advent into the New World 
several generations .ago. 

After his marriage James Campbell engaged in 
agriculture in the Iloosier SUite until 184G, when 
he removed with his famil}' to Will Count}', 111., 
and three years later to Kankakee County, the 
same State. There he became consideral)le of a 
land-owner, from which he subsequently improved 
several farms. In 1862, inspired by that |)atriotic 
spirit which (lervaded the loyal North during the 
dark hours of the Rebellion, he enlisted, .at the age 
of fifty-four years, in Company H, TGth Illinois 
Infantry, and served gallantly until the Inst armed 
traitor had surrendered to the authority of the Fed- 
eral (ioveriiment. lie participated .actively in the 
campaign through Central Mississippi, was taken 
prisoner at Holly Springs by (ien. Earl Van Dorn, 
but feigning sickness, was released without parole, 
and immediately rejoined his command. There- 
after ho participated in the siege of Vicksburg and 
the operations around Mobile, including the charge 
at Ft. Blakeley. In the summer of 18G5, after the 
general surrender of the Confederate forces. Elder 
Campbell, as he wa.s known, returned to his home 
in Kankakee County, III., and re-engaged in civil 
pursuits. 

In 187."i James Campbell, taking just pride in his 
honorable war record, tame to Kansas for the pur- 
pose of availing himself of his right to a tract of 
(.Jovernnient land to leave as further evidence of 
his having been a soldier, which he did, and after 
residing upon it the necessary length of time, and 
obtaining his title from the Government, he re- 
turned to his old home in Illinois and resumed his 
usual pursuits, continuing thus occupied until 1880, 
at which time he retired from active business. 

The father of our subject had a mind well stored 

■» 



f 






-•►H -4» 



4 



SKIMIWK K COUNTY 



witli iiM . . .Ill- "i ill.. ... (.1:11 HI- ..i :i . . iitiiry,!>|mn- 
iiiii}; tlie most iiii|Mirliiiit |>«-riiMl of our coiiiitry'K 
lii>l<ir_v. lie viviiily ri-iiifiiilH-r<-(l llu- i-nlliii^ to- 
;.'i'tlaT of tlie iniiiiilc iiieii in the Wiir of ISIl', iiiiil 
tlu' tliiiiuicr tif oniiiutiis on I^^ike Krii-, where C'om- 
inoiliirc I'erry won such ini|M-ri8tml)lc fjlory. He 
iiii-t in ciMivention iit viirioii.s times during his life 
nmny of the ifrenl men of the eonnlry. nmon); 
whom were Iloraee (Iri'eley, 'rhiirh>w Wei-d, Toui 
C'orwin, Thoniii^ II. Kenton, Dick •lolinson, of Ken- 
tueky. iinil nmny otiier |H*litieinns. The events uf 
the Mrxii-iin War, iinil the history of its inception, 
wore also matters which came under his |K'rsonal 
observation. He sltMid .sjuareiy with Tom Corwin, 
tif (Jhio. iiroicslin;,' earnestly .•i;,'ainst the |H>licy of 
the (iovernmenl in |iroscculinj,' a war against a sis- 
ter Ke|>ul>lic, merely for the acqnisitic n of slave 
territory. In the war of the Heliellion, iis liefore 
sUkled. he wsis an active participant, and the writer 
on many occ-tsions rluring that sanguinary struggle 
on the t<Mit«.d licld, under the haltlcmenls of Vicks- 
liurg, and elsewhere, he.-u'd liiiu make the declaration 
that "if he had a huiidreil lives he would freely 
give Ihem all nither th.-ui the country should submit 
to the domination of slave |H>wor." 

.tames Campbell witnessed the marvelous growth 
of the conntiT from a nation of seventeen Suites 
and a |><>puiation of l.'i,t»(K»,00fl to a nation of thir- 
ty-eight Slates and a population of more than GO,- 
(lOO.oOO. lie felt thankful for having lived in an 
age so historic and so full of wonderful achieve- 
ments. The golden sunset of his life was beauti- 
fully s|»enl in reading, traveling and retrospection. 
On the <;ih of .lannary, IK.SM, afU'r a brief illness 
from paralysis, he peacefully passed to the other 
shore. His loving and worthy companion died 
Aug. 'J, l^M. They were both devotetl Christians, 
and had been life-long mcmliers of the Methodist 
Kpisco|>al Church. They haci reared a family of 
nine children, all of whom survive them. 

The eldest brother of our subject, Clinton C. 
Camitbell, w.as born in Montgomery County, Ind., 
in \X'M, and emigrat<-d Ui Illinois with his parents 
in 1^'•IG. l'|M)n reaching mature years he wils found 
to be a man of more than orilinary abilities, and 
Ix-eame the incMimbent of various ollices, among 
which he served as a metnlier of the State Hoard of 



Kqunli/jitiiiii loi ihi' Niniti < .mi;:ii'h-i il iiistnci 

of Illinois. an<l InU-r wils the candi<lat4- of the Ke- 
pnblican |«irty tis M»-mber of Congress from the 
Ninth Congressional District in \i<>*0, U-iiig de- 
feated by .ludge rays<in. He is .still living in 
Kankakee County, III., and is one of the st-inch 
business men of the northern portion of the Slate. 
Kli/.abeth Campbell is the wife of Alonxo Curtis, a 
merchant and manufacturer, of Kankakee County; 
and.btlin Frank, the second son, an attorney-at-law, 
is also a large laml and stock owner of that l<K'ality. 
Winlield .S. Campbell was born in Crawfordsville, 
Ind.. in l.s.42, and enlisted in the military service 
of the I'nitecl Slates during the late war, when but 
a youth of nineteen years, becoming a member of 
Company 11, Tiith Illinois Infantry. He partici- 
pated in numerous eng.ngemenls, among which were 
the battles and siege of N'icksburg and .lackson, an<l 
after which he was promoted It) the niuk of Seconil 
Lieutenant in the odth United States Colored In- 
fantry. After the campaign of IJayoii .Macon, in 
Louisiana, in l.sG4. he was made First Lieulcnant 
and Adjutant, and in the f.-dl of that year was de- 
tailed with his command to Arkansas, and |)arlici- 
pat4>d in many skirmishes, the most noted being 
with the (Icljichmenl of (!en. Price's command ;u* 
the latter was retreating from Missouri, l^ieut. 
Cani()bell was subsequently ordered to N'icksburg 
and assigned to duty as Acting Assistant Adjutant 
(Jeneral of the jmisI and defenses of the city. About 
this lime he received a Captain's commission, anil 
was also made Acting Inspector (ieneral of the 
Southern District of Mississippi, which rank and 
position he held until the close of the war — having 
thus distinguished himself at the early jigeof tweu- 
l3"-three years .is a military olllcer of no ordinary 
merit. I'lHjn his retirement from the army he 
engaged in the practice of law, and :dso being fond 
of the pursuits of .•igriciiltnre, has given much of 
his attention to this industry'. William II. C.-imp- 
bell, a resident t>f llarlon County Kan., is largely 
interesleil in re.-il estate there, and for the last two 
years has represented his county in the .Slate Legis- 
lature; Mary is the wife of Dr. O. H. (.'ampbell, .>f 
Cleveland, Ohio; Alice married Benjamin (larland. 
a ranchman, of Caldwell, Kan.; .I:imes 1'., the 
youngest of the family, is iuterest<'d as a stock- 



■•►•-^ 




Residence OF Henry Dugan.Sec 25. DelanoTownship 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1063 ' ' 



i 



dealer in company with liis brother Melville C, of 
our skctcii, und makes his home in Caldwell. 

Melville V. Camplyell acquired such education 
during liis ^-ounger j'ears as could he obtained in 
the public schools of Illinois, and :issisted his 
brother William in taking care of the farm and 
family during the years their father w;is at the seat 
of war. LIpon attaining his majority he conuuenced 
farming on his own account and was thus occupied 
in his native county until 1>S7 1. During that year 
he crossed the Mississippi, and coming to this Stale, 
turned his attention to real estate and agriculture 
in Barton County. His prompt and energetic method 
of dealing, his solid worth ami public-spiritedness, 
soon placed him among the prominent citizens of i 
this section, and in 1876 he was elected to theoflice 
of County Clerk, retaining that position the suc- 
ceeding two years. He then engaged in the busi- 
ness of cattle and horse ranching, driving and 
maturing, which he has since carried on with great 
financial success. His stock ranch is most desira- 
bly located in the Indian Territor3', is well watered 
and in every way finely adapted to its purpose. 
He drives most of his cattle from Texas, and in 
1887 handled 18,000 head. 

Mr. Campbell came to Wichita to reside in 187'.), 
and built his present commodious home in 1886; 
it is in the finest residential quarter of the city, and 
is fully supplied with all the conveniences and com- 
forts of the best social life. To the gracious and 
pleasing hostess who presides over this charming 
home our subject was united in marriage Oct. 1, 
1876, at Great Bend, Kan. She was formerly Miss 
Ella S. Smith, and was born in Van Bureu County, 
Iowa, Sept. 8, 185!). She is a daughter of James 
B. and Mary (Bryson) Smith, both of whom were 
born near Uniontown, Pa. They married in that 
Suite, migrated to Iowa, and settled in \'an Buren 
County, where Mr. Smith was extensively and suc- 
cessfully engaged in farming for several years. In 
l!s68 he removed with his family to Henry County, 
Mo., where he became largely engaged in the stock 
business, being one of the first men to introduce 
Texjui cattle into that State. Seven years later, in 
1876, Mr. .Smith moved to Kansas and settled in 
what is now Stafford County, of which he was one 
of the organizers and its first Count}' Treasurer, 
-♦ 



holding that office for two terms. He owns con- 
siderable land, besides property in the town of St. 
John, where he and his wife now make their home. 
To them six children have been born, namely : 
Emma, wife of George A. Dunn, a banker of J>arned, 
Kan.; Alice, who died in Stiifford County, Kan., in 
August, 1881 ; Bryson S., real-estate agent, at St. 
John; James and Charles are partners in the furni- 
ture business in St. John, and Mrs. Campbell, who 
is the next to the youngest in order of birth. In 
politics Mr. Smith is a radical Republican, and in 
religion a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and 
iMrs. Campbell have one daugiiter, JettaG.. a bright 
girl of eight summers. 

Mr. Campbell is a nienibcr of lh<' Re|Hiblican 
party and formerly took an active part in jiolitics, 
but the management of his business interests will 
not now admit of his giving attention to public 
affairs. The property of Mr. Campbell has been 
acquired by the exercise of sound judgment, good 
Inisiness talents and industry. His fair dealing and 
systematic methods of doing business have won for 
him the confidence and respect of all with whom 
he has had occasion to transact business. 

Q. SNVDER, one of the early pioneers of 
Sedgwick County, pre-empted the quarter- 
section of land which he now occupies in 
f@)Rockford Township, in February, 1870. 
Here since that time he has wisely continued, and 
given his time and attention to the building ui) of 
a homestead, and judging from present appearances 
he has succeeded in an admirable manner. His 
land lies on sections 8 and 17, and after bringing it 
all to a state of good cultivation aud erecting suit- 
able buildings, he planted an orchard of apple 
trees and the finer fruits, and now gives his atten- 
tion largely to the raising of good grades of stock. 
Mr. Snyder looked upon this portion of the country 
during its early settlement by white men, and has 
watched with the deepest interest its develoi>ment 
and prosperity. 

Monroe Count\', K3., was the early home of our 
subject, where he was born at the modest home- 
stead of his parents on the 9th of August, 1850. 



■•►-■-^ 



f 



inr, I 



«i:iti;ui( K COUNTY. 



Till- Lilli'i. W illi:iiii .ukI .l;in< ( Marliii) Suyilir. win- 
n\!^> iiiitivf> i>r till- Itltii- (iriLH.s SliiU*. nii<l of (mtiiiiiii 
.•uiff>li-y. 'riif |iiit<'riiiil (;ii-nl-jj;niiiilfiillirr of imr 
MiliJi-«-t ('ini);rntoil from llic Fntli<-rluii(l iliiriiij; llii" 
Ciiliiiiiiil i|ii_>> jiikI M-llli'il ill IViiiis_vlviiiii:i, when" 
III' >|H'iil till- ri'iiiitiiiilcr of lii^ life. 'I'hc '^'iiiiiiiriiltK-r 
wlii'ii n vomit; innii rcinovcd into Ki'iiliicky. ami 
lIuTi; rcarnl his rmiiily, llicre iilsu piuvsin;; fruiii his 
I'jirtlily 1hIm»i>. 

Williiiiii SiiyiltT, till' f:itluT of oiir miiIiJccI. ri'- 
ci'ivcil n liiiiili'il fitiii-iitlnii, ainl enrrivil on riiriiiiii;; 
in lii.s unlive Siiiu- until |.So2. Tlicn rcMilving u|i(in 
!i ('linii};>' of liK-ntion, he ini;;nttfi| n<-i'os,s the Mis- 
xi.s.si|>|)i into Mercer County, Mo., where he liveil 
with hit* family ei<;ht yenrs. lie then leiimved Uj 
Saline ('oiiiily, this Suite, where heearrieil on farm- 
ing n.s liefore, ami with his exeelleiil wife spent the 
rctiiniiiiler of Ins ilays. his deeoiuse iH-eiirrin<; in 
April, lMt;;{, ami that of the mother in .lannary, 
IHTK. The parent.ll hou.sehoid inelmleil twelve 
ehililren, six of wlmni are iiviii;: ami resiilenL-> of 
KaiiS!i-s. 

Voiiiil: Snyilereonliniieil .-i nieinlier of his father's 
hoiiM-holil until 1H70. ami aliout the time of stftrlin;^ 
out in life fur himself was iinileil in marriai;;e with 
Mis.-> .Mary lliinli'r, the weildinjf Uikinj,' place in 
Wi<'hita on the :2!)th of .lunnary, I H'". Mrs. .Sny. 
iler is the ilaiighler of Nelson and Sarah (I'riiitl) 
ilnnter, natives of IndiaiiH. and w.-is born in lowii, 
|)ee. .'to. 1H.'(4, her parents having removed to 
ApiKiniM.se County, that St;ile, (hiring the early 
days of their married life. She received her educa- 
tion in the eoinnioii schools, and liecamc familiar 
with the v.irioiis duties of the housewife in the 
eonnlry home. From Iowa Mr. and .Mrs. Ilunlor 
e'lme to this county in |s7|, f,nir yc;n-s jifter the 
arrival of our suhject. 

Ihe children of .Mr. and Mi>. Sny.ler. all of 
whom continue under the home nntf, were horn a# 
follows: Koherl II., Fell. I'T. I«78; C.eorge M., 
Dec. 1 I, IsT'.t; Kdward I).. .Ian. I, IM«l; Ailn il.. 
Fell. IH, IMHI, and .Sn.Niii, Feh. I ;i, INH". Mr. 
Siiydi-r takes an iiclivc interest in politics, and is a 
stjinch sup|H>rt<r of Ke|(ulilican principles. ,So. 
cially, hehelongsto the I. (). (). F., Kl I'aso Lodge, 
at Derliy. Knch year finds him making some liead- 
wny, and lijs homestead in all its ap)H>iiitiiieiiLs jire- 



it-^^ 



.senUi Uie picture of an e.^Ujie whieli has heeii 
condiiclfd with iiio^t excellent Ju<lgiiieiit, and is 
oiii' of the iiio.hI valuable of its kimi in Kockford 
Township. A lilhogniphie view i-< shown on an- 
other page of Mr. Siiyiler'.s lioiiie. 

t KNIiV Dl CAN. Among the inlliiential 
Y jl, niemher^of the farming comiininity of Sedg. 
*V^^ wick I'ounly .•in<l one of its most pros|K-roiis 
(^) an<l wealthy c-iti/eiis, is the gentleman wliodc 
name heails this sketch, lie is entirely . a .self-mailc 
man in the truest sense of the word, having been 
the only architect of his own fortunes, and has i-nised 
hiinsidf from a sU-ite of poverty to allhience, aiiled 
onl_\ by his own strong arms, indoiiiiudile energy 
and laudable ambition. Ilis homestead lies u|ioii 
section 2.'i, Delano Township, and is one of the 
most valuable in this portion of the county, as it 
<-ontiiins .'iCi acres and lies within a short ilistance 
of tli:il marvelous city of the KansjLs plains, Wichita. 
The siibjei't of this pei>on:d narration wjis 
born in the P:irish of Fakel. County Clare, Aug. 
j 17. IS42, and is the son of .lolin and C-ithcriiie 
] ((iaring) Dugan, who were both natives of the same 
! island, lie wa.- reared upon one of tho!>e small 
I farms th.-it arc so common in that <lown-lrodden 
and landlord-ridden l:iiid, and attended scIiih>I a 
little while in his boyhood. His fatli<-r dying 
while our subject was but a sm.-ill boy. the inolher 
being left with three children to support, felt con- 
vinced that in the free Land of Americ.i she would 
have a better chance of succeeding in life, and 
therefore, embarking with her little ones, cniiie to 
the I'nilcd St4ites .•iml located in .Sjilcm County, N. 
.1., where she .afterw.ard remarried .and cvcnlually 
died. 

( )ur subject remained at home with his mother 
until he svas about seventeen years of age, when he 
commenced life for himself, working on a farm by 
Ihe month. He wiu- married, Nov. .s, isti;{, wlienn 
little [lasl his m:ijorily, to .Miss Kllcn Itedmond, a 
i native of County Kildare, Ireland, born Oct. 2(1, 
IH.|;'>, and :i daughter of Nicholas and .Margart'l 
(Toole) Kedmond. Iler |>arent.s, who were both 
] natives of the I'jneralil Isle, n-mained at home, but 

a^ 



Hl-^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1065 ' » 



she came to America when she was about ten years 
of age, with her aunt. 

At the time of his marriage, tiic mother oi our 
subject gave him ten acres of land in Salem Count}', 
N. J., as a wedding present, which be leased to a 
tenant while he drove an express w.igon iu the city 
of Camden, which is in Burlington County, N. J., 
just opposite Philadelphia. lie remained in this 
business at that place al)out three years, but always 
felt that if he could get into the great West he 
could do much better in a pecuniary way. In 1872 
he finallj' sold his little property, and following the 
course of the setting sun, arrived in Wichita the 
last week in M.ay of that year, only one day after 
the completion of the track-laying of the Atchison, 
Topeka & Santa ¥e Railroad into that place. He 
at once pre-empted 160 acres of land in Illinois 
Township, and entering upon its cultivation and 
improvement, made it his home for about ten 3'ears, 
at the conclusion of which time, having met with 
extraordinary success in his chosen calling, and ac- 
cumulated a considerable share of this world's goods 
he purchased his present homestead on section 25, 
Delano Township, where he h.^s a magnificent farm 
of 565 acres of fine arable land, a large portion of 
which is under an excellent state of cultivation, 
and on which the improvements are of a neat and 
substantial character. His home, which is a beau- 
tiful one, is pleassmtly located within a quarter of 
a mile of the limits of Wichita, and is very valua- 
ble property. He sold fifty acres of his farm to a 
party who wished to lay them off and plat them 
into town lots, and donated an additional twenty 
acres, besides a liberal gift iu cash toward the estab- 
lishment of the Catholic University. Like all of 
his countrymen, he is open-hearted, liberal and 
public-spirited to the highest degree. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dugan there has been born a 
family of seven children, as follows: Maria, whose 
birth took place Oct. 2, 1864, is living at home; 
Henry, who was born Jan. 13, 1870, is attending 
All-Hallows Academy; Christo|)her, whose birth 
took place Sept. 10, 1872; Nicholas, born Jan. 19, 
1875; James, born March 10,1877; Thomas, whose 
birth occurred Sept. 10, 1879, and Joseph, who was 
born July 17, 1882. 

Our subject and his family are members of the 



Roman Catholic Church and punctual in the dis- 
charge of their duties. They are highly respected 
citizens and are active members of the community, 
engaged in all good work that is calculated to en- 
hance the happiness of their fellowmen. In his 
politics Mr. Dugan is a Democrat, but has never 
been a seeker after oflicial position nor has he been 
willing to accept a candidacy. Mi's. Dugan's par- 
ents having come to this country, are both living 
in Delano Township, her father having reached the 
advanced age of eighty-four 3'cars, and her mother 
threescore and ton. A view of Mv. Dugan's [)lace 
niaj' be found in this Ai.iiiM. 



*>-:^fr— - 



H> 



Vo- *- — .- DC— <- 



\ip!v,ATIIANIKL COVAD LT, an industrious and 
I 1/1 ^'"''^''3' farmer of Sedgwick County, resides 
ll\J!s] on section 10 of Union Townshij), where he 
has a fine farm. He was born in Bedford County, 
I'a., J.an. 6, 1827. His parents were Jacob and 
Fanny (Hess) Covault, natives of Pennsylvania, 
of Welsh descent. In 1842 the family moved to 
Blackford County, Ind., and there the parents 
closed their earthly careers, leaving behind an hon- 
orable record of industry and honesty. Unto them 
had been born thirteen children. 

Our subject was fifteen j'ears old wJien he ac- 
c"Ompanied his parents to their new home in Indi- 
ana, and there he grew to a strong and healthy 
manhood. In 1867 he took uuto himself a wife 
.and helpmate in the person of Mrs. Barb.ara (Ritter) 
Bright, widow of Abraham Bright, and daughter 
of John and Sarah (Bailey) Ritter, the former a 
native of Virginia and the latter of Whio. The}' 
are now living in Delaware, Ind., aged respectively 
eighty-three and eight}- years. They were the 
parents of ten children. Mrs. Covault was born in 
Ohio, July 11, 1838. She was married to Mr. 
Bright Jan. 31, 1862. He was a n.ative of Ohio, 
and a farmer by occu|ialion. Soon after the young 
couple were separated by his enlistment to take 
part in the late Civil War. He was a member of 
Company I, 8'Jth Indiana Infantry, and died at 
Memphis Dec. 19, 1862, aged twenty-one, and wiis 



- ► ■ ^» 



•^•-4« 



f 



I- 



SKI>i . \S H K I ' 'I N n 



hiiricl lit .Mciii|.|ii«. ((lie • liil<l h;i.> Impim oI tli!il 
union, Sniiili .liiiic. 

AfUT uiiirriii;;!' Mr. (')i\Hiilt c'iintiniii-<l In rnj;nj{t' 
in ii;;ri(iilliiriil immuiUs in ln<liunH nntil is7x. wIiimi 
111- cli.s|M>«vi| of ]m |iro|nTly llitTo and rfniov«'il 
with lii.s fikniily to KHn>n<, to uviiil liinisi-lf of llio 
sn|H'rior mlvnntnps Mffonlcl to tin- fnrnicT li_v iU"* 
rich vir;,'in Miil. Dunn;; tlii' llrsl two yi'iim of liis 
rf)«iilenc«' h«Tf ho ri-nlfd Inml, :imiI in the nit-antinic 
wiLs i-n.'iMi-il to look iiliout hini for n »nit.-il>lf locu- 
tion. »nil llniilly |Mirt'li;uscil hi-, prcitcnt farm, con- 
taining' lOO aero of valtnililc, wi-ll-vvatcrcd land, 
eighty of which lie in the town of Colwich. It is 
all tvell improved and c:i|>al>li> of prodncin;; rich 
harvest,*, and he lia.s erected ample liiiildin;.;^. This 
prosperity has In-en lirou^dit liy the untirin;^ and 
|H-r>istent lalioi-s of himself iinil wife. 'I'hey are 
iiidnstrious, intelli(;ent people, and well deserve the 
e»t<'»'m and res|M'ct of those anion;; whom Ihey 
have <-ome to niake their honu'. Four children 
have lilesseil their niarri:i;je— .lohn Newtoii. Alii'e, 
Ann anil .Nettie. 

.Mr. C'ov.inll hits voted with the Kepulilican 
parly since its or^aniz.-ition. lie takes an active in- 
terest in educulioniil mailers, and has done ellicient 
work as a mcndier of the School Ho.unl. 



-w^^fagi: 



OSlllA A. .Kt.N'KS, .,iie of the eueryctic 
and pro^jrcssive youn^Lj farmers and stiK-k- 
raiser.s of .Salem Towiishij), residi's upon a 

,, . farm of |(j(l acres of well-improved land 

which he owns on section 27. lie .sellled on this 
pl.-K-e in the fall of 1 ns2, and has made it his resi- 
dence ever sinci-, devoting his attention to its ini- 
]irovcn)enl an<l cnlti^alion with most cxcellenl 
results. lie is lionore<l an<I res|M'eled hy the entire 
community, who look n|Hin him a.s one of their most 
wide-awaki' farmers and model citizens. 

A native of Delaware Connly. Ind., Mr. .loues 
was liorn .March 22, I.s.'i2, and is the son of Smith 
and Kupheniia ((iihson) Jones, who were the |Nir- 
enls of live children, three of whom are living. 
Their names are n» follows: ,Iolin, a resident of 
Sumner Coinily. Kan. ; .Smith, living in Lafayette, 
lMd.;:itic| .loshu.a A. The latter having lost his 



r:i'her li_\ il.ath when ■iiil\ eight years of age, was 
com|ielled to go out and liattle with the world for 
nn existence and to de|H-nd entirely upon his own 
resource)*. At tin- age of iwelvi- years he went to 
live with .Morris Kesliug, in Delaware Connly. with 
whom he remained nntil attaining his eighl4>enth 
yi-ar. lie drew his education fronj the eomnion 
schools of that .M'ction of the lloiisier Slate, anil 
has all his life liecn devoted to the tilling of the 
soil. After alLaining his majorily the siil>je<-l of 
oui' sketch removed to Woodford C'lXinty, 111., 
where he remained some lime, working as a farm 
hand liy the month, and sul>se(|uently, for three 
yeai-s, engaged in agricniliiral pursuits u|Hin a farm 
which he renU-d. 

While a resident of Woodford County, .Ian. 2, 
IHMO, Mr. .lones wius united in nnirriage with .Miss 
Dlive I'olhenius, who wa-s the mother of one child 
which is now <lece!used. In December, I MHO, he wie- 
lierefl liy the death of his wife, wliopas.sed to timl life 
elysian lieyond the skies. Mr. .lones remained a 
resident of Woodford County until the summer of 
|.s,s2, when, casting his eye.> weslward and noticing 
the superior fertility ami cheapness of land in the 
great .Stale of Kan.sas, he decided to seek wilhin its 
borders a new home, where he could have land of 
his own. Accordingly, in the fall of \HS2, he ninde 
a setllemenlaflt.T coming to Kansas, in .Salem Town- 
shil>, where be now lives. l)n the 2t>th of Septem- 
ber, I.M.'<(i, he again entered into a marriage alliance, 
this time with Miss Sarah .1. .losseraiul, » native of 
Harrison County, Ind., who wits Iiurn.lune2, lt<i)0. 
The lady is :; daughter of L»)uis and Kmily (l'ott.-<) 
.los.seran<l, the formertif whom is a native of France, 
.and Ihe latter of the State of Indianiu Her |i!irenLs 
had a family of twelve children, viz: S:u-ah .1., llie 
wile of Mr. .lones; .lohn, a resident of liray County, 
this .Stale; Sebron, living in Sjdem 'lownship; Louis, 
Albert, riyssesC., Dovie, Maud, Andrew, Clyde, 
I'aul anil Karl. All of the latter are still residenUs 
of Illinois, wliilher their parents removed when 
.Mrs. .lones was but an infant six weeks old. They 
settled III Douglas County, 111., where she was reared 
to maturity. She received the benelil of a most 
excellent education, ami for two years after altiiin- 
iiig Womanhood was assistanl in a grammar scIumiI 
at Newman, III. She spent more th.-iii eight years 



-i*-« -♦i 



"►-■-^^ 



SRDGWICK COUNTY. 



1067 ' > 



in teaching: in the Prairie State, and after con>ing 
to Kansas spent two j'ears in "teaeliing the young 
idea how to shoot" in Cowlej' and Sedgwick Conn- 
ties. As a school teacher she lias been very suc- 
cessful, ruling her pupils more by love than fear, 
anil taking great interest in their moral training, 
as well as in the study of the text books. 

Mr. and Mi-s. Jones are the parents of one son, 
(lien M., whose birth took place on the 7tli of July, 
1887. Their home, which is a pleasant one, mani- 
fests by many unconsidered trifles that the wife 
and mother is of a most intellectual type. Pos- 
sessing literary attainments beyond the common, 
Mrs. Jones still is content to devote her life en- 
tirely to her husband and child, and in assisting 
the former in his life work. They are both promi- 
nent and active membei-s of society, and enjoy 
the esteem and cordial friendship of the entire 
community. In politics Mr. Jones is a Republican, 
but h.as no aspirations for office. He is largely in- 
terested in any movement that is for the improve- 
ment of the township and county, or that will ele- 
vate and benefit the people among whom he lives. 



(fif^JCTOR J. CHAMAGNE settled in the fall 
Wl^' of 1S81 on section '20, in Krie Townshii), 
W' where he has since been successfully operat- 
ing ICO acres of good land. A native of the cit^' 
of Louisville, Ky., he was born Nov. 14, 1837, and 
is the son of Francis and Margaret A. (Berry) 
Chamagne, who were natives of the Province of 
Lorraine, Kriince. 

The parents of our subject were reared and mar- 
ried in their native land, and after the birth of 
two children emigrated, in 1829, to the United 
States. Thej' settled in Louisville, Ky., where the 
father was emploj'ed at his trade of ropemaker 
until his health failed, and where his death took 
place in 184G. The mother is still living, and now 
makes her home with our subject. She was born 
in 1809, and has consequently arrived at the ad- 
vanced age of seventy-nine years. 

The parental household of our subject included 
six children, of whom the record is as follows: 
Lewis and Louisa were born in France; the former 



died in the cityt>f New Orleans. La., when nineteen 
yeai-s of age, and the latter, Mrs. Marris, makes her 
home with her brother, Victor .T., of our sket<;li. 
The latter was the third child; Cc(*lia was born 
in Louisville, Ky.,and is now the wife of James 
W. Brown, of West Wichita; Augustus died in 
Mem])his, Tenn., about 1861; Mar}' L. is the wife 
of Jo.seph Luce, a mineralogist and chemist of 
Pueblo, {'ol. 

Our suliject bj' the eaily dealii of his father was 
thrown upon his own resources when but a boy, 
and after being variously employed commenced 
serving an apprenticeship in a foundry, and subse- 
quently followed steamboat engineering, i)rinci- 
pall}' un the Lower Mississippi, at which he was 
occupied for a period of sixteen years. In 1S71 
he purchiLsecl a farm on the Ohio River, seventy 
miles below Louisville, and confined his attention 
to agricultural pursuits in that region until 1881. 
In the spring of that year he came into Southern 
Kansas, and purchased the quarter-section of land 
which he now occupies. He still owns his Ken- 
tuekj' farm of 216 acres. 

Our subject, while a resident of Kentucky, was 
united in marriage with Miss \'irginia D. Hart, the 
wedding Uiking [ilace at the home of the bride, in 
October, 1883. Mrs. Chamagne was born in Moore- 
house Parish, La., and died in Benton County, 
Tex., where lier husband had taken her for the 
benefit of her health, on the 27th of February, 
1 887. Her remains were there laid to rest. She 
left one child, a daughter Murde, who w.as born in 
November, 1884, and is now with her father. Mr. 
Chamagne usually votes with the Democratic party, 
although reserving the right of an independent 
American to support the men whom he considei-s 
best qualified for oflice. Religiously, he is a mem- 
ber of the Roman Catholic Church. 



<«^ )»ILLIAM 11. CKOCKKR isa prominentcili- 
11 zeu anil a pioneer of Sedgwick County, 
his settlement here dating from May 4, 
1871. At that time he took up some land under 
the homestead claim, embracing the southwest 
quarter of section 14 of Union Township. II 



r 




SKDCWICK LULNTY. 



now owiin 23»i ncn-s of Iniul. nil iiii|irovcil, wIiom- 
rich Hiiil fvrlilu »uil is well it(ln|>tc(t Ui the ctilliiiv 
of <;niiii, wlilcli furnis tin- !iUk|>lo of liis croiis. Ilt> 
li;i» iTccU'd H iicnl nml coinforliililo i|w'clliii;r.|ioii><c, 
aiiil iiiailc iDiiiiy other vtiliiiilile iiii|>rovciuc>iil>, lii.s 
|>li':LMiiit home shoiviii;; every iiiiliontioii of the 
thrift mill prosiK'rity of Ihe owner. 

Mr. Crocker wa.s Imni in La.Sjillc Couiily, III., 
Oct. .'», IH.'id. Ili.s |inreiil« were .l.-mie!* :in<l .Siirali 
(.Manon) C'riK-ker, iiallve> re!i|K-cli vely of W'rinonl 
.•mil Coniiei'tieut. 'I'lirv were early sottlliTs of l,a- 
.Salle County, anil were there |>ros|K.'roii!*ly i'nj;!i;,'e(l 
in farming for many yean*, llnjilly ri'iiiovin<; to 
KMii>a^, where .Mr. Crocker died in \'ermonl Town- 
^hi|», .luly .11. \xx:>. (Tor furtlier hi)story ..f |Mireiits 
Me >kit.h of .Mr. .1. ( ). CiiKker.) 

Our sulijeil wii> Ihe .-.eeiind ehilil in a family of 
j-eveii. lie was lired lo the life of a farmer, and 
received from lii> |>arenl*, both hy precept and ex- 
ample, ni:iny :i practical le.-iMin of industry nn<l 
honest toil, which have been of much beiicfil to 
him ill his after career. He received a yoml edu- 
cation in the public schools of his native county, 
where he continued lo reside unlil 1871. In thai 
year he became of aye, and commenced the b.-itlle 
of life for himself. Ilaviny heard much of tha 
wonderful fertility of the soil of the Arkaiis;is Val- 
ley, its be.'iutiful locution and fine climate, he de- 
termined to pursue his chosen calliii'; of nyriciiltiire 
in Kansius. The wisdom of his choice has been 
fully juslitied by the su<-ce.ss which lias been brought 
about by his eneryelic and well-diiected toil, and, 
iiolwilhslJindiii}^ the fact that he h.is suffered some- 
what, in eomnioii with other Kansius farmers, from 
severe drouths, he has made money, .•ind bids fair 
to rank anion;: the wealthiest farmers of Sedji,'wiek 
County. 

The mairia;:e of .Mr. Crocker to Miss Katie Tapp 
took place Feb. Is, |MM(l. .She is a Very ellicienl 
helpmate, .-issistiii;; and eneoura;;in(.j her husband in 
his Work. ,S|ie was born in Illinois, and is the 
dauKhler of Klijah and lOichel Tapp. of Colwich, 
Knn. Of this union three children have been born 
—Otis K., Mabel L. and Clenn. 

.Mr. ("rocker ;,'ivi-s his earnest siijiport to llie 
Kepiibliean |Hirty. lie is much interested in nil 
ihiii;,'^ Lhal lend to the advanceminl of Ihis tiiwii- 
-<• 



ship, beinj; e-penain mten .sten in cm. :iiii •uru mal- 
ters, Imvin;; served for some time lus a member of 
the .School Iloanl, and is nl pre>enl Tre:usiirer of 
tli.-it or^^aniKation. He is ii ni.in of iiide|HMident 
views, and is libenil in his beliefs, and Iiils not con- 
nectt'd himself with any church or soi-iely. 



i 



AKoN M.KINMIiV. who resides at the 
lUli corner of .lack-on and Tliirtei'iilh street*, 
\\'.iehita, is the owner of one and one-half 
acres of land, which, surrounded by city 
lots, marks his residence. These lots, at present 
valuation, represent considerable value. 

I'reblc County, Ohio, was the fli>l home of .Mr. 
.McKinstry. where he was born March •.'!, IWiO, 
Jiccordiny to the record. Kdiicuted in a log school- 
house, reared on a farm, with its usual hardships 
and privations, were the marked features «>f Ins 
early life, till he and his sister Catherine removed 
lo Mattooii, 111. Here he piircha.-ied a small tract 
of land for jfarden and dairy pursuits. This busi- 
ness enyayed his energies for eight years. He 
farmed some there also, and his stock was of 
the best grade, being .Shorl-horns. His business 
as a stock-raiser was profitable. 

.lohn and Charity ((lard) McKinstry were his 
parents. The f.ather was bom I)ec. 20, 1 78'.!, and 
p.'issed away Se|)l. 14, IK.'il. He, l<x>, was a hus- 
bandman, and succeeded in gathering much of this 
World's goods together. The mother was born 
A|>ril "J.'), 17'.ii', and died May ;t. I.h7.'i, afl«'r a 
long and useful life. The lia|itist Church w.-is a 
religious home for them, the church honoring 
her f.-iithful husband with the ollice of KIder. 
Nine children, seven bo^sand two girls, made their 
household merry — .I.-icob, William, .losepli, Ceorge, 
.laiiu-s, Aaron, .lohii, Catharine and .Sarah. The 
three eldest ami youngest are now deceased. The 
boys made men of sterling character and moral 
worth. 

The year IM7('> ilatos the time Aaron McKinstry 
sold out in Coles County, 111. He and the fnithfiil 
sist4>rtlien went to WichilJi, Kan. Kacli had the 

g 1 jiidgmenl to take a claim of ICiO acres of land 

ill Silliiiicr ( oiitity. The same fall they >oM :iiid 
•►- 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



10C9 



came to this city. His dwelling is nice, and suited 
to his correct tiistes. He .ippreciiitcs thorough- 
bred .lersej's, .and is siijiposod to h.avc the finest 
four-ye.ar-old bull in the St.itc. The grandsire of 
tlio latter is at Ontario, Can.ida. From this herd 
full-blooded calves arc produced for market. This 
is diversion and a source of profit at one and the 
same time. The politics of Mr. McKinstry range 
along the line marked out by the Repulillcan part}', 
ill which his sister fully sympathizes. 

The parents of Aaron McKinstry were good 
Christians. The father was buried in Ohio; the 
mother in Mattot.n, III. The War of 1812 found 
the father a sohlier in the ranks, never wounded, 
but was near Hull when lie made his splendid fight. 
The widow drew a pension during her life for his 
meritorious service. John, the youngest brother of 
our subject, was a soldier in the IGtIi Illinois Cav- 
alrj', and took part in several engagements. He 
was captured at Jonesville, \a... and was in Libb}' 
Prison for fourteen months. After the war was 
over he became a policeman in Mattoou, 111., and 
was killed by a niflian while in llio performance of 
his duty. 

<;!/ AMES CRAWFORD, a leading representa- 
tive of one of the oldest pioneer families of 
\'alley Center Township, is engaged in geii- 
^^/' oral farming and stock-raising on sections 7 
and 1 8, residing on the former section. He is a 
native of Lee Count}', III., born March "25, 1855, 
and is the son of Samuel 8. and Serepta (Camp) 
Crawford. A history of his parents will be found 
in connection with the sketch of the brother of our 
subject, L. C. Crawford, elsewhere ill llie pages of 
this Ai.iiiiM. 

The subject of this personal history spent his boy- 
hood in his native county, and received his education 
in the district schools of that region. He remained 
at home, a.ssisting his father in the labors on the 
farm until 1871, when he came with his parents to 
Kansas, and on the IGth of .September of that year, 
settled in this county. For the two succeeding 
years be remained .at home, and then returned to 
Illinois, to his native county, where he was engaged 
4* 



in farming, but on attaining his majority returned 
to Sedgwick County and entered into a partnership 
with his brother, L. C. Crawford, witli whom he 
carried on farming operations for some three or 
four yeara. At the expiration of that time he pur- 
chased some eighty acres of land on section 7, on 
which he h:is put up handsome and substantial 
buildings, and brought his farm of ICO acres to a 
high cultivation, h.aving adde<i eighty acres on sec- 
tion 18 to his original purchase. Having a large 
amount of industry, perseverance .and energy, he 
has made a noble record .as a successful farmer, and 
stands to-day one of the substantial and reliable 
citizens of the county. All the iiiiproveiiients on 
his place are due to his own effiirts, as lie found it 
in entirely a wild stiite. 

With a very natural and l:iudable desire to sur- 
round himself with all the comforts of a home, the 
most important thing was to seek a life companion 
who would be a true helpmate during the voyage 
through life. Mr. Crawford accordingly wooed and 
won Miss Sarah Fry, to whom he was wedtled March 
24, 1881. The ladj' of his choice was born in the 
State of Indiana, June 10, 1854, and is the daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Mary (Wentz) Fry, natives of 
Ohio, who settled in Sedgwick County in 1873. 
Four children have added to the joys of Mr. and 
Mrs. Crawford, and bear the following names: Anna, 
Ray, Mary and Volina. Mr. Crawford and his 
brother were among the very first settlers who 
broke the way for civilization into this part of the 
country, and he is a very highly esteemed citizen of 
the community. In his political faith be isa stanch 
and unswerving Democrat. 



ICIIARD \V. LUTTRELL, Surveyor of 
Sedgwick County, is a j'oung man of ex- 
ce])tional talents and ability. He wsis born 
S^in Clinton County, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1859, and 
is a son of Robert G. and Mar}' (Morrison) l>ul- 
trell, natives of Frederick County, Va. His pater- 
nal grandparents were Richard and Polly Lutlrell, 
also natives of Frederick Count}', Va., where his 
grandf.ather wiis eng.aged in farming until 1833, 
when he removed with his family to Ohio. The} 



u 



-4^ 



^L. 



I-' 1' 



.!■ hCW K K ' "IN IV 



' • V, which r. ' 

hi>iii<- until lU'jith. Thf iiintcriml ;:niiiil|uir(>iilM of 
(iiir siilijpcl wore .lohii \V. nnil Mnry { Wisccnrvor) 
MorriMHi, «vlni wcro liki'wiso iintivi-!< nf Fn-ili-rirk 
Coiinly. \'«.. and icinoviMl fri'lii IIhto U< CliiiUin 
Ciiiitity, Oliio, in nn early <lay. an<l cnntiniU'il to 
rcsiilc there till death. 

UolKTt C hnttrell. the father of our «nl>ject, 
na.s reared to ninnhiH>d on the old homestead in 
Ohio, and is now the owner of the farm, and ex- 
tensi%ely en>»!ijjed in farming' and .-t<H-k-nii.>iing. 
To him and his wife were horn seven ehildren. six 
I'f whom are now living, namely: Klislia K.. Hleli- 
nid W., (;eor;,'e M.. Kliza .1., .lohn II. .iiid Sa- 
npLa A. 

liii'liard W.. of wlmin we write, reiiiained nn 
iniiiate of the old homestead until Aug. 7, INK], 

rt iving in the meantime the fonndntion of his 

education in the distriet seiiool. lie siilise<|(iently 
left home to attend a Normal Seh<K>l at Ada, ll.-ir- 
den Co., Ohio, known a-s the Ohio Normal I'ni- 
versily, where he wa.s a student for three years, 
huriiig that time he taught .some in the winter of 
I shl'-h;{ in Hellevne, Huron Comity, lie wiusgiad- 
iiated from the civil engineer department of the 
Normal I'liiversiiy, in lt<«4, having received a 
L'ood eqni|)meiit that has been of great value to 
him in his professi<inal career. After gi-adiiation 
lie spent some months at home eng.aged in survey- 
ing. Oct. 2. \HHA. he left for the West, and 
after traveling in different parts of the coiintrv for 
a month, settled at Wichilji on the llli of Noveiii- 
l»r, 1HM4. lie fli-st oliU'iined work under the 
( oiinty .Surveyor, and the following spring was en- 
gaged to survey for a lirnncii of the Ft. Scott 
l{4»ilw!iy, from Kl Dorado to Kllsworth, and wiw thus 
engaged until the Till of April, lie thin received 
the ap|Miintmeiil as Deputy County Surveyor, which 
position he held until the lid of Novemlier, when he 
was elected County Surveyor — a lit recognition of 
his capahility and of his zealous and elllcient dis- 
cliarge of hi.s duties wiiile an inciimlicnt of the po- 
nitioii he hefori- held — his education and early train- 
ing |M<uliarly fitting him for this olllce. lie has 
no home here, Iml hoards at the Clair Dining Hall. 

.Mr. I.iittrell is strongly Repiililican in his jHiliti- 
lal alDhations; religiously, he i.« Ji iiieiiilier of the 




I ' h. He has made n number of Judi- 

cious real-estate investments since he lieeame a 
rejiidcnl of this city, and now owns n numher of 
lots hen-. He is quite n tinam-ier, is regarded a-s 
one of the rising young men of Wichita, ami is in 
eviry way worthy of the respect uccordcd U> him. 

KOKCK Dl(KIN.soN,a su<cc.s.sfiil farmer 
living on his homestend on section '22. liiwk- 
ford Township, came to Knn.sjui from Iowa 
in |h7I, and located in Sedgwick County. He can 
justly lie considered a piiuieer of this .section of 
Kansas, having watched the development of the 
township and county in wliieh ho resides from their 
infancy. Scarcely a frame house hail heen Imilt, 
and the timhered land was the home of deer, niile- 
lo|>e» and other game, while herds of hiifTaloos 
roamed over the uncultivated prairies. In a resi- 
dence here of less than a .score of years, our subject 
has seen small hamlets transformed into pros|H-r- 
ous cities, and thriving villages ami jHipiilous town- 
ships lining the places once (u-ciipied by grovi-s and 
rolling prairies. In all of this wrmdroiis growlh 
.Mr. Dickinson has lent m.-iterial assist:iiice, and 
freely devoted tiine:ind money to pl:ice his udopti-d 
county among the leading counties of Kan.s:Ls. All 
efforts put forth by him and his coadjiit^irs in that 
direction have been faithfully aided by Nature, 
whose beneficence in regard to clim.-ite, fertility of 
soil, mineral deposits and m.-inufactnring capabili- 
ties, is unbounded. 

Mr. Dickinson was born in New York, Feb. 17, 
IH.tS, being the .son of I. (i.and Klizabeth (Thome) 
Dickinson, both natives of New York and of Kn- 
glisli ancestry. In early life he left the p.-irenUil 
rooftree and sought in the then far West to carve 
his own fortune. His labors were crowned with 
succes.s. and he was in two years enabled to Ijike 
unto hini.self a helpmate in the person of Miss Kli/ji- 
beth White, a native of Iowa, to whom he wils mar- 
ried Feb. -Jfi, IHGt*. Mrs. Dickin.son is the daughter 
of Kiioch and Ksllier (Dents) White, natives of 
(Jliio. The mother ilieil when Mi's. Dickinson wius 
lint two years old, and her father was again mar- 



•►H-4- 



n- 



la^OCaAa 



'£1^ 




W 




.:P^^;^-K. 



_^. 15^ ^M^* 




5;. 



' •>'v'«s*i£::r 




RESIDENCE Oi- J LM:CLALLLN,'it.u o^,. Trie A TP. 



•► 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1073 



ried, to Mrs. Adeline Waller. Mrs. Diokinson was 
born in Van Buren County, Iowa, Feli. 12, 1848. 

Three j-ears after marriage our subject came to 
Kansas, where Mr. Dicicinson tooi< up the land 
which he now owns and occupies, lie immediately 
commenced its im|)rovement, and by his industry-, 
perseverance and good management, has it now 
under a good state of cultivation, witii a comfort- 
able residence, ample barn, and otiier convenient 
farm buildings. lie lijis a fine orchard of good 
bearing fruit trees, and a garden well supplied with 
the smaller fruits, and, in addition to the raising of 
farm produce, is largely iiilerosled in horses aTid 
cattle raising. 

To our subject and wife have been born seven chil- 
dren, viz.: .Myrta, bf)rn J.an. 10, 1861*, married 
John Chamberlain, a merchant of iMulvane; Fannie, 
born Nov. 10, 1873, died Sept. 2.'), 1874; F.ay. boiii 
May 4, 1876; Rose, June .5. 1879; Earl and Merle 
(twins), born M.ay 17, 1882; Merle died Sept. 10, 
1883: Claude, born Feb. 9, 1887. Our subject is 
a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in 
local and general matters, having satisfactorily' 
seved as Township Trustee two terms, and for sev- 
eral terms has faithfully performed the duties of 
Clerk .and Treasurer of his district. His estim.able 
wife is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, 
at Derby. 



-f 



■JY/OHN K. JIcCLALLEN, in 1872, disposed 
j of his farming interests in Illinois, and 
, started out overland with a team for the 
'(^/' young State of Kansas. Pre-empting 160 
acres of land in Attica Township, he set himself 
vigorously to work to cultivate the soil and to build 
up a homestead. lie succeeded admirably in his 
efforts, meeting with uniform jjrosperity, .and is now 
the owner of 720 broad acres, embellished with a 
handsome and substantial set of farm buildings, and 
of late years has given his attention largely to the 
raising of good grades of cattle. He has been no | 
unimportant factor in the development of the rich i 
resources of Sedgwick Count}', by whose people he 
is held in universal esteem. He presents the anom- ! 
aly of a man who has steadily declined to become 
an office-holder, but nevertheless has his firmly I 



fixed ideas upon political matters, and is a zealous 
supporter of the Republican |)arty. 

The subject of this history' is a descendant of 
excellent Scotch and (ierman ancestry, .and his 
f.amily was first represented on American soil dur- 
ing the Colonial days. He was born in Worcester 
County, Mass., Aug. 27, 1839, and is the son of 
Silas and Abigail (Parkhurst) McClallen, who were 
natives of Massachusetts, and who emigrated after 
their marriage from the Bay State to Illinois, locat- 
ing first in Peoria, and later in Tazewell County, 
when their son John E. was a lad six years of .age. 
Sdas McCl.allen, the father of our subject, w.as born 
April 8, 1814, in Petersham, Mass., and his wife, 
Abigail, near Dana, Mass., March 28, 1817. They 
were married March 25, 1 8.'j6 ; the household in- 
cluded five children, namelj' : Rosetta, the wife of 
AVilliiim Stringer, of Attica Township; John E., of 
our .sketch: Charles 1., also farming in Attica; 
Clar.a, the wife of Samuel Mooberry, who is farming 
in Tazewell Count}', III., and (Jcorge T., who is 
married and lives on the iiomestead with his 
parents. 

Mr. McClallen spent his boyhood years on the 
farm in Tazewell County, 111., becoming familiar with 
its various employments, and also acquiring a good 
education in the district school. He was twenty- 
two years of .age at the outbreak of the Rebellion, 
and on the 16th of August, 1861, enlisted for three 
years in the 47th Illinois Infantry, the regiment 
being then under command of Col. John Briner. 
Their division was led by Gen. Pope until after the 
siege of Corinth, and then our subject with his 
comrades was transferred to the arm}' of Gen. 
Sherman, the loth Armj' Corps, whom tliej' fol- 
lowed until after the siege and capture of Vicks- 
burg. Subsequently, under the command of (ien. 
Banks, the 47th w.as transferred to the 16th Army 
Corps, and proceeded "up the Red River on the 
expedition which has been made a subject of his- 
tory', and the incidents of which will be clearly 
remembered by those acquainted with the events 
of that period. Upon the return to Memphis, 
Tenn., although their term of enlistment had ex- 
pired, the 47th Infantry, by request of their fien- 
eral, eng.aged in another battle at Cuimla, and 
remained in the service two months longer, after 



■•► 



' ' 10:4 



KDGWICK COUNTY. 



which they returned !■ ^\- i. I their 

honorable tlioclmrgc Oct. II, 18G4. Mr. McC'liil- 
len |)iirlici|i«te<l in thirty-one general engiif^enienU. 

Our suliject now retiirneil Ui his home in lUino!', 
mill on the Ith of March, Ihd.'i, re-onli^te^^ in the 
\Ve.stern Army t'or|)s, uniler (Jen. Hancock. They 
|iro<-ccile(l first to Wiuihington City, anil sub.se- 
quently openitcd in the Shenundoiih Xiiiley. After 
the surrender of Lee they returned to Wa.shington, 
and Mr. .McC'lallen was one of the guards over the 
conspirators of Lincoln's assa.s.si nation. Afterward, 
he and a |Jortion of his regiment weres«'nt to Louis- 
ville, Ky., where they had charge of the barracks 
while the Kentucky soldiers were being di.scharged 
and mustered out Thence they repaired to Colum- 
bus, Ohio, where they remained while the Ohio 
lioys were being discharged. Mr. McClallen was 
subsequently discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the 
■Oth of March, IrtC.C. During hi.s army service he 
w.os most of the time in the brigade which the 
American eagle, "Old Abe," followed through the 
war, flapping his pinions over the smoke of battle 
and idways returning to his colors after the conflict 
was over. This much-admired bird it will be 
remembered was, after the war, taken to Wisconsin, 
and died in Madison, that State, not long ago. 

Our subject upon retiring from the service, en- 
giiged in farming on his father's homestead a year, 
and then was occupied as clerk in a store at Macki- 
naw, 111., another year, after which he purchased 
eighty acres of land near El Paso, and farmed there 
for a |»eriod of four yeans. At the expiration of 
this time, resolving ujxin a change of location, he 
crossed the Mississippi, and his subsequent life we 
have already indicated. 

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, 
David McClallen, was a .Seutcliman by birth, Init 
crossed the Atlantic early in life, and served as a 
Licut«-nant (ieneral in the Itevolutionar}' War. 
Subst-quently he .■settled in I'elcrboro, Mass., where 
his son Harrington, the father of Silas, was born. 
The latter engaged lus a drover and hotel-keeiH-r, 
and ilied when fifty-five years old. On the mother's 
side her |>atcrnal grandfather, .lonathan I'arkhurst, 
was from Kngland, and together with the maternal 
grandfather, .lonathan Thare, was also in the Conti- 
niiiUil army, both serving when boys, a.-, cooks. 

-4* 



The former settled on tin- f.-iiin 'I - . 

and his son .Jacob I', was born there. The latter 
died when seventeen years of age. .lonathan Thare 
settled on a f.-irni near (Jreenwich, Mass., where he 
s|>ent the last years of his life. Ills wife was from 
Ireland, and lived to be eighty-four years old. 
They were all honest and industrious |M>ople and 
law-abiding citizens. 

In the fine lithogmphic view of the homestead of 
Mr. McClallen the reader may form an idea of his 
surroundings, and the tasti* and goi>d judgment 
exercised in the establishment of one of the most 
admirable homes in .Vdgwick County. 

\i I»I].L1.\.M FALK, a prominent citizen of 
\,jj// Kagle Township, lives on section 10, where 
W^ l>c' is actively engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, lie came to Sedgwick County 
in 1872, staid with his brother-in-law. Mr. J. M. 
Campbell, for nearly a year, and then went Uj Heno 
County, where he took up a homestead claim of 
eighty acres of land, and lived on it for f»»ur years. 
Subsequently he sold out and returned Ut .Sedgwick 
Countj', where he bought his present jilace of Mr. 
K. P. Pheli)S. It consi.sls of the northeast quarter 
of section 10, and the southeast quartt-r of section 
:}, the latter of which he purch:iseil of the railroad 
comimny. This, b}- his industry and careful cult- 
ure, he h.is niade one of the most valuable farms in 
the vicinity. He has a fine herd of about fifty cat- 
tle, for which he finds a ready sale, princi]>!Jly in 
the home market; he has some good horses of com- 
mon stock, and keeps nearly twenty roland-China 
hogs. He has a fine orchard covering about three 
acres of land, comprising 100 apple trees, fifty plum 
trees, and the same number of i)eaches, |)ears, 
apricots, etc. A view of his honicstead is given 
on an accompanying jMige. 

Mr. Kalk was born in Uichl:ind County. Oliiti, 
Aug. "2;"), 1.S48, and is a son of Albert and Cath- 
erine (I'heoff) Kalk, natives of (Jermany. Hisfatlier 
was reared as a farmer and followed that calling 
until his retirement from .ictivc life a few years be- 
fore his death, which occurred in April, 187"J. When 
3'oung he einigrat«'d from flermany to this country 



^ •►HH^ 



I 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1075 



and settled in Ohio, and then' he w:i.s married, his 
wife also corning from the Fatlierhind. Tl-.ey moved 
to Indiana in 1819, and tiiere the father died, and 
tiie motlier died in Indiana also, in the year 1858. 
He was a sUmch Democrat in politics, and took an 
active interest in local affairs. To him and his es- 
timable wife were born nine children, six boys and 
three girls, namely : Jacob, Joseph, Catherine, .Susan, 
Mar}', John, William, Peter and Henry, all of whom 
are living with the exception of Susan, who died 
in Indiana in I8l>8, aged twenty-five; shewasacon- 
sistent Christian and a member of the Reformed 
Church. 

Mr. Falk, of this sketch, remained at home until he 
was twenty-one, receiving in the meantime a fair 
education in the district school. His father was a ca- 
pable farmer, and gave him a good, practical train- 
ing in that line, so that when he liecame of age he 
adopted that calling for his life work. He pursued 
it for two years in Wells County, Ind., and in 1872 
came to Kansas, where he has since followed it with 
good pecuniary results. While a resident of W'ells 
County he was employed in a sawmill for six 
months, and since coming to this .State he has en- 
gaged at different times for eight seasons in operat- 
ing a threshing-machine in Sedgwick, Reno and 
Harvey Counties. In 1873 he hired out to a thresh- 
ing-machine company and worked for seventy-four 
daj's during that fall, being employed at different 
places between Hutchinson, Reno County, and 
Wichita, Sedgwick Count}-. In 1874 he entered 
into a partnership with M. M. Biggs, and bought 
a threshing-machine, which they operated together 
for four years. Then Mr. Falk sold his share, but 
he soon after bought another machine and took in 
a third partner, Mr. W. L. Keller, and after continu- 
ing in tlie business two years, he disposed of his 
share in the machine and dissolved the partner- 
ship. 

Mr. Falk w;is married, Aug. G, 1878, to Miss Mar- 
garet Emma Brenneman, who was born in West- 
moreland County, I'a., Aug. 30, 1819. She was a 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Whitehead) Bren- 
neman, natives of Pennsylvania, where her father 
was engaged in farming prior to the war. The 
latter enlisted, in September, 1861, in Company F 
11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in Annap- 



olis the 25th of December following, at the age of 
fifty years, having been sick but eight hours. His wife 
died in McPherson County, Kan., Jan. 5, 1887, aged 
seventy-one. They had a family of thirteen chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Falk was the tenth child in or- 
der of birth ; their record is .'vs follows : Peter, Ilcnr}-, 
Lewis, .lohn, James, Barbara Anna, Campbell, Lu- 
cinda, William Bigler, Albert Walter, Dayton Ma- 
grew, Margaret, and Mary Jane, deceased. Peter 
enlisted in 18(;i, served his time out, and w.as killed 
in his first battle after re-enlistment, that of the 
Wilderness, in Virginia, May 14, 1864, being Cor- 
poral at that time, and having been in the service 
three years. Henry was also in the army; he now 
lives in Kansas City, Mo. Campbell was in the 
army. 

To our subject and his wife have been born two 
children: Cora Elizabi^th, born Maj' 17, 1879, and 
Harry, Dec. 1, 1883. Mrs. Falk is an active and 
influential member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Falk has taken a leading part in local affairs, as 
his sound common sense and his methodical business 
liabits eminently qualify him for positions of trust 
in public life. In 1880 he was elected Township 
Trustee, serving for one year, and in the succeed- 
ing years was three times re-elected to that office, 
the last time for a term of three years ; he finally 
resigned his position in Ma}-, 1887, having dis- 
charged its duties with signal ability and honor for 
nearly seven consecutive years. At present he is 
Treasurer of the Cemetery Association. Mr. Falk 
is a stanch sui)porter of Democratic doctrines, and 
takes a leading and active part in politics. 



ANVILLE H. DEWING, a resident of 
Valley Center since the spring of 1884, 
% came to this county from Chicago, III., in 
1871. He h.'id been there engaged as col- 
lector for the firm of Moulding & Ilarland, and 
proved himself a good business man and worthy of 
the confidence and esteem of the people .around him. 
A native of Chautau(iua County, N. Y., Mr. 
Dewing was born on the 2'2d of December, 1840, 
and is the son of Elihu and Or[)ha (Brown) Dewing, 
who were also natives of the Empire State. The 



■^^ 



i 



f 



•►• -4*- 



kco 



SKUCiWICK COUNTY. 



fnthcr WAS a shociiinkcr by trailc nnd manufactured 
llif ni>t jMiir of liiM>Us worn by bini.solf. He occu- 
pied till' shtM-nmkor's bcncli for a |>criod of thirty 
years, mostly in his native SUitc. About IN."*;! lie 
removed to Michigan, tlience to Wisctuisin, and 
from lliere to Illinois, and from tht-re. in 1H7(I, to 
this county, where his death took place in Keclii 
Township about ISSl. He was a man of much 
force of character and |Hipular nmon<; his fellow, 
townsmen. The year of the fatlier's death the 
parents celebrated in a quiet way the liftieth anni- 
versary of their wedding, and the eider Dewinj^ 
proudly went out ii\to the Held and finished break- 
iiijj 100 acres of lantl at which he had previously 
been at work, lie w;ls of excellent constitution 
and enjoyed j;ood health the j^reator part of his life. 
The intilher is still livinjj, and makes her home with 
lu'r stui Hubert L., who is the Vice President of the 
bank at Valley t'enter. She is now over seveuly- 
sevcn years of age, but retains much of the vigor 
of her earlier years. 

The eight living children of the parental family 
iru-lude four sons and four daughters, namely: 
'I'hui-ston, .Jane, Norman, KImira, Manville, Kovilla, 
Hubert and Caroline. The.se are mostly residents 
of Kansas. .Manville H., of our sketch, continued 
under the home roof until the breaking out of the 
late liebellion, ami after the familj- had removed to 
WiM'onsin. He then enlisted in Company A, llh 
Wisconsin Cavalry, under the command of Capt. 
C. E. Curtis, and partici|)ated in t>ne battle only, at 
Baton Rouge, La., on the Clh of August. 1HG2. 
The term of his enlistment expiring on the 1 4th of 
October following, ho w.-us mustered out in Carlton- 
villc, that Stale. In the meantime he had been 
ipiitc seriously injured during the collision of two 
steamers at the landing of Ship Island at the time 
of IJuller's o|M>rations around New Orlean.s, and was 
conllued in the hospitid for al)out six months, from 
which he wa.« taken to the boat on a stretcher and 
>tart<'d homeward. 

I'pon being relea.si'd fnmi military service Mr. 
Dewing made his w.-iy to Klkhorn, Wis., and from 
there subsefiuently to Milwaukee, where he made his 
home with his brother Norman II., ,'inil not long 
afterward wa.H stricken down with smallpox, from 
which he endured great suffering for a period of six 




weeks. ll|x)n his recovery he engaged in Chicrago, 
an<l wa.> thus m-cupied until his removal to this 
county. 

Mr. Dewing, while a resilient of Illinois, w.-ls mar- 
ried, on the 2Hth of May, 1 SGH, to Miss Ksther 
Moulding, who was of Knglish birth and parentage, 
ami born in 1 k;19. She was a child eight years of 
age when her parents cro.s.sed the Atlantii-. They 
located in Kane County. III., and are now dead. 
Of this iMiion there were born two children — Frank 
K. and .losephine. The mother pasoicd fnmi earth 
in .lanuary, IK?!. 



LEXANDKR CLARK, an enterprising far- 
mer on section 34, \'alley Center Township, 
came to Sedgwick County in IHT.'i, and 
took up 1(;0 acres of land, where he now 
resides. He pays considerable attention to the niis- 
ing of fine gnide cattle and Poland-China hogs, sis 
well as the raising of cereals. I le was among the early 
settlers of Valley Center Township, and merits ancl 
receives the rei)utation of being :\i\ honest, upright 
and honorable gentleman in all the walks of life. 

Mr. Clark is a native of the State of Indiana, 
and w.'is born in June, 1829. He is the .son of .lohn 
and Kesiah (Cl.-irk) Clark, the former t>f whom w:is 
a millwright by profession, .ami followed that busi- 
ness for about forty yeai-s in Kentucky, where he 
made a considerable amount of money. He was a 
Republican in politics and quite |)rominent in the 
local councils of thai organization. He died about 
1H48. His wife is still living at the advanced i»ge 
of eighty-five years, in Pike County, III , with her 
youngest son, Thomas Clark. The old people were 
members of the Dunkartl and Free-Will Baptist 
Churches respectively. In their family were five 
boys and two girls, namely: Harvey, who dieil 
when three years of age; Kliza, .Simeon, Alexander, 
.I;uncs Moiu-oe, Tluimasand Mary .lane. Only three 
of the chihlren are at present living — Simeon, 
Thomas and AleXiinder. 

The subject of our sketch remained w illi his par- 
ents, assisting his father and g<)ing to school, until 
tK4'.), when he was united in marriage with Miss 
Anne .lackson, who tvas born in Pike County, 111. 



-4»- 



]■ 



■^ll-i. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 






By this marriage there were three children — Edward, 
Mary Jane and Em ma, the latter of whom died 
when two years of age. In lS:u Mr. Clark w:is 
bereaved by the death of his wife, who " departed 
to tlie pale chambers of death," and knowing tliat 
it was "not good for man to live alone" he again 
entered into a matrimonial alliance, in March, 1857, 
with Miss Hiley McWortcr, a native of Pulaski 
Count}-, Ky., born Jan. H, 18.33, and daughter of 
Calvin and Sarah (Dunham) McWorter. Her 
father has "passed to the pale realms of shade," and 
her mother is making her home with Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark, and has attained the age of seventy-nine 
j-ears. The hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been 
gladdened and their fireside brightened by the 
advent of nine children, seven of whom are living, 
viz: Lucy, Eliza, llarvc}-, Maggie, Fred, Nettie and 
Alexander. Lucy married Henry McKinne}-, and 
is living in Valley Center. The two children whose 
decease caused a gap in the family circle bore the 
names of Sarah and Alice. 

In his political afliliations Mr. Clark inclines to 
the principles and doctrines as formulated by the 
Republican party, but is not necessarily- bound bj' 
party lines. His idea is that the fitness of men 
for the position should be the onlj' consideration 
in all local questions, and he is very prone to follow 
his own leadership in the matter. Both he and his 
wife worship at the Free-Will Baptist Church. 



GEORGE DADISMAN, a leading representa- 
11 i5i^ '''^^ ^^ ''''*' fa'""i'i'g :i"cl stock-growing in- 
^^5) terests of Salem Townshij), is also quite 
extensively engaged in the grain business, buying 
and ship|)ing stock, and in other waj-s is distinguish- 
ing himself as a man who has a thorough c^ontempt 
for the idler. His has been a busy life, and if there 
are any who thoroughly enjoy downright active 
labor, both of mind and brain, he is the man. 

Our subject first opened his eyes in the Blue 
Grass State, and was born in Nelson Count}-, on the 
2r)th of February, 183.'). His parents, Jacob and 
Sail}' (Calvert) Dadisman, were also natives of Ken- 
tucky, and the father of German descent. Jacob 
Dadisman served under (!en. Harrison in the War 

<• 



of 1812. participating in the battle at Thames River 
in Canada, where he was captured by the British, 
but subsequently escaped .ifter running the gaunt- 
let under the fire of the British soldiers and the In- 
dians, commanded by the famous Teciiniseh. After 
the war he settled in Nelson County, Ky., where he 
v\-as married, and reared a large family of children. 
Of these it is believed the following survive: Ben- 
net, of Nelson County ; Madison, of Morgan County, 
111. ; Emily, widow of George Fry, of ( J reene County, 
III.; F" ranees, widow of Samuel M. Fanning, of 
Missouri (Ralls County) ; Martha, widow of Thonuis 
Redman, of Kentucky, and Mary, also still remain- 
ing in that State, besides George, of our sketch. 

Mr. Dadisman wsis reared to manhood in his na- 
tive count}-, receiving bnt a limited education, and 
in connection with farming, engaged for many 
years .-us a grain and stock-dealer there. On St. 
Valentine's D.\y, 1856, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Sarah A. Summers, who was born in .Spencer 
County, Ky., Oct. 30, 1833. Mrs. D. is the daugh- 
ter of Martin and Surilda (White) Summers, the 
former a native of Kentucky, of German descent, 
and now deceased. The mother, who traced her 
ancestry back to England, was also a native of Ken- 
tucky. They were the parents of a large family of 
children, of whom James, and Jane, the wife of 
David Cox, are supposed to be residents of Mor- 
gan County, 111., as also Emily, the wife of Jere- 
miah Spainhoward; Shell)}' is a well-to-do farmer of 
this county, and Angeline, also living here, is the 
wife of Arthur Steele; Sarah, the wife of our sub- 
ject, was the youngest. 

Of the eleven children born to our subject and 
his wife, three died in infancy, and six are now 
living. Their eldest daughter, Paralee, is now the 
wife of Charles Simmons, and a resident of Kcchi 
Township, this county ; Isaac married Miss Emma 
Goodrich, and is eng.aged in farming at Valley Cen- 
ter; Lewis is operating a farm in Salem Township; 
Braxton is in Salem Township; Everett and Matilda 
are at home with their i)arents; Mary J. died when 
nineteen years of age, and William when fifteen 
months. Three died unnamed. 

Mr. Dadisman, in 1 8.08, removed from Kentucky 
to Illinois, whence, after a residence of fourteen 
years, he crossed the Mississippi and took up his 

■» 



•►•-♦i 



•► B-^ 



SKI)(;WICK COUNTY, 



resilience in this county. He first locAt«<i in Kechi 
Township, a few miles north of tlie city of Wichita, 
nn<I ill the fail of ISH.'I t4iok |M>s.s(>«.>iioii of his 
pri'M'iit hoinesteml. Here lie liiis eighty acres of 
fi-rlili- IhikI iiiider n giMtrl stiitc of ciiltivution, niid 
from an hiiiiible l)e<;iiiiiiii^ in life has niaile for 
himself a naini- an<I a position aiiioii<,' his fellow- 
citizens, lie is a Deiiiocnit, |M>litically. ami re- 
ligiously, with his estiiiialtle wife, an active member 
of the liaptist Church, lie has serveil !is .'school 
Director in his tllstrict several terms, and scK-ially, 
is a memlier in good standing of tiie A. F. iV A. M., 
Iielonging to the lodge at Maryviiie, III. Finan- 
cially, he htis reason to l>e sjitisfied with the result 
of his labors, .'ind his course as a citi/en luis been 
such as to coiiiincnd liimt^i the |)eoplc :iiiiung wlioiii 
he has lived at various linu'S and ])Iaces. 

"ll'AMKS C(»X. Like many other residents 
within the liounds of Sedgwick Countj" who 
] sU'irted out in life with naught but an 
(Wijj^ abundance of determination and indefatiga- 
ble industry, and a strong and healthy conslitulion, 
and who have succeeded through their own dili- 
gence, energy and economy, we classify' the gentle- 
man whose name stands at the head of this sketch, 
lie is actively engaged in .'igricultural |)iirsuits on 
his farm, which lies on section 30, (lypsum Town- 
shi]i. 

Mr. Co.\ is a native of North Carolina, and was 
born on the 14th of October, I«.U. He is a son 
of William and Mary (Hadicks) Cox, who were 
idso natives of the same State, who emigrated to 
Illinois when our subject was quite a small child, 
and settled in Crawford County. The subject of 
this notice, in his boyhood, attended the district 
schools of Illinois an<l drew from that pure source 
the elements of a good education. Having been 
considerable of a reader throughout the balance of 
his life, and availing himself of the many facilities 
for uc<piiring inforinalion si> plentiful at the present 
lime, he lisus largely im|iroved his mind ami made 
himself n well-informed man. At the early age of 
fourteen years he was unfortunate enough to lose 
both of his parents, and was thus early thrown 



u|>on his own rcsuiirces U> battle with a rough and 
unfriendly world unassistcil. Having U-en trained 
upon his father's farm he adopted the vtK-ation of 
agriculturist, and commenced working, as many a 
IHMir farmer's boy ha.s done, on the farm of n more 
fortunate neighbor, for a monthly sli|H"nd. Kn- 
g.iged in tilling the soil at first for others. an<l then 
for himself, he remained in Illinois until IMH2, 
when, with a desire to belter his fortunes, quite 
naturnl in a man of his energy and enterprise, he 
came U> Kansas, where a fertile and productive 
soil and a genial and salubrious climate offer such 
plc!isanl inducements to those seeking farms or 
homes. He came at once to Sedgwick County, and 
for two j'cars was employed in raising crops u|Min 
rented land, after which he made a purchase of 
eighty acres of land on section 30, in Gy|>sum 
Township, where he has made his home ever since. 

Mr. Cox, by dint of hard work and industry, has 
brought the place to a condition of most excellent 
cidlure, and has embarked with great success in 
the stock business, making a specialty of blooded 
horses, .Short-horn cattle and rolaiid-China hogs, 
all of which afford him a |(ecuniary rewanl that is 
highly sjitisfactory. The improvements u|>on his 
place are of a neat and substantial character, and 
liear witness bj' their appearance to the f.ict that 
the owner is a man who thoroughly understands his 
business. Although a resident of the county but 
a few years he has already won for himself a high 
place in the regard and esteem of his fellow-citizens, 
and is a valued member of the community. 

Mr. Cox was united in marriage, Oct. 2'.i, If^.'tT, 
with Miss Mahala Rhoades, a native of Clark 
County, 111., born M.iy 30, 1830, and daughter of 
Isaac and Mary Rhoades, natives of Kentucky. 
Her parents emigrated to Clark County, 111., in an 
earl}' d.ay. where her father was eiigjigcd in tilling 
the soil until his death, which occurred in the year 
1881. Her most excellent mother's death occurred 
in the year 18(19, in the Prairie .Suite. Mrs. Cox 
received her education in the district schools of 
Illinois, a.s she was quite a little girl when her par- 
ents settletl in that localil}-. She has butone sister 
living, whose name is Kliza, and who is at present 
making her home in Clark County, III. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Cox there have been born seven children, 



41-^ 



•*^0^^ 



•► 



Hf^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1079 



three of whom are now living, whose advent 
brought joy to the houseiiolfi, and whose lives have 
brightened the lot of their parents. Eliza J., the 
eldest child, wiis born Jul}' 20, 1863, and married 
Daniel Branson, Sept. 16, 1886; her husband is a 
farmer, and they make their home in Gypsum 
Township. Emmet E., the second child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Cox, was born Jan. 31, 1869, and is at home, 
as is the youngest boy, Isaac W., wliosc birth took 
place Nov. 8, 1X73. 

UILLIAM WOODMAN, one of the self- 
made men of Park Township, vvhose early 
^^^ home was on the other side of the Atlan- 
tic, commenced in life without other cajjital than 
his strong liands .and resolute will, and h.is attained 
to a fine position, socially and financially, among 
his fellow-citizens. His homestead, one of the 
most noticeable in Park Township, embraces a fer- 
tile tract of land under thorough ciiltiv.ation, and 
is finely located on section 26. Both as a business 
man and a citizen the proprietor stands well among 
the men of his township and vicinity as having 
materially assisted in the development of one of 
the richest sections in the Southwest. 

Mr. Woodman was born in Devonshire, England, 
July 6, 18.")0, and until a youth of eighteen years, 
spent the greater part of his time amid the scenes 
of his boyhood. His school advantages were ex- 
ceedingly limited, but he gained a thorough knowl- 
edge of farming under the careful supervision of 
his honored father. Not contented, however, with 
his prospects or his condition upon his native soil, 
he resolved to emigrate to America, and embark- 
ing at Liverpool, landed two weeks later at (Que- 
bec, and in the vicinity of Thornhill Station, 
twelve miles from Toronto, engaged as a farm la- 
borer eighteen months, and in the meantime also 
supplemented his education by a further attendance 
at school during the winter season. 

Mr. Woodman, in the spring of 1869, came to 
the States, and ra.aking his way directly westward, 
crossed the Mississippi and located first near Charles 
City, low.a. That section of country, however, 
did not quite meet his requirements, and he pro- 



coeded eastward again as far as Morgan County, 
III., where he engaged first as a farm laborer, and 
subsequently became the employe of Andrew Rus- 
sell, in the city of Jacksonville, with whom he con- 
tinued for a period of seven years. 

In the spring of 1878, still bent upon a perma- 
nent location in the farther West, young Wood- 
man once more crossed the Father of Waters, and 
traveled over the greater portion of this State. 
The outlook in Sedgwick County appeared the 
most favorable of anything he had met, and re- 
turning to Illinois to complete his arrangements 
for a final removal, he subsequently made his way 
back to Sedgwick County and located in Park 
Township, where he has since remained. He be- 
gan operations here on the farm of his brother, 
where he continued six j'cars, bringing the land to 
a good state of cultivation and effecting man}' im- 
provements. 

Mr. Woodman had now provided himself with 
sutticient means to .secure property of his own, and 
invested his capital in an uncultivated tract of land, 
which is included in his present farm. Here he 
began at the very foot of the ladder, tilling the 
crude soil, building fences, and gradually gather- 
ing around him all the appliances required by the 
skillful and progressive agriculturist. From gen- 
eral farming, at which he made good headwa}', he 
finally launched into stock-raising, and now has a 
herd of over fifty head of fine cattle, for the pur- 
pose of feeding and shipping to the Eastern m.arket. 

The parents of our subject, John and Grace 
(Moore) Woodman, were also of English birth and 
parentage, and the father engaged in farming in a 
small way in his native county. He died there in 
1887, when nearly seventy j'ears of age. The 
mother is still living in England, and will probably 
spend her days on her native soil. Of the eleven 
children comprising the household circle, eight 
grew to mature years. Elizabeth, the eldest daugh- 
ter, died in England when about three years of 
age ; John is a resident of Jacksonville, 111. ; Will- 
iam, of our sketch, was tlie fourth in order of 
birth; Thomas is farming in Park Township, this 
county ; Robert came to the United States some 
years ago, but after a brief stay returned to his na- 
tive Devonshire, where he now resides; Edward is 



■•►-■-^ 



-4*- 



IDhd 



SEUO W ICK COU NTY 






furiuiiij: ill Morton Cotiiitv. iiii- >i .i. . Mary .Iniie I 
is till- wifi- <if WilliRin llcrriioiiinii. nml coiitiiiiic.s to 
livi- ill her iiiitive Kii;;lnii(l, lo^'cllier with Kli/,til>i-lli 
(•J<l ) mill .laiuos. A ytniiifior cliild died when about 
one year ohi. 

While n ri'>i<lent of Jacksonville, William W<hm1- I 
mail w:is united in marriage, Oct. 17, IK7i>, with 
Miss Mnry K., daii;;hter of .luhii and Ilanimh 
(Morton) Wheeler, who were also of Kiijrlish birth 
and ancestry. .Mrs. \\'oodiiiaii wius born in Sonier- 
.Helshire, Nnv. IS. Is.) I, and came with her pareuts 
to the I'liiled Stales aliout \x~'2, settling in .lack- , 
sonville, III., where the latter died after a few years. I 
Mr. and .Mrs. Wheeler were the parents of three 
children, namely : Anna, Mi°!j. .lohu Woodman, of i 
.lacksoiiville. 111.; (ieorge A., also of that city, and 
Mary K., .Mr>. William Woodman. To our subject 
ami his wife there have been born four children — 
William (ieorge, .leiinie Loiiis:t, Bessie and Amelia. 
The eldest is ten years of age and the youngest one. [ 
Mr. Woodman usually votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, but at the local elections supports the 
man whom he considers best qualified for ollice. i 
Religiously, he w.os reared u Presbyterian, to the | 
faith of which he still loyally adheres. ' 

After rcniaiiiing in America nine yeai-s, William 
and Thomas crossecl the Atlantic to the home of { 
their birth, and visited their parents, remaining | 
there about four months. They then boarded the | 
steamer "Algeria," of the C'liiiard line, for their 
home. 



^^^ARI.I•;s l\ COLKMAN. The real-esUt« 
interests of WichiUi find a worthy repre- 

sentative in this gentleman. lie is of Kii- 

glisli ancestry, his grandfather having been a native 
of Kngland, and who, crossing the Atlantic carl}' in 
life, settled in New York .State during the early 
part of this century, lie served thereafter !W a 
soldier in the .Mexican War, and when the conllict 
wius ended took up his aboile in Allen County, Iiid. 
Iler«- he married and reared his family, among his 
MHis being Williain. tin- father of our subject. 'I'he 
latter married .Miss i^uciiida .Sturm, and they be- 
came the parents of six children, namely: Fninklin, 
\Villi:iiii. .Matthew, Kdwin, .Vlice and Charles F. 



The Inltcr wjus 1, , Allen County, Ind., April 

17, I Hi'.), and wiu» reare<l iiinler the parental riMif, 
receiving a common-si-hi>ol education: he was but 
a lad of twelve years at the outbreak of tin- lati- 
war, and recalls the fact that his father enlisted as 
a I'nion soldier shortly after the first call forlroo|>s, 
went with his regiment Ui the front as ineinl>er 
of an Indiana regiment of infantry, and in Febru- 
ary, 1S02, died from the effects of exposure at 
Nashville, Tenn., when but forty-four years of age. 
The mother sjient her last years in Allen County, 
Ind., though her death took place at Windsor, .Mo. 

Uiir subject continued a resident of Indiana until 
1H76. In the meantime, .Inly 1, ls7i, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Alice IJowns, who is a native of Cham- 
paign County, Ohio, and was born March I, lH.O-t. 
Mrs. Coleman is the daughter of Aaron and .Mary 
C. (Bowers) Downs, who weie natives of (Jhio and 
Virginia respectively. The father is dead. Mrs. 
Coleman's mother is a resident of Wichita. Of her 
union with our subject there have been born three 
children — Charles 11., Uora B. and .lohn W. I'lioii 
his removal from his native Stjitc Mr. Coleman 
came to Southern Kansas and settled on a farm in 
Illinois Township, this count}", where he carried on 
agriculture until January, 1H«G. He had Ix-cn 
greatly pros|tered, accumulating a snug sum of 
money, ami now purchased real estate in WichiUi. 
Since that time he has been buying and selling, a 
business which has been very profitable to himself 
and sitisfactory U) those with whom he li.os dealt. Ik- 
put 111) a fine residence at the corner of I'niversity 
and .Seneca streets and has built three other houses 
in West Wichita, lie owns thirteen lots on Uni- 
versity avenue, and has by his energy and public- 
spirited liberalit}- contributed greatly to the growth 
of the West .Side. In company with R. K. Law- 
rence and I). M. Kirkbride, he has been l:irgely 
instruincntal in the building up of this beautiful 
avenue. Mr. Coleman has taken great pride in 
planting trees, pl.-icing these along the entire front 
of two blocks, lie has in his mind's eye as a model 
of what a residence street shoiihl be, Kiicliil avenue, 
of Cleveland, Ohio, and it is his ambition to emu- 
late that beautiful thoroughfare. 

Mr. Coleman, jxilitically, is :iii uiicoinpromising 
Democrat, and luis lichl various township ollices. 



-♦►■-^ 




i'-.'i^ 



^k. 




RCiilDENCE OF C. r. L/OLLiviAN,v^urt ^limlv^A >>. ur-livLKoiif Mvo.,*(ii.miM 




41-^ 



SKDGVVK'K COUNTY. 



10H3 



-t 



Besides his city propert3' he owns the farm of IBO 
acres of land in Delano Township, which coinju'lses 
a beautiful at)(l valuable tract of land, with splen- 
did liuildings, and which is supplied with the most 
modern and ap|)roved niaehinery, including a wind- 
mill, by which means water is carried wherever 
reepiired upon the farm. The farm is operated 1)3' 
a tcn:int, under the supervisitm of the proprietor, 
and is the source of a liantisuine income. To such 
men as Mr. Coleman is .Southern Kansas indebted 
for her prosperity and the prospects which she 
holds out to the future. Among the many delight- 
ful residences illustrated in this volume is that of 
Mr. Coleman. 






AM ES P. K( ) V A L, who is recognized as one of 
the wealth_v and prosperous farmers of Waco 
Township, is the owner of 4 10 acres of fer- 
(^/' tile land, adjoining the town of Oatville. 
Ills farm is convenient to school and church, and 
supplied with a good set of frame buildings, includ- 
ing two tenement houses, and all the other improve- 
ments requisite to the canning on of agriculture in 
a profitable manner. The homestead was built by 
our subject from an uncultivated tract of land, 
which bis industrious labors and good judgment 
have transformed into one of the most valuable 
pieces of property along the southern line of Sedg- 
wick County. In his stock-raising operations Mr. 
R. makes a specialty' of mules and hogs, while his 
horses and cattle will compare favorably with those 
of his neighbors. His place has been selected as 
one among the raanj' to illustrate in this volume. 

Tipi>ecanoe County', Ind., is the birthplace of our 
subject, where he began life at the modest home- 
stead of his parents on the I'ith of April, 1849. 
His father, Thomas lioj'al, Esq., was born in April, 
1824, in Butler Comity, Ohio, where he was reared, 
and married Miss Rebecca Cheneowith, a native of 
the same county, who was born in 1 824. They re- 
moved in 1848 to Indiana. Thomas Ro^'al culti- 
vated a portion of the soil of the Hoosier State for 
a [jeriod of twenty-ouc j'ears, and thence removed 



^^ 



to Cowley Count3% Kan., where, with his excellent 
wife, he is still living. 

The children of the parental hou>ehold are re- 
corded as follows: The eldest child died in in- 
fancy unnamed: John T. married Mrs. X. Elder, 
and is a banker at Augusta, in Butler County', this 
Stixte; Harriet became the wife of Henr3' Smith 
and the mother of one child, a son, Arthur, and 
died in the city of Wichita in the year 1874; 
Celestia A., who has been blind from her birth, 
was educated in the School for the IJIiml at 
Indianapolis, from which she was graduated, and is 
now at home with her parents; W. I., unmarried, 
is farming in Clark County, this State: Eliza .J. 
is the wife of Frederick Smith, a retired farmer of 
Wichita, and the3- have two children; Betsey E. 
mariied James Bcrrell, of Clark, Kan., and is the 
mother of three children; Rachel A., Mrs. Jesse 
Reeves, is living on a farm in Clark County, Kan., 
and is the mother of two children; Eldie E. died 
in Indiana when about two 3-ears of age. 

Mr. Ro3'al, of our sketch, was reared in the com- 
mon schools of Dayton, Ind., and continued under 
the parentixl roof until reaching his majority. He 
commenced farming on his own accounl, ;iMd 
took n|) his residence in this county in 1870. 
While a resident of Kansas he w:is united in mar- 
riage with Miss Minnie Miller, April G, 187(1, and 
the young people commenced life together in Sedg- 
wick County'. Mrs. Royal is the daughter of David 
H. and Susan (Winders) JNIiller, who were natives 
of Maryland, but are now residents of Wichita. 
She was born Aug. o, 1856, and was the eldest 
child of her pannits' famil3'. Her eldest brother, 
Harry, married Miss Bell Turner, and is carrying 
on farming near Wichita; the3' have one child. 
Mary is the wife of J. N. Eorey, a mechanic by 
trade, and they have one child; Charles is unmar- 
ried, and a professor of music in Wichita; Susan 
died when quite young. 

Our subject and his wife are the [larents of two 

children only: Claude, born March 20, 1878, :iiid 

Blanche E., June 21, 1882. Mr. Royal votes 

the straight Republican ticket, and has held the 

I school otHces of his district. From the date of 

j taking up his residence in Waco Township he has 

I been recognized as one of its most valued citizens. 



-•-4« 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



\i , 



Gl I.HKKT .1. CRIST, lute of Salem Townsbip, 
cniiic til tlii.o i-oiiiiU' ill the upriiiK of IH7H. 
mill in riiiiiiiiiiii with the eiiteriirisiii;; men 
uroiiiiii liim coiiimcncoil tilling; tin- »oil mi ii trni-tnf 
hiiiil from which ho luiilt up a ^'lhmI hiniie.xtenil. 
This is iiuw iiecii|iif(l liy his widow, Mi>. .Mnry C. 
( lliiii};lu'_v) Crist, n liiilv who, like her exi-ellenl liiis- 
liiiiiil, liiut niniiy frieiuls in this srction of eoiintry, 
whrru lliey liveil niiil lulioriMl to^;i'llier iiml slmrt-ii 
the eiiinmoii interesLs of ii yoiiiij; iiml stni;,'';!iiiL^ 
eommiinity. 

Mr. Crist wius horn in \Villiiiiii8 County, Ohio, 
Fel). .'). I.S.I.'), hikI <li'|)urloil this life at the home of 
his fiither in Wiiiiniiis County, April 10, IH87, 
whither he hail sjone in ln>[ie,s of improving his 
health, haviii;; lieeti alllii-teil with the ilreail ilisease 
e.'Uieer. lie wiis the son of .Milton H. niiil Itaehel 
II. (Ueiifield) Crist, of Williams County. Ohio, 
where he was reared to manhood and engaged in 
farming pursiiit.s until the spring of 1878. Then 
desiring a eliange of residenee. he set his faec west- 
ward, and making his way to this couiiiy jirepared 
to liiiild up a |iermaiK-nt homestead. Mr. Milton 
B. Crist was horn in Seneca County, N. Y., Aug. 
10, l«-2l,and w.-us married, .May 2, 18.51. to Miss 
Kaeliel II. Redfield, who wjus horn in llarrisville, 
Medina Co., Ohio, March II, 1832. They settled 
in Williams County, Ohio, Oct. i:>, \Soi, shortly 
afl«'r marriage, where lliey have since continued to 
reside. 

While a resident of his native SUilc the suhjecl 
of our sketch wiis united in marriage, on the 16th 
of June. 1H78, with Miss Mary C. llaiighey, a 
daughter of .lacoh and Margaret (Cassil) Haiighey, 
of whom a sketch ajipears elsewhere in thi.s AliujM. 
.Mrs. Crist was horn in Williams County, Ohio, Oct. 
7, IMfiO. They commenced life together in Salem 
Township, and nine years later Mr. Crist was 
stricken down in the midst of his plans for the 
future and his usefulness. lie was an upright, 
reliable citi/.en, a Itepiililican, and li:id filled the 
ollicc of Constalile in .S-ilein Towiislii|). Mrs. Crist 
is managing the pro|K;rly left liy liir husband in n 
most prai.*eworthy manner, and enjoys the esteem 
and jilTeclion of a large circle of friends. 

Mr. Crist wius the eldest of a family of four chil- 
dii'ii. Henry A. was horn .Iniie .'JO, I8C2. and 



continues a resident uf Williams County, Ohio; 

William H. was Imrii Feb. \iC>. I8()t.nnd is fanning 
in Salem Township, this c-oiinty; I'crlia I. wtt.>* horn 
July l)°i, l8)'iH, and resiiles with her |«reiits in Ohio. 
The latter were among the pioneers of the Huck- 
eye State, and are now living in Willianis County, 



Ohio. 



-*#^<^gr>f^^ 



ILI.IAM II. IMHLKItis one of the sub- 
stantial agriculturists of .Sedgwick County, 
W^ residing on section I 1 of Cnion Township. 
He is numbered among the pioneers who settled in 
this county ill IM7n, and have since changed the 
unbroken prairie into well-tilled flelils. When he 
came to Kansas the liiifTalo roamed in large herds over 
the vast plains of the State, At one time, accom- 
panied by his friend and neighbor, .1. W. Ilarri.son, 
he went out to hunt that animal, and in an absence of 
fifteen days they killed IGO. During that time they 
saw one herd whose number was so great that it 
occupied three days in passing them. They skinned 
the buffaloes they killed, and sold the hides for|il 
apiece. This was a very small price if weconsiiler 
their present v.'ilne, but it then proved a good 
source of revenue to persons who [vossessed but a 
small portion of this world's goods, and they wore 
thus enabled to keep the wolf from the door when 
other menus failed. 

Our subject is the son of Samuel and Christiana 
(Lathers) Imbler, of whom see sketch el.sewherc in 
this book. He wa.s born in Jefferson County, 
Iowa, March 10, 18.'>2. When he was a child his 
liarents moved to Knox County, Mo., and there he 
grew to a strong and energetic manhood. In 1M70 
he came with his father's family to Kansas, and 
siH>n thereafter claimed under the homesU'ad law 
the fanii on which he now resides. He' has been 
exceedingly shrewd and energetic in the m:inage- 
ment of his affairs, so that he now owns a tlin- farm 
of 240 acres, which is in an excellent stjite of till- 
age and produces fine crops. His homest<'ad is 
adorned with a suitable set of frame buildings, 
everything about the place indicating the thrift and 
care of the owner. 

The most im|>ort.-int event in the life of .Mr. 
Imbler wius his marriage. Feb. 22, 187'J, to .Misa 



■•►^*-4» 



u 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1085 t 



Floieiicc Hiown, :i native of Illini(is, and a (laugh- 
ter uf Hamilton and Martha Urown. Slie makes 
tlicir home comfortable to iter hnsband and cliil- 
dren, and attractive to their many friends. Of 
their union four cliildrcn iiave been born — Minnie, 
Kloj'd, William C, and Clarence O. (deceased). 

In politics Mr. Imbler is an ardent Republican, 
and uses his influence to promote the interests of 
that party. 

ye. DRYDEN, Mayor of the city of Mul- 
vane, Kan., and a member of the firm of 
Drydcn it Carter, hardware dealers, is 
a man possessing more than ordinary judgment and 
business capacity, and since becoming a resident of 
tiiis city has been an important factor of its re- 
markable growth, for, although it is of recent 
origin, it has large business interests, and already 
has a, [)opuIation of 1 ,200 intelligent, wide-awake 
people, and no other city in Sedgwick County has 
before it a more promising future. 

Mr. Dryden was born in Ilighlatid County, Ohio, 
in 1850, and is the son of James M. and Elizabeth 
Dryden, both natives of A'irginia. His mother 
died in 1872. His father is living in Mercer County, 
III., where for thirty years he has been engaged in 
farming; he is a man of sound common sense and 
of sterling worth. 

Our subject w;is quite young when his parents 
removed to Illinois, and his education was con- 
ducted in the public schools of that State, and there 
he grew to maturity. In 1874 he decided to try 
farming in Kansas, and, with that object in view he 
came to Harvey County, and engaged in his chosen 
calling with much success until 1880. He then 
came to Sedgwick County and followed farming 
here the succeeding two 3'cars, and b^' his active 
industr}' and good management he coined money 
fast, being much prospered in his agricultural ven- 
tures. In 1882 he entered upon his present mer- 
cantile enterprise, which has also proved very 
successful financially, and he :ind his partner are 
conducting a large business with a fine an<l well 
selected stock of goods. 

Mr. Dryden was married, in Kansas, March 14, 
, 1 877, to Miss Maggie Badger, daughter of Nathaniel 



and Sarah Hadger, natives of the North of Irelaml, 
and descendants of the Scotch people who colon- 
ized that part of Great BriUiin. They came to 
America in 1859 and located in Michigan. Mrs. 
Dryden was born in the home of her ancestors in 
Ireland, Nov. 12, 1850. She is an intelligent 
woman, inheriting in a marked degree those well- 
known traits which distinguish the Scotch people, 
and which make her truly a helpmate to her hus- 
band, and an important factor in social ciirles of 
this city. Both Mr. :uul Mrs. Dryden are conscien- 
tious Christians and members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Their union has been blessed 
by the I)irth of four children, namely: Nellie, liorn 
Jan. 9, 1879: Amy, M.ay 2, 1880; Lillie. March 12, 
1882, and Alvah, Feb. 12, 1884. 

As a leading citizen of Mulvane, and as a mem- 
ber of a firm carrying on an important enterprise, 
Mr. Dryden is widely known in business circles in 
Sedgwick County, and wherever known is regarded 
as a man of rare energy, superior business tact, and 
undoubted integrity of character. In his position 
as Mayor lie has displayed administrative talents of 
no mean order, and his course in public life is 
above reproach, reflecting honor not onlj' uiion 
himself, but also upon his fellow-citizens who elected 
him to that important ollice; he liius also served 
creditably as Justice of the Peace. In politics he is 
prominently identified with the Republicans of this 
county, firnil}- supporting the principles of the party 
by voice and vote whenever time and occasion 
offer. 



AY1>AN1) HART. Among the iveU-to-do 
agriculturists who came to Sedgwick Coun- 
ty in the latter days of its prosperity, but 
who are becoming iilentified with its ma- 
terial interests, is the citizen whose name heads 
this sketch, who is a resident of Afton Townshii), 
having his homestead on section 12. He is a native 
of Ionia County, Mich., born Dec. 19, 1850, and 
is a son of Lewis and Nanc^' (Sherman) Hart, who 
were both born in the State of New York, the 
former in 1807, and the latter in 1811. 

The father of the subject of our sketch was a 
farmer by occupation, and removed from iiis native 



*t 



-♦■ 



- ► ■ ^ 



f 



I" 



10S6 



sKliiiW I( K t (i| M V 



SUiU- li> Mu'lii^niii !«ln«rll_v aftor liix iiiiirrin^c, wlu-n' 
In- «a.H I'lijinju'il in t'ltrryiiig on n^riciiltiirnl |>iirsiiiL<4 
until hi.s iliath, wliiili m-cnrri'il Spi. 12. i>^x~. 
Ili> widiiw. ivlni ^till .Htirvives, i.» ii rr!<iilc-nt of llu- 
Wolvi-rini" MjiU-. To'tluni wt-ri' liorn n family of 

vi)iUl iliililrfn, of wli tin- following; is a rcioril : 

llfnriftUi nirii'i'i<><l Ceorgi- Di'nioniy. a farmer, ami 
i» livin}; in DakoUi; (it'orfju II. inarri4-<l Mi^ Mag- 
gie t arveth. »lio dictl leaving him wiih three ehil- 
tlren, mill i> a re.-idrnt of .Mielii;,'an. anil a farmer; 
Mary married llarri>i>n Uoliin.-on. Iiiit lioth she 
and her liii>liand are ilead ; I'hiLdie A. also was the 
wife of llarriMin liohison, who was a ciioikt, and 
was the mother of three ehildren, hut has |wissed to 
her heavenly home ; Franklin K. married Naiiev 
Davenport, and is en<;aj;ed in farming in Ionia 
County. Mieh.; Klizahelh d. married Albert A. 
Deiitun, a liiiiilierman, and resides iil Ka-jle, Wis.; 
Mayland. the suhjeet of this sketch ; and William 
.Milo. who married .Mis,-< Klla M. Denton, and is a 
resident of i^owell, Mieh. 

Mr. Hart received the elenient.> of his education 
in the eoiiimon schools of the IVninsiilar StJite in 
his lioyhood, and assisted in the labors on the farm 
of liis father, lie cuntinued lieiie.Hth the roof- 
tree of his parents, managing the homesleail in his 
later years, until he h.-ul altAiiied his twenty-third 
year, when he was marrieil. The ccreinony which 
united him and Miss Louis;i Leninglun w.ns solemii- 
i/eil .lime M. IhT.J. The bride wa* the daughter of 
■lohn and Amy l.eningtuii, and was born in Canada, 
.Ian. ."i, 1 «.'■>.'). .She w;is the yoiiiigot in a family of 
six children, born to her |iarenls as follows: .lohn, 
a farmer of 1.4ike County, Mich.; Jliram, who is a 
eoo|>er, married .Miss Kninia (Jrangcr. and is living 
in Lowell, .Mich.; Naniy, Mrs. SUirk, resides in 
Lake County, Mich.; Kdilli, .Mrs. .lames Henry, 
who is living on a farm in Ionia County, Mich.; 
Liicinila, who married Daiiii-1 Carr, a farmer, resides 
ill Ionia County; and Louisa, wife of the subject of 
our narnilive. After his m;irriage .Mr. Hart and his 
young wife .•.eltled down on a f:iriii in .Monicaiin 
County. .Mich. 

In .March. Imh,., .Mr. Hart cam.' to Kaiis!i.s, and lo- 
«ated ill Aflon 'l'ownshi|>, on llie farm where lie now 
rcidcs. where he has ItKt .acres of land, all of wiiicli 
is in .xci-ilfiil culture, and on which he lia.-< iTccled 



<!-♦ 



a giHxl, haiiil-ome and coinmodious hons<',and neat 
oiit-biiilclings. While a resilient of this county .Mr. 
Hart was culled u|>on to mourn the <leath of his 
wife, who de|Kirte<l this life Dee. '.», 1MS7, leaving 
her bereaved husband mid three chililren,:i4 follows : 
Leononi, who wiLs born .Inly 24, 1H77; Louie .M.. 
.\pril I-.'. IKhO; and Vincent. I., Dec. .1. |KM4. Ihr 
wife ami mother was a sincere Christian, and a con- 
sistent member of the MelhiMlisl Kpiscofml Church, 
and her death was not only felt by the mourning 
family, but by the entire conininnity. 

Politically, .Mr. llarl alliliaU-s with the Inioii 
l^ibor party, being well convinc<-d that in the ili- 
rcclion in which that organisation would leail lies 
the truest safety for our National life, lie is a man 
who is thoroughly honest, upright and reliable, :iiid 
is highly honored and res|K'cted by the entire com- 
munity. 

^^^I'STAV KOLL. Among the more j-romi- 
111 (--, iient and enterprising farniei-s of Ohio Town- 
^Ji|( ship, who arc of alien birth, is the gentleiimii 
whose name heatls this sketch. Like others of his 
coiintryiiu'U, lie has brought to the new country the 
h.'ibits of economy and frugality which are an inher- 
ent charaeloristic of his native laml, and the 
exercise of which, aceompaiiieil by industry and 
good management, h:is raised him from |Mivcrly to 
comparative allluencc. His residence is located 
ii|Mui section ".'1, where lie is carrying on .agricult- 
ural pursuits. 

Beneath the clouded skies of Prussia, and sur- 
rounded by the woods and valleys of that [wrtioii of 
the (Jerinan Kmpire, our subject w.-is born April 
.'i, IMl'.l, uiiiler the roof of the humble col of his 
father and mother, Henry and Friedericke Roll. In 
IH.'ii) his pareiiLs, with a view to the future of their 
little family, emigrated to the New WorM and set- 
tled in Wi.seonsiii. After a residence in that SUite 
until IK72. the}- came to .Vdgwick County, where 
he pre-enipli'd the southeast quarter of section 21. 
Ohio Township, where he now lives. The father 
died in 1H7!I, and the mother is a resident of Ohio 
Township, living with her oldest son, Henry. 

The subject of our sket^'h settleil on his place 
when there wrre no improvi'iin-riL- upon it. ami 



•►Hi -^ 



t _ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



-^h^ 



1087 ' 



while it lay a virgin soil with not a furrow turned 
upon it. He ii.as made .ill of the improvements 
himself, and while enduring many of the hardsliip.s 
and privations incident to settlement in a new 
country, h.is gradually brought the place to its pres- 
ent high state of cultivation and value. He is a 
self-made man, as what he has .accumulated lias been 
entirely the result of his own exertions, assisted by 
tiiose of his estimable wife. He h.os at the present 
writing some .S20 acres of good fertile land, tiie 
greater part of which is under the plow, and which 
is well stocked with fine horses, high grades of cat- 
tle and Poland-China hogs. 

Our subject, not wishing to lead a life of single 
blessedness, on tlie 2d of March, 1880, was united 
in marriage with Miss Annie Trippensee, a native 
of Wisconsin, who w.as born Sept. 8, 18G0. The 
bride was a daughter of Frank Ludewig and .lo- 
hanne Trippensee, both of whom were natives of 
the Germ.an Empire, who had eniignated to the 
United States in 18.5C, and settled in the Badger 
State, where her father died in 18G3. Her mother, 
who still survives her husband, is a resident of Ford 
County, 111. Three children have come to bless 
the home of I\[r. and Mrs. Roll, although tliey have 
been permitted to keep but one. Their names .and 
natal days are as follows: Ida, who w;is born March 
19, 1881, and died Dec. 17, 1884; William wjis 
born July 18, 1882, and died Feb. 16, 1888, and 
Dora, whose birth took place July 17, 188.5. The 
death of William occurred under extremely sad 
ciicurastances, which l)rought sudden sorrow over 
the peaceful honsehohl of his parents. On the day 
in question, childlike, he accompanied his father 
into the stable, and while Mr. Roll w.as emplo3ed, 
the boy went into a stall where stood one of the 
horses. The animal, which is supi>osed to have 
been scared, kicked the child in the stomach and 
injured liini internally. Willie crawled out upon 
the stable floor, and was lifted uj) and carried to the 
house by his sorrowing father, and after lingering 
in .agony for some eighteen hours, passed to "tliac 
land from whose bourne no traveler ever returns." 
He w.as an uncommonly bright child for his .age, 
and a good scholar for one so young, and h.ad made 
many friends in the neighborhood. His loss was 
not only keenly felt by his parents, but was a 



source of sorrow and regret to all those who knew 
the little fellow. The daughter, Ida, died of that 
fatal illness lung fever. 

While entirely iixlepondent in his political views, 
Mr. Roll has been prevailed upon to serve !is School 
Director and Treasurer of the school district, as he 
manifests great inteiest in educational work. He 
has also held the place of Road Overseer, with con- 
siderable credit to himself. Hotli he aixl his most 
excellent wife enjoy the esteem an<l res[)ect of the 
neighborlioml, and arc; valualilc members of the 
community. 



^>P^KOR(iE A. IR\TNE. Prominent among the 
II g-, representative citizens and respected and in- 
^^5) 'biential men of Rockford Townshij) is found 
the subject of this biographical notice, who resirles 
on section 12, where he owns 160 acres of laiid. 
This is well improved and highly cultivated, and 
shows conclusively that the owner has not mistaken 
his calling in adopting agriculture. 

Mr. Irvine was born in .Saline County, Mo., July 
19, 1839, and is the .son of Hugh W. and Mary C. 
(Wise) Irvine, both of whom were natives of Rock- 
ingham County, Va. His father w.as born Aug. 
30, 1814, and had moved to Missouri in 1836, and 
engaged in farming. He w.as a Whig in his political 
affiliations, but never took an active part in poli- 
tics or sought public otDce. He died in Buchanan 
County, Mo., Aug. 16, 18.58. The mother of our 
subject was born Aug. 7, 1819; .she is still living, 
making her home on a farm in Clinton County, 
Mo. 

The subject of this sketch drew his education, in 
his boyhood d.ays, from the district schools of his 
native county, anil was early trained to farm work. 
He remained at home assisting his father in the 
labors of the farm until that gentleman's death, and 
then assumed the management f)f the family home- 
stead. Nov. 10, 1859, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary R. Groff, a native of Lancjuster 
County, Pa., born Jan. 10, IH38, and the daughter 
of Samuel B. and Charlotte C. (Eckhart) Groff, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. The lady was educated in 
the common schools of her native Stitte, and in the 



-4^ 



l(lh«* 



SKDGWICK <X)UNTY. 



High StiKM.I at M. .li>M'|ili, Mo.. AruriiutviiiKtoUmt 
StaU'. Hit fiillu-r ditd Ihv. lit, 1N7I, in U«hIu->. 
li-r. Mo. 'I'lic nioUicr now ri'siile;* in Derliv. Kan. 

Tlu' !*nl>Jeol of tliist »kcU-li n-nminiMl at Umnv 
with hii* niollii-r in Itiicliaiian Cuiinty, Mo., for 
iiIhiiii l«vo yt-nrs siiccfi-ilin^ his luarriayc, and took 
rhar;;i' of ihf limno faiiii. He llicn reniovi-d to n 
lioiisc' whicli he liail built on a part of Iht- siiniL* iin- 
dividt'il estjilt-, tvhorv he niadi' liis hiinio for aliont 
two _vwir>. In lH(i-J he ai'fc|>t«'d the [Ktsition of 
»iii;on-nin.-(ter «viih an uverhmtl train, which made 
ihf jonrney from .St. .lo.st-pli. Mo., l4j \'ir;;inia City, 
.Mont. The ontlU lielonjred to Kercheval, Kinney 
A- Co., and he liiid char{,'e of it from April until the 
following; September. I)urin>; the next winter he 
took ehargc of the stock, and gainei] great credit 
for his watchfnlnes-s and diligence. In the summer 
of iMCi.'i he w!is employed in freighting for the linn 
of Itush iV Kckh.-irt, in ti)e mountnin.s, and in the 
f:ill of the same year .••Uirteil from Virginia City for 
St. .loe. lie was on the road about four month.s 
during tlie winter, reaching home l)oceini)er 8. The 
following year lie w.as engagetl in agricultural pur- 
suit.> u|>on a farm which lie had rented in Andrew 
County, ,Mo.,Hnd then moved back to liuchnnan 
County, where he imswed the two succeeding years. 
Hi' father's estato was then divided, and after two 
more years sj^'nt in Andrew County, our subject 
made a remov.-d to Clinton County, in the same 
State, where he remained until February, I H,S0. In 
the spring of the latter year became to Kansi.s, and 
settling in Sedgwick County, purchased a quarter 
of a section of land in Rockford Township, where 
he now resides, lie has improved tliis place in a 
wonderful manner, and erected n gtKj<l, handi^ome 
and siilisUintial house anil liarn, and set out n fine 
orriiard of apple and peach trees. lie is paying 
eonsidcmble att4-ntion to st<wk-raising, |>articularly 
in tiie way of Clydesdale horses, graded cattle and 
I'oland-China hogs. His succe.Hs in this line has 
lieen gn-al, as he bring.s lii the business a large 
amount of experience ils well il'< industry and 
energy. 

Itotli .Mr. and Mis. Irvine arc members of the 
Metho<list Kpiseopal Church South, in which society 
our subject Iiil* been Cliiss-Leailer for .several years, 
rolitii'.'iily. he alliliat<'s with tin- I)i'nio<'r.-itii' |>iiily, 



in whoM- principles he .-ees the best gunniutees for 
tlie jireservation of our |M>pulnr form of governnu-nt, 
ami he nt the present time holds the olllce of 
Township Trustee, this being his so<-ond year in 
that position. Previous to this he s«TVi>«l jls Clerk 
of the Township Itoard for three years. Mr. anil 
Mrs. Irvine are the parents of eight children, of 
whom the following is the record: IjiuraH., who 
wa-s born Sept. 28, 1800, and married .1. F. Ijiw, 
May 7, 1882, lives in IltK'kford Townsliip, on sec- 
tion ■»; Kva R, born Nov. 2'>, 18t;2; JJcorge ('., 
June .'1, 18C1; Lottie K. and .Samuel (i. (twins), 
t)ct. C, ISGC; Fnink ,S., Aug. 19, 18G8; Mary ('., 
May 2-1. 1S70, and Charles H., May H",, l«7.'.. 

T^ KN.IA.M IN ( ; KKKN. Prominent among the 

l^v settlers of Seilgwick County, who have »vit- 

YE)) II ncssed the marvelous development of this 

^>=^ section of the .Stale during the pa.-t fifteen 
years, and who have, l)y honest toil and industry, 
succeeded in acquiring a com|)etency. and are now 
aide to siH-nd the sunset of life in quiet and retire- 
ment, is the gentleman who.se name heads this 
.sketch, and who is a resident of the ple.tsant village 
of Derby, in Kockford Township. 

Mr. (Ireen was born in Orafton County, N. II., 
June 8. 18()y, and is the son of lienjamin (J. and 
Itjichel (Uude) Green, btith of whom were natives 
of the Nutmeg SUite. His father was a car|)enter 
and joiner by trade, who in an early d.ay, simrtly 
after the l>irth of our subject, removed to New 
Hampshire, settling within ten miles of Dartmouth 
College. He made his residence in that place until 
he was about fifty -six years ol«l. when, in the pres- 
ence of his son lienjamin, he met his tieath by be- 
ing crushed under a falling tree. 

The suiiject of this notice remained at home un- 
til he W!is about twentj'-foiir years of age, when he 
removed to Lincoln County. Ohio, where he was 
employed for a number of years at any manner of 
work that he could fiml to do. While a resident of 
this |>lace, Oct. 10, 18,17, he was united in marriage 
with Mi.ss Mary S. Bean, who was born Oct. 2.'1, 
lxl"2, in (Iraflon County, N. II., and is the daugh- 
ter of .loM ph and Susjin { Kiitli ) llian, who were 



i 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1089 ♦ 



also natives of the same State. She had received 
her education in the common schools of her niitive 
State, and removed to Ohio with iier hrotlier iiiul 
liis family in 1835. Some lime after this Mr. and 
Mrs. (ireen removed to Kdgar County, 111., :ind 
purcha.sed a half-section of land, he having ac- 
quired some capitiil hy tiiat time. By the exercise 
of diligence, liard labor and excellent nian.igement, 
our subject soon l)rought this place to a high stale 
of cultivation, and had it well improved, until it 
was known as the linest farm properly in Edgar 
County. Through a misfortune, for which our sub- 
ject is entirely blameless, he lost nearly all his 
earthly possessions, and removing to Cook County, 
rented a farm south of Chicago, upon which he car- 
ried on his agricultural calling for some years. 
Knowing that on the broad and fertile prairies of 
Kansas, land at that period could be bought quite 
cheaply, in March, 1873, became to this State, and 
purchased a quarter-section of land in Rockford 
Township, and out of the raw and primitive prairie, 
which was a wild and grassy wiiste, he has made 
one of the finest farms in this county east of the 
Arkans;is Uiver. This was not accomplished with- 
out the expenditure of a large amount of mental 
and physical energy, but now, in his declining years, 
Mr. Green can look back on a life spent in useful- 
ness and industry, and enjoy the fruits of his fore- 
sight and thrift. 

The subject of our sketch, following the tradi- 
tional policy of his father, who was a Captain in the 
War of IMTi, and a member of the Whig party, is 
a stanch Republican in his politics. He filled the 
position of Tax Collector while a resident of Ohio, 
for about a year and a h.'df, with credit to himself 
and to all concerned. Although he is seventy- 
nine years of age, he is still hale and hearty, and his 
wife bears her seventy-six years so well that it is 
hard to believe that she has passed her fifth decade. 
Their family has consisted of the following chil- 
dren : Sarah, who was born in 1838, and is Die wife of 
John K. lloyt, the proprietor of a hotel in McPhcr- 
son County, this State; Rude, who wsis born in 
1841, died in infancy; Ellen M. married John 
W. Fry, a machinist, and is living in Preston, Iowa; 
Grant married Miss Ella Chamberlain, and isareal- 
estiite agent in the city of Wichita; Carrie, who is 



the wife of Frank Blew, a real-c-iatc .h ulcr, is a 
resident of Wichita, and George .M., wiio married 
Miss Alice Hansom, is also located in the latter 
city. 

Mr. and .Mrs. (Ireon, after a long life of toil, are 
now calndy resting from their labors, and are spend- 
ing the evening of life pleasantly in their home at 
Derby, surrounded l)y the love, respect and esteem 
of a large circle of friends and acf|uaintan(;es. 
Truly a good life has a hap|)y ending. 



|*w« ARTIX R. CLARK, one of Die leading 
/// \\\ capitalists of Wichita, and essentially a self- 
j ]K) made man, h.as accumulated a fortune by 
9s the e.xercise of his own industry and econ- 

omy. Ilis real estate alone includes thirty-five 
buildings in the city, which at the present prices 
are worth ii4(>0,()00. These are all occupied by 
first-cl.ass tenants, and yield to their owner a hand- 
some income. Mr. Clark came to Kansas with less 
than $100 in his pocket, and from that modest be- 
ginning has ac'cumulated his present property. 

Our subject comes of excellent old Pennsylvania 
stock, and was born in Warren County, that State, 
on the 3d of March, 1834. His parents, John and 
Susannah Clark, also natives of the Ke^'stone SUte, 
were of substantial English ancestry, and the father 
a farmer by occupation. The latter spent his entire 
life in his native State, and rested from his earthly 
labors in the spring of 18G'2. The mother, who was 
a most excellent and worthy woman, was a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
preceded tier husband to the silent land, her death 
taking place at the homestead in Warren County, 
Pa., in 1847. The eight children of the parental 
household were named respectively : Betsy, Chris- 
tina, Mary A., Samuel. .loliii, David, N'oris and 
Martin. 

Martin R., of our sketch, was the youngest mem- 
ber of the family, and spent his boyhood and youth 
after the manner of farmers' sons, learning to plow, 
sow and reap. He was married in Warren County, 
Pa., July 22, 18.")4, to Mary Jane Smith. She was 
the daughter of Richard and Susannah Smith. After 
i» 



t 



-#• 



•►-•-^^ 



10'. 



■«»• 



SKI»*:\vi( K coiNTY. 



Ir- \lr. Clark »cttle«l oiin farm in \\ 

I'iMinty, miti in tlic winlrr liine i>|htiiIc<I in llir luiii- 
lnT liiisiness, 

Mrs. Clnrk, like licr liusliaml, noqiiin'ii lirr odiii'ii- 
liiiii III the CI tin mi 111 scli(Hi!,niiil early in life wns tiiii^lit 
ilioM' hnliitvH of iixliKstrv miii eouiioiiiy which llllcd 
liiT Ui become the wife of such n man h-s our sub- 
ject, 'i'hcir union wtus blcvsed l)y the birth of three 
oiiis .-iiiil l«o (IniifjhUMT*. namely: .lohn, Charles, 
l.civis, Celestin.-inil l<l;i. The elilcst ilaii;;hter is the 
"ifcof Charles Conhirio. and they arc liviuj; in 
Dakota, in the lUack Hills country; Ida is the wife 
of .Icroinc I (aim. and the mother of one ehilil; ihcy 
arc ri'sidents of N\ icliitji. Mrs. Clark died on the 
f;irm in (Irani 'rownsiiip, Sedgwick Co., Ivan.. .Ian. 
«. IS?.-,. 

.Mr. Clark rcinaineil h resident of his native .State 
until IH70, iiithe meantime em|)loyin>; himself in 
farmiiij; |inrsuit.s. I'pon hi.s arrival in Kansas he 
lioineslottded a tract of land in the northern part of 
this county, east of N'nllcy Center, in (Jiant 'I'own- 
«liip, u|K>n which he o|)orated four years, and in the 
fall of 1874 abandoned a<rriculture and embarked 
ill the real-o.state business in Wichita. It is hardly 
iH-cess;iry to .s.ay that he displayed remarkably jrood 
judgment in his investments, and his career has been 
more than onlinarily successful. 

Mr. Clark was married after coming to this 
county to his .second wife, his bride being Mrs. 
Ilaltie S. (Iliiflfinan) Keckly, and the date of their 
wedding Feb. 15, IS?!!. Mi-s. Clark was born in 
I'rcderick County, Va.. April ^7, lH;i4, and is the 
ilaughtcr of William ami li^ichel (Booker) Huffman, 
who were also natives of the Old Dominion. Her 
father was a farmer by iK-cu|>ation and a member 
iii good standing of the Methodist Kpis<-opal 
Chnrch. He dicrl in ls74; the mother pa.s.se(l 
.iway previous to the decea.se of her husband, in 
1x7:;. 'l"hcir six children were named res|K><'tively : 
Alex, James. M.argaret, Mary, Ilattie and .lane. 
Mrs. Clark, the present wife of our subject, had 
by her llrst husband. .Mr. Keckly. one son, Clinton; 
he is now residing in \irginia. 

.Soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. 
(lark enlisted iLs a I'nioii .soldier in Company 1, 
••^•'td Pennsylvania Infantry, and participated in 
many of the im|>ortant battles of the war. lie was 1 



:■■ seven-days liallle in front of Richmond, 
where his leg was broken by a miiiie ball, and he 
lay three days and two nights on the Imttle-fleld 
in fe.arful suffering, lie was then captiiretl by the 
rebels, and c<inflned in IJbby Prison three months, 
when his exchange was effected ; after a brief stay 
at Fortress Monrf>e he wa.s bcmorably disohargeil 
and sent home. V\>t>n his recovery he pluckily 
re-cnlisted in the sjiine regiment, in which he was 
|H-rinitted t4i serve unharmed until the close of the 
war. After following the rebel iJenenil, Lee, in the 
seven-d.'iys chase, he had the satisfaction of witness- 
ing his surrendei tu (Jen. (Jrant. lie <leclares this 
was one of tin- finest sights that was ever presentt'il 
to his eyes. They continued about seven d.ays 
around Apixmiattox, then re|>:iired to Washington, 
where (Uir hero wils present at the graml review, 
and soon afterward received his final .and honorable 
discharge, in .Iiily, IHG."). 

.Mr. Clark was reared in the doctrines of the 
Methodist Church, but although he holds the mem- 
ory of his father in the dee|)Ost re3|K>ct and rever- 
ence, he has not seen lit to identify himself with 
any religious organi»ition. It is hardly necessary 
to any that in politics he is a Republican "dyed in 
the wool." 



/^^ "'*'■''''' ''^'^' ''■ ''-'•^'•'^'•■''^•"^•'^^'- f«"">*>rly a 
[|( ^., wealthy and enterprising farmer of Valley 
^^^' Center Township, but now a resident of 
Wichita, was born in Carroll County, ((hio, Dec. 
1 1, IK 14, and is a son of .lacob and Susan (Kaster- 
day) Zimmerman, who were natives of the IJiickeye 
Stiite. Ills father always followe<l the |>e!iceful 
avocation of a farmer's life, and died in the fall of 
1H,')2. when about thirty-seven years of .age. Ilis 
wife, the mother of our subject, wjis born March 10, 
l.SIlt, and is still a resilient of llillsboro. 111., living 
with a ilaughter. 

The family of .l.acob /.immerman consisted of 
three girls and four boys, as follows: Martin \'., a 
resident of McLean County, III., who is eilitor of 
the Farmer City Journal; .lohn L., who, after a resi- 
dence of six years in this county, died in IHXl at 
llillsboro. III.; Anna, a teacher for twenty years, 
married to A. C. Alexander, .Ian. \C>, I H.sh ; this 



•*¥' 



•►4l-^»- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1091 



•^ 






gentleman, of tlie firm of llijz:h iV Alcxaniler, is in 
the grocer}' business at No. 81 H East Douglas avenue, 
Wichita, Kan.; Klla, still unniarrierl; Jennie, the 
wife of James P. Lewis, of Hillsboro, 111.; Christian, 
the subject of this sketch; and J. Luther, who mar- 
ried Miss Agnes McNeal, and is a farmer in this 
countj'. In his boyhood daj's the subject of our 
sketch attended the district school, and on attain- 
ing mature j'ears, taught for about one term, and 
gave much of his time to the assistance of his father 
in the labor of the farm. During the winter of 
18fi5-G() he attended the Illinois State University, 
at Springfield, and was under the tuition of Prof. 
Noah Ilodge, of that institution, after which he 
taught the school above n)entioned, which was sit- 
uated in Montgomery' County, 111. lie remained 
at home beneath the parental roof until he w:is 
about twenty-four j-ears of age, when he removed 
to Missouri, but shortly afterward came to Topeka, 
Kan., where he remained some six months engaged 
in the milling business. From the latter place he went 
to C'owlej' County, in this State, and taking up a 
claim erected a shant.y. Two months later the 
structure was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Zimmer- 
man came near losing his own life by this means. 
The flames broke out during the night while he was 
fast asleep in his bed, and leaping out he undertook 
to dress himself, but had so short a time that most 
of his clothing was burned off almost as soon as 
put on. 

From this latter place our subject went to Butler 
County, and spent some two weeks under the doctor's 
care, on account of his late accident. He then came 
to Wichita, and after looking around settled on sec- 
tion 30, Valley Center Township, where he is at 
present living. Since coming here be has been 
chiefly engaged in farming, but deals somewhat in 
real estate, and is the owner of twenty lots in the 
city of Wichita wliieh are exceedingly valuable 
property. His farm contains 160 acres of land, 
upon which the improvements are most excellent. 
His residence, barns and out-buildings are models 
of comfort and convenience, and everything mani- 
fests thrift and prosperit}-. 

Mr. Zinunerman was married, March 22, 1877, to 
Miss Deborah Fry, who was born in Jefferson 
County, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1859. She ie a daughter 



of Charles and Demaris (Allen) Fry, lioth of whom 
are natives of New York. Her parents came West 
in the spring of \^7f>. an<I located in this county on 
a farm. Thej' were the parents of seven children, 
as follows: Luc}', Mrs. Edward J. Dotj', now living 
on a farm in Harvey Countj-, Kan. ; Nellie, who died 
in early life; Deborah, Mrs. Zimmerman; William, 
who (lie<l in June. 187;"); Addie, Mrs. Frank Hall, a 
resident of Harvey County; Merrit Arthur, who 
died in infancy; and C. Herman, who is living with 
bis parents. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are the par- 
ents of five children, viz: Arthur, born Aug. 31, 
1878, and died July 29, 1879; Winnie A., born 
Nov. 2f), 1880; Versella L., Dec. 20, 1882; Mos- 
sie M., Oct. 24, 1884; nud Leslie Leigh, Feb. 17, 
1886. 

In his political faith Mr. Zimmerman owes alle- 
giance to the Republican party, and has held several 
local oflices in the gift of the people, among which 
were those of Justice of the Peace and Clerk of the 
School Board of District No. 9, serving in the latter 
capacity for seven or eight years. He has been a 
representative man in every community where he 
has resided, and well merits the deep respect and 
high estimation in which he is held by his frientls. 



Ij^i RS. MARY M. KESSLER until quite re. 
ccntly resided on North Water street, 
Wichita, to which she retired from her farm, 
but now lives west of the city. She is the 
widow of Abram Kessler, who ^y.as born in Bote- 
tourt County, V.a., in 1811, and died Sept. 3, 
1884. He received a common-school education, and 
followed farming pursuits. He came to Kansas in 
1875, and bought a quarter-section of land, .after- 
ward purchasing another quarter. He was much en- 
gaged in stock-growing. He anil his wife were both 
members of the Lutheran Church. His first wife's 
name was Eliza Davis, .and they were married 
May 9, 1835. She died in October, 1842. In 
November, 1844, he was again married, this time to 
Miss Maiy M. Payner. She was born in Virginia 
in 1828, and was the daughter of Christian and 
Mary (Woods) Payner, natives of the same Stjite. 
The father died in 1S84. and the molii.-r in 1873. 



4 



-4^ 



109: 



t 



skim; WICK < .,r\ I > 



Three chili ilie prmluol of their union. 

Frniifis M., lionus I), luid Janiesll. Thtwe li_v tlie 
second union were: Snnih t'., "lecoiu'ed in chilillnKxl ; 
Anilri'w :\h<< <lie<l in cliililliood ; Ferdinnnd II. 
son<{ht anil won the Imnd of liattie Diislier, and 
lives nine niije-t norlhwcKt of the citv; Kiiza L. 
married A. Craig: Christian \V. ilied in chihlhood; 
Lorena al.vi was calliMl by the death anj^el in child- 
IiihmI; .Mis.-ouri married .l!i.>i|HT Siever; ( leorfje II. 
selecte<l Mi^s Liihi Cnindfu-id :is a life partner; 
Loran I... Ahrani (!., diaries N. and A<lrian 1{. 

.Mrs. Kes.-ler Ihoii-iht city life more aj^reeable than 
on a farm after li>.-iinj,' her companion, so ."he re- 
tired hither for iier dedininff years. Her hii.-«l>and 
Was a iiighly res|>ected and prominent man in the 
cumniunity where lie lived. His memory is revered 
and his intliience for good survives him. In the 
churcli he took an active i)art, contributing liher- 
alij- of his means to further its interests. A loving 
husliand, a kind father, a good neighbor and worthy 
rili/en. He was a devotee of Democracy, jKiliti- 
caily. Mrs. Kcssler is the owner of live lots and a 
nice dwelling in the city of Wichita. 



IK.V.M .1. IJACIITKL, who is a prominent 
representative of the industrial interests of 
this count}', is engaged as a contractor and 
liuililer at Wichita, to which he came in the 
spring of 18H;j. He is the scion of an excellent 
old family, the history of which is of great interest, 
and in its main jxpinLs as follows: 

The liaclitel family is of Swiss ancestry, and upon 
first coming to America, in the seventeenth century, 
settled at the inviUition of William Penn in Penn- 
sylvania. They were Mennoniles in religious be- 
lief,anil left their native soil on account of religious 
jKTsecution, seeking a country where they could 
worship after the dictates (»f their own I'on.science. 
'J'hey were generally engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, of |M'aceful and quiet disposition, strongly 
(>p|K>sed to war, :ui(l to taking an onth of any kind, 
l-'rom the Mennouites have descended many of 
our most respectable and industrious citizens. Like 
the Puritan pilgrims, their descendants liav»' been 
an clement for good in thi.« country. Samuel 



•►•-^ 



! -rated to Atucricn. and 

settled nenr Nchuylkill, in Montgomery County, in 
the eiLstern |Kirt of Pennsylvania, in a place called 
by the ancient (lerm.nns (ioshenhop|H-n, and Anna 
Simon, wife of Samuel liaclitel, are the great-gnind- 
|Mirents of the subject of this sket<.'h. Anna Simon's 
father, I.saiic Simon, emigrated from France in 
Kuro|)«-, and her mother from Switzerland. The 
said .Simon wjus com|ielle<l to flee from France on 
account of his religious sentiments, a< the |>er8eou- 
tion of the ProlcslanU at th.at time was very ex- 
tensive. .Samuel Uachtel was born Oct. -I, 17.'t2(old 
style), and Anna, his wife, w.as born Dec. IS. MM. 
The former lived to the age of eighty-seven years 
and si.x months, the latter to the .age of seventy- 
eight years and three months. 

From Samuel and Anna liaclitel descended a son, 
.Jacob, who was married to Catherine Kershiier. 
Their offspring were Samuel, Nancy, I.-<iac, Andrew 
K., Henry and Polly. Aiulrew K. liachtel, the 
f.'ither of the subject of our sketch, wxs born in 
Franklin County, Pa., in I xO'J, and although reared 
to farming ])ursuits learned the trade of tanner, 
which he followed for many years. He married 
Miss Fliza Duck, of Ohio, and they becjime the 
parents of eleven children, namely : l^a;^c D., Cath- 
erine, Martin, Henry, JIary, S:imuel, lienjaiiiin F.. 
Lucinda, Hiram J., Andrew, and one who died 
unnamed in infancy. 

Andrew K. liachtel had removed from his native 
State with his father's family to Ohio, where they 
were among the earliest pioneers of Stark County 
His wife, whom he had married in that county, wjls 
of Knglish descent, although born in Pennsylvania. 
The father worked at his trade of tanner after 
his marriage in .Stark County, but lat«'r purclL-L-^eil 
a farm in Seneca County, t»> which he remove<l.and 
where he remained until ISti'J. He next changed 
his residence U> a point near McComb, in Hancock 
County, where he continued until retiring from 
active labor, and then took up his residence in the 
vilhige, where his death tiMik place at the advanced 
.age of .seventy-two years. 

The father of our subject was a very intelligent 
and Well-informed man, and took a leading part in 
county a(Taii-s. He held the various ollices, and 
was Will .■idajitcd to the keeping of records, being 



r 



^2 



SEDGWK:K county. 



1093 



-1 



a fine penman naturally. At the age of seventy 
years he wrote the Lord's Prayer on a piece of paper 
the size of a silver half dime, a reiliarkable feat, 
especially for a man of his years, and indicating his 
steadiness of nerve, the result of lifelong temper- 
ance and correct habits. He was deeply religious, 
originally a Mennonite, but in later life became an 
active member of the United Brethren Church. 
Pie frequently olliciated as preacher among the 
Mcnnonites, and was held in the highest affection 
and esteem. He treasured up to the close of his life 
some of the old religious books which had belonged 
to his father, and which had been in the family for 
generations, some of them bearing the date of 1744, 
others 1709, and a well-preserved Bible printed in 
German, bearing date 1748, printed and bound by 
the monks in the Monastery of Klpharata, Pa. 
This was a religious brotherhood, and they wore 
among the earliest printers, binders and dispensers 
of religious books in this country. This Bible is a 
great curiosity, and will become more valuable as a 
relic as time rolls on. 

Hiram J. Bachtel, the subject of this sketch, w;us 
born near the city of Ti/Iin, in Seneca County, Ohio, 
Nov. 11, 1846. During his boyhood and youtii he 
assisted his father on the farm, and acquired the 
rudiments of a common-school education. Later 
he took a course in the academy at Republic, and 
subsequently entered Hudelburg College, at Tillin, 
where he was graduated from the scientific depart- 
ment. After leaving college he employed himself 
as a teacher twelve terms. He had heretofore had 
some experience at this, beginning when a youth of 
eighteen years. 

The next important event in the life of our sub- 
ject was his marriage, which wjis celebrated on the 
14th of May, 1872, at the home of the bride, Miss 
Kettle McDowell, who was born Nov. 14, 1852, in 
LaSalle County, III., and is the daughter of James 
and Ellen (Ritchie) McDowell. The parents were 
of Scotch ancestry, and natives of Stark County, 
Ohio. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bachtel took 
up their residence in Nevada, Iowa, where our sub- 
ject commenced as a contractor and builder, and 
was successful from the start. Six years later he 
decided ujfon a change of location, and came to 
Wichita, establishing himself here on the 28th of 



July, 18S.;. Il( li.iw continued the business of con- 
tractor, and as the result of his fine success owns a 
beautiful home at the intersection of Seneca street 
and University avenue, where he has put up a fine 
residence, and which willi its surroundings is one of 
the points of attraction in the city. 

To our subject and his estimable lady there 
have been born six children, who bear the names 
of Maggie E., James E., Edith M., Walter L., 
Andrew K. and Ada E. The eldest is fourteen 
years of age, and the youngest four months. They 
are all at home with their parents, pursuing their 
studies in the schools adjacent, and form a most in- 
teresting family group. The family stands high in 
the community. Mr. Bachtel, politically, uniformly 
votes the Republican ticket, and, socially, is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. 



AVID M. DOBBIN, a prominent farmer 
of Viola Township, was born in Coun- 
ty Antrim, Ireland, Jan. 30, 1813, and is 
the son of William and Margaret (Andrew) 
Dobbin, who were members of that noble Scotch- 
Irish race, with which that part of the Emerald 
Isle is so thickly settled. In 1824 the family of 
his parents came to the United States and settled in 
Washington County, N. Y. John and Mary (Mil- 
ler) Dobbin, the paternal grandparents of our sub- 
ject, came to New York with their six sons, and 
made a settlement in the same place about the 
same time. The parents of the gentleman of whom 
wo write died in that picturesque portion of the 
Empire State, leaving seven children, all of whom 
were born in Ireland and grew to manhood, of 
whom David was the youngest son. 

The subject of this biographical memoir was 
about eleven j-ears old when he came to this coun- 
try with his parents, and received his education 
and grew to manhood among the rocky heights and 
fertile valleys of Washington County. He received 
an earl}' training upon his father's farm, and on 
attaining his manhood, Jan. 20, 183C, was united 
in marriage with Miss Charity I. CJraham, a na- 
tive of Wa.shington County, N. Y., born Au>'. 11, 



i 



' ' 1094 



SEIHJWICK COUNTY 



iKIfi, of S<><iU'li.Iri!<h (MtrenU. In 1K.17, tiri'H of 
tilling ainiiiig Uie r<K-k» iiiiil !<ti>n(>.<<, uixl the toii^li 
nHiLi of priinrvtil forcst-s thiit onvuniluTcil the 
ground, he ri'inovoil to Prnnklin County, Ohio, 
with the intention of tinilinjj; n nionr gcniiil soil. 
lie found that 

••'rhcre no stony j;round provoked the wrath 
of the farmer; 
SmiMitlily the plowshare nin tlnou^'h llie soil, 
A.t a keel through the w.-iters." 

and there, on that eoii'^enial soil, he made his home 
until IK-IO. A year previous to that date he was 
Itereft liy the death of his wife, who left iwoehildren, 
<ine of whom is living, William .1.. a resi<lent of 
this county, of whom a sketeh is given elsewhere in 
these pages. 

At the date aliove mentioned our sulijeet re- 
turned l4» Washington I'ouiity. N. Y.. and in April, 
I.'<4."J, married Miss Mary .lane Freiieh. a native of 
that portion of the Kmpire .State, horn Oct. '26, 
l«lf>. The year following his marriage our sub- 
ject removed to DeKalli County, III., where in 
.laini.'iry, 1K48, he again Itecame a widower. His 
wife left him with two children, hoth of whom 
were small: Margaret A., the dcee.ised wife of 
Tboiuiut Irvin, .'uul .lames B., who is a resident of 
Viola Township. For a third time, .Sept. (i, 1H;')2, 
.Mr. Dohbin entered into a matrimonial alliance, 
the bride on this occasion being Miss Kliza Stott, 
a native of Wa.shington County, N. Y'., born Feb. 
|.'>, 1H17. With his family, he continued Ut make 
his home in DeKalb County until 1 H«;), at which 
time he came to Kansas antl settled in \'io|a Town- 
ship, where he owns eighty acres of highly im- 
|iroved land. Hy his third marriage he is the 
father of four children — Sarah M., Klizji, Isabelle 
and Knima. 

In early life our subject learned the cooper's 
trade, which he followed the greater jtorlion of his 
time until after he came to Illinois, when he aban- 
doneil it and followed f.urming, as he owned ji good 
pro|H-rly in that SUile. True to the instincts of 
his family .Mr. Dobbin is a Republican, although 
his first vole was cast for the Democratic parly, 
but when the slavery rpiestion crept into |Hiliticshe 
became an ardent Abolitionist, and since Is.'iC has 
Voted with the |iarly of emancipation. In his 



religiouH\.^ ; .... . i.. ..l md for 

.sonn- forty years held the |Mtsitioii as KIder of that 
church. He is highly in favor of the prohibitury 
liquor law. and warmly advocates ila stringent en- 
ft»reement. 



^^rs^ A. HO 
ff ^ nusers 
Vyil beautif 



HOOZF. who is one of the large stock- 
>f \';illey Center Township, ha.-< a. 
ifully situated f.arm upon section 27. 
Botetourt County, \'a., was the place of his birth, 
which look i)lace .Sept. 2.{, lf<4;». lie is a son of 
Mathew and Fvclinc (Linkinhoker) Booze, both of 
whom were natives of A'irginia. The father w.-is a 
laigc farmer in the Old Don)inion, and was (piite 
successful in his business undertakings, and gave a 
huge pro|H)rtion of his lime to the raising of fine 
cattle and of cereals. He was a Democrat in [joI- 
itics, and quite prominent in the county of his 
birth, where he had always made his residence, 
lie died in .lune. Imk.'i, aftiT having attained 
the age of sixty -seven years. His wife, the 
mother of our subject," died Oct. 2, l(<o2, at the age 
of forty-two. Both of them were mendiers of the 
Lutheran Church, and good and sincere Christian 
|)eople. They were the parents v{ six children, as 
follows: Mary, .lohn W., A. T., Kslher N., (i. A. 
and Kvcline K. Mary and ,lohn W. are both de- 
ceased; .lohn enlistetl in l!S(;2 in Comiviny K, 
Loy.al ^'irginia Infantry, and was killed at the 
second battle of Manasses. He was a iiravc and 
gall.ant soldier and bore the repuUition of heroic 
courage. 

Mr. Booze, the subject of this sketch, remained 
at home until he was some twenty -five years of jigc. 
In his boyhood he altende<l the comnum schools 
during the winUT months, and in the summer 
assisted in the labors on the farm. After attaining 
hi-, eighteenth year, until he llnnlly left home, he 
had the complete management of the homestead, 
hiring all the help, deciding on questions of rota- 
tion of cro|>s, etc. He remained at home until 
his marriage, .Inly 2«, IH74. at which time he 
an<l Mi.ss Martha (! ray bill were made one. The 
bride wils a native of Botetourt C<iunty, Va., lK)rn 
.Ian. II, IN,')2, and is a daughter of .loseph and 
.Mary (Snyder) Oraybill, natives of the same 



h 



•► • -4- 



^r 



4 



^i^^l-4. 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



lOI).-. 



count}'. Both her parents are now dead, the mother 
(lying IMarch 2, 1883, and the father Aug. 30, 1887. 
Her ijeople were farmers and extensive cattle 
raisers of tliat portion of the Old Dominion. They 
were the parents of twelve children, seven girls and 
live boys, as follows: America, Binford C, Vir- 
ginia C, I^Iarquis II., Ferdinand S., Fannie J., Lucy. 
Philadelphia, Josei^h, John, Martha and Theodosia. 
After his marriage Mr. Booze and his young 
wife settled down to farm life in their native State, 
where they remained some nine 3'ears. Thej' came 
to Sedgwick County in 188G, and settled on the 
farm in Salem Township where he now resides. At 
first he purchased 240 acres of land, to which he 
h.as since added eighty more, causing his farm to 
embrace 320 acres of most excellent land. The 
place is handsomely improved and somewhat culti- 
vated, although this gentleman prefers to pay more 
attention to stock-raising than the raising of grain. 
A large proportion of the horses anil cattle upon the 
property are of high grades and noble strains. Mr. 
and Mrs. Booze are the parents of live children, as 
follows: Herbert Clive, Allen Louis, G. Clarence, 
William Adolphus and J. Ewell. In politics Mr. 
Booze is a sup[)orter of the Democratic part}', but 
gives very little attention to the matter outside of 
availing himself of his elective franchise. His 
business interests and domestic concerns Uike up 
most of his time, and he would not willingly in- 
fringe upon them for the sake of political prefer- 
ment. 



IMON W. DREISBACH, who is eng.nged in 
carrying on agricultural pursuits on section 
2, Ohio Township, is a n.ativc of Ohio, hav- 
ing been born in Pickaway County, IMarch 
17, 1847. His parents, J:icob E. and Catherine 
(Wagner) Dreisbach, natives of Pennsylvania and 
Ohio respectively, had a famil}' of five children, of 
whom the following is a record: Elizabeth, the wife 
of Paul Fellers, of Carth.age. Mo.; Simon W., the 
subject of this sketch; Isaiah, who is also living at 
Carthage; Esther, the widow of Rev. E. Condo, 
who is residing at Fiudlaj', Ohio; and William W.. 
living in Missouri. The ancestors of the gentleman 
of whom we write were natives of Germany, both 



on the maternal and paternal side. The Dreisbach 
family can readily be traced back to two brothers 
of that name, who emigrated from their native land 
in 1746, and settled in Lancaster County, Pa. 

When Simon W. was about fourteen years of age 
he removed with his parents to Hancock County, 
Ohio, where he lived for some seven years. He 
received a good education in the excellent schools 
of his native State in the daysof hisyouth, and was 
early in life initialed into the secrets of agriculture. 
Nearly all of his days have been spent in farming, 
with the exception of two terms, in which he was 
teaching school. He remained beneath the (witcr- 
ual roof, assisting his father until 1870, when he 
removed to Missouri and made that State his resi- 
dence until coining to Kansas in 1885. On his ar- 
rival here he settled on section 2, Ohio Township, 
on the farm where he now resides. He is the pos- 
sessor, at the present writing, of 320 acres of land 
Ij'ing on sections 1 and 2, all of which he has 
brought to an excellent state of cultivation. The 
improvements upon his place are of a substantial 
and handsome character, and everything about it 
manifests a love for order and neatness which is so 
characteristic of our subject. 

On the 2!lth of August, 1875, occurred the cere- 
inou}' which united in marriage the lives of our sub- 
ject and Miss Emma Ralston. The bride was a 
native of Hancock County, 111., born Dec. 29, 1855, 
and a daughter of Wesley and Charlotte (Wade) 
Ralston, both of whom were also natives of the 
Prairie State. She w.as one of a family of eleven 
children born to her father and mother, of whom 
ten are still living. They arc as follows: Emma, 
the wife of Mr. Dreisbach, of whom we write; Will- 
iam D., a resident of McDonough County, III.; 
George A., who lives at Wishart, Mo.; Lincoln E., 
living ne.ar Carthage, Mo.; Hattie, wife of William 
C. Young, of Carthage; John W., a resident of 
Claremore, Ind. Ter. ; Laraont, of Buckle}', Mo.; 
Charles, who resides in the neighborhood of Car- 
thage, Mo. ; Lillie, at home with her parents, near 
the last-named place ; and Waldo, at home. The 
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Dreisbach was a sol- 
dier in the American army during the contest with 
Great BriUiin, in 1812-15. 

The family of the subject of this sketch and his 



-^•■ 



-•► 



• -**- 



sKi)i;\vi( K (orNiv, 



wife litis I -tfVi'n cliiUlrpii, ns follows: 

Miui.l K.. I. ri, Juh 1. IS-fi; Kthol K.. .Inn. 19. 
Ih7M; IxsUt K.. Wni Nov. 10, 1h7"J. hikI died 
.Inly.'., 1«H(»; (;crtni.lc K.. Imrn .Iiiii. ;10. 1K81; 
Hliinchc It.. .Mitrcli 12, IKS3; Lniiroii U., .Itinc 2. 
l«H.'i;niii! Mny R., May 1.1 8h7. 

Mr. I>ri-isl>iu-li, while n ri'sidcnt of .liisi>or t'liimty, 
.Mo., hcjil the olllce of Trustee of Mii<lisoii Town- 
!<hi|i for one tonii, iiii«l is nt present .serv in;; lu* t'lerk 
of the School lloiirti of District No. l.Ofi. which wiis 
or;;tini/e(l in 18iSG. In politics he is n Kepiihlican, 
with I'rohihition proclivities, but is not entirely 
liound liy iwrly lines, ns in all loc.il innttershe iisii- 
nlly Voles for tiie ni.-ui he considers tlie fittest for 
the ollice, irres|)eclive of platforms. Both he and 
his wife are nieniliers of the Evangi'lical Associa- 
tion, anil nt all times take an active and prominent 
pjirt in ail church work. Heiny: pulilic-spiritcd, he 
takes great interest in all the moral, reii;.;ious and 
education:il mattt-rs of the township, and always 
lends encouragement and support to whatever a]>- 
pears to he for the best interests of the community. 



¥p«]l)WAKl) .McqlOWN was born in Ohio 
jlU] County, Va., .luly s, lH.-)0, of which SUite 
•^-^ his mother was also a native, while iiis fa- 
ther was a Pennsylvanian liy birth. The latter. 
John Mr(^uown by name, was married in early man- 
IiochI to Miss Rebecca llncy, who became the 
mother of nine children, of wiium Edward w:is the 
fourth in onierof birth. The paternal {jraiiilfathcr, 
familiarly known ;is .Maj. .lames .Mc(iuown, was a 
man prominent in his n:itive SUite of Virginia, a 
surveyor by profession and well known along the 
route of the I'.'in-ll.indic Railroad, lie s|>eut his 
Inst years in \\'e>l Alexandria, an<l died at a good 
old age. 

The mother of our sulijeci was the daughter of 
\irgil and Rutii ((MJniore) lluey, natives of Vir- 
ginia, who removed to I'coria County, 111., about 
IM-OO. .lohn .Mc<iuown followed carpentering and 
farming combineil until leaving his native SUite, 
and upon settling in Illinois, i)urchased eighty 
acres in llrimlield Township, I'eoria County, of 
«lii<-h he w;us one of the e;irly pioneeis. Thelluey 



family, who Imd coroo Uicyow before, wero l.i. .it. .1 
in Hrimfleld Township, that county. The father of 
our subject carried on farming there until 1 «."»'.», 
then removed to \'irginia. where lie remained until 
his death, which iK-curred in 1 stjO. The ngeil mother 
is still living, anil makes her home with her young- 
est daughter in Denver, Col. 

Of the children born to .lohn and Itebecca Mc- 
l^uown, nine lived to mature years and seven arc 
now surviving. Kdwanl, of i»ur sketch, in common 
with his brothers, became familiar with the various 
employments of farm life, and complete<l his edu- 
cation in the district schools of I'eoria County, III. 
There also he took to himself a wife and hclpinatv, 
being married, in October, 1874, to Miss .Sarah J. 
Hliuidy, who was born in Peoria County, in Sep- 
tember, 18.53. Mi-s. Mc(^. was the only child of 
.Joseph and .lane (.Siiacth) Uluiidy, who were ofKn- 
glish liirth anil parentage. They crossed the At- 
lantic in 1861, and at once sought their home in 
the West, locating on a tract of land in I'eoria 
County, where the mother died in 1801, and where 
the father is still living. Mr. Hlundy, after the 
dcatli of his first wife, contracted w second inar- 
ri.'ige, with a lady of I'eoria County. 

Tiie paternal grandparent.s of Mrs. McC^uown, 
al-so natives of Kngland, were worthy and indus- 
trious people, and reared a fine family of sons and 
daughters, who lived to be an honor to those from 
whom they drew their origin. Among their ciiil- 
I dreii their son .Joseph was one of the most intelli- 
' gent and respecUilile. and performed well his part as a 
worthy citizen. 

Mr. McCiuown remained in I'eoria Ctuiuly eleven 
yeai-s after his marriage, and there his three children 
were born: Alvin Ralph. Aug. 17, 187C; Olive 
May, .July IC, 1878, and Carrie Blanche, Nov. 1.3, 
1881. Our subject has not had very much time 
to devote to political matters, but upon occ.'L>*ions 
of general elections cjists his vote with the Repub- 
lican party. He occupies the otllce of School 
Director in his district, and has taken an active 
interest in the I'ark A.ssociation, which was organ- 
ized for the purpose of laying out and overseeing 
the ground devoted to a cemetery. This includes 
ten acres, which the iussociation lias caused to be 
fenced jiuil plautol with .-.uiudde trees, and which 



•^11-^ 



\ 



•►•-♦ 



I 



^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■•►^I-^. 



1097 



is a most wortlij' enterprise, as tiiese institutions in 
tiie country' are too apt to 1)0 treated as a secondary 
matter. Mr. Mct^uown was formerly Treasurer of 
tlie association, and has contributed greatly to the 
successful carrying out of the enterprises they have 
on hand. Our subject is not connected with any 
religious organization, but his estimable wife is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at 
Sunny Dale. 

UILLIAM ,K)HX UOBHIN. Among those 
agriculturists of Sedgwick County whose 
^^^ places manifest to the most casual observer 
the energ}' and abilitj' of their owner in his chosen 
calling, is the subject of this personal llistor3^ His 
residence, which is a very handsome and neat one, 
is situated upon section 21, in Viola Township, 
wiiere he settled in the fall of 1884. lie was born 
in Washington County, N. Y., Dec. 5, 183(>, and is 
the son of David M. and Charit}' (Graham) Dob- 
bin, a sketch of whom a|)i)ears elsewhere in this 

Al.BDJI. 

When our subject wiis but a small child, his 
mother died in Franklin County, Ohio, and in 1841 
the faniilj' removed to DoKalb County, 111., where 
William grew to manhood. lie was reared to the 
avocation of a f.artner, but having received a good 
education in the common schools of that portion of 
the I'rairie State, on reaching inaturer years he fol- 
lowed teaching for some three 3'ears. On the 9th 
of June, 1859, he was wedded to Miss Sarah A. 
Stewart, a native of Mahoning County, Ohio, born 
Aug. 8, 1837, and the offspring of Elijah and Agnes 
(McGathney) Stewart. After his marriage our sub- 
ject commenced farming on his own account in 
DeKalb County, and pursued that, the oldest occu- 
pation of man, until he came to Kans.as. While a 
resident of that portion of the country, our sub- 
ject had the misfortune to lose his wife by death, 
Dec. 13, 1880. She left a family of six children, viz: 
Albert, Henry G.; Charity', the wife of Charles Stin- 
son; Stewart and Mal)el, twins; and Benjamin N. 
Feb. 28, 1882, Mr. Dobbin contracted a second 
marriage, being united with Miss Nancy M. Fer- 
guson, who was liorn in Franklin Count}', Ohio, 



April 2, 1837, and is the daughter of James and 
Nancy (Graham) Ferguson, who had settled in 
DeKalb County, 111., in 1852. 

Our subject continued to till tiic soil of DeKalb 
County until he owned a farm of eighty acres of land, 
in 1884, when he came to Kansas and settled 
where he now resides in Viola Township, and where 
he has a fine farm of 1 GO acres of land, which is 
excellent and well improved, and in a high state of 
tilth. He carries on what is called mixed farm- 
ing, giving considerable attention to stock interests, 
and is meeting with (irst-class success in this locality. 
In his political tendencies he was formerly a Repub- 
lican, but now supports the Prohibition part}'. He 
luis held township ollices frequentl}' in his Illinois 
home, and is the [jresent Treasurer of Viola Town- 
ship. Religiously, he is connected with the United 
Presbyterian Church, of which he is a sincere and 
earnest Christian member. He squares his life in 
accordance with the dictates of the Holy Scriptures, 
and is honored liy his fellow-citizens to the fullest 
extent for his sterling integrity, earnest truthfulness 
and excellent intentions. 



-e*^- 



/^& YRUS DIX, the son of Moses and Lucy Dix, 
(|l ^-''^ was born Oct. 31, 183(), and is the owner of 
^^y 240 acres of land in Ohio Township, where 
he now lives, upon section 22. The place of his 
birth was Wilmington, Vt., but when quite young 
he removed with his [jarents to Bureau County, 
111., where he was reared to manhood. He re- 
ceived his education in the excellent schools of 
the Prairie State, and assisted in the farm labors on 
his father's place. While still a resident of that 
county, Jan. 9, 1866, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Helen C. Carrington.a native of Madison 
County, N. Y., who was born July 20, 1841. 

When Mrs. Dix was about nine j-t-ars old her 
parents, Harvey and Laura (Warriner) Carrington, 
both of whom were born in the Empire State, died, 
leaving their daughtt;r an orphan. She was reared 
in the family of F. Winchester, of her native county, 
and moved with them to Bureau County, III., in 
1856, where her marriage took place ten years later. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Dix there have been sent three 



■^*- 



t 



SKDGWICK COUNTY 



■ ■ 



chililrcn t<i ODiivon their li\i'> .iii<l iim^'IiU'ii their 
Jo_v^. 'I'heir iiiiiiU's are lus r<illi>\\>: Alice, wlio wits 
liorn .lime 7. ISGS; Jny C. Aug. I, 1H"(), iiikI 
lUiiiulie K., Kel). -^2, 1H7H. 

In tlie spring of 1S7H, nfter niiiture deiibemlion, 
liaving henril so much of the wonderful fertility of 
the Moil anil iutliiltrioiis climate of Kiiumis, Mi. I)ix 
determined U> come hither, and accordingly gather- 
ing liiii little family around him, made the tiresome 
journey, feeling all the time that "although the 
road W!i» long the way wa,s glad." On his arrival in 
this Stale he at once came to Sedg\vii-k County, and 
s«atle<l on the farm in Ohio Township where he 
still resides. On this place he is extensively en- 
gaged in stt>ck-rnising, and is classed among the 
leading and inllnentini citizens of the townsiiip. 
Nearly all that he owns he has gained l>y hie own 
cfTort.s, and hy the exercise of frugality and econ- 
omy. Farming in all ila vari(jus liranches is carried 
on upon his place, which is a model to m<jst of the 
peo|)le of the community. Mrs. Dix is also a prop- 
erty owner, having in her own right considerable 
real estate, both in Wichita and Clearwater, which 
is very valuable. 

In his jHilitical alliliatiuns .Mr. l-)ix is strongly 
Uepuiilican, aiitl adheres closely to |)arty lines. For 
a number of years he hehl the ollice of Postmaster 
at Ohio Center, but the ollice was discontinued 
in the fall of IHK7. lie has also served as Clerk 
of the School Hoard of District No. 54, and is in- 
t<-nsely interested in all matters of an educati<.>nal 
or moral ten<lency. With his estimable wife and 
eldest daughter, he is a member of the Baptist 
Church, and they arc all prominent in religious and 
social circles. As n highly res|)ccted citizen of the 
township and county, .Mr. Dix enjoys the conliilenee 
of his neighbors to an unusual degree, and with 
his wife, is greatly beloved by all with whom they 
come in ciintaii. 



1I.\K\ i:V W. IJl.ACK, proprietor of the 
j), Kiver>iili' Fiitl and .Sale .Stables, at No. 
■ll'l West DougliLs avenue, Wichita, !is a 
man of excellent business capacity, has 
iiirtde a deci.le<l snr-<ress of his pre-o-nt undertaking. 
Ill- li;i- li.'id !i varied expel ieuie ihruugli life, having 



liecn rean-'i l.. lum jiio^uii^. i:iU'i ^lu'Uiu- iiiini- 
cine, and has been quit*.- an extensive tmveler. tak- 
ing in most of the Western States and Territ<>ri«'s. 
In 1n7() became to Wichita, established his present 
business, and .-ilso s|H>cuhited considerably in lands 
thereafter. 

The pro|ierty of oiir subject comprises two very 
flue, large livery sLibles, with st<M-kyards and tlie 
Kiverside llot4:l, besides business houses and city 
lots, lie put up the first stable for st4H-k in the 
city of Cheyenne, Wyo., during one of his West- 
ern trijis, and has had ample experience in the 
ranch business. During the years 1802 and IHijK 
he freighted from the .Mi.ssouri Uiverto the West- 
ern Territories with mules, from the proceeds of 
which he realizeil a haiids<jme sum of money. His 
energy and industry are proverbial, and in the |h>s- 
session of a fine property he has but that to which 
he is justly entitled. 

.lefTcr.son County, Ky., was the early home of our 
subject, where his birth took place on the 1st of 
April, 18:58. lie is the son of (ieorgc W. and .Sarah 
L. (lioiinds) Black, natives res|>ectively of Virginia 
and Ohio, llis father was a practicing physician 
and farmer combined, and accumulated a line pr<.>p- 
erty. lie was an active meiiiber of the .Methodist 
Kpiscopal Church, and removing to Kentucky about 
18G-1, spent his last days in .McCracken County, 
that State, where his ileath took place in I8t;8. 
The mother of our subject was born in 1811, and 
w!is married to George W. Black in 1831, when 
twenty years of age. She is still living and a resi- 
dent of Wichitii. The following is a record of 
their children: Mary is the wife of S. Daily, of this 
State; William died when abcjut twenty years old; 
Harvey W. was the thinl child; Naoma is the wife 
of Nelson Colburn, of Cincinnati, Ohio; George 
W. is dece.ise<l ; Aloiizc> II. is a resident of Reno 
County, this State; Minerva married a Mr. Burcli, 
and is now decjvscd ; .Sarah, Mrs. CotTman, lives in 
Tenn.; .lane died when about eight years old. 

Dr. Black, when twenty -eight ye.-irs of age, wjis 
unitcil in marriage with Miss Corietta Pearson, the 
wediliiig tjiking place in September, 1807. Mrs. 
Black was born May 31, 184'.», in (ialvcston, Tex., 
ami is the daughter of Alex and Mardonia (Fer- 
guson) I'eaison, the f:illier a native of Alliany, N. 



•^-fl-^l- 



■*^mM» 




y/./^. /8M.e^ 



=^l-N 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1101 " 



Y., Hiul the mother, a fiill-bloorled Castiliiin, was 
born in Chihuahua, Mex. The tiiree children of 
the parental family were: Marietta T., who married 
Oliver T. Tipkiii; Francis, a Captjvin on the Red 
River, and Minerva, Mrs. Black. The father, who 
also follows river navigation, is now a Captain on 
tiie Rio (irande. Red and Mississippi Rivers. He 
and his son are members of the I. O. O. F. The 
mother is living, and during tiie absence of her hus- 
band and son makes her home in Galveston, Tex. 
The Doctor and Mrs. Black have no children. Our 
subject W!is reurcil, politically, in the Democratic 
faith, to which he still loyally adheres. 

The pioneers of any community in time become 
of great interest to the generations who rise to 
enjoy the fruits of their struggles, but they will 
be looked upon with special favor when the 
place they assisted in founding becomes a great 
commercial center, as Wichita has already become. 
The portrait of Dr. Black will therefore be gladly 
received b}- thousands in the countj'. 

.^ .^^ ^ 



4 Sill 



II OSEPH L. STUCKP:Y is among the enter- 
prising, progressive farmers of Waco Town- 
ship, where he is engaged in farming and 
stock-raising on section 22. He is a native 
of Berkeley County, W. Va., and was born Nov. .0, 
1853. His parents were David .and Susan (Gran- 
tham) Stuckey, both of whom also were natives of 
AVest Virginia. The father was born April 30, 
1821, and died Oct. 12, 18G2. The mother, whose 
birth occurred Jan. 20, 1825, is still a resident of 
her native State. The}' were the |)arents of six 
children, who are recorded as follows: .Susan Cath- 
erine was born July ITj, 1852, and married Taylor 
Catrow, a resident of West Virginia, where he car- 
ries on a farm ; Joseph L., the subject of our sketch ; 
an infant daughter, deceased ; Laura and Alice, 
twins, born Aug. 2G, 1856, the former the wife of 
T. Cushwa, of Martinsbnrg, W. Va., and the latter 
died Jan 4, 1875; and .Smith Grantham, born 
April 2.3, 18G1. 

Little is known of the Stuckey family by any of 
the descendants now living farther back than Lewis 
Siuckey's great-grandfather. The first of the fam- 



ily, it is known, were emigrants from Germany, and, 
it is supposed, came to Pennsylvania. It is known 
that three brothers — Jacob, Simon and another 
whose name is not known — made settlements : Jacob, 
in Berkele}' County, W. \'a. ; Simon, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and the other brother went to (Miioata very 
e.arly period in the history of that State. Jacob 
Stucke^', the great-grandfather of Lewis, lived in 
his youth near the line of Pennsylvania, in Mary- 
land, and married a Miss Cline, of the .State 
of Penns^'lvaiiia, and moved to Berkeley County, 
W. Va., then Virginia, about 100 years ago. When 
he c:ime to Berkeley County he was ver^' poor, but 
by dint of honesty of purpose, industry and eeon- 
om}', w;is enabled to settle each one of his children 
on a farm of no mean proportions, besides reserving 
quite a competency' for himself. He lived to the 
age of eighty -four years, and his wife also lived to 
about that :ige. They had born to them five sons 
and three daughters, all of whom are now dead. 

Charles, the grandfather of Lewis Stuckey, was 
born in the State of Maryland, but shortly after- 
ward his parents removed to Berkelej' County, 
W. Va. As before stated, he lived with his father 
until he was married, which was about the year 
1818, to Miss Susannah Bowman, of Franklin 
County, Pa. Their children were five in number — 
D.aniel, David, Margaret Anne, Charles and Jo- 
sepli. The father was a man of strong mind natu- 
rall}', and lived the life of an unpretending farmer, 
noted for an honest, industrious man, and p.asscd 
away in the seventieth year of his age. The mother 
was a woman of rare virtues and strong powers of 
mind, and died without an enem}' after attjiining 
her seventy-fifth year. Two of their sons, after 
having families, have passed aw.ay — David and 
Daniel; three other children survive: Charles, in 
Berkele}' County; Joseph, in Ohio, and Margaret 
Anne, in Missouri. Charles has held the oflice of 
Justice of the Peace in Berkeley County f<jr nearly 
twenty years; David Stuckey married a Miss Gran- 
tham, of this County, and she still survives ami 
lives in the county. 

Three brothers of the Grantham family emi- 
grated from Scotland to America, and settled near 
Charlestown, Jefferson Co. (then Berkeley), W. 
Va., the exact date of their settlement not being A 



•^•-4*- 



111):: 



t 



I'l.WI' K' ('OlTN'lY. 



kiiiiwii, ihoiij^'li it wn« nt nn early ixrioil ... 
tury uf itiir comilry. 'I'lio (•ImrncU'ristlifs of the 
pn-M-iit {»onon»tiiiii uf llu-w |ic<>|)li- U-ml us li> Ih'- 
Hove tliiit tlii-y art- Welsh |n>(i|iIi> w'Iiu.su !iiii-»-sU>r» 
croxvil tin- liiu- iiiUi .'v-ollniitl. 'i'hi' < Iranlhaiii 
fniiiily tract- tlii-ir (li-sci'iil Imrk to ii roiiu'lo poricxl, 
lis tlif olilcat of tlint fHiiiily is now si'vonly yi-nrs of 
n^c-. and is uf tlic fourth i,'iMicnition from the flmt 
sctlleinent of their aneestry in America, of whom 
we will only .s|H'ak of the present an<l the late gen- 
I'nvtion.K. Mo!>e8 S. ( iranthnm an<l Lewis, hia hrotlier, 
rojii(le<l in the county of lU-rkeley during the whole 
of the life of the latter, he linving <lie<l several 
ywint ago, at the age of eight}' years; Moses S. 
still survives at seventy years of age. The mother 
of Lewis Stuckey was Lewis Cranlham's ilaughter. 
The aphorism that n prophet is not without honor 
save in his own country <Ioes not apply to these 
two men. .'^tarting in life in indigent circiimsliuices, 
they aecumulatcd large pro|)erlies. and were greatly 
honored among their countrymen. Much of the 
business atTaii-s of the country around has been 
entrusted to their care, besides they have been 
several times elected to I^egislative and Sena- 
torial honors, and were of the Democratic school 
of politics. lA'wis (irantiiam was twice elected to the 
Legislature of the State, when his county was 
evenly divided, or rather the opposing party was I 
in the jiscendancy. and could have been returned, 
but rcfu.scd to serve a longer time, in that capacity. 
At the .S!inie time his brother Moses S. wjus electeil, | 
at Ihe age of twenty-live yejii-s, to the Slate Senate, | 
from his ilistrict, then Virginia, and also .served \ 
one .M's-sion in the Stiite Senate of West \'irginift 
since the war. 

The subject of our sketch was reared amid the 
lowering mountains and lovely valleys of his native 
.Stale, receiving his education in th('Ci>nuiiun schools 
of that locality. Like all dwellers among the mount- 
ain-, he breathed in that spirit of native independ- 
•■nce and freeibim which is so ch.Tractcrislic of him, 
and which is the underlying principle in his nature, 
lie remained at home enjoying all Ihe inlluences of 
that hallowed -pot until 1 K"(i, when, receivinga cnpi- 
Uil of ^iM.")(> from his jtarents, he stJirled out to battle 
with the world for himself, lie was then but Iwenty- 
1 »o years of age, but endowetl with a strong con- 



iitulioii, a iMiwcrful will an<l nn ener^. :.; i,i 

iletermineil to .neck in a new c«iuiitry a location and 
a home of his own. The tiile of emigration ever 
setting westward, lie joined the mighty throng, and 
came to Kansas in its early days, lie liK-atctI in 
.Sumner County, where he rented a farm anil niised 
t)ne cr«ip, but in IH77 he came to Scd^^wick County 
and settled on his present farm, lie has now a 
projierty of I'iU acres uf :i» fine land as any within 
the boundaries of the county, a handsome and com- 
modious residence, ami an orchard of young and 
thrifty trees, cuvering an area of some .seven acres. 
His land is brought to a high state of cidtnre, anil 
is exceedingly productive. 

The ceremony which unitt'd the (U-stiniet> of 
.loseph L. Stuckey and .Miss .lane Kli%ibeth Lowry 
took place .Ian. 1, |.S7.'». The lady is a native of 
lU-rkeley County, W. Va., where she was born 
April .'5, 1H.')7, and is the daughter of Samuel S. 
and .Sarah C. (Manor) Lowry, a sketch of whom is 
given elsewhere in the |)agcs of this Ai.iii m. Hy 
this union were born to them a family of eight 
children, as follows: David S., born April HI. lH7t;; 
Alice .S. C, born Aug. -iCi, 1877, and died Nov. 1.5, 
1H7«: Willis L.. born April 8, 1m7!>; Lillie F., 
Feb. 1, 1881; Charles .V., .Sept. 2 J, 1882; O rover, 
Jan. 21. 18.8.-,; Klla Uose, Nov. 7. |88t;. and an in- 
fant son, unnamed, March 21, I8.SH. 

In his political faith, Mr. .Stuckey owes allegi.-mee 
to the Democratii' p.arty. He and his wife are 
members of the llnited Brethren Churi'h, and are 
active in all religious and ni«iral work. lie has 
held the ollice of Clerk of the .School Hoard of the 
ilistrict some three terms, and is quite prominent 
in the improvement and progress of Cilucational 
matters. 



-— 7'A(ll.\l;V II. STK\K,\S. a farmer and sliK'k- 
/ i:ii-ii 111 ( iliio Township, residing u|Hin sec- 
. XL^ ' lion .'Id. j.s also connected with the Arm of 
Hammers Brothers, leading hardware merchants, of 
Clearwater, Kan. His birth took place Dec. 10, 
18 48, in Suffolk County, N. Y., at the home of his 
parents, Halsey anil Kli/.abeth H. Stevens. He is 
descended from the purest rurilan st«)ck, his ma- 
ternal ancestor, I'eter llallaek. .'i member of that 



-¥^9 -^ 



•►-II-4*- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1103 " 



n 



glorious band of heroic men from England, who 
settled on the storm-swept and rock-honnd coast 
of New England, being the first English settler in 
the State of New York. His grandfather upon 
his mother's side was an honored soldier in the Con- 
tinental arm}' during the Revolutionary War, and 
bravely fought for the independence of his country. 
The Stevens family were the original patentees of 
that tract of land now known .is Southampton 
Township, .Suffolk Co., N. Y., and were called in 
the langu.age of the (l&y, patroons or proprietors. 

The subject of our sketch received his education, 
which was but limited, in the district schools of liis 
native county, in his j-outii, and was reared to man- 
hood in that portion of tiie Empire State. Having 
arrived at an age when 3'oung men are apt to seek 
a mate to share their burdens and divide their joys, 
he was united in marriage, Oct. 10, 1872, with 
Mary A. Hammers, a native of Woodford County, 
III., who was born .Jan. l,i, 1853. The bride was a 
daughter of Samuel and Melissa Hammers, natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, who came 
to Kansas in 1884, and are now residing in Ohio 
Township, this count}-. With his wife and family 
Mr. Stevens came to Kansas in the spring of 
1882, from Woodford County, III,, where he h.id 
been living. In 188G he came to Sedgwick County, 
and located on the farm on section 30, in Ohio 
Township, where he at present lives, and where 
he owns a noble farm of ICO .acres of most ex- 
cellent land. His place is finely improved, the 
buildings being of a very neat and substantial 
character, and everything about it manifests thrift 
and prosperitj'. He is also the possessor of large 
landed interests in Greenwood and Cornelia Coun- 
ties, this State. 

Mr. Stevens, politically, alliliates with ihe Repub- 
lican part}', finding in that organization the nearest 
approach to his own ideas upon the principles that 
should govern in our popular form of government. 
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while 
his wife draws spiritual consolation from the wor- 
ship as conducted by the Baptist denomination. 
For some fourteen winters Mr. Stevens h:is been 
engaged in keeping school, but during the balance 
of his time gives his attention to his .agricultural 
pui-suits. Stock-raising is the main part of his 

-^a ' 



business, he wisely preferring that branch of the 
business to the raising of grain,. i-s being less labori- 
ous and of greater pecuniary henefit. He is enter- 
prising and public-spirited, and but few men have 
nmre friends and less enemies, and his standing in 
society and in the ccjmmunity where he lives is 
deservedly high, and he ranks with the wealthy and 
l)rosperous fiuniers of .Sedgwick County. 

-> #^ ^ 



•"v^^OOT BROS., proprietors of the WidiiUi 
IL^i^ Omnibus, Baggage and Transfer Line, are 
/K\\\ young men of enterprise and energy, and 
W^contribute their full quota toward the .act- 
ive business interests of the cit}'. The family is 
of English origin, and was first represented ou 
American soil b}' three brothers who came over 
during the great Puritan emigration of 1630. They 
finally settled in Connecticut, one in Hartford and 
another in New Haven. The Hartford branch 
especi.ally grew and flourished, and from it are de- 
scended the brothers who are represented in this 
sketch. 

Elisha Root, the father of the gentlemen now 
written of, vvas born in Massachusetts in 1811, and 
went with his father to New York when a mere 
lad. They settled on a farm in Esse.x County, and 
upon reaching manhood Elisha w;is married to Miss 
Amanda Butler, of Iladley, N. Y. In 1845 EILslia 
Root with liis family emigrated to Wisconsin, and 
purchased a tract of land in the pioneer settlement of 
Wcoshington County. His nearest trading-point for 
a number of years was the embryo city of .Milwau- 
kee, thirty-five miles disUuit. 

To Elisha and Amanda Root there were born 
eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: 
Cliloe died when two years of age: Sarah E., Selah, 
Amanda and .Silas died in infancy; Russell E., 
Lenora P., Elisha, Jr., Calvin \'., Corydon W. and 
Emeline M., lived to mature years, being all reared 
in Wisconsin. The}' assisted the parents in build- 
ing u[) a homestead from the forest, and the estate 
after a lapse of years became valuable. The father 
was a very industrious, hard-working man, and is 
now retired from active labor, although in good 
health. He has reached the advanced age of sev- 



-^-m^^ 






t 



IDM 



SKDCWICK COL'NTV 



-t 



cnlv-MX _v»';u> hihI rflniii?< In?- iiiciiU'ii luriiltir,- miiiii- 
|i;iirf<l. Ill' .•.till n-.siiK-.'* on tlif ulil lumii-.ttviiil near 
<.)!>liku.-li. 'I'lie uiiillicr i.-* ilpceiuM-tl. 

Sthili Uoi.l, tlif eldest chilli of his (Kirenls, wns 
l>i>rn Uet. l.'i. INI", nn>l acquired a coniinon-sclHMil 
edncntion, while nt IhcMiiiie lime he became familiar 
with fariiiinK iiiirsiiiu. lie sUirted out on his own 
aci'ount III the a;;e of seventeen, leaviuf; the farm 
anil eu-jaginj,' u> l)a^ji;a;:e-ma>ter at A|i|>lelon, Wis., 
on the v. A- N. It. K., with which he remained 
four yeai^s. In IH70 lie wax married to Mis.s Alvira 
K. Hnr|MT. of Hartford. U'is. .She is the daughter 
«»f ThompMin and .^usan (Winlei-s) Hariier. l>i- 
rectly after their marri.agc the young couple removed 
with .Mr. Harper to lluller County, this .state, and 
took up ItjO acres of land, upon which they remained 
until the spring of lh72. 

Mr. Root then changed his residence to Wich- 
iUi, which wnsasniail town ofaltout 7(10 iidialiilniits. 
He first engaged a-s a cjirpentcr, hut in .lune of the 
following y«'ar started a ligl'l express business, 
olitjiining a team of clieaj) lK)rscs, by trading a re- 
volver and a watch, a hruugham and an old 
three-spring w;igon on credit. .Subsequentlj' he 
tra<led the horses for a team of spirited mules 
which did not weigh over (JOO pounds each. 'I'hcy 
were, however, an improvement upon the first pur- 
ch:u<e, and from this huudjie beginning h:u! been 
built up the present nourishing business. Two years 
fr<un the time of starting his stock consisted of a very 
res|>ectable carriage, a good pair of horses and a 
wagon. Business increased slowly up to 187f>, and 
he then took as partner his brother, Kussdl IC, since 
which lime the firm ha.-> operated under the style 
of Kool liros. In I h7'.I they found themselves with 
busincs-M sullicient to employ four wagons, and that 
year purchiused their first omnibus. Not long after- 
ward they added to their facilities by securing the 
omnibus line of the Southwest .StJige Company, and 
since that time they have had all the liusiness which 
two men could conveniently attend to. Since 18M4 
it ha.s been simply immense. They now oiwrntc 
four onniibnses, eight hacks and three baggage 
wagons, with forty head of horses and twenty-twc» 
men. They sold out the freight transfer line in 

1HK4. 

|{i.i.t IJros., ill the winter <.f lHH(;-«7, put u|i 



their pre-i Hi «1;iin.«. xmi.tin- -| ...... .u-. ,»,ll-bllill 

and finely e<piip|H-d. 'I'liey also put up the 
Wichita Mercantile liuilding on .South .Market 
street, at a cost of $40,()()(l, anil now with the lot on 
which it stands valued at |iso,0(Mi. Selah Uo..t, 
socially, is :i member in g.KMl standing of the I. (). 
(). !■'.. and iKtlitically, a stanch Kepiiblican. His 
family includes his accomplished wife and two chil- 
dren — Frank K. and Kva. The high lepuU-iti'in of 
the briithers for promptness and reliability has been 
the mainspring of their success. 

Kussell K. Hoot, junior partneroftlie firm of Knot 
Bros., was born in New York .Stale, in I8.'i2. and 
was brought up on the old homestead in Wisconsin. 
He secured a common-schiHil education and worked 
on his father's farm until twenty -one years of age. 
In 187.'! he went to Schroon Kiver, Ksse.x Co., N. 
Y., and was engaged as clerk in a hotel on the old 
homestead of the family there and which wa.s now 
owned by an uncle. Hero he remained two years. 

At the above-mentioned place, in In7i;, Mr. liii.s- 
sell was married to Miss Cordelia, daughter of 
Kussell and .Samantha Hoot, of .Schroon River, and 
innncdiately afterward the young couple came to 
Wichita. Mr. Russell .-it once became the jKirtner 
of his brother .Selali. Of his marriage there were 
born four children — Lloyd B., Kdith A., and two 
who died in infancy. The wife and mother |i:issc<l 
away in her young womanhood, in lH,s7. 

Mr. Hoot, |»ilitically, is a Hepulilican. He is 
wide-awake and energetic, and has a line sUirt in 
life, owin'ng, besides his interest in the livery busi- 
ness, real estate on South Water street, valued at 
*.SO.00(). 

'jAMKS Sli;\\ ART, nuiiibeie.l among the 
well-to-do farmers of Salem Township, owns 

I I and occupies .•> good homestead on section 
\^S^ '''*' ■'"*' ''* poi'-'^idug the even tenor of his 
wav as an honest man and a good citizen. He w.as 
born in County Donegal, Ireland, in l.'^4'2,andis the 
son of .John and .Mary (Mnlholland) Stewart, the 
former of whom wilh a sea captain anil died of 
yellow fever in Philadelphia. 

.Mr. Stewart, after the death of his father, and 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



■•► 



1105 



^ 






when about sixteen years of age, came with his 
mother to America and settled in DeWitt County, 
111., where the latter is still living, and now quite 
well ailvanccd in j'ears. .lames continued with her 
in DcWitt County, engaged mostly as a farmer, and 
shortly after the outbreak of the late Civil War en- 
listed in Company K, 41st Illinois Infantrj', in July, 
1861,and went to fight the battles of his adoi)ted 
country. With his comrades he met the enemy in 
tlie sieges of Fts. Henry and Uonelson, was also 
at the battle of Shiloh, and participated in numerous 
other engagements «ind skirmishes. At Ft. Donel- 
son he received four gunshot wounds, one in the 
back, and still carries tlie ball. This disabled him, 
for furtlier service, and he was accordingly mus- 
tered out in the fall of 18(;2, and retiirniiig to 
JUinois, engaged in farming. 

Mr. Stewart, while a resident of DeWitt Countj', 
111., formed the acquaintance of a most estimable 
young lad}', Miss Susanna T. Ely, with whom he was 
united in marriage on the 2'.Hh of October, 1868, 
at the home of the bride in DeAVilt County. Mrs. 
Stewart was born in the latter county, Nov. IC, 
1841, and is the daughter of Solomon and liaohel 
Ely, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee. 
Her father had been twice married, her mother 
being the first wife. There was a large family of 
children, seven of whom b^- the first marriage are 
still living. Achsah married a Mr. Hall, formerly 
of Illinois; she is now a widow, and lives in Salem 
Township. Gideon is farming in Jasper Count}', 
Iowa; Boanerges is in Knox County, 111.; Philo- 
logus is a resident of Oregon; Minerva resides in 
Jasper County, Iowa ; and Darius in Salem Town- 
ship, this county. Of the second marriage there 
are three children living, namelj' : Simpson, of Mis- 
souri; Salina, Mrs. Templeman, of Wilson County, 
this State, and Pauline. 

In 1871 Mr. .Stewart came with his family to 
this county, and pre-empted the quarter-section of 
land which he now occupies. Upon it there had 
been no attempt at cultivation, and our subject, in 
common with his brother pioneers, fought his way 
through many difficulties, but in due time met his 
reward, the soil resi)onding to his labors and j'ielding 
the richest croi)S of Southern Kansas. To his first 
purcluise he added a.s his means permitted, and is 



I now the owner of 240 acres, all of which is enclosed 
and under a good stale of cultivation. The sub- 
stantial and commodious farm buildings are in all 
res|)ects a credit to the enterprise of the projirielor, 
and will bear comparison with anything of the kind 
in the township. 

Mr. Stewart generously recognizes the fact that 
his estimable wife him been an invalubic iissisUmt 
in his labors and struggles to build up a homestead, 
and consequently holds her in ilue respect and 
honor. They are the jjarents of four interesting 
children, namely: Rachel M., born Aug. 2U, 18C'.) ; 
June, June 3, 1874; John S., April 23, 1879, and 
Ellen E., Nov. 4, 1882. Their third cliild, Susan, 
who was born Aug. 20, 187C, died Aug. 20, 1878, 
when a little less than two 3'ears old. 

Mr. Stewart for the past two years has been in ill- 
health on aecount of the wound received in the 
army, from which he has always suffered nunc or 
less, and is now making his second visit to Cali- 
fornia, in the hope that the milder climate of th(^ 
Pacific Slope will be beneficial. In this he is joined 
by hosts of friends, who have learned to value him 
at his true worth, and would be glad to see him 
fully restored. He is one of the most highly re- 
spected citizens of .Salem Townshiji, and uniformly 
votes the Democratic ticket. 



JAMES J. P. BALCH. Indiana has contrib- 
uted a large quota of the sturdy, energetic 
agriculturists of this county, and ;imong 
them are to be found men of sterling worth 
and integrity, who have succeeded in life through 
their own energy and perseverance, and not as the 
recipients of anj' legacy. Among this class of citi- 
zens is the subject of this notice, who began life on 
his own account half a century .-igo, with no means, 
.and who by economy and diligence luis accumulated 
a handsome property. 

Mr. Balch, whose birth took place Jan. 27, I81G, 
is a native of Vigo County, Ind., and the son of 
Amos and Martha (Leach) Balch, who were natives 
of Kentucky. The mother of our subject died in 
1821, having been the parent of twelve children, 
viz: Salina, who died in 1881; Lavinia, who died 
i» 



f 



-^*- 



-«► 



'' 1106 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



nt the ngv of sixteen yennt; Su-phcn \V., whos*- do- 
ci>a»e iK-i-iirn'«l in 18(!6; Ariii.st«n<l, wliuse ilcntli 
ttMik pliuf in I»37; Cnlvin. now living' in .lolinson 
Connlv. lliis SUiU": Knu-lini', who iliod in 1m7.'>; 
.Irinii'^t .1. v., till' snlijccl of this !<ki'Uli; Alvirii, who 
is livin;; in Sht-lby C'oiinly. III., luul fonr wlio ilieil 
in infiMu V. AfU-r his wifi-'s iloulh, the fiilhor of 
our sniijci-t marricil Mi^s Marv SjiwytT, who wiu-i 
born in 1. SO 1, nml still snrvives hor husband, wlio 
ilii'd in IHtt'i. By this second nmrriiigc were born 
:i friniily of nine childron, !i.> follows: Monroo, Syl- 
vi'slor, Jniif, Muriii, .lolin, Felix, ^■!lshli. Theri'sii 
and l.i'tha. 

'I'lii' sidiji-i-t of this histury wius reared upon the 
imternal farm, in his boyhood attending the coni- 
nion scJiDiils, from which he drew his education, and 
in his youth and young nianhfHxl :issisting in the 
labors u|K>n the homestead, lie remained at home 
until his marriage, which took place April 2. 1810. 
I'lHin that day and date he led tn the altar his 
chosen bride. Miss Klizabeth Nicholson, a native of 
the SL-ite of Tennes.sec, born in 1X18. In \x'M'> our 
subject removed to Shelby County, 111., where he 
made his home for about .seven years, and then re- 
moved to Coles County, in the same .State, where he 
purchiLsed forty acres of land, which he paid for 
out of his earnings of forty cents a daj', he in the 
meantime boarding him.self. Ilis first house upon 
the farm he had rented in Shelby County wjis coii- 
-tructed of ten-foot rails, and he and his wife erected 
the building in one day, and moved into it the 
next. In this cabin they made their home initil 
IH-l.'J, when they moved, as above mentioned, to 
Coles County, where our sulijecl purclnised 120 
acres of land, and wa.s engaged in tilling the soil for 
some twenty years. AVIulc a resident of this place, 
his wife was called t<» the beantifid land beyond 
the ilark river. Death, in I Hon, having been the 
mother of t4-n children, a.-, fiillows: Martha A.; 
.Mary, who died in childboo<l; llattie, who mar- 
ried .Samuel Duncan, of Slielby Count}', III.; .loiin, 
who is an engineer on the I'an-Iiandle Roail; .lo- 
seph, who is engaged in farming pursuits in Cali- 
fornia; .lane, who niarrieil .1. I*. Kciuiey ; Huth, 
who WHS married to William Cooper, but is now a 
willow; Stephen W.. who married Kate Simpson, 
and is farming in Waco Tounship, and lia.s two chil- 



dren, n son and danglit»'r; l.i/./ie, .Mr>. \V. Uey- 
nolds, who is living in WichiUi, and Nancy. On 
the 24th of June, iK.'iH. Mr. Halch contractetl ;i 
second nmtrimonial alliance, this time with Mis> 
St-rcna .). Morrison, wlui wsis born in Bedford 
County, 'renn., .Sept. U), 1»23, and bci-anie the 
mother of three children — .Sadie, I'hineas .and .Mar- 
garet. The latter marrieil William .lackson.and i.« 
living in Scott County, this .State. 

Mr. Balch, in lH(i;t, removed from his Illim^iis 
home to Scotland County, Mo., where he purchased 
172 acres of Hue land, where he made his home for 
about seventeen munths, but hearing of the far 
richer .soil of Kan.sas, in the latter part of 1H(;4 
made his apjX'arance in this .State, and settled in 
.lohnson County. Kngaged in tilling the soil <if 
that locality, he remained there until IH7G, when 
he came to Sedgwick County, and located on sec- 
tion '.), Waco Townshij), where he is now living. 
He 1ms a property of seventy acres of rich bottom 
land, which is of a very choice quality, and which 
he has Ijroughttoa perfection of culture. Ten acres 
of this land arc set out with apple trees, wiiich he 
planted in 1880, and arc in fine bearing condition. 
Mis residence and farm buildings are handsome, 
commodious and complete in every way, and are 
surrounded b}' a considerable number of ornamental 
and shade trees which he had the foresight to phmt. 

Our sid>jccl is a member of the I're-sbyteriaii 
Church, in which he served as Deacon antl then 
Klder, and is an upright and straigiitforward Chris- 
tian gentleman. In his politics he is a stanch He- 
p\ddican of the old-fashioned ty|>t', and Uikes great 
interest in the campaigns of that party. 



-^j KCIIIBAI.D CI{AI(;..lii.. one of the most 
'UV thrifty farmers of Delano Townshij), owns 
J'' and ojH'rates IfiO acres of land on section 
20, and is ranked among the representa- 
tive men of his neighborhood. Of a naturally ambi- 
tions turn of miml, he commenced for himself early 
in life, armeil w ilh a good, practical education and 
[M-rfect health. At the early age of fifteen years 
his father allowed him to cultivate five acres of 
ground for hiniM-lf. al which he lalnircii until 




•^•-* 



-♦■ 



-4^ 



-^T* 



.SKDCWIC'K COUNTY. 



1107 1' 



h 



reaching his majority, and had then saved l,■lHPll^ll 
to purchase a horse. His father gave him another, 
and with this team he cununcnced farming on a 
larger tract of land, which he rented, and where he 
continued until the spring of 187G, when he de- 
(•ide<l upon a removal, and pitched his tent within 
the limits of Sedgwick County'. During his twelve 
years' residence in Kaiis;is he has labored with good 
results, having now an unincumbered homestead 
and all the appliances of the modern agriculturist. 

Our subject wjis born in Jersey County, 111., May 
5, 1852, and is the son of Archibald, Sr., and Cath- 
erine (Hankinson) Craig, wlio were natives of New 
.Terse}' and Ohio respectively, and are now residents 
of Macoupin Count}', 111. Archiliaid Craig, Sr., is of 
Scotch and Dutch ancestry, and was born Sept. 14, 
1813. Mi's. Catherine Craig, the mother, was born 
in Miami Count}', Ohio, Nov. 20, 1823. They 
both came West during their youthful days, and 
were married in Jersey County, 111., in 183'J. They 
began in life with absolutely no means whatever, 
but their property is now valued at $50,000. This 
they accumulated in addition to rearing a large fam- 
ily, having become the parents of eleven children. 
Of these eight are still living, and residents mostly 
of Illinois and Kansas. 

Mr. Craig, of our sketch, was the sixth child of 
his parents, and it is hai'dly necessary to say has 
inherited in a marked degree the resolution and 
industry of his honored father. He purchased his 
present farm of 160 acres for the sum of :J80tt. 
The land had never been cultivated and there were 
no improvements upon it. Mr. Craig was then 
unmarried, and kept bachelor's hall during the first 
year of his residence at this place. After coming 
to this county he met his fate in the ])erson of Miss 
Eliza L. Kessler, who became his wife on the Gth 
of November, 1877, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride in Delano Townshii). 

Mrs. Craig was born Sept. 22, 1851, in Bote- 
tourt County, Va., .and is the daughter of Abrani 
and Mary M. (Paynter) Kessler, natives of Vir- 
ginia, and of German descent. Her fallier was a 
slave-holder previous to the war and removed to 
Kansas in 1875, locating in Delano Township, this 
county. The young people commenced house- 
keeping in the first modest dwelling of one room, on 



tli( ]]( w farm, and which, in the fall of 1884, was re- 
placed by a fine new residence costing %1,500. The 
following spring this was burned to the ground 
with most of its contents. Our subject, without 
spending any time bewailing his misfortune, put up 
another as soon .as possible, and this building, with 
its surroundings, is considered one of the most 
comfortable and pleasant homes in the townshij). 
The farm with its apiiurtenances is valued at 
*1 2.000. 

To our subject and his wife have been given 
four children, of whom but two are living, namely : 
Charles G., liorn Jan. 20, 1h7'J, and Myrtle M., 
May 21, 1884. The deceased are: Carl G., who 
w.as born June 29, 1880, and died on the 14th 
of September following; another infant .son died 
when four days old. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have 
''pulled together" in their efforts to build a home- 
stead for themselves and their children, and feel 
amply repaid for their toil and sacrifices. Mr. 
Craig, politically, is independent, .and to the re- 
peated solicitations of his neighboi-s to .accept the 
responsibilities of oflice h.as turned a deaf ear, al- 
though he consented to serve one year as Township 
Treasurer. His whole career is an admirable ex- 
ample of what may be accomplished liy the exercise 
of i>erseverance and resolution. 

ERNEST L. IlIHARGER, of WichiUa. who 
has become wealthy as a siwculator and 
dealer in real estate, came to Kansas six 
years ago with $75 in his pocket. For a period of 
eighteen months he worked for the munificent sal- 
ary of $25 per month, but with the habits of indus- 
try and economy which had been born and bred 
in him as a farmer's boy, he managed to save a lit- 
tle something, and was from the first fortunate in 
his investments. His energy is proverbial, and he 
is tacitly acknowledged as one of the leading men 
in his particular line of business. 

Our subject was born in Ogle County, III., on 
the 3d of Oct(»ber, 1859, and is the son of Calvin 
and Elizabeth (Newcomer) Hibarger, natives of 
Maryland. His father was born in lH27,and the 
mother a few years later. They are both living, and 



I 






-•^ 



1108 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



I 



rcsitlenls of Wichita. Tlii" father, while a resident 
of Illi:ii>i.s, carried on fanning, nml Krncst L. was 
reared amid tlie qniel scenes of country life, lie 
atlendt'il tiit- coninuin school in his hoyhoiHl and 
('<>iii|i|etcil his studios in Rock River Seminar}'. 

Mr. Ililiaryer wa.« united in niarringc with Miss 
Mil Fletcher, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the hride, on the 'Jth of .Innc. !««.'>. The wife 
of <iiir subject was horn in Adams County, HI., Feh. 
■ '. 1H(!'2, and came with her ])arciits to Kansas 
wlien a yoiint: lady, in 1S,S2. To Mr. and Mrs II, 
there lias hccn horn one child, a dangiiter. now 
deceased. 

Mr. Iliharger conimenoed his operations in real 
estjite in Wichita, in l.SSO, and in April of the fol- 
lowing 3'oar com|)letod his present fine residence, 
which is located at No. 9:17 North Waco street. 
Hero ho has fifty foet frontjige, and is gr.idua!ly 
adding the embellishments wliich will conii)Ietc one 
of the finest homes in the city. He hns been largely 
engaged in the purchase and sale of town lots, and 
now has about twenty of these in different parts 
of the city. To this branch of business he seems 
finily adapted, and succeeds admirably in giving 
satisfaction to his patrons. 



T-^ E\. AMBROSE C. HUME, a minister of 
llgi^ the Baptist Church, and at present located 
1, V in Holdrege, Neb., is a native of Dearborn 
'^^ County, Ind., where he was born June 21, 
1H2J. His parents, Patrick and Elizabeth (Column) 
Hume, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky re- 
spectively, and on the paternal side of the house 
the family is of Scotch ancestry. 

The mother of our subject died when a young 
woman at her home in Indiana, ami Ambrose C. 
when a lad of eleven years removed with his father 
from Dearborn to .Marion County, Inri., where he 
wius |)artly educatcil in the district school, and de- 
velo|K»d into maidiood. Now anxious for a college 
course he entered Franklin College, a Baptist insti- 
tuti(Hi .'it Franklin, Iml., where he studied for a 
lime, but on account of ill-health wius obliged to 
abandon his books and return home. He now 
oeeupled liini.self in teaching in Marion County, 



Ind., and was there married, on the I si of March, 
I»4t;,to Mrs. I.avina (Harding) .McCniy. wj.low <,f 
.John McCray. of Marion Coiinty. and the daughter 
of E. D. and Mary (Robinxm) Harding, natives 
rcsiK'ctively of Kentucky and North Carolina. 

Mrs. Hume was born in Connersville, Ind., Dec. 
.'i, 1821, and when two years of age removed with 
her parents to Marion County, where they localeil 
about four miles west of Indianapolis, being among 
the first settlers on Eagle Creek. There were no 
houses in that region at the time, and they were 
obliged to cain|i out until a cabin could be erected. 
Indianaixilis was then a hamlet of three building>. 
The father of .Mrs. Hume, however, was a man of 
groat courage and perseverance, the descendant of 
a hardy race of men wlui had made their mark in 
life, and was not dismayed b^- the didiculties which 
he encountered in the building up of a new Ikuuo. 
lie possessed man}- of the traits of his father, Rol>- 
ert Harding, after whom Hardingtown, Ky., h:is 
been named, and who w.as one of the prominent 
men of that region. 

To the jKircnts of Mrs. Hume were born .seven 
children, five now living, namelj-: Laben, of Ma- 
rion Count}', Ind.; Oliver, of Danville, III.; .lohn, 
of Hendricks County, Ind., and Sarah A., the wife 
of Robert Spears, of Hendricks County. Mr. Hard- 
ing became prominent among the men of that sec- 
tion of country, where he labored in common with 
them, not only in the building up of a home, but 
in contributing to the development and pros|)erity 
of the county. Mrs. Hume was reared to woman- 
hooil in Marion County, where her first marriage, 
with Mr. .lohn McCray, took place in February, 
1H40. Mr. McC. was a native of Indiana, and 
they became the parents of one child t>nly, a son 
.It)hn, who W!is born Feb. 21, 1842. The latter 
during the late war enlisted as a Union soldier, and 
Hied of fever, contracted by exposure and hard- 
ship, at his home on the 21st of November, l^Ci'i. 
Mr. McCray departed this life at his home in 
Indiana, in November, 1841. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ilunie there have been born 
seven children, namely: Oliver E., of Hendricks 
Comity. .Ian. 28, 1847; Shelton M.. at home with 
his parents, .March 28, 184!l; L.-iben .1., .lune 4, 
I8.',2; Edc ('., of Lyon County, this State, Aug. 



-•► 



{- 




REb.oF Nels Nelson, Sec. H. Attica Towuship. 







♦9^ y^ 



Res. OF Charles ScHr-i eider, Sec. 22. Payne Towns hi p. 




Res. OF G.W.Waybright , Sec. 27. WacoTownship. 



»► I I ^" 



.t 



•*¥^m^^ 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1109 



18. 1855; Mary E., Mrs. Richard Gorin, of Clear- 
water, Dec. 19, 1857; Sarah I., the wife of John 
Shiehls. of Ashland, Dec. (!, 18G0, .and Kllswortii, 
Jan. IT), 1861. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hume after their marri.ige con- 
tinned residents of Marion County, Ind., .and Mr. 
lluinclabored as a minister at Blue River, Homer 
and Southport. Later they removed to Hendricks 
County, in which locality' he expounded the Gos- 
pel principally at Eminence and Stilesville. Thej' 
came to Clearwater in the spring of 1885, and Mr. 
Hume took charge of the Baptist Church, preaching 
here one year, and then, through the solicitation of 
someof his Indiana friends who had settled .at Ilold- 
rege, Neb., he .assumed charge of the church there 
in November, 1887, where he still continues his 
pious labors. His family, however, remain at Clear- 
water, where Mrs. Hume owns village property and 
occupies a handsome home. Mrs. II. is also the 
owner of a good farm of 100 .acres in Ninnescah 
Township, besides valual)le property in Wichita, 
and also in Ashland, this State. 

Ambrose C. Hume has l)een a watchman on the 
w.alls of Zion, proclaiming gl.ad tidings of great 
joy to many people, for a long period of j'ears, 
during which time his conscientious labors for the 
M.astcr have met with their legitimate rew.ard in 
the satisfiiction which he feels in contemplating the 
fact that he has done what he could to fulfill the 
Master's will. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, 
and is a member in good standing of the G. A. R., 
at Clearwater. Mrs. Hume is the earnest sjni])a- 
thizer of her husband in his work, and a devoted 
member of the Baptist Church. 



-^rl^^^itT^^' 



""T^ 



JAMES GRIMSLKY is one of the oldest settlers 
in the county south of the Ninnescah River, 
as he entered the land where he now resides, 
on section 3.3, Viola Township, Aug. 1 S, 1 87U, 
and settled on the same in April of the following 
ye.ar. He is now numbered among the highly 
prosperous agriculturists and reliable and substan- 
tial citizens of the county. 

Mr. Grimsley is a native of North Carolina, and 
was born .Ian. I.s, 1«45. He is the son of Rev. 



Lowry and Catherine (Koonse) Grimsley, who 
were also natives of the old North State, and 
derived their descent from ancestry who had crossed 
the seas from the German Fatherland. The father 
of our subject was oecu])icd principally in farming 
in his native .Stjite until the fall f>f lH(i(), when he 
removed to Jack,son County, Mo., and one year 
later to Johnson Count}', in this State, where he 
now makes his home. For more than half a cen- 
tur\' he has been a watchman upon the walls of 
Zion, and h.as preached the r;os|)el, the good tidings 
of peace, having been a regularly ordained minister 
of the Baptist Church. Although he is now super- 
annuated, he still continues to bear testimony and 
labors faithfully in the vineyard of our Lord. 
Having his farm to support his needs, he has never 
t.aken remuneration in a jjecuniar}' form, but h.-us 
given his services gratuitously. While a resident of 
Johnson County, Kan., in 1884, the mother of our 
subject w.as taken from this world by death, and 
translated to the peace of her heavenly home. 
They were the parents of the following children : 
Evaline, who is the wife of Allen I'orter, died in 
Missouri; Pollie, who died in Texas; George, who 
is a contractor and builder at Waverly, Ohio; 
Drury, who is a farmer in Lawrence County, Ky. ; 
Susan, Mrs. Jackson Ireland, now living in Jackson 
County, Mo.; J.ames, the subject of our sketch; 
John, who is living in Sedgwick County, and 
Andrew, who lives in Johnson County, this .State. 
The subject of this biographical notice w.as reared 
upon a farm, in his boyhood days receiving but a 
limited education, but being of a studicjus nature, 
he h.as, by a course of extended and judicious read- 
ing, become well informed upon all general subjects. 
His school days were cut short b^' the breaking out 
of the Civil War, and as he was then a resident of 
North Carolina and under the conscript law of the 
Confederacy, he w.as liable to be called into the serv- 
ice at an}' moment, and in order to get into a regi- 
ment he desired, he offered his services, and in the 
month of January, 1801, was mustered in as a re- 
cruit, in Company I. Cist North Carolina Infantry, 
C. .S. A., and served under Gen. Lee's command. 
He w.as an active participant in the three-days 
battle at Drury's Bluff, and at Bernindn Hundred 
and Cold Harbor, ;ind in the latter conllict was 



■ -4- 
111' 



t 



SEDGWICK COUNTY 



woiimira Ml 111.- iiioMiii i._v :i nllf ball. Ho was 
plftceil in tlie <»ciicrfil hospiUil nl Kiciiiiionil, when' 
the sinnJlpux soon l>rokc ont, anil on account of 
the contnpioiis nature of tliiil ili>fa.sf, was nt>l nllowi'd 
U> return to his re;;iiiient until Au;;ust, \><(>A, when 
he rejoined thcni within the lines at Petersburg, 
\a. He participated in the fierce contest on the 
Wehlon Iiiiilron<l,an<) on the Durbvtown roatJ. which 
took place in the fall of that year. The coninmnd 
to wliich lie was attached was tlien transferred to 
Ft. P'isher, on thi- co:ist of North t'arolinn. and 
while there our subject received a sixl^'-days 
furlough and returned to his home. Before the 
expiration of his leave of absence, (Jen. Sher- 
man had reached the sea, and the armies of Lee 
and .lohnston had laid down their arms and sur- 
rendered. Like many othere who resided in the 
."Niuthern t'onfederacy, and who had been forced 
int4> the ranks against their will, Mr. Orimsley was 
truly thankful that the end had come. 

In the fall of 1 MfiS the subject of this narration 
went to Lawrence County, tHiio, where he remained 
about three months, and then returned to Alle- 
ghany County, N. C, and was there married. His 
chosen life companion was Emeline, the daughter 
of John and Tincy (Ilalsey) Ross, who was born in 
Ashe County, N. C, Dec. 31, IS 17. The young 
couple remained at their home in the Tur|)entini' 
State until the fall of ISGG, when they removed to 
Jackson County, Mo., where our subject engaged 
m f:irming, and remained until he came to Kansiis, 
u.- above mentioned. He has now 100 acres of 
most ixcellent land, all of which is under a state of 
high tillage and well improved with good and sub- 
stantial buildings, and nil the surroundings that go 
to make up a beautiful and comfortable home. 
Mr. (Irimsley is also engaged in dealing in live 
stock and fuel at Viol;i Station, which place is lo- 
cated on land owned by him, and is also the agent 
of the Ark.uisas \alley Town and Land Company. 

To Mr. and Mrs. (Jrimsley there has been born 
an interesting family of nine children, whose .ad- 
vent has brightened their home and brought joy to 
their household. Their names are jis follows: Will- 
iam N., Albert C, Dora T. C, Rose L., Florence 
M., .John A., Kdle .1., Klislia J. and Kmma Pearl. 
R"«.-f L., an inU-resling girl of llft^icn years, was 



taken from the home <lr<lc March ."il, is.SM, by 
pneumonia. In his political views our subject co- 
incides with the Democratic |Mirty, but Inus had no 
aspirations for political preferment. In his nlig- 
ious convictions he follows the tenets of the IJap- 
tist denomination, and is a member and active 
worker in that church. He is a highly res|H'Cled 
and esteemeil citizen of the community, and he 
and his family t.ikc .-i high rank in the society of 
this i)ortion of .Sedgwick County. 

—. rr» •imf'l «T.— 



J^OHNC. Kl TAN, SccreLiry of the Kansas 
Lfian and Investment Company, became a 
resident of Wichita in 1S7M, anil is at [jres- 
ent pleasantly l(»caU'd at No. 110 North To- 
peka street. He was bom at Lexington, Ohio, Dec. 
17, IMIO, and is the son of M'illiam Rutan, a native 
of Pennsylvania, but of Oerman anci-stry. 

When William Rutan was a young man he mi- 
grated with his parents to Lexington, Ohio, where 
they were among the earl^- settlci-s, and married 
Hannah Clark, a native of Pennsylvania. He then 
engaged in the dry -goods trade, which he conducted 
until 1 864, and then retired from business. The 
father of our subject died in 1H80, while the mother 
still survives. Of the eight children born of this 
union, six are still living, as follows: Bella A. is 
the wife of W. W. Kirkwood, of Portland, Ore.; 
Jennie married Hon. William Phillips, of Des 
Moines, Iowa; John C., our subject; William is a 
stock-raiser of Washington Territory; lanthe is the 
wife of O. C. Donaldst)n, of Cass County, Iowa, and 
Wesley resides with his brother in Washington 
Territory. 

John C. Rutan was educated at the common 
schools of his native town and at the Iowa StaU.- 
University at Iowa City. In DSfil he enlisted in 
Company A, 14th Iowa Infantry, but was subse- 
quently transferred to the Hat, ami finally to Com- 
panj" L, 7th Iowa C:ivalry, and was promoted Cap- 
tain. He was .Second Lieutenant of the 1 Ith, entering 
with that rank, smd First Lieutenant of the 41st. 
After earning a good war record he was mustered 
out with the rank of Captain, and shortly afterward 
went to Iihdio, and spent the next two years en- 



■•^-■-4« 



^l-^ 



_t 



SEDGAVICK COUNTY. 



nil 



gaged in raining there and in Montana and Wash- 
ington Territories. He then returned to Iowa Citj-, 
and spent the next j'ear engaged in the insurance 
business, and was then chosen Cashier of Johnson 
Coiint\' Savings Bank, a position he held until 1878, 
when he came to Wichita and engaged in the lum- 
ber trade as a member of the firm known as Kirk- 
wood, Rutan <fe Co. In 1881 he sold out his 
interest in this business and assisted in organizing 
the Kansas Loan and Investment Compan}', of 
which he has since been Secretary. Their business 
extends over the southern half of Kansas, and is 
conducted in such a manner as to gain the confi- 
dence of all with whom they have business relations. 

Our subject was united in marriage, in 18G7, with 
l\Iar3^ E., daughter of Anson and Hester A. Hart, 
and a native of Iowa City, Iowa. Anson Hart was 
a prominent man of Iowa Cit}', being Postmaster 
and Register in the State Land OfHce. The union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Rutan has been blessed by the 
birth of three children — Mary, Anson C. and Mor- 
ton. 

In politics our subject is a Republican, and was 
at one time candidate for the ollice of Mayor of 
Wichita. He is one of the organizers of the Y. M. 
C. A., at Wichitii. and served as its first President, 
during which its growth was rapid and a building 
was erected costing ti75,O00, the finest of the kind 
in the West. He has also served twelve years as 
Deput}- Sheriff, and has been Justice of the Peace 
four years. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., and is also a Knight Templar, and is a highly 
respected and leading citizen of Wichita. In relig- 
ion Mr. Rutan is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, hi which he at present serves as 
Trustee. 



jEV. W. H. HENDRYX, President and Busi- 
ness Manager of the Garfield Institute, at 
1a\\ Wichita, was born in Painesville, Lake Co., 
W^Ohio, Jan. 14, 1835. His parents were Loren 
and Laura F. (Gould) Hendrj'x, natives respectively 
of New York and Vermont, and the mother closely 
allied to the great Gould family. Loren Hendryx 
was for many years interested in an iron furnace 
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, of which State his 

♦ 



father was one of the earliest pioneers, settling on 
the side of the little mountain near Painesville as 
early as 1714. There he engaged extensively in 
farming, but spent his last days and died in Cuya- 
hoga County. His son Loren later removed to 
Michigan, and died in Lenawee County, that State. 

The maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob 
Gould by name, was born on tiie shores of Lake 
Champlain, and upon reaching manhood participated 
in the Indian War. W. B., the subject of this 
biography, was a little lad ten j'ears of age when he 
was deprived of a mother's care by death, and sub- 
sequently became an inmate of the home of Mr. 
Adams, with whom he remained until eighteen years 
old. In the meantime he assisted in the various 
emploj-mcnts of tiie farm, and completed his educa- 
tion in the college at Hiram, Portage County'. Sub- 
sequently he eng.iged as a teacher in the district 
schools of Fulton and other counties in Ohio, and 
later laid the foundation of West Royalton Acad- 
emy. 

Wishing now to brigiiten u[) his intellect by addi- 
tional study, Mr. Hendryx entered New York Col- 
legiate Institute, .and after emerging from this, 
made his viay to New Jersej', where he sojourned for 
a time, then resumed teaching, and finally' returned 
to West Royalton Academy, where for three years 
he was Principal and thirty months actuall}" at work. 
This proved a severe strain upon his sj'stem, and 
abandoning his labors as instructor he started off 
upon a tour through the country, visiting the Mid- 
dle and Western States, which recreation proved of 
great benefit. 

Mr. Hendryx was ordained to the ministry at 
Chicago, 111., in 18G8, although he had oflleiated in 
the pulpit for some ten years previously. He was first 
stationed at Huntington, Ind., where he remained 
two ju^ars, and afterward pursued his clerical duties 
in Rowland, Mich., Ligonier, Greensburg, Reming- 
ton and Newville, Ind., and finally went to Cleve- 
land, Ohio. He was married, in 18.51, to Miss Clara, 
daughter of Dr. Stephen Houghton, of Amboy, 
Fulton Co., Ohio. Mrs. Hendryx was born in that 
county and became the mother of one child, a son, 
Clark M. Her de.ith took place in 1873. 

Our subject in 1 874, contracted a second marri.age, 
with MissMar^' Wilson, a native of Decatur Count3', 



■•► 



-4^ 
111; 



^m^ 



•I hCWlCK ('(tlNIY. 



Fiiil., hihI till' il!iii^lit<r i.f .lu>tii-i \\ il>..ii, :il tliiit 
pinec. Of this union tlierc linvt- In-en born four 
rliililrrn, namely : Klmor K.. A<lili«' I,., Cliflon .1. 
nnil Sliirlpy. 

AfttT li'iivin;; the city of t'levehmd Mr. lli-nMryx 
was sUtioncil first nt t'«jllinwoo<l. then nl Kast 
Clfvt'land. wliere a church was orj:ani/.eil, and s<M»n 
aftiTwnrit his healtli entirely failed. After a season 
of rest and recuperation, he once more .■ujsumed his 
minisU'rial duties, t-akini: up his ahode in Mentor, 
and wa.s |ui»tor of the Garfield Church there two 
an<l one-half years. In l.sM,")he came to WichiUi, 
a-ssnuiin^ cli.arjje of the Central Church at the cor- 
ner of Market and ."second streets, whose interests 
he looke<l after until heing honored with his pres- 
ent ixisilion. 

Mr. Ileiidryx conscientiously sup|>ort.s the princi- 
ples of tiie Hepnl>licnn |>arly. His neat and coni- 
fortjilile ri'sidcnce is plo:is:uitly U>c:ited at the corner 
of I'nivei-sity and Hiram avenues, while iiis liusine.ss 
headi|Unrtersare at No. 20,5 North M;iin street. 



fi C. I5()Y1-K is the senior memlier of the 

r^^' tlrin of II. C. lioyle it IJro., dealers in agri- 
jIL^ cultural implements, wagons and liuggies, at 
i^j \'alley Centt-r. They arc conducting an 
extensive and successful l)usiness throughout a 
larjjc .section <if the country, and are pre-eminently 
ipialilied for the work in which they are engaged. 

Mr. I5oyle is a native of I'utnani County, III., 
where he wjls l)oru in 1H4G, and is the eldest in a 
f:in)ily of six children born to David and Lr>vina 
(Mathis) Hoyle, natives respectively of Kentucky 
and Ohio. The [Miternal grandparents, David and 
lijiclicl Hoyle, were n:itives of Kentucky, and settled 
in I'ulnam County, where tiiey were .•imong the pio- 
neer settlers, and resided fluring the lilack Hawk 
War. The maternal grandparents of our subject, 
Caleb and Margaret Mathis, were natives of New 
.lersey, and eniigrjiU-fl to (Jhioat an e.-irly day, and 
from Miere removed to Illinois, locating in rulii:im 
( ounty, among its pioneers. 

The father of our subject was one of the younger 
nicndterx of the family, ami remaineil on the home- 
stead in Illinois, engaged in farming, inilil his re- 



•►•-4« 



moval in 1 «« J to this Stat<', wliere he settled, and 
now resides in Wichita. His excellent wife wa.-> 
called to her reward in the spring of 1887. 

Our subject was reared to farm life, and receive<l 
his education at the district schools anil the \\'e>- 
leyan I'niversity, at Hlooniington, which he at- 
tended some two years. At the close of s«-h<Mil 
life he engaged in farming, and when he .saw his 
way clear Ui the esUiblishment of a home of his 
own. he was united in marriage, in .lefTerson County. 
Ohio, in March. 1870, with Miss Lydia F. Morris, 
who was born in the Huckeyc .State in 184C. She 
is the daughter of Kdward and Hannah (Yost) 
Morris, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia, 
and her paternal giimd parents, Ivhvard and H.-m- 
nah (Morrell) Morris, were among the e.-irly settlers 
of Ohio. Her maternal grand|Kircnls, Michael and 
lijichel (Kcckley) Y'ost, were natives of Virginia, 
and at an early day migrated to Ohio, when it w:i.> 
yeta Territory. The Yosts participat4^-d in the N\ar 
of 1812 and earned a good record. Father Morris 
lived in Ohio until his death, which occurred in 
April, 18.S0, at eighty-three j-ears of .-ige. His ex- 
cellent wife survived him some three years, and 
piissed away at the age of eij;hty-two. 

After marriage our subject settled on a farm in 
Illinois, and remained until coming to the West in 
1876. On his arrival in this county he purch.iscd 
2HI acres of improved land, on section .'10, Orant 
Township, but three years later he removed to sec- 
tion:)!, of the .same township, where he now re- 
sides. He owns as Ihie a farm as can be found in 
Sedgwick County, locati-d just i)utside the cor- 
|M>ration, and conUiining an elegant farm resilience 
with commodious and substantial out-buildings. 
His farm is o|>eraled by tenants, and contains high- 
grade ilamliletonian horses anil .Short-horn cattle. 
He has also .several lots platted in what is called 
IJoyle's Addition to X'alley Center. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Boyle have been born two chihiren — Orville 
and Myron I). K. Orville is eight»'en years of aire, 
and is attending (larlield I'niversily at Wichit-a, 
while .Myron, who is nine ye:ir> old. is at home 
attending school. 

Mr. Boyle votes the licpulilican ticket, but he is 
not very much interesteil in the subject of politics. 
He has held the ollic.s of Town C"lerk and School 



t. 



•4*- 



-►11 



SEDGVVIC 



Director, and is one of the Directors of the Build- 
ing .'iiid Loan Association, at \'alley Center. Mr. 
and Mrs. Boyle are members of the Methodist 
Eijiscopal C'liurc'h, and were among its organizers in 
this place, the building being located on their farm. 
Mr. Boyle has held theollices of 'rrustee and Stew- 
ard since the organization of the church, and he 
and Jlrs. Boyle are worthy and honored members 
of society. 



!;ILLIAM IIOBSOX, a retired farmer in com- 
fortable circumsUmces, and now a resident 
of Wichita, first came to this State in 
1878, and subsequently was mostly engaged in ag- 
ricultural pursuits. A native of Wayne County, 
Ind., he was born Oct. 2G, 1820, and is the son of 
George and Rebecca (Marshall) llobson, who were 
natives of North Carolina. George Hobsou was 
born May 27, 1772, and his wife Rebecca, Jan. 2-1, 
1780. 

The parents of our subject si)ent the early years 
of their lives in their native State, where they were 
married. Soon afterward, however, they removed 
to Knox Count3',Tenn., where the father engaged in 
fanning, and in due time found himself at the head 
of a family of ten children. Of these but five are 
now living, namely : Sarah, Mrs. Macy, of Ran- 
dolph Count}', Ind.; Charles, of Ft. Scott, this 
.State; Jesse, of Kingman County; AVilliani, of our 
sketch, and Margaret, Mrs. Bales, of JMcLean County, 
111. The parents removed to Indiana in 1814, set- 
tling in Waj'ne County, where most of their 
children were born. From there, in 1840, they re- 
moved to Henry County, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives. The father died on the 
17th of March, 1846, and the mother May 10, 
1857. They were members of the Societ}' of 
Friends, and possessed the deep religious principles 
of that peculiar sect. Their children were reared 
conscientiously in their own religious faith, but be- 
ing somewliat scattered have not been able to iden- 
tify' themselves with the Ciuaker Church. 

\\'illiam llobson, of our sketch, continued a 
member of his father's household during his boy- 
hood, but at the age of sixteen j'ears struck out 
for himself, and going into Tazewell County, III., 

<• 



K COUNTY. 1113 

engaged in farming untii-TSTS/ He then returned 

I home, and bj' the desire oTnis i)arents, made his 
arrangements to continue with them during their 
lifetime. He took charge of the farm and remained 
upon it until in March, 1878. In the latter month 
he came to this SUite, and located first in Har- 
vey County, where he rented land two years, and 
then changed his residence to Kingman County. 
In this latter he i)re-empted a farm of 1 GO acres, 
which he occupied, however, but a short time, then 
removed to Wichita, where he wsis engaged in the 
real-estate business until 1885. Thence returning 
to his farm, he occupied it until the spring of 1887, 
when he returned to the city and look up his abode 
where he now lives. 

The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss 
Maliuda Millican, and they were married at the 
home of the bride in Henry County, Ind., .Sept. 18, 
1845. Mrs. Hobson was born Se|)t. !l, 1821, in 
Grainger County, Tenn., and is the daughter of Al- 
exander and Klizabeth (Russell) Millican, natives 
of North Carolina, and the father a blacksmith b^' 
trade, in connection with which he aLso carried on 
farming. He spent his last years in Flat Rock, 
Ind., and lived to be nin(;ty-four 3'ears old, pass- 
ing aw.ay about 1882. The mother died about the 
year 1857. 

The parents of Mrs. Hobson had thirteen chil- 
dren, but ten of whom are living: Kdith, Mrs. 
Chenny ; John R. ; Hannah, Mrs. Koons; Foil}', Mrs. 
Iledrick; Malinda, Mrs. Hobson; Jane, Mrs. Bland; 
Matthew, David; Ksthcr, Mrs. Messick, and Keziah, 
Mrs. Allen. To our subject and his wife there 
have been born six children, of whom five are liv- 
ing: Minos R. married Miss Mary A. Iloilson, 
who is the mother of four children — Orlando, Kllis, 
Adella and William L; the}' reside in Kingman 
County. Sarah J., Mrs. Castellar, of Wichita, is 
the mother of three children — Frank, Kluia and 
Burt; Marcus F. married Luella McConnaughey, 
and they have four children — Robert, Nettie, Ber- 
tha and Edna; Eli T. is engaged in printing in 
WichiUi; Elizabeth, Mrs. Beauchamp, is the mother 
of two children — William B. and George; these 
last mentioned are residents of Wichita. 

Mr. Hobson, while a resident of Indiana, ollici- 
ated as Justice of the Peace, holding his position 



-•►-■-4» 



•►-•-4^ 



^-■^ 



I I I I 



vKDCW ICK COUNTY. 



iin.l.r <iuvs. Aslil.ol 1'. W illar.l hikI (i1i\.i V. 
MorUiii. After hwoiniii'; it residonl nf Kniisn.H, lie 
WHS ill IHHC i'leeU'<l to the sjiliie oHirc in Kiii^iiiiiii 
(.'otiiity. In IHOn Mr. mikI Mn«. Ilohsoii iiiiiUMl 
willi the C'hriittiiiii Cliiiivli. of wliicli they botli eoii- 
tiiiiie inciiil)cr.«. Otir i^iilijeet, wlieii :i yotiii;; iimn 
of twenty years. <K'oii|)ieil liiiiitielf four terms iis a 
lenelier in the |inlilic .••rhools of Ih-iiry County. 
I ml. lie is a ;;eiitleni:kn ot j^ood eilitenlion, and 
while a resident of Henry Coiinly settled up sev- 
eral laifje estates, one of these representiii}^ tCO.dOO 
worth of property. This l;itler had been in the 
eoiirt^s several years on aeeoiinl of the Miinders of 
iintriistworthy ollieials, luil .Mr. Ilobson w:uj fortu- 
nate in exlrif.'iliiiL: il from its entan;rleinent, to the 
jjreal salisf;ictiiiii of the hell's, lie has been pro- 
gressive and public spirited, srivin;; liberally to- 
ward the buililiii^ of the Christian rublishiiig House 
at Dayton, Ohio, and the I'liion Christian College, 
at .Marion, Sullivan Co., Ind. He voles with the 
liepulilieaii party. 



yj; _ K.NKV .\. V(»rN(;, residiii',' on scitioii 10, 
y l':iyne 'J'ownsliip, represents |>roperty to the 
amount of ICiO acres in the home farm and 
^^_^ eighty acres one-half mile distant, besides a 
half int<'rest in the town site of Greenwich. He is 
carrying on farming and stock-raising successfullj', 
and is yet in the prime of life, having been horn 
April •-'.'., IH.iT. 

Carson anil Anna ( Woldiich) Young, the parent-s 
of our .-ubject. were natives of Hanover, Clermany, 
and spent their entire lives near the place of their 
birth. The father was a lilacksmith by trade, which 
he followed many years, and their family consisted 
of eight children, of whom but four !u-e living, and 
only two, our subject and his brother, Carson H., 
ill the I'nited States. The l.-itter crossed the At- 
l.-iiilic in IHt;n, locating in Indiana, and April l.s, 
during the (list ye.ir of the war, enlisted in the 
lOlh Indiana Infantiy, ami served three years and 
nearly live mouths. 

.Vfter receiving his honorable discharge, in I86'4, 
Ml. ^'oiiiig .oiilimicd ill the elii|il.>y "f the (Jnv- 



eriiinent OS a caritcntj'r nine iiioiitli>at CliatUiiiooga. 
Tenn., then returning tt> Indiana he worked in 
La Fayette as a carpenter for a railroad compaiiN 
for a year and a half, then in Attien commenced 
learning the etMipcr's trade with a brotlier-iii-l:iw. 
They operated trigether three years, at the expira- 
tion of which time Mr. Young returned to (ler- 
maiiy on a visit to his olil friends. This ended he 
came back to America and homesteade<l his pres- 
ent farm, taking up his residence here in the fall 
of 1870. The whole is now enclosed with ginid 
fences, supplied with snbsUtntial buildings, with an 
orchard, and all other things necessary for the con- 
venience and coinfort of the |)roprieU»r. 

The wife of Mr. Young was formerly Miss Annie 
M. Kcinier, d:inglit«T of .John M. and Kebecca M. 
(Britka) Keiiiier, who were also natives of (Jer- 
maiiy and are now deceased. Their four children 
were named William, Anna M., Mary and .lohii. 
The two sons are in the Ciiited .States. Mrs. 
Young was born April 4, I His, and departed this 
life at her residence in I'ayne Township. Dec. 
8, 18H7. In this sad bereavement the husband and 
father received the sympathies of the entire com- 
munity. Mrs. Young w.-is a member in good sUind- 
ing of the Lutheran Church, and a lady greatly 
respected by all who knew her. The children born 
of this marriage were named respectively: I'etcr 
William, Anna M.. .Sophia, Henry Nichtils, Carson 
H., (1. C. M. I), and Lydia W. C. 

During his army life Mr. Young particij)ated in 
hard-fought battles, anil was wounded at Rich 
Mountain by a grape shot lircd from a cannon at 
short range through the woods. The shot struck 
his pocket-book, going directly through a plug ol 
navy tobacco, and tore his [Kicket-knife into frng- 
inciits. He was seriously disabled for some time 
and now receives a pension from the (Jovernment. 

— ^N •o*o-(^y^^^^^-o*o. -v-— 

JIOIIN li. SK.N IKK, of Cl.'arw.nler, w.us born 
in Crayson County, Va.. .luly I'O, 18l'.t. Hi- 
parents. Nathaniel M. and Margaret Senter. 
were also natives of the Did Dominion. His 
ancestors on both sides of the house were from 
Scdllaml. His p.'itcrnal gi:inilf:itli<'r, Dniry Sciiler, 



^^^^ 



t 



-^1l 



4 



SKDGWICK COUNTY. 



1 1 1 f) 



was a soldier in the War of 1812. Our subject 
spoilt Ills boj'liood ill A'irgini:i, remaining there un- 
til tiic spring of 1 SG7. He then came to Jolinson 
County, tiiis Stiite, and from there in ti;e si)ring of 
1808 to Clearwater, where he hiis since resided. 

Mr. Senter was one of the pioneer settlers of 
Johnson County, and there found the lady whom 
he afterward made his wife, namely', Miss Charity 
Grinsley, who was a native of one of the Carolinas, | 
and a daughter of Lowry and Katie Grinsley, now 
deceased. Of this union there have been born six 
children, namely: Andrew T. ; Charles, deceased; 
Mattic M., Samuel B., Clay R. and Frederick. 

Mr. Senter has been quite prominent in local 
affairs since coming to this county, and in the 
spring of 1887 was elected Police Judge of Clear- 
water for a term of one year. He is an intelligent 
and industrious citizen, in favor of everything cal- 
culated to improve the county and elevate society. 
He has a comfortable home and owns considerable 
town profjcrty in Clearwater, besides his farm of 
eightj' acres in Johnson County. His principal 
business is the breeding of line horses and mules, 
and he lakes pride in the fact that lie has some of 
the choicest animals in this part of the Slate. At 
the head of his stables is tiic pure-bred stallion, 
Arabian Tom, a vcr^' flue and valuable animal. 



J^[) AMF;s E. ash. There is probably no man 
in Grant Township wider or more favorably 
known than Jlr. Ash, who came to tiiis sec- 
') tion of country in the pioneer days, and is 
recognized as one of the important factors in its 
progress and development. A native of Adams 
County', Pa., he was born near the historic battle- 
field of Gettysburg, in 1832, and was the third child 
of John and Catherine (Black) Ash, also natives of 
the Keystone State. John Ash was a sturdy Penn- 
sylvania farmer, a man prominent in his day, and 
served as General in the State militia, having his 
headquarters at Gettysburg. He was killed when 
James E. of our sketch was a little lad six years of 
age. The latter was thus left wholly orphaned, his 
mother having died when he was two years old. 

<«• • — ^— " 



Our subject after the death of his parenUs was 
bound out to a farmer of his native county, with 
whom he remained until eighteen years of age. He 
had received a fair education in the district school, 
and now entered a silk-lace manufactory in (!cttys- 
burg, where he w.as eraplo^^ed for a period of four 
j'ears, and until 185.5. He then left his native 
State, and repaired to Guernse}' County, Ohio, where 
he was employed in a tannery, and in the meantime 
made the acquaintance of Miss Catherine L. Clark, 
of Cambridge, that count}', who became his bride 
on the 7th of June, 1858. 

Mrs. Ash was born in Ohio, and was the eldest 
child of her parents, Alexander and Mary Jane 
(Turnbull) Clark. They emigrated to Illinois in 
1865, locating at Charleston, Coles County, where 
the father died in June, 1870, and where the mother 
still resides. Mr. Ash after his marriage continued 
in the tannery business until the outbreak of the 
late Rebellion. He then laid .aside his personal 
plans and interests, and on the 7th of .September, 
18G1, enlisted in Comjiany B, 15th Ohio Infantiy, 
being mustered into the service at Cambridge. 

Mr. Ash participated with his regiment in man}- 
uf the important battles of the war — Niishville, 
Stone River, Shiloh, Franklin, Chiekamauga, Mission 
Ridge, Knoxville and Kennesaw Mountain — and 
met the enemy in various minor engagements and 
skirmishes. At Kennesaw Mountain two fingers of 
his left hand were carried away by a gunshot and 
the hand itself otherwise greatly injured. Subse- 
quently, at Stone River, he was injured in the eye. 
Soon after the surrender of the Confedenite forces 
his regiment was disbanded at Columbus, Ohio, 
where he received his honorable disch.arge on the 
2GtIi of December, 18G5. His army experience 
was similar to th.at of thousands, whose sufferings, 
d.angers and hardships have remained among the 
unwritten records which comprise so large a part of 
the life of the private soldier, who did his duty 
faithfully and w.is content with the consciousness 
of this as his reward. 

Mr. Ash, after haying a^ide the accoulienients of 
war, returned to his old haunts in Cambridge, Ohio, 
where he resided until crossing the Father of 
Waters, and deciding to make his future home in 
Kansas. He came to this county in the spring of 
-•►- 



I 



1^ ' III) 



•►■ -4* 



SEDGWICK Cdi N n 



|ih7I, ami li<iiiu>.«U'iiilf<| 10(1 ai-res on sortion |0, in 
Cnint 'l'iiwik.tlii|i, which un<U-r his nianipiiliitinii 
now for u iktiimI of .tcvonUH-n years, lioars n|Hin 
the fart' of it Iho cviilrnco of (KTScvt-nincr anil 
industry. The Inml was liul liltli" rcniovetl from 
its priniitivc condition, ami the lirsl Ixisiness of the 
cntorprisinn "Ohio man" was to put up a small 
house for the shelter of hi.s family. Hi;, wife as- 
sisle<l him in tpiarryin^' the stone for their well, 
whieii was alioul seven Jinil one-half feet deep. 
They thu> pulled to<;ether, and in ilue time lie;ran 
U> realize thai their !:il>ors were not to lie in vain. 
A jKirl of the pre.-eiil eonimodious and tiLslefiil resi- 
dence was put up in l.ssi), and to it wius added the 
lar<;er portion of the .-trui-ture six years lali-r, in 
IH.st;. There is a line oreiiard of choice apple trees, 
while the liner fruit .auil shade trees yield .aliund- 
anlly of their fruits au<l also serve to embellish 
the homestead. A •j;ood liarn and the other out- 
liuildinifs required for the shelter of stock .and the 
storinj; of ^nain, form an appropriate l>aek;rround 
to the dwellinj,', which, with its appurtenances, pre- 
sent one of the most attractive spots in the iand- 
»cji|)e of this section. 

Mr. Ash was fortunate in securing a tract of land 
of remarkalile fertility, which in its present hi<rh 
sUite of cultivation, yields in ahuntlancc the choic- 
est products of Soulliern K:ins!w. In the summer 
time es|H'cially the wide fields, with their herds of 
hi;;li-j,'rade Durham and llolsteiii cattle, form a most 
<leli;,'litful picture to conteinplale. The other farm 
animals are well cared for and of excellent lireeds, 
and lioth Ji-s an a^friculturisl and stock-raiser, Mr. 
Ash enjoys an eiivialtle reputntion along the north- 
ern line of .Sedgwick County. lie is recogni/cd sis 
pulilic-spirited ami liberal, and one of the foremost 
men in t-ncournging the enterprises calculated to 
increiuse the po|)ularily of his county. 

The hoUM-hold of our sulijecl and hi> wife wa.H 
completed by the birth of eleven children, of whom 
ti'ii are living, nainely : Mary (.'atlierine, .Sarah 
KIma, Harry (!nint. .Margaret .leaiiette, Norvella, 
Daisy !■'., Ma, C'iiarle,-. Jessie and Willie. .lames 
Alex.'iniler died at the age of sixteen months. Mr. 
Ash assisted in the orgaiiizalion of the school dis- 
Iric-ts of liitt township, but tjike.s very little inltMCst 
ill jHtlitical matters otherwise than to vote the 



stniight Kepublican ticket, lie is not identitled 
with any n-ligioiis organirjition, but his i-stimuble 
wife is n member in gixxl sUnnding of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

ifr^' "'•'^" •'• ""•^''^'•- •' "f H'l' moiieye.l men 

JS of .Sedgwick County, is a forcible illiistnition 
jIL-if of the results of industry and |)ei>ever!ince. 
Ills pro|>erty schedules probably over |.'JOO,(I()(». 
and he is one of the exlensivo breeders of cattle 
and hogs in Wichita Township. Mis farm com- 
prises .'110 acres, (inely located on section I. and is 
valued at ^l.flOO per acre. 

.Mr. Dr.-ike landed in the .suitc of Kansas on the 
Oth of April, IHT'.t, with his family and ♦l'h in 
c:isli. lie paid a month's rent in advance .ami 
then had left *2.7(i. His next business wius to 
secure employment, and he accepted a |H>silion as 
clerk in tlii' dry-goods store of llcorge .Myers, at 
Wichit.a, for the muniticent salary of ^ 10 |ier month, 
lie leiuaineil with his first employer eight months, 
and then changed to the firm of Inness it Koss. 
with whom he remained six nionth.s. He w.-is next 
with (1. Y. .Smith, of Kansas City, and remained 
in WicliiUi Township and secured possession of the 
laud which he now owns; he also owned at one 
time the ground where the Citizen's liaiik and 
the Klephant Livery SUible stand. 

Our subject, a native of the Knipire .SUile, was 
born in OnU-irio County, .Inly I, DSji!. Ills parents. 
Carlton N. and .lulia A. (Freer) Drake, were na- 
tives also of New York SUitc. The father, born 
on the aoth of .March, IXW, is still living, and a 
resilient of Caledonia, N. Y., where he continues 
to carry on his business of carriage maniif.-ictnrer. 
lie is the possessor of a good property, a member 
of the Methodist Kpiscofial Church, and of the 
Masonic fraternity. The mother wa,s born in I'eo- 
ria. 111., Oct. 23, 1833, and died in New York 
suite in I«(i7. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject, .lohii 
and .Mary Freer, were early settlers of I'eoria 
County, where the former is still living, lie was 
born May I C, I . so?, and his wife .Inly 31, IMIO. 
They were married .March 27, 182G. Orandniotlier 



•►■-^ 



Hh-^ 




SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1117 " 



I 



Freer died in 1876, at her home in East Bloonifleld. 
N. Y., when sixt3'-six j'c.irs of :igc. They were the 
parents of three chihlren, one of whom, a son, was 
burned to death when five years of age, during one 
of the prairie fires of the early times. Tiie t)ther 
two were William A., living in New York St^ile, 
and Julia A., who is deceased. 

Mr. Drake was one of the two sons born to 
his parents, and which completed the household 
circle. I lis brother, Clarence B., is a resident of 
Wichita. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth 
in his native countj', and in 1878 migrated to 
Richmond, Ind., where, on the 24th of October, 
1878, he wiis united in marriage with Miss Olivia 
8., daughter of Stephen C. and Ii;ichel A. (Johnson) 
Mendenhall, who were natives respeetivel}' of Wayne 
County, Ind., and I'aintersville, Greene Co., Ohio. 
Mrs. Drake was also born in Wayne County, Ind., 
at the town of Richmond, June 6, 1859, and was 
educated at the Friends' Boarding-School, at Provi- 
dence, R. I., the school her mother attended. Of 
her union with our subject there were five children, 
namely: Carlton 8., who died in childhood; Reu- 
ben, Edgar J., Jr.; Daisy, who died in infancy, 
and Lee W. Mrs. Drake was reared in the Society 
of Friends, to the faith of which she still loyally 
adheres. Mr. Dralve is not connected with any 
religious denomination, but politically, alliliatcs with 
the Democratic party. 

Stephen C. Mendenhall, the father of Mrs. Drake, 
w:is born at Washington, Ind., Nov. 25, 1828, and 
departed this life Nov. 3, 1887, in a private ward 
of a Cincinnati hospital, where he was provided with 
the most skillful surgeons and attendants which 
money could procure. He was the eldest child of 
James and Milicent Mendeuh:ill, who for more than 
sixty years traveled together the journey of life, 
and whose pure and simple character gained for 
them the deepest respect of all who knew them. 
They survive their gifted son, and are still residents 
of Richmond, Ind. 

Mr. Mendenhall was the eldest of eight childi'en, 
two brothers anil five sisters, all of whom survive 
with the exception of one sister, Mrs. Susiui Howell, 
who passed to her reward in August, 1879. Stei)hen 
C. at an early age wjis recognized as an unusually 
bright and thoughtful bo^', and was one of the first 



students of Earlhaiii C'olkge. In order to enter 
this institution of learning he followed the tanner's 
trade, and also cut wood on the ground in front of 
the college to assist in paying his expenses, lie 
developed as a teacher subsequently and also as an 
inventor, and engaged in the business of making 
and selling articles of various kinds u|)on which he 
had secured a patent. Of these it is probable that 
he took out more than 100. In this direction lay 
most of his success in life, as when he attempted 
other things the results were far less satisfactory. 
Mr. Mendenhall was first married in 18i>4, to 
Miss Rjichcl Johnson, the mother of Mi-s. Drake, 
and to them were born two sons and three daugh- 
ters, all surviving with the exception of one son 
who died in early childhood. Mrs. Rachel Men- 
denhall departed this life Feb. 17, 187G, after a 
lingering illness, in the triumphs of a Christian faith. 
Mr. Mendenhall, in the year 1878, was married 
to Miss Alice A. Vining, of LaPorte, Ind. In 
the varied experiences of a changeful life, Mr. 
Mendenhall nobly maintained the character of a 
true Christian, and was a devoted adherent of the 
Church of his fatliei-s — tlic Society of Friends. 
He, however, always manifested a spirit of liber- 
ality to other denominations, and took a very 
active i)art in the erection of the South Eighth 
Street Friends' Church, and in the revival of 1809 
was an active worker. He was charitable and gen- 
erous, and in time of misfortune exhibited the true 
Christian spirit of patience and resignation. By 
the people who knew him best he w:is held in the 
warmest regard, and in his death the community 
lost one of its most valued and useful members. 



^... R. IIOWE. The business house of this 
( W/uW gentleman at Bayneville, where he is carry- 
ing on general merchandising, occui)ies an 
area of about 00x2 I feet, and in which he 
carries a full stock of the articles required in the 
country or vill.age household. He esUiblished here 
in the fall of 1884, and does an annual business of 
about ^.s.OOO. He also has charge of the post- ^ 
olHce, receiving his appointment as Postmaster in T 



-•► 






I 1 !•> 



SEDGWICK COUNT V 



I ^<^•'>, aiiil < >llk-iitt«-.>> iu« ni^ciil fur llii> conl nnii of 
l'i>|ike.v< A Diirkve, of Ft. S-otl, wliu cnrry "ii an 
cxti-iisivo l>ii»iiie!M. 

Mr. Ilowc was hum in Oiu-iilii I'oiiiil.v. N. Y., 
Ill ( )ut<>ljfr, IHII, mil) wlii'ii alxiiil twi-lvr vt-.-irs <>f 
tifH' reiimvcil willi lii.s fnlliur, Im \ . Iluwi', i<» L.n- 
.•villc Coiiiily, III., wbtTi- III- w:m ri-ureil to iimn's 
0!«tntt'. There also he wa-s innrried. Deo. I'.'i. \s~->, 
to Mis.s .Ictinle Diiiiiiovan, who htus home him three 
i-hihlreii: Mahel A., horn .Inly 1 H. 187.1; Ueim N., 
Oct. .SO, 1H77; mill Cliiniiie A., May I"', l»KI. 

Our .Hiihjei'l ill his yoiilli received hut a com- 
luoii-sehool eilucation, anil hceaiiie fiiiiiiliar with 
fanning piirsiiiUi. In the fail of I .s,S | he came to 
Kansns, anil the year followiii;jr c.<ilahli»lie<l in his 
[ircMMit liiisincK-. from which lie enjoys a comfort- 
alile iiicoiiie. lie also owns a ^ooil farm of IGO 
acres, on M>ctioii 4, in Ohio Township, and is one 
of the self-inailc men in this re^fioii, who li}' their 
own exertions have atUiineil to a fjfood position, 
socially and flnaiicially. lie votes the slrai<,'ht 
Kepiililic-in ticket, and while a resident of Illinois 
hell! the various local ollices. 



I' ICII L. HOLLAND, a jjeneral farmer and 
jrjV! stock-raiser, of Oardcn I'laiii Township, and 
K^J^ l<K'!ited on section Kj, w.is horn in (.'ockc 
^) County, Tenn., Dec. 12, IW.Jt, and is the 
son of .lames C. and Margaret (Kiinyan) Holland, 
the former horn in N'irginia, May 20, 17!) I, and the 
latter ill .Sevier County, Tenn., Nov. 24, 1790. 

Tin- father of our siihject served .-us a private in 
Col. Sam Hiinder's regiment in the War of l.s|2. 
and on .•iccoiiiit of his gallant .services received a 
pension afterward of %'M') per year. The pareiiLs 
»»ere married in Tennessee, Oct. I C, I Mil, tlie 
nioiher heing then hut lifteen years of age. They 
had a f.-iinily of thirteen children, twelve of whom 
grew to mature years, hut only three are now liv- 
ing: .Mary married (ieorge \V. Khhs, anil died 
leaving a f:iiiiily of children; Wesley died in iii. 
fancy; Frances .S. married William Sm.art. and hotli 
are now deeca.sed, togt tlier with their children; 
■lolin -urved under (len. Taylor in the Mexican 
War. w.is marrierl, and al.so dieil, leaving children; 



Klizaheth died in infancy; .lane married John M. 
liiirnelt, ami is the mother of s«'ven chihlren; they 
live ill Clay County, Mo. Aaron served in the 
Confedenitc army, and died leaving five children: 
Dehorah, .Mrs. .S|»encer Faiihion, died leaving no 
children; Hugh L.. of our sketch, wa« the next in 
order of hirth; Margaret hecaine the second wife 
of S|K'ncer Faiihioii, and died leaving three chil- 
dren; .lames K. I'olk served in the Confederate 
army, and is now living in Clay County. Mo.; 
Kstlier Ann died when eighteen years old, ami 
Kinma at fifteen. The |iarents arc still living, and 
residents of Clay County, Mo. 

The father of our siihjcct serveil .-us .liisticc of 
the IVjice in Tennessee for a Ion;; term of years, 
and during the lime his county was greatly in deht, 
he was clectcti County Judge, and served without 
any salary, in order to assist in the liquidation of 
this delit, paying his own ex|)«-nscs hesides. He 
was Class-Leader in the .Methodist Hpiscopal Church 
for a |icriod of fort}' years. 

Our siihject was reared on the fariii. receiving a 
very limited education until after his father moved 
to Missouri, which was in IH,')4, and when Hugh L. 
was twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He 
then attended school a term or two, and hy improv- 
ing his leisure time in reading has manageil to pick 
up consideiiihlc knowledge. Soon after the otit- 
hreak of the Rehellion he enlisted in the 1st Mis- 
souri Cavalry, C. S. A., and served until the close 
of the war, participating in the hatlles of Oak Hill, 
Carthage, Champion Hill and ISig lilaek liiver. 
At the latter place he was hit seven times hy halls 
from the enemy, three of which wounded him seri- 
ously, one going through his shoulder hiade. He 
was not entirely disahled, however. Init livecl to go 
through the Atlanta canipaign. 

While the war was in progress .Mr. Holl:ind wius 
married to Mrs. Judith (Wise) llolliday, a disUint 
connection of CJov. Wise, of Virginia. Of this 
union there are now four children living, namelj' : 
James I'olk, Helen M., Margaret, .Mrs. Frank Wil- 
hiir. and Fr.'ink T. All are living in WichitJi. The 
wife and mother died .Se|it. 22, |X70, in Hinds 
County, Miss., where they had met, and where they 
lived after the close of the war. 

Mr. lloll;iiid contnicled a secoinl marriage, Oct. J, 



•►^^-^i- 



■*>-■ ■<• 






4 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



111!) ' ' 



1872, with Miss Cora Wise, a sister of his first wife. 
They were daughters of Weldoii and Edna (Wise) 
Wise, both natives of Georgia, the fatiicr horn 
Oct. 2C, 1804, and the mother in April, 1808. The 
former was a Captain of militia. Mrs. Cora Iluilnnd 
w.a:- born in Hinds County, i\Iis,s., Jan. 21, 18-1(!, 
and was the tentii in a family' of twelve children. 

Mr. Holland after the death of his first wife took 
up his residence in Missouri upon land which he 
had purch.ased as early as 18.57. He was a resident 
of Kansjis during the border war, owning land 
there also. In the battle of Dry Wood he was 
t.aken prisoner, and held about six weeks, when lie 
bribed the sentinel and gotawsi^-. After his second 
marriage he lived in Clay County, Mo., until 1879, 
when he moved to his present home, buying IGO 
acres of school land. Upon this he has erected a 
commodious frame dwelling, and has brought his 
land to a line sUite of cultivation. Of his second 
m.arriage there have been born seven children, 
namely : Louis P., Hugh P., Tilden L., Elna, Maude, 
Clarence and Cora H. Maude died in November, 
1882, when about six months old, and Clarence 
also died in infanc3' the following j-ear. 

Mr. Holland votes the straight Democratic ticket, 
but has never been an otiice-soeker, preferring to 
give his time and attention to his personal affairs. 
His estimable wife is a member in good standing 
of the Baptist Church. 



4 



U. PETEU A. LOCKE, late a resident of 
Ninnescah Township, and who departed 
this life Feb. 2. 1887, at his home in Clear- 
water, was a native of Alabama, and born 
Dec. IG, 1844. His parents were John and Mar- 
garet Locke, the latter of whom died when he was 
a child two years of age. Ten years later he was 
also deprived by death of his remaining parent, and 
w.as then taken into the home of his paternal uncle, 
Samuel Locke, of Schuyler County, III., where he 
was reared to mauho(jd and to whom he became 
deepi}' attached. 

Dr. Locke w.as a man of fine education and of 
more than ordinar}' abilitj'. During the late war 
he enlisted from Schuyler County, 111., in the 16th 

mt 



Infantry, of which he became First Lieutcnniit, 
and in less than a year received the position of 
Colonel on account of meritorious conduct on the 
field. Holding this rank he .served with distinction 
during the remainder of the war, particijjating in 
many of its important battles. At Gettysburg his 
left arm was shattered Ijy a musket ball, an<I he was 
confined in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn,, for a 
period of five months. Upon recovering sulli- 
ciently for duty he rejoined his regiment, .again 
Uiking the field, and was captured by the Confed- 
erates, but after a short time jiaroled and duly 
exchanged. 

Previous to entering the army. Col. l^ocke had 
si)ent several months studying medicine, and now 
entered upon a course of lectures in the St. Louis 
Medical College. Subsequently he became a stu- 
dent of Rush College. Chicago, from which he was 
graduated with honors. He commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession at Rixville, Ohio, but a short 
time later came westward toward Oquawka, 111., 
where he practiced four years, then crossing the 
Mississippi located at Silver Creek, Col. A few 
years later he removed to Ford Countj', this .State, 
but shortlj' after taking up his residence in the lat- 
ter place there began to develop the germs of 
thedise.nse which he had contracted in the army, and 
which was finall3' the cause of his death. This 
assumed the form of consumption, and after linger- 
ing several months he passeil peacefully aw.a^-. 

As a practitioner Dr. Locke had been very suc- 
cessful and was an exceptionally fine surgeon. He 
filled one term in the Chair of Surgery in the .Medi- 
cal College at Joplin, Mo., but resigned his profes- 
sorship on account of failing health. He w.as a great 
reader and possessed a retentive memor}-, and as a 
physician and friend enjoyed the unbounded confi- 
dence of all who knew him. 

Dr. Locke was first married, March .">, IS(',4, to 
Miss Tillie K. Kelley, who bore him two sons — Eniri 
K., now deceased, and Ilinman A. He contiacted 
a second marri.age, Aug. 4, 1871, with Miss Nir:i 
O. Elliott, a native of Ohio, and the daughter nf 
.lames C. and Elizabeth Elliott, of this county. 
He was a member in good standing of the Pres- 
byterian Church and active in the G. A. R., and 
w.os also identified with the I. O. O. F., and with 

■ » 



1 I -.'U 



«KI)(;\\ K K ( HI M V 



tlif liuii<in> iif till' liittrr iiriliT tvn.'> Inid to his 
liiml n>!«t. riiliticnilv, lic< n':k<i a l)ciiiui-ntt, luit lit) 
olllrc-so«'kiT. itn'fcirinjf U> }{ivi' lii.i :ilU-iiti<iii in Win 
lirofo.vtioiml ilnlic.H. In tliJ!* In- UHik n ;{ciiiiiiie and 
ili'Viitril inlorol, iiiiikiii^ nittiiilv uf the ills In wliich 
liiiiimii tlcsli is lii-ir to, nml w.ls mie of the- iiio^l 
(■»|Kilili> itml c'oiiM-iiMitiutis iiicii ill liis |iriifc.H.Hi)iii. 
As :i fnllu-r and liiinliniid he \v:ui all lliul could Ito 
dcsirid, and (v\\ men [n issf>sfd llu- fi'ii-iidslii|) of llio ^ 
iMiiiiiniiiiily to a larfiLT <K'^'iei'. lie li-fl liis widow I 
ill coiiifortable c-iR-iiinsl:iiii-c-s, wilU a plc-u^ant lioinc 
ill ('olihvaUT. Slio is a lady gn-atly rt'siioclcd and 
a iiifinl>iT of llie rri'sliyU'riaii Cliiircli. 

^(1 i»II.I.IA.M ll,()(t|), a nkihIkt of llu- faiiii- 
iii^ c-oiniiiiiiiily of Altim Towiislii|i, is 
!ix-aU'd on set-lion PI, wlii-ii- In- folKiws 
ayrit'iilluio aii<l sUK'k-iaisiny. and oiijoys a coiiiforl- 
alili- incoiiR-. Ills liirlliplai'o was near llie cily of 
K.Hliesl.r, N. Y.. llif dale lliereof Oct. 2 I, iy;')3, 
and lii.-» |«:ii'eiils were .lolin and Anna ('l"ierney ) 
Floo<l. 

.I(*lin Flood was l>orn in l%n;:land. April 2."). 1 .S2 I. 
Tile inullicr was a iialive of Ireland, and wsis 
liroiiglil to this eounlry hy an elder sister when u 
link' fjirl. The father of onr suhjcct seltled (irst 
ill Canada, lie had Iteen a soldier of the llrilish 
regular army liefore crossing the Allanlie. Upon 
leaving the Doiiiinioii he look up his aliode in New 
York t'ily, where he was niarrieil.and workecl a few 
year> for the nursery linn of Kllwanger it IJarry, 
where he learned llie seeret of sucecssful gardening, 
and llnally jiiireh.-ueil a piece of ground near Hoch- 
cslcr, where he proseeiilcd this calling a iiiniibcruf 
years. 

There were horn to llie parental household eleven 
children, three of tliein in New Yi>rk City, and one 
in Iowa, Ui which |i|ncc the parents removed when 
William, onr siiliject, was a mere child. The others 
were horn in Illinois, to which Stjite the family 
removed in 1 M.'iM. The eldest, .lolin \V., is a grain 
dealer, and with another hrother, .lames C, is a 
resident of ( Hiddard ; Mary Ann died when three 
years old; Henry lives in Oregon; S.ar.ah, Mrs. 



Williams, is a resident of (iiMldard, ami the mother 
of two children; Kmiiia, Mrs. .lohn .McAllister, 
lives in (iardeii Plain Township, and has three 
childri'ii; <!eorge died when two years of age; 
Annie and .Maggie are with their parents, who are 
now residents of Waco Town.iliip. 

.lohn FhMid came to Kansas in IK7,'t, when Will- 
i:iiii, onr sniijecl, was a voting man twenty yeai-s 
old. The latter attended scIiim>I in NN'icliiUi when 
it wiLs a cily of .-ihoiit .')()<) inhahiUints, an<l w:us 
considered fully (pialilieil for teaching, although he 
did not choM- to follow thi.s profession. When ready 
to esU'ililish a home <if his own, he was iiiarrieil, 
Oct. 10. 1H7H, to .Miss Temiicrance McKly.-i, who 
was horn ill M:issae County, III., Dee. 15, !«.')5. 
Of this union there were horn three children: Kloii.a 
K.. .Inly It, IST'J; Willi.am Roger, March 31, I SHI ; 
and I'aul, .lime 1. ISH."i. The latter died at the age 
of eighteen months. 

William Flood, in I.S7 I, secured a tract of land 
on the norllieasl cpiarter of section N, in Allien 
Township, which he occupied until |k7'.), then 
moved to his |)resent farm, which was given to his 
wife hy her father. Here, in addition to general 
agriculture, he makes a specialty of fine stock, 
including llioroiighlired llolsteiii and Short-horn 
cattle, rcgistereil .■iniiiiais. He at one lime kept 
registered roland-ChiiKi swine, .'ind yet has a pure 
strain of stock hogs. 

Mr. Flood, politically, is :\ sound DcinocTat, al- 
though lilieral in his i<lc!is, hut li.ns steadily declined 
becoming an ollice-holder. In religious malt<M-s he 
belongs to the Baptist Church, at (ioddanl, of 
which he i.> Clerk, and is a strong teniiMjnince man, 
warmly interested in the success of the movement. 

vij=^i DWAKI) W. I?l-:i;i)LK, t.f the linn of Kich- 
l-«j hoitz, lleeille A- .lelTrie.s is with his p;irtiiers 
j h-^ / engaged in the coal trade at Wichita, deal- 
ing in all kimls of this commodity and enjoying 
a liberal patronage. His business olllce is located 
at the cornel of Kock Island avenue and Decatur 
street, and his residence is at No. 229 North 
Fourth .aveiiue. 

Onr subject w;is boi ii in Darke County, Ohio, 



•►Hh-^^ 



•^-9 -4« 






SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



■» I I 

1121 '' 



Jan. 20, 1 852, and is the son of Isaac N. and Mar- 
garet (Dean) Beedle, who were also natives of 
the Buckeye State. Isaac Bcedle was horn Sept. 
23, 1821, and departed this life Jan. 6, 1872. He 
was a dealer in hardware, and also connected with 
the Ohio Ligiitning Hod Company for many years. 
'I'iie motlier was born Oct. 22, 1822, is still living 
and in good liealth 

Young Beedle continued with his parcnls until 
about eighteen years of iige, then starting out for 
himself made his way to Ciiicago, III., and beciiuie 
freight agent of the Micliigan Central Railroad. 
This position he occupied several years, and later 
was chief clerk seven times for tiie Southwestern Rail- 
road Associ.ation. Upon coming to Wichita he took 
charge of the freight and passenger department of 
the Rock Island Road at this point, in which capac- 
ity he served creditably. The firm of KIchhoitz, 
Beedle & Jeffries stand at the head of the coal 
trade in Wiciiit:i, doing probabl3' four times tlie 
business of anj- otiier firm in the cit}' in tiiis line. 
In due time their iieadquarters will be at the Man- 
hattan Hotel, .at the corner of Douglas and Topeka 
avenues. 

The marriage of our suliject witii Miss F.-mny 
Closs took place on the 9th of April, 1880. Mrs. 
Beedle was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 12, 1854, 
and is now the mother of two children living — 
Fanny M. and Edna M. Edwin, the onh- son of 
Mr. and Mrs. Beedle, died in infancy in Chicago. 
Mr. B.. politically, is a Republican, dycd-in-the- 
wool, and religious!}', a mend)er of the Episcopal 
Church. 



^^ARST, ERASER & GAR.ST. The Wiciiita 
[I j (=- Steam Laundry was established in 188;') by 
^^fi Mr. Garst, who invested in the project about 
125,000. It is located on West Douglas avenue, 
and is finely- equipped with the latest improved 
machinery for conducting this industry after the 
best methods. Thej' have five steam hydraulic 
washing cylinders in which the clothes are first 
cleansed, a machine for starching, and a comnifidi- 
ous drying-room with sliding dooi-s. A fift^- -horse- 
power lioiler furnishes the steam and runs the 
machinery. The wringing and ironing are also done 
by machinery. They have a mangle for hotel sup- 



plies, sheets, towels, etc., and the whole business is 
superintended by a skillful foreman who has had 
an experience of fifteen j-ears, and is consiilered 
one of the best of his kind hi the country. Dur- 
ing the busy season they give emploj-ment to about 
thirty persons, and ordinarily emphj^- about tiventj-. 
They turn out about 1,000 shirts per week, besides 
tHonsands of other pieces, and do the largest busi- 
ness in their line of any establishment of the kind 
in the city. 

The patronage of this house, it is hardly neces- 
sary to say, has been built up by the promptness 
and reliabilitj' of the firm, who are straightforward 
business men, and conduct this very important in- 
dustry in the best possible manner. They have as 
competitors about fifty Chinese laundries in the 
city, and do at least half of the work done here. 
The goods come from this establishment thoroughly 
cleansed, and the starched .articles highly polished 
in the best st^'le of the art. There is no doubt but 
tiiat this is the best equipped and largest steam 
laundr}- in the State of Kansas, and in its workings 
amply illustrates the axiom that whatever is worth 
doing at all is worth doing well. 



L^ IN I. IIOBBS, A. M.. LL. I)., Dean of 
ful l Iho. School of Theology and Professor of 
Systematic Theology and Ilomiletics in 
(iarfield University, at Wichita, was born at 
Cro,«s Plains, Rii)ley Co., Ind., March 1.3, 1834. His 
l)arents were Abner and Electa A. (Lathrop) Hobbs. 
His father was a blacksmith by trade, which he fol- 
lowed until about forty years of age. He removed 
from Ripley County to Greensburg, and later to 
Indianapolis, where his death occurred in \W4. 
The wife and mother died in Iowa in 1 871, and her 
remains were taken to Greensburg, Ind., for burial. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject, James 
Hobbs by name, was a native of \'irginia, a hatter 
bj- trade, and served as a soldier in the War of 1 81 2. 
His last years were spent in Columbus, Ind., where 
he died. On the mother's side the grandfather of 
our subject w.ns Rev. Levi Lathrop, and the grand- 
mother in her maidenhood, Miss Delia Ingalls. 
The}' were both natives of Canada, whence the}' 
removed to \'ermoiit during the War of 1812. 



•>-Hr-^^ 



•► ■ -4^ 



a 



SKDCWrCK COUNTY 



Lnlt-r iht-y iiiii^ntleil to C'r(>&.H I'laiitii, Ind., where 
lliey »\)fnl the rcmitiiidcr uf their lives. Aimer 
lliililiH «vii.t a piililie-Apiritod iiiiiii, nml iliiriii^' the 
latter itart of lii-i life cn^nged in the real estate 
llll^ilH>^.H. mill »ilh lii» cslininlile «vife lieloiij,'eil to the 
C'hri^tintl C'luireh. The latter wjls the lir>l |«'n>oii 
lia|iti/.cil in Ihnt ehnn-h in all SoutheiLstern ImliaiiM. 
'I'hoy were the jiarents ot seven chililren, five of 
whuni are now livin;;, namely: I'rof. Alvin 1., our 
subject; Delia, the wife of Dr. .1. \V. Cure, of Mar- 
tin.sville, Ind.;.!. W., of De.s Moines, Iowa; Indiana, 
Mr>. Itutler, of Indian:i|>oli.<, Iml., .'ind I'ro.sper 1'.. of 
.Minnea|M>lis, Minn. 

The sulijeel of this sketch when a boy .assisted 
hi.s fatlivr in the lilaeksniitli-sho|), liiit not heinjj^ 
roliu.sl, >oii<rht the lighter work of a |>rintin<.'-otlice, 
Ke<-uriiig a )>osition with the Decatur licjuiblii-nn. 
Later he wa.s apprenticed to the editors of the fliris- 
liaii llecitrd, then ]>ul)lislied at HIooniinj,'ton, to learn 
the art, Imt after two years his father purchased his 
unexpired time and he returned home and attended 
school two years. When eighteen years old he 
l»e}jnn business for himself in the mercantile line, 
but in IX.'iS he abandoned business pursuits and 
devoted himself entirelj' to the ministry. It had 
been his cherished ambition since a lad of twelve 
years to lieconiea preacher. On the third Lord's D.iy 
of Ma}-, Ix.iO, after having preached occasionally 
for two years, he wa.s ordained a minister by the 
church at fireensburg, Ind., having been a member 
<if that congregation since thirteen years of age, and 
two years later entered what is now liutler I'ni- 
vcrsity, preaching .Sjilurdays and Sundays fordifler- 
ent churches, and was graduated in .June, IHCi, 
with the highest honors of his class. During the 
early [Kirt of that year he took up his abode in 
Kichmond, Ind., where he labored in the ministry 
until August, when he wa-s elected Chaplain of 
the (j'.ttli Indiana Regiment, receiving his commis- 
sion from (mjv. Oliver 1'. Morton Aug. 20, IHIIi. 
Ilg remained with the regiment until it wa.s stJitioned 
in front of N'icksburg, the following spring, when 
he was stricken down with a disease which menaced 
his life for three years thereafter. Snlisequently he 
j)reaclK-d for a year at Kokomo, Ind., and w.-is then 
])revailed upon U> become Financial Agent of Hut- 
ler liiivcmily. Not being contented out of his 



regular work he accepted n call l«> become past<irof 
the Christian Church at Detroit, .Mi«'h. After one 
year's labor there he was prevaile<l n|»on to lake 
charge of the church at Des .Moines, Iowa, where h<' 
labored pros|>erously for ajK'riod of four years, lb- 
was next called to the |jnstorate of the .'^ixth Street 
Christian Church at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in |m7.'> 
removed to Itlooniington, III., where he remained 
four years, when he returned to the church in Cin- 
cinnati. Ilis ne.\t charge wius at Louisville, Ky., 
where he labore<| until in August, 1HK7, an<l then 
nceeptetl his present |H>sition with (iarlh'lil I'ni- 
versity, and is |>iistor of the Central Christian 
Church, of Wichita. 

During the ministrations of Prof. Hobbs not less 
than 3,000 jtersons have been added to the different 
Congregations under his charge. lie is a ni:tn of 
great perseverance and industry, and in his present 
responsible |x>sition is acquitting himself with the 
same fidelity to duty an<l the clear judgment and 
tem|)erance of action which have been one of his 
distinguishing characteristics. As a man he is can- 
did, courteous and outspoken, and as a speaker 
is fluent, earnest, and occasionally strongly emo- 
tional, an<I is in fact one of the great pulpit orators 
of the day. 

The niarri.-ige of our subject with Miss linchel 
Logan t(Kik place Dec. 5, 18.')2. Their living chil- 
dren are: M. Alice, now .Mrs. Rev. (J. H. I'erk, of 
Wichita; Stella, the wife of Dr. Samuel Ayres, of 
Great Rend, and Ncsta. One little daughter, 
Susan K., died in early iiifanc}', and a son, Walters., 
at the age of eighteen months. 






'\|p> K. liU( )WN, a large real-est.ite owner, an<l 
IL^Z dealer in furniture, stoves, jewelrj-, watches, 
JirK\]|- etc., at Wichita, occupies Nos. 2115 and 21;"> 
^^^- lOast Douglas avenue. lie was born in Mil- 
waukee, Wis., in 181.">, whence he removed with 
his parents to Fond du Lac while still a child. 
He acquired a common-school edncati<.)n, and when 
a young man read law three ye.ni-s, having in view 
the legal profession as a calling. 

In the fall of lSGG,and u|xjn rciiching his ni.'ijnr- 



•► m-4^ 



•♦-B^^- 



SEDGWICK COUNTY. 



1123 ' 



ity, Mr. Brown made his way to Oniaha, Neb., 
where lie became agent in a railroad oHice, and w.as 
subsequently prominent in local affairs. He was 
finally elected Probate .ludgc, of which ofllec he 
was the incumbent a number of j'eai-s. Upon com- 
ing to Wichita, in 1872, he embarked in the grocery, 
flour and feed business, and later wiis an auctioneer. 
His next venture was his present business, in which 
he hiis built up a lucrative trade. 

Mr. Brown, politically-, is a solid Democrat, and 
has been quite prominent in his party in this sec- 
tion. He was Chairman of the Democratic Central 



Committee three yeara. He has been for the same 
length of time Alderman from his w.ird, and in 
the Citj' Council exerts considerable influence in 
municipal affairs. Socially, he belongs to the Knights 
of Pythi.as and the Knights of Honor. He repre- 
sents property to the value of i!!l7.'i,000 in real 
estate, the greater part of which ho h.is accumu- 
lated through his own industry and good manage- 
ment. 

The wife of oin- subject w.as formerly Miss Kate 
McCormick, and they are the parents of four chil- 
dren — Mettie, C'liloo, Fnuik and Foy. 




•► ■ -4^ 




AUlc. ► . W 6iu 

A.lafn<,Kr:i<n>ii« l> 8.>> 

Ail.tm.,11. W joJ 

A,l.n..,John ,3 

A<l;iini, John <.> jg 

Adain«, |oK|ih 90S 

\\\tr. Henry A 841 

AlbrrlMn. W. R B94 

Allen. Charin H 763 

Allen. I>. R 7ii 

Allen, J. r n6 

Allen, R. J IOI4 

Alley, Itaviil 7ao 

Alli.lon, Mr> Sarah 456 

An.lcr.on, l.oren.o «ii 

Anthony, lleorge T 135 

Arcy, W. A 813 

Arlh.ir. Che.ler A oq 

A.h. J. K. 

Aiil.l, A. M 

Auli, I. I 

Ayre.. fr U ,, 

Ayrr,, \V W 5,4 



llaU,. WillMni 
lljchlel, II. J 
lUiley, ). A 
Uair.l. John 
Hair.1,1.. W 
llalier. Adam 
lUl.h. do 
Hakh, J.J I 
ilaldock, J..!!.^ 
ItaMoin. Nrrr 
Kalian. e,n.ar 
llalUnlinr. I i 
llalnMr, Jo«'! 
I!ard>har.( II 



BIOGltpL^F7l(9fILf. 



Ilame.. I^mufl 189 

Itarrell. Ileornr. , 603 

llaiii:huK.n. .1 W 480 

r.r.Lrr. Wil|,,,„, 607 

IVr.llr, I \\ . .II30 
'■•■-■-.".' 758 

liehren.. Henry 584 

llelden.S. M sgft 

llcnun, John 9C» 

llcr.line.<;. W luj 

Herry, l^wis 401 

Itenholf, Frederick pS 

llcl, A. K 31J 

liclhel, William lua 

llidwcll, Jo«hua 1044 

UUck. Dr. H. W 1048 

Black, W.C ,m 

Klakely.John M 364 

lllavlel. Major 104; 

Illin. Henry 637 

Blumenthine.S. C. 74(1 

llolick,Mr>. Rebecca 8«o 

lloone, l>. K 476 

I!nore. C. , \ ,o<,4 

I ■..-,,.,.! , .. .9M 

...839 

• ■ i sM 

l:..»ir., I. 1- J87 



lloyd. Prof. K. L. 

lloyer,l.cwi. 

Iloyle, H.C. ... 
Ilradthaw, J. K.. 
ilrandit, William. 



H. II 899 



lliirilick.M. A 615 

Hurleiiih.lir. H.() 709 

Ilurnangh, Jackwin .43 

Iturnell, Alphonio 8>i 

llurnv William M &4> 

lliirwell, K. r «Aj 

Fl„rwell,J. C 5»7 

ll.nch, J. II 536 

lliiv-nbark. Henry 516 

lluller, S. 1; 909 



tallmun, Norman 595 

Callaway, Kdmund 910 

Campbell, J. N 038 

CampUll. J.S n4 

Campbell, M.C ios9 

Campbell. S. M. S .848 

Campl.ell. W. H. H 39* 

Canad..y, M. I> 914 

Carlion. I'eler 903 

Car lion, Franklin S 1047 

Carhon, William 141 

Cnrnahan.E. 1 907 

Carnahan, R. 1 504 

Carney. 1 homa. Mj 

Carr, William C 1036 

Carrolhcrs, (•corRc 893 

Canon, Roben 535 

CarlwriKhl, T. 11 ,,.; 

Ca.ey, Rev. M J. 
CauRhey, William 

Chain, J. ^f 

Chamaene, V.J... 10^7 

Chamberlain. Jo.eph .35 

Charlton, llcorgc .... 
Cherry, Robert.. 
Church, M. H... 



Clark, Ale 



.•n.le 



Clark. <;. V 
Clark, M. I 
Clark. (). 1; 
Clark.. Sin. 
CIcvelan.l, 
Cloud..! 



u 



..n. J. 1: 
.M.J. N 



*» ■ ^ 



CoflTma 



Cole. i>. R 
Coleman. C. I 

Coleman, Fo-t ., 

Conner, Jan,. ,., 

Cook, A. J »>i 

Cook. J. J... ,5, 

Cook. R.S.. .^j 

Cooley, l«ia. ,.v 

Cooley, I.N 104, 

Cooper, William 1016 

Copner, John ,1, 

Copner, W. F u' 

Corbin. I.. H 1 .,v 

Corn. H . F. ,J 

Covaull. Nathaniel lotif 

Cox.Jame. ..1078 

CraiK, Archibald. Jr 1106 

Craig, Charles 940 

Craig, William A ,5, 

Craven, H. T 44- 

Crawford, Jatneii io/'h) 

Crawford, I.. C .76 

Crawford, Samuel J.... iig 

Crilt.C. J io8« 

Crocker, Jame><).. . 1:0 

Crocker. Willi.,n, IT ,./t 

Croiby. Helos .0 

Cro», F.dwin ! .0 

Crouch, J.N <5 

Crum, P.S I. .40 

Cruiinberry. I'l 
Culp.J.T. 



.f. W. A 



840 



tin 


Dadiiman, Ce 




llai>y, (). C. 


1 


Dakin. F. R 




llavidton, Jtit 


;«» 


I>avid«en, S. 


0I9 


Iiavi>, liavi.l 


i*< 


Uavi., «;. W. 


gll 


I.a,i., J. C. 


101 


I>avi., W W 


949 


I.eminK.C. J 



•►H^-^ 



INDEX. 



UewinK. M- H '075 

Ucwing, N. H jVi 

l>ickinson, tjcorgc 1070 

Dichl, Calvin 631 

nishrow, A. C 8<o 

l>ix, Cyrus "oa? 

Dixon. Hon. T. 1 727 

Dobbin, D. M 1093 

Dobbin, J. B 707 

Dobbin. W. 1 1007 

Dodge, Enoch 859 

Dorscy, E. A 191 

Doyle, C. W 706 

Doyle, W. R 1015 

Drake, E. J ii>6 

Dreisbach, S. W 1095 

Drown. H. H 593 

Dryden, W. C 1085 

I>ui;an, Henry 1064 

Duncan, Charles A 819 

Duncan, Robert 878 

Dunkin, Sylvanus 453 

Dunkin, W. H s«^- 

Dwighl, Dr. William H 547 



Eads, C. W 349 

Eastman, H. S JOi 

Edniondson, Thomas 834 

Egglcston, Gen. B. B 4*9 

Eldred, W. O 1033 

EUivick, Calvin 439 

English, N. A i77 

Enos, E. W 695 

Everest, Prof. H. W 185 

Everett, Dr. E. S S"" 

Exon,John E 75* 



Falk, William 1074 

Farmer, John 979 

Farrow. James 545 

Fassett, Lewis 1000 

Fate, Christian 386 

Faucett, William 1028 

Fchleiscn, A. E 409 

I'cnnell, N 203 

Ferguson, John W 351 

Ferris, William R 345 

1 errison, Henry J 1008 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

Fisher, J. T 1050 

Fitzgerald, Mrs. C A 753 

Flagg, Andrew •■■■5"5 

Flcshman, George F 1033 

Fleshman, T. W 581 

Fleshman, William H 100 

Flint. John N 787 

Flood, William luo 

Follctt, J. W J33 

Fordyce, Dr. J. H 700 

Forward, C.N 833 

Foidick, Leroy 746 

Foster, Arthur 484 



Fo 



r, Charles A 484 



Foster, Daniel A 4B4 

Foiitjuet, I.. C 494 

Foust, Samuel 527 

Francis, William 730 

Fritch, Crof. E. H 537 

Fuhrm.nn, Joseph 788 



fiarfield, James A 95 

Garnett, J. T 236 

Garrett, J. J 535 

Garsl. Eraser & Garst 1121 

Gay, Rev. George 606 

Getto, Peter 594 

Gifford. Benjamin 994 

Gilchrist, W. J 56s 

Gilchrist, W. P 698 

Giles, J. T 256 

Gillespie, A. J 242 

Gilmore, G. A 576 

Glaser, Adam 233 

Gla.ser, J. G 849 

Glass, Robert 723 

Glenn, A. A 518 

Glessner, Henry 325 

Glick, George W 143 

Goodrich, C. H 266 

Gorin, Gladdin 345 

Gosney, J . W 234 

Gossler, L. D 385 

Grant, Ulysses S 87 

Grantz, August 724 

Green, Benjamin 1088 

(irecn, U. 1 1010 

Green, Nchemiah 123 

Greene, A. T 254 

Greiffenstein, Hon. William. .162 

Gribi, G.S 399 

Grier, John 39" 

GrifTin, Philo 555 

Grimsley, James 1109 

Guthrie, Rev. K. E 265 



Hacker, William 352 

Hadley,C. W 864 

HaclMjrle, John 394 

Haines, W. W 479 

Hall. W. T «37 

Hammers, J.T 728 

Hammers, Samuel 246 

llampson, Henry J 323 

Handson, Jon.nthan 9.8 

Hankinson, T. V 688 

Hanning, J.T 708 

Hargett, A.K 346 

Harrington, £. R 513 

Harris, George E 204 

Harrison, J. W 7-0 

Harrison, William Henry 51 

Hart.Mayland 1085 

Harvey, G. W 674 



Harvey, James M 127 

H.iskins.C. B 360 

Haughey, Jacob 970 

Haughey,R. F 344 

Haughey, W. E 103c 

Hawn, Herron & Co 699 

Hayes, Rutherford B 91 

Hays, I ./88 

Hays, W. W 745 

Healy,P. V 957 

Heck, I. H 665 

Hollar, Martin 95» 

Henderson, Hon. W, D 263 

Hendryx, Rev. H. W nil 

Henninger, B. W 430 

Hepburn, S. R 209 

Herron,0. C 715 

Herron.P. M 715 

Hess.S. H 963 

Hibarger, E. 1 1107 

Hill, John E 324 

Hill, J.F 947 

Hinton, J. W 684 

Hobbs, Rev. A. I 1131 

HolMon, William 1113 

Hodge, E. E 355 

Hodson, William 838 

Hoff, Joshua 990 

Hohman, John 573 

Holland, H. L 1118 

Hoover, Samuel H 334 

Horner, Edward 330 

Horrigan, B. S 1027 

Houck, John S 99* 

Houston, R. L 733 

Howard, Henry 36* 

Howe, A.R 1117 

Howe, E.J 195 

Hufhauer, Adam 403 

Hufr,W. A 334 

Hume. Rev. Ambrose C....1108 

Hunter, Mrs. Thursey 987 

Hutchison, Robert 683 

Hyde, C. F 339 

Hyde, J. C »76 



Imbler, Samuel 978 

Imbler, W. H 1084 

Insley, Andrew 50a 

Irons, Elisha 546 

Irvine, G. A 1087 

Ittner, I^onard 934 



Jackson. .Andrew 43 

Jackson, C. M 968 

Jacobs, O.G 697 

James, T. G 638 

Jefferson, I'homas 37 

Jennings, J. S 307 

Jewell, Thomas 325 

Jewett. A. H 767 

Jewctt, Jasper S 716 

Jewett, William T i«6 



Jocelyu,S. E 188 

Johns.S. M 197 

Johnson, Andrew ..83 

Johnson, James V 839 

Johnson, S. E 95" 

Johnson. W. A 851 

John-ston, A. E 739 

Jones, G. W. C 214 

Jones, E. H 75* 

Jones, J. A 1066 

Jones, J. W... 744 



Kaeiser, William M 215 

Karr, Hon. William 939 

Kassel, William 313 

Kaufman, Henry 943 

Kay, Mrs. Mary A 386 

Keefer, H.C. M 380 

Keir,D. R '030 

Keith, J. W 930 

Keller,T. E 3'5 

Kennedy, John 389 

Kennedy, Patrick 274 

Kerr, J. M *oi 

Kerr, K. B 373 

Kerr, Robert 30' 

Kcrrick , Thom.as 939 

Kessler, George H 29S 

Kessler, M rs . M at y M 1091 

Kiefner, John 603 

Kimel,T. K 8^7 

Kimmerlc, Christian 797 

Kincaid, William 945 

Kirby. J.M yo 

Kissick, W. A 9S0 

Klofkorn, William. 373 

Kraus, F.ither F. X 391 

Krieger, S. F 416 

Kuhn, John 628 

Kyle, Joseph H 314 



Lane, T. M 673 

I.anning,Z 3" 

Latham, C. A 948 

Latham, Henry 574 

l.auchland, Andrew :ol 

l.aughlin. Prof. G. H 946 

Laurie, John 750 

Lauterbach, George 485 

Laulerbach, J.G 493 

Lawrence, Hon. R. E 32a 

Leach, R.T 281 

Lee,S. W 300 

Leslie, J. T 341 

Lewis, Col. H.W 2o« 

Lewis,P.C *»4 

Lewis, S. C 9*7 

Lewis.W. F 3»a 

Light, George 834 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Little, Robert 303 

Little, William 339 



•'-^ 



■•►•- 



f 



IMH A. 



I oiii. IVicr 
I ..,.,lei,.|jirt 

I . .[!/-;■. l: N\ 

1 V . , > !■ 



Marble, A.S. 



M:i 



.lull. C. 1- 



>l..r.hj|l. J. C 7jS 

M.rt.n, John A .47 

M^rtimon, NcU Iij 

NUnm.on."|.. ^„ 

M>«cnon. .Iul.1. y 45> 

Malhrw.ori, WiMi^m >M 

M^ilkui.C. A jM 

NUlkin. UucS )o8 

M^iihew,. I>r. Rudolph 1004 

NUiipin. Klihu 634 

Mj)aM. Vcni. g8i 

Mi.Ad.ain, Jame* 455 

McHcc, W.l 

McCUlIc, J. F... 
.McComb, J.C... . 
.MtCormick, Aleundcr ^ut 

Mctormick, Kev A.G 1037 

McCormkk.John 764 

.MtCormick. Sichola. 7S7 

McCoroick. T. B Bia 

McCoy, Jcncph G 676 

Met r..ckcn, WillUm 67. 

MihonjW. I'Mrick 804 

M.lioiitjll, Andrew In 

.McK.rUnd, J.G 6}4 

Mtfie. W,l|,aniT Joj 

Mc<:inily, Mkh»el 8Ba 

Mci;rcw,Z. 1 851 

Mcllriff. J. II loog 

McKey,W.J 780 

McKitn, Robert J gig 

McKinury. Ajroii io«8 

Mcl.auBhlm.lrvi 7,5 

Mcl.juiilili". I <; TH 

M.lrar.. I lioiiij. K j(>, 

M.M.nn, J..nrt r/,j 

McMurcby, l>on.,ld loij 

Mcl'hrrion, J. W it,3 

M.<.luown.J ,o^j 

McW.lllAin.. K.,l.»ri 300 

M. Wnricr. ( ..l.ir, ^, 

Mcjdr. Kli K «,j 

M"d.J.K ,5j 

Mead, Hon Jjmei W ,,r, 

Me.n., I.. K ,0,4 

Mrllinmr. I). H 7gj 

Mendenhall, John «6, 

NU. rr. I II R4', 

'I- '. ■ ■ 



■ 7M 

4*1 

-' .1 -OS 

45' 

l.ll Ill 

•1 ■• ^1 '■ 389 

-' - Henry W j4t 

' ->• "li.er 556 

Miiiiij, (. harlet J (<> 

Munn,K.l> 1005 

Miin.ell, I)f K. Y gsg 

.Murphy, Hon. I>anicJ 444 

Muriy.JS ,7, 

M yer», Murray 1057 

Myer.,T.L 6ji 



NtUon, J. A 494 

Ncliun, Nell IOJ4 

Nc^iMMM, ilenjamin 544 

I-R 7J7 

\^. H ,»» 

^^' K 739 

Nt^liftttuiiger, Solomon *8o 

Niglttwongcr, Willjatn 353 

Noble. J. A 537 

Noel, W. S 350 

Norri., J. E gg5 

Norrij, J, S 661 

Norton, C. A 473 

Nor(on,C. W 677 

Nuinan, Mn. Anna II 773 



Oallcy, Dr. W. II. II 
Odell, Clarence I.... 

Ouden, John 

Ogden. J.W 

IMdfalher, Corneliui. 
I'ldhain, l>r. J. K.... 
U.l.orn, riioniat A.. 

o.mon, Philip 

Oil, Theodore .. . 
<lwcn>, iJr. Ilenrv 



-krr 


A A 


■ner 


\V II 


ke. 


l.rnru 


kcr. 


w.ii;.. 


khu 


r.l, J. 



I'h 
I'h. 
rhiihi... I .-, 

I'hillipt. E. W jio 

Pierce, Kranklin ...71 

Pinxel, Chrinian 315 

••iilBel, J. II 3,, 

Pinkh«in,W. A ...loij 

Pipkin, J..S 584 

Pllcher. E.E j6, 

Polk.Jame. K 5, 

Polk,W. A 6g4 

Powell, W. II ,45 

Pray, J.W ^5 

Pre.coll, C. W ,53 

Prcion. Dr. William M.... 187 

Price. r.eorje ,5, 

Purdue, Dr. <;. C 504 

'■"'""■•«■•►■ 305 



Race. Calvin 481 

R»lpb,M. <l 1,53 

Raltton, J. .M 7,8 

Randall, T. li 554 

Ranwn, William It 443 

Ray, Dr. Alfred 517 

Raymond, H. H g,. 

Record, E. A 186 

Reddinir, l.eo 1 536 

Rcder, I'heodore 735 

R«ce,S.C 854 

Recd,<;. 1 306 

Reed, H. A ,63 

Reiman, E. A 768 

Rcmer, K. II 817 

Reynoldt, W. W 534 

Rhea, R. M 440 

Rl'Old..J.II 7,4 

Rice.J. W 4,j 

Richey, W. A 411 

Rieibeck, Jacob 183 

Rie.betk, Mark 183 

Rie%beck, Mary 083 

RiUKi. D. C ,,. 

R'i'y.R-J 

Rillcr. J. II 

Riller. Mr.Mi ^oj 

Roadci, E.I 1007 
Robb, J. t ,!/, 

Robl.ini.C. t 5,5 

Roberuon. Oeorge 5 jAj 



K„ll. c..,,l.i> 
Roll, Ralph 

Root llrot 

Roientliel, Willu 



A V 



R» 

Ro... John M 4II 

Ronooc, Matthew 363 



Rome, H. E. 
Royal. J. P 
Ruble. H. W 
Ruckle, Dani< 



• 4»6 
lo«3 



Rudd, A. E. . . 

Ruiiell, A. J 663 

RuMell,Col. John 59" 

Ruucll, J. E 831 

Ruuell,S. L 434 

Rulan, J.C mo 

Ruter, George 431 

Rutled|:c, Sitaa 485 

Ryan, R. E ftgg 



Sacket. Jame. 818 

Samuel, J. M 8a8 

Sandusky, Itaac 890 

SargeDt, M . L 833 

Sawyer, J. K ygg 

Schad, Henry 3*5 

Schaefer, Markua 543 

Schmidt, Caslen 8ei 

Schmidt, Theodore 678 

Schneider, Charlea 933 

Scott, tiarriton 777 

Scott, I.ewit 507 

Scoct, William H ggj 

Seekamp, Henry 35ft 

Senter, J. R 11.4 

Srvy, Rev. J. C. 481 

Shank, Elmore 8jj 

Shank, Jackion 4>3 

Sheppard,Mr. T. J g74 

Sherman, J. H 4«« 

Sherwood, Daniel 983 

Shockey, J. R 430 

Shufell><:rger.C. P 7OJ 

Shull, Prof. r. P •■}' 

shuman, Henry 4.1 

Silverwood, W. H j,'* 

Sinimoni, C- W 979 

Simpson, Iwifayellc 644 

Site., J. K «ii 

Skinner, I. L ^6i 



-»-••- 



■•► ■ -^ 



Skinner, J. W 445 

Slosser, Daniel ai8 

Smith, Abrain 973 

Smith, U. C 985 

Smith 4: Hoiigland, Urs 325 

Smith, Henry 558 

Smith, J. V* 269 

Smith, N. B 779 

Smith, N. C 879 

Smith, Orcn 962 

Smyser,G;L 811 

Snively, D. L 969 

Snokc, Dr. D. T 380 

Snyder, C. W 370 

Snyder, H. H 462 

Snyder, K. Q 1063 

Southwick, C. L 497 

SowlcC. H 403 

Specr, S. M 663 

Spcer, T. E 800 

Spengel, A . J 614 

Stackman, Frederick P.. 406 

Stafford, Charles A 877 

Stafford, William H 814 

Stanley, V. K 755 

Starr.J.W 901 

St. Denis, Gideon 687 

Steele, J. K 55a 

Stein, Henry 857 

Stem. W. P 693 

Stephenson, H 336 

Sternberg, \V. H 190 

Sterns, N. A 685 

Stevens, J. S 675 

Stevens,W. K 419 

Stevens, Z. H "oa 

Stewart, .Mf 804 

Stewart, James 1104 

Stewart, Lafayette 395 

Stewart, Col. Milton 400 

St. John, John P 139 

Stone, J. N 335 

Stoner, Dr. J. J 404 

Stout, J. T 435 



Stover, I. D 498 

Strickland, W. I 474 

Strnthers, C. W 8jo 

Stuckey, J. L iioi 

Stuckey,S. A 90J 

Sullard, John 424 

Sullivan, Arthur 801 

Sullivan, Cyrus 861 

Sullivan, C, (;... 869 

Sullivan, Mrs. C. E 483 

Sullivan, W. R 889 

Summers, C 618 

Summers,S C 667 

Summers,^. K 343 

Sumption, v.. W 412 

Sutherland, E. J 6ji 

Swaney, William 785 

Swisher, A.J 431 



Tangncy, D. J 823 

Taylor, B. F 384 

Taylor, Col. J. R 439 

Taylor, Williams A96 

Taylor, Zachary 63 

Tetcr, Caleb 558 

Thompson, E. P 647 

Thompson, J. B 37a 

Thompson, J. G 765 

Thompson, Rev. J. M 615 

Thompson, Robert A 958 

Thompson, William 873 

Tiffany, Mrs. E. J 38a 

Tilden, Dr. J. H 371 

Titsworth, M 350 

Tjaden, Jacob 1008 

Toler, H. G 340 

Tucker, Dr. H. C 553 

Tucker. John 567 

Tull, William H 578 

Turnbull, Kcv. J. S 1055 



Tyler, John 55 

I yrrcll, CM 656 



Underwood, G.W. 
Utz, Joseph us.... 



Valentine, Mrs. H. M 643 

Van Hurcn, Martin 47 

Vandeuscn,N. S .581 

Van Eaton, Dr. F. H 658 

Vanneman, J. W 989 

Van Ness, C. A 984 

Vansant, R. W 359 

Vreeland, C. M 657 



Wadsworth, Joseph 379 

Walden, A. G 571 

Walker, J. G 997 

Wallace,J. A 375 

Ward, William 874 

Washington, George 19 

Watkins, A. B 853 

Watt, H. R 617 

Waybright, G. W 933 

Wcaver,A. J 807 

Weaver, J. E 857 

Wcirick.C. A 604 

Weiss, Otto 965 

Welch, E. V 379 

Wemple, M. D 884 

Werner. Emil 967 

Weslfall, John 743 



Wetterhold, J. N 67a 

Whitcomb, L. N 749 

Whittemore, F. B 293 

Wiky, J. 1 87a 

William>, F. A 637 

Williams. John 780 

Williams, Thomas 333 

Williams, W. H Kia 

Williamson, W. H 964 

Williamson. William 850 

Wilson, J. C . .583 

\ViUon, Jonathan 635 

Wilson, J. S 60s 

Wilson, L. A Sao 

Wilson, Mrs. B. L 871 

Wilson, S. M 941 

Winderlin, Frederick 646 

Winters, J. C ai6 

Winters, J. W 809 

Winters, O. 1 831 

Woodman. Thomas 666 

Woodman, William 1079 

Woodman, William C 181 

Woodring,W. D 65a 

Wooir, F. A 940 

WorthinsJton, T. J 686 



Vergler, John 970 

Yikc, Franklin 309 

Young, Henry .,.4 



Z.aring, Eli 319 

Zaring, Peter 750 

Zaring, Simeon 316 

Zimmerly, Mike 531 

Zimmerman, C. S 1090 

Zisscl, Lewis 645 




4 



INDKX. 



1.1.^1, s 
r,. k.,1.. 



^1 PORTRAITS 



'V^'v T 



.^^ 





. Mo.hcr. Mr> 

■ Mycr., 1. 1 ,5. 

I Mycr*. Mr*. Canilace A.... 650' 

tNiiinan, Mn 

' (Ullcy. I>r W. H. H 916 

O.burn. I ho 

I'acVer, A. A 896 

8j6- 

Peanon, Ci 
i I'hillips, K, W J08 

l'ier«. Kriinlclin 70 

' K.lph.M. A 
. KjIpli.W A 

'Kcmer. K 1! 816- 

fXcmcr, Mn. Libie 8i6- 

/Kl.oad., J. H 73J 



, Mcin. H..nry. 
■'Slcm. William I 
KSleiii. Mn. Uui.. <.v' • 

1 Si. John, John I* 138 

Taylor. J R 418 

' Taylor, i!achary 6j 

•Tylcr.John 54 

• Van Burtn, Martin 4« 

• Wal.lcn, A.C. 570 

i Wa%hin):ton, <ieor)£e 18 

.WiUon,S.M 8561 

rWoo.linan, W. C 180 

v\ilce. Krjnlilin K jo8* 

rZinimerly, Mike J 5J0 




'Ds. 



Kalk, William .071 

K.iftftelt, Lewi« tool 

Kl<:.liman,(i K 1033 

Klchman, T. W 57, 

K..rwai<l,C. N 88; 

Fuhrman. JrM,cph 789 

Oarfield I'nivcrtily in 

Oil",J.T ,57 

C»U»cr,J- ('corgc 761 

GUftA, Koben 731 

lircidcntlcin, William 195 

lladlry, C. W 865 

'"•'■■y. A 499 

Inner, Leonard 935 

J'"'". I f' 639 

Jud^n I'nivcrtity .>ii 

K.ir.li. K loii 

Keith. J W 397 

Kerr, John M 599 

Kimel, 1. K 8«j 

Kimmerle, Chti.lian 79* 

Kiitick, William A 9lt 

KricKci, S. K 417 

I.ewii Academy 311 

l.i|{ht, ( icorge 885 

l.itlle, William 337 



loncC W 8«5 

Lyon, Charles V 659 

Mahannah, Jacob 539 

Manhall, Calvin P 953 

Maninion, Ola 916 

.McClallen, J K 1071 

McCracken, William 68o-«Si 

McDouftall.A 905 

Mcdrew. Z. T 885 

McMurchy, I> loii 

McWorier, Calvin 761 

NeUon, NcU 1109 

Newion, W. H 397 

Parker, William 377 

Pinkham. W. A 1031 

(.'uinell. William 9S3 

kaymond, H. H 935 

Record, K. A 805 

Keece, S I' 805 

KoKcrt, K A 488-4B9 

Kohri, Henry ;■» 

Koiiwoii, Mathcw 397 

Royal. J P 1081 

Schneider, Charles I log 

Seekamp, Henry 357 

Sherwood. Uaniel 981 



Silverwond, W. H 599 

Simmons. C W ,77 

Simp»on. l.afayette 845 

Smith. Henry 559 

Smith. N.C ....701 

Snyder. R.y 1061 

Starr. J. W 659 

Stephenson, Homer 337 

Sieven.,W.F 4,7 

Stover, Isaac U 499 

Stuckey, S. A M5 

Summers, C 6i« 

Sutherland. E. J.. -. 619 

Tetcr, Caleb 559 

lull, William H... J79 

Vansant, R W 35, 

Wadsworth, Joseph 377 

Wail, H. R 619 

Way bricht, G . W 11C9 

WeslfalLJohn 74> 

Whiltcmore. K. 11 761 

\Villi.ms.John 7»'-7«J 

Woolf. K. A 6j9 

Y. M. C. A. Iluilding an 

Zaring, Kli 317 

Zaring. Simeon 317 






\ 



